Happy holidays, everyone! With the Craft Fair coming up, plus a full calendar of activities (and the holiday breakfasts!), we have a lot to look forward to in December. I can’t wait to see the pictures from the mini trip to the Joseph Smith Memorial Lights in South Royalton. I’ve noticed some of the local displays of lights around town have been helping to brighten up the darker winter months. Do you have any favorites?
The new Bugbee Writing Circle starting this month looks interesting. Their first prompt is “One object I’ve kept over the years and why.” Probably my oldest belonging is the clarinet I played in high school. Even though I have a newer instrument I use to play with the community band and with friends, I’ve still kept it just for the memories.
Speaking of music, we’ll also have some caroling, tunes from the Suite Notes, and students from White River Elementary to bring some cheer. And a new item in the menu rotation: French Canadian tourtiere! This was one of the suggestions from the Bugbee Test Kitchen earlier this year. I lived in Montreal while I was in college and for a few years after, so this traditional meat pie recipe will be nostalgic. Maybe for some of you, too! I have noticed a few French last names names on the roster…
Thank you to those who have been in a position to donate this year. We are at 65% of our annual goal. With a cap on funding for meals from the State this year, your gifts will stretch even further. If you are able to afford a contribution, we are grateful – even small amounts really do add up. Also: a special thank you to our Welcome Squad volunteers, who have been taking time to meet with people who are new to Bugbee. I think we all probably know what it feels like to walk in somewhere for the very first time, so any way we can help make people feel even more welcome is great. Once they start meeting all of you, usually people start feeling right at home!
Stay warm this month! We hope you enjoy this season’s offerings, and whichever holidays you celebrate, we wish you peace and joy as we head towards a new year
Mark Bradley
Executive Director