Bookstock: A Vermont treasure returns with its full festival experience

The Green Mountains around Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The written word contains a simplicity and a majesty all its own. Its impact spans the history of the human experience. Writing can inspire, and beyond just that, it can be the catalyst for needed change. 

For all those reasons, books have held a special place in my heart, and I've celebrated their profound influence by enjoying many of them over the course of my life. But this week, the ultimate celebration of the written word returns to Woodstock, in person. That's Bookstock: the Green Mountain Festival of Words.

It was a special experience to write about the first Bookstock, over a decade ago, and it's a great honor to write about it now. Now, as then, something exciting is about to inspire us. For the first time in three years, writers, artists and book-lovers of all ages will gather in Woodstock Village for this special event, running from June 24 to 26. It means the large book sale under the tent will be back, right in the middle of Woodstock's historic Village Green, starting on Friday. And, a great selection of fine vintage books will be available at the nearby Norman Williams Public Library. Around the village at speaker events, authors, poets and artists will share their work with festival-goers, and hearts will be enriched, and minds expanded, from the abundance of ideas imparted.

It's really that act of sharing that makes Bookstock special, unique, and so engaging. That can mean a new idea from the words of an author, or a discussion with friends after learning a new concept, or picking up a new book and finding new inspiration in its pages. For all these reasons, events like Bookstock are vital. This festival celebrates not only Vermont’s rich literary culture — with Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, and many other greats calling it home over the decades — but also humanity itself and the rich palate of expression that defines our world, and pushes us to understand it better. 

It goes to the very heart of sharing our deepest thoughts and experiences with each other. It marks our commonalities, the things that bring us together as people. In the era of podcasts and ubiquitous digital content, it is still important to read and celebrate the written word and to interact with its creators. That experience of learning loses something without that personal interaction, that face-to-face connection with no screen in between. So what a treat it will be, to have Bookstock back in person. 

At the end of the day, the literary gem that is Bookstock benefits humanity as a whole. It adds profound meaning to the myriad hues of the human experience. Through our love of the written word, it encourages us to take a moment to open one more door in our busy minds, and to think about ideas in deeper ways. And those ways help us learn, they enrich us, and we grow. What a treasure to share with the world.

— Gareth Henderson

Find the event schedule and full details for Bookstock 2022 at www.bookstockvt.org.

Sharing a new tomorrow

A brook at the Green Mountain Horse Association in South Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

One of the gifts of writing is that it’s elastic, broad, expansive. It can capture things that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes, those things enter into the written word by way of the camera lens. 

When we were walking late in the day on Saturday, on the grounds of the Green Mountain Horse Association in beautiful South Woodstock, we crossed a small bridge with a quiet brook running underneath it. Unassuming and serene, the sound of the bubbling water came to my ear, and then the sunlight dancing on the surface amid the shadows caught my eye. The camera lens wasn’t far behind. 

That quiet moment came on a busy holiday weekend. GMHA’s historic 100-Mile Competitive Trail Ride was back in town, bringing equestrians and spectators from near and far. On Friday night, tackle football returned to Woodstock Union High School, where WUHS notched a big 35-16 win over Springfield. Also returning to the area this weekend is the Quechee Balloon Festival, with entertainment for all ages. On a yet larger scale: The school year began this past week for the Woodstock area and many other districts, with Vermont students able to see their teachers and each other once again, five days a week. 

Taken together, these events and many others mark a return to familiar ground, more progress toward more normalcy. Though the pandemic and numerous other issues present challenges, the opportunity to visit loved ones more often, see our kids return to school, and enjoy the events and activities we missed for so many months, does have a powerful impact. Being out and about gives you another lens through which to process the changes of life and come to terms with its challenges and further opportunities for progress. And you understand more fully that others are having this experience as well; we are one world going through this next chapter of existence, together. 

That said, “together” doesn’t always feel comfortable. We’ll encounter obstacles as the world grows into a new future, and people will confront the tough questions about what we’ve really learned from the past 18 months. But right now, we are building from moments, quiet moments of reflection, whether it’s walking past a bubbling brook, or spending time catching up with family or friends. Those times let the light of good pour in and illuminate our experiences every day. They give us opportunities to ponder concepts bigger than ourselves, and be aware of issues that merit more of our attention. If we approach life, right now, with a more expansive, compassionate thought, that’s fertile ground where lasting progress can take root. And that’s the way to nurture and care for this vast, precious world we all share.

— Gareth Henderson

‘Puppies & Pooches’ returning to Woodstock this week

“Puppies and Pooches on Parade” benefits the Norman Williams Public Library, shown here in Woodstock. The event takes place on the scenic Village Green nearby. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Dogs of all shapes and sizes will take part in “Puppies and Pooches on Parade” this coming weekend in Woodstock Village, as yet another favorite local tradition returns to the area in 2021. All proceeds benefit the Norman Williams Public Library, and an active team of volunteers has spent many weeks preparing for this event.

The fun begins Saturday, Aug. 28, on the Village Green, which will feature a 10:30 a.m. dog parade down the main path grouped in categories: Most Precious Petites, Mightiest Mid-size, Gentle Giants, Ms. Fashionistas and Mr. Beau Geste. Then it’s off to the Ring to see each category of dogs.

The judges will select a Best in Show from the category winners, but the spectators will decide the Crowd Favorite by cheering and clapping. Without a doubt, all dogs are winners and will receive ribbons and bandanas. Additionally, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society will be present so people can learn about pet adoption. 

This event, which began seven years ago, is sponsored by the Friends of the Norman Williams Public Library and enables the community to make valuable contributions to the library. All dogs must be registered before Aug. 26. Registration forms are available at www.puppiesandpoochesonparade.com, at the library’s front desk, or by contacting Peggy Fraser at fraserusa@gmail.com. Raffle tickets are on sale most days outside of the library.

Organizers are inviting everyone to come by and celebrate the return of this live event that brings good cheer, fun memories and great moments for all to enjoy.

New leadership for Friends of NWPL

The Executive Committee of the Friends of the Norman Williams Public Library recently introduced Jarret Adams of Woodstock as the new president of the Friends, and Jennifer Baxter of Woodstock as the new vice president. 

In their new roles, Adams succeeds Peggy Fraser, and Baxter succeeds Jennifer Falvey. As past president, Fraser will remain on the executive committee.

Adams and his wife Heather are the new owners of The Village Inn of Woodstock. Heather is an accomplished chef, and Jarret runs a boutique public relations firm, Full On Communications. In moving to Woodstock, they’ve returned to their New England roots after years of living near Washington, D.C., and abroad.

Jennifer Baxter grew up in North Brunswick, New Jersey. She moved to Vermont with her family in 2006 to own and operate a country inn in Killington. She lives in Woodstock with her husband Rich Kozlowski, and she has many years of experience as a finance officer and human resources professional. Most recently, Jennifer was the director of finance and human resources for Advance Transit, the Upper Valley’s bus transportation agency. 

The Friends of the NWPL has grown into an organization of 100 members whose mission is to foster and encourage community support and participation that benefit the library in its role as a cultural center in the greater Woodstock area.

— Gareth Henderson

Going virtual

Clouds are illumined as daylight fades in West Woodstock. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Festivals and conferences large and small have made the switch to online platforms, often Zoom, due to the pandemic. While many people miss the in-person connections, there's an upside when it comes to audiences — the numbers go up. 

On the large scale, a national physics conference went virtual in April, with free registration available to anyone interested. That annual conference of the American Physical Society was a success, Nature.com reported, with registration topping 7,200 — more than four times the regular amount. LinkedIn also found a greater audience for its TransformHER conference when it moved online in June.  Usually with 350 to 400 in-person attendees, the livestream had 62,000 views, according to CNBC.

There's also a big marketing boost with many more people attending, which means many more groups will embrace online events, especially if lots of regions have to keep restricting crowds to limit the spread of COVID-19.  This is also a trend on the smaller scale of things. In Vermont, Woodstock's annual literary festival, Bookstock, went virtual for the first time Thursday night and continues in the coming months. Alison Hankey, the event's coordinator, said it'll be a learning experience that will inform future planning.

"We're using this fall program as a learning opportunity," Hankey said. "It's kind of an art form," she said of designing online events. 

With more groups diving into online events, that art form will develop in new and different ways, and innovation will gain momentum in that space. While not all attendees will have the same level of internet access, the current trend may end up broadening the price range of events, and therefore broadening their audiences. It will be interesting to watch this situation unfold, especially if the need for online events only increases from here, which is likely to some extent. Groups and organizations may find an increasing number of people participating in those platforms, especially as more people get used to being attendees in the virtual world. 

— Gareth Henderson