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What's New(s)!
News 2010
Coming to the 7 Stars Center March 25 at 7:00pm!
VTISA is proud to present
Together since 1993, Ocracoke's Molasses Creek has toured throughout the United States, released 9 CDs and received worldwide radio airplay. Molasses Creek's humble beginnings arose amidst the rich tidewater marshes of Ocracoke Island, NC, a magical place where stunning natural beauty mixes with community to create a rich melting pot of musical traditions. This high-energy acoustic group continues to win loyal followings with a captivating stage presence, elegant harmonies, blazing instrumentals, and a quirky sense of humor.
Members of the Southern Arts Federation, longtime favorites at Carolina festivals and award-winners from Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, they have been featured at Our State magazine's Best of NC, frequently headline at 'First Night' Williamsburg and in 2008 opened for Garrison Keillor at East Carolina University's concert series. They also appeared in the 2008 Warner Brothers film Nights in Rodanthe, Staring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Molasses Creek has nine albums to their credit and just released a brand new album Follow the Heron Home. They have traveled many thousands of miles across the country to concerts and residencies. Molasses Creek's roster includes Gary Mitchell (guitar & vocals), Fiddler Dave Tweedie (fiddle & vocals), Lou Castro (dobro, bass, & vocals), Marcy Brenner (mandolin, bass, vocals), and Gerald Hampton (mandolin & bass).
Their visit to Vermont is not only about performing, but about member Marcy Brenner's brave battle with cancer. Dead Girl Walking is a film that details her struggle with breast cancer and will be screened at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph on Wednesday, March 24th. Marcy was diagnosed in 1997 at the age of 34, the same year her mother died of ovarian cancer. In 2000, she suffered a devastating and enlightening reoccurrence. After feeling an ache in her bones, she was tested for and diagnosed with advanced metastatic breast cancer in her spine, hips and a lymph node in her chest.
"Since that day, it has been my life's work to offer a hand in the darkness of a cancer diagnosis," says Brenner, now a survivor. She's done that with a powerful song turned award-winning film titled Dead Girl Walking. The short film by Ray and Judy Schmitt of Real Earth Productions documents Brenner's experiences from the brink of despair to being truly alive.
It is, by all accounts, an incredibly powerful tale of emerging from the darkness to grasp life with a truly awe-inspiring vest and confidence.
"This film will offer hope to anyone who has experienced cancer or a serious illness as either a patient, caregiver or friend," said Jane Harrness from Gifford Hospital. It is an inside view at one woman's experience with breast cancer and how she turned loss into life and love.
The Seven Stars Center has an amazing history. Built in the mid-nineteenth century on the Beaver Meadow Road, it was a Baptist Church for many years. In 1910, when the congregation had dwindled, the building was disassembled and moved to its present location, where it has served
as a Grange Hall, a Universalist Church, and a venue for community theater. The bell and clock in the tower are among the last remaining examples in Vermont of antique clockworks.
Restoration of the clock, which presently is not functional, is one of VTISA's future projects.
Purchase of the Center would not have happened without the hard work and dedication of our Board. In April, 2007, a wonderful group of volunteers painted the performance hall and created a vestibule in the front entryway.
We now have handicap accessibility, and hope to soon have items like new windows, soundproofing, and safety items such as modernized doors.
We hope you will visit the Seven Stars, sign up for a class or for private lessons, or join an ensemble!
Check on our Programs page to view our offerings.For more information about these events or programs at VTISA, please call 802-763-2334, or email at info@vtisa.org.
We value your comments and suggestions! Please let us know if you have ideas for offerings, would like to get involved with programming or with one of our ongoing building projects, or would just like more information. We hope you will come to see VTISA and the Seven Stars Center as vital resources for the people of Sharon and the surrounding communities.
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