Apple Barn Gearing Up For FallBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Wednesday, September 06, 2006
 | | The Apple Barn and Country Bakeshop on Route 7 in Bennington, Vt.. |
Bennington, Vt. - Signs of New England's fall season are already visible at the Route 7 Apple Barn and Country Bakeshop.
Bright orange pumpkins smother the property frontage and surround a tall blue moose statue. Roadside signs promote the shop's popular corn maze and a bumper crop of locally-grown apples.
And during the upcoming five weekends, family entertainment will be offered free of charge.
Raptors, Bikers, Clowns, And Marionettes
Apple Barn owner Lia Diamond operated a store cash register and bagged apples for a customer on Sept. 6. Diamond has launched an on-site art gallery and founded a "Spread Your Wings and Fly" non-profit organization. |
On Sept. 9, families are invited to attend "Raptor Encounter," a bird-of-prey program sponsored by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. Shows begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and live birds are expected to be included in the demonstration.
"Mr. Twisty, the Magical Magician" is scheduled to make an appearance at 1 p.m. on Sept. 17. The event is being promoted as "a magic show and lots of laughs."
"Brisky the Clown," who is a graduate of "clown college," is slated to deliver a performance at the shop on Sept.23. A two-hour performance that will feature magic and balloons is set to begin at 1 p.m.. On Sept. 24, "Gould and Stearns" have agreed to share their special brand of "irrelevant humor and incredible illusions" beginning at 1 p.m..
The "No Strings Marionette Co." capture top entertainment billing on Sept.30 with a "Nix to Time" performance set to begin at 1 p.m..
A "Biker Rally" is scheduled for Oct. 1. Motorcyclists are invited to attend a cook-out on the property. An Oct. 8 rain date is scheduled. Additional information about the rally is available by calling 802-447-7780.
"Bowie The Clown" is the Oct. 8 featured performer. The 1 p.m. show will offer an interactive magic show and a balloon sculpting exhibition.
The family entertainment schedule winds down on Oct. 9 with another appearance of "Brisky the Clown."
"Circle Of Life" Maze And Lots of Apples
A "Circle of Life" corn maze opened on Aug. 13 and will remain open until Oct. 24. Families who attend the weekend entertainment offerings will be able to enter the paid admission maze, weather permitting. Admission to the maze is $3 per person.
The business launched cornfield mazes in 1998. This year's design is marked with artist palettes in each circle center as recognition of the state's 2006 palette festival.
Over 70,000 visitors have navigated the various mazes since the first maze debuted.
In addition to jams, jellies, fruit butters, home-baked breads, brownies, muffins, pies, and other sweet treats, cheeses, mustards, and maple syrup, the store offers numerous varieties of locally-grown apples.
McIntosh apples are a popular store staple but other apple types, such as Cortland, Ida Red, and Northern Spy are sold as they become available through the apple harvest season.
Apple Barn Hosts Art Gallery, Owner Launches Non-Profit
An art gallery was opened on the premises in April, and the work of numerous regional artists is displayed and sold at the gallery.
The gallery was launched as part of a non-profit entity founded by business owner Lia Diamond.
The "Spread Your Wings and Fly" program was started by Diamond in honor of her late mother Lucila Albinder. Proceeds are donated to the Center for Communication In Medicine, which is a program of the Institute of Medical Humanism.
The Bennington-based IMH was launched in 2001 by Bernard Bandman, a clinical psychologist, writer Celia Engel Bandman, and Patricia A. Barr, a private practice attorney, national healthcare advocate and policy expert who died of cancer in 2003.
The Center for Communications in Medicine was initiated this year with a purpose "of producing and disseminating programs for both medical and community education to further the understanding of the patient voice; to recognize the perspective and concerns of family and friends,and to acknowledge the difficult task medical practitioners face in trying to reconcile patients to living with chronic and life-threatening illness. The CCM programs highlight each individual's role and responsibility in facilitating communication and developing a partnership in healthcare decision-making," according to information posted at its' Internet web site.
The Apple Barn and Country Bakeshop is open seven days a week and the cornfield maze is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Additional information about the business is available at a www.theapplebarn.com Internet web site.
Additional information about the Institute of Medical Humanism and the Center for Communications in Medicine is available at a www.medicalhumanism.org Internet web site.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367. |
