Ferrisburgh Grange King Pede card parties, Feb. 15 and 29, 6:30 p.m.
Ferrisburgh selectboard meetings, Feb. 4 and 18, 6:30 p.m.
Bixby Children’s Story Hour Feb. 6: 10:30 a.m.-noon, Bixby Library.
Green Mountain District Music Festival for HS Concert Band Feb. 6, 7 p.m., College of St. Joseph, Rutland.
First Friday Movie, “The Sun is Also a Star,” Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m., Bixby Library
“Finding Jesse” discussion, Feb. 9, 3 p.m., Rokeby Museum
Black and White Cabaret Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., VUHS Gymnasium
Pancake Breakfast, Feb. 15, 7-10 a.m., VUHS Cafeteria.
Treasures and Trinkets Collection, Feb. 15, 9-10:30 a.m., Kennedy Bros.
 
FERRISBURGH — The Ferrisburgh Grange King Pede card parties are scheduled for the Saturdays of Feb. 15, and 29. All are invited to participate in these get-togethers at the Ferrisburgh Town Hall and Community Center. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a sandwich supper and then on to the games. King Pede is a unique game that involves “trick-taking” techniques such as in Hearts and Spades or Pitch. This is a game of fun and skill so come prepared to use your strategic thinking.
Bixby Library continues to offer their many events over the winter months. The next children’s story hour will be on Thursday, Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Bixby story hours are designed for preschool-age children and explore songs and stories. Over time, families get to know one another, and the children delight in making friends from many of the area towns. These sessions foster preschool literacy, which creates a foundation of curiosity and desire for reading.
Also check out the Bixby Movie nights. On Friday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m., the movie will be “The Sun is Also a Star.” The story centers on the relationship between Natasha, whose family is in danger of being deported, and Daniel, who has always been in the role of the good son, and their search for what fate will bring to them. For more information on all the Bixby’s events visit bixbylibrary.org.
The Tots Open Gyms are happening at Ferrisburgh Central School. These are held Friday mornings from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Bring your little ones to run, bike, build Legos and bounce basketballs. Free coffee and tea for the grown-ups. Parents will need to bring a snack for their children. For more information, contact Mary Neffinger at [email protected]. 
On Sunday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m., Rokeby Museum will host a discussion entitled: “Finding Jesse: A Fugitive from Slavery in Vermont.” Generation after generation of the Robinson family saved their copious correspondence, and today that record informs all that Rokeby Museum does. But what happens when the record is incomplete? Jane Williamson, Rokeby Director Emerita and curator of the museum’s award-winning exhibit “Free & Safe: the Underground Railroad,” will share the extensive research required to learn more about Jesse, a fugitive from slavery who lived and worked at Rokeby in the 1830s. Jane’s talk traces Jesse’s life from enslavement in North Carolina to freedom in Vermont. Citing letters in the collection at Rokeby Museum and documents at the North Carolina State Archives, the illustrated talk brings the narrative of one slave out of anonymity and explores his life and pursuit of freedom.
Vergennes Union High School history students are holding a Valentine’s Day pancake breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 10 a.m., at the VUHS cafeteria. Bring the family and your sweetie for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with bacon, sausage, biscuits, maple syrup, coffee and milk. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. This fundraiser will support the students’ annual history trip and related activities. For more information, please contact Cookie Steponaitis at [email protected].
The Treasures and Trinkets Rummage Sale is back. Organizers will be collecting your stuff on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.. This is a great chance to get a jump on your spring cleaning. Members of the VUHS Parent Teacher Group will be at Kennedy Brothers in Vergennes on Feb. 15, ready and willing to unload your car and accept your donations of gently used goods at the North entrance (white building) of Kennedy brothers. All proceeds from the rummage sale go toward supporting enrichment opportunities for students at VUHS. What a great cause! Don’t forget to put the rummage sale date of Saturday, April 11, on your calendar. If you’ve never been to the Treasures and Trinkets, you won’t want to miss what is known as the best rummage sale in Addison County.
The Black and White Cabaret will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m., in the VUHS Gymnasium. Music will be provided by the Commodore Singers, Commodore Jazz Ensemble and student soloists. Enjoy gourmet desserts while you listen to music by our talented VUHS musicians. There will be a general admission of $5 at the door.  Proceeds will benefit student travel scholarships to music festivals. This is a longstanding tradition at VUHS that will showcase our student musicians, so please come and enjoy the delicious food and the high quality music. For more music department news, go to anwsu.org/vuhs-music/
The Ferrisburgh skating rink is now open and will be available to Ferrisburgh residents as long as the weather cooperates. There are a several stacked crates for the youngest, beginner skaters. And, as always, please stay off the ice when it is soft, and remove any equipment you use or bring with you (such as goals.) For updates on hours and ice conditions, follow the announcements in the Ferrisburgh Front Porch Forum, the Ferrisburgh skating rink Facebook page, or email to Martha Davis at [email protected].
NOTE: We are always interested in including a variety of Ferrisburgh-related news in this column, so if you have news that would be of interest, contact Sally Kerschner at [email protected]. You are able to access these columns and other information about Ferrisburgh news and events by viewing the Ferrisburgh Town Website at ferrisburghvt.org.