MONKTON — Join hosts Monkton Museum and Historical Society for toe-tapping fun next Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. with Blarney Pilgrims, back for a repeat performance after last year’s success, with little ones dancing in the aisles! We aren’t guaranteed the same stunning sunset, but the music will be great and light refreshments will be available.

It’s free, but donations for the band are warmly encouraged!

Addison County’s Blarney Pilgrims formed in 2023 initially as a way to congregate over a pint and practice jigs and reels, but it has evolved into their current form and is ready for a wider audience. The band’s members, a group of locals from Middlebury and Bristol, are eager to share lively traditional Irish tunes in their delightfully informal, yet authentic fashion.

This event will be at the Monkton Town Hall, 92 Ridge Road. Monkton Museum and Historical Society thanks their business sponsors on every page of their website: monktonhistory.org. Call Lauren with any questions: 802-233-1397

New Vermont Folklife Fellows document Monkton’s rich agricultural life.

Twenty-five years ago Last Resort Farm’s co-owner, Eugenie Doyle, (also an author) set out to honor her farm’s previous owner, William C. Shattuck, by sponsoring a writing contest in his name. Every year since then Monkton Central School third- to 6th-graders are invited to submit stories, essays and poems exploring the topic “Farming in Monkton.” Over the years, beautiful work has been awarded cash and other prizes, including an exhibition of student writing paired with professional artwork at Frog Hollow Gallery in Middlebury.

Recently, however, the contest sponsor and judges have noticed that entries display less detailed knowledge of local agriculture, perhaps because fewer children live on farms. In Monkton, as nationwide, many farms have gone out of business in recent years. In addition, because of budget and time constraints there are fewer field trips to local farms. But the school community remains committed to the importance of agricultural literacy, has nurtured a school garden, and has remained supportive of the Farming in Monkton writing contest.

To provide resources for the students, their teachers, and community members Doyle has teamed up with Lauren Parren, former Mount Abraham Unified School District teacher and Monkton Historical Society Board member, to secure help in the form of a Fellowship from the Vermont Folklife Center. The recently awarded fellowship will provide training and materials so that Doyle and Parren can interview interested Monkton farmers and make recordings available to the public at the MHS Museum in the town library. The fellowship also provides stipends to the farmers willing to be interviewed.

Any members of the Monkton farm community willing to be interviewed for the sake of agricultural education and town history can contact Eugenie ([email protected]) or Lauren ([email protected]).

A new taekwondo program may soon be coming to Monkton! Local instructor Samantha Champagne is exploring interest in launching Champagne’s Black Belt Academy, offering martial arts classes focused on building confidence, respect, focus, and physical fitness for children, families, and adults in the community.

Classes are expected to begin in Fall 2026. While a final training location has not yet been secured, the goal is to offer classes locally within Monkton.

Programs being considered include:

• Preschool “Little Dragon” classes (ages 3–5)
• School-age youth Taekwondo
• Family and adult classes
• Self-defense workshops for children and women

Community members who are curious about Taekwondo are invited to complete a short interest form. Those who sign up will also receive an invitation to attend a no-commitment, free introductory class when the program launches.

The interest form will help determine class schedules, age groups, and preferred training times. Families who complete the survey will also receive early registration access when enrollment opens.

Complete the interest survey and sign up for a free trial class here.

Questions can be directed to: Samantha Champagne, Champagne’s Black Belt Academy, www.champagnesbba.com, [email protected], 802-730-3015.

Little League registrations are due by March 15. Go to clubs.bluesombrero.com/mtabell to register. For questions contact Rick Kinsman at [email protected]. Rick is also looking for volunteers to help with the leagues. Contact him if interested.

Check with the library for their ongoing weekly and monthly events, which are many for all ages! Also check with Russell Memorial Library about passes (some free) to various areas and sites around Vermont. Call 802-453-4471 for info.

Eugenie Doyle continues Yoga every Sunday at the Town Hall from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. If you would like to join in, contact Eugenie at 802-989-3378 or email [email protected].