WORLD 051221

ARIES (March 21 to April
19) You’re the first sign in
the Zodiac and like to take
the lead wherever you go.
But this time, you’d be
wise to follow someone who has much to teach you.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your adversary hasn’t
given up trying to undermine you. Continue to stay cool
-- someone in authority knows what’s happening.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Spring brings a positive
aspect for relationships. Paired Twins grow closer, while
the single set finds new romance -- perhaps with a Leo
or Libra.
CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) Wavering aspects this
week mean weighing your words carefully to avoid misunderstandings.
LEO ( July 23 to August 22) You could soon be on a new
career path in pursuit of those long-standing goals, but
don’t cut any current ties until you’re sure you’re ready
to make the change.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A former colleague
wants to re-establish an old professional connection.
It would be wise to make the contact, at least until you
know what he or she is planning.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A relationship that
survived some rocky moments could be facing a new
challenge. Deal with the problem openly, honestly and
without delay. Good luck.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A recent and
much-appreciated change in the workplace inspires you
to make some changes in your personal life as well. Start
with a plan to travel more.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A friend
needs your kind and caring advice, but you need to know
what he or she is hiding from you before you agree to get
involved.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your circle of
friends continues to widen. Expect to hear from someone
in your past who hopes to re-establish your once-close
relationship.
AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) Your aspects favor
the arts. Indulge in whatever artistic expression you
enjoy most. A workplace situation will, I’m pleased to say,
continue to improve.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Warning! Your tendency
to let things slide until the last minute could have
a negative effect on a relationship that you hope can develop
into something meaningful.
BORN THIS WEEK: You are both emotional and sensible.
You enjoy being with people. Good career choices
include teaching, performing and the clergy.
(c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
By Dan Groberg, Executive Director - Montpelier Alive
Montpelier Alive had the chance to connect with Michael
Drake, owner of the new restaurant The Social, now open
at The Inn at Montpelier, 147 Main Street. We can’t wait to
check it out!
Tell us about yourself and the restaurant:
Both my wife and I grew up working hospitality, and after
time in healthcare here we are again. We own Zachary’s Pizza
in Waterbury as well. The Social is really meant to be a place
to gather for an entire group - family or friends. Obviously
during COVID, that means with proper distancing and precautions,
but the goal is that between our atmosphere, our
veranda, and a menu that caters as much to those looking for
a sumptuous meal as those looking to eat healthy, we help
create those special moments. Today, if a family of four walks
into a restaurant, one of them is going to be on a restricted
diet, and having dishes that work for them - say, a Veggie
Buddha Bowl - as much as their friend who orders one of our
dry-aged steaks with Whipped Red potatoes, is key.
We are currently reservation only with walk-ins allowed when
we have capacity. We are open Wednesday-Sunday for
Breakfast (7am to 11am), Lunch (11am to 2pm), Afternoon
Tea (2pm to 5pm), and Dinner (5pm to 10pm). We will explore
take-out later in the summer. Go online at www.TheSocialVT.
com to see menus and make a reservation, or call 223-0722.
It’s our first time coming in. What do we need to order?
For breakfast: dutch babies.
or lunch any of our at-pressed ocaccia sandwiches. Our
Italian, Caprese, Turkey Bacon, and Meatball are some of my
favorites.
For Dinner: our dry-aged NY strip with our Whipped Potatoes
and our Brussels sprouts. Don’t forget dessert: try a slice of
our Strawberry & Cream Bombe, a classic cake re-imagined.
How about beverages?
We have a curated list of about 20 wines that pair well with
our menus, a lot of local beer offerings, and of course the
usual domestic beers. More coming soon with our craft cock-
Here are
some ways
you can
help our
downtown
right now:
Now, more than ever,
community
matters.
1
2
3
4
5
tails once we receive that licensure, we are excited about
some of the riffs we can do on classics like old-fashioneds.
Tell us about your team.
In terms of team: we have focused on hiring experienced
team members in both front and back of house. My experience
is when you hire really great people and give them the
room to make decisions and feel like a real part of a team,
you build a wonderful culture. I already gush to others about
how great the folks that work at The Social are.
How have you found the Montpelier community?
We have lived in Montpelier since early 2020 -- pre-COVID --
so having the opportunity to purchase the Inn and launch The
Social was tremendous. We had decided to live in Montpelier
before any of that. Its very difficult to find a place like Montpelier]
that blends modern with a historical and welcoming
community. Hubbard Park is a crown jewel. Almost anybody I
talk to is friendly and helpful in some sort of way.
From a Cinderella story
(“Ever After,” with Drew
Barrymore as cute as a
button) to ruthless,
empire-building strategy
that plays out over years
(“Game of Thrones,” anyone?),
people just love royalty. However, there’s one
family that seems to captivate Western attention again
and again: the throne keepers of Merry Old England.
In any grocery store aisle you’ll see magazines filled with
stories of William and Kate, Harry and Meghan, and a
solitary Queen Elizabeth mourning the recent loss of
husband Prince Phillip. Some 750 million people tuned
in to watch Lady Diana wed Prince Charles. And that was
1981! Here is a royal flush of films to satiate your need for
nobility.
“Elizabeth” -- The most fascinating of the English queens,
Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchette), rises to the throne upon
the death of her half sister Mary. The prevailing advice is
for Elizabeth to marry in order to solidify her claim of the
crown. She instead carries on an affair with an English
lord ( Joseph Fiennes). But her court is awash in conspiracy
and intrigue, so with the help of her ruthless
adviser Frances Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), Elizabeth
establishes her place as the “Virgin Queen,” who needs
no man.
“Mary, Queen of Scots” -- A liberal dose of history and
two fantastically intriguing characters converge in this
film that chronicles two strong women’s struggle to find
respect in 16th-century England and Scotland. Margot
Robbie is Queen Elizabeth I, unable to conceive and so
with a tenuous command of the English crown. Saoirse
Ronan is Mary, the Catholic queen returned from France
to take her place on the Scottish throne.
“Victoria & Abdul” -- Dame Judy Dench dons the crown
as Queen Victoria. Ali Fazal plays Abdul Karim, a Muslim
clerk from India dispatched to the court of Victoria to
present her an honor: a gold coin printed with her likeness.
Abdul is a welcome change from the suffocating
pleasing of the courtiers, and Victoria adopts him as a
friend, a friendship not without adversity.
“The King’s Speech” -- Colin Firth (himself a bit of
dreamy English star royalty) takes the central role as
Prince Albert, future king of England, George VI. He suffers
from a debilitating stutter for which he employs an
Australian speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush). The film --
a Best Picture Oscar winner -- follows their long relationship,
from the days before his older brother abdicates the
throne through the preparation to deliver his most monumental
of speeches: Britain’s declaration of war on Nazi
Germany.
(c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
The Social: Now Open at The Inn
Purchase a gift card
to your favorite businesses.
Order takeout or delivery
from local restaurants.
Shop locally
via phone or online.
Practice self-care: Get exercise
and connect with loved ones.
What’s your guilty-pleasure food?
Guacamole and chips (The Social has some wonderful gauc...)
Anything
Donate
you’d
to
like
a local
to add?
nonprofit
Our goal is to be a place for locals in the community to eat at one
or helping two times a in week. our e community.
have priced our food and drink to reect
that. Make some time and sit on our veranda this summer!
montpelieralive.org/updates
All calendar submissions should be sent to editor@vt-world.com
or mailed to The WORLD, Attn: Calendar, 403 U.S. Route 302,
Barre, Vt. 05641. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., Thursday preceding
publication. The Ongoing section is for free/low cost/non-profit
community events.
Ongoing Events
ONLINE IN VERMONT- Shepherd of the Hills Welcomes Zoom
Worshipers Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30. Visit us on
the web at montpelierlutheran.org for the link to our Zoom service
and the bulletin for worship. There’s always room for folks to come
and worship.
Divorce and Separated Support Group This group meets the first
and third Monday of each month from 7:00 - 8:00 on Zoom. For more
information and to get the Zoom link, email DSGvtnh@gmail.com.
Connection Peer Support Group This group will occur on the 1st
and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on Zoom.
This new peer support group will complement the Monday night and
Thursday afternoon support groups. People can visit https://namivt.
org/support/peer-support-groups/ for more information.
Healthy Youth Connections Monthly Meet Ups is a virtual question
and answer session about youth and substance use, open to anyone
with a young person in their life. Meet Ups are hosted by Bert
Klavens LADC of the Washington County Youth Service Bureau.
Bert will be available to answer your questions every fourth
Wednesday of the month starting March 24, from 7 – 8pm. Email
HYP@wcysb.org to get a Zoom link for the discussion. This program
will run through September 22, 2021.
Nurturing Skills for Families in Recovery Meets weekly online on
Mondays from 1:00 –2:30 PM. For information and to join a group
contact Amber: amenard@pcavt.org, 802-498-0603.
Circle of Parents in Recovery Meets weekly online on Thursdays
from 3:00-4:30 PM. For information and to join a group contact
Amber: amenard@pcavt.org, 802-498-0603.
Circle of Parents for Grandparents Meets weekly online on
Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 PM beginning. For information and to join
a group contact Amber: amenard@pcavt.org, 802-498-0603.
Seven Stars Arts Center All-Comers Virtually Slow Jam will be
starting back up monthly on second Thursday evenings 6:30-8PM!
Traditional dance tunes at relaxed, accessible pace. BYOBeverages
and snacks! Free, with a recommended donation of $10-15. All ages,
levels and instruments welcome! The Zoom link will be sent out to
folks that RSVP “maybe” or “yes” by email: resonance.vermont@
gmail.com.
Mood Disorders Support Group: Now online via Zoom. Peer &
professionally led support for people coping with mood disorders
such as depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum
depression, dysthymia, etc. We share our experience, strength
and hope to support each other on our mental health journey. Wed. 4
- 5 PM. There is no fee. For more information and meeting code,
contact Rosanne at 802-917-1959 or rosanne@rosanne.info.
Weekly Business Networking in Central Vermont, The Garage
Cultural Center, 58 State St. 8AM-9:30AM. Fri. Free. Online during
COVID pandemic. Info: kristin.dearborn@edwardjones.com.
Weatherization Wednesdays at noon. We’ll answer your questions
via Zoom and Facebook Live every Wednesday at noon, when we
present a new topic in weatherization. Get a chance to win smart
thermostats and other prizes. More info and to register: https://buttonupvermont.org/event.
The Montpelier First Church of Christ, Scientist, is conducting its
Sunday (10:30am) and Wednesday (7:30pm) services on Zoom for
the foreseeable future. You are invited to join us using this URL:
https://zoom.us/j/306295907 or calling 1-646-876-9923 and then keying
the meeting ID code: 306 295 907#
The Heart of Vermont BNI Chapter meets weekly via Zoom for
Central Vermont business networking. Meetings are held each Friday
from 8am to 9:30am, and visitors are welcome. For information or a
reservation to attend, please contact Kristin Dearborn at 802-223-
3425. Kristin.dearborn@edwardjones.com.
The Washington County Democrats (Vermont) invite you to ‘like’
or ‘follow’ us on Facebook, and/or send an email to County Chair,
Linda Gravell (washcountydemsvt@gmail.com) to receive monthly
announcements and meeting reminders. We meet on Zoom on the
Third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. All Democrats living in
Washington County, Vermont are welcome to participate.
The Unitarian Church of Montpelier welcomes all to visit http://
www.ucmvt.org and to join weekly Sunday Worship Services online
at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom or Facebook. We welcome all as we build a
loving community to nurture each person’s spiritual journey, serve
human need, and protect the Earth, our home. Services led by Rev.
Joan Javier-Duval, Minister, or Verdis L. Robinson, Ministerial
Intern.
BARRE- Weekly Business Networking in Central Vermont,
Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, 33 Stewart Ln.
8AM-9:30AM. Thurs. Free. Info: mike@eternitymarketing.com.
Church of God of Prophecy Sunday Service at 10:30 am. All are
welcome. Pastor Jeffrey Kelley. (814) 428-2696. Also daily
Facebook devotionals.
Sons of the American Legion Squadron #10 Meetings, Barre
Legion Post #10, 320 N. Main St. 3rd Thurs. of each month. 6PM.
The American Legion Barre Post 10, Regular Post Membership
Meetings. Barre Post 10, 320 Main St., third Thurs. of each month,
6PM.
Central VT Adult Basic Education, Free classes. Pre-GED and high
school diploma prep classes at Barre Learning Center, 46 Washington
St. Info./pre-register 476-4588.
Central Vermont Woodcarving Group, Free instruction projects for
all abilities. Barre Congregational Church, Mon. 1-4pm. 479-9563.
Heart of Vermont Quilt Guild, meets 3rd Tues. of the month at First
Presbyterian Church, Seminary St. 5:30-7:30PM.
Additional Recycling Collection Center, Open for collection Mon.,
Wed., Fri. 11:30-5:30PM, 3rd Sat. 9AM-1PM. 540 N. Main St.,
Barre. Visit www.cvswmd.org for list of acceptable items.
Medicare & You, Have questions? We have answers. Central
Vermont Council on Aging, 59 N. Main St., Suite 200, 2nd & 4th
Tues. of the month. Call 479-0531 to register.
Central Vermont Business Builders, Community National Bank, 1st
& 3rd Tues., 8-9AM. Info: 777-5419.
Weekly Storytime, Next Chapter Bookstore, 158 North Main St.,
Sat., 10:30AM. Info. 476-3114.
Vermont Modelers Club, Building and flying model airplanes yearround.
Info: 485-7144.
Community Breakfast, First Presbyterian Church, 78 Summer St.,
3rd Sun. FREE, 7:30-9AM. 476-3966.
Circle of Parents, Confidential support group for parents and caregivers.
Tues. evenings. Info: 229-5724.
Mothers of Preschoolers, Monthly get-togethers for crafts, refreshments,
etc. Christian Alliance Church, 476-3221.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Meetings in Barre, daily; call 802-229-5100
for latest times & locations; www.aavt.org.
continued on page 16
May 12, 2021 The WORLD page 13