You’re Invited to the Nelson Community Forum, at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music

Any day now you should be receiving an invitation to the Nelson Community Forum. The forum is a chance for Nelson residents (both the year-round and the summer variety) to come together and discuss the future of our town. It is a chance to share reflections on what makes Nelson such a great place to live and to cultivate new ideas that will make it even better. It is a chance to connect with neighbors; but like every other chance, it is only worth something if you take it.

Forums such as this one are not new to our part of the world. Stoddard and Hancock held one a few years back, and Harrisville is going to hold their second town-wide forum this fall.  These forums resulted in a number of projects coming to fruition, such as the creation of a Community Supported Agriculture Farm, the re-opening of a general store, and the establishment of a town newsletter. These are some concrete examples of what other towns decided their communities needed to become stronger. What will be the results of Nelson’s forum this September? No one knows–that’s the beauty of it. When one hundred people or so get together to toss ideas back and forth, who can say what the outcome will be?

While this may sound like a recipe for chaos, the forum will be professionally facilitated. People brainstorm in small groups of ten or so, and report their ideas to the larger group. The result is a slate of ideas and projects that, with the support of forum participants, can move forward constructively and bring the community closer together.

Your voice is unique and your viewpoint is valuable. Wouldn’t you like the chance to share them? Consider accepting the invitation to the Nelson Community Forum on September 17^th and 18^th. To find out more information, or to sign up for the forum directly, visit the Moving in Step table at Old Home Days, surf over to www.movinginstep.org, or call Betsey Church 847-3206 or Kathy Schillemat 847-9785.

Calling all Nelson Farmers, Gardeners, and others interested in Agriculture:

Your Planning Board is sponsoring a public meeting to explore a proposed Town Agricultural Commission. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall. Refreshments will be provided.

Featured speakers at this meeting will be Amanda Costello, District Manager of the Cheshire County Conservation District, and Jeff Littleton, Conservation Ecologist with Moosewood Ecological Services.

The purpose of this meeting is to introduce Nelson residents, most particularly farmers, to the concepts and benefits of a Town Agricultural Commission, and to discuss if Nelson should pursue organizing an Agricultural Commission by warrant article at the 2011 Town Meeting.

An Agricultural Commission is a non-regulatory entity, recognized by the town, which provides a voice for the agricultural community, a resource for mediation, and a link to assistance providers. The Commission works cooperatively with other Town boards to ensure that the interests of farmers are better understood and considered in the decision-making process. An Agricultural Commission may serve as a local voice for the interests of farmers, provide a source of information on pending legislation which might have an impact on farming activities, and help support the important place of agriculture in our community and larger society.

If you have any questions, please contact:

David Voymas, chairperson
Nelson Planning Board

603-847-3137

Hardly a substitute for the amazing hard work of the original production, the “revisit” has mildly adapted some of the original works to better accommodate the busy lives of those who are helping with this production.  We’ve also, reluctantly, cut and pasted here and there in order to make room for some newness that hopefully will speak for the ever-evolving newness that is Nelson – the new guests at the Hotel!  And to top it off, we’ve added a few PowerPoints here and there – well, there weren’t any computers in the late 19^th century!

Those helping, who were not involved in the 1997 Hotel Nelson, are enjoying the opportunity to learn a little about the process that produced the original theatre; to learn some of the songs that were written and sung, and to otherwise be a part of something that again brings friends and neighbors together, in the spirit of community.

We hope that you’ll join us to learn a little about our town’s past and present, to witness some of our extensive local talent as they hold forth on (and off) stage – some reliving their 1997 roles, others filling in for those not available this time, and still others adding some additional flavors to the show.

In order to be certain not to exceed the fire-code seating limits (155) in the Town Hall, we’re asking you to reserve a seat by e-mail at: shansel@peoplepc.com or by phone at: 847-9918.  It’ll be first come, first served, and Susan will check your name off when you arrive at the Town Hall on March 27.  Remember that admission is free, but donations will gladly be accepted at the door.

In 1997, the people of Nelson raised funds from private donations, the Town of Nelson and the Nelson Congregational Church to sponsor The Hotel Nelson, a musical theatre that was created by, for, and about the Town of Nelson. Facilitated by Larry Siegal of Westmoreland, it was performed in the Nelson Congregational Church on August 14 and 15 to sold out audiences.

In 1840, The Nelson House was built to house the hotel, the post office, the library and a store.  The three-story brick building burned down in 1894!  So, for 54 years, sitting on the village common, it was literally the center of the town.
Thus, it is the metaphor from which our theatre, The Hotel Nelson, was born:

“When I built this hotel I put a porch on the front.  It was the best decision I ever made.  People come and sit out there, from the end of black fly season until the first snowfall.  Now granted, that’s not a very long stretch of time, but it’s enough time for some good stories to get told, and for more stories to get made.  The town goes by, day by day, and just when I think I’m getting to understand how it works, something happens and I realize I really don’t have it figured out after all.  But I love it here – this place, this land, these people.  I’ve found myself quite a home here….  Please… come in.  You might stay for a night, or for a summer.  And if you can’t figure out how to leave, well – you won’t be the first. “
Narrator in “The Hotel Nelson”
(from the opening scene)

From the above scene onward, songs were sung and stories were told by the same people who researched, wrote and composed them.  They covered some of
Nelson’s history and politics, some of its notables and characters, and many anecdotes past and present.

Some of the songs that were sung are simply too good to relegate to the archives, so we’re going to sing them again…with your help.

So, please join us on Friday night, January 29, 2010, 6:30 pm, at the Nelson Town Hall.

After a potluck supper (please bring something to share), we’ll have some skilled musicians teach us a few of the songs so that we can all join in.  But, if you don’t sing, that’s OK.  Just come to enjoy the festivities.

“The mud can’t get deeper on Old Stoddard Road.
My white car is brown: what a sight to behold.
I’d give anything for a driveway that’s dry,
And to taste the tart pleasure of fresh rhubarb pie.”
From “Sing Halleluiah!”

“The world is full of gladness, and joys of many kinds.
There’s cure for ev’ry sadness, each troubled mortal finds.
My little cares grow lighter.  I cease to fret and sigh.
My eyes with joy grow brighter, when she makes lemon pie.”
From “The Lemon Pie Song”

“When you’re a kid in Nelson you’re like a tall oak tree
Roots reach down into the past
Arms reach for eternity
Whether we’re playing baseball
Or biking through the square
There’s always something happening
And music fills the air”
From “Being a Kid in Nelson”

And, stay tuned for more:  On Saturday, March 27, 2010, we will incorporate the songs that we learn on January 29 with more of the original songs and many of the stories (and perhaps even some new ones!) into another evening out at The Hotel Nelson Revisited.

“There’s one thing certain about the future, which is — it’s always going to be there.  Some folks worry about it, some try to plan for it, some think it’s preordained, and some spend so much time thinking about it that today becomes tomorrow with nothing in between.

“Now the past is always there too.  And we might not worry so much about it, but people can get to dwelling on that too, and lose the present.

“I like it here in Nelson, ‘cause folks seem to enjoy the past, the present, and the future, all in good measure.

“When I’m away from here I tell people about this place.  And sometimes someone will ask – tell me, that town of yours, and that Hotel, is it real, or is it just make believe?

“And I answer:  yes.”
Narrator in “The Hotel Nelson”
(from the closing scene)

Scroll down for more pictures.

Will the roof get on before the first snow?