GoBennington

Hildene, Winter History Series, with the topic “The Most Influential First Lady,” begins with Cyndy Bittinger, executive director of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation in Plymouth, Vt., speaking on Grace Coolidge.

The Hildene Winter History Series is co-sponsored by the University of Vermont. Hildene’s Museum Store will be open for a cup of coffee and a snack before the event and plentiful parking is available.

7 pm. Free. Route 7A, Manchester, Vt. For further information please call 802-362-1788 or info@hildene.org.

Bennington County’s Regional Branding Steering Committee will host a champagne reception to kick off the region’s ground-breaking new branding efforts. The Shires of Vermont is intentionally inclusive; a name that unites, rather than divides Bennington County. Identification of the area as a larger destination increases the area’s marketability exponentially. The term shires is used to identify a county seat. Bennington County is the only Vermont county with two county seats; Bennington and Manchester.

“The Launch” will take place on January 9, at 5:30 pm at the Arlington Inn Barn on Route 7A. Business owners and interested area residents are welcome to attend. RSVP by January 3 to 802.375.6532. Space is limited.

Auguste Rodin’s sculpture of Man with a Serpent is the subject of the next Looking at Lunchtime Talk at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Danielle Steinmann, assistant curator of education at the Clark, will lead this free half-hour gallery talk on a famous sculpture with an interesting “family” history.

“I was almost hoping you wouldn’t like it, as I would like to have had it myself,” wrote Sterling Clark on June 25, 1914, to his brother Stephen. The note accompanied Sterling’s gift of Rodin’s Man with a Serpent. Years later when the brothers were no longer on speaking terms, Stephen sold the sculpture to a dealer. To keep the relative peace between the estranged brothers, a secret deal was struck and Sterling once again purchased the sculpture, this time keeping it for himself.

Thursday, January 10, at 12:30 pm. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303.

Dorset Library’s winter book discussion series begins with “The Rise of the English Novel.” Scholar Eric Bye secured a grant from the Vermont Humanities Council for the council and will lead the discussions.

Tuesday, January 8, 10 am. For information on attending please contact Barbara Howland, 802-867-5376. Attendance is limited to 25, there is no charge for attending.

Just came back from the Snowshoe demo and had a blast! Okay, it’s not as exciting as tearing down black diamond trails, but the landscape and scenery make it well worth your time. In fact it’s a rather peaceful and calming activity. Plus, due to a typo somewhere along the way, this is extended an extra day. Now for tomorrow, Sunday, you get another chance if you missed out. There are a variety of shoes at different sizes, which will fit anyone from toddler to adult. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of this FREE event. Below is the previous information, updated to include Sunday.

Snowshoe Demo Day will take place at the Park-McCullough House in North Bennington, and is presented by Nature’s Closet. Come for snowshoeing demonstrations and the opportunity to try out snowshoes.

Saturday, January 5 and 6, from 11 am to 3 pm. Call 802-447-5076 for more information.