VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL AWARDS $33K IN GRANTS

A total of 11 grants will support the creation of new work by local artists in seven Vermont counties.

Montpelier – The Vermont Arts Council is pleased to announce its Creation Grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2013. A total of $33,000 will be awarded to 11 Vermont artists in seven counties, each of whom will receive $3,000 to support new work.

A panel with experience in curating, producing and creating art selected the following grantees from a pool of over 100 applicants:

·         Brooke Ciardelli, White River Junction

·         Jay Craven, Barnet

·         Alisa Dworsky, Montpelier

·         Serenity Forchion, Brattleboro

·         Peter Miller, Waterbury

·         Rachel Moore, Stowe

·         Erik Nielsen, Brookfield

·         April Ossmann, Post Mills

·         Jim Schley, South Strafford

·         Bronwyn Sims, Brattleboro

·         Gabriel Tempesta, Craftsbury

Click here to learn more about the work these grants will support. Click here for a complete list of FY2013 grantees by county.

Double 0 Monarchs

Jones takes shootout loss despite 38 save shutout performance

Worcester, Massachusetts - The Manchester Monarchs lost a goaltending duel against the Worcester Sharks, a 1-0 shootout loss, at the DCU Center on Sunday afternoon, marking their second straight game without scoring a goal.

Manchester (5-2-0-1) leads the Atlantic Division with 11 points.  Worcester (4-4-1-1) is tied with the St. John’s IceCaps (5-6-0-0) for second place in the Atlantic Division with 10 points each.

“(Alex) Stalock was able to keep pucks in front of him until the shootout,” said Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris .  “He competed for every puck and his teammates cleared any attempt beyond the initial shot.  The game was hard fought.  (Martin) Jones was solid for us too but Worcester scored three in the shootout to our two.  The Sharks clearly had us hemmed in during the third period.  They outshot us and they were swarming for the final 20 minutes.  There are plenty of positive things we are doing but those things tend to get overlooked when you come out on the short end of the stick.  We still mustered a point but two is better.”

Monarchs Sign Matczak

Defenseman inks professional tryout agreement with Manchester

Manchester, New Hampshire - The Manchester Monarchs, top affiliate of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings, have signed defenseman Mike Matczak to a professional tryout agreement, announced Director of Hockey Operations Hubie McDonough on Sunday.

Matczak, 24, has skated in eight games for the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings tallying one assist for one point. Last season, Matczak appeared in 61 games with the Wings tallying 11 goals and 24 assists for 25 points and 35 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-11, 197- pound defenseman made his professional debut with the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms on April 2, 2011. The native of Sewell, New Jersey appeared in four games for the Phantoms during the 2010-11 season and was held off the score sheet with zero points and penalty minutes. Matczak spent four seasons (2007-10) in the NCAA playing for the Yale University Bulldogs. He appeared in 114 games with the Bulldogs and registered eight goals and 31 assists for 39 points and 82 penalty minutes.

The Monarchs return to action against the Worcester Sharks at the DCU Center at 3:00p.m. on Sunday, November 4. Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail online on the Monarchs Radio Network at WTPL The Pulse 107.7 FM, WGIRAM.com and at ManchesterMonarchs.com, presented by Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

Austin & Ally "Parents & Punishments" Premieres Tonight Nov. 4th

Disney channel series Austin & Ally will be premiering an all new episode tonight at 8pm entitled "Parents & Punishments". In this all new episode of Austin & Ally, Ally accidentally gives away all of the instruments in the Sonic Boom so Ally, Austin, Trish and Dez decide to host a fundraiser in order to get the money needed to buy the instruments back. However, when Austin gets grounded for bad grades, the gang is left needing a backup plan.

Austin & Ally stars Ross Lynch as Austin, Laura Marano as Ally, Raini Rodriguez as Trish and Calum Worthy as Dez.

Photographs in this article are credited to the Disney channel.

Weather Watch: Possible Major Nor'easter Storm

North East, USA - There is a possible Nor'easter to hit the East Coast in an area that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy on Monday, October 29th. The Eastern seaboard should be on alert as to see how this storm turns out as we are still around 3 days. We advise everyone to stay tuned to the weather channel as this possible major Nor'easter could bring high winds, rain and even snow to parts of the North East. Rocky Coast News will keep an close eye on this possible major Nor'easter to hit Wednesday into Thursday.

Those in this area should take steps to prepare incase this possible Nor'easter develops into a major storm along the East Coast.

Weather maps credited to theWeatherChannel.com below.

‘Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together’ Generates Nearly $23 Million

Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims

New York – The American Red Cross and NBCUniversal announced November 3rd that “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” a live, one-hour benefit telethon, generated nearly $23 million in support of victims impacted by Hurricane Sandy. A record number of individual donations by phone, text and online were accepted by the American Red Cross during the 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. time period beginning on Friday, November 2, 2012. The volume of website and phone traffic exceeded previous benefit telethons in support of the American Red Cross over the last five years.

“We are incredibly grateful and humbled by this outpouring of support for those who are suffering as a result of Superstorm Sandy,” said American Red Cross Chief Marketing Officer Peggy Dyer. “Our preliminary results of nearly $23 million raised are an extraordinary example of how the American people pull together in times of disaster. Their generous donations will go directly to those in need, and we urge the public to continue to give. We also thank the dedicated and talented team at NBCUniversal for the millions of people they have helped through this telethon."

American Red Cross Escalates Massive Relief Operation

Washington - The American Red Cross relief operation for Hurricane Sandy continues to grow each day, with more than 4,000 disaster workers providing shelter, food and relief supplies, particularly in hard-hit New Jersey and New York.

“Our entire fleet of response vehicles and thousands of Red Crossers are on the ground helping people affected by Sandy,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “ We're driving through neighborhoods in all five boroughs in New York and parts of New Jersey to provide food, water, supplies and comfort.”

Fall Back Tonight

Remember to turn your clocks back one hour tonight!

Tom Weakley the Storyteller Puts It in Writing

Manchester, Vermont - Join acclaimed Vermont storyteller Tom Weakley on Saturday, November 17 at 3:00pm at the Mark Skinner Library for a talk, "The Storyteller Puts It in Writing". Weakley will read from his new book "The Stories" to illustrate the range of theme, structure and point-of-view from story to story. He will talk about the difference between oral and literary stories as well as his enjoyment of jocular tales. Weakley will answer any questions from the audience about the storytelling creative process.

In a career that spanned three decades, crossed continents and earned national awards, Vermont storyteller Tom Weakley entertained adult and family audiences throughout New England and beyond.  His down-home, poignant and often hilarious stories celebrate the wit, wisdom, history and foibles of his family and Vermont neighbors.

Weakely will autograph personal copies of books or CDs brought by audience members and copies will be available for purchase.  Fifteen percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Mark Skinner Library.

The library is located at 48 West Rd. in Manchester. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Info: 802.362. 2607 or events@markskinnerlibrary.org.

Attitash & Wildcat Mountain Head to Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo, November 8 – 11

Annual Event Marks Beginning of Ski Season and Offers Opportunities for Discounts and Deals

Bartlett & Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire – Once again, both Attitash Mountain Resort and Wildcat Mountain will be among the many ski resorts attending the upcoming annual Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo. Skiers and riders all over New England will gather in Boston to get excited for winter and to see or buy the latest gear, plan ski vacations, find one-of-a-kind lift ticket deals, and hear what’s new from attending resorts. “All skiers and snowboarders, as well as the ski areas and vendors that return year after year, look forward to this show,” said Attitash Mountain Resort Event Coordinator Corey Madden. When referring to the enthusiasm and excitement of attending skiers and snowboarders, Madden added, “The Boston Ski Show is hugely popular and all of us from Attitash and Wildcat working the show are as equally excited to talk about skiing, snow, what’s new, and to share what we are offering for special show discounts and deals this season.”

Both Attitash & Wildcat head to Boston continuing to message the vertical, value, & variety offered with season passes, discount cards, lift tickets, and gift cards valid for use at the two Mount Washington Valley ski areas located only 20 minutes apart. Representatives from both mountains will also be sharing what’s new including the free learning area, surface lift, and relocated Abenaki Park area at Bear Peak ; a surface lift installed at Wildcat; and snowmaking improvements, value-based Learn2 Ski or Snowboard initiatives and a new stunt airbag that will be set-up and scheduled for use regularly throughout the season at both mountains.