Apple Slices Newsletter Summer 2010
A Note From Donna
This is a day of new beginnings! After two years of meetings, grant-writing, gathering documentation and planning, we are heading to the Grafton Town House to begin the next chapter in the life of Apple Tree Arts! The floors have been sanded and refinished, and just last week, we moved our administrative offices to the second floor of this historic building!
Your words of support, your contributions, your encouragement and time will continue to be integral to our ability to move forward with this extensive renovation project. We are extremely grateful to all of you. We cannot do this without our community, and you have shown that you are behind us.
Come visit us on the second floor and view the great hall! Imagine music and theatre taking place in this magnificent space! Imagine wonderful classes for people of all ages taking place here and impacting the lives of everyone in our community. The arts vitalize communities, enrich individuals, and connect us all! We invite you to share our vision and continue to work with us to make the arts come alive in the Town House!
Donna Blanchard, Executive Director
Grafton Townhouse Update
Progress continues on the restoration of the Grafton Town House. Phase 1 (the roof) of the overall project is now complete, and it looks beautiful! The contractor for the work associated with Phase 2 (fire escapes) has been hired and is slated to begin work in mid-June. Funding for Phase 3 (accessibility) has now been secured through a recent unanimous town meeting vote.
An application requesting variances that would allow the building to not meet full ADA compliance has been submitted to the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board for their review and approval. We expect to hear back from them later this month. We are also anxiously awaiting an announcement from the
Massachusetts Historical Commission regarding Round 16 Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund grant recipients. If awarded, this grant money will be used to offset the Community Preservation Act funds that were approved at town meeting for the accessibility phase of the restoration effort. Stay tuned!
Paul Scarlett, President
Board of Directors
Music Gives Soul to the Universe
Plato believed that music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. That's certainly a tall order, but for those of us who love music it sounds just about right. Why not add more music to your life this summer? At Apple Tree Arts, registration is under way for a wide variety of programs for all ages. Come join us!
Still humming the haunting melodies from their recent performance of John Rutter's beautiful Requiem presented in memory of Grafton's founders on the occasion of the town's 275th anniversary, members of the Apple Tree Arts Community Chorus hope you will join them for two great concerts this summer -- on June 19 in Worcester for a community chorus festival, and on July 3 on Grafton Common with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra. See sidebar for more information. Go to www.neacca.org for tickets to the June 19 festival. The July 3 concert -- to be partially sponsored by Savers Bank -- is free!
Apple Tree Arts Launches A New Website
When Lisa Scarlett is not on stage somewhere sharing her enthusiasm for theatre with young actors and actresses, she's busy sharing her computer expertise with our staff. Most recently Lisa, Apple Tree Arts' theatre arts director, has been holed up in our business office building us a new website! Some fine-tuning is still in order, but the site is now up and running for all to see. Come visit us at www.appletreearts.org and see for yourself how much our great organization has to offer!
Apple Tree Arts Receives Musikgarten Award
For the fourth year in a row, Apple Tree Arts has received an Exemplary Program Certificate from Musikgarten, the preeminent early childhood music education company. The certificate is given each spring to celebrate the Musikgarten teachers who are benefiting children and families in their communities the most through a breadth of Musikgarten curricula. "We are thrilled to achieve this major milestone for the work of our early childhood music department," says Apple Tree Arts education director Jan Barlow. "The program gives us the tools to teach children and their parents the benefits of early childhood music and movement." Apple Tree Arts teaches early childhood music to about 1,000 children through its course offerings and outreach programs in 40 preschools and day care centers throughout south central Massachusetts. Courses are also taught at ten Head Start sites.
It's Not Too Late to Respond to Our Spring Appeal
Thanks to everyone who has responded to our spring appeal for support! If you haven't already responded to our mailing, it's not too late to send us your gift. As a non-profit community organization for the arts, we depend on you to keep the arts alive in our communities. Every gift -- no matter how large or small -- is deeply appreciated. Thanks very much!
Looking ahead to next year, we're planning a new advertising book, to be used throughout our 2010-2011 musical year. Contact us if you'd like information on how to advertise your business with us -- and support the arts at the same time!
