Frank’s Life — You Can’t Deny It …

Frank’s Life — You Can’t Deny It …
Tom Santopietro will talk about Frank Sinatra’s life and career as both singer and actor, on June 4.

Tom Santopietro returns to Kent (in a virtual fashion) for a Zoom talk hosted by the Kent Memorial Library in Kent, Conn., on Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m. about Frank Sinatra’s music and movies.

A journalist, Santopietro has also spent much of his life managing Broadway shows. He is uniquely able to write with an insider’s insights on theater, as he has done in his books on Barbara Cook, Doris Day, “The Sound of Music” and, most recently, choreography, in his book “Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer’s Journey,” written with and about Bob Avian (a Kent resident and close friend of Santpietro).

Frank Sinatra is a particular favorite of Santopietro’s, whose third book was “Sinatra in Hollywood.” In his Zoom talk, he said in an email interview last week, “I’m going to talk about Frank as both singer and actor — and about his personal life.

“I’m not going to play recordings because Zoom is visual, but I am going to show two different film clips, from ‘Pal Joey’ and ‘From Here to Eternity.’”

The presentation (which was organized by Santopietro’s childhood friend Lucy Pierpont, who does marketing  and events for the Kent Memorial Library) should be about 35 or 40 minutes long, and then Santopietro will answer questions and people can share their own stories about how their lives intersected with Ol’ Blue Eyes. 

To sign up for the Zoom, go to the library website at www.kentmemoriallibrary.org, click on “events and exhibits” at the top of the home page, then find June 4 on the calendar and click on “A Fun Talk About the Great Frank Sinatra.”

Latest News

Falls Village film showcases downtown history

The newest video by Eric Veden follows a tour of town led by Bill Beebe, pictured above, and Judy Jacobs.

Provided

FALLS VILLAGE — Eric Veden’s 36th installment of his Falls Village video series includes an October 2024 Housatonic Heritage walk through downtown Falls Village led by Judy Jacobs and Bill Beebe.

In the video, participants gather at the Depot, home of the Falls Village–Canaan Historical Society. As the group sets out along Railroad Street, Jacobs notes that the Depot was constructed between 1842 and 1844 to serve the newly established railroad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gratitude and goodbyes at Race Brook Lodge
Duo al Rouh (Rabbi Zachi Asher, left, and Zafer Tawil) will explore the crossroads of art and justice, music and spirituality at The Gratitude Festival at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield.
Provided

With the property up for sale and its future uncertain, programming is winding down at the iconic Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield, Massachusetts. But there are still events on the calendar designed to carry music lovers through the winter and into spring.

From Friday, Nov. 21, to Monday, Nov. 24, Race Brook Lodge will hold its Fall Gratitude Festival. Celebrating the tail end of fall before the colder depths of winter, the festival features an eclectic mix of music from top-notch musicians.

Keep ReadingShow less
Holiday craft fairs and DIY workshops: a seasonal preview

Ayni Herb Farm will be one of themany local vendors at Foxtrot’s Farm & Friends Market Nov. 22-23 in Stanfordville.

Provided

As the days grow shorter and the first hints of winter settle in, galleries, studios, barns, village greens and community halls across the region begin their annual transformation into warm, glowing refuges of light and handmade beauty.

This year’s holiday fairs and DIY workshops offer chances not just to shop, but to make—whether you’re mixing cocktails and crafting ornaments, gathering around a wreath-making table, or wandering markets where makers, bakers, artists and craftspeople bring their best of the season. These events are mutually sustaining, fueling both the region’s local economy and the joy of those who call it home.

Keep ReadingShow less