Dear Editor:

The sun has set and the thousands of tiny lights have come on at the Opera House. I am alone, for a moment, with the doors for tonight’s (Dec. 22) Community Potluck opening in an hour. There is a special peace and beauty inside this old Opera House at this moment, and yet it resonates with the sounds and sights of the season.

Forty-four trees with lights twinkling will welcome tonight’s community members. Over the past few weeks we have all been witness to the constantly changing decorations and delights provided by set designer and technical director Kevin Kiley. What a gift it is to have him in our midst.

As if the trees alone were not more than enough to fill us with the joy of the season, the past 10 days at the Opera House have also been filled with 29 magical gingerbread creations, the voices of the Y-Arts chorus and dozens of young dancers, Mark Phillips and the Community Band’s music of the season, brave and dazzling piano students young and old, a surprise solo by Susie Edwards, an appearance by the gingerbread man, the music of Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz & Swing Quartet, sensational food prepared by Carrie Langlois and the Friends of the Opera House for the Dough Ball, more than a thousand visitors to the Gingerbread Spectacular, donations from dozens of local businesses in support of the Dough Ball’s silent auction, hundreds of neighbors and friends raising a glass to the memory of our town doctor, John Andrews; and just last weekend a 1920s Knickerbocker Group holiday party, which included an extraordinary donation by Knickerbocker of $10,000 in support of three of the region’s great charities The Food Bank, the Fuel Assistance Fund and Food for Thought.

As the Opera House turns the lights out on its 120th year, there is much to be thankful for including, above all, the steady and enthusiastic support of this community. Thank you everyone for your continuing support and belief in all that happens here. Warmest wishes for the new year; we’ll see you back in this great old House soon.

Cathy Sherrill

Executive Director