The Speaker Series at the South Danbury Church is starting up again, with a roster of lively presentations that promise to be both educational and entertaining. “It’s pretty clear that our community enjoys a wide range of topics, from the locally-focused to the international; from the traditional to the up-to-the-moment,” says Kathy Neustadt, one of the series’ organizers. “We’re very excited about how varied our offerings are for this next year, especially the fall season. And our presenters are really interesting folks.”

On October 10, local historian, accomplished musician, and skilled lecturer Fred Ogmundson will speak on My Favorite Characters, sharing stories about local personalities he’s known and learned from in the North Wilmot area over the past 40-plus years.

“I’ve always been interested in the people who were connected to an older way of life – who grew up as country people, connected to farm life,” he says, “folks who developed a certain sophistication and a strong identity.” Come hear Fred tell stories like Why Mud Season Ain’t What It Used To Be, and bring your own tales about your favorite characters.

Meanwhile, How Did Your Garden Grow? is the title of the presentation on October 24 (originally scheduled for September 19, but postponed due to the passing of South Danbury elder Audrey Curren). Did you have oversized snowy-white cauliflowers this year? A bountiful pea crop? Who had black rot on their tomatoes? Or powdery mildew on their zucchini?

Before we forget, let’s take the opportunity to share our gardening successes and failures. We’ll also be joined by Danbury’s own Janette Hillsgrove, a Master Gardener from the UNH Cooperative Extension Service Merrimack County, so bring questions and harvested items for Show and Tell.

The talks begin at 6:30 PM, with light refreshments served afterwards, and are free to the public (although donations will, of course, be accepted). The South Danbury Christian Church (an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ) is located at 1411 US Route 4 in South Danbury. For more information about the spring series, call 768-3191.