Borrington? Not at the Bay Spring Community Center

If you’ve lived in Barrington for very long, you’ve probably heard the town referred to as “Borrington.”  Years ago, when we moved here from Boston, friends asked my wife and me the rhetorical question: you mean you’re moving to Borrington?

Well, we did.  And it’s not.  

For a prime example of this town’s non-boringness, I give you the Bay Spring Community Center.  An inspired group of volunteers strive to enrich the community through social, artistic, cultural, and educational programming through this center.  Below is a sampling of some of the programs run at the Community Center.

The Local Brew Coffeehouse established a stage for musicians, poets, storytellers,  and soon, dancers.  Performers at Local Brew have been highly local (as in neighborhood bands like Bay Spring Folk) and regional (such as the Gnomes and French Roast).  John Wood and yours truly organize these shows.

Story Cafe hosts weekly classes in which children learn the craft of storytelling, first to each other and then on stage.  Connie Crawford, a theater professor at Brown, teaches the sessions.  Speaking as someone who’s seen Connie’s students in action, I can tell you that they learn a lot and have fun!

Professor Gizmo, aka Gary Deslaurier, hosted Kids Craft Saturdays throughout the winter.  Under Gizmo’s playful attention, kids gathered at the Community Center for a couple of hours of free-build with recycled materials (the boys usually devised ray guns and other weaponry... harmless of course!).

“Be the change you want to see in the world,” is a Gandhi quote that fits the goings on at the Bay Spring Community Center.  It seems that residents of that part of town want to have art, music, education, and fun as part of their community.  So they make it happen.  Join in!  Come to the next Local Brew Coffeehouse on May 21.  Story Cafe kids go on at 6:30, musicians begin at 7:00. 

Check out www.bsccri.org or friend them on Facebook at BSCC - Bay Spring Community Center.