Re Sheppard stands in the doorway of Creations by Krystie, located on 6 Elliot St. in Brattleboro.
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Back from the brink

Re Sheppard returns to work after a grueling journey through a life-saving treatment for lymphoma

BRATTLEBORO-Last February, local musician, circus arts performer, visual artist, and hair stylist Re Sheppard was in the throes of treating an aggressive lymphoma for the second time.

Fast-forward to December, and Loretta Palazzo, owner of Boomerang, a clothing store on Main Street, sent out an update: "Re Sheppard is back at work a couple of days a week!"...

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News

Jamaica set to decide fate of village school

JAMAICA-The town will soon hold a vote to determine whether to permanently close Jamaica Village School - a potential first step in making NewBrook Elementary in Newfane into a regional elementary school hub. The Selectboard has warned an article to be voted on by Australian ballot on Tuesday, Jan. 14, asking voters to authorize the board to close the school, "such that the Jamaica Village School would not be used for an elementary school or provision of direct educational service...

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Homeowners deal with fallout from property reappraisal

WINDHAM-The lag in the property tax credit afforded to homeowners may potentially have serious implications for some residents, as well as residents of other towns throughout the state. Earlier this year, for the first time since 2014, Windham underwent a reappraisal, some residents saw a dramatic increase in the value of their homes which, in turn, caused a large spike in their property tax bills. According to an article at vermontpublic.org, the homestead taxes paid by the median home in...

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Putney Mountain Hawkwatch reports 2024 was 'best year ever' for sightings

PUTNEY-Theresa Armata remembers the scene atop Putney Mountain the first time she came to join her local hawk-watching crew in 2010. "There were these people sitting in chairs staring at the sky," she said, reflecting on their welcoming presence. "And so on my next day off, I came again, and again, and again." She's been an official counter for the Putney Mountain Hawkwatch ever since, one of several making sure the tallies of raptor sightings are accurate. Their work, the...

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Lawmakers press governor to respond to homelessness

Five former and current state legislators who have worked on housing are calling on Gov. Phil Scott to declare a state of emergency to address Vermont's homelessness crisis. They say the crisis demands leadership and a coordinated approach at the highest level. "Vermont's homelessness crisis is an ongoing emergency just as was the flooding that hit Vermont in 2023 and 2024," said former state Sen. Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans, at a Dec. 23 press conference in South Burlington. Former state Sens.

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Rockingham scientist honored for bird studies

ROCKINGHAM-With his recognition as a fellow by the American Ornithological Society (AOS), Stephen Brown joins an elite group of 581 current AOS fellows, the highest level of achievement in ornithology. Brown has a doctorate in natural resources from Cornell University, an master's degree in natural resources from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Hampshire College. He serves as vice president of science at Manomet Conservation Sciences, headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Manomet spokesperson Dorie Klissas...

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Echoes

15 years ago • With expenses outpacing contributions, the decision of the First Baptist Church in Brattleboro to sell a valuable one-of-a-kind, 9-foot-tall Tiffany stained-glass window caught the national press attention and triggered an outpouring of donations and community concern. The 88-member church's finances have been ravaged by declining membership. • Recent repairs to the 100-year-old Rockingham Free Public Library have improved the environment for employees and patrons, but an architect has warned that, without an additional $1.9 million in...

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Celebrating Christmas, 3,000 miles from home

BRATTLEBORO-Albert Mikuski, now 88 years old, recalls an extraordinary story of how he and his brother, James, in two branches of military service, connected for Christmas across the countryside in France in 1959, at the height of the Cold War. "Think about it," said Mikuski. "How many men or women in that era had the opportunity to spend Christmas together over 3,000 miles from home? Two small-town boys, both in the service, seeing one another in France." He shook his...

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Advocates at edge of housing crisis urge lawmakers: Do something

-The state's housing crisis will be a top priority in the upcoming legislative session, and housing advocates from southeast Vermont want legislators to hear their concerns. At a Dec. 9 Legislative Briefing, members of the Housing Coalition of Southeast Vermont - housing creators, housing service providers, economic developers, planners, landlords, and those who shelter people without homes - shared some of the challenges they face in their efforts to eliminate homelessness and increase housing in the area. State Reps. Mollie...

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