WEST BRATTLEBORO - Congregation Shir Heharim, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, begins once-a-week Hebrew school classes on Sept. 8 for youngsters starting at age 6.
The curriculum includes Hebrew language, as well as Jewish studies: culture, history, music, prayers, beliefs, and customs. The school meets on Monday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:45 at the synagogue at 151 Greenleaf St. Although designed for the children of members, the school will accept new students for one year even if their parents are not yet members.
Students planning to become bar- or bat-mitzvah need to be enrolled in the school for at least one full year prior to their bar/bat mitzvah year. Registration forms and a $100 deposit must be sent in by the end of July to guarantee admission.
For more information and for registration forms, contact Faith Schuster at 802-464-2632 or [email protected].
Tom Franks' recent open letter explained why we resigned from the Brattleboro Food Co-op Board of Directors, so I won't repeat what he said. But I do want to thank those shareholders who voted for me, apologize to you for not serving out my full term, and further explain...
College news • Sasha-Renee Daniels of Brattleboro, James Harvey of Brattleboro, and Evan Diamond of East Dummerston all recently earned degrees from Union Institute & University. • Irene Shamas, 18, of Putney, has graduated with distinction from Bard College at Simon's Rock with an Associate of Arts degree in...
Interested in serving on the Development Review Board? The town seeks candidates toward an appointment of a new board member to serve out the remainder of Steve Jarosak's one-year alternate term, which expires in March 2015. To advance your name, send a letter of interest to [email protected] or Dummerston Selectboard, 1523 Middle Rd., East Dummerston, VT, 05346. The DRB hears and decides certain development applications as spelled out in the Dummerston Zoning Bylaw. A position description is posted at dummerston.org/drb.
Author Pamela Moses visits Village Square Booksellers on Thursday, July 31, at 7 p.m. to discuss her debut novel, “The Appetites of Girls,” out from Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam. For the audience that made J. Courtney Sullivan's “Commencement,” a New York Times bestseller, comes a novel about women making their way in the world. Self-doubting Ruth is coddled by her immigrant mother who uses food to soothe and control. Defiant Francesca believes her heavy frame shames her Park Avenue society mother.
A documentary one reviewer calls “the 'Inconvenient Truth' of the health movement” is featured in the third week of the Latchis Theatre's inaugural “Off the Beaten Path” film series, which continues Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, with screenings of “Fed Up” at 4 p.m. Showcasing recent films that might have slipped beneath the radar but shouldn't have, Off the Beaten Path aims to cure the summer blockbuster blues. “Fed Up,” organizers say, might even change your life. Following...
St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro celebrates the completion of the Chapel of Mary Magdalene with a weekend of events July 26 and 27. All are welcome. The chapel was renovated principally on the strength of a gift of Helen Daly of Brattleboro, who died November 2013. The church wrapped up construction and renovation last fall, though one piece remains: the triptych icon created by Zachary Roesemann of Brattleboro. Now, to celebrate the completion of the icon and the chapel,
Thanks to very generous sponsors, golfers, volunteers, and online auction bidders, Grace Cottage Hospital's fifth annual Tee It Up for Health raised more than $36,500 for our patient care fund. Thirty teams participated in the tournament on June 21, at the Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain. The winning team was David Allbee, Chris Cobb, Martin Hill, and Lester Lynch. The second-place team was John Streeter, Coop Bills, Linda-Jane Parson, and Scott Cleary. In third place were Doug Dannemiller, Jim Lindsay,
The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a proposed plan for greenhouse gas mitigation: the electricity sector must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The rules are set on a state-by-state basis. I am in favor of cutting carbon emissions, but the EPA plan is arbitrary, ineffective, and political. The abatement standards are plain backwards: states that already have a clean-energy mix have to do a higher percent of abatement than states that burn large amounts of coal.
The Windham County Breastfeeding Coalition is set to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1 to 7. This year's theme, celebrated in 175 countries, is “Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal – For Life!” Joining in locally are breastfeeding supporters from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the Vermont Department of Health, the Brattleboro chapter of Babywearing International, and others. The theme asserts the importance of increasing and sustaining the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. Organizers say they're thinking globally and acting locally. The World...
Recent comments by veteran Bob Miller of Brattleboro [“The real scandal: Congress refuses to fully fund the VA at a time when the number of veterans needing care has skyrocketed,” Editorial Observer, June 4] and by Deborah Amdur [“A big responsibility: Head of White River Junction VA hospital visits Brattleboro clinic, reassures veterans,” News, July 9], for two years the Medical Center Director in White River Junction, praise the care of VA patients under treatment but do not shed as...
It's fun to go to other people's houses, to see how they set themselves up in their homes, the way they arrange their things, and what they organize their lives around. It's fun to see what's outside their houses, too (cities, towns, isolation) and what the landscape is like (prairies, deserts, oceans, mountains, green or brown or blue). It's fun to listen to the places where other people live, hearing the sounds from quiet wind or rain or chirping to...
The Selectboard set tax rates July 1 for fiscal year 2015. Members voted to set a town tax rate of 0.8983 and accept an education tax rates of $1.5600 per $100 of assessed value for residential property and $1.4560 for non-residential property, as provided by the Vermont Department of Taxes. Municipal Manager Willis “Chip” Stearns III told the board that financing for two highway vehicles amounted to $350,000, with $15,000 coming out of the budget. Members approved financing $350,000 for...
Thank you for this article about the closing of At the Oasis (my store) and Verde, but please accept a correction. Your piece contained an accurate quote from me, but concluded from what I said that economic concerns were not the reason for my choosing to close my store. Finances were certainly not the only reason for closing, but the difficult economy and the pull of online and nearby box-store shopping were major factors in my decision to shut down.
Main Street Arts children's theater camp presents “Pumpkin Fiesta” on Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, at 2 p.m. at the Hepburn/Ostebo barn, 27 Pleasant St. This dramatization of Caryn Yacowitz's fable follows a week of daily practice by the 9- to 13-year-old theater campers under the direction of Mary Hepburn and Gordon Korstange. The children will also create the props and set pieces, and learn original songs written by Hepburn. “Pumpkin Fiesta” follows the competition between Old Juana...
An open letter to the shareholders of the Brattleboro Food Co-op and the general community: Recently, I and another individual resigned from the Board of Directors of the Brattleboro Food Co-op. It was made clear to us that seven of the nine other board members believed that we had violated the board code of conduct and their trust. While we disagreed with the majority of the board, we did not believe we would be able to change their minds. The...
It works “at this time” was the operative phrase used by Hannah O'Connell when describing the generator at Pleasant Valley Pump Station's tenuous remaining life. The Selectboard approved the purchase and installation of a new generator on July 15 O'Connell, the town's water and highway superintendent, told the board that replacing the dying generator - “a critical piece of town infrastructure” - would cost approximately $22,000, including labor. Pleasant Valley Pump Station also houses a radio tower. Without the generator,
“When you are through changing, you are through.” (Bruce Barton) Jamie Margolis, you and Eva have embraced change and grown. Yet never say never, as you have implied in your beautiful article. You are young, and vibrant, and you will experience countless more wonderful changes. Difficult as leaving your current world in Brattleboro will be, many of us will welcome you back to Israel with open arms. Thank you for writing this beautiful piece.
The School Board of Directors continues its effort to establish a reserve fund after learning that as of June 30 the year's budget is apparently overspent by $101,000. According to draft meeting minutes, posted at www.windhamcentralboard.org/school-boards/townshend, Windham Central Supervisory Union Chief Financial Officer Victor “Bud” DeBonis reported that special education expenses represent the greatest portion of that sum. The balance sheet is preliminary, as it had yet to be audited, he said on July 14. “Some money will need to...
We are writing in support of Becca Balint for state senator from Windham County. We have known Becca for almost 20 years, throughout her tenure as co-director of Saltash Mountain Camp at Farm and Wilderness Camps, as a junior-high teacher at various schools in Windham County, and as a wife, a mother, a community member, a Brattleboro Town Meeting representative, a member of SeVEDS (Southeast Vermont Economic Development Strategies), and now as a candidate for public office. Becca is one...
What a great example of the flexibility of renewable-energy sources like solar power. I couldn't think of a better use for that piece of land. The fact is, we have more than enough land in the U.S. to eventually supply our country with all of the energy we need via solar and wind.
The good news: town search committees tasked with choosing a new town manager can spot great candidates. The bad news: other communities have snapped up the great candidates ahead of Brattleboro. The Selectboard announced at its regular July 15 board meeting that it is ready to proceed with the third round of its town manager search. Board Chair David Gartenstein told the public that the board reopened the search for the second time in February. The town received 43 applications...
The Selectboard has named five people to a new working group to investigate the state's new Windham County Economic Development Program (WCEDP), which is bringing millions of dollars to the county over the next five years. Chair David Gartenstein proposed - and the board approved - Grants and Loans Manager Kim Ellison, Planning Director Roderick Francis, Planning Commission Vice-Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin, Selectboard Vice-Chair Kate O'Connor, and Appraiser Russell Rice as group members. Their task: identify needs and opportunities, build an...
Nearly all staff required to open school for the year are on contract. That's according to Dr. Steven B. John, Windham Central Supervisory Union superintendent, writing in his report for July. He said a few part-time openings were still open, including driver's education and elementary physical education and music. John's report details a variety of other items of interest to the community, including the success of summer camps, his takeaway on a recent education leadership institute conference, a ceremony to...
As the scent of cows mingled with that of roasting pork, Helen (Thurber) and Charlie Robb Sr. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last Saturday by renewing their vows then enjoying an ice cream social and pig roast at the family farm on Ames Hill Road. The Robbs were married on July 25, 1964, at the West Brattleboro Baptist Church. The church's current pastor, Steve McClelland, presided over the ceremony as their four children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild looked on.
Much attention has been given recently to the importance of the early years of a child's life. Many articles have cited statistics: 80 percent of a child's brain is developed by age 3 and 90 percent by age 5. Optimal brain development leads to children being more prepared for school and work and having better mental and physical health, even as an adult. Research demonstrates a 7-to-10-percent return on investment for every dollar spent. This fact helps to explain the...
The American Legion Baseball regular season has wrapped up, with Rutland Post 31 clinching first place in the Southern Division and Brattleboro Post 5 in second place. Lake Region finished strong to clinch third, and Bellows Falls Post 37 nosed out Hartford Post 26 on the final weekend of the season for the remaining spot. The top four teams in the Northern and Southern divisions advance to the state tournament, which begins July 24 at Castleton State College and at...
With all of its hills, Vermont is not the easiest place to bike. Even in places like Burlington and Brattleboro, encountering a hill at some point in one's travels is inevitable - and the difficulty can create an impediment to alternative forms of transportation. But one woman in Bellows Falls thinks it's a perfect place to bike, and she has backed up that idea with a plan that has become a reality. Now in its second year, the Bellows Falls...
Laurence and Carol (Hoard) Lynch Sr. are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married July 25, 1964, in Angola, N.Y., by the Rev. Clifford Tobin, minister of UCC of Angola. The couple honeymooned at Niagara Falls. The best man and matron of honor at the wedding were Donald and June Lynch. The couple have two children: Laurence Jr. and his wife, Carol A., of Putney; and Lori Chase and husband, Rodney Sr., of Newfane. They also have four grandchildren:
Warming up for its big Iron Horse gig two nights later, the Alex Snydman Trio performs in Wendy's Concert Series in Guilford on Thursday, July 24. The trio consists of percussionist Snydman with Los Angeles native pianist Brian Havey and bassist Tyler Heydolph. Snydman has performed at major jazz clubs and festivals on the East and West coasts with his own groups and as a sideman, sharing the stage with Charles Neville, Avery Sharpe, Miro Sprague, Tatum Greenblatt, Joe Sanders,
Three years after its gutting by fire, the Brooks House is heading into the home stretch of a $24 million renovation. On a walk last week through the historic 80,000 square-foot building, one could see the amazing progress made in the past four months. Wall framing still exposed in March is clad in drywall. Rows of windows fill their frames. Tile was being installed on the floor of the building's new, two-story atrium. Apartments boast cabinets, carpeting, and plumbing fixtures.
Yellow Barn Music School and Festival wraps up its 45th summer season with special concerts set for the final weeks of its successful 2014 run. Highlighted are the work of Chinese-born American Lei Liang, Yellow Barn's composer-in-residence; and Gao Hong, from Luoyang, China, whom Yellow Barn Executive Director Catherine Stephan says is coming in as one of the world's most acclaimed pipa players. Yellow Barn, an international center for chamber music, notes on its website that it “encourages discovery in...
Twilight Music continues its 12th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues, and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, July 27, with an evening of the accordion/guitar driven dance music of Louisiana by Planet Zydeco. Zydeco music is characterized by nimble accordion playing backed by a driving rhythm section. For the past 11 years, Planet Zydeco has been bringing the dance hall music of Louisiana to clubs and festivals throughout New...
A filmmaker with local roots - and who strongly believes in the stories he wants to tell - will return to the area to screen his short documentary and narrative films to raise funds for a coal-mining folktale inspired by his own family history. Boston/New England Emmy award-winning filmmaker Jesse Kreitzer, a native of Marlboro, will screen his short films on Aug. 3 at the Latchis Theatre: “Lomax” (2014), a spirited reimagining of folklorist Alan Lomax's journey through the Mississippi...
Members of the Vermont community of academic, school and public libraries are united in our belief that an open and innovative Internet is essential to our nation's freedom of speech, educational achievement, economic vitality, and equal access to information. An open Internet - one whose networks are operated in a neutral manner without interfering with the transmission, services, applications, or content of Internet communications - is fundamental for libraries to fulfill their mission. That mission is to provide students, government...