Issue #486
For West Brattleboro artists, group ‘opens up the world’
Artists can be loners; craftspeople, too. But sitting in a meeting of the Brattleboro-West Arts (BWA) recently I was struck by the collaborative spirit, a palpable egoless camaraderie.
With tea and fabric artist Kris McDermet's killer cookies, we gather in the warm living room of a Federal-period home well-supplied with impressive art and craft. In the air is typical Vermont kindness.
Medicine for the body and soul
At the River Garden, opera-singer-turned-healer Donatella Moltisanti offers a glimpse into the therapeutic power of music
Can music really heal the physical body? “Leading scientific research says yes,” writes opera-singer-turned-healer Donatella Moltisanti. Moltisanti, a New York-based alternative wellness practitioner who calls herself a “soul healer,” writes that “whether singing lullabies or sacred chants, mothers and religious leaders have known for millennia what scientists are only...
Carol sing will usher in the holiday season
This year’s event will benefit Deerfield Valley Rescue
St. Mary's in the Mountains invites everyone to help welcome in the holiday season with its third annual Red Door Community Carol Sing on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 1. All are invited to join the community in celebrating the season, singing traditional carols and seasonal favorites, and enjoying...
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Against our religion
Dear IRS, You have sent us a demand for $1,269.12 because we have not signed up for health insurance. I contested this demand upon its arrival on Sept. 21, 2018. Allow me to explain the reasons why. Your agent suggested that we use Form 8965 to claim our exemption. While our religious belief is not specifically identified as an eligible exemption on the form, I will explain to you why we are indeed valid religious objectors to the Affordable Care...
Holiday doings
Christmas craft fair at Post 5 BRATTLEBORO - American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5 will hold its 25th annual Christmas craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 5, 32 Linden St. Thirty-five vendors are expected, and the kitchen will be open. All proceeds are used to support programs for veterans and their families. To inquire about being a vendor or for any other questions, call Lori Nelson at 802-380-6179. Strolling of the...
Trump’s most impervious wall: Melania?
A man like Donald Trump who can't see beyond himself is bound to run into a wall - and I don't mean the one he wants to build on the Mexican border. The Mueller investigation could be such a wall. With its possibilities of uncovering illegal collusion with a foreign nation, obstruction of justice stemming from the dismissal of James Comey, or other illegal financial manipulations, the investigation could well mean the unseating of President Trump. But the most impervious...
CSAs keep the local food coming
While the high summer growing season may be over, farmers in Windham County continue to offer fresh local food throughout the winter months - stored root crops, frozen meats, vegetables, and fruits, eggs, cheeses, preserved goods, and, to the delight of many, fresh greens and herbs. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) plans offer a discount to subscribers who buy shares at the beginning of the season, whether summer or winter. Winter CSAs are open for membership right now, but they all operate...
Milestones
Obituaries • Edward Kenneth Ball, 61, formerly of Hinsdale N.H. Died Oct. 11, 2018 at his home in Waterloo, S.C. He was born October 8, 1957 in Berkeley, Calif., to the late Kenneth Thomas Ball and his wife Edith Katheleen George. Ed had three children: Thomas Allen Ball (deceased), Jennifer Starr Toomey of Keene N.H., and Jessica Naomi Mount of Clarkdale, Ariz., plus several grandchildren. Ed's passion was the outdoors. He was happiest hunting, fishing, or training his Chesapeake Bay...
Christmas in Grafton Festival returns for second year
Organizers of the second annual Christmas in Grafton Festival on Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2 promise a dose of merriment to start the holiday season. Festive fun is on the menu, from horse-drawn hayrides through the village to cookie decorating and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The festival is full of free events, concerts and caroling, food and fun, holiday shopping, and more. On both days, festivities will include the annual Christmas Bazaar at the Grafton Chapel with...
Monthly Bingo returns to Compass School
Regular Thursday Night Bingo is returning to Bellows Falls, thanks to the fundraising efforts of Compass School's 11th grade class. Every year, Compass 11th-graders participate in an international trip to a Spanish speaking country in the developing world. Compass is committed to ensuring every student can go on this trip, regardless of family income. With more than 50 percent of Compass students eligible for free and reduced lunch, fundraising is essential. Compass School hosted Thursday night bingo at the school...
Cotton Mill Open Studio & Holiday Sale celebrates 20th anniversary
Cotton Mill artisans will open their studios for a weekend so the public can take a look behind the scenes of creative local businesses and meet the people behind them. In addition, the weekend-long Cotton Mill Open Studio and Holiday Sale, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, will showcase exquisite handmade products from jam, to fine arts, to functional crafts, all produced by seasoned and emerging artists from Windham County. The event also features live performances from the Vermont...
Fire budget for FY20 includes funds for training, health exams
For the past few years, Putney Fire Chief Tom Goddard has warned the public, and the Selectboard, that without new members, his department - and the town - could be in trouble. The Putney Fire Department's proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget reflects, in part, attempts to increase membership by helping current and potential firefighters afford training sessions - and stay healthy. Goddard appeared at the Oct. 24 regular Selectboard meeting to introduce the fire department's proposed budget. He noted it's...
Police budget down slightly for FY2020
Police Chief Michael Fitzgerald has good news about the Brattleboro Police Department's finances and operations. For Fiscal Year 2020, costs are going down by $1,125, signifying a 0.1 percent reduction from the department's FY19 budget. Revenue is also estimated to go down by just over 11 percent, but nearly all of this reduction will provide some relief to overworked officers. Fitzgerald appeared at the budget-related special Selectboard meeting on Nov. 13 to provide details and figures on his department's proposed...
Selectboard gets update on gravel pit purchase
The numbers are in: the Renaud Gravel Pit contains about 794,000 cubic yards of material available for future use. At the Oct. 24 regular Selectboard meeting, Board Vice-Chair Hugh Worden shared the results of the engineering study of the pit completed by Stevens & Associates. The rough measure is that the Renaud pit has about 100,000 cubic yards of gravel, 200,000 cubic yards of sand, and 400,000 cubic yards of ledge. That's just in the southern side of the pit.
Around the Towns
Cemetery closed for season BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department has announced that Morningside Cemetery has closed for the winter as of Nov. 16. The cemetery will re-open in the spring of 2019 as weather permits. For information, call 802-254-5808. Thanksgiving service in Guilford GUILFORD - St. Michael's Episcopal Church will have its annual Thanksgiving Day Morning Prayer service at Christ Church in Guilford. The service begins at 10 a.m., lasts about 30 minutes, and includes hymns. Selectboard...
Correction
In Youth Services' latest workforce development initiative, a youth-led screen printing business [“Program helps youth build their skills, futures,” [News, Nov. 7], youth workers get paid, but their adult mentors are volunteers. “It is actually essential to the relationship model that the mentors don't get paid, that they come to the process for the sake of the relationship and their communities,” explains Nanci Leitch, development director of Youth Services.
Grace Cottage Hospital participates in ‘Giving Tuesday’
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, a worldwide day of philanthropy during the season of gratitude. Grace Cottage Hospital asks its friends and neighbors to participate in its Giving Tuesday campaign on Nov. 27 and help fund a new cardiac monitoring system for its hospital patients. The price of the desired multi-unit system is $76,000. Thanks to 11 jump-starting contributions totaling $51,500, the Giving Tuesday campaign goal is set at $24,500. Such significant strides in telemetry technology...
Thanks to Windham-2-2 voters
I am grateful to the voters of District 2 in Brattleboro for once again electing me to represent you in the Vermont Legislature. It is truly a privilege to do so. I want to thank you for getting to the polls in such high numbers. Many voted early, and others on Election Day. The citizen engagement was wonderful to witness. I want to thank my campaign “buddies” who walked the streets and knocked on doors with me. It was such...
Friends of Brooks Memorial Library to hold holiday sale
The Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library will hold its 13th annual “like new” Holiday Book, CD, and DVD Sale on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 29 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Remainders will be on sale until Dec. 17. Most books in this sale are $3, with some special and coffee table books priced higher. This is a great opportunity for early holiday shopping at affordable prices.
Ownership of efficient killing machines should be a myth, not a right
Can anyone tell me why people need semi-automatic assault weapons, except to kill others and create mayhem? Can anyone tell me why the Second Amendment, which few people realize was historically connected to the right of settlers to kill Native Americans and take their lands, has anything to do with the assault rifles? The madman in the synagogue in October, the madmen shooting parishioners in churches, the madmen in schools blasting rapid-fire bursts tearing children apart - all were enabled...
‘Vermont welcomed me into this race’
More than 100,000 Vermonters voted for me in the election. I want to thank each and every person for their support. Five months ago, I decided to undertake one of the biggest challenges/opportunities of my life. Running a statewide campaign for the first time was daunting. Running a statewide campaign against an incumbent even more, considering that only once in the last 50-plus years has an incumbent been defeated in a Vermont statewide election. We assembled a team of volunteers...
No-roll cheddar cheese tart crust
I love making pie dough from scratch, and some days I even like making it without my food processor! But there is something to be said for a quick but flavorful crust that you can press into a pan without going through the messy step of rolling it out. This crust is tender, flaky, and very pronounced in cheddar flavor. It is a great base for a creamy quiche or a slightly savory fruit pie. It is really quick if...
Sandglass Theater presents Shoshana Bass’s performance of ‘When I Put On Your Glove’
On Nov. 23 and 24, at 7:30 p.m., When I Put On Your Glove by Shoshana Bass will play the stage at Sandglass Theater in Putney. Last year Eric Bass, Sandglass Theater's artistic director and Shoshana's father, took Autumn Portraits to the Lizé International Puppet Festival in Taiwan, then returned to Putney to play this signature piece at Sandglass Theater for the last time. This year, Shoshana will bring her adaptation of the work in When I Put On Your...
Guilford board mulls town role in Grange hall renovation
Some Selectboard members are reluctant to enter into a partnership with the Broad Brook Community Center without first weighing the costs. But though they will have voices in the discussion, it's not ultimately their decision but rather one voters may settle at town meeting. Sara Coffey and Don McLean, officials with the nonprofit Community Center, visited the Oct. 22 regular Selectboard meeting to talk to the Board about a possible partnership between the organization and the town. The Community Center,
The subtlest of holidays
Everything is broken. My favorite plate, my favorite pair of heels, my favorite suede boots, my favorite holiday... In the midst of modern-day Thanksgiving come platitudes like this one: “I'm so thankful that Bobby got a 100 on his being a super-perfect kid test that no one else was taking. Thank you, baby in a manger.” And I roll my eyes to such great lengths that my eye whites catch a random gathering of twigs in my unraked lawn on...
Lawmaker fears school will be ‘nibbled by ducks’ over Act 46
State Rep. Carolyn Partridge, D-Windham, wishes she could take back her “yea” vote on Act 46. “I'm afraid that all of the information and all of the intent of this was not made really clear at the time this was going through,” she said. Partridge's statement summarizes the frustrations for many opponents of Act 46, a 2015 law that implemented education reform in the state. Vermont schools are wrestling with keeping costs down amid shrinking school populations. Key to the...
Light snow on Tuesday leads to Arctic blast for Thanksgiving Day
Good day to you, hearty southern Vermonters! This week you are going to need to dig deep for that inherent brand of Vermont heartiness as we will all have to stand up to a legitimately major Arctic outbreak on Thanksgiving Day. Having said that, allow me to put this report into reverse and cover the days leading up to (and after) this week's major holiday. For Tuesday, low pressure tracking south of Long Island will bring a period of light...
Holiday donations needed for Kids in Coats fund
The winter chill is already upon us, and United Way of Windham County (UWWC) is supporting local families with warm winter outerwear through its Kids in Coats Fund. Community members make Kids in Coats Fund possible. In its third year, UWWC received 265 applications for more than 600 eligible children in Windham County for the program. Families apply from September through mid-October via their human service provider or the child's school. UWWC distributed $30,050 worth of vouchers this year, which...
Please help with blood shortage
The fall and winter can be a busy time full of fun activities and travel, but the same activities that bring joy can also negatively impact patients in need of lifesaving transfusions. In fact, right now, the American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage and has issued an urgent call for eligible donors of all blood types to give now and avoid delays in medical care for patients. Right now, blood donations are being distributed to hospitals faster...
BMAC explores addiction and recovery, honors those working in the field
In connection with the exhibit “If she has a pulse, she has a chance,” the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents three events having to do with addiction and recovery - a talk by photographer and recovery coach Michael Poster on Nov. 29, a reception honoring and thanking community members who support individuals and families in recovery on Dec. 4, and a panel discussion on the state of addiction and recovery in the Brattleboro area on Dec. 13. All three...
Guilford Center Stage wraps up season with ‘Broad Brook Anthology’
Broad Brook Anthology, a Play for Voices, by Guilford poet Verandah Porche, will be Guilford Center Stage's final production of the year. The production is in association with Monteverdi Artists Collaborative. There will be two performances this weekend: Saturday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 25, at 4 p.m., at Guilford Center Meeting House. General admission is $10 at the door. The work, based on recollections of Guilford elders, was first performed in 2011, as part of the...
48th annual Community Messiah Sing on Dec. 1 to benefit the homeless
Friends of Music at Guilford invites singers and music lovers in the Tri-State region to start their holiday season at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, with the 48th annual Community Messiah Sing, a benefit for the homeless. Centre Congregational Church, at 193 Main Street in Brattleboro, has been home for the Sing since 1982 and for a few prior seasons as well. Kenneth Olsson, conducting the Sing for a second season, is well known in the region as a...
‘The American myth of Thanksgiving’
I was so excited to speak with Rich Holschuh, who will be a regular guest on my radio show about the indigenous people of this area, as well as history, research, and some parts of the American story that are missing or that have holes to be filled in. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we wanted to talk about decolonizing Thanksgiving and how that American story is connected to Brattleboro. I've been pondering recently about Thanksgiving. On the one...
Stoking love and trust
I see him every six weeks or so. I insert myself into their lives on the pretext of helping, but truly it's this: if I don't get a regular dose of Henry, my toddling grandson, I will grow pale, old at heart. Life abundant, he's the son of wise, infinitely loving, roll-with-the-punches parents, and his father, my son, sets me awash with emotions visit after visit. To see one you parented turn around and parent is the cycle of life...
Thanksgiving table
Paula Melton: We have a very unusual tradition of always making a vegetarian “roast beast.” It's sculpted from various parts of the meal, with mashed potatoes playing a big role as an excellent sculpting medium. Last year, we made a tardigrade. * * * Laura Lynette Chapman: The company who enjoys it with me. That's all that really matters. Everything else is gravy. * * * Darren Lenois: My family always worked on Thanksgiving. Being young, I didn't understand missing...
Mitchell-Giddings exhibits works by Donald Saaf
Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts presents Outside and Inside, showcasing recent paintings, illustrations, and sculpture by Donald Saaf. The exhibit opens with an Artist Reception on Saturday Nov. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit continues through Jan. 6. There will be an Artist Talk on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. For over 20 years, Saaf has been exploring a place where fine art and folk art intersect. His subject matter draws from the local experience of community, family, and...
‘Food in my family is sacred’
Gemma Seymour: 1. The turkey. In my case, I prefer to spatchcock my turkeys, for fast and even cooking. The only problem with this is that most home ovens are large enough to accommodate only a smaller turkey, if you're going to cut out the backbone, crack the breastbone, and squash it flat on a roasting pan. The back can be turned into turkey stock for making the gravy. I think I've done up to a 14-pound turkey (packaged) that...
Hoey art exhibit opens at Next Stage Gallery
The Gallery at Next Stage presents “Passages: Charcoals by Ailyn Hoey,” from Nov. 16 through Feb. 11, with an artist reception on Sunday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Gallery, created as part of the recent $1.7 million renovation, is located at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill. Growing up in rural Vermont, Hoey spent many hours exploring its woods, river banks, and beaver ponds. Hoey has always liked to create with her hands and started painting and drawing...
Putney artists market their creative spirit for the holidays
The Putney Craft Tour, the oldest continuing craft tour in the country, did not spring out of a vacuum. Rather, it emerged 40 years ago from the happy confluence of a number of trends, including the back-to-the-land movement and the rise of American craft. One of the founders, potter Ken Pick, arrived in Putney in 1969 after receiving a master's degree in teaching. But pottery was never far away from his heart, and in about 1973, he began to earn...
The Lonely Heartstring Band, Stockwell Brothers at Next Stage on Nov. 24
Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary bluegrass and folk music with The Lonely Heartstring Band and The Stockwell Brothers at Next Stage on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. The Lonely Heartstring Band is Boston-based, Berklee College of Music graduates George Clements (guitar, vocals), Patrick M'Gonigle (fiddle, vocals), Charles Clements (bass, vocals), Matt Witler (mandolin), and Gabe Hirshfeld (banjo). Their music is a combination of old and new styles, melding the sounds of traditional...
Fire and an Armageddon-black sky
It started late that night hearing about the fires in California. I put some more logs in the fireplace at our home in Vermont and I sat there in shock, staring at the flames, thinking of my sister and her husband out in Malibu. Fire. I imagined the worse for the animals. My sister texted me to say that she and her husband were at Zuma Beach near their home. She said she was busy helping, walking a horse. I...
Silas may be gone, but his voice is still being heard
Making the decision to end the life of an elderly pet is excruciating. To help deal with the impending demise of my beloved small, yellow cat of 18 years, Pvt. Silas Goodrich, I started to compose an obituary for him. Silas must have had at least some Siamese in him, for his primary joy in life was to walk into a room and complain about it. Over the years I dealt with the racket by ascribing to Silas a passionate...
Marble Valley League all-star teams announced
Now that the fall season is over, the Marble Valley League compiled its all-star teams in boys' and girls' soccer, field hockey, and cross-country. • Striker Arin Bates, one of Leland & Gray's top scorers, was one of six area girls' soccer players named to an MVL First Team. Bates was joined on the C Division First Team by midfielder Maris Linder and defensive back Bay Holmes. The threesome helped lead the Rebels to a 9-5 regular season record and...
Sweet and savory
Everyone in my family has a favorite pie, and we try to accommodate everything from pumpkin to strawberry rhubarb at the holidays. I have all the ingredients for the latter from the local farm tucked away in the freezer. But we also have a couple of chocolate lovers (including me), and we also get requests for lemon meringue, apple, and even mincemeat. I also like to come up with something new each year for the dessert table just to keep...
Putney’s new town clerk: ‘Best job I’ve ever had’
After serving as interim town clerk for seven months, Putney resident Jonathan Johnson was appointed as town clerk by the Selectboard at the end of October. Having a new, permanent town clerk may provide a sense of relief to residents and municipal officials. In Vermont, the town clerk's duties are assigned by statute and are crucial to a town's smooth and effective operation. Town clerks preside over elections and submits the results, including Town Meeting minutes, to the Secretary of...
First Christmas
How does one forget 30 years of time? It happened to me in 2009, when I realized that my family had been in the U.S. for 30 years as of that previous Thanksgiving. I have no recollection of our arrival in America, which city we landed in, how long we waited in lines, or who met us at the airport. How strange it must have felt for my parents, scanning the metal and concrete buildings for something familiar: a scent...