Issue #785
Let your autumn veggies lead the way
BELLOWS FALLS-It's here! Autumn arrived in Vermont on Sept. 22. The leaf peepers are viewing our annual colorful foliage show. The straw people have appeared on lawns and farm stands, looking quite chipper, at least until it rains!
But the autumnal equinox is not so much a line between the seasons as a time of transition. There are still hot days in the 80s with blue skies, or cloudy, chilly weather that definitely feels like fall. Many areas will have frost, and that same spot will have sweltering hot a few days later. Unpredictable at best.
Angela Lawrence, high bailiff
‘All elected officials need checks and balances. In the case of an elected sheriff, the high bailiff serves that sole purpose.’
Angela Lawrence was elected high bailiff for Windham County in 2022. DUMMERSTON-Leaves have fallen, it's getting dark earlier, and it's chilly during the night and early morning hours. Election day is less than a month away, and we've got a live race on our hands, from the long-awaited presidential...
Why in the world?
BRATTLEBORO-Why in the world would The Commons publish a story that contained a women's name, her place of residence, that she was unable to defend herself because of a disability, and that she had prescription medication that some would like to get their hands on? That's crazy to me!
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Ditch the two-party system
GREENFIELD, MASS.-I am not voting for the two major-party candidates who are running for president this time around because it's a big mess. In addition, there are many reasons I think it's time for third parties, including an Independent Party, to get a chance to hear their voices. It's been too long. I think it's time for someone younger to run for president as an independent candidate who has a military, law enforcement, and business background and who is experienced...
Designate camping space for those of us who are newly unsheltered
This letter is signed by Drew and Matthew Stickney, Heidi Heger, Jeff Edson, and Michael Inman. BRATTLEBORO-As residents of the motel voucher program, we, the undersigned, wish to draw readers' attention to the imminent expiration of Vermont's emergency housing program. Since the number of days was capped at 80 on July 1, the clock has been ticking for approximately 300 households in the Brattleboro area. Those limits will occur in the coming weeks, meaning many more people will be on...
No funding, less housing
Elizabeth Bridgewater and Chris Campany are, respectively, executive director of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust and executive director of the Windham Regional Commission. BRATTLEBORO-Housing remains at the top of the media cycle for good reason: There are still not enough homes for people. Recently, Vermont's Department of Housing and Community Development and the Natural Resources Board released the Act 250 Interim Exemption Map, a helpful visual representation of the update to Vermont's landmark development law, designed to ease regulatory...
Around the Towns
Annual book sale in Guilford on Oct. 12GUILFORD - The Guilford Community Church, UCC, is holding a book sale on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the church. A wide selection of current books will be available for sale from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Choose a few books or fill a bag. All books by donation. If $25 or more is spent, you can receive a complementary hardcover bestseller of your choice! Coffee and baked treats are available for purchase while...
Windham Orchestra performs works by indigenous composers on Oct. 14
BRATTLEBORO-The Windham Philharmonic will present two works by living composers on Monday, Oct. 14, at the Latchis Theatre at 7 p.m. On Indigenous People's Day, Hugh Keelan will conduct the orchestra in Ancestral Sounds. The concert begins with Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate's "Ghost of the White Deer," described as a "romantic and dramatic bassoon concerto" that tells the legend of two young Chickasaw people in love. The bassoon soloist is Diane Lipartito, a longtime orchestra member. The second work on the...
Rock River Players offer ‘A Night of Improv’
WILLIAMSVILLE-The Rock River Players (RRP) offer "A Night of Improv" Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 12, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m., at Williamsville Hall. Producer Peter Broussard invites audiences to "a night of laughter and spontaneity." Each show will be unlike any other, he promises, and he invites all to "experience the creative energy - and great unknowns- of unscripted acting." "I've been doing improv since I was born," Broussard, an actor with and...
Empty Bowls dinner to benefit Foodworks
PUTNEY-The southern Vermont Empty Bowls steering committee is planning its 21st annual Empty Bowls Dinner - benefitting Foodworks, the region's most heavily utilized food shelf program, operated by Groundworks Collaborative. This year's dinner will be served on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Landmark College in Putney. Diners purchase tickets for the event and select a handmade bowl to keep, crafted by one of many local potters. The menu features soups donated by 14 area restaurants, accompanied...
Epsilon Spires is the ‘Haunted Home of Halloween’ this October
BRATTLEBORO-This October in Brattleboro, Epsilon Spires transforms its Victorian gothic church into what organizers call the "Haunted Home of Halloween," as throughout the month, they present a thrilling lineup of classic and cult scary movies with live music performances in a series called The Apocalypse Will Be Televised. Featured will be performers paired with horror films about the power of media. The films depict how too much screen time can prove deadly. There will be themed drinks and tricks-and-treats galore.
Juno Orchestra presents ‘Bach!’ on Oct. 13
MARLBORO-Juno Orchestra presents "Bach!,"a program that includes one of the composer's best-known works, as well as selections from his son and other composers. Now in its second season as a BMC program, Juno, the region's hometown chamber orchestra, "charts new territory while amplifying long-time musical influences and bringing together some of the area's finest classical players," event organizers report in a news release. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m. at Persons Auditorium in Marlboro. The...
Townshend Pumpkin Festival returns to the Common on Oct. 19
TOWNSHEND-The Pumpkin Festival is returning to the Townshend Common on Saturday, Oct. 19, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "We are thrilled to bring the community together for this year's Pumpkin Festival," Elizabeth Brown, co-chair of the Pumpkin Festival Committee, said in a news release. "It's a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to celebrate the season, enjoy fantastic local talent, and support our local businesses and artisans." This beloved annual event promises a day of family...
Fall foliage fun around the region
Grafton firefighters host their fall tag sale GRAFTON - The Grafton Firefighters' Tag Sale, now in its 43rd year of benefiting the local volunteer fire department, has become well-known in southern Vermont for its variety, its quality, and its value. This year's sale takes place on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., under the tents near the firehouse at 711 Route 121, just east of Grafton...
Next Stage hosts Seth Glier, Rosier for Oct. 11 concert
PUTNEY-Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary and indie folk music from the U.S. and Canada by Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Seth Glier and Montreal-based quintet Rosier on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Next Stage. Five-time Independent Music Award winner and Grammy-nominated contemporary folk singer-songwriter Glier has worked as a cultural diplomat for the U.S. State Department and collaborated with musicians in Ukraine, Mongolia, China, and Mexico. Glier has shared the bill with a diverse list...
Public invited to comment on water quality plans for Connecticut River
MONTPELIER-The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to comment on the tactical basin plan in the Connecticut River watershed of the Deerfield River. The DEC completed the plan in collaboration with the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District, regional planners, local nonprofits, town officials, and public stakeholders. This plan has been developed to protect and restore the rivers, lakes, and wetlands in these watersheds. "Tactical Basin Plans serve as strategic guidebooks to address water quality challenges for...
Heritage Festival returns for weekend of crafts, food, and music
NEWFANE-Since 1970, volunteers have made the Newfane Heritage Festival in the heart of this historic village a fall season destination. Once again, people will celebrate community, crafts, and entertainment. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Indigenous People's Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 and 13, rain or shine. The sound of music will fill the air on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and morris dancers will perform on Sunday afternoon. Under the big tent in...
Vermont Zydeco Party comes to Next Stage
PUTNEY-Three of New England's top zydeco bands will perform at the Vermont Zydeco Party held at Next Stage Arts in Putney on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 3 to 8 p.m. This celebration of zydeco music, known for its energetic rhythms, will be held in the Community Room, where there's plenty of room for dancing. Those already familiar with, and passionate about, zydeco will have an opportunity for nonstop dancing. And, for anyone new to this dance, a free lesson is...
Milestones
Obituaries • Judith B. "Judy" Domingue, 78, of Newport, New Hampshire. Died on Sept. 23, 2024, at Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, New Hampshire. Born on Sept. 10, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Evelyn (Proctor) Burnham. Judy was a valued member of the Brattleboro Union High School Class of 1964. During high school, Judy always displayed a great sense of humor and was a friend to all. Throughout those four years, she enjoyed playing her...
Why can’t some people afford heating fuel?
-Twenty years ago, Daryl Pillsbury and I wanted to do something to help people struggling to pay home heating bills. The price of fuel was high and we figured that, in a short time, the situation would get better and we could suspend our operations. We had no idea what we were getting into when we started the Windham County Heat Fund. Over the years, we have learned that the price of heating fuel has only a little to do...
Gilfeather Turnip Day is Oct. 26
WARDSBORO-A celebration of Vermont's state vegetable takes place on Gilfeather Turnip Day, Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival, now in its 22nd year, raises funds for the Trustees of the Wardsboro Library to support ongoing library programs. It is their largest community fundraising event. Tents, big and small, set up on Main Street will be filled with craft and farmers market vendors and the turnip cart will be filled with multiple bushels of freshly dug...
BMAC presents 'Pumpkintown'
PUTNEY-In connection with the exhibition "The In Between," which features artwork by Susan Brearey and Duane Slick, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) presents Pumpkintown: Songs, Stories, and Magic Lantern Projections from an Imaginary New England Village, on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at Next Stage Arts in Putney. A multi-faceted show that has been performed around the world, Pumpkintown is a long-running collaboration by American folk musicians Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine, with paintings and magic lantern...
Vote411, the League of Women Voters voter guide, is online
The League of Women Voters of Vermont has launched Vote411, its user-friendly, mobile-responsive, comprehensive voter guide to help voters make informed decisions as they prepare to vote confidently on or before Nov. 5, whether by absentee ballot or in person on Election Day. "Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and the League is incredibly proud to serve the public as a trusted resource for voters, especially as voters face disinformation campaigns," the organization said in a news release. "Vote411...
Mike Mrowicki, state representative
Mike Mrowicki has served since 2007 in the Vermont House of Representatives, where he represents Putney and Dummerston in the Windham-4 district. For more information about Mrowicki and his campaign for re-election, visit windham4.online. PUTNEY-As we head toward Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, one issue that we see - on the local scene and all the way up to Washington - is a national economy that can best be described as one of "have-nots and have-yachts." Locally, property-tax payers...
Eastes: a hard worker who will advocate for us
GUILFORD-I am writing to voice my support for Zon Eastes to be the State Representative from Guilford and Vernon (Windham-1). Zon is a good and a thoughtful listener. He will carry our concerns up to the State House and address the issues facing our towns. He is committed to addressing issues, such as preserving our environment, investing in education, developing a vibrant rural economy, and seeking solutions to the state's housing crisis. And he will work to find solutions to...
Apple Pie Festival relieved at return of a bountiful apple crop
DUMMERSTON-Last year, the Dummerston Congregational Church had to search far and wide for apples for its annual Apple Pie Festival after a May freeze wiped out nearly the entire crop throughout the county and the region. This year, when volunteers began baking pies on Sept. 30 for the 55th annual edition of the church's pie fest, the familiar big wooden crate of Cortland apples from nearby Dwight Miller Orchards was sitting by the church's kitchen door. While last year the...
Grace Cottage Hospital blasts report's 'Ill-conceived ideas'
TOWNSHEND-When the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) released a report on Sept. 18 that listed Grace Cottage Hospital (GCH) as one of four hospitals financially "at-risk" and in need of "major restructuring," it came as a surprise to Chief Executive Officer Olivia Sweetnam. Sweetnam, who took over the leadership of Grace Cottage on July 1, said she had spoken with Bruce Hamory, a physician and partner with consultancy Oliver Wyman, which prepared a report for the GMCB that included recommendations...
Blackbirds spoil BUHS homecoming night
-It was homecoming weekend at Brattleboro Union High School, and dozens of alumni representing seven decades of BUHS football gathered at Natowich Field on Oct. 4 for a pregame cookout, lots of storytelling and memory sharing, and a chance to take a bow on the field before the Bears took on the Keene Blackbirds in a gridiron rivalry that dates back to 1891. Unfortunately, it was the Blackbirds that did the celebrating as they again hoisted the Darrell Sawyer-Keene High...
Incumbent lauds Eastes’s experience, values, character
The writer currently represents the Windham-1 district in the Vermont House of Representatives. GUILFORD-In these challenging times, we need leaders in Montpelier who can build bridges, not fences, to find common ground and work together to address the complex challenges facing Vermonters and our state. If you live in Guilford or Vernon, you have the opportunity to elect such a leader by casting your vote for Zon Eastes for state representative. As the outgoing state representative for Guilford and Vernon,
Name calling, belittling, and insulting eliminates any chance for constructive dialogue
NEWFANE-I have long refrained from responding to diatribes in opinion columns, but I cannot contain myself this time. This piece both angered and saddened me. I am sad that we seem unable to have differing views without nasty, hostile, name calling that only serves to gin up more division. When you call people "non-sentient beings," "monsters," and say they are members of "a cult," you eliminate any chance for constructive dialogue. It breaks my heart that so many of our...
Chase is actively engaged in representing Windham
The writer is chair of the Selectboard of Windham, where he serves as the town's road commissioner. WINDHAM-Heather Chase has kept our community of Windham well informed about legislation being considered in Montpelier. She has met in person with Windham residents, attended our community events, and has submitted articles regularly to our community newsletter. This summer, she has been actively involved in working directly with residents of our town who received very large increases in their property taxes this year.
Eastes: dedication to both the arts and the broader community
PUTNEY-As an arts and nonprofit leader in Windham County, I have had the privilege of working alongside Zon Eastes in numerous initiatives aimed at strengthening our community and the creative sector. Zon's leadership has been instrumental in fostering collaboration across towns and sectors, and I've seen firsthand how he brings people together to create meaningful change. His ability to blend strategic thinking with an empathetic, community-centered approach is precisely what we need in the Vermont Legislature. His deep commitment to...
Brattleboro makes slow, but steady, progress on housing
BRATTLEBORO-First, the good news: The Town Planning Office has issued at least 54 permits for new housing projects this year - the highest number in years, as town Planning Director Sue Fillion told the Selectboard on Oct. 1. "That's a conservative estimate of our permitting activity for 2024, actually," Fillion told The Commons later in the week. "We have approved 63 new units as of the end of September. And just so you know, that is the highest number of...
For the love of books
BRATTLEBORO-For more than two decades, Sandy Rouse has unflinchingly led the Brattleboro Literary Festival, the annual October event she co-founded. Rouse still - with a troupe of volunteers and supporters - researches writers, negotiates appearances, and pays the bills. She provides the perennial glue to sustain this mainstay among the town's many arts offerings, which returns Friday through Sunday, Oct.18 to 20, at sites throughout downtown. Known for honoring both emerging and award-winning authors, the Festival has hosted a long...
Rick Morton, state senator
Richard Morton, a chaplain serving an elderly population on the campus at Vernon Homes, serves as town chair of the Republican Party in Brattleboro and is the party's nominee for a seat in the Vermont Senate. BRATTLEBORO-Maybe you are a registered Democrat and have faithfully voted Democrat for years. You should still split your vote this year. Here are two of several reasons why. First, an approximately 14% property tax increase in an election year tells you that your party...
Another two stories speak volumes
WESTMINSTER WEST-To recycle the title of Erica Walch's letter, two stories speak volumes. 1. "West River Education District hosts forums on proposed elementary school merger" [Around the Towns, Sept. 18]: School Board members and administrators go on a tour to present a plan to close Jamaica Village School and Townshend Elementary, and consolidate them into NewBrook Elementary, to save money and improve education. With higher class sizes, longer bus rides, and a few assistant principal salaries added at NewBrook Elementary?
Builders look to share skills with a new generation
In an effort to promote ongoing technical education among Vermont's builders, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network (SEON) will host a roundtable discussion, "Passing the Torch: Vermont Builders Discuss Challenges Facing the Next Generation." It will be held in the conference room of WW Building Supply at 551 VT Route 30, Newfane, with organizers promising "an enlightening and impactful gathering for anyone invested in the future of our building industry." Several seasoned...
Library to get $1.47 million update
BRATTLEBORO-Brooks Memorial Library has received a $1.47 million grant to increase accessibility, energy efficiency, and internet connectivity. "Expansion and enhancement of the exterior space around our building have been recommended in public forums and surveys for years," says Library Director Starr LaTronica. "These funds will allow us to improve accessibility to both entrances for those with mobility issues and offer seating and workspaces that include electrical outlets, along with strengthened WiFi connectivity," she said. The renovations will also make it...
An issue of home
Annie Pisgah Searsburg is a birth doula and therapist from Putney/Westminster West, and a doctoral student in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Antioch University New England in Keene. PUTNEY-Last month, I attended an event in Bennington and stayed overnight in a motel. I ran into the couple next door, who were sitting on the bench outside their room as I returned from the event. Eager to spend the night catching up on work and secretly dismayed at having to...
Mrowicki’s authentic act of generosity had a huge impact
PUTNEY-I enthusiastically support Mike Mrowicki's candidacy for the Vermont House of Representatives (Windham-4, Putney and Dummerston). As a taxpayer, I am deeply concerned about affordability. I want to be able to live my life in this place, within this community, and in this state that I love. Putney's property taxes went up significantly this year; many people in town are concerned that they will be priced out of their homes. Mike's No. 1 priority in the next legislative session is...
Chase: advocate for women’s rights, education
CHESTER-I strongly support Heather Chase to return to the state Legislature for another term. Heather has represented your community well. She is a strong supporter of women's rights, a critical issue since the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. She has also been a strong advocate for education. In a state like Vermont, where education funding is so complex, it is essential to have someone knowledgeable fighting for our children. Lois Perlah Chester This letter to the editor was submitted to...
Mrowicki: pursuing the real issues
PUTNEY-I believe Michael Mrowicki has shown the leadership deserving of our votes to continue representing Windham-4 in the state Legislature. I have found Mike to be conscientious, cheerful, and a good listener. With his years of coaching youth sports and volunteering with the Putney Foodshelf, he has strong connections to our local community. Some of the ways he has used his legislative position include ensuring reproductive rights; working continuously to oppose discrimination against marginalized communities; supporting the Climate Superfund Act...
After the flood
BRATTLEBORO-Brian Robertshaw, owner of Beadniks at 117 Main St., had just gone downstairs - ironically, with a watering can, to get water to care for the plants inside his shop on the ground floor - when he heard an unfamiliar high-pitched hiss. "At first, I thought it might have been a broken water pipe because it's an old building and pipes have burst before," said Robertshaw as he recounted the Sept. 23 fire that displaced tenants and turned his business...