BRATTLEBORO-University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H recently launched a new program for special education students at Brattleboro Union High School (BUHS), combining food systems, leadership, and hands-on learning.
The four-year program, conducted in partnership with the Windham Southeast Supervisory District Special Education Department, is funded through a $6.5 million grant awarded to University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
As a subrecipient, UVM Extension received $1.6 million, which will fund program development, staffing, materials, cultural interpretation, and other needs in Brattleboro and at a second site in Burlington that has partnered with the Association of Africans Living in Vermont for five years to prepare young people for careers in agriculture and food sciences.
PUTNEY-The smash Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along has just closed, so Wild Goose Players is bringing the show to Next Stage Arts from Nov. 1 through 10 at a fraction of the price. The Wild Goose production features a 15-person ensemble, directed by David Stern...
BRATTLEBORO-The Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market opens on Saturday, Nov. 2, for its 19th season, once again in Croker Hall gymnasium on the Winston Prouty Campus. As always, the indoor market season begins the first Saturday in November, following directly on the heels of the last outdoor summer market at...
Windham County Democrats to host Election Night party BRATTLEBORO - The Windham County Democrats announce the PollStars Election Night Party, featuring special guest U.S. Rep. Becca Balint. This community event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, starting at 7 p.m., at The Stone Church on Main Street. "The PollStars Election Night Party promises to be an exciting evening with live election results, great live music, and plenty of food and drink," organizers said in a news release. "It's the...
Obituaries • Tracy Benware, 60, of West Tisbury, Massachusetts, and Westminster. Died unexpectedly, surrounded with the love of his family, on Sept. 1, 2024. Tracy was born in Bellows Falls to Ted and Muriel Benware on Oct. 25, 1963. He grew up in Westminster West with his sister Brenda and two younger brothers, Randy and Russell. Tracy was blessed with his son Colt. He was extremely proud of him. They enjoyed many adventures hunting, fishing and working on numerous projects...
DUMMERSTON-Vermont Theatre Company (VTC) has released the lineup and casts for its production of one act plays at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center, Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 21–24. VTC Artistic Director Jessica Iris (Gelter) says she has brought together four directors to work in a peer-support cohort to learn, share ideas, advice, and passions with each other while bringing four plays to life. Casey Parles will direct Emotional Baggage by Lindsay Price, an exploration of the feelings we...
BRATTLEBORO-118 Elliot presents "Elisions," an exhibit of new works by painter Tina Olsen, opening Friday, Nov. 1, with a public reception from 5 to 9 p.m. with refreshments. The Vermont Jazz Center will provide an exciting musical backdrop to the work with young emerging musicians from 5 to 8 pm. According to the gallery, Elisions "refers to Olsen's increasingly bold abstract expressionism defined as much by what is left out as the explosive color and form that results as she...
BRATTLEBORO-The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) invites makers of all ages to design and build original Lego creations and display them at the 17th Annual Lego Contest & Exhibit from Nov. 7 to 11. Having showcased the talents of hundreds of Lego artists of all ages every year since 2008, BMAC will again honor the creativity and craftsmanship of all contestants with an awards ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. In addition...
BRATTLEBORO-On view at Amy's Bakery Arts Café at 113 Main St. through late winter is a group exhibit of artwork by members of Brattleboro-West Arts (BWA). Included are paintings, encaustics, pastels, and fiber work by Kay Curtis, Cyndi Ferrante, Steve Lloyd, Sharon Myers, Walter Slowinski, Jen Wiechers and Jessica Weitz. Brattleboro-West Arts was founded in 2009 by neighbors who recognized the vibrant creative community that exists in the watershed of the Whetstone Brook west of downtown Brattleboro. Since then, membership...
TOWNSHEND-Grace Cottage will host a flu vaccine clinic on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. until noon at Grace Cottage Family Health, 185 Grafton Rd. These clinics are open to all; one does not need to be an established patient. However, registration is recommended; call 802-365-4331. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Most health insurance plans cover flu shots. Participants should bring an ID and insurance card.
BRATTLEBORO-I recently challenged Ture Nelson, the Republican candidate for Vermont attorney general, to explain what seemed to me like unquestioning support for all controversial police actions. Having personally experienced, as crime victims, the frustration of the local prosecutor's catch-and-release program, both my wife and I fully get it that we have prosecutors who don't want to prosecute criminals. (In fact, our local state's attorney's office's "victim advocate" seems to think his job is to put us in our place and...
PUTNEY-On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, Johann Sebastian Bach's The Art of Fugue will be performed at Yellow Barn. Bach's contrapuntal masterpiece will be performed in its entirety in a free concert at the Big Barn by Albert Cano Smit, with responses and anticipations improvised by Mikael Darmanie. The evening will conclude with an informal discussion with Smit and Darmanie hosted by Yellow Barn Artistic Director Seth Knopp. "You will not find Johann Sebastian Bach's name on your ballot this...
BRATTLEBORO-The Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) has begun its annual November Food Drive to support pets in need throughout the holiday season. During this time, WCHS says it will collect pet food donations "to assist local families and their furry companions, ensuring they receive the support they need during challenging times." The food drive collects cat and dog food, including special dietary options for pets with specific health needs. Donations will be distributed to community members facing financial difficulties, helping...
BELLOWS FALLS-As Election Day draws near, I applaud those running for office. The scale of Vermont allows all of us a broad spectrum of opportunities to make a difference in our community. So please vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Since 2021, Leslie Goldman has represented Windham-3 district, which includes Rockingham, Westminster, and Brookline. I have had the opportunity to work with her over the years. Leslie realizes that housing, education, livable wage, health insurance, and child care are challenges faced...
GUILFORD-"Song Seeds," a daylong songwriting workshop and evening concert featuring Guilford resident Luke Concannon, will take place at the Broad Brook Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 9. The workshop runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a concert that starts at 6:30 p.m. Concannon says he has early memories of falling asleep to the sounds of singing fiddle and guitar at Irish family parties, and he's been sharing song in community ever since (including a No. 1 hit in...
Jessy Diamondstone, a psychosynthesis life coach and a Vermont registered psychotherapist, is a political and environmental activist. She has served as chair of the Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party (formerly the Liberty Union Party). DUMMERSTON-My candidacy for U.S. representative for Vermont follows that of the Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party platform. Issues I believe to be key to our state and beyond: 1. Homelessness and the epidemic of drug addiction. With up to $70,000 a year per inmate...
Kurt Daims is executive director of Brattleboro Common Sense. BRATTLEBORO-Did I read this story right? A school director complained that the "M" and the "P" of a Trump banner were visible outside - reversed and sideways - through the window of the Dummerston School library? And this was upsetting even though equal time was provided for Harris, whose "RIS" letters were visible in the neighboring window? The teacher, Ellen Rago, was forced to move the banners. We at Brattleboro Common...
-In Vermont high school sports, the perennial powers in Vermont come from the Metro Conference, the home of the big Chittenden County schools such as Champlain Valley, Colchester, Essex, Burlington, South Burlington, and Mount Mansfield. The quality of play is better because these schools have to play each other twice a season, and playing strong opponents every week usually makes a team tougher. This is true in boys' and girls' soccer. The Brattleboro teams both had successful regular seasons, but...
WESTMINSTER-It is my pleasure to endorse Michelle Bos-Lun and Leslie Goldman for re-election to the Vermont Legislature as the two representatives from Windham-3, serving Westminster, Rockingham, and Brookline. As a local grandparent, active volunteer, and elected school board member, I work closely with both Michelle and Leslie on education, health, children, family, and environment-related issues. In every case, I find them to be thoughtful, conscientious, engaged, and responsible in their study of proposed and existing legislation. They listen to their...
BRATTLEBORO-Each year, the Vermont Jazz Center presents its Emerging Artist Festival, to celebrate the impact of youth in jazz. On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2, those influences will be on full display as the VJC will present 11 student groups, plus a clinic and concert, with one of today's most dynamic young singers, Ekep Nkwelle. The public is encouraged to attend and support the presentations of young talent, along with Nkwelle's headliner concert. The 24-year-old Cameroonian American jazz...
DOVER-With a strong sense of urgency and just weeks before the election, Rep. Laura Sibilia is planning to challenge House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, for the leadership role when the Legislature returns to session in January. The reason for the rare challenge? Sibilia, who represents Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton, and Wardsboro, said that she believes Vermont is in crisis on many fronts, including education, climate change, and health care, and that under Krowinski, the House of Representatives is not moving...
MacLean Gander is retired from a long career as a professor and administrator at Landmark College. A former member of the board of directors of Vermont Independent Media, he was a longtime volunteer investigative reporter and columnist for this newspaper. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL-I was reading a sports article a few weeks ago and tried to click through to a clip when I was told that the social media platform called X was not available. I went to my own...
SAXTONS RIVER-One of the reasons that I strongly support Leslie Goldman and Michelle Bos-Lun as state representatives is that they have made and followed through on a commitment to be available and to communicate with their constituents. I have participated in sessions with them at the Rockingham Free Public Library and other locations. Candidate Casey Cota attended one open meeting on Oct. 18 at Rockingham Coffee Roasters, which I could not attend, but none other since then that I know...
GUILFORD-As is common with Nancy Gassett's published articles, it is necessary to correct and address several of the points made. 1. Gassett betrays an apparent need to lecture other candidates (as well as voters) concerning candidates' "constitutional duties" when running for public office in Vermont. We can set aside the obvious fact that all serious contenders for these offices are intelligent, diligent candidates who have done their homework and who understand the responsibilities and duties they would be taking on,
SAXTONS RIVER-We face big problems in Vermont as we come to grips with the need for affordable homes and medical coverage for every person, as well as the looming challenge of climate change. There are no easy answers. Leslie Goldman and Michelle Bos-Lun are hard workers who understand the challenge and research and study problems before proposing solutions. I saw them listen to their constituents at the regular meetings held at the Rockingham Free Public Library with Sens. Wendy Harrison...
Zon Eastes is the Democratic Party nominee to represent Windham-1 in the Vermont Legislature. GUILFORD-As I reflect on these past few months of campaigning to represent Vernon and Guilford in the Vermont House, I am deeply humbled by the experience itself, as well as by conversations I've had with so many of you. It has been a privilege to knock on your doors, listen to your concerns, and hear about your hopes for our future. Above all, I have learned...
WESTMINSTER-My friend Ann Smith and I attended Casey Cota's meeting on the Affordable Heat Act on Oct. 22 at the Rivertown Church in Brattleboro. Casey Cota, who is running as an independent for Windham-3, gave a short speech, followed by an informative and lengthy presentation by his brother, Matt Cota, who is a lobbyist for fuel dealers. Matt said that "climate change is real" and that we all need to move toward a renewable-fuel future, but he said the Affordable...
BELLOWS FALLS-North Star Health has announced that the organization has made the "difficult decision" to close the Rockingham Health Center effective Jan. 1, 2025, when the Health Center will be combined with its Springfield and its Charlestown, New Hampshire locations. Affected by the consolidation will be both the primary care and the urgent care facilities, located in the former Rockingham Memorial Hospital, which was built over 70 years ago. After a financial crisis in the late 1980s, Springfield Hospital took...
Nearly a third of registered Vermont voters have already cast their ballot in this year's Nov. 5 general election, according to data released Oct. 28 by the Vermont Secretary of State's Office. Of the more than 450,000 ballots mailed to registered voters in recent weeks, 31% have been returned - either by mail or in person to municipal clerks - the office said. That's a slight uptick compared to 2022, when 27% of ballots had been returned a week out...
NEWFANE-Vermont State Police said autopsies have revealed the deaths of two people whose bodies were found on Oct. 25 at a home in Newfane were caused by gunshot wounds, and that one died of homicide and the other suicide. The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington identified the two people as Blake Prescott, 91, and Helen Prescott, 88, a married couple, according to a press release late Monday afternoon from the state police. Their bodies were found at their...
BELLOWS FALLS-All registered voters of Windham-3 - that includes Rockingham, Westminster, and Brookline - please vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5. This will be the most important election of your lifetime for both the United States of America and the state of Vermont. Please vote for Casey Cota, an independent for state representative in Windham-3. Casey is a lifelong Vermonter and a very successful business owner. He will work hard to make Vermont affordable for all Vermonters and will create opportunities...
BRATTLEBORO-Mollie S. Burke has represented District 8 for 16 years. She is a trusted and dedicated leader, working to support constituents and collaborating with policymakers. She is a good listener; she is available, and she works tirelessly to solve problems for the people of Brattleboro. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, she has been instrumental in making our roads and communities safer and accessible to all. She has also helped create programs to reduce transportation emissions and costs...
Sarah Copeland Hanzas is Vermont's Secretary of State. Prior to her election, she served for 18 years as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives. MONTPELIER-The general election is less than a week away. As the rhetoric and noise intensifies, it's worth a reminder that Vermont's elections are not only among the most accessible in the country, they are also incredibly secure. Election policy is always a balance of accessibility and security. I feel very strongly that Vermont has...
-At an Oct. 21 debate with Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., Mark Coester disagreed with the incumbent Democrat on nearly every issue - challenging the basis of the questions and, at times, the moderators themselves. Coester, a Westminster logger and small business owner who won the Republican and Libertarian nominations for Vermont's sole seat in the U.S. House, even seemed to question his own presence at the debate and his status as the parties' standard-bearer. "It's a great mystery how I...