BRATTLEBORO — In celebration of its first year, Vermont Independent Media (VIM), publisher of The Commons, will open its offices on Dec. 1 from 5:30-8:30 p.m., as part of December’s Gallery Walk. On display will be “The Year in Images — Photographs and Drawings,” a showcase of artwork that has appeared in the pages of The Commons in 2006.

The walls of VIM’s offices will feature photographs by Sara R. Lavigne, David Shaw, Annie Simoneau, David Swanson, Alvino-Mario Fantini, Insight Photography and others, as well as work of Commons cartoonists Jade Harmon, creator of “Northminster North," and Marek Bennet of “Mimi’s Donuts." The exhibit also will feature editorial cartoons by Simon Reed and Lee Sanderson.

The exhibit will celebrate these talented local photographers and artists who, along with many gifted local writers, have helped launch Windham County’s nonprofit community newspaper. The first issue of The Commons was published in January 2006. In its first 10 issues, The Commons has published a wide variety of articles, providing in-depth coverage of events and issues around Windham County.

“The individuals who lent their talents to us in this past year have helped set a high standard for The Commons, and we want to express our gratitude to them for their commitment to independent, community media,” said Alan Dann, board member of VIM.

We will provide refreshments and music, and all are welcome to come and enjoy the artwork, give feedback and suggestions for the paper, and find out how to get involved.

In addition to publishing The Commons, VIM offers Media Mentoring workshops once a month in both Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. The workshops, free and open to the public, pair media professionals with local residents to improve their journalistic writing skills. Participants say the Media Mentoring workshops have increased their media literacy in both reading and writing. The project aims to enable more of Windham County’s residents to participate in dialogue about issues important to southern Vermonters.

For more information, call 802-246-6397 (NEWS) or e-mail at info@commonsnews.org.