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Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Concerts This Weekend

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus presents their 27th annual spring concerts, “Sweet are the Days,” on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4 at 4 pm outside at the Retreat Farm. Sunday’s concert will also be live streamed via Zoom.

Directed by founder and musical director Becky Graber, the spring concert features an eclectic program of soulful songs. Selections include compositions by Floridian singer/songwriter Velma Frye and former Brattleboro resident Susan Kisslinger; the haunting Estonian piece, “Mis on inimene?” (in English, “What is human?”); and a beautiful rendition of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s well-known song, “In My Life.” Local writer Karen Hesse and conductor Becky Graber collaborated to create “Granny and Bean,” a tale of an adventurous day by the sea. And the chorus will sing the opening of “Let Time Be Your Friend,” a piece composed by Diane White-Clayton as part of the Black Lives Matter Commissioning Project. The Chorus will sing the full piece with soloist Samirah Evans in our spring 2024 concert.

WSESD Policy & Amendment Committee Meeting Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

DST discussed how new policies should come to the committee.
They should come directly from the community to the P&A Committee.
Only time a new or revised policy goes to the full Board for discussion is when it is ready for 1st or 2nd reading for readoption.
All policies up for readoption need to be warned.
Policies are under constant scrutiny and may be revised at any time the P&A Committee decides they should be reviewed.

WSESD Board Meeting Draft Minutes May 23

by Not Signed In | Education

SUMMARY: The board heard a presentation by the Superintendent on administrative goals, and a presentation by three principals on the teacher peer observation program that was piloted this year. BUHS administration gave an update on the school branding process: a screening committee composed of students and staff has narrowed down 132 submissions for a new team name to three finalists, which students will be voting on this week. The Finance Director provided an update on the grant application process for funding the Oak Grove School capital improvement projects, which include installing a heat pump, insulation, PCB remediation and window replacements. The board shared news that the sexual abuse investigation will soon be closing the information gathering phase and encouraged anyone who has been considering reporting to do so as soon as possible. The Superintendent provided information on possible improvements to Natowich and Tenney Fields, and the Board voted to direct the administration to resuscitate Natowich as a natural field.

WSESD Board Meeting – Draft Minutes May 9

by Not Signed In | Education

The board heard a presentation from the Office of Diversity Equity and Social Justice about the teacher leader structure and diversity, equity and social justice programming in the district. There was a discussion about how to address and facilitate input from leadership councils. The board approved an updated capital plan, focused on increasing sustainability. The board heard from students that they would appreciate more transparency around the sexual abuse investigation and disclosed that they are in meetings with their attorney in order to gather some data that can be released to the public.

There was a discussion about the need for increasing athletic field capacity which could include resurfacing Natowich Field and improvements to Tenney Field. The superintendent provided an update about the process to select a new name and mascot for BUHS. The board voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation for a reorganization of leadership roles at BUHS.

Eowyn Jakub on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Eowyn loves Circus! Since age 5, Eowyn has been on the ropes…..and the tramp and the silks and more. Now 13, she looks forward to every session and performance with NECCA (New England Center for the Circus Arts).

BCTV Schedule Week of May 29, 2023

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, May 29, 2023

5:15 am Jamaica Selectboard – Jamaica SB Mtg 5/22/23

7:00 am Brattleboro Planning Commission – Brattleboro PC Mtg 5/15/23

8:00 am The David Pakman Show – The David Pakman Show – Weekly Broadcast

9:00 am Guilford Selectboard – Guilford SB Mtg 5/22/23

11:00 am Dummerston Selectboard – Dummerston SB Mtg 5/17/23

Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series to Present a Dance Party with Salsa Ensemble LPT & Reggae Band The Human Rights

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents a salsa and reggae dance party with Jacksonville, FL-based 10-piece salsa ensemble and Toronto-based modern roots reggae band The Human Rights, on Saturday, June 24 at 6:00 pm at The Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd, in Putney, VT.

“This is one we’ve been dreaming about – a double bill with a reggae band and a 10-piece Salsa orchestra,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The double bill showcases a lot of Caribbean influences in one day of dancing and fun. LPT was meant to perform in March of 2020, and with a lot of stops and starts, we’re glad to be able to pair them with our Reggae friends to the north.”

BCTV, Town of Brattleboro Win National Video Awards

by BrattleboroTV | Media

Brattleboro Community TV (BCTV) and the Town of Brattleboro each received a 2023 Hometown Media Award from the Alliance for Community Media. The awards program was established to honor and promote community media, community radio, and local cable programs that are distributed on Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access cable television channels.

BCTV was recognized for “Overall Excellence in Public Education or Government (PEG) Access.” The award honors all of the programming of the station, not just one show. BCTV won the national award for coverage of community programming in 2022 in the budget category of $300,000 or less after submitting a 20-minute montage of videos produced by staff and volunteers. This is the fifth time BCTV has won the overall award. Staff will attend the awards ceremony on June 28, 2023 in Brooklyn, NYC.

Green Mountain Stories – Live at the Library

by BrattleboroLitFest | Books

On May 30 at 7:00 pm, the Brattleboro Literary Festival, Brooks Memorial Library and the Words Trail will celebrate live the newly released collection of short stories by Brattleboro author Mary E. Wilkins Freeman with her initially intended title Green Mountain Stories.  

Published originally in 1887 as A Humble Romance and Other Stories, this new edition features an introduction and critical commentary by Freeman scholar Brent Kendrick, who will talk about Mary and the book. Mary was inspired to become a writer in high school…she would go to her father’s dry goods shop in downtown Brattleboro every day after school, which was fortuitously located next door to a bookstore. She graduated from high school in Brattleboro and later moved away after her father died, but she maintained her connection to Vermont.

International Musical Collective Sia Tolno & Afro Dead to Perform at Cooper Field as Part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Guinean musical artist Sia Tolno and international musical collective Afro Dead, live at Cooper Field on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at 6:00pm. Sia Tolno will perform both solo and as the lead vocalist of Afro Dead, which reimagines the music of the Grateful Dead in an African style.

Sia Tolno is an award-winning global touring & recording artist, vocalist and songwriter, from Guinea/Sierra Leone, steeped in Afrobeat, Afro-blues, Mandinga and Soukous styles of African popular music. Her music is both personal and universal, singing about her unique past while making it relevant to the global masses. She has worked with Tony Allen (Musical director for Fela Kuti) and Lusafrica records, and her new album is being recorded in Barcelona produced by Aaron Feder in collaboration with Slow Walk Music.

Bearing Witness, a Retrospective by Artist Karen Becker

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Bearing Witness, a retrospective exhibit of watercolors, pastels, and prints, by Brattleboro artist Karen Becker, is currently on view at the All Souls Church in the West Village Meeting House., through June 30. Becker’s artwork focuses on the beauty she finds in nature, and she represents the animals and trees that are all bearing witness to the devastation of climate change.

The public is invited to an artist’s reception on Saturday, June 10, from 3 – 5 pm. All Souls Church is located at 29 South St, West Brattleboro. The exhibit is open Sundays, 12 – 2 pm, or by appointment (802-257-4710).

BCTV Schedules for Week of May 22, 2023

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, May 22, 2023

7:15 am Vernon Selectboard – Vernon SB Mtg 5/16/23

8:00 am The David Pakman Show – The David Pakman Show – Weekly Broadcast

9:00 am River Valleys Unified School District – RVUSD Special Mtg 5/17/23

9:05 am VT Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel – VT NDCAP – 5/8/23 Mtg

Gregorio Uribe to Perform at Cooper Field as Part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series is thrilled to announce that acclaimed singer-songwriter and accordionist, Gregorio Uribe, will be performing live at Cooper Field on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 6:00pm. The event promises an evening filled with unforgettable music and a celebration of cultural diversity.

Gregorio Uribe, known for his passionate performances and musical versatility, has captivated audiences around the world. From prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden to the streets of Tierra del Fuego, his talent knows no bounds. Uribe has collaborated with renowned artists across various genres, including Rubén Blades, Carlos Vives, Paquito D’Rivera, and Martina Camargo, to name just a few.

Gordon Hayward on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

A premiere garden designer, Gordon’s books and writings on horticulture illuminate and inspire, while his own gardens, which he’s created with his wife Mary, are jewels of elegant beauty and delight.

Windham Southeast Supervisory School Board Board Minutes – May 10

by Not Signed In | Education

CALL TO ORDER—6:01 p.m. – Anne Beekman, Chair

On a motion by Tim Maciel the board approved the minutes of April 12, 2023.

On a motion by Deborah Stanford the board approved the Warrants of April 12, 2023 in the
amount of $843,957.90; April 26, 2023 in the amount of $1,310,582.83; and Payroll of April 21, 2023
in the amount of $576,979.59.

Town of Brattleboro Launches Podcast, “Town Matters”

by Not Signed In | Media

The Town of Brattleboro is pleased to announce the launch of its first-ever podcast, “Town Matters.” Hosted by Town Manager John Potter, this new series will provide listeners with brief updates about town government. The show aims to inform the public and encourage active participation in local affairs.

“Town Matters” will be published during the week between Selectboard meetings and provide a brief overview of the previous meeting along with a preview of the next one. As the show develops, staff hope to incorporate other updates from around town and feature guest hosts, all while delivering the news in under 10 minutes.