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Pulitzer Prize–Winning Journalist Tim Weiner at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Books

Next Stage Arts presents Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winning journalist Tim Weiner on Sunday, September 21, at 7:00 PM at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Doors open at 6:15 PM. Tickets are $10, available at nextstagearts.org.

Weiner, acclaimed author of Legacy of Ashes, returns with his explosive new work The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century, a New York Times bestseller. Drawing from exclusive on-the-record interviews with CIA directors, spymasters, and undercover officers, Weiner reveals the high-stakes battles shaping America’s intelligence community today—at a time of escalating conflicts between the White House, U.S. intelligence, the press, and free speech itself.

Next Stage Presents: Ordinary Elephant and Lizzy Mandell & Colin McCaffrey – Mesmerizing Folk Duos

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY, VT – Twilight Music presents a double bill of mesmerizing folk duos: Ordinary Elephant and Lizzy Mandell & Colin McCaffrey. The concert takes place Friday, September 19, at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for livestream.

Ordinary Elephant—husband-and-wife duo Crystal and Pete Damore—has spent nearly a decade on the road, captivating audiences with harmony-rich, character-driven songs. The pair first garnered national attention in 2017, winning the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year with their breakout album Before I Go. Their follow-up, Honest, earned widespread critical acclaim, with the Associated Press naming it “one of the best Americana albums of the year.” Their latest, self-titled album distills their sound to its most essential form, highlighting hauntingly beautiful harmonies, delicate guitar work, and a rare kind of storytelling that resonates long after the final note.

Gibson-Aiken Building Closure

by Not Signed In | Town News

ATTENTION- The Gibson-Aiken Center will be CLOSED Monday, August 25th, until 2 p.m. due to a building water repair project. There will be no programs at the senior center that day.

Julian Gerstin on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

JULIAN GERSTIN has traveled around the world exploring cultures and drumming traditions. His enthusiasm and love of music infuses his composing, teaching and performing at the Vermont Jazz Center and the Julian Gerstin Sextet. Tune in for some intriguing stories. And keep an eye on local calendars for his upcoming gigs and shows.

It’s Political Party Organization Time in Vermont! Start Making Potato Salad!

by CrisEricson2016 | Politics

It’s political party organization time in Vermont, because Title 17 Vermont Statutes requires parties to organize in September of odd numbered years. For example, 17 V.S.A. Section 2302 (a) The chair of the State committee of a party shall set a date for members of the party to meet in caucus in their respective towns. The date shall be between September 10 and September 30, inclusive, in each odd-numbered year. (b) At least 14 days before the date set for the caucuses…

Archaeological Findings at Kikitta Ahki to be Presented Online Aug. 28

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro.gov(802) 251-8151The Town of Brattleboro is hosting a virtual presentation on the archeological excavations at the recently completed floodplain restoration project at Kikitta Ahki, located at 250 Birge Street.

Danielle Duguid, Hartgen Archaeological Associates’ principal investigator and project manager, will present on the findings that focus on the Leahy Home at the Holden & Martin Mills, which existed on the site.

Brattleboro Parking Zones To Be Updated Starting Sept. 3

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro will be modifying its parking zones on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. To prepare for this transition, parking will be free on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Parking zones will be renamed using numbers only to streamline the payment process. Rather than typing the word “zone” followed by a number, users will simply enter a string of numbers when paying through the Park Smarter app or Text to Pay system. For example, rather than typing “Zone1,” users will enter “05301.” Signs throughout the downtown area will be relabeled and color-coded to match the new parking map, available at Brattleboro.gov/parking.

Terrific Tag Sale this Saturday

by ann.newsmith | Family

Don’t miss the annual All Souls Tag Sale on Saturday August 23, from 9 am to 1 pm. You’ll find a huge array of clothing, household items, small furniture, toys, books, puzzles, and more, with free face painting for kids. Everything is by donation! Free face painting for kids while you shop!All Souls Church UU, West Village Meeting House, 29 South St, West Bratt (up the driveway from the West B Fire Station).

WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Agenda 8-20-2025

by Not Signed In | Education

III. Evaluate
– Prioritize mandated policies as per recent legislation
– VSBA Policy Update Review List
– Gender Freedom in Schools – Proposed new policy
F34 Transgender and Gender Creative Students Policy
– F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
– G4 Selection of Library Materials – Compare with Required Policy to be adopted as of 7/1/25

The Last Class

by KTurnas | Entertainment

Showings at the Latchis Theater.  August 23 and August 24 at 4pm.

Reich teaches his final “Wealth and Poverty” class to 1,000 students at UC Berkeley, ending a 40-year career that reached 40,000 students.

Retirement Retrospective

by RDavis | Living

Retirement is a strange concept. For some people it is not something that is in their vocabulary and, for others, it is something that makes them count the days until the new phase of their life begins. If your life’s work and your passion for what you do blend perfectly then it seems likely that you don’t want the kind of life you lead to end. Working under other people’s rules tends to make many people long for a new kind of freedom.

It has been ten years since I mostly walked away from a 45 year nursing career. I enjoyed the ride and it turned out that the last job I had was the most satisfying in many ways. But working within the American health care system, no matter where, can wear you down and make you feel like you are not doing the best you can for your patients.

Last Week To Order From Leda’s Kitchen Until October!

by LedaS | Food

This week at Leda’s Kitchen: order by 8/19, pick up 8/21
I’ll be going to India for the month of September, so this is the last week to order until October.

KALA MASALA CHICKEN CURRY (GF/DF)
Dosa Kitchen’s signature chicken curry that has fed countless customers over the last ten years. Free-range chicken in a base of tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, and a spice mix (kala masala) created for us in India.
$26 for 24oz container (2-3 servings)

Is Democracy Best Served By An Open or Representative Town Meeting?

by spoon | Op/Ed

In the first part of this examination of RTM and democracy it was demonstrated that RTM is in fact more representative now than it has ever been. In this part we compare direct democracy to representative democracy in the context of RTM. Open town meeting versus representative town meeting.

Virtually the entire body of literature on the subject of political democracy agrees on one thing. Direct democracy is ideal but it only works in a small body (say 10 to 15). This is because everyone can participate directly. Everyone can speak. Every view can be heard. But in larger bodies, all agree, democracy is better achieved through representation because, given the fact that only a limited number of people can participate systems and standards can be set up to enrich the quality of participation.  Serious representatives working in a sound and democratic meeting structure will produce decisions close if not the same as those in a direct democracy. Even in a group of ten decisions will likely not represent the views of every member. A perfect decision, 100% agreement, is rarely achieved. Democracy simply tries to get as close as possible.

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes Aug 12, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
● The Board voted to approve the submission of the Non-Federal Waiver request for Head Start and the Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families.
● The Board voted on the language added to the statement to the Redistricting Task Force.
● The Board discussed and determined to hold the first Summit meetings with the three Boards.
● Committee membership was reviewed for the upcoming school year. Commitment to Leadership Councils (LCs) will be discussed at the next meeting.
● Board goal setting and the development of a district calendar are two topics that are actively being addressed.
● Discussion of the Board’s oversight related to harassment, bullying and hazing was held.
● Members of the Board will craft language for a statement for future Board consideration to provide information to the public regarding Act 73 and ways to learn more.

Brattleboro VTrans Paving Project Construction Update 8/15/2025

by Not Signed In | Town News

Nighttime single-lane closures will be in place next week on Monday night through Saturday morning from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Work will continue on Vermont Route 9 (Western Avenue and High Street), U.S. Route 5 (Canal Street and Main Street), and Vermont Route 30 (Linden Street). Flaggers will be present to direct one-way alternating traffic through multiple work zones. Motorcyclists should watch for grooved and uneven surfaces and all motorists should be aware of raised utility structures and wet paint.

Global Rhythms Meet Old-Time Fiddle: The Gaslight Tinkers + Sammy & Brothers in Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts’ Bandwagon Summer Series continues on Saturday, September 13 at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, Putney, VT with a high-energy, genre-blending double bill. Music starts at 5:00 pm (gates open at 4:00 pm), with The Gaslight Tinkers bringing their infectious fusion of African, Caribbean, funk, reggae, and Latin grooves with traditional fiddle music — a joyful mash-up that’s as danceable as it is unexpected.

Since forming in 2012, The Gaslight Tinkers have electrified audiences across the U.S. and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. The Valley Advocate calls their sound “music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns.” With members Peter Siegel, Garrett Sawyer, I-Shea, Eliezer Martinez, and Clara Constance-Stickney — veterans of stages alongside Pete Seeger, the Soca Monarchs of the Caribbean, Noel Paul Stookey, and The Alchemystics — the band delivers exuberant musicianship that lifts both feet and spirits.