Ongoing Postnatal Support Circle and Gentle Yoga Class! *New*

by Heather Kulikowsky | Living

Sacred Postpartum is about honoring the postpartum period.  In this ongoing and special class, you will be invited to share your stories, truths, and questions as well as connect with other new mothers.  You will also have the opportunity to stretch, strengthen, and reconnect with your body through gentle yoga.

Each Sacred Postpartum class will begin with a sharing circle where we’ll explore a different postpartum topic each week and then we will move through a yoga practice that will be specific to the healing postpartum body.

Windham School Board Fights Back on Act 46 School Merger

by Lise | West River Valley
Windham Elementary School, Windham, VT

Although most towns across the state voted — in some cases reluctantly — to accept the forced merger of their schools as mandated under Act 46, the town of Windham did not. The Windham School Board continues to fight the merger of their elementary school into the new West River Education District, which they see as unconstitutional seizure of town property and against the best interests of their students.

On May 11, the Windham School Board took the unusual step of writing to all its neighbors in the new merged district to ask that they vote No on the latest school merger articles up for vote. The other towns in the West River district are Newfane, Townshend, Brookline, and Jamaica — all have agreed to merge their schools and have approved the merged budget.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, June 3, 2019, at 5:00pm in the Community Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op (2 Main Street).

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at 6:30pm in the Community Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op (2 Main Street).

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, June 7, 2019, at 9:00am in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – June 4, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will spend over $40,000 for a new Downtown Design Plan and give out annual employee raises at their next regular meeting. 

The board might also approve Utility Fund and Parking Fund budgets for FY20, they’ll appoint volunteers to boards and committees, continue consideration of their goals for the coming year, approve a parade, and punish Brattleboro dogs for the negligence of their owners to get them a licenses. You can participate, and bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.

500+ VT Union Members & Allies Picket Scott Walker

by Not Signed In | Activism

Burlington, Vermont, 5/30/19 –Today 500+ Union members and allies picketed the GOP fundraiser in Burlington which featured extremist Union-buster Scott Walker and Vermont Republican Governor Phil Scott. The picket was organized by AFSCME-VT, IBEW Local 300, The Vermont Buildings Trades, and dozens of other Unions & pro-Labor community/political organizations.  Labor appreciates the support received by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders who reached out to supporters yesterday to express his backing of the picket and to encourage Vermonters to demonstrate alongside us.

The demonstration was electric! Speakers included AFSCME Local 1343 President Damion Gilbert, myself [VT AFL-CIO District Vice President/AFSCME Local 2413 member David Van Deusen], IBEW Organizer Danielle Bombardier, President of APWU-Vermont President Omar Fernandez, and many other Labor and community leaders (*see below for full list of speakers).

VFW $6 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 6-3 to 6-7

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438

Rescheduled Japanese Knotweed Work Session to be held at West River Park on Thursday, June 6

by Not Signed In | Nature

The Conservation Commission will conduct a work session in the West River Park on Thursday, June 6 at 4:30 PM. The purpose of this work session is to manually control Japanese Knotweed along the West River in the West River Park. Conservation Commission members will be cutting Japanese Knotweed.

Participants should wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves and loppers or another garden cutting tool. Extra loppers will be available. Interested participants may arrive at any time and can find Commission members along the riverbank with the West River. The path to the riverbank is near the kiosk at the end of the parking lot.

June 9: Big Woods Voices at FOMAG’s A Cappella à la Carte

by fomag | Music

Guilford, Vt. – Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG) presents its 53rd season finale on Sunday, June 9, an annual three-part event dubbed “A Cappella à la Carte.” Set at Guilford Community Church in the Algiers village of Guilford, just over a mile south of Exit 1 off I-91, the evening includes a short meeting, a potluck dinner, and a 7:30 concert of vocal music. Each optional segment is open to the general public; admission to the concert is by donation.

Beginning at 6 p.m., the FOMAG Annual Membership Meeting is typically short and entertaining. It offers a summary of the year, a look ahead to next season, and election of the board of trustees. The meeting is open to all, and even brand-new members that evening have voting privileges. The ensuing Community Potluck starts around 6:30 or so. FOMAG provides some sandwich fixings; other entrées, appetizers, salads, side dishes, and desserts are welcome. The desserts are held aside for a post-concert reception.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn presents The Chris Kleeman Band on Sunday, June 2

by stobro | Music

Twilight Music begins its 17th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, zydeco, Celtic, jazz, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, June 2 with an evening of hard driving, house rocking, in your face blues by The Chris Kleeman Band.  The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 25.  All concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain.  The series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Green Mountain Well, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney area businesses and organizations.  The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available.  For more information, call 802-387-5772 or visit www.twilightmusic.org.

Lyell Castonguay: Tributes

by Mitchell • Giddings FIne Arts | Arts

Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts is pleased to announce the artist opening and reception for “Lyell Castonguay: Tributes,” an exhibition of woodblock prints Saturday, June 15, 5-7 pm. The show continues through July 28, and an Artist Talk is scheduled for July 14, 5 pm.

Castonguay is co-founder, along with Carand Burnet, of BIG INK, a unique, travelling, nationally recognized woodblock printmaking partnership providing audiences an opportunity to create large – up to 8 feet – hand pulled woodcuts.

Gordon Hayward to give a Pre-Garden Tour Talk “The Intimate Garden” June 6, 2019 at the Westminster Institute

by Lori Larue | Home & Garden

Showing you how to see your garden in a new way – that’s what well-known landscape designer Gordon Hayward has in mind for his lecture, The Intimate Garden. His free talk will be held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6th, at the Westminster Institute, Route 5 in Westminster. Light refreshments will be served. It’s a special advance program to the Westminster Cares Garden Tour, July 20-21.

Gordon Hayward, acclaimed landscape designer, writer, and teacher from Westminster West, was recently named an honorary member of the Garden Club of America (GCA), during its annual meeting in Boston. The honorary membership, one of the club’s highest accolades, is given each year to no more than four recipients in such fields as horticulture and conservation.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan and Friends

by vtjazz | Music

The Vermont Jazz Center is delighted to present an evening of music with NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan. On Saturday, June 1st at 8:00 PM, Ms. Jordan will perform the first set with pianist Eugene Uman, bassist Genevieve Rose and drummer Billy Drummond.  The second set will feature Sheila Jordan singing with several surprise-guest performers and the rhythm section. This concert is one of many festive occasions throughout the world celebrating Ms. Jordan’s 90th birthday which took place on November 18th, 2018.

Sheila Jordan is a matriarch of the Vermont Jazz Center family. She joined the faculty in 1997, when the (then) new director, Eugene Uman, asked her to run a vocal workshop as part of the Center’s newly revised summer workshop. She offered a small group of singers a three-day program that has now blossomed into a weeklong workshop with instructor Jay Clayton, 20 vocalists and two rhythm sections. Sheila Jordan’s teaching style is based on reverence for tradition, openness to spirit and dedication to quality. In her workshops, Jordan’s visceral connection with the music and her love for the students envelops their experience, creating a safe environment that gently pushes them to exceed what they had imagined was their potential. Jordan has inspired several generations of vocalists, from amateur to world-famous, most of whom are quick to acknowledge that her coaching has profoundly and positively shaped their professional and personal lives.

Friends of the Moore Free Library Community Tag Sale

by Not Signed In | West River Valley

The Friends of the Moore Free Library are reserving spaces now for theirCommunity Tag Sale to take place on the Newfane Common on Saturday, June29, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

To reserve a space, please contact Julie at 802-365-7278 or julielavorgna@gmail.com or pick up a reservation form at the Library, 23 West Street, Newfane. The Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Thursday from 2:00 to 7:00 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The End of America and Izzy Heltai at Stage 33 Live

by Mark Piepkorn | Music

The End of America’s three-part harmonies and solid Americana folk-rock draws comparisons to CSNY and The Avett Brothers. They’re known for powerful live performances highlighting their dynamic songwriting.

James Downes, Trevor Leonard, and Brendon Thomas made their debut as The End Of America at the 2016 Philadelphia Folk Festival and were voted Favorite New Artist. In 2017 the band won the Emerging Artist Showcase at Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, returning the next year as the Most Wanted Band.

Grant Peeples / Mark Russell / Ezra Veitch at Stage 33 Live

by Mark Piepkorn | Music

Before Grant Peeples makes his way to Woody Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah in Oklahoma’s interior to the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, he’s going to play an intimate listening event at Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls. Innovative violin player Mark Russell is coming with him, and local hero Ezra Veitch opens. Sunday, June 16; doors at 6:00, Ezra at 7:00, Grant and Mark at 8:00.

A “tree-hugger that watches NASCAR, and Buddhist with a gun below the seat,” Grant Peeples isn’t afraid to share what’s on his mind. He’s known for his axe-sharp socio-political tunes, raucous humor, and heart-gigging ballads in shows that are a churning mix of hilarious and dead serious.

BCTV Schedules – Week of 5/27/19

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 5/27/19

Monday, May 27, 2019

4:40 am Northeast Organic Farming Assn. Presents – Poison Free Food
5:30 am The World Fusion Show – Ep 49 – Carpe Diem String Quartet
6:00 am Rotary Cares – Ep 18 – Liz Harrison and Will Shakespeare
6:26 am Mad River Shorts – Stocking Trout in the Mad River

RIP Green Mountain Red, Former Putney Communard, Roz Payne

by Not Signed In | Obituaries

May 21, 2019 -Vermont has lost one of our most remarkable woman; today film maker, journalist, Black Panther historian, communard, Green Mountain Red, revolutionary, and (ironically) Richmond constable Roz Payne has left this world and these Green Hills for points beyond. Roz grew up in a working class-leftist household in New Jersey. Her mother was a union organizer in Lawrence, MA in the 1930s, and her father ran for NJ State Senate as a member of the Socialist Party.  Poet Allen Ginsberg was her sometimes babysitter.

Caitlin Canty and Oshima Brothers at Next Stage

by stobro | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music’s “Rising Star” concert series continues with  an evening of contemporary folk and Americana music with Nashville-by-way-of-Vermont singer/songwriter Caitlin Canty and Maine duo Oshima Brothers at Next Stage on Friday, May 31 at 7:30 pm.  NSAP and Twilight Music are committed to supporting young, emerging artists, and the new series puts the spotlight on exciting, ready-to-be-discovered performers who are appearing at Next Stage for the first time.