Absentee Ballot Requests are Open!

by RobertOeser | Town News

VOTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE ABSENTEE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

While ballots won’t be ready until mid-February, you can start requesting your absentee ballots NOW and they will be mailed to you as soon as they’re available! It’s super simple. You can request your ballot/s online –

Steve Barrett on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

We say Farewell and Happy Trails to one terrific man who managed and supervised Brattleboro’s infrastructure for 47 years – trouble-shooting from the hip and getting the jobs done. Steve retired at the end of 2021, leaving us in good hands with Dan Tyler who worked with Steve for many years.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Joel Ross “Good Vibes”

by vtjazz | Music

Don Was, president of Blue Note records) claims that “Joel is not only one of the preeminent instrumentalists of this era, but he is one of the greatest musical visionaries of his generation.” The concert will be held in front of a reduced-capacity, live audience and will also be live streamed on the Jazz Center’s website (www.vtjazz.org) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/VermontJazzCenter/live/). Ross will be performing with his working quintet called Good Vibes. The group includes Godwin Louis on alto saxophone, Jeremy Corren on piano, Kanoa Mendenhall on upright bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums. This is Ross’ touring and recording ensemble (with Louis replacing Immanuel Wilkins on alto) and is featured on Ross’ two highly respected Blue Note releases: KingMaker and Where are You.

For listeners familiar with the impact of the vibes in bebop and swing, Ross’ dynamic sound recalls jazz legends Red Norvo, Lionel Hampton, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson and Gary Burton. His approach is steeped in the tradition. In fact, he uses an old-school, two mallet technique similar to Milt Jackson rather than the four-mallet technique used by most contemporary vibes players. He does this because he prefers the clarity of sound he is able to achieve. Ross has evolved to become one of the most visible jazz musicians of his generation, joining forces with such titans as Ambrose Akinmusire, James Francies, Jason Palmer, Mckaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Jonathan Blake, Walter Smith and Matt Stevens. His respect for the past combined with his transcendent ability to enter the “zone” of becoming one with the music have given him a unique voice that is simultaneously modern and timeless. JazzTimes Magazine claims “Not since Stefon Harris’ arrival 20 years ago has the jazz world heard a young vibraphonist intent on exploring so many dimensions.”

Finding Common Ground

by Lise | Op/Ed, Opinion

My father was always conservative. Although never a registered Republican — he preferred to see himself as an Independent — his views were decidedly to the right. For my part, I too saw myself as independent but took the opposite road politically, becoming what he would call “a liberal.” Consequently, we rarely saw eye to eye about political matters, although it never came to blows.

But somewhere in the early 21st century, my dad retired from his job and began to have more time on his hands. Having moved to rural Rhode Island and having no friends in the area or work to keep him occupied, he acquired the unfortunate habit of listening to talk radio. Rush Limbaugh was his favorite show. As a frequent visitor to the new family homestead, I became the target of his right-wing ire. After all, it’s no fun being angry if you have no one to attack over it.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Whiskey and Water

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard feb 2 2022

The Brattleboro Selectboard met to discuss liquor license renewals and a safe drinking water system loan Tuesday evening

They granted licenses and accepted free money in record time, withholding most commentary and cutting right to the chase. This qualifies the evening as one of the shortest regular meetings.

The Common Good Is Becoming Uncommon

by RDavis | Activism

The words “common good” recently popped into my brain and I have been trying to understand what that means in a world that is increasingly being turned upside down on a daily basis. I looked for definitions of the common good and have come up with one, from the web site ThoughtCo, that describes what I am thinking about.

“The “common good” refers to those facilities or institutions that benefit all members of a given community. The common good contrasts with those things that benefit only specific individuals or parts of the community. Examples of elements making up the common good include basic rights and freedoms, police and fire departments, national defense, courts of law, highways, public schools, safe food and water, and natural resources. In most cases, providing the elements of the common good requires a degree of individual sacrifice such as the payment of new or higher taxes. Today, many impactful social problems are caused by the lack or failure of essential elements of the common good.”

IFOs – Identified Flying Objects

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

Identified Flying Objects

I spent much of yesterday devouring UFO stuff. In this morning’s reverie, it all came together.

Why have governments devoted enormous resources to denying their existence?

• They are afraid that we’d “panic”. Yeah, right!

WSESD Social Justice Committee Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 4:00 p.m. – Thomas Nolan
II. Approval of Minutes – November 1, 2021
III. Discuss Strategies for Making Partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Means of Job/Career Placement.

BCTV Schedules – Week of January 31, 2022

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1075 schedule for the week of 1/31/22

Monday, January 31, 2022

5:00 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – Jonathan Alter – “His Very Best, Jimmy Carter, A Life”
6:00 am Vote for Vermont – Being Latino in Vermont 10/14/21
7:00 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – Authors Heather Clark and Maggie Doherty
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Community Forum – Windham 4 Community Conversation 1/15/22