“Fine & Dandy” Gala Celebrates Gershwin’s Muse, Composer Kay Swift

by fomag | Music

West Brattleboro, Vt. – Friends of Music at Guilford’s tenth annual celebration of Women in Music begins at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, and salutes Katherine Faulkner “Kay” Swift (1897-1993). She was a classically trained composer who became George Gershwin’s trusted musical advisor and companion. After Gershwin (1898-1937) encouraged her to compose popular music, Swift became the first woman to write a hit Broadway musical, “Fine and Dandy” (1930), now the borrowed title for FOMAG’s gala.

Some of both genres of music will be performed at this house-concert benefit for FOMAG’s current 53rd season. The program opens with a piano transcription of the Overture to “Fine and Dandy,” performed by Virginia Eskin, and later includes Swift’s Theme and Variations for Piano and Cello, performed with cellist Rebecca Hartka. Eskin will also accompany several songs from Swift’s musical theater and film scores featuring vocals by Jessica Gelter and Tony Grobe.

One Scholarship for Pottery Class Starting April 10

by Teta | Education

Wheelhouse Clay Center recently opened at 48 Harmony Place in downtown Brattleboro. It’s the vision of two local potters and former members of Brattleboro Clayworks, Shari Zabriskie and Teta Hilsdon.

Wheelhouse’s four basic offerings are rentals for potters, classes, special events, and a gallery. As classes begin to roll out, Teta Hilsdon is offering one scholarship to her Beginner Wheel Throwing class, an 8-week course covering the basics of wheel throwing technique, trimming, decorating, and glazing.

VFW $6 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 4-8 to 4-12

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

BSD Dance Scholarship Deadline is May 1

by ChrisLenois | Arts

Company of Muses announces May 1, 2019 is the deadline to apply for scholarships for summer sessions at the Brattleboro School of Dance. Applications can be found at www.companyofmuses.org.

Funds are available for dancers of all ages and abilities so long as the family can demonstrate need according to federal financial assistance guidelines. The amount of assistance available is determined by these guidelines, as well as the number of applicants.

Brattleboro Main Street Water Main Repairs

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The Town of Brattleboro has contracted with Zaluzny Excavation from Vernon, Vermont to replace a portion of the water main on the easterly side of Main Street between Elliot and High Street. Construction will occur on the easterly side of Main Street starting at 133 Main Street and proceeding north to High Street.

Construction preparations will be starting Monday, April 8, 2019. Construction is expected to be completed no later than May 17, 2019.

AFSCME Local 1343 President Challenges Lawmakers Stand With Us On Card Check, Or You Are Complicit

by Not Signed In | Politics

Montpelier, Vermont 4/3/19 -Vermont AFL-CIO Unions including AFSCME, AFT, IBEW, USW, & PFFV, have been fighting all winter to get legislators to advance H.428 & S.36, card check recognition for public sector workers. The bills were introduced in the House by Progressive Brian Cina, and in the Senate by Democrat/Progressive Phillip Baruth. If passed, card check would establish that whenever a majority of workers sign a Union card in any given public sector shop, their Union would be immediately recognized. Despite Labor’s united front on this issue, the Vermont Senate and House (which is overwhelmingly composed of Democrats) has yet to hold hearings on the bills, let alone move them out of committee.

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas at Next Stage on Thursday, April 11

by stobro | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of cutting edge fiddle and cello explorations of Scottish, Celtic and global music by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas at Next Stage on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 pm.  With a shared passion for improvising on the melody and the groove of traditional tunes, Alasdair and Natalie feature dazzling teamwork, swapping melodic and harmonic lines and trading driving rhythmic riffs.   “…soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter.” — Boston Globe

Windham Regional Commission Receives Funding to Launch Forest Connectivity Collaborative 

by Not Signed In | Nature

The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) is pleased to announce that it has received funding from the High Meadows Fund’s Forest Health and Integrity program, for the launch of the project entitled, “Windham Connectivity Collaborative: A scale-hopping approach to conservation planning in southeastern Vermont.”

Emily Davis is the WRC’s natural resources planner and project point person, and she says that, “the Windham Regional Commission has always been committed to sound conservation planning. But recently, we’ve wanted to more systematically unite the many smaller, local, conservation efforts under one comprehensive conservation strategy for southeastern Vermont. These groups, along with our town conservation commissions, have exhibited grassroots leadership.  They do such great work with relatively few resources, and we’re pleased to be able to support their work through capacity-building, project coordination, and strategic collaboration.”

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Representative Town Meeting Review, Main Street Repairs

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard April 2019

The first meeting of the new configuration of the Brattleboro Selectboard went off without difficulty. New members Daniel Quipp and Elizabeth McCloughlin were initiated with a fill agenda including actions as Liquor Commissioners as well as Water & Sewer Commissioners.

The board considered issues raised at Representative Town Meeting, approved grants for a slight expansion to Red Clover Commons, helped renegotiate some loans due to the Town, and more.

Brattleboro Selectboard Chair’s Remarks- 4/2/2019

by Brandie Starr | Town News

Good afternoon! Here are the remarks I will be distributing and reviewing this evening at the  Selectboard Meeting:

Welcome to the first meeting of the new Selectboard season! I am excited to serve as your Chair, and am looking forward to a busy year ahead of us.

As some of you may be new to attending Selectboard Meetings, I thought I would help to give a lay of the meeting, including some non-negotiable boundaries within which these meetings will operate:

Sheriff Keith Clark Announces Retirement and Resignation

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

NEWFANE, VT – After almost 30 years in police work, I have decided to retire from law enforcement and as Sheriff of Windham County, effective June 30, 2019. This follows much discussion with family, colleagues, and close friends. My wife, as some of you know, has been working in North Carolina for some time now, and we are both looking forward to again sharing the same roof. That being said, this has been a tough decision for me. Being Sheriff has been the single most rewarding of all my various law enforcement jobs.

BCTV Schedules – Week of 4/1/19

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 4/1/19

Monday, April 1, 2019

5:00 am River Garden Brown Bag Lunch Series – New England Dance Music – Full Catastrophe
6:15 am VT Master Anglers – S01E01 – Catching Stocked Trout
6:30 am The Rhema Word – 2020 Election Explosion
7:12 am Doing Life – 148 – Identity Christianity
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

Brattleboro One-Day and Annual Passes Available

by cgrotke | Business
Brattleboro Admission Ticket

Welcome to a new way to explore Brattleboro and Downtown Brattleboro. 

The office of tourism revenue is introducing new one day and annual passes in an effort to encourage people to come to Brattleboro.

The One Day Fun Pass, $46.00 (plus tax) admits one, age 10+, to Brattleboro and Downtown Brattleboro for a full day.

Meet Your Brattleboro State Representatives!

by Brooks Memorial Library | State News

At 10 am on Saturday, April 6th,  join your three Brattleboro State Representatives for a casual conversation about what’s been happening in Montpelier and beyond.  Mollie S. Burke, Tristan Toleno, and Emily Kornheiser offer you the opportunity to speak with them directly about issues that concern you.
Childcare is available upon request, and if you need it, please email emiliekornheiser@gmail.com.

Dance Party on 4/7 for the Women’s Chorus!

by bwchorus | Music

What better way to celebrate the coming of spring than a Bayou-themed dance party with three local dance bands! Everyone is invited on Sunday, April 7 from 5:00-8:00 pm to the Vermont Jazz Center for music hailing from the Louisiana Bayou to the streets of Brazil and from points all over the Afro-Creole culture sphere. Featured will be two of Brattleboro’s signature New Orleans roots music ensembles, Bayou X and the Celebration Brass Band, with a special guest appearance by SOVESA, the Vermont Jazz Center Samba Ensemble. The event is a benefit for the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus (and it happens to be our director, Becky Graber’s, birthday).

Next Stage On-line Auction “Bucket List Adventures” !

by rweisel | Entertainment

Next Stage is excited to present our annual online auction fundraiser for 2019! The theme this year is Bucket List Adventures and 100% the funds raised through your generous participation in the auction will be deployed to offset direct costs of Next Stage programming.

Each of the items in this year’s auction are experiential in nature, and include incredible travel opportunities, a private airplane flight through the West River valley, murder-mystery overnight for 8 at Naulakha, a private catered gourmet meal, a brand new mountain bike with guided tour, and much more!

VFW $6 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 4-1 to 4-5

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch and breakfast this Saturday. 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