The Reward Is In The Doing

by RDavis | Arts

When I listen to one of the many talented musicians who live in our little corner of the world in southern Vermont it makes me realize that there is very little difference between them and others who are more well known to the world. I often wonder how fame and fortune, especially in the arts, figure into the overall scheme of things.

I suspect that many of us want to be recognized for the talents we have, whether they be in music, art, writing or any creative field. But some people decide, early in their lives, that they want to put the effort into not only their art but into the pursuit of fame. It requires a special kind of dedication and it is something that most of us will decide not worth doing.

Guilford Stage GoFundMe

by DonInGuilford | Arts

Guilford Center Stage announces a GoFundMe campaign to help improve the space it uses at Broad Brook Community Center, in Guilford. The fundraiser will continue the improvements achieved with the recent renovation of the building, with two acquisitions.

First, the theater group is purchasing four air purifiers, to be used both in the auditorium and backstage, to protect the health of actors and audiences. These Oransi brand purifiers have state-of-the art HEPA filters and will recirculate all the air in the auditorium and stage area twice each hour, removing 99.97% of dust, bacteria, even viruses.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 14, 2023

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will decide on a way to make decisions about EMS services at their next regular meeting, with decisions expected by September.

The board will also hear some ideas on how to spend some of the ARPA funds, endorse a walking and biking action plan, and more. You can bring up other issues not on the agenda during public participation.

WSESD Budget Information Meeting / Annual Meeting

by Not Signed In | Education

Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, and Putney Residents Invited to WSESD Budget Information Session on Tuesday, March 14 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room and Remotely via Zoom.

The Windham Southeast School District (“WSESD”) will hold an information session on the proposed FY ’24 budget on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Windham Regional Career Center Cusick Conference Room, 80 Atwood Street, Brattleboro and remotely via Zoom

Beautiful Jonas Fricke

by Namaya | Obituaries

Beautiful dean Jonas we are all blessed by your love, creativity, friendship, joy of life. We send our love to his family and all. As we celebrate this beautiful noble spirit.

WSESD Should Report All Vote Totals

by DonInGuilford | Op/Ed

On the WSESD site is reported the unofficial results of the March 7 school director election. For the Brattleboro 3 Year term only the vote for Kimberly Price is reported, though Jaci Reynolds was also on the ballot. A footnote indicates that Reynolds withdrew from the race before the election, but she presumably got some votes, and those should be reported.

I got the chance to do some homework on this issue in our Guilford Selectboard contest on Town Meeting Day. One of the three candidates for the 2 year seat announced before the election that she was “withdrawing,” but her name was already on the ballot, and, in fact, in absentee voting she had even already received some votes.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Informational Forum and District Caucuses

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro Town Selectboard will hold 2 pre-town meeting information forums.
Wednesday, March 15 at Academy School beginning at 7:00 PM,Representative Town
Meeting articles will be discussed, including the budget.

Wednesday, March 22 at Academy School beginning at 7:00 PM, Representative Town
Meeting Bond Vote articles will be discussed.

Former Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell Joins Groundworks Staff as Interim Deputy Executive Director

by Not Signed In | Town News
Josh & Peter -March 2023

Executive Director Josh Davis and the Groundworks Collaborative Board of Directors are pleased to announce that former Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell has joined the Groundworks staff as Interim Deputy Executive Director.  Elwell’s appointment is timely as he will assist Davis and the Groundworks team as they continue to navigate a period of significant transition coming out of the pandemic. Additionally, Davis will be taking intermittent leave over the next few months to support his family through a significant health issue. 

“Personally, it’s clear that I need to take some time to support my family; and we are grateful to have Peter stepping into active Groundworks staff work during this critically important time for the organization,” said Davis, who noted the substantive upcoming changes to the emergency motel program converging with Groundworks’ continued innovation to address basic needs in the community. 

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

Attached are minutes from the February 28th WSESD Board Meeting.

Note: These proposed minutes should be considered preliminary until they are approved by the board at a future meeting.

WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT (WSESD) BOARD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023
REGULAR BOARD MEETING – 6:00PM
HYBRID MEETING: WRCC CUSICK CONFERENCE ROOM, BRATTLEBORO,
AND REMOTELY VIA ZOOM
DRAFT MINUTES

Superman and Marilyn Monroe – A Literary Cocktail Hour

by BrattleboroLitFest | Books

On Friday, March 10, at 5:00 pm, A Literary Cocktail Hour presents The American Way, a virtual event with co-authors Helene Stapinski and Bonnie Siegler. In this exuberant real-life adventure, the publisher of DC Comics comes to the rescue of a family trying to flee Nazi Berlin, their lives linking up with a dazzling cast of 20th-century icons, all eagerly pursuing the American dream. To register for this free event, click here

https://bit.ly/LitCocktail28

Family lore had it that Bonnie Siegler’s grandfather crossed paths in Midtown Manhattan late one night in 1954 with Marilyn Monroe, her white dress flying up around her as she filmed a scene for The Seven Year Itch. Jules Schulback had his home movie camera with him, capturing what would become the only surviving footage of that legendary night. Bonnie wasn’t sure she quite believed her grandfather’s story…until, cleaning out his apartment, she found the film reel. The discovery would prompt her to investigate all of her grandfather’s seemingly tall tales—and lead her in pursuit of a remarkable piece of forgotten history bridging old Hollywood, the birth of the comic book, and the Holocaust.

Guilford Election Results

by DonInGuilford | Guilford

Here are the Guilford Town Meeting Australian Ballot unofficial vote totals, from the Board of Civil Authority:

Selectboard 3 Year: Verandah Porche 413; Jason Herron 91. Selectboard 2 Year: Jaime Durham 52, Tara Cheney 379, Jason Herron 75. Town Clerk: Danielle Latulippe 454. Treasurer Ellen (Elly) Majonen 454. Auditor: Lesley C. Malouin 420.

Windham Southeast School District Directors (Note: This is the Guilford Count Only; Votes from All Four Towns Will Be Combined to Determine Those Elected):

WSESD Director – Brattleboro 3 Year: Kimberly Price 234, Jaci Reynolds 111; WSESD Director – Brattleboro 2 Year: Robin Morgan 306; Rikki Risatti 47; WSESD Director – Dummerston 3 Year: Michelle Luetjen Green 178; Eva Nolan 179; WSESD Director – Putney 3 Year: Ruby McAdoo 309.

Brattleboro Unofficial Town Meeting Day Results 2023

by Not Signed In | Politics

Please see attached for Brattleboro’s Unofficial Town Meeting Day election results. These are the results from the ballot tallies, not including write-in votes, and not including other towns’ results for the WSESD races.

We had a total of 2070 ballots cast, with 656 of those voting absentee.

Thanks to the amazing poll workers and the American Legion who made today possible! Considering our number of absentee voters, we had a lot of voters coming through the doors, and high voter participation for a Town Meeting Day election. The day was smooth and safe!

Arts & Humanities Curators Speak at Next Stage Arts in March and April

by hahrenholz | Arts

PUTNEY, VT— 3/8/2023 — Next Stage announces the NXT Curators series, supported in part by Vermont Humanities, offering an opportunity for audiences to hear from curators in various arts/humanities fields. The intent is to shine a light on less known styles and genres, providing a behind-the-scenes look at what curators need to consider when working with their medium.

“For most, the arts are something we interact with as a finished product. We love the musicians we love, but we don’t understand the inner workings of how those mediums create their work,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “This curator series shines a spotlight on some less mainstream mediums to hear from the people who help facilitate the vast body of work, how it gets made, what goes into making it, and how to make sense of it. I hope this series helps people appreciate all forms of art at a deeper level.”

Police Chief Norma Hardy on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Media

An officer and responder to the terrorist attacks in ’93 and 9/11, our Police Chief Norma Hardy leads with courage and compassion. She’s continuing the many community projects already in place here, and when off duty, she takes time to write poetry.

RUNA at Next Stage on April 2nd

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Celtic-American Roots music quintet RUNA on Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage.

Celebrating 14 years together as a band, RUNA continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats.  Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco, and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music.  RUNA has been honored internationally, winning “Top Group” and “Top Traditional Group” in the Irish Music Awards and three Independent Music Awards including “Best LIVE Album,” “Best World/Traditional Song,” and “Best Bluegrass Song.”