Paris Meets Brooklyn at NECCA: The Blue Dahlia Brings Global Fusion to Bandwagon Summer Series

Brattleboro, VT — On Saturday, July 26 at 6:00 PM, the Bandwagon Summer Series, presented by Next Stage Arts, continues its vibrant season with a special performance by The Blue Dahlia at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), 10 Town Crier Drive in Brattleboro.

Led by Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter and ukulele player Dahlia Dumont, The Blue Dahlia weaves a colorful tapestry of world music that bridges continents, languages, and cultures. Singing in both French and English, Dumont’s sound fuses the romance of French chanson with Latin rhythms, klezmer violin, ska, reggae, and jazz — all steeped in her unique life journey through New York, France, and Senegal.


Vermont Suitcase Company Presents Whodunnit Puppet Mystery “The Duke Is Dead” at Next Stage Arts

PUTNEY — The Vermont Suitcase Company returns to the stage this summer with an all-new, puppet-filled mystery, The Duke Is Dead: A Vermont Suitcase Mystery, coming to Next Stage Arts in Putney on Friday, July 25 at 7:00 PM.

Equal parts comedy, mystery, and theatrical whimsy, this one-hour, family-friendly show invites audiences to join a cast of colorful characters—and plenty of puppets—as they attempt to solve the curious case of Duke Didi’s untimely demise. When the Duke is found unresponsive the day before his prized art collection is set to be unveiled at the national gallery, everyone becomes a suspect. Is it his sly niece and only heir? The all-knowing butler? The clueless constable? Or could the national curator herself have something to hide?


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, rm. 211).

The Brattleboro Charter Revision Commission will meet on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Rm. 212).


Next Stage Arts Presents Armo and JMMR in the Bandwagon Summer Series – July 19 at Putney Inn Field

Putney, VT – The groove is coming to Putney this July as Next Stage Arts presents Armo and JMMR as part of the 2024 Bandwagon Summer Series, on Saturday, July 19 at 6:00 pm at the scenic Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Road.

An evening of high-energy Afrobeat and futuristic jazz awaits under the open sky, with tickets just $22 in advance, $25 at the door, and kids under 12 always free. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or fold-up chair, enjoy local food from Smokin’ Bowls, and soak in a night of world-class music and community vibes.


A Cruel Disease – ALS

One of the great inequities in the world of medical research revolves around the lack of progress in finding some degree of cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). I have cared for too many people with ALS over many decades, and there has been very little progress in research since I started my nursing career in 1978.

I have been re-awakened to the misery of ALS because a friend was recently diagnosed. I had a close friend who died of the disease about 10 years ago and it is a difficult experience for everyone involved in caring for a person for ALS. As much as we think we can empathize with someone who has ALS, we really will never know what having ALS feels like.


Brattleboro’s Air Disaster of 1922

In 1922, a big flying event was held on the Retreat Meadows, back when it was still a meadow. The World war had ended and Brattleboro was interested in the potential of aviation for civilians.  Pilots flew in for a weekend of events, competitions, and demonstrations at a special aviation event that Governor Hartness, a big fan of flying, helped bring to town. Everything was going  fine until late on a Friday afternoon, when disaster struck.

This is the story as it appeared in The Phoenix August 25, 1922. It isn’t hard to imagine how a tragedy such as this would perhaps sour the local citizenry on any plans of aviation or airports for quite a long time.

….

AIRPLANE MEET HAS TRAGIC END

Three Passengers Lose Lives When Curtiss Oriole Burns

Were Miss Evelyn Harris and Joseph Trahan and Son – Crowd of About 3,000 Sees Disaster – Inquiry Held.


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 24 at 5:00pm in the Brooks Memorial Library community Room.

The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 24th at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.


Noticed Around Brattleboro – Summer 2025 Edition

A space for you to add little things you see around town, such as:

– it is hot – hovering around 100 on some thermometers in late June

– Beadniks has a sign up at their new location, and paper on the windows. Looks like they will be re-opening soon  just up the street from their former spot. Near Gallery in the Woods now.


Update on Funding and Timeline for the 2025-26 Brattleboro Town Arts Fund Application Cycle

Program Update: In light of the reduced funding allocation for the Brattleboro Town Arts Fund, we have decided to postpone the launch of the 2025 application cycle until January 2026, effectively combining this year’s and next year’s application process and funding resources.

While the Brattleboro Selectboard voted in April to restore $15,000 for the Town Arts Fund in the revised FY26 Town budget, the finalized budget that was sent to and approved at Representative Town Meeting in May included an additional reduction of $5,000 from the TAF program, for a final award of $10,000 for FY26.


Change All Your Passwords

The recent leak of over 16 000 000 000 passwords is quite serious and was reported when the world was hardly looking.  At the time of this writing it was scrubbed from the major US news outlets.


Dangerously Hot Temperatures in Forecast for June 23-24

On Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24, 2025, temperatures are forecast to reach into the high 90s. The heat index will be higher, with high humidity and dew point temperatures potentially causing dangerous conditions.

Keep an eye on your family, friends, neighbors, and yourselves for symptoms of heat illness. Symptoms include muscle cramps, heavy sweating, nausea, headache, or light-headedness. Most symptoms can be treated with fluids and by resting in a cooler place. Look for grassy areas that are shaded. Paved areas will always be warmer, even in the shade. If symptoms persist or worsen, or someone seems confused or loses consciousness, dial 9-1-1 immediately for help!


WSESD WRCC Aviation Advisory Meeting Minutes – May 21, 2025

a. Connection with Young Eagles program in Rutland. The group discussed a number of flight opportunities connected with the Young Eagles program within a reasonable drive from Brattleboro. One of the biggest obstacles is the fact that free Young Eagles intro flights are age limited to 17 years old. Six of the nine students in the program are older than 17. Additionally, we discussed the possibility of scheduling introductory flight, at a cost, with a local flight school as a means to get students in the air in a light GA aircraft.


Arguments Against President Trump Playing the Part of Israeli Netanyahu’s Puppet

(1) Recall to active service.
In the event that President Trump should call a national emergency because Trump helps Israel bomb Iran and Iran decides to try to bomb U.S. Military bases over there somewhere, then people are concerned about retired U.S. Military people being re-called to service. This is what people are talking about, from the grocery delivery guy to the handyman repair guy. Even a lady at the grocery store knows this fear.


VTrans Paving Projects In Brattleboro

Project Description: Work will consist of course milling the existing pavement to a 2” depth, then placing a 1/2” lift of Type IVS pavement to level the road surface, followed but a 1-1/2” lift of Type IVS pavement as the final wearing surface. Sidewalk ramps and pedestrian crossing infrastructure will be replaced and upgraded to meet current ADA standards, as necessary. Some bicycle features may be added where applicable and feasible. Signs will also be replaced and upgraded as necessary to meet current specifications in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Finally, shoulder berms that have built up will be removed to facilitate better drainage from the road surface, and some ditching work may be performed to further aid in drainage.  The majority of the work within the project limits (STP PC25(6)) will occur during typical night time hours as an effort to minimize impacts to traffic.