Unlike Chavez, Chavistas Appealed to a Powerless US President Who Works for Investors in Genocide!

Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark in his book The Fire This Time – US War Crimes in the Gulf wrote, and has since kept repeating, “the greatest crime since World War II has been US foreign policy.” America’s most famous defector from the war establishment would of course would be gratified to hear this spoken of by leaders of nations under US military or covert CIA-CNN attack. Crimes are meant to be prosecuted, and criminals made to pay for what they have done!


Troubles For “Our Town” Grant Team

It’s ironic that a grant with the gentle, nostalgia-inspiring name “Our Town” could have triggered such dissension among its administrators, but after Tuesday night’s Selectboard meeting, there can be no doubt.  Long simmering issues over the administration of the NEA grant came to the fore during that meeting when past and present members of the grant management team spoke out about the process by which the grant project had been carried out.  


Weekend Comedy Series: Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman is one of those comedy legends that people either love or hate. I love him. Lise hates him.

Here is is, at Carnegie Hall, in 1979, messing with audiences and making them laugh, and wince, and be uncomfortable. Kaufman didn’t consider himself a comedian so much as a prankster and performance artist.

This show has it all. Tony Clifton, little kids, his grandmother on stage, wrestling women, and taking the entire audience out for milk and cookies after the show.


Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies to Host CEDS Update Meetings

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) is hosting four regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) Update meetings next week.

We will update members of the community about the progress we and our partners are making implementing the Windham Region’s federally recognized (CEDS). The first meeting will be in Londonderry on Tuesday, May 26th at 4pm in the Town Office Meeting Room 100 Old School Street in South Londonderry. The second meeting will be in Wilmington on Wednesday, May 27th at 8am in the Town Hall Meeting Room. On Thursday, May 28th, we will have a meeting in Brattleboro at 8am at the Brattleboro Retreat Education Conference Room and in Bellows Falls at the Town Hall Lower Theater at 4pm.


BMH, BMAC, and Vermont Artisan Designs Team Up To Present “Scenes from New England” Opening June 4

New exhibit in cardiology suite features 18 artists represented by local gallery Vermont Artisan Designs

BRATTLEBORO, VT — Patients and visitors to the cardiology suite at  will have an opportunity to view artwork by some of the region’s finest artists in a new exhibit entitled “Scenes from New England,” which opens with a free public reception on Thursday, June 4 at 5:00 p.m. The exhibit is part of a program called Art for the Heart, a collaboration between BMH and the .

The artists featured in the exhibit are all represented by the Brattleboro gallery . They include Anne Cady, Jerry Cajko, Caroline Christie, Barbara Coburn, Sabra Field, Carol Gobin, Charlie Hunter, Deedee Jones, Deb Lazar, Alistair McCallum, Will Moses, Deborah Randall, William E. Roberts, Jr., Janis Sanders, Marjorie Sayer, Jeanette Staley, Paul G. Stone, and Charles Townshend.


Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:

Agricultural Advisory Board
ADA Advisory Committee
Arts Committee
Brattleboro Housing Authority
Citizens Police Communications Committee (CPCC)
Conservation Commission
Development Review Board


Sanders Statement on Senate Vote on Job-Killing Trade Bill

WASHINGTON, May 21 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Senate voted to advance a bill that would grant President Barack Obama accelerated power to complete a massive trade accord with 11 other Pacific Rim nations:

“The Senate just put the interests of powerful multi-national corporations, drug companies and Wall Street ahead of the needs of American workers. If this disastrous trade agreement is approved, it will throw Americans out of work while companies continue moving operations and good-paying jobs to low-wage countries overseas.


Amy’s Closing

I just found out that Amy’s Bakery and Cafe will be closing their doors in early June. This will be a huge blow to Main Street and one less reason to visit downtown. Amy’s has been kind of a linchpin for Main Street. How many of us have made plans to ” meet at Amy’s”?  I wonder how much longer the rest of the long time businesses will be able to survive in an environment that is not kind to small businesses. I wonder if we will even be able to recognize Main Street in 5 or 6 years. This is a shame and this wonderful little cafe will be greatly missed.


Lauren Olitski: Painting From Nature Opening at Mitchell – Giddings Fine Arts

On Thursday, May 28 Lauren Olitski’s exhibit Painting From Nature will be opening with a reception at Mitchell • GIddings Fine Arts from 5 – 8pm at 183 Main Street, Brattleboro.

Painting from Nature will be the featured exhibit from May 28 to June 28, 2015 and will include an artist’s talk on Sunday, June 14th at 5 pm. This talk will be free and open to the public.


Guiding Good Choices Parenting Series in Bellows Falls

Guiding Good Choices Parenting Series

for parents/caregivers of children ages 9-19  offered in Bellows Falls

Bellows Falls- Are you a parent or caregiver of an older youth or teen? You are invited to upcoming parenting classes – Guiding Good Choices (4th to 8th grade) for parents and caregivers FREE of cost. 


Michel Moyse on Art Rage for the iPad

Join Michel Moyse for an introductory talk on Art Rage for the iPad, on Wednesday, May 20, at 7 PM in the library’s meeting room. The library will provide three iPads with Art Rage loaded and there will be another one provided by Michel. This talk is free and open to the public.

Michel Moyse, artist, filmmaker and teacher, is Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Digital Art in Brattleboro, Vermont. Michel has an extensive background in film and experimental art. His multi-screen video artwork has been shown in the United States and abroad. Prior to his position as Artistic Director of CDA, Michel was Sound Editor in New York City for such directors as Woody Allen, Brian De Palma, Jonathan Demme, and Peter Yates. Michel has a Masters in Art Education from New York University.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Our Town Grant Causes Confusion For Board, Arts Community

Oh, yes. Budgets were approved, contracts were signed, and money was granted, but the big discussion at Tuesday’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard was about town arts. 

The discussion of a National Endowment for the Arts grant resembled an improvised performance piece at times, as the board learned of the status of the “Our Town” grant through a series of tension-filled monologues, criticisms, and accusations. Numerous views and opinions were expressed, and there was only a sliver of agreement among the players. Nothing was resolved, but many questions were posed, and decisions are required soon.

It was a long meeting, so settle in and get comfortable.


I-91 Exit 3 On-Ramps Closed Memorial Day

On Memorial Day (Monday, May 25), both the Northbound and Southbound Exit 3 on-ramps will be closed from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM to reduce congestion on I-91 Southbound caused by merging traffic. Because of highway logistics, we need to close both northbound and southbound on-ramps. Local southbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 South to Exit 1, and local northbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 North to Exit 4. Sheriff officers will assist in directing traffic.


Brattleboro Memorial Day Closings

In observance of Memorial Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2015, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25, 2015. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.


May 24 Organ Barn Recital Features Baroque Repertoire of N. Germany

Guilford, Vt. — Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG) is hosting its 7th annual Spring Recital & Holiday Cookoutbeginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, at Tree Frog Farm in idyllic rural Guilford. This year’s Tracker Organ program focuses on music from the North German baroque, repertory for which the c. 1897 instrument is uniquely suited. 

All the works on the program, except one, are concerted. The exception is Dietrich Buxtehude’s Toccata in F, played by the afternoon’s guest organist, Ken Olsson. It starts the show with some virtuosic fireworks.  


Brattleboro Area Hospice Invites All to Annual Memorial Planting Service

On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 4:00 pm, Brattleboro Area Hospice will host its 18th Annual Memorial Planting Service. The event will take place at the Hospice Memorial Garden located at Living Memorial Park on Guilford Street in Brattleboro. The public is encouraged to attend.

The community is invited to join together to honor and remember loved ones who have died by planting flowers, painting memorial messages on stones to be placed in the garden, and by listening to the music of the Hallowell singers.


Bush-Clinton ’16

I really wish and save everyone time and money:

“Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received nearly a quarter of a million dollars last year for a speaking engagement on behalf of Academic Partnerships, a for-profit education company in which Jeb Bush held an ownership stake and on whose board he served.”