WSESD Social Justice Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

WSESD Social Justice Committee (note: previously the Board’s Diversity and Equity Committee) – Mission: Foster learning environments in which all members of the school community are safe, feel valued and are appreciated, as well as promote policies and procedures that value equity and diversity in our schools.

We will meet without a formal, developed agenda in order to begin the process of discourse. Our goal is to explore ways that the Social Justice Committee can support District-wide concerns and goals. At this initial meeting we will create an agenda that is sensitive to the needs of students, parents and guardians, staff and teachers, administrators, community members, and the Board itself.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Elizabeth McLoughlin

by cgrotke | Politics

Elizabeth McLoughlin is an incumbent running for a three year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Introduce yourself – who are you and why are you running again this year for a 3 year seat?

Elizabeth “Liz” McLoughlin. I am running for reelection to the Selectboard. I have been on the Selectboard for the past 4 years. 

I moved to Brattleboro fifteen years ago, after visiting family here for over twenty years. I am a wife, mother and a new grandmother. One of our daughters attended BUHS, and the other was a substitute teacher here. My husband and I each own a small business. Brattleboro is a great place to live and work and I see my Selectboard service as a way to give back and support our beloved Town. We have a vibrant arts culture and an exceptional park and recreation program. We are welcoming to all, our community includes people from across the country and the world, as well as families who have been here for generations. We are a vibrant New England town.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Spoon Agave

by cgrotke | Politics
spoon agave

Spoon Agave is running for a one year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

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Introduce yourself – who are you and why are you running this year for a 1 year seat?

During my 34 years living in Brattleboro I have served on almost every major Board, Committee and Commission including Selectboard, School Board, Planning Commission, Development Review Board, Traffic and Safety Committee, the Town Finance Committee, and most importantly the last Charter Revision Commission where I studied diligently and in great depth the structure of municipal government and its relationship and embodiment within a democracy. I chaired several of these groups including Charter Revision. I have been a Town Meeting Representative for nearly 25 years. 

Can The Beast Of Health Care Reform Be Revived?

by RDavis | Activism

It would be inspiring if Vermont was once again a national leader in health care reform efforts. When Peter Shumlin was Governor in the 2010’s reform activism was at a high point and the possibility of Vermont becoming the first state to implement a single payer system seemed real. When his administration ran the numbers, after costly studies were done, Shumlin decided that it was not politically feasible to move ahead and health care reform died in Vermont.

There is a bill now in the Vermont legislature that aims to revive some of those reform efforts. H.156 states, “The purpose of this act is to initiate the incremental implementation of Green Mountain Care by starting to provide comprehensive, affordable, high quality, publicly financed health care for all Vermonters in accordance with the principles established in 2011 Acts and Resolves No. 48. The act gradually expands the benefits available through Green Mountain Care over 10 years, beginning with publicly financed primary care in the first year, adding preventive dental and vision care in the second year, and adding the remaining health care services according to a schedule recommended by the Green Mountain Care Board’s Universal Health Care Advisory Group.”

Brattleboro School Board Candidate Interview – Jaci Reynolds

by cgrotke | Education

Jaci Reynolds is running for a 3 year Brattleboro seat on the School Board.
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Introduce yourself – who are you and why are you running for the school  board?

I’m Jaci Reynolds. I own two local small businesses and I have children at two district schools. I served on this board in 2021 and 2022 and we got some important work done. After a year away, I have gained more insight from lots of community members on what their expectations of our board are and I will bring that back with me.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Samuel Stevens

by cgrotke | Politics

Samuel Stevens is running for a 1 year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

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Introduce yourself – who are you and why are you running this year for a 1 year seat?

I’m a lifelong resident of Brattleboro and someone who really cares about this community. Having completed my B.A. in Political Science at the University of Vermont, I returned to my hometown of Brattleboro resolved to put my newfound knowledge and skills to good use in the service of my community. Since that time, I’ve been a town meeting member, served on town committees, and also become a union steward at my place of work. 

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Dick DeGray

by cgrotke | Politics

Richard “Dick” DeGray is running for a three year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

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Introduce yourself – who are you and why are you running?

My name on the ballot will be Richard Dick DeGray. Many of you know me as the Flower Guy, something I take great pride in doing for our community. I have been active for over thirty years in our community. RTM rep, former BUHS board member and most importantly former eight-year select board member. Several of those years serving as vice chair and chair. I am running for a couple of reasons: first, no one challenged any of the incumbents in last year’s election. I don’t think that is healthy for the town. The other is the way Rescue/ BFF was handled, along with safety issues in our town.

BCTV Schedules – Week of February 13, 2023

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 2/13/23

Monday, February 13, 2023

6:00 am Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival – Northern Roots 2023

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

9:00 am Thorn In My Side – BREAKFAST! – May 26th, 2022

10:10 am Norwich Book Store Author Talk – The Animal Days by Keila Vall

Walter Parks & Rob Curto’s Swampalachian Trail on 3/10

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Walter Parks and Rob Curto’s “Swampalachian Trail” on Friday, March 10 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage

Walter Parks, longtime guitarist sideman to Woodstock legend Richie Havens joins accordionist extraordinaire Rob Curto in presenting their self-described “Swampalachian” acoustic and roots style – a blend of reels, hollers, spirituals and blues. Their project reimagines the historic soundtrack to the building of America reminding us all regardless of political and cultural diversity, that whereas we may be bonded by an often painful history, we are nonetheless moved and united in the present day by the love of great music.

New Director of Youth Programs Hired at Youth Services

by Nanci Leitch | Family

Brattleboro, VT — Megan Grove is the new Director of Youth Programs at Youth Services which has offices in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vermont. This position provides department oversight regarding an array of programs that relate to supporting youth and young adults in Windham County beyond Youth Services’ clinical and restorative justice offerings.

Grove supervises staff responsible for services related to therapeutic case management; youth experiencing homelessness, couch surfing, in shelter housing, or transitional living; and youth transitioning from foster care. In addition, Grove’s team implements life skills and health education and a youth-led business.

Grove will also maintain ongoing communications with community partners and collaborative partnerships with local schools, Department of Children & Families, and other community entities to accomplish the goals of Youth Services programs.

Upcoming Online Fundraiser for the Springfield Humane Society

by janicezdogtraining | Pets

Janice Z Dog Training LLC, of Townshend, will be hosting an informative Zoom session titled “Separation Anxiety in Dogs” at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, to benefit the Springfield Humane Society.

Does your dog howl, bark, or whimper for a very long time after you leave, have accidents in the house, or destroy furniture and door frames? He may have separation anxiety, a common behavior issue in dogs. 

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Kelly Young, Board Chair
II. STUDENT MATTERS (5-10 Minutes)
III. PRESENTATION – Outdoor classrooms, school gardens, play based PLC’s
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – January 18, January 24, January 26, January 30

Karan Casey at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present trailblazing Irish singer/songwriter Karan Casey on Thursday, March 2 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage. For her March ’23 US tour with fiddler Sheila Falls and guitarist Matt Heaton, Karan premieres songs from her brand new album “NIne Apples of Gold,” mixed with favorites from her previous eleven albums.

Singing songs charged with a sense of social responsibility in a career spanning over 25 years, Karan Casey was among the vanguard of the Irish music revival’s “third wave” of the early 1990s, and a founding member of the seminal Irish American band “Solas” before launching her solo career in 1999. Though steeped early on in Irish traditional and folk music, Karan has long followed an eclectic path, whether studying classical music, fronting jazz bands, or working with Frank Harte, a much-revered folk/traditional singer from Dublin. The list of artists that she’s collaborated with is similarly diverse – James Taylor, Maura O’Connell, Karen Matheson, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Liam Clancy, Tim O’Brien, The Chieftains, The Dubliners, and Béla Fleck, among others. A Waterford, Ireland native, Karan has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Johnathan Blake’s Trion

by vtjazz | Music

Three of the top musicians in jazz come together to perform as a “Trion” – a three charged particles unified as one – in an evening of energetic music at the Vermont Jazz Center on February 18th, 2023 at 7:30 PM

The Vermont Jazz Center is pleased to present an evening of adventurous music on Saturday, February 18th at 7:30 PM with Johnathan Blake’s Trion. This chord-less jazz trio (includes no chordal instrument such as piano or guitar) features three of the leading players of their generation: Chris Potter on tenor saxophone, Linda May Han Oh on acoustic bass and band leader Johnathan Blake on drums. Reviewing their self-titled recording Trion Apple-music states “Blake rides a hurricane as he convenes with two giants…Each player is amply and repeatedly featured but the trio sounds like a genuine collective, not stars hunkering down in their respective corners.” The repertoire of the group ranges from original compositions and pop tunes, to Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk standards, all performed with an open-ended concept.

Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro – Meet The Candidates

by bgcbrattleboro | Town News

The Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro is hosting a “Meet The Candidates” Forum to talk about the important issues facing our town. The event will be on February 16 from 6:00-7:30pm. Each candidate will answer questions on a variety of topics affecting Brattleboro and share their vision on how to move Brattleboro forward. The public will also have the opportunity to ask questions. All candidates have been invited. The event will be moderated. 

The Club is hosting this event to highlight public and youth engagement in the political process. All Brattleboro residents and interested parties – voters and youth –  are invited to attend this Forum. The Club is actively involved in the town, collaborating with many organizations, and continually working to improve downtown and beyond. The Club welcomes the candidates and looks forward to a robust discussion. ASL interpreter available.