Baklava Express Brings Border-Crossing Mediterranean Sounds to Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY, VT — On Friday, May 29, Next Stage Arts welcomes Baklava Express, a Brooklyn-based ensemble whose music blurs lines between tradition and innovation, evoking the vibrant energy of an open-air Mediterranean marketplace. The concert begins at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney.

Baklava Express has built a reputation for crafting a rich, high-energy sound that draws from a wide range of musical traditions, including Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Arab, Mizrahi, and Sephardi influences. Their original compositions weave these ancient roots together with subtle elements of jazz, flamenco, and rock, resulting in a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary.

Saag Paneer & Butter Chicken on the Menu at Leda’s Kitchen this Week

by LedaS | Food

Hello food lovers,

On the menu this week is my top seller, Saag Paneer, and Butter Chicken makes its debut at Leda’s Kitchen. My versions of these well-known restaurant menu items are made from scratch: I cook up 24 pounds of spinach and make paneer from 16 gallons of local milk to yield 100+ cups of Saag Paneer. My Butter Chicken is made with local cream and milk and free-range chicken. Most important, I cook these and all my dishes from my heart. Mexican Pork Chili Colorado, a deeply flavored and colored yet mild pork stew for flavor lovers who avoid spicy food, is also on the menu. I do not post on this platform every week, so the best way to keep in the loop is to subscribe to my mailing list. Click on the link to do so and to see this week’s full menu.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda & Notes – May 5, 2026

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom.  Prior to the regular meeting at 5:30pm, the Board will convene and is expected to move directly into executive session to discuss labor relations agreements with employees and real estate. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  Closed captioning will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town website by the end of the day

Brattleboro-Putney U.S. 5 Paving Construction Update 05/01/2026

by Not Signed In | Town News

One single-lane closure will continue to be in place on U.S. Route 5 in Dummerston with work progressing north. Flaggers will assist with alternating traffic patterns. The work zone will shift from the northbound to the southbound travel lanes and may lengthen over the course of a day to a maximum distance of 1.5 miles. Motorcyclists should watch for grooved and uneven surfaces. Expect delays in this area.

The Cost of War

by RDavis | Activism

The war in Iran is merely an expression of the deranged ego of the United States President. There may never be such a thing as a good or justified war, but the military action in Iran makes no sense from a military, economic or political perspective. Then there is the obscene amount of money that this country is spending to do something that very few people believe should even be happening.

The U.S. has spent $51 billion in the first 28 days of the Iran war. Where is this money coming from and how will this ridiculous spending affect other government programs? According to the Institute for Policy Studies, “Daily operations in and around Iran for these major military systems are costing taxpayers an estimated $59.39 million per day. That $59.39 million a day could instead cover the daily costs of Medicaid for more than four million Americans, or SNAP (food stamps) for more than 9.5 million Americans. Both programs were subject to significant cuts under last year’s H.R. 1, with millions of Americans at risk of going hungry and without healthcare as a result.”

April 2026 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

April ended a little drier than average and with large temperature swings. My rain gauge recorded 3.30 inches compared to the NOAA normal of 3.85″.  Measurable precip on 15 of 30 days but most were small amounts. Year to date my number is 10.79″ compared to the norm of 13.97″, and Water year to date (the past 7 months) the total is 21.49″, more than  5″ below the average of 26.57″.

There was snow in April (2.5″) but all melted within a few hours of falling.  Season total of 57.4″ compared to my moving average of 62.4″.  A couple of mid eighty degree days in mid month brought fiddleheads out early.  I picked some then we had a couple of 20° nights and some froze and fell over.  Same with  a few early asparagus stalks in my garden.  Just started harvesting asparagus 2 days ago.  Put the hummingbird feeder up yesterday so I am ready when they show.

Exploring Mystery and Memory: Tim Weed Launches “The Gatepost” at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Books

PUTNEY, VT — Next Stage Arts will host a special literary evening on Tuesday, May 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, celebrating the release of The Gatepost, a new novel by acclaimed author Tim Weed.

Set against the evocative backdrop of rural Vermont, The Gatepost follows Esme Weatherhead as she returns to her childhood home two decades after her father’s mysterious disappearance. What begins as an attempt to tell his story unfolds into a deeper journey, as Esme uncovers cryptic journals, traces of psychedelic experimentation, and clues pointing to a long-hidden cave in the surrounding forest. With the help of a local geologist, her search pushes beyond the limits of conventional understanding, exploring themes of loss, love, and the enduring mysteries of the natural world.

Tiny Theater Presents “Write It. See It. Stage It.”

by tinytheater | Entertainment

JOIN THE ENSEMBLE Tiny Theater is currently forming a three month (90 Day) workshop for playwrights and screenwriters who believe the only way to find a story is to put it on its feet. By integrating a core group of trained Tiny Theater character actors in stage and screen, we transform the traditional “reading circle” into a high-functioning rehearsal hall and film set. The Multi-Phase approach includes the following progression

1. WRITE: Create & Develop Original Development: Develop original plays and screenplays in a generative, supportive setting. Structured Feedback: Move beyond simple critique with feedback designed to help you shape and evolve your work. Ensemble Engagement: Engage with a full creative ensemble of writers, directors, actors, and dramatists from the very first page.

Joey Morgan’s “Forgotten Not Gone” Opens at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Arts

PUTNEY—Next Stage Arts presents Forgotten Not Gone, a powerful new exhibition by Brattleboro-based artist Joey Morgan, with an opening reception on Sunday, May 24 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill. The event is free and open to the public; RSVPs are encouraged at nextstagearts.org.

This new body of work—comprising 12 mixed media collages—emerges from the remnants of Morgan’s earlier project, Have You Ever Loved Me?, much of which was lost in a flood. Rather than reconstruct what was destroyed, Morgan has transformed those fragments into something entirely new. Forgotten Not Gone is an intimate and deeply affecting exploration of personal rupture, tracing the emotional terrain of betrayal, loss, and transformation.

Alan Dater Presents: The Nashville Sound Comes to Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

PUTNEY, VT — The next installment in the ongoing film series curated by local filmmaker Alan Dater brings audiences deep into the heart of country music history. The Nashville Sound, a rarely screened concert film captured at the height of the genre’s golden era, will be shown on Saturday, May 23 at Next Stage Arts.

Filmed in 1969 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium during the Grand Ole Opry birthday celebration, the film offers an intimate look at performances from some of country music’s most iconic figures, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn. With its unfiltered, onstage perspective, the film captures the energy and authenticity of a live Opry performance at a pivotal moment in American music.

May 20 Brattleboro DRB Agenda

by bbannon@brattleboro.org | Town Plan

AGENDA

Call to Order
Review and Approve Minutes of previous meeting.
Review of Cases/Public Hearings to be reviewed under the Brattleboro Land Use Regulations.
2026-23                 Holton Home; Residential Neighborhood District; request for Site Plan approval to convert the existing 36 unit SRO building into a 21 unit apartment building. The units will be a mix of the following: Studio: 2, 1-Bedroom: 7, 2-Bedroom: 11, 3-Bedroom: 1 at 158 Western Avenue; Tax Map Parcel #265307.000

Brattleboro DPW Announces Temporary Flat Street Closure on April 29

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Department of Public Works announces that a portion of Flat Street will be temporarily closed on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The closure will be in effect from the intersection of Flat Street and Main Street to the entrance of the Latchis parking lot. This closure is necessary to allow a private contractor to safely conduct roof work at 32 Main Street.

Windham Southeast School District Board Seeks Feedback on Communication

by Not Signed In | Education

The WSESD Board has created a survey to gather stakeholder feedback on two-way communication within the district. Participation is anonymous, and we would sincerely appreciate your assistance. All data collected during this pilot will remain anonymous and we encourage you to share thoughts and feedback. At the end of the survey, you will be given the opportunity to share any feedback about what worked well, what didn’t, and any suggestions for improvements or additional content.

Taking Solace Series: After Death Care and Green Burial – May 6

by CenterforSolace | Questions & Answers

Please join Center for Solace staff on Wednesday, May 6, 6-8 pm in the upstairs Community Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

Learn about safe & legal options for caring for a loved one after their death, and local, accessible ways to access green burial. Topics will include: What is after death care and who can do it? What are the benefits and challenges? How can I plan ahead? What is green burial and how do I access it?

Burn Ban in Effect – Town of Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

Due to current weather conditions and an elevated risk of wildfires, a burn ban is now in effect
for the Town of Brattleboro until further notice.

Relative humidity is expected to remain low, and we have not received any substantial rainfall in
several days. In addition, forecasted conditions indicate increased wind and the potential for
higher gusts tomorrow, which significantly increases the risk of fire spread. These factors
combined create a high wildfire risk, where even a small spark could ignite a fast-moving and
dangerous fire.

Brattleboro Planning Commission Meeting: April 6, 2026 Meeting Agenda

by planning | Town Plan

6:00 Call to Order

6:05 – 6:10 Approve Minutes of April 6, 2026

6:10 – 6:15 Announcements

6:15 – 7:30 2026 Town Plan – Review and comment on draft town plan. Discuss adoption process; set Planning Commission public hearing date, and, if ready, approve required Town Plan report

7:30 – 7:50 Exit 1 I91 Bridge Project – Project overview and general discussion