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WSESD Board Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
– The Board welcomed two new student representatives for the 25-26 school year.
– Universal Pre K contracts were approved for the upcoming school year.
– A summary will be requested from Legal Counsel of work and cases litigated, settled or considered for litigation or currently awaiting resolution involving WSESD/SU in the past three years.
– In light of the approval of bill H.454 by the Senate and House of Representatives on June 16, 2025, the WSESD board voted to remain within a Supervisory Union within a larger governance region to the extent practical to the new redistricting task force.

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda July 8, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Motion that the legal counsel prepare in writing a summary of all cases involving the WSESD/SU within the past 3 years. The summary should include all cases litigated, settled, considered for litigation, or currently awaiting resolution. The summary should also include the nature of the matter and any financial or policy implications to the extent permissible by law. It is understood that this summary will be discussed only in Executive Session by the WSESD Board and not revealed to the general public.

NECCA on NBC Today Show (Video)

by cgrotke | Media

Here’s the clip that NECCA said could be found on the Today Show video page. It is a short piece featuring Brattleboro’s NECCA and the Silver Circus, showing how folks can run away and join the circus even when they are over 60!  (Video below)

Bill Holiday on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Education

BILL HOLIDAY’s teaching style was outside the box and outside the classroom – taking students on Field Studies to the places where history happened. He is the author of two books. Bill also gives tribute to his late nephew Reggie Martell through stories of their travels together.

Some Funky Summer Music – xoxo Xopher – About Time

by cgrotke | Music

I have a new album of funky instrumental tunes to share with you.  It was my winter/spring creative project to distract myself when I had bits of free time, which allowed me some fun playing with keyboards, drum machines, bass, guitar, and other toys to pay homage to some of my musical influences.

When you have a bit of time, give it a listen, and share with anyone you think might like it.

Silverback Swing Brings Gypsy Jazz to “Twilight On The Tavern Lawn” – Sunday, July 27

by hahrenholz | Music

Putney, VT – The enchanting sounds of Gypsy Jazz will fill the air in downtown Putney as Silverback Swing takes the stage for the next installment of the Twilight On The Tavern Lawn summer concert series, presented by Next Stage Arts. The performance takes place Sunday, July 27 at 6:00 PM on the Putney Tavern Lawn, located at 133 Main Street. The concert is free and open to the public, with donations gladly accepted.

Silverback Swing transports listeners to the ambiance of vintage French cafés with music inspired by the legendary Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France. Known for their authentic take on Gypsy Jazz—also called Jazz Manouche or Hot Club music—the group performs classic instrumentals and jazz standards from a golden era of swing.

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

by hahrenholz | Music

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

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

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?

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

by hahrenholz | Music

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.

Brattleboro’s Air Disaster of 1922

by cgrotke | History

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.

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

by Not Signed In | Arts

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

by CCM Holland Mills | Sci-Tech

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.

WSESD WRCC Aviation Advisory Meeting Minutes – May 21, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

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.

The Big Sleep

by RDavis | Philosophy

When I read obituaries of people of my own age they no longer use the phrase “he died so young”, but they may say “he lived a full life”. Of course I am reminded of my imminent demise, but it also is a way to learn to cherish the time left on this planet. All kinds of thoughts cross your mind when you reach this point in life.

I always had a fascination with the obituary page, but I now find myself reading almost every word of every obituary. I’m not sure what this means, but I suspect I am comparing my life to that of others my age who have passed on and trying to figure out what I would like to have said about me when I pass.

These are not morbid thoughts. If we accept the fact that we all die then we can embrace the last chapters of our lives and exploit the perspective that a lot of decades on the planet have given us. Some people prepare their own obituaries so they can know exactly what will be said about them. It seems like a reasonable thing to do and I tell myself I should do it but I keep putting it off. Does this mean I am afraid of death?

Beatrice Birch on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Education

BEATRICE BIRCH has created a place where folks recovering from addictions and trauma can find health, solace, direction and community. Listen to her story and how INNER FIRE Healing Community helps to connect each person to their own inner fire.