The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Maine-based Multicultural Collaboration Bondeko, on Saturday, July 6

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Maine-based multicultural collaboration Bondeko, on Saturday, July 6 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney.

Bondeko is the unlikely collaboration of neighbors in Portland, Maine’s migrant community: an Albanian crooner, a Guinian drummer, a French singer-songwriter, a Latin musician from Texas…

The result is a mix of hypnotic Roma melodies, festive Cumbia rhythms, Malenke sing-alongs, and relentless Balkan tempos, peppered with heartwarming waltzes and maybe even a lullaby in Portunhol if the vibe is right.


WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Agenda June 12, 2024

1st Reading
– E14 Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
– F4 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by School Personnel
– F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law
– Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
– F41 Policy on Section 504 and ADA Grievance Protocol for Students & Staff
– G13 Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources and the Internet


Cantrip at Next Stage

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of Celtic music by high-energy bagpipes/fiddle/guitar quartet Cantrip at Next Stage on Friday, July 5 at 7:30 pm. 

From the strong base of its Celtic roots, Cantrip branches out into the music of other European cultures. With swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar, and three rich voices, Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Eric McDonald, and Alasdair White take audiences on a cultural journey, putting their own spin on each musical style. Known for their innovative arrangements, high-energy songs and tunes, and dry wit, Cantrip has toured throughout Scotland and the US, expanding the boundaries of Celtic music along the way. 


Putney Central School Leadership Council Meeting May 9, 2024

Teacher appreciation week- PTO keeping staff room stocked with food and drinks and snacks for staff
-PCS Principals Awards- Acts of kindness, positive influences on our community, Partnered with Coop to give selected students awards.
-Teachers nominate students monthly, announced at all school assemblies. Is there a way to publish this publicly for the community?


Windham Southeast School District Board Meeting Minutes – May 28, 2024

Summary
● Recognized the Unifed Basketball Team for winning the State Championship
● Discussed the idea of holding special meetings during the hiring season to meet the need of approving hires in a timely manner
● The recipient of the Darrow Scholarship was selected during Executive Session, and approved via vote.
● Three resignations were accepted and four new hires were approved for the 2024-2025 school year.
● The Board approved amendments to the meeting notes from 5/14/24, and approved the consent agenda.
● Five policies were presented for a first reading.
● Policy F26 Participation of Home Study Students in School Programs and Activities was re-adopted by the board.


“Brattleboro Goes Fourth” Seek Independence Day Parade Entries

“By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” is seeking parade participants as it prepares to celebrate the town’s 51st Independence Day event on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

The all-volunteer citizens committee will begin the day at 10 a.m. with a parade from Flat Street to Main Street and the Common. The shorter route comes after requests from older marchers and challenges finding enough volunteers and public safety patrols to monitor a longer distance.


Peter Amidon on “Here We Are”

Brattleboro’s Traditional Music maestro, Peter’s been singing, dancing, teaching, producing and performing music that reverberates through our town and beyond for over 40 years.   Listen in for some great stories: early days with Mary Alice, Bread & Puppet Theater, Pete Seeger, Hallowell singers, and his mega-musical family.


Keith Murphy and Band, Album Release Concert: Bright As Amber at Next Stage on 6/21

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an album release concert for Keith Murphy and Band’s “Bright As Amber”, at Next Stage on Friday, June 21 at 7:30 pm.

For many years, Keith Murphy has been forging a distinctive sound in the world of traditional song. He grew up surrounded by the rich tradition of his native Newfoundland and over the course of his later travels has incorporated elements of many other traditions including the repertoire of his adopted home in Vermont. He is a noted instrumentalist and well known for his playing with Nightingale, Childsplay, Boston Revels, Tony Barrand, Hanneke Cassel, Yann Falquet and his most enduring collaborator, his wife and fiddler, Becky Tracy. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Brattleboro Music Center’s Northern Roots Festival.


The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents “Psychedelic Chanson” Ensemble Combo Daguerre on June 15

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents “psychedelic chanson” ensemble Combo Daguerre, on Saturday, June 15 at 6:00 pm at field behind the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Road, in Putney.

Combo Daguerre, based in Brooklyn, performs original psychedelic chanson with a mostly Latin crew and a hybrid style informed by boleros, cumbia, 60’s rock, French chanson, Gainsbourg, and 1930s surrealism. It is music filled with joy and darkness, deep grooves and dirges, nostalgia and futurism.

With Olivier Conan (Chicha Libre) – cuatro, vocals; Adele Fournet – keyboards and Felipe Wurst – guitar (Banda Chuska/Tipa Tipo); Andres Fonseca – drums; Neil Ochoa (Los Crema Paraiso, Chicha Libre) – percussion and Dan Martinez – bass.


Windham Southeast School District Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – FY25 Legislative Update School Funding

Frank reviewed the memorandum from the VT Agency of Education that summarized funding statistics in the Bill The result was favorable (Yield @ $9,893), being close to what was presented at the Annual Meeting ($9,899). This will result in our projected CLA adjusted tax rate to be very accurate unless the Governor vetoes the bill. The Income Yield of $10,110 is a bit lower than the estimate from 3/19/24 (we used 10,300). This adjusts the various calculations that go with Income Sensitivity. The Non-Homestead Rate (business properties and non-residents second homes, etc.) is set at $1.39 prior to the CLA adjustment for each town.


The Legacy of Brattleboro’s Jacob Estey Featured on Local Podcast “That’s One for the History Books”

In episode 47 of their podcast “That’s One for the History Books”, Springfield VT resident Marty Cohn and his colleague Hugh Ryan of Westerly, RI featured the remarkable life and legacy of Jacob Estey, a Brattleboro pioneer in the world of musical instruments.

Jacob Estey, born in 1814, was a visionary entrepreneur and inventor who revolutionized the music industry. Although his name may not be widely recognized today, his contributions are undeniable. Estey began his working life as a plumber’s apprentice at the age of 17 and, before the age of 35, was a partner in plumbing, lumber, slate, and marble businesses. Sensing a business opportunity, Estey took over a share of a small melodeon business in 1852 in Brattleboro, Vermont. A melodeon is a type of 19th-century reed organ.


Tucker Barrett on “Here We Are”

A master and innovator in the art of stringed instruments, Tucker is one of the nicest and most talented guys in town. Tune in for a peek into 80’s & 90’s rock ‘n roll in NYC, and folks who work the music scene back here in Brattleboro.


Some More Funky Music

I invested some free time in a new musical project that resulted in a new EP of funky tunes, so I thought I’d share. If you like dancing around, or driving around to a funky soundtrack, this might be something that interests you.

As some of you know, my first project had lyrics. Of course I didn’t like my voice, so the second EP, “Kitten In My Funk,” was all instrumentals.

For this EP, the decision was to slowly work back into lyrics – one word at a time. Each song here has a single word lyric, hence the name of the project: ONE.