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Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Hazmat Modine at Putney Inn Field

by hahrenholz | Music

The Bandwagon Summer Series closes its 2025 season with a high-energy performance by Hazmat Modine on Saturday, September 27 at 4:00 PM at the Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Road, Putney. Gates open at 3:00 PM.

For more than 25 years, Hazmat Modine has been creating what they call “a uniquely intercontinental sonic collage encompassing a tremendous range of instrumental, vocal, and conceptual originality—all with a lot of soul and groove.” The New York–based, eight-piece band draws on everything from Blues, Soul, and American Roots to Gypsy Jazz, Avant Garde loft music, Country, and Rock ’n’ Roll. With members spanning generations—from their 20s to their 70s—the group embodies both deep tradition and constant reinvention.

WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

New policy: Behavior Threat Assessment Teams

The committee reviewed the draft of the Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams policy from the VSBA and looked at the Vermont statutes referenced within it. The policy codifies what the district is already doing. The Behavior Threat Assessment Team is a new title, but schools have school safety teams in place.

Patio Concert August 29

by RDavis | Music

Rich Grumbine and Bill Conley will present a backyard patio concert on Friday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. at 63 Cedar Street in Brattleboro. The duo plays an eclectic mix of covers from country, Americana, folk, pop/rock, and jazz traditions. Bill plays lead acoustic guitar, dobro, and sings. Rich sings and plays rhythm guitar.

Vermont Dance Alliance presents Michael Bodel: The Institute for Folding

by hahrenholz | Arts

The Vermont Dance Alliance and Next Stage Arts present The Institute for Folding, a new interdisciplinary dance work by Michael Bodel, on Friday, September 26 at 7:00 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney. Tickets are $20 and available at nextstagearts.org. Doors open at 6:15 pm.

The Institute for Folding is a cardboard choreography of human knowledge, neglect, and wonder. Through movement, language, live sound, and 30 sheets of cardboard, the work explores our relationship to knowledge—our drive for scientific understanding, the ebb and flow of our ignorance, and our current disregard for what has been discovered. The piece speaks to this precarious moment when collective trust in knowledge has faltered and our sense of shared wonder has diminished. The performance runs about an hour.

Pulitzer Prize–Winning Journalist Tim Weiner at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Books

Next Stage Arts presents Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winning journalist Tim Weiner on Sunday, September 21, at 7:00 PM at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Doors open at 6:15 PM. Tickets are $10, available at nextstagearts.org.

Weiner, acclaimed author of Legacy of Ashes, returns with his explosive new work The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century, a New York Times bestseller. Drawing from exclusive on-the-record interviews with CIA directors, spymasters, and undercover officers, Weiner reveals the high-stakes battles shaping America’s intelligence community today—at a time of escalating conflicts between the White House, U.S. intelligence, the press, and free speech itself.

Next Stage Presents: Ordinary Elephant and Lizzy Mandell & Colin McCaffrey – Mesmerizing Folk Duos

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY, VT – Twilight Music presents a double bill of mesmerizing folk duos: Ordinary Elephant and Lizzy Mandell & Colin McCaffrey. The concert takes place Friday, September 19, at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for livestream.

Ordinary Elephant—husband-and-wife duo Crystal and Pete Damore—has spent nearly a decade on the road, captivating audiences with harmony-rich, character-driven songs. The pair first garnered national attention in 2017, winning the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year with their breakout album Before I Go. Their follow-up, Honest, earned widespread critical acclaim, with the Associated Press naming it “one of the best Americana albums of the year.” Their latest, self-titled album distills their sound to its most essential form, highlighting hauntingly beautiful harmonies, delicate guitar work, and a rare kind of storytelling that resonates long after the final note.

Julian Gerstin on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

JULIAN GERSTIN has traveled around the world exploring cultures and drumming traditions. His enthusiasm and love of music infuses his composing, teaching and performing at the Vermont Jazz Center and the Julian Gerstin Sextet. Tune in for some intriguing stories. And keep an eye on local calendars for his upcoming gigs and shows.

WSESD Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Agenda 8-20-2025

by Not Signed In | Education

III. Evaluate
– Prioritize mandated policies as per recent legislation
– VSBA Policy Update Review List
– Gender Freedom in Schools – Proposed new policy
F34 Transgender and Gender Creative Students Policy
– F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
– G4 Selection of Library Materials – Compare with Required Policy to be adopted as of 7/1/25

The Last Class

by KTurnas | Entertainment

Showings at the Latchis Theater.  August 23 and August 24 at 4pm.

Reich teaches his final “Wealth and Poverty” class to 1,000 students at UC Berkeley, ending a 40-year career that reached 40,000 students.

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes Aug 12, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
● The Board voted to approve the submission of the Non-Federal Waiver request for Head Start and the Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families.
● The Board voted on the language added to the statement to the Redistricting Task Force.
● The Board discussed and determined to hold the first Summit meetings with the three Boards.
● Committee membership was reviewed for the upcoming school year. Commitment to Leadership Councils (LCs) will be discussed at the next meeting.
● Board goal setting and the development of a district calendar are two topics that are actively being addressed.
● Discussion of the Board’s oversight related to harassment, bullying and hazing was held.
● Members of the Board will craft language for a statement for future Board consideration to provide information to the public regarding Act 73 and ways to learn more.

Global Rhythms Meet Old-Time Fiddle: The Gaslight Tinkers + Sammy & Brothers in Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts’ Bandwagon Summer Series continues on Saturday, September 13 at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, Putney, VT with a high-energy, genre-blending double bill. Music starts at 5:00 pm (gates open at 4:00 pm), with The Gaslight Tinkers bringing their infectious fusion of African, Caribbean, funk, reggae, and Latin grooves with traditional fiddle music — a joyful mash-up that’s as danceable as it is unexpected.

Since forming in 2012, The Gaslight Tinkers have electrified audiences across the U.S. and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. The Valley Advocate calls their sound “music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns.” With members Peter Siegel, Garrett Sawyer, I-Shea, Eliezer Martinez, and Clara Constance-Stickney — veterans of stages alongside Pete Seeger, the Soca Monarchs of the Caribbean, Noel Paul Stookey, and The Alchemystics — the band delivers exuberant musicianship that lifts both feet and spirits.

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board Minutes — August 13, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

On a motion by Kim Price, the board voted to amend the minutes of June 11th by adding the words “regarding the ability to extend the contract for an additional year” so the section will now read in its entirety “The board reviewed the proposed new policy – Superintendent Evaluation and Contract. A discussion followed and the chair will reach out to our attorney with a clarifying question regarding the ability to extend the contract for an additional year.”

Puzzling Bird Collages

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Lifelong mixed media collage artist Elizabeth Lewis is showing some “puzzling bird miniatures” at All Souls Church, UU during the month of August. Please join us for a reception on Sunday the 17th at 11:30 AM.

Elizabeth is a resident of Putney and a member of ASC. Her first show was here at the then named West Village Meetinghouse in 1981, the year she moved to Vermont from Los Angeles.

Cai Xi on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Take a listen and look into Cai Xi’s life – early years in China, her painting heritage from classical to abstract, founding CX Silver Gallery, the arts of Dim Sum cooking and Tai Chi in the community…and she’s doing it all here in Brattleboro.

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda Aug 12, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

IV. Request from Deb Gass for Board approval for the following: [5 minutes]
– Head Start Non-Federal Waiver Request for Approval
– One-Time Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families Submission for Approval

Artist’s Reception for Collage Artist Elizabeth Lewis

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Lifelong mixed-media collage artist Elizabeth Lewis is showing some “puzzling bird miniatures” at All Souls Church in West Brattleboro during the month of August. A reception for the artist will be held on Sunday, August 17, from 11.30 am to 1 pm.

Elizabeth is a resident of Putney and a member of ASC. She had her first show at the then-named West Village Meetinghouse in 1981, the year she moved to Vermont from Los Angeles, California.

Crocodile River Music Brings African Rhythms and Culture to Brattleboro in Next Stage’s Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts continues its 15th Anniversary Bandwagon Summer Series with Crocodile River Music, an exhilarating celebration of African music, art, and culture on Saturday, September 6 at 5:00 PM (gates open at 4:00 PM). The event takes place at the Living Memorial Park Rotary Stage in Brattleboro and features food from local favorite Smokin’ Bowls.

Known for its electrifying live performances and deep cultural roots, Crocodile River Music brings together internationally acclaimed artists from Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Tanzania, and the U.S. With vibrant percussion, intricate rhythms, and powerful vocals, the ensemble creates a joyous and immersive experience that goes far beyond entertainment. Their mission is rooted in connection—connecting audiences to the rich traditions of African music and art, and encouraging further exploration of the continent’s cultural heritage.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of world music or simply curious, this show is designed to engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. A dedicated kids’ play area, free admission for children under 12, and a relaxed outdoor setting make it a perfect family outing.

Next Stage Celebrates Celtic and Québécois Traditions at Scott Farm, Sept. 1

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts continues its Bandwagon Summer Series with a vibrant outdoor celebration of Celtic and Québécois music on Monday, September 1st at 3:00 PM at the scenic Scott Farm in Dummerston. The Celtic & Québécois Festival features three powerhouse acts—Cantrip, Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet, and Cécilia—for an afternoon of spirited tunes, rich harmonies, and deep-rooted tradition.

With swirling border pipes, fiery fiddle tunes, and driving rhythms, Cantrip lives up to its name—an old Scots word for a magic spell or charm. Born out of Edinburgh’s folk sessions two decades ago, the band has become a festival favorite for their high-octane arrangements and adventurous musicality. Blending traditional roots with unexpected influences like funk, klezmer, and swing, Cantrip conjures a spellbinding live experience.

Next Stage Hosts Opening Reception for Briony Morrow-Cribbs Exhibit, Quiet Witness

by hahrenholz | Arts

Putney, VT — Next Stage Arts invites the community to the opening reception for Quiet Witness: An Homage to the Flora and Fauna of Vermont, a new exhibit of intricate etchings by Vermont-based artist Briony Morrow-Cribbs. The reception takes place Friday, August 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the NXT Gallery, located at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. All are welcome; RSVPs are encouraged at nextstagearts.org.

Quiet Witness showcases a richly detailed menagerie of real and imagined creatures, rendered through Morrow-Cribbs’s decades-long practice as a printmaker and etcher. A self-described animal empath, she uses her art to explore what it might feel like to experience the world through the instincts and perspective of other species.

Raised on Washington’s Whidbey Island and now based in Dummerston, Morrow-Cribbs brings a deep reverence for both wilderness and craft. Her work has appeared in best-selling books, including Wicked Plants and Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart, and in solo exhibitions across the country. Her prints are created through a painstaking etching process that dates back to her childhood, when she first learned the technique from her father.