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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.

Sway Wild and Jake Klar at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present indie-folk duo Sway Wild and singer/songwriter Jake Klar at Next Stage on Friday, July 18 at 7:30 pm. 

Sway Wild’s infectious sound explores the corners of rock, pop, funk, and folk, but at its nucleus it is undeniably a music full of joy. Mandy and Dave’s gorgeous harmonies paired with moving lyrics serve to both process and share their jubilation, grief, and frustration with a complex and deeply imperfect society. And Mandy’s electric guitar pyrotechnics and chordal rhythms challenge the listener to comprehend how she manages to extract so much feeling from six strings and an amplifier. 

The name Sway Wild evokes a specific feeling. From the beginning, Mandy and Dave intended this band to reflect what the endeavor felt like to them – a pathway to the uninhibited unfiltered core that we all possess. The words themselves are an invitation, if not a command, to seek out this untainted part of ourselves. In many ways, Sway Wild’s music is the product of truly wild places, and, like ribbons of light piercing a dark green canopy overhead, it can help us find the wildness that is unquestionably still within us.

Jenny Reichman Concert June 20

by RDavis | Music

Local singer/songwriter Jenny Reichman will present a concert of original and cover songs on Friday June 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the backyard patio of 63 Cedar St. in Brattleboro. Reichman has a soft lilting voice reminiscent of the younger version of folk icons such as Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins.

The concert is free but donations will be accepted for the musician. The venue is handicap accessible. Refreshments will be available.

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board Special Meeting Minutes — June 11, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Mark Speno discussed this afternoon’s end of year family picnic at Brattleboro Early Education Center, the new Canal Street School Pre-K facility. It was a great family event celebrating the work of the new Pre-K program. Parental feedback was great and they look forward to expanding next year. Mark thanked the board for their support of this endeavor.

Twilight On The Tavern Lawn Presents Kalos

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts continue the 22nd Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of bluegrass, Americana, world, swing, and pop music summer concerts on Sunday, July 13 with Celtic roots music trio Kalos. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 24. All concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain. The series is sponsored by Next Stage, the Town of Putney, Rod’s, and many Putney area businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available. For more information, call 802-387-5772 or visit nextstagearts.org.

Crys Matthews and Sam Robbins at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary folk singer/songwriters Crys Matthews and Sam Robbins at Next Stage on Friday, July 11 at 7:30 pm. 

A troubadour of truth, Nashville-based Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends country, Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. On a mission to “amplify the voices of the unheard, to shed light on the unseen, and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice,” Crys is made for these times.

Lakou Mizik Brings Haitian Soul to Bellows Falls for Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

This Fourth of July weekend, treat yourself to something truly special: a joyful, high-energy performance by Lakou Mizik, one of Haiti’s most dynamic musical exports. The powerhouse collective will perform as part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series on Saturday, July 5, at Robertson Paper Company Field (21 Island Street, Bellows Falls, VT). Gates open at 5:00 PM and the music starts at 6:00 PM.

Formed in the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Lakou Mizik emerged as a vibrant force in global music. With roots deeply planted in Vodou rhythms, Rara carnival chants, and soulful street melodies, their music is a celebration of resilience, unity, and Haitian pride. Their critically acclaimed debut album Wa Di Yo and their infectious live performances have earned them an international following—and they’re bringing that same dance-floor magic to southern Vermont.

I Draw Slow and Kavaz at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of Celtic and Old-time Appalachian roots music from Quebec and Ireland by Kavaz and I Draw Slow at Next Stage on Thursday, July 3 at 7:00 pm.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, and led by sibling songwriters Dave and Louise Holden, award-winning quintet I Draw Slow has consistently redefined the boundaries of acoustic roots music over the past decade. Their distinctive blend of Irish and Appalachian roots music and dynamic, immersive performances captivate audiences with exquisite balladry, then bring them to their feet with high energy trad tunes. Their evocative music has been featured in film, TV, and advertising, and their fifth and most recent album “Turn Your Face To The Sun” on Nashville-based Compass Records soared to #1 on the Irish charts. Touring extensively across North America since 2013, I Draw Slow has firmly established itself in the US and Canada’s acoustic music scenes, appearing regularly at some of the biggest and most iconic roots festivals including Pickathon, MerleFest, Grey Fox, Wintergrass, RockyGrass, Edmonton Folk Fest, and Mountain Stage.

Twilight On The Tavern Lawn Presents The Stockwell Brothers

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts continue the 22nd Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of bluegrass, Americana, world, swing, and pop music summer concerts on Sunday, June 29 with contemporary folk and bluegrass quartet The Stockwell Brothers. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 24. All concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain. The series is sponsored by Next Stage, the Town of Putney, and many Putney area businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available. For more information, call 802-387-5772 or visit nextstagearts.org.

The Other Mozart: The Forgotten Story Of Mozart’s Genius Sister

by hahrenholz | Arts

Putney, VT—This June Yellow Barn, in partnership with Next Stage Arts, brings Nannerl Mozart, the “other” Mozart, to southeastern Vermont. 

The Other Mozart is an award-winning play telling the true, forgotten story of Nannerl Mozart, the sister of Amadeus – a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso and composer, who performed throughout Europe with her brother to equal acclaim, but her work and her story faded away, lost to history. Set in a stunning 18-foot dress, The Other Mozart is based on facts, stories and lines pulled directly from the Mozart family’s humorous and heartbreaking letters.

WSESU, WSESD, Vernon Town School Boards “Summit” Agenda June 9, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

The Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, Windham Southeast School District, and Vernon Town School District Boards will meet at 5:00 PM on Monday, June 9, 2025 at the Cusick Conference Room, 80 Atwood Street, Brattleboro, and remotely via Zoom. The boards will convene at 5pm for dinner, during which time no business will be conducted. The agenda begins at 6pm, at which time the Zoom link will open to the public.

Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Minutes May 28, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students By Law Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel

F5 was readopted last August, but the committee is revisiting the policy due to concerns that it may conflict with the District’s Commitment to Student Safety statement for students with immigration status.

The committee discussed several potentially problematic areas in F5: