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The Beehive Queen Brings Rock and Soul to Putney: Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez Perform June 21

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage’s Bandwagon Summer Series continues with a high-octane evening of music and soul as Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez take the stage on Saturday, June 21 at 6:00 pm at the Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Road, Putney. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the gate, and children under 12 are free. Food will be available from 802 Soul Kitchen, with more information and tickets at nextstagearts.org.

Known as “The Beehive Queen” for her signature mile-high platinum hairdo, Christine Ohlman is a powerhouse of American rock and soul. Best known as the longtime vocalist for NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band, she most recently appeared in the SNL 50th Anniversary telecast in February 2025. With her band, Rebel Montez, Ohlman brings her fiery energy and deep musical roots to the hills of Vermont for a family-friendly, can’t-miss performance.

Tim Weed on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Books

With a new award-winning novel just published, author Tim Weed talks about the many worlds of fiction, his outdoor adventures and leading international education programs through NatGeo and Putney Student Travel. “The Afterlife Project”book launch party is at NXT Stage on June 3 at 6pm.

Laughs Take Center Stage at Next Stage Arts with the Return of Vermont Comedy All Stars – June 20

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

PUTNEY, VT — Get ready to laugh until it hurts! On Friday, June 20 at 7:30 pm, Next Stage Arts will be shaking with laughter as Gordon Clark and his Vermont Comedy All Stars return for another unforgettable evening of stand-up comedy. This all-star lineup of local and regional talent is guaranteed to bring the house down in one of southern Vermont’s most cherished performance spaces.

Watercolor Discoveries: A Show by Artists Working with Lynn Zimmerman

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Throughout the month of June, local artist and teacher Lynn Zimmerman presents Watercolor Discoveries, a group show of work by her students at the Crowell Gallery in Newfane. These 20 women artists, who have studied with Lynn in her online classes, will share a variety of paintings in watercolor. Most of the artists are local, although a few live elsewhere in the U.S. Each artist will share a discovery made while exploring this challenging and rewarding medium.

WSESU Board Meeting Minutes May 14, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Administrative Report – Mark spoke of the ongoing development of the district’s pre-K program.

The Oak Grove pre-K will move to the Canal Street facility giving more opportunities for collaboration and teamwork as well as a specialized program for intensive behavior which may reduce out of district placements. We are in the beginning phase of this new project with an expected start date of the fall. Open house tomorrow night 4-6 pm. Mark gave thanks to Mary Kaufmann for her work on both the intensive services program and the Pre-K.

Twilight On The Tavern Lawn Presents The Emily Margaret Band

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 15 with The Emily Margaret Band. 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.

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda – May 27, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

A. Leadership Council Updates
B. Board Sub-Committees and SU Updates
C. Update on legislative issues related education (Tim & Jocelyn)
D. Update regarding Board Goals (Kim, Tim, Jessica, Ruby)
E. Consider annual review as per WSESD Ongoing Social Justice and Anti-Racist Commitment (Matt, Jocelyn, Mikaela)

Lissa Weinmann on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

LISSA WEINMANN is a powerful force in our community who has helped bring our history, people and stories together through the creation of The Brattleboro Words Project and 118 Elliot arts center. Tune in for some great stories of her other lives as a foreign agent and in international and local affairs.

A Mesmerizing Evening of Global Rhythms: Aura Shards and Compass Trio to Perform at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts is thrilled to present an unforgettable double bill of transcendent world music featuring Aura Shards and the Compass Trio on Friday, June 13 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for livestream access, available now at nextstagearts.org.

Hailing from Brattleboro, Vermont, Aura Shards is a world fusion duo known for their immersive soundscapes centered on the Hand Pan—a mesmerizing, melodic percussion instrument. Fusing contemporary instrumentation with ancient rhythms, Anders Burrows (Hand Pan, Didgeridoo, Djembe) and Jed Blume (Hand Pan, Tabla, Djembe) deliver original compositions that are both rhythmically dynamic and harmonically serene. Their music invites both introspection and movement, offering listeners a rich, meditative journey through sound.

The Promises and Perils Of Gene Editing

by RDavis | Sci-Tech

It would have seemed impossible only a few years ago, but medical researchers have been able to edit a baby’s genes so that he does not suffer from a rare genetic disease. A press release from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explains, “In a historic medical breakthrough, a child diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder has been successfully treated with a customized CRISPR gene editing therapy by a team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine. The infant, KJ, was born with a rare metabolic disease known as severe carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency. After spending the first several months of his life in the hospital, on a very restrictive diet, KJ received the first dose of his bespoke therapy in February 2025 between six and seven months of age. The treatment was administered safely, and he is now growing well and thriving.”

There have also been cases of gene editing for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. But in KJ’s case this is the first time gene editing was done for one individual which means the editing only applies to his case. For those other diseases, anyone who has them can use the same editing process.

Twilight On The Tavern Lawn Presents Acoustic Nomads

by hahrenholz | Music

Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project launch the 22nd Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of bluegrass, Americana, world, swing, and pop music summer concerts on Sunday, June 1 with progressive world music quartet Acoustic Nomads.  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.

At the crossroads of South American Folklore and Northern Americana,  Acoustic Nomads blends music from two continents to create soaring original melodies, playful improvisations, and driving grooves, sweeping listeners away on a journey from the Appalachians to the Andes.  Since forming at Berklee College of Music in 2019, Acoustic Nomads has been pushing the envelope of progressive acoustic music – drawing inspiration from the likes of Turtle Island String Quartet, David Grisman, Hamilton de Holanda, and many of Bela Fleck’s acoustic projects, all united in that they use acoustic instruments and are universally beyond category.  Acoustic Nomads forges a sound interweaving North and South American musical threads as varied as the continents themselves.  

Making Deals With The Mongol Horde

by Lise | History

I’ve been reading about Genghis Khan and the Mongols recently, for no particular reason, and learning about the years of the Mongol invasions. This was the period during the 13th century when the Mongols were suddenly possessed with something akin to the Messianic spirit, and decided to take over the world. You may think this an exaggeration, but it really was their intention to take over and rule the entire planet, and they believed, according to the author of the book I’m reading, that their god wanted them to do it. Moreover, they were so completely full of themselves that they actually thought they could. Little things like determined opposition, overreach, and tribal infighting never occurred to them.

Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber to Light Up West River Park in Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

This summer, the Bandwagon Summer Series continues its electrifying run with a performance that promises to defy musical gravity. On Sunday, June 8 at 6:00 pm, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber lands at West River Park (333 West River Road, Brattleboro) for an unforgettable night of cosmic sound and genre-bending improvisation.

Founded by the late cultural critic and sonic visionary Greg Tate, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber (BSAC) is a sprawling collective of NYC-based musicians known for pushing boundaries and fusing styles with raw energy and technical brilliance. The ensemble draws deep inspiration from the Conduction method pioneered by Butch Morris, creating orchestrated improvisations that are never played the same way twice.

Keane Southard on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Composer KEANE SOUTHARD creates unique musical experiences in a wide range of styles and topical issues. His most recent composition “Requiem for Animals” pays homage to the animal beings of the earth and premieres May 17 & 18 at Persons Auditorium at Potash Hill, performed by the Brattleboro Concert Choir. Tune in to hear Keane’s unique perspectives on music’s power to evoke positive change.