• Robert Leonard "Bob" Gay Jr., 101, of North Westminster. Died peacefully at his home on Oct. 30, 2024. Bob was just 44 days from turning 102. Bob was born in Randolph, Vermont, on Dec. 13, 1922, to Marguerite (Harrington) and Robert L. Gay Sr. The family relocated to Bellows Falls in 1928. In 1942, Bob quit high school soon after Pearl Harbor and joined the Army Air Force. He served faithfully for five years, earning the rank of staff sergeant and spending time in the South Pacific. Bob was a radio communications technician and worked primarily on B-24 Liberator bombers destined for either Europe, Africa, or the Pacific. His last year was spent in the Pacific, maintaining radio towers on several atolls including Kwajalein and Tarawa. Upon returning home, Bob met the love of his life, Joyce Locke of Saxtons River. The two were soon married in Grafton on July 5, 1947. Bob and Joyce raised four children, all of whom survive him: Sandra Gaspardino (Alan) of North Walpole, New Hampshire; Robert Gay III of Springfield, Vermont; Daniel Gay of Saxtons River; and John Gay of Underhill. They lived 16 years in Saxtons River and moved to North Westminster in 1966. Bob loved his 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren (with one more great-grandchild expected soon). Bob often wrote letters and sent cards to many of them over the years. Bob was predeceased by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bob was one of eight children, his siblings are Helen Gay Hurley, Jean Gay Ostrowski, Anne Gay Curtin, Richard Gay, Nancy Gay Sullivan, Gilbert Gay, and Gloria Gay Quinn. His brother, Richard, and his partner, Shirley Frost of North Westminster survive him. His sister-in-law, Lillian Turner of Westminster also survives him. Bob's stepfather, Clarence Harlow, predeceased him in 1997.
Windham & Windsor Housing Trust hosts mobile home purchase info session BRATTLEBORO - On Friday, Nov. 15, from noon to 1 p.m., Windham & Windsor Housing Trust's Homeownership team is hosting a virtual office hour to get prospective homebuyers ready for the state's Mobile Home Infill Program. The state...
BRATTLEBORO-Austin Rice, lead producer and production coordinator at Brattleboro Community Television and a key player in the area's film scene, is becoming known for idiosyncratic comedy woven with camp horror. Having given us the shorts Lil' Balzac 1 (2018) and Lil' Balzac 2 (2022), Rice and company have a...
PUTNEY-NXT Gallery presents "Water: Shape and Time," an exhibition of Nick Ellison's palladiotypes - photographs created in a process that uses platinum. The exhibit runs Saturday, Nov. 16, through Feb. 9, 2025, with an opening reception Sunday, Nov. 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. "Nick Ellison reminds us that time is a critical element of photography," gallery staff write in a news release. "From exposure to development to printing, each step in the process is defined by time." That time...
PUTNEY-Next Stage Arts presents eight-piece band Hazmat Modine, on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill. "Hazmat Modine has been an influence on a generation of musicians based in New York. Their fans are musicians because of the virtuosity they exhibit," says Keith Marks, executive director of Next Stage Arts, in a news release. "It's a gift to be able to present stalwarts of the New York music scene." They are the definition of...
BELLOWS FALLS-Canal Street Art Gallery, 23 Canal St., presents new solo shows of Joshua Aaron Gray, Theresa Karpinski, Kathleen Kemp, Amy Raab, and Sandy Sherman, opening Friday, Nov. 15, through Jan. 12. Join the gallery on 3rd Friday Gallery Night in Bellows Falls from 5 to 8 p.m. for the artists' opening reception. This fall, with the launch of its new Solo Show Program and growing Working Artist Program, the Gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6...
BRATTLEBORO-On Thursday, Nov. 7, Brattleboro and surrounding villages experienced an internet outage caused by a local fire. Many of us around town rely on the internet to do our jobs (whether we work remotely or not). I want to give a big thank you to the Brooks Memorial Library (and the town) for having better-than-commercial internet access available for free to anyone who walked in. Dozens of people were quietly working on their laptops, able to go to work or...
BRATTLEBORO-The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) invites the public to a conversation with photographer Susan Mikula and curator Charlie Hunter about "Island," an exhibit featuring Mikula's images of the historically rich, 30-acre so-called island in Bellows Falls, Vermont. On display at BMAC until Feb. 9, named for a giant shelf of bedrock forcing the Connecticut River to make an abrupt eastward hitch in Bellows Falls, "Island" features dream-like images. Mikula achieved her ghost-like images, which were created specifically for...
VERNON-In an Oct. 25 event held at the Miller Farm, an organic dairy farm in Vernon, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt announced the launch of the Organic Dairy Product Promotion (ODPP) program, allocating $15 million to expand access to organic dairy products in educational institutions and youth programs. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the program will increase consumption of organic dairy products among children and young adults while creating new opportunities for small- and...
BRATTLEBORO-This work requires courage. Thank you for re-electing me as your state representative. This work is only possible when we all show up - not only to vote yes, but also to stick around after the election. For the past six years, I've been honored to represent the incredible people of Brattleboro. I have been your advocate and champion, connecting you to resources during difficult times, making sure you have a seat at the table in Montpelier, and celebrating the...
BRATTLEBORO-The town of Brattleboro announced on Nov. 1 the retirement of Fire Chief Leonard Howard III, effective on Dec. 31. The announcement was made in the town's monthly online newsletter. Howard has been involved with the Brattleboro Fire Department since the 1980s. "I'm proud to be in the fire service. It's been the best job in the world," Howard said in a news release. "I've enjoyed helping people and seeing my staff progress and be successful. I think they're in...
PUTNEY-The 2024 election is now in our rearview mirror, and voters have spoken. I thank the voters of Putney and Dummerston in the Windham-4 district for speaking with their overwhelming votes and support for this next term in the Vermont House of Representatives. It is an honor to serve the hard-working, warm, creative, and generous people in these two amazing communities. Our towns exemplify how Vermont's outward beauty is in those green hills, but our real beauty and strength comes...
PUTNEY-We all cannot believe our eyes, some with dismay and others with deep gratitude: The president has been elected with a mandate from the people. It is a blessing that the election is decided, and not challengeable. This spares us the haranguing of outcomes, the twisting of narratives, and the stress of the unknown. As my father would say, decisions are beauty, and Americans have delivered their opinion. I live in the bluest county of the Nation, perhaps the bluest...
With the election now in the books, change is in the air. But how this change might manifest itself is still unknown. Many people in Vermont are voicing concerns about the national election, which puts former President Donald Trump back in the White House. "The results of the national election are devastating," said Rep. Mollie Burke, D-Brattleboro, who was re-elected to the House. "I worry about how the policies of the new Trump administration will impact Vermont," she said. "Will...
Nancy Braus, a retired independent bookseller, is a longtime activist who contributes often to these pages. GUILFORD-What is left of the sane population in the United States is pretty much collectively prepared to jump off the nearest bridge, as these fascists really mean business. However, as vile of a playbook as they will be working from, there are questions, and the answers to those questions will make a huge difference in how we approach the coming fascist buzzsaw. A clear...
ROCKINGHAM-A pair of Stephen Belaski murals, in storage in northern New York for the past 36 years, have been gifted to the town. Belaski, born in New York in 1909, grew up and lived in Bellows Falls most of his life. He became one of Vermont's most noted muralists, with many of his best known works created in the 1930s, including these two murals, funded by the Federal Art Project, part of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration (WPA). The...
BRATTLEBORO-The Sarasa Ensemble looks "East-West" in a performance Friday, Nov. 15, at the Brattleboro Music Center. The 7 p.m. performance will feature Elicia Silverstein, Rebecca Nelson, Danilo Bonina, violins; Jenny Stirling, viola; Jennifer Morsches, Timothy Merton, cellos; and John McKean, harpsichord. Composers of the Occident gladly soaked up the sounds of the near Orient and let it influence their music. This evening program will spotlight works that feature Eastern traditions influencing a wide swath of Europe in a potpourri of...
BRATTLEBORO-I wish to thank the voters of Windham-8 for once again electing me to be their representative in Montpelier. I am honored to be chosen. And it is heartening to know that voter turnout in Brattleboro was 70%! I had many wonderful encounters and conversations with constituents as I campaigned door to door. I appreciated getting to know new voters and connecting with old friends and acquaintances. I loved seeing people's gardens up close, hearing your concerns, and experiencing the...
BRATTLEBORO-Artists, ice-fishing enthusiasts, and builders of all ages and experience levels are invited to enter the 2025 Artful Ice Shanties outdoor exhibition, presented by the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) and Retreat Farm. Now in its fifth year, this signature Vermont event celebrates artistic talent, creative ingenuity, and New England's rich ice-fishing heritage by displaying creative ice shanties designed and built by groups and individuals. Artful Ice Shanties will be on display Feb. 15–23 at Retreat Farm in Brattleboro.
Elayne Clift (elayne-clift.com) has written this column about women, politics, and social issues for almost 20 years. BRATTLEBORO-Usually around this time I begin thinking about writing my cheery Christmas letter to share the highlights of another year in the life of our family. This year is different. I'm still trying to grasp what just happened and what it will mean for all of us. My initial reaction to the results of the presidential election was blurted out in staccato texts...
BRATTLEBORO-The board and staff at Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center thank everyone for supporting the 2024 Forest of Mystery (our 30th year!). We look forward to bringing this magical outdoor theater production to our community every year. We are grateful to the volunteer cast and crew, to our sponsors that helped to feed them, and to everyone who purchased a ticket. This annual fundraiser supports our work to foster experiences that inspire connection to the natural world, through environmental education, outdoor...
BRATTLEBORO-"I always thought that the Sportsman's Lounge on Canal Street in Brattleboro was our own version of the television show Cheers," says Gordon Bristol, a regular customer for many years. The vacant structure burned in a spectacular explosion of flame early in the morning of Nov. 7, days before it was scheduled to be demolished. The last chapter for the 104-year-old building at 45 Canal St. began in 1963, when Dessaint's Food Center, a small, neighborhood grocery store, took on...
BRATTLEBORO-We thank the community for supporting the Winston Prouty Center's first annual Foliage 5K fundraiser that was held on our campus Oct. 26. The event included the 5K Trail Run through our forest and fields and the half-mile Little Leaf Dash for young children. It raised $7,000, and we're excited to build on this success next year. We are grateful to our generous sponsors and to the local businesses and organizations who supported our fundraiser by donating products and services.
MARLBORO-The death of Gary Partridge at Southern State Correctional Facility was due to the shameful, and even criminal, culture of neglect by the prison health care provider, Wellpath (which is now filing for bankruptcy), and by extension, the Vermont Department of Corrections. It is only one in a series of cases that we have read about in the press in recent years, along with endless stories of neglect and malpractice that incarcerated Vermonters have to endure. In the last legislative...
ROCKINGHAM-I wish to thank the constituents of Windham-3 for re-electing me for another two years to the Vermont House of Representatives. Campaigning every two years is grueling but very worthwhile. I had so many meaningful conversations with voters as I went door to door. We had forums at the Rockingham Free Public Library, at Rockingham Roasters, and at the Flat Iron Cooperative. Supporters held potluck events where I could talk with constituents at length and answer their questions. I am...
Dan DeWalt, a frequent contributor to these pages and one of the founders of this newspaper, writes that if he didn't love his country, he "wouldn't spend so much time trying to get it to live up to its purported principles." WILLIAMSVILLE-In the aftermath of the victory of the felon, Democrats, searching for a scapegoat, are looking everywhere except in the mirror. To be sure, a sensationalist heavily partisan media spun, obscured, and lied their way through the election campaign,
PUTNEY-I'm wondering why Kamala Harris - right after Donald Trump rose from the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, fist in the air, urging "Fight, fight, fight" - chose to adopt that pugilistic language herself. Watching her campaign, I felt that while criticizing Trump incessantly, she also chose to take on and copy his worst habits. Like name calling, at the end. When everything is characterized as a fight, a me-versus-you, an us-versus-them dynamic is immediately set up. There is an instant...
BRATTLEBORO-The Selectboard has learned that it will cost about $2.1 million - a 9% increase from the current budget - to pay for municipal services just as they are, resulting in an about 14% rise in property taxes. After the report from Town Manager John Potter, board members have asked staff to look again for potential savings. Potter estimated that in the about $25.1 million base budget for FY 2026, the average taxpayer would need to pay an added $300,
BRATTLEBORO-In "The Lottery," a suspenseful short story by North Bennington resident Shirley Jackson, all the villagers gather every June, as they always have, participating in a ritual to ensure a good harvest, a beneficial year, and remove bad omens. They do this by collectively stoning to death one member of the village, who is chosen by lottery. Then their village carries on, thinking they've done what is needed to improve their lives. Until the following June. Political historian Heather Cox...
Nicholas Boke is a freelance writer and international educational consultant who lives in Chester. CHESTER-I stood at the polls in Chester on Election Day, as I've stood at polls in various locations over the years, and as a Springfield friend has done. I've always enjoyed greeting the people who come out to vote, who come to take part in the most basic of American democratic processes. Republican, Democrat, or independent, first-time voter or veteran of decades of elections, we always...
The writer is a member of the Putney Housing Solutions Task Force, a community group born from a Vermont Council on Rural Development site visit to town. PUTNEY-With so many factors making Vermont a challenging place to live - harsh winters, high cost of living, excessive flooding, minimal jobs, an aging population, and loss of small businesses - I do not believe adding contention and divisiveness around building housing a smart strategy to attract and welcome new residents. Two of...
CAVENDISH-It's crucial to address the underlying motivations behind this opposition about HCRS's use of AI transcription software. The primary concern here seems less about privacy and more about the software's Israeli origin. This stance is led by groups like Southern Vermont for Palestine, whose recent conference in Burlington illustrated a broader anti-American and anti-capitalist sentiment that goes far beyond genuine patient privacy concerns. Denying mental health providers access to tools that enhance care and reduce clinician burnout due to geopolitical...
Steev Lynn works internationally, currently reporting on the civil war in Myanmar after a military seizure of power from an elected government. He has worked on economic development projects for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Peace Corps, the European Union, and governments in Africa. DUMMERSTON-In the wake of our disastrous electoral loss, the postmortems have already begun searching for the reason. Some say the problem was our candidate, others that we focused too much on abortion and not...