• Duff Allan Delano, 70, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Died peacefully, with his family by his side, on Nov. 9, 2024. Born on Jan. 29, 1954, in Brattleboro, he was the son of the late Robert and Phyllis (Higgins) Delano. Duff graduated from Hinsdale High School and then attended Springfield College where he graduated in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics. After school, he had a lifelong career with the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years until he retired as postmaster at the age of 55. Upon retirement, Duff and his friend Ron Merton started a painting business, which he did until he no longer could. An avid golfer, Duff enjoyed golfing on many courses throughout the country. He was a member and club champion at Northfield (Mass.) Country Club, was a member of the Elks Club in Brattleboro, and served as selectman and tax collector for the town of Hinsdale for a period of time. A proud father and grandfather, he loved spending time with his family, teaching his kids how to ski and attending his children's and grandchildren's school sports. He is survived by his daughter Kerri Pagach; sons Jared Delano and wife Jennifer, and Aaron Delano; sister Jackie Delano; brothers Robert Delano and wife Laura, and Randy Delano and wife Bonnie; sister-in law Lois Delano; brother-in-law Bill Morrone; grandchildren Trent Pagach, Brookelynn Pagach, Kelsey Delano, Jackson Delano, Connor Delano, and Lane Delano and his former wife and companion for the last four years, Sarah Delano; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Becky Morrone, and brothers Darwin and Kenny Delano. Memorial information: Donations to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org/get-involved-now/donate) or the Monadnock Humane Society (monadnockhumanesociety.org/donate)
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First Congregational hosts 67th annual Christmas Bazaar WEST BRATTLEBORO - First Congregational Church, 880 Western Ave., presents its 67th annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. The Bazaar features two floors of handmade balsam wreaths, tree ornaments, berry bowls, knitwear, baked goods, and...
Thanksgiving closures in Brattleboro BRATTLEBORO - In observance of Thanksgiving, all town offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, with the exception of emergency services. Brooks Memorial Library will close at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. They will be closed on Thursday, Nov.
PUTNEY-The Putney Historical Society presents a screening of Jay Craven's new film Lost Nation, followed by a Q&A session led by Craven, on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. at Next Stage. The event is part of the film's Vermont 50 Town Tour and is a fundraiser for the Putney Town Hall Renovation Project to make the building more efficient and provide a home for the Putney Historical Society. Lost Nation is a Revolutionary War-era action drama set in the...
BELLOWS FALLS-Dylan Patrick Ward celebrates the release of his new full-length recording, Ne'er-Do-Wells, at Stage 33 Live, 33 Bridge St., Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. Ward, described in a news release as "a folk misfit from Vermont's dirty south"- actually within walking distance of Stage 33 Live, where he played his first venue show. He has been performing ever since, recognized in the worlds of folk and indie music for his "imaginative and poignant songs steeped in irreverent dark...
PUTNEY-Sandglass Theater's "A Rafter of Crankies" returns to Green Mountain Orchards, 130 West Hill Rd., for the fourth consecutive year. This year, Sandglass is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the festival. As part of the Putney Craft Tour during Thanksgiving Weekend, performances will take place at 5 and 7:30 p.m. on both Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30. "Crankies" are panoramic scrolls advanced through a frame by cranking handles. The effect "is like watching the analog ancestor of...
BRATTLEBORO-Byron Stookey, who died earlier this year, was the spearheading founder of Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing (BAAH) - a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who work to create, maintain, and support affordable housing in this community. The BAAH Board of Directors has made it its mission to carry out Stookey's vision. The nine-person board maintains a variety of programs. The Apartments in Homes program assists people who have spare room in their homes to create affordable apartments. The Housing...
PUTNEY-Still going strong, The Putney Craft Tour celebrates its 46th anniversary during Thanksgiving weekend - Friday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conceived in the late 1970s and timed to coincide with Thanksgiving and holiday shopping, the tour rose from the happy confluence of a number of trends, including the back-to-the-land movement and the rise of American craft. The day after Thanksgiving, the studios of 24 of Vermont's most prominent makers invite the public...
BRATTLEBORO-Project Feed the Thousands, the community-driven initiative that has helped feed local families for over three decades, has launched its 31st annual campaign with a goal of raising $120,000 in cash donations to combat food insecurity in the region. The campaign, which began in 1993 with a goal of feeding 1,000 community members, has grown exponentially to meet the increasing needs of local families. This year's campaign holds special significance as the organization mourns the loss of co-founder George Haynes,
GUILFORD-Two local musical groups will team up Sunday, Dec. 8, for a lively concert that organizers say promises "camaraderie, thoughtfulness, and laughter." The Daybreak Trio, a "nimble and tight-knit threesome that's fluent in fiddle-driven dance music," will kick off this 7 p.m. event at the Guilford Community Church. Featuring Owen Morrison on guitar, Naomi Morse on fiddle and vocals, and Anna Patton on clarinet and vocals, the trio infuses their core repertoire of traditional New England music as well as...
BRATTLEBORO-The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont (APSVT) will commemorate World AIDS Day at Brooks Memorial Library on Monday, Dec. 2. The public is invited to join APSVT staff and board members Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. to discuss the significance of World AIDS Day, learn about the mission of the AIDS Project, explore a display of books on HIV and AIDS, and take a moment to craft their own red ribbon and discover its meaning. Light...
Is stress an unwelcomed guest during the holiday season? The Vermont Department of Health suggests considering taking a break from drinking alcohol during the holidays or start 2025 with a Dry January. "Reducing or stopping alcohol use can help you sleep better, have more energy, feel more connected with your community, save money, and avoid hangovers." Many bars and restaurants have mocktail menus, so there are drink options when dining out or celebrating. To be the host with the most,
-Christmas in Denmark is a seasonal delight that lasts a little more than a month. With age-old traditions like decorating the tree with traditional lit candles on Christmas Eve while family members sing and dance around it, the festive holiday season features traditional song, food, decorations, and spring flowers. It begins with the baking of the julekage (pronounced yule kaya), meaning "Christmas Cake," in late November. In Denmark, it is a well-followed tradition to enjoy a cup of coffee around...
BRATTLEBORO-The three remaining members of the class of 1944 didn't spend a lot of time together in high school, but these women have remained lifelong friends. Now, at their recent 80th high school reunion visit, Sylvia Smith Morse, of Guilford, Janice Pratt Martin, of West Brattleboro, and Alice Anderson Stockwell, of Vernon, reminisce about their teenage years. The last of almost 100 students graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1944, they were all children of the Great Depression. Their freshman...
-The Vermont Football Coaches Association recently announced its all-state football teams for the 2024 season. In Division I, Brattleboro wide receiver Jack Cady and inside linebacker Colby Bristol were first team selections. Brattleboro players named to the second team were wide receiver Alex Papadimitriou, defensive lineman Justin Packard, and outside linebacker Zach Corbeil. Cady and Logan Casey were both second team selections at defensive back. Earning honorable mention for Brattleboro were quarterback Sean Cozza, Corbeil at running back, wide receiver...
Jessie Haas is the author of 49 books for children and adults, and a writer for Green Energy Times. WESTMINSTER WEST-One of my favorite lines from New Mexican writer Gene Rhodes is this, about the old-time cowboy life. "When we drive in a wild bunch, when we top off the boundin' bronco, it may look easy, but it's always a close thing. Even when we win we nearly lose; when we lose we nearly win. And that forms the stay-with-it-Bill-you're-doin'-well...
GRAFTON-It must be an epidemic. Google "coping with holiday stress," and you'll find enough advice from psychologists, life coaches, health clinics, etiquette mavens, and other "experts" to keep you in reading material for all the holidays of your life. My cursory research has revealed that the experts have boarded the same bus headed toward the elusive destination called sanity. Get organized. Don't overindulge in food, alcohol, or spending. Avoid shopping malls. Make time to exercise and rest. Learn to say...
NEWFANE-Many in the West River Valley remember the inn at the center of Newfane village, right across from the general store, for its old-world-y ambience, the local-color charm of owners Eric and Gundela "Gundi" Weindl, and the exquisite meals served in dining room on the southwest side. The inn had figured prominently in the life of Lori Damato, whose family has had a home in Brookline since the 1960s. Originally from Norwalk and, later, Trumbull, Connecticut, Damato started coming to...
HINSDALE, N.H.-I read that a Vermont representative worries that Trump will deport illegal immigrants and leave dairy farms with few workers, hurting that economy. Not all immigrants working on dairy farms are here illegally, and not all immigrants (legal or not) work in agriculture. To say we need illegal immigrants to work on farms is akin to plantation owners saying they needed slaves to pick cotton and other crops. Also, let's consider: If people here illegally are working on farms...
BRATTLEBORO-Come New Year's Day, the town will have a new trash contract. Following a lengthy negotiation with Casella Waste Systems - the sole bidder for a new town trash disposal contract - Selectboard members have authorized Town Manager John Potter to pen and sign a $1.3 million, five-year contract with the company. Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland explained that after about a half year in negotiations, the new contract will include curbside collection for downtown public trash and recycling cans...
BRATTLEBORO-It's here: the season of good cheer. With days and nights filled with holiday-themed office parties, social gatherings, gift exchanges, and celebrations, it's the time of year when friends come to call and glasses of wassail are raised to toast the old and the new. Holiday parties are a great way to spread the joy of the holiday season, show gratitude, and celebrate accomplishments. But while enjoying the festivities, if alcohol is involved, it's important to be reminded of our...
BRATTLEBORO-"It's not about ordinance or no ordinance," said Mel Motel, co-director of Restorative Justice Programs at Interaction: Youth Services and Restorative Justice. "It's about a third way. What can we build instead?" Motel was one of five panelists who proposed alternatives to the town's recently adopted Acceptable Community Conduct ordinance at a Nov. 18 public information meeting at Brooks Memorial Library. Opponents of the ordinance have obtained signatures from the 5% of registered voters necessary to trigger a Special Representative...
BRATTLEBORO-Selectboard members have asked Town Manager John Potter and his staff to go back to the drawing board and return scenarios that describe 5% and 10% reductions to the proposed nearly $26.5 million budget for the next fiscal year. "I want to be clear with the public that a 22% increase in property taxes is extremely high, very hard to swallow, and, for many people, really, really concerning," said Board Chair Daniel Quipp of the current draft budget implication. The...
BRATTLEBORO-I was full of Christmas cheer as I took a trolley from Cambridge to Boston to wait for the train to Brattleboro. It was snowing heavily. I was excited about spending a Vermont Christmas with my brother Paddy, his wife Betty, and their little daughter Leish, but I was also excited at the thought of meeting my girlfriend Tina in New York after Christmas. To my surprise, I began to realize how very close we'd become in a short time.
WESTMINSTER-There was good news for Bellows Falls Union High School last week: Several major projects are completed or nearing completion, and air quality testing done for PCBs last week produced some very encouraging results. The School Action Level (SAL) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for high schools is 100 ng/m³, and some parts of the school had tested as high as 850 ng/m³ over the past two years. However, in testing at the school last week, the results ranged from 43...
LEYDEN, MASS.-In response to Holland Mills' recent letter, it's essential to address significant omissions and clarify the context. The claim that "no less than a million Lebanese have fled Israel's newly-launched ground war" lacks credible support. This exaggeration misinforms readers giving a distorted narrative that unfairly singles out Israel while overlooking the severe, ongoing threats of daily attack by Hezbollah on Israeli civilians. In contrast to Hezbollah's surprise bombing attacks, Lebanese civilians in the region were given guidance and support...
Marvin Resnikoff is an international consultant on radioactive waste issues. A nuclear physicist and a graduate of the University of Michigan, he has worked on radioactive issues since 1974. KEENE, N.H.-There is an eerie similarity between the military coup in Chile in 1973 and what may occur under President-elect Trump. I was in Chile as a Fulbright scholar during that coup. In 1970, much to the chagrin of the Nixon administration, Salvador Allende was elected and subsequently reaffirmed in a...
Carolyn North is a writer of books that address "the interface between matter and spirit." She submits this piece in memory of Pamela Mayer, the founder of the Manitou Project in Williamsville. North's book Voices Out of Stone covers her experience with the stones in Kercado in more detail and is available at carolynnorthbooks.com. PUTNEY-A good friend, knowing recently that I was going through a hard time with Covid, offered encouragement by sending me a poem by Rumi: Don't grieve.
BRATTLEBORO-Denise Gebroe is correct that the issues motivating the No Surveillance in Health Care campaign "go far beyond patient privacy concerns." It's true: The campaign is also concerned with the way that the state of Israel has oriented its entire society and economy - especially its startup tech industry - around its prosecution of a war of extermination against the Palestinian people. Contrary to the oft-repeated claim that Israel is "the Middle East's only democracy," it far more closely resembles...
ROCKINGHAM-I am concerned and dismayed over the recent decision by the management of North Star Health to close the Health Center at Bellows Falls. This action seems to prioritize convenience for a select few while leaving the most vulnerable members of our community without access to essential health care services. In doing so, the decision is contributing to the creation of a health care desert that will undoubtedly have severe consequences for the residents of Bellows Falls and the surrounding...