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Your support powers every story we tell. We're committed to producing high-quality, fact-based news and information that gives you the facts in this community we call home. If our work has helped you stay informed, take action, or feel more connected to Windham County – please give now to help us reach our goal of raising $150,000 by December 31st.
BRATTLEBORO-Tiny Press, a new grassroots, free, digital publishing initiative, invites local residents to share their voices through its platform.
With the mission to “foster a community of shared stories, neighbor to neighbor,” Tiny Press representatives said in a news release it serves as a “Small Press with Big Voices,” showcasing the creative talents of people within the local community.
Operating out of Brattleboro, Tiny Press provides a digital stage for an array of creative media, including literature, music, and visual and performing arts, the platform is designed to be a comprehensive hub for local expression, opening a platform for artistry and conversation.
“We believe everyone has a story worth telling,” the Tiny Press team said. “Whether it’s through a haiku, a short story, a digital art exhibit, or a musical score, Tiny Press is here to ensure those voices are heard by their neighbors and beyond.”...
College news • Bobby Stevenish III of Stratton was named to the fall 2025 Dean’s List at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. • Kaylee Unruh of Vernon was named to the fall 2025 Dean’s List at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. • Elijah Saddlemire of Brattleboro...
PUTNEY-Cellist, vocalist, and composer Queralt Giralt Soler presents her trio Friday, Feb. 20, for an evening of music that bridges classical training, jazz improvisation, and Catalan folk traditions. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m performance at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill. Based in the United...
BRATTLEBORO-The In-Sight Photography Project will launch its latest session of youth photography programs and classes next month, offering opportunities for young artists to explore, experiment, and express themselves through the lens. Classes are open to students ages 11–18 and will be held Monday through Thursday afternoons, with a Tuesday morning option for homeschooled students and others with flexible schedules. In-Sight Photography Project will also offer a range of photography courses for youth ages 11–18 this spring, spanning digital, conceptual, and...
BRATTLEBORO->Article II Shall Brattleboro discontinue the representative form of annual meeting? [Yes/No] Article III In the event that the vote on Article 2 is in the affirmative, shall Brattleboro vote by Australian ballot at any annual or special Town meeting on the following: (1) The election of officers of the Town; (2) The approval of the annual general fund budget; (3) All authorizations for major bonding or borrowing; (4) All public questions; and (5) Charter amendments? If the vote on...
Genealogy group meets Feb. 21 BRATTLEBORO — The next hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting of the Windham County Genealogy Interest Group (WCGIG) will focus on “Working with Handwritten Records for Genealogical Purposes,” presented by member Lynne Snyder, and “Using Google’s Gemini AI for Genealogy,” presented by Wayne Blanchard, Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St. In case of inclement weather, this meeting will be via Zoom only. It is free and...
BRATTLEBORO-The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus will perform a free concert Sunday, March 8, at 3 p.m. at the Latchis Theatre. All U.S. Navy Band performances are free, though some concerts may require ticket reservations. For the most up-to-date ticket information, visit the Navy Band’s website at navyband.navy.mil. “Touring the nation and performing concerts means connecting with communities and telling the great stories of our sailors working around the globe to keep us safe and free,” said Capt.
PUTNEY-Join the Putney Historical Society to watch a showing of a 2004 filmed performance of the play The Equivalent Lands by Joe Greenhoe at Next Stage on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. A brief introduction to the play by cast members Jim Bombicino, Jenny Holan, and Mark Brown will provide some context to the play. The play, written for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, depicts life on the northern frontier as settlers moved into what is now southern Vermont during...
BRATTLEBORO-The Brattleboro Music Center (BMC) welcomes the Portland String Quartet for the first time Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. The program, titled “Point of Departure,” explores “moments when composers stepped beyond the familiar to chart new artistic territory,” explained organizers in a news release. Each performed piece “reflects a turning point — a departure from the expected — inviting listeners to experience the spirit of creative risk and reinvention.” On the program will be Anton Webern’s “Langsamer Satz,” which...
BRATTLEBORO->Kate O’Connor: ‘There’s a lot that is confusing’ — Randolph T. Holhut, moderator: So why are we here? For those three questions on the ballot on March 3, articles that could transform the system of government in Brattleboro — the system that Brattleboro has used for 65 years — the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). [See sidebar for the text of the three articles as they will appear on voters’ ballots.] What will these changes accomplish? And why might they be...
Elayne Clift (elayne-clift.com) has written this column about women, politics, and social issues for almost 20 years. BRATTLEBORO-This year has barely begun, and already we find ourselves facing a dangerous world in which old norms and rules are changing or disappearing rapidly. We have yet to realize what the ramifications will be of what is taking place - not just for our own country but for all countries, irrespective of geography, economic stability, and political leadership. A piece in The...
-Slovenians have dominated the podium at the annual Harris Hill Ski Jump in Brattleboro over the past decade, but the 104th edition of this event saw an American jumper claim the Winged Ski Trophy. On Feb. 15, Henry Loher, 17, of the New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) team from Lake Placid, became the first U.S. jumper to win the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament since Chris Lamb did it in 2013. Loher, who was also the U20 winner of the...
Note: I am writing in my personal capacity, not on behalf of the organization I work for or any other affiliations. BRATTLEBORO-I care about Brattleboro a whole lot - as a 20-year resident, a leader of various nonprofits and community organizing efforts over the years, a participant in the local music scene, and a new parent - and I see Isaac Evans-Frantz as the Selectboard candidate to take us in the right direction at this pivotal moment. Isaac is dedicated...
Nancy Braus, a retired independent bookseller, is a longtime activist. GUILFORD-On the evening of Jan. 22, I attended a vigil organized for, and partially by, a small portion of the large and pretty desperate unhoused population of my small county — one event of six in Vermont. The entire population of my county, Windham County, Vermont is somewhere around 45,000 — smaller than any major city. And yet, despite bitter cold winters, especially this year, we have a very large...
BRATTLEBORO-I urge Brattleboro voters to vote for Isaac Evans-Frantz and Nell Mayo for the two one-year seats on the Brattleboro Selectboard. In the current climate of federal attacks on civil rights and the withdrawal of federal support for our most vulnerable residents, there has never been a more important moment to have courageous and principled people serving in our local government. Isaac has been an essential voice on the Selectboard this past year. Last year he ran on the promise...
BRATTLEBORO-Please vote for Randy Blodgett for Selectboard. Randy brings exactly what we need right now. He has immense energy, an insatiable curiosity, and the focus to get things done. And he’s always ready to offer a lending hand. With 22 years of business ownership and six years of managing budgets in the publishing industry, he understands long-term financial planning. He’s not just talking about one-year budgets — he wants a five-year plan at minimum so we can see where we’re...
BRATTLEBORO-Allow me to join the voices encouraging their neighbors to cast their vote for Elizabeth McLoughlin for Selectboard. One of the most compelling reasons for doing so is her vast work experience in town planning. Rather than bringing a rigid ideology to the table, she ascertains what is best for all of Brattleboro. I especially appreciate her stance on preserving recycling and compost pick-up. It has been a remarkable success, embraced by most residents, and, in the long-term, is best...
BRATTLEBORO-We at the Vermont Jazz Center are thrilled to welcome drummer Nate Smith to our Brattleboro venue on Saturday, Feb. 21. Smith is known for his work with the Fearless Flyers, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Jon Batiste, and many others. Smith is the recent recipient of two Grammy awards for his latest release as a leader, Live-Action . This concert kicks off a tour that he is leading with his current trio, including pianist/keyboardist Jacob Pollack (“J3PO”) and electric bassist...
BRATTLEBORO-Les Misérables High School Edition will grace the Brattleboro Union High School stage Thursday, Feb. 19 through Saturday, Feb. 21. Based on Victor Hugo’s epic 1862 novel Les Misérables, the musical of the same name by Alain Boublil (librettist) and Claude-Michel Schönberg (composer) spans the period in French history from 1815 to 1833. The story centers on Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who was imprisoned for 19 years after stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving children. His nemesis...
James Freedman (Jim.freedman@gmail.com) is a leadership consultant working in the global health-care sector. BRATTLEBORO-In a healthy democratic system, senior officials rise to prominence because they combine expertise, judgment, and a commitment to constitutional norms with the ability to communicate effectively. What we are seeing with Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and Kristi Noem is something different: an apparent rush to the spotlight that often outpaces substance, judgment, and accountability. Instead of grounding their public roles in institutional responsibility, these leaders regularly...
BRATTLEBORO-I voted for Isaac Evans-Frantz in the last election but did so with some concern about how well this young upstart would work out. My concerns were unfounded. Isaac, a Brattleboro native, has done a remarkable job. His comments and his votes show that he takes the whole community into account and is not beholden to any particular group. I am particularly impressed with his fiscal responsibility efforts. He has shown that he is not afraid to push back when...
ROCKINGHAM-Eight candidates are in a race for three Rockingham Selectboard vacancies, one three-year and two one-year seats, with voting on Tuesday, March 3. Selectboard Chair Peter Golec has decided to retire after serving on the board for 17 years. Board Clerk Elijah Zimmer is not running for another term, while Vice-Chair Bonnie North is seeking re-election. The Rockingham Annual Town and School District meeting will take place at the Town Hall Main Theater in the Bellows Falls Opera House on...
F. David Levenbach is a Brattleboro Town Meeting member, representing District 9. BRATTLEBORO-A Town Meeting — be it open (OTM) or representative (RTM) — provides a critical opportunity for citizens to check the Selectboard. Over the past several years, the Selectboard has made decisions that have had a tremendous effect on our community — adopting the Downtown Safety Action Plan, creating a town emergency medical service, eliminating funding for human services, choosing a new arrangement for solid waste collection, adopting...
BRATTLEBORO-I am in strong support of Isaac Evans-Frantz and Nell Mayo for one-year Selectboard seats. I believe both of them will contribute to a more affordable and generative community. As a parent of two students who are in the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, a licensed clinical social worker, a former high school teacher, and an 18-year resident of Brattleboro, I value Isaac's commitment to co-creating a town that works for all of us. I have been extremely impressed with his...
BRATTLEBORO-Civility. Respect for the facts. Listening thoughtfully. Explaining clearly and fully. These are not merely qualities to hope for (or, these days, to long for wistfully) in our elected officials, they are essential to good governance. When these things are present, the public is well-served even on those occasions when the Selectboard's decisions are different from what we would have preferred. And when they are absent, our community is harmed even when the Selectboard's decisions are in line with our...
BRATTLEBORO-Last year I voted to elect Isaac Evans-Frantz for Selectboard because his values and vision aligned with mine. This year I offer my unequivocal support for his re-election. Isaac is a leader whose integrity, discernment, and unwavering commitment to our community consistently rise above the moment. Throughout the past year, he has hosted numerous information/discussion evenings to hear the needs of the public and gain perspective. He has knocked on doors to listen to community concerns. He consistently works to...
BRATTLEBORO-As a local writer and former president of the Brattleboro Garden Club, I have had an opportunity to see the Selectboard at work over the past seven years. I have been most impressed with Liz McLoughlin. These last several terms have been challenging for the town, with safety and drug concerns, homelessness issues, and budget pressures. I feel aligned with Liz McLoughlin on most agendas. She does not waffle on questions but rather seeks the answers and includes all interested...
The writer serves as District 8 chair in Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting. BRATTLEBORO-What's going to differentiate Nell Mayo and Isaac Evans-Frantz from the other one-year candidates is that are working for the benefit of our entire community - not just the business community or property owners. They can differentiate themselves as candidates with experience serving Brattleboro. They will bring positive energy and a neighborly spirit in the context of disastrous policy. This is what's going to win the election and...
The writer is a member of Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting, serving District 9, and is a member of the RTM Human Services Committee. BRATTLEBORO-As the debate over Representative Town Meeting (RTM), open Town Meeting (OTM), and the Australian ballot (AB) continues, I’ve heard it said that some RTM members show up only for hot-ticket issues. Full disclosure: The 2024 Acceptable Community Conduct Ordinance debate is what brought me into RTM. After witnessing what I believed to be a sharp decline...
BRATTLEBORO-I moved to Brattleboro four years ago and never considered the possibility of the town budget going from $19.68 million (FY22) to $27.02 million (proposed FY27). That represents a 37% increase in the town budget. If I had a crystal ball in 2022 and knew that the budget would skyrocket, I may well have considered moving to a different town. How can the Selectboard justify this inflation of spending during a period of time when our population has remained constant?
BRATTLEBORO-I have known Amanda Thurber-Ellis well for many years, when her focus was on running the multi-generation family dairy farm with her husband, Ross. That takes grit, commitment, and no small degree of ingenuity and creative problem-solving. More recently, the town has been benefitting as she applied those qualities and skills to her work on the Selectboard. Amanda is a passionate, and compassionate, advocate for affordability, moderation, and balance and for positioning Brattleboro for a positive economic future. She understands...