Fair Housing and Freedom of Association

This essay is part of an ongoing dialogue with my nephew. It is a response to his contention that the Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlaw freedom of association, because  it force diversity on people. I had mentioned the history of lynching. Challenging the connection between lynching and the freedom of association argument, he responded: “The number of lynchings fell to essentially 0 well before LBJ was elected: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA03/faturoti/harlem/collage/lynchstats.html”

Dear Russell,

Lynchings were often not simply hangings:


NEYT’S Liam Johnson Featured In Equus at Great River Theater Festival

SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. – New England Youth Theatre alum Liam Johnson of Brattleboro has taken on the challenging role of the troubled boy Alan Strang in the Main Street Arts production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus.

The psychological thriller that is now considered a modern classic opens Thursday, June 28 for a two-weekend run as part of the Greater River Theater Festival. Shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 28, 29, 30 and July 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the MSA theater, which has been reconfigured so the audience literally has a ringside seat.


Twilight on the Tavern Lawn Free Concert Series – Brian Dunne Trio on Sunday, June 17

Twilight Music continues its 16th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk rock, world beat, rock, country, pop, Celtic, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, June 17 with Brooklyn-based, Americana and folk singer/songwriter Brian Dunne’s guitar, piano and violin trio. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 26. 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 the Town of Putney, Green Mountain Well, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, The Stockwell Brothers and many other 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 www.twilightmusic.org.


Borters Jewelry Studio Planning Next Round of Jewelry Workshops

Borter’s Jewelry Studio is currently planning its next round of jewelry classes, and we welcome your input. Please take this quick survey to let us know what you’re looking for in a metalsmithing workshop. Your responses submitted over the next month will help us decide what classes to schedule for the end of summer and fall of 2018.


For the Love of the Game: Emma Rueter Portraits at CX Silver Gallery

C.X. Silver Gallery is pleased to announce a new exhibition of extraordinary black and white portraits by Emma Rueter, recent B.U.H.S. graduate, formerly also of Hilltop Montessori, and aspiring artist and photographer. The images of high school athletes, part of a series entitled ‘For the Love of the Game’, have a definite archetypal quality. All are welcome to a reception for the artist and this exhibition on Wednesday June 13, 5-7pm. The exhibition runs June 12-July 11.


BCTV Schedules – Week of 6/11/18

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 6/11/18

Monday, June 11, 2018

12:40 am Dummerston Conservation Commission – DCC Planting for Pollinators Workshop 5-12-18 Part 1
2:00 am Osher Lecture Series – Persia Resurgent: The Islamist Triumph in Iran
3:30 am Vermont Peace Conference 2018 – Keynote Speaker – Beata Tsosie-Peña
5:00 am Green Mtn Mornings Tonight – GMMT: Friday News Show
5:30 am The World Fusion Show – Ep 24 – royal hartigan & Wes Brown
6:00 am Here We Are – with guest David Blistein


Benefit Contra Dance for Skateboard Park on Saturday, June 16

This coming Saturday, June 16, the Village Dance Series is hosting a benefit contra dance for the Brattleboro Area Skatepark project (BASIC). Peter Amidon will call and the music is by “Hidden Drive” – Arthur Davis on piano, Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle and Andy Davids on accordion. The skatepark is VERY CLOSE to being able to build at Memorial Park in Brattleboro.


Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Eugene Uman’s Convergence Project

The Vermont Jazz Center presents Eugene Uman’s Convergence Project on June 9th at 8:00 PM.  The Director of the VJC, Uman and uses the Convergence Project as vehicle to present his original compositions and music that has influenced him – it includes Wanda Houston (vocals), Michael Zsoldos, saxophones; Jeff Galindo, trombone; Uman, piano; David Picchi, bass (electric and acoustic) and Jon Fisher on drums. There will also be surprise musical guests performing at this event.

After many musically formative years in Colombia, South America, Uman became drawn to blending the many rhythms of the country, such as cumbia, bambuco and pasillo, with jazz harmonies. While living in Antioquia, the Big Band of Medellín commissioned Uman to write for their 20-piece orchestra, resulting in Blues para Urabá. 


DOSA Kitchen Cookbook Launch Party on June 9

To celebrate the release of our cookbook, Dosa Kitchen will be throwing a launch party at our food truck.

When: Saturday, June 9, from 3-5
Where: Dosa Kitchen food truck, 400 Linden Street, at the Retreat Farm (next to Grafton Village Cheese)
What: SAMPLES from the book’s recipes * Reggae music by HEIRLOOM SEEDS * HENNA by Prasanna * BOOKS on sale by Everyone’s Books


Brattleboro Area Tech Meeting to Explore Ethics in a Growing Digital Economy

Computers, mobile phones, artificial intelligence and communication networks provide many benefits, but they have also raised social and ethical concerns, from Facebook and Cambridge Analytica to the growing impact of automation on people’s jobs and lives.

Ethics and technology is the topic of discussion at the next Brattleboro Area Tech meeting to be held on Thursday, June 14 at 6:00 pm in the Hooker Dunham building at 139 Main Street in Brattleboro. The discussion will be led by Karina Assiter, a professor of computer science at Landmark College.


BCTV Schedules – Week of 6/4/18

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 6/4/18

Monday, June 4, 2018

12:31 am The FEED – Greater Falls Farmers Market
1:00 am Senior Moments – Mozart – Class 4
2:30 am Senior Moments – Mozart – Class 5
4:00 am Havana Fairfax Connection – Nobby Reed


Friends Books Sale Continues: Thank You!

Thanks to all who made the first few days of the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library Summer Book Sale a great success! The  sale will continue until Saturday, June 15th at 3 pm.

All proceeds support events, technology and other resources, like Lynda.com. Please pay for your books at the desk!


A Ramble Through Small Town New England, with Author Richard Marshall

Join us on Saturday, June 16th at 2 pm for an author reading and discussion of A Ramble Through Small-Town New England: Volume One, by Richard Marshall. Read his statement below for more information!

The idea of writing a book about towns along the southern New England border came while sitting on my deck in Whitingham on a beautiful sunny day. I was looking at a Vermont map and saw all the towns stretching from Brattleboro to Bennington. Why not go to each town, meet the people there and write about my impressions of what I saw and heard and, where possible, have people write their own stories? I interviewed artists, farmers, store owners, entrepreneurs, factory owners and many others.


A Cappella à la Carte on June 8: Supper and Songs

Guilford, Vt. – Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG) presents its 52nd season finale on Friday, June 8, an annual three-part event dubbed “A Cappella à la Carte.” Set at two neighboring churches in the Algiers village of Guilford, just over a mile south of Exit 1 off I-91, the evening’s menu includes a short meeting, a potluck picnic, and a 7:30 concert of vocal music. Each optional segment is open to the general public; admission to the concert is by donation.

Beginning at 6 p.m. in Christ Church, at the corner of Melendy Hill Rd. and Rt. 5 south, the FOMAG Annual Membership Meeting is typically short and entertaining, and offers a summary of the year, a look ahead to next season, and election of the board of trustees.


Seth Glier and Matt Nakoa at Next Stage on Friday, June 8

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary folk and pop singer/songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Seth Glier and Matt Nakoa at Next Stage on Friday, June 8 at 7:30 pm.

Singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, producer and Grammy nominee Seth Glier is renowned for his fearless vocal delivery, musical exuberance and seasoned songwriting beyond his years.  A troubadour in every sense of the word who averages over 150 live performances annually, 29 year-old Glier has gone from opening act to headlining his own shows and playing major festivals.  He’s shared the stage with artists as diverse as James Taylor, Ani DiFranco, Edwin McCain, Martin Sexton, Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams, and has quickly become known for his passionate live sets and powerful command of both piano and guitar.


Drawing Studio Summer Schedule

The Drawing Studio in Brattleboro is offering a variety of creative opportunities this Summer; classes in Life Drawing, Drawing Basics and an immersive weeklong workshop in Color and Painting.  There are also weekly drop-in life drawing sessions and Open Studio hours for independent and guided work.  Jason Alden is a skilled and attentive instructor who will meet you at any level of experience, from absolute beginner to long-time painter.


Brattleboro Union High School Board Meeting Agenda

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING

The BUHS #6 Teacher Curriculum Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 4 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.

The BUHS #6 Planning and Policy Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.


Some Thoughts On Cancelling Roseanne

Roseanne’s new iteration of her family sit-com was cancelled by ABC shortly after a series of tweets by the star of the show. She called a former Obama advisor the child of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes, then doubled down for a while when people called her racist. Then she apologized, but it was too late.


Twilight on the Tavern Lawn Free Concert Series – The Rear Defrosters on Sunday, June 3

Twilight Music begins its 16th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk rock, world beat, rock, country, pop, Celtic, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, June 3 with honky tonk, country soul and early rock-n-roll band The Rear Defrosters. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 26. 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.