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Community Dance at Guilford Pavilion on Aug 20

A Family-friendly Community Dance featuring traditional New England dances (squares, contras, circles, waltzes, polkas) will be held at the new Guilford Community Park Pavilion, 24 Church Drive, Guilford VT 05301 (behind Country Store, next to Guilford Community Church) on Sunday afternoon, August 20 from 2:30-4:30 pm.  All dances will be taught; no partner needed. All are welcome and admission is by donation with a suggested donation of $10 per person and a family limit of $20 (but no one will be turned away)

Music for the dance will be provided by some of the best in the business: Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle, Carol Compton on keyboard, with Fred Breunig, teaching and calling.


Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes – August 15, 2023

Brattleboro’s Town Manager will suggest changes to the budget process at the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. One proposed change to the schedule is intended to increase public participation.

EMS discussions continue, with one more chance for the public to weigh in on aspects of pending EMS decisions. The board will also hear a financial report and will spend nearly $60,000 for a Pool Engineering Feasibility Study.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge Aug 11, 2023

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Removal of the debris from demolished house located within the project limits at 85 Vernon Street is almost complete. The existing foundation will be covered over and blended into the back slope.

All the storm water drainage structures and carrying pipe are in the ground. A few remaining underdrain runs between roadway basins to collect groundwater are still being installed. Video inspection of the closed drainage system will begin next week.


Brattleboro 2023 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes Due

The first installment of the 2023 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2023. Payments made after August 15, 2023 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The Town of Brattleboro utility bills are also due by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2023. Payments made after August 15, 2023 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Twilight Music present acoustic/electric, folk-pop/Americana sextet The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on Sunday, September 3 at 5:00 pm at the SVG Multipurpose Field in Bellows Falls, VT. For over 25 years, the Sleepy Hollow, NY-based Slambovians have expanded the borders of Americana music with a rootsy rockin’ psychedelica, fantastic stories, and electrifying live performances – a mix of Washington Irving, Woodstock, and British Invasion that’s “mightily impressive and hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana” (Maverick Magazine).

The music of The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been described as “hillbilly-Floyd,” “alt-country, roots-rock,” and “surreal Americana” – a clear indicator of its singularly indescribable uniqueness. The sextet’s melodic avant-folk conjures with an exotic instrumental arsenal (accordion, cello, mandolin, theremin) in addition to standard rock regalia, and a palette of styles ranging from dusty Americana ballads to huge Pink Floydesque cinematic anthems. Dancing freely between all existing religious and philosophical mythologies, the music is uplifting, empowering, and a lot of fun.


Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block Band to Play on the Bandwagon Summer Stage

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block Band on Saturday, September 9 at 5:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney, Vermont.

Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block have been collaborating for over a decade, bonding over their shared interest in music from across the world, and their commitment to innovating on their instruments. Balla Kouyate, a balafon player and singer coming out of the Djeli tradition of Mali, was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA. Mike Block is an American cellist/singer/composer, and a Grammy Award-winning musician with the Silkroad Ensemble originally trained in Western Classical music. They have teamed up with friends from America and West Africa to create an exciting fusion of musical styles in a 6-piece band that features Sekou Dembele (djembe/vocals), Idrissa Kone (talking drum/calabash/percussion/vocals), Luke Okerlund (electric guitar) and Mike Rivard (bass/sintir).


WSESD Social Justice Committee Meeting Minutes

Summary:
● The committee heard a presentation from Human Resources Director Michael Kelliher on plans to increase staff diversity.
● The committee voted to recommend that the three diversity-related questions developed in 2022 be included on all applications for licensed teacher or administrator
positions, if possible on Schoolspring.
● The committee made a recommendation that every hiring committee include at least one person representing a diverse viewpoint with a preference for lived experience.


WSESD Communications Council Meeting Minutes

II. Brattleboro board seat outreach: discuss plans for “meet ups” to encourage board candidacy in Brattleboro (bring suggestions to 8/8/23 board meeting).

The committee reviewed outreach suggestions:
● a radio ad
● outreach by superintendent to former teachers
● request for principals to send a message to currently enrolled families


BCTV Schedules – Week of August 7, 2023

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 8/7/23

Monday, August 7, 2023

4:00 am Collegiate A Cappella Concert – 19th Annual A Cappella Concert 4/15/23

6:00 am Around Town with Maria – Swords to Plowshares 4/29/23

7:45 am Juno Orchestra – Heavens Border – Suite for String Orchestra

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast


Lisa McCormick on “Here We Are”

“Let music change your life!” LISA McCORMICK captures the power and beauty of music – with her voice, her playing, and her generosity in sharing with everyone. As she says, “Music is Art made of Sound”…..Listen in!


Author Kat Vellos to Discuss Friendship in Adulthood at Next Stage Arts

Join Next Stage Arts on Tuesday, August 29 at 7:00pm for an interactive fireside with author Kat Vellos all about friendship in adulthood. What are the biggest challenges of adult friendship and how can we overcome them? How do we “make new friends and keep the old”? What is social wellness and how does it factor into our overall health and wellbeing? And how can we create more meaningful connections with coworkers, who are often the primary source of new friends in adulthood? We’ll dig into all this and more. The fireside chat will be followed by a Q&A so come with your questions too. The discussion will take place at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney.

“Cultivating meaningful relationships can be a challenge, and as we look to the future of creating a region that is welcoming and inviting to all people, expanding our toolbox can only be a positive thing,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Kat Vellos’ work focuses on creating meaningful platonic relationships and fostering a stronger community dynamic. This evening with Vellos is something we could all use to live in a more civil, connected community.”


Brattleboro’s Charter Revision Commission to Meet

Brattleboro, VT – Brattleboro’s Charter Revision Commission will meet on Thursday, August 10 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room in the Municipal Center, 230 Main Street.

The meeting agenda includes an overview of the 2011 charter changes and the history of Representative Town Meeting. The commission will also set the meeting schedule for the remainder of 2023


Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – Aug 3, 2023

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: The house located within the project limits at 85 Vernon Street has been demolished.

Testing was completed on the waterline installation under the VT 142 corridor this past week. The installation of underdrain and closed drainage work will continue to progress. The embankment elevation will also continue to be brought closer to final grade.


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

The Brattleboro Trustees of Public Funds will meet on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at 4:30pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

The Brattleboro Charter Review Commission will meet on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room.