Pajala named to Vermont House

Londonderry independent will serve out remainder of Olsen’s term

On Nov. 30, Governor Phil Scott announced the appointment of Kelly MacLaury Pajala of Londonderry, as representative for the Windham-Bennington-Windsor District, serving the towns of Jamaica, Londonderry, Stratton, Weston, and Winhall.

Pajala, an independent, will fill the vacancy left when Rep. Oliver Olsen, I-Londonderry, stepped down this month.

On his Facebook page, Olsen cited the increased demands of his out-of-session job - working for a multinational software company - made it impossible to juggle his legislative duties with his work schedule.

Pajala has served as town clerk for the Town of Londonderry since 2012 and, for three years prior to that, was the assistant town clerk in Weston. Pajala also owned her own business, Dancing Hands Creations.

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Drug collection a big success

Greater Falls Connections thanks all of our community members for disposing of their unwanted or unused prescriptions at the Bellows Falls Police Department's Prescription Drug Drop Box over the past year. Five boxes, weighing 123 pounds, have been collected in Northeast Windham County since April 2017, bringing the total...

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Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count is Dec. 16

The 2017 edition of the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16, in southeastern Vermont. Groups will head out and canvas the area starting in the morning and counting all of the birds they see (numbers and species). This data is part of...

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Special edition of Climate Café focuses on emergency preparedness

The Climate Café will host Rich Cogliano, the regional emergency management program coordinator for Vermont Emergency Management, for a workshop on how citizens and communities can best prepare for catastrophic weather as well as other severe crises when emergency services are rendered unavailable. This event is on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the downstairs meeting room (handicapped-accessible) at St. Michael's Episcopal Church at 16 Bradley Ave. The workshop is free, and light refreshments will be available.

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River Valleys Unified School District announces new website, meeting schedule

The River Valleys Unified School District Board has set up a new website and blog where citizens and the media can follow the work schedule and progress that the six-member board is making in forming the new school district. The site is www.rivervalleysschooldistrict.blogspot.com. A six-member board - three elected from Dover and three elected from Wardsboro - is part of the Windham Central Supervisory Union (www.windhamcentral.org), and is the panel tasked with transitioning the Dover Elementary School and the Wardsboro...

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Best gig

Clown, I am. That isn't a metaphor; it's a fact. I wear the red nose - the world's smallest and best-known mask. It's an archetype found in every culture on this planet. I recently went to India. One spontaneous gig was in a dirt cricket field at the Likir Monastery about 55 kilometers east of Ladakh. I went to the monastery as a tourist to take a few photos. The Likir Monastery was built in 1045 A.D. and, as far...

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A vibrant and vital downtown Brattleboro

I extend a my sincere gratitude to all who have a hand in making downtown such a festive place to visit, live, and work, especially during the holiday season. A hearty thank you to Dick and Missy DeGray for the tireless effort enhancing our streets with flowers, lights, and cheer. Thanks, too, to the town and to all of independent store and restaurant owners whose creativity keep people coming to experience our community. Lastly, I am grateful for the work...

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Area options dwindle for long-distance transportation

If you tried to make a plan to take the bus from Brattleboro to get to Grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, you discovered a sad truth - the options are extremely limited. Last fall, travelers looking for a way to get from Brattleboro to New York or Boston and back had three intercity bus options to choose from - Greyhound, Megabus, and MAXbus. This fall, Brattleboro is down to one bus a day, offered by Greyhound. That, and the daily Amtrak...

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VBSR honors Burke, Deen, Mrowicki, and Stuart for climate action work

On Dec. 6, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility honored two dozen Vermont House legislators as “Climate Champions” for their efforts to expand the economy and create green jobs by putting a price on carbon pollution. “Vermont spends nearly $2 billion each year on fossil fuels and most of that money leaves our local economy and goes right out of the state,” Jane Campbell, VBSR's executive director, said in a news release. “VBSR is delighted to honor these legislators for recognizing...

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Milestones

College news • Christiana Marie Strysko of Wilmington was named to the spring 2017 President's List for outstanding academic performance at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. Transitions • Steven R. Gordon, President and CEO of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH), has been appointed as a state delegate and member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Regional Policy Board. On Jan. 1, Gordon will begin his two-year term as a delegate to Regional Policy Board 1, which represents the New England...

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Sharing Housing becomes a nonprofit organization

Sharing Housing, a private enterprise established seven years ago to provide guidance and instruction for individuals seeking home-mates and affordable housing, is now a registered 501(c)(3) organization as Sharing Housing, Inc. The Dummerston-based nonprofit's mission is to work with organizations, housing professionals, the aging network, regional and local government officials to help individuals make appropriate housing choices through education, advocacy, and model development. “As housing becomes more and more expensive especially for the ageing population, and affordable housing is becoming...

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Vernon briefs

Vernon artists are sought to illustrate town report VERNON - The Vernon Annual Report typically features a “theme” that highlights some of the wonderful attributes or individuals from the town. This year, the town would like to highlight the artistic talent that resides and does business in Vernon by recognizing as many local artists as possible. Artists selling or displaying their work to the public may send a photo of themselves working, their storefront, or their work plus a small...

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Thanks for the laugh (and the forecast)

Just a brief thanks for Joyce Marcel's funny article - it had me laughing. And thanks for Dave Hayes' weekly Weather Nut column. He is always fun, and I can actually understand his forecasts. Hey, Dave, what the heck is an Alberta Clipper anyway?

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TubaChristmas to be celebrated in West B

A Brattleboro tradition that combines Christmas music with heavy metal is returning to the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro on Sunday, Dec. 17. TubaChristmas will bring together tuba, euphonium, and baritone horn players from throughout the region to play carols specially arranged for a choir of low brass (sorry - no trombones allowed). This year's event is dedicated to the memory of one of its original organizers and participants, Bruce Corwin, who died Oct. 30. Corwin was a retired...

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Act 46 shell game

It should surprise no one, least of all our legislators, that we face an expected 8-cent increase in the education tax rate in the coming year. This increase was baked into the Act 46 school merger legislation when voters were offered a short- term 10-cent tax “incentive” to follow the merger directive. As legislators and voters should have known, a tax break is paid for by, yes, taxpayers. If every district in the state merged, we would be facing a...

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‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ comes to BF Opera House

The Bellows Falls Opera House will offer a free showing of the 1964 cult classic Santa Claus Conquers the Martians on Thursday, Dec. 14, sponsored by RAMParts Presents. This sci-fi holiday treat entered the cult canon when it was featured on an episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Early special effects create green Martians living on the planet Mars, who kidnap Santa Claus from Earth so that their depressed children can be happy. But in the end, Santa teaches everyone...

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Large-scale wind development incompatible with what makes Vermont special

Further large scale wind development is completely incompatible with Vermont's landscape, resources, scenery, and overall economic drivers. I was elated to read about the proposed plan that says that large-scale wind turbines are unsuitable for the 27-town Windham County region. Wind farms destroy mountaintop environments forever. I think if the general public saw what kind of large-scale devastation the creation of a wind farm does to a mountain environment, they would be aghast. Typically, the wind company has to lop...

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Community forum looks at Newfane’s town plan

More than 50 people showed up at a community forum convened by the Newfane Planning Commission to discuss a vision for Newfane's future. Those present expressed their ideas in writing and spoke up during the meeting to voice concerns, recommendations, hopes, and dreams. The Planning Commission says the information gathered will help them structure the 2018 rewrite of the Town Plan. The Town Plan update will be funded by a newly-awarded $8,000 Municipal Planning Grant from the Vermont Department of...

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Holiday happenings

BFUHS Music Department presents annual Winter Concert WESTMINSTER - Enjoy the sounds of the season when the Bellows Falls Union High School Music Department presents its annual Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., in the BFUHS Auditorium. Singers and instrumentalists have been practicing for weeks for this event, which is free and open to the public. The BFUHS Concert Band, under the direction of Nick Pelton, will performs both symphonies and marches. Senior Ethan Lauricella performs his...

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The GrooveBarbers, Jewmongous will perform at Next Stage

If it's December, it's time for a capella legend Sean Altman to come to Putney. Altman will be visiting Next Stage Arts Project to present the two musical projects that dominate his time these days. On Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m., Altman brings his group, the GrooveBarbers, with special guests, the Putney Central School Chorus, in their fourth annual holiday concert. The GrooveBarbers' annual show has become a staple of the holiday season in Putney and returns by popular...

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Sharing an amazing journey

Thank you so much to Michelle Bos-Lun for sharing this heart-filled and eye-opening piece, which allowed me to travel with her on this amazing journey. We need so much more of this - both the perspective she was able to share in the piece, and the experiences that helped to generate that perspective.

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Selectboard honors Human Rights Day

The Brattleboro Selectboard unanimously voted to declare Dec. 10 Human Rights Day. At the Dec. 5 regular Selectboard meeting, resident Justin Bibee introduced the proposal. Board Chair Kate O'Connor read the entire proclamation into the record. The proclamation references the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, 1948. Although it isn't legally binding, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been adopted in, or has influenced, many national constitutions over...

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Starting a conversation to advance self-understanding

This is one of the most thoughtful pieces on the experience of sexual exploitation by adults of youngsters that I have read. I shared this piece on Facebook because so much of the writing on this difficult subject of sexual attack and exploitation is focused on blame at this point - and in some cases conflates “assault” with what appears to be simply coarse behavior that was acceptable to many Americans and so passed as “fooling around” until now -

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‘Longest Night’ service aims to shed light on dark times

Carolers sing “Tis the season to be jolly.” Unless you're grieving a death. Or divorce. Or job loss, health challenge, hunger, homelessness, or separation from a loved one. “There's all sorts of sadness,” Devin Starlanyl says. The member and lay minister at Brattleboro's St. Michael's Episcopal Church knows seasonal tunes declaring “all is merry and bright” don't comfort those feeling otherwise. That's why she and her peers are organizing a “Longest Night” service for the public this weekend. “There can...

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In pursuit of the least harm and the greatest good

Writing in response to Sandy Golden's letter, I am sorry that my intention in making my point about pornography, drugs, and prostitution might have been unclear. It was a complicated piece to write, and I went through about 12 drafts, but I am still not certain I got it right. I appreciate the points, and I can see how this element of it could have been more explicit. Human drives cause us to behave in certain ways, and it is...

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When women control their own lives, we will be free

Thanks for writing this, Diana Whitney, and for being an amazing and bitchy mama to two incredible girls. I like Bitch Magazine's definition of the word “bitch” that Whitney quoted in her piece, but I will never forget the definition Patricia Ireland gave me when I was 19 years old: BITCH = being in total control of herself. When women are in control of their own lives - and that means not allowing misogyny and sexism, whether it is interpersonal...

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Proud of GunSense founder

I am so proud of what Ann Braden has done, and I have been honored to work with her on GunSense Vt. projects. I believe she will be an amazing senator when her time comes. (Also, her successor is Clai Lasher-Sommers, not Lashman.)

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Critique is not ‘abuse’

“[Ann Braden] said the amount of abuse that she and her family have received online has been considerable.” Criticizing and refuting her idiocy is not “abuse.” It's adult debate, and she had better learn to deal with it if she wants to run for office.

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Tree removal absurd and outrageous

I wondered what was happening there. This is absurd and outrageous! A developer seeking to construct homes that close to I-91 would very likely be required by the town and/or the state to screen the building from the highway with plantings. I wonder if the removal of the trees and buffer might be in violation of Brattleboro land-use regulations.

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Active weather pattern will brings us more shots of snow

Good day to you, in this winter wonderland in which you find yourself. Winter has arrived, as mentioned in previous columns, and while we will dip into the deep freeze for a couple of days, we will moderate over the weekend to more seasonable levels. However, we will have at least two more snow chances on Friday and again on Monday, so our active northern stream pattern continues. Let's get to the details! For Wednesday, it is going to be...

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Should Brattleboro purchase a new aerial ladder truck?

One of the biggest decisions the Selectboard must make during Fiscal Year 2019 budget deliberations is whether the town should purchase a new aerial ladder truck for the Brattleboro Fire Department. Fire Chief Michael Bucossi and Assistant Fire Chief Leonard Howard III appeared at the Dec. 5 regular Selectboard meeting to offer details on what the new truck will cost and why they think it's necessary. But not all Board members were convinced the budget can support the purchase this...

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A scream in the night

Like most women, I've had my share of sexual harassment and assault. It's as old as the hills, and it gets old fast. I didn't think I would be adding my voice to the recent dialogue our country is having on this issue, but I do have something to say through my own story, or at least part of it. Here goes. My entry point was as a young teenager. I was 13, maybe just 14. A golfing buddy of...

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Fie on fees, say foes

Have you avoided the library because you're embarrassed about your late fees? Is there a book you keep meaning to return, but you've had it so long you can't bear to face the librarian, so you keep putting it off? Meanwhile, the overdue fees keep accruing... You're not alone. Brooks Memorial Library Director Starr LaTronica wants to remove the shame of returning materials past their due date. She also wants to do away with late fees. And she's not alone.

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‘Such Wondrous Tidings’

Friends of Music at Guilford presents its 45th Christmas at Christ Church performance on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. That historic building is on Route 5 at the corner of Melendy Hill Road, just over a mile from Exit 1 off Interstate 91. This season's theme, “Such Wondrous Tidings,” is the title of one of ten mostly 15th-century carols to be sung by the thirteen-voice Guilford Chamber Singers, directed for a sixth...

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Colonels win, Rebels lose in girls’ hoops opener

The Brattleboro Colonels and Leland & Gray Rebels started off the girls' basketball season with the L&G Booster Club's Tip Off Tournament on Dec. 8 in Townshend. This tournament was a classic experiment in team chemistry for Colonels coach Paul Freed and Rebels coach Terry Merrow. The Colonels got a passing grade, as they eked out a 34-26 win over Burr & Burton. The Rebels still need a little work, as they fell to Arlington, 45-28. Brattleboro and Leland &

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Rita Corbin’s art graces Catholic Worker calendars

The 2018 Catholic Worker Calendar, featuring artwork by Rita Corbin, is now available at Everyone's Books on Elliot Street. Rita Corbin, a graphic artist and printmaker, became involved in the Catholic Worker movement while living in New York City in the 1950s. The founder, Dorothy Day, hired Corbin to make illustrations for The Catholic Worker newspaper and they became friends. Corbin became a lifelong contributor and was one of the three primary Catholic Worker artists, along with Fritz Eichenberg and...

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Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem perform ‘Wintersong’ at The Stone Church

Acclaimed roots, rhythm, and harmony quartet Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem, perform Wintersong at The Stone Church, 201 Main St., on Friday Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. According to a news release, “an ode to light and dark at the turning of the year, Wintersong skips the jingle bells and goes straight to the power and beauty at the roots of Christmas.” Wintersong swings between reflection and celebration, with settings of verses by hallowed poets; fiddle- and percussion-driven New Year's...

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Grammy-nominated bluesman Guy Davis to play benefit for Stroll

Strolling of the Heifers presents an evening of acoustic blues with Guy Davis on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden at 157 Main St. The concert is a fundraising event for Strolling of the Heifers' Farm-To-Table Culinary Apprenticeship Program. A widely-known American blues musician, Davis first appeared in Brattleboro in a memorable concert alongside the legendary Pete Seeger in 2008 (also a Stroll fundraising event). His most recent album, Sonny & Brownie's Last Train - A...

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Music that resonates and communicates emotion

When Douglas Frank was a child, it was not unusual for him to find stars like Jimmy Cagney in his home. The young Frank was scared when the Wicked Witch of the West - the actress Margaret Hamilton - appeared at the family's door. His father, Carl Frank, performed dozens of roles in the golden age of radio, including in the infamous 1938 broadcast of “The War of the Worlds.” His mother, Gertrude (Trudy) Warner, was the voice of Margot...

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