WALPOLE, N.H.-Along with more advanced workshops, award-winning author Pam Bernard will offer a special workshop for new writers this summer.
This is a great opportunity to dive in for those who have been curious about the process or worried that a lack of writing background will be disqualifying, according to a news release.
New writers are always welcome in Bernard's workshops, along with more seasoned writers and writers who are ready to put a final manuscript together and perhaps publish.
The workshops are skill-based. Each writer progresses at a pace that feels comfortable. The goal of any workshop, Bernard says, is to learn how to be a better writer - to study the craft, to feel free enough to experiment, and to revise with authority.
College news • The following local students successfully completed their academic journey and are now part of Vermont State University's Class of 2025: Kailyn August of West Dover, Stacy Bryck of Dummerston, Nikole Bunker of Brattleboro, Jeffrey Cavagnino of Londonderry, Liz Cunningham of Jacksonville, Damian Dierkes of Dummerston, Katelynn...
SAXTONS RIVER-Music will fill the Saxtons River Park in two free Sunday concerts. At 3 p.m. June 29, The Woodpeckers will perform early Swing of the era from 1910 to 1930. In a highly improvisational, good-humored, spontaneous, conversational and interactive style, the group interprets the exhilarating music of that...
BELLOWS FALLS-Canal Street Art Gallery, 23 Canal St., presents "Art as a Way of Life," an exhibit by Clare Adams and Alice Cheney, now on display through Aug. 10. This show honors the two artists' late mentor, Kaji Aso (1936 to 2006), who came to the United States from Japan in 1967: first to New York City, then to Vermont, and settling in Boston in 1973. "If you think of painting, then you are painting," is a saying by Aso...
BELLOWS FALLS-a A collective of Haitian roots musicians that blends traditional rhythms with modern influences will come to Bellows Falls as part of Next Stage Arts' Bandwagon Summer Series... Lakou Mizik will bring its soulful energy to Robertson Paper Company Field, 21 Island St., at 6 p.m. July 5. Gates open at 5 p.m. Formed in the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake, Lakou Mizik came together to show the world the resilience and beauty of Haitian culture. The group's critically...
PUTNEY-Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of Celtic and Old-time Appalachian roots music from Quebec and Ireland by Kavaz and I Draw Slow at 7 p.m. July 3 at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, and led by sibling songwriters Dave and Louise Holden, award-winning quintet I Draw Slow has consistently redefined the boundaries of acoustic roots music over the past decade. Its distinctive blend of Irish and Appalachian roots music and dynamic, immersive...
PUTNEY-Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts present contemporary folk and bluegrass quartet The Stockwell Brothers in the third concert of the 22nd Twilight on the Tavern Lawn series at 6 p.m. June 29. The free concert will be on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or, in the case of rain, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill. Food will be available. Bruce, Barry, Alan, and Kelly Stockwell's music spans traditional and progressive styles, but their...
GUILFORD-The Broad Brook Community Center and the Broad Brook Grange invite everyone to "a festive and family-friendly" Fourth of July celebration at the Second Annual 4th of July Picnic on Friday, July 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Guilford Center Meeting House with a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a commemorative speech marking the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's midnight ride, and a reading of Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride."
BELLOWS FALLS-The Rockingham Free Public Library announces the launch of its annual summer reading program, inviting readers of all ages to dive into a season of discovery, creativity, community, books, and fun. The program begins with a special kickoff event, "The Colorful World of Butterflies," presented by Jerry Schneider at 11 a.m. June 28. This engaging program brings the fascinating world of butterflies to life through vibrant visuals, science, and hands-on creativity. Children will also get to make their own...
BRATTLEBORO-For this year's Shakespeare in the Park production, Vermont Theatre Company presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Shakespeare's timeless comedy of lovers, fairies, enchanted beings, and their escapades. Performances will be at 6 p.m. at Living Memorial Park, June 26 to 29 (rain dates June 30 to July 2). Creatives from across the tri-state area have collaborated to forge an "utterly unique dream, full of fantasy and fun, of physicality and sheer joy," producers wrote in a news release. Vermont Theatre...
BELLOWS FALLS-On Friday, June 27, from noon to 6 p.m., the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont (APSVT) will participate in the nation's largest coordinated National HIV Testing Day event by offering free rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing and counseling at Walgreens, 112 Rockingham St. The event is part of the Greater Than HIV/STD campaign from KFF, a health policy nonprofit, in partnership with Walgreens, in which more than 420 health departments and community-based organizations offer free testing and information...
MARLBORO-Bard Owl, the duo of T. Breeze Verdant and Annie Landenberger, will perform a benefit for Loaves and Fishes at 7 p.m. June 28 (rain date is June 29 at the same time) at Thrush Hill Outdoor Stage, 314 Upper Houghton Road, which is only accessible via Ames Hill Road. The suggested donation for the family-friendly event is $20 at the gate or in advance at thrushhillstage.com. As described on thrushhillstage.com, Thrush Hill is a "charming, family-run concert venue that...
GUILFORD-Pride began with rebellion. Kopkind Colony, the living memorial to the late radical journalist Andrew Kopkind, honors both as it begins its summer season of activities. First up is CineSlam, Kopkind's annual Pride Month film fest of LGBTQ short works. The screenings will be held at 4 p.m. June 28 at the Latchis Theatre in downtown Brattleboro. This year's lineup includes foreign and domestic films, comedy and drama, feature, animation, and experimental documentary - including a rare art film made...
SAXTONS RIVER-The Saxtons River Fourth of July celebration is scheduled to take place Friday, July 4, on Main Street in the village of Saxtons River. "Families have loved spending the Fourth of July in Saxtons River for more than 75 years," the event's organizers observed in a news release. There's still time to enter the parade, local bakers can make a pie for the pie contest, runners can run in the Firecracker 5K, and anyone can compete in the hula...
PUTNEY-After a hiatus of two years, Southern Vermont Sister District brings back its "Save the USA Croquet" fundraiser to help flip strategic state legislatures to Democratic Party control. "Bring friends and family and follow a meandering set of whimsical wickets through backyard gardens," write organizers of the event, which takes place in Putney village and features original wickets crafted by local artists and activists that "creatively incorporate social justice, human rights, and environmental topics." This year's theme is inspired by...
DUMMERSTON-All are invited to the opening reception of "Watercolors by Linda Rood" at the Dummerston Historical Society from 1 to 3 p.m. July 6. At 1:30 p.m., Rood will share her painting history, her philosophy that it is never too late to learn, and respond to questions from attendees. When Rood retired from teaching English at Leland & Gray Union High School 12 years ago, her hope was that she would be able to use her time to do things...
WARDSBORO-The Wardsboro 4th of July Parade & Street Fair, southern Vermont's oldest Independence Day celebration, is back for its 76th year on Friday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Town Hall. This year, the festival features a celebratory parade with floats, vintage cars, fire trucks, and more, along with a chicken barbecue starting at 11 a.m. and homemade strawberry shortcake and pies. The many children's games and activities include a bouncy house, face painting, and touch-a-truck.
BRATTLEBORO-The 52nd annual "By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth" Independence Day celebration is set for Friday, July 4, with a morning parade downtown and an afternoon and evening program of family activities and fireworks at Living Memorial Park. Marching units - including the local American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School bands and veterans, civic, and youth groups - will kick off the festivities at 10 a.m. with a parade from Flat Street to Main Street to the town Common.
Crop Cash programs return at local farmers markets RICHMOND - The Crop Cash program is back for 2025. From July 1 through Oct. 31, you can stretch your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars even further at local farmers markets. Crop Cash and Crop Cash Plus are two programs that work together for participants. For every $1 in SNAP you spend at participating farmers markets, you'll get $1 in Crop Cash. Up to $20 of your SNAP benefit will be...
Deborah Lee Luskin , one of this newspaper's original columnists, blogs at deborahleeluskin.com. WILLIAMSVILLE-I have three brothers. One stopped talking to me after I criticized Israel's military response to the terrorist attack of October seventh in my blog. He accused me of being an antisemite, among other names. Another brother has been trying to convince me that Israel is defending its right to exist and civilian casualties are an acceptable part of warfare. My third brother and I continue to...
BRATTLEBORO-Last week, the Vermont Legislature adjourned after passing a controversial education reform bill that many observers both inside and outside the Vermont State House called "drastic," and which Vermont Public called "the single most transformational piece of education legislation passed in Vermont in modern times" if all its provisions are enacted. Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who made the effect of school spending on property taxes a cause célèbre during the last election cycle, approves of the bill and has pledged...
MacLean Gander is retired from a long career as a professor and administrator at Landmark College. A former member of the board of directors of Vermont Independent Media, he was a longtime volunteer investigative reporter and columnist for this newspaper. This piece is adapted from his Substack site, Escape Velocity, where he posts essays about society, culture, and politics. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, JUNE 22-On Oct. 25, 1983, Ronald Reagan sent 70,000 troops to invade the small island nation of...
-The Southern Vermont League (SVL) announced the all-league honorees for baseball, softball, boys' and girls' lacrosse, track and field, tennis, Ultimate Disc, and Unified basketball last week. • In baseball, Brattleboro's Jayke Glidden and Sam Bogart were named the A Division first team, with teammates Sean Cozza, Eric Kurucz, and Senji Kimura earning honorable mention. Eli Allbee and Will Hallock of Bellows Falls were selected to the B Division first team, with teammates Steve Joslyn and Jaden Bazin receiving honorable...
WESTMINSTER-After completing its 25th school year of operation, The Compass School recently and abruptly announced that it will be permanently closing. Though it had planned on operating for at least another year, financial difficulties the school had been facing for some time proved worse than expected. Those lingering problems, combined with what its board president termed a "domino effect" of circumstances, prompted the school's board of directors to unanimously vote to close the school immediately. Debts of $250,000, declining enrollment,
BRATTLEBORO-Three school districts will begin their summer meals programs, distributing free, weekly meal kits to families with children. Susan Grabowski, food program coordinator of the Windham Southeast School District, runs the program for that region and has a message for parents: "We know summer can be a challenging time. These meal kits are one way we're trying to make things a little easier. There's no paperwork, no proof of need - just free, nutritious food for any child 18 and...
WINDHAM-Approximately 40 people gathered at the Windham Meeting House on June 17 for "What's Possible, Windham?," a community vision discussion hosted by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), who came at the invitation of the Selectboard. In his introduction, Selectboard member Michael Pelton said that the town is at a crossroads. The town manages several properties, including the Windham Meeting House (where the discussion was held), the town offices, and the town shed. In addition, Pelton said, the town...
GRAFTON-Among the summer arts happenings gracing green hills with theater, fine art, craft, circus, puppetry, and music, one noble mainstay is the annual concert of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) at Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center. This year on Thursday, July 3, music lovers are welcome to picnic on the grounds as early as 5:30 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. concert, then stick around for the after-concert fireworks display. Led by VSO Music Director Andrew Crust, the 2025 Summer Festival...