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Basic deadline information

• Please book your ad space before Friday at 3:30 p.m.

• We are happy to design your ad. If you would like that, please make sure we get your copy by that time.

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We’d love to help you with your ads! Please let us know a little bit about your advertising and your needs, and one of our team will be in touch promptly. You can also call Jen at 802-246-6397 Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Regular ad features

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More than a newspaper

The Commons is the public face of a larger nonprofit organization, Vermont Independent Media, Inc.

We came to life from the ground up in 2004, as members of the community became increasingly concerned about the consequences of absent corporate ownership of the daily newspaper in town and the need for local people to have access to the skills to create their own grassroots media.

VIM came to life lovingly and carefully thanks to indefatigable volunteers. The first public programs of the Media Mentoring Project began in 2005, and the first issue of The Commons was published in 2006. The newspaper was published monthly until 2010, when we began a weekly schedule. We are published on Wednesdays 51 times a year.

Our mission

Recognizing that a vigorous exchange of ideas and information allows democracy to function and is the lifeblood of a community, Vermont Independent Media:

• creates a forum for community participation,

• promotes local independent journalism,

• fosters civic engagement by building media skills

through publication of The Commons and commonsnews.org, and through the Media Mentoring Project.

Nonprofit IRS filings

By law, every 501(c)3 nonprofit organization must make its IRS filings available to the public. Here are ours.

• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010

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Office hours

We attempt to keep our small newsroom open during the day on weekdays. But we are sometimes out covering the news, many of us are part-time, and we keep odd hours. We welcome your visit, but please make an appointment so you don't make a special trip.

Directions to the office

We're at 139 Main St., Brattleboro, Vermont (the Hooker-Dunham Building).

Office #601A: Newsroom

Office #604: Business/Advertising

Mailing address:

The Commons
P.O. Box 1212
Brattleboro, VT 05302

Phone/email

Connecting all departments: 802-246-6397

Fax: 802-246-1319

Email for general inquiries: info@commonsnews.org

General newsroom address: news@commonsnews.org

General advertising address: ads@commonsnews.org

Urgent, desperate advertising emergencies: adalert@commonsnews.org

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Recent PDFs

These PDFs are built from the final files that were printed and represent an accurate facsimile of the issue’s content.

Please be warned: These files are very large and not at all suitable for dialup connections.

We maintain files of a limited number of back issues in our office. Please email info@commonsnews.org, and we will make them available if we can.

Issue #532

Oct 16, 2019

Issue #531

Oct 09, 2019

Issue #530

Oct 02, 2019

Issue #529

Sep 25, 2019

TODAY’S FEATURE/VOICES/DISPATCH

As glaciers retreat

Icelandic glaciers will lose 25 to 35 percent of present volume over the next 50 years, largely as a result of global climatic changes. Never before in human history has ice worldwide decreased as quickly as it has over the last several decades. The disappearing ice holds staggering consequences.

EUGENE, ORE.—For a couple of years I was living on the south coast of Iceland, and one day, a man knocked on the door of my home.

He asked if I wanted to see something. No adjectives. Just, did I want to see something?... Continue reading story

TODAY’S FEATURE/VOICES

As glaciers retreat

Icelandic glaciers will lose 25 to 35 percent of present volume over the next 50 years, largely as a result of global climatic changes. Never before in human history has ice worldwide decreased as quickly as it has over the last several decades. The disappearing ice holds staggering consequences.

EUGENE, ORE.—For a couple of years I was living on the south coast of Iceland, and one day, a man knocked on the door of my home.

He asked if I wanted to see something. No adjectives. Just, did I want to see something?... Continue reading story

CALENDAR

NEWS

BRATTLEBORO

Companies clear pathways to attract new employees

Firms across southern Vermont are designing new training programs to attract new hires

BRATTLEBORO

A celebration of the book

At the Brattleboro Literary Festival, authors connect with readers over four days, offering perspectives and experiences through the celebration of the written word

WILMINGTON

A regular Joe

Newfane mystery writer Archer Mayor releases the 30th Joe Gunther novel, ‘Bomber’s Moon’

BRATTLEBORO

A ‘longer, linear project’

AOT considers public input for extensive work on Route 9 in 2021

• Sunny weekend follows Nor’easter

Browse News stories through the archives

TOWN & VILLAGE

• Bingo returns to Compass School

• Volunteer for SEVCA’s free tax assistance program

• Munzing and Windham Grows recognized by VBSR

• Around the Towns

• Wilmington Works hosts a weekend for women

• Brattleboro Music Center hosts annual architects’ meeting

• Hinsdale Historical Society to restore Anna Marsh Music Room in Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale House

• WSWMD plans household hazardous-waste collection events

Browse Town & Village stories through the archives

MILESTONES

• Milestones

Browse Milestones stories through the archives

SPORTS

• Colonels close in on top seed in Division II football

Browse Sports stories through the archives

VOICES

BRATTLEBORO

Hope for friends and families touched by addiction

Support for those ‘damaged and suffering behind closed doors’ VIEWPOINT by Susan Avery

NEWFANE

The weight of the grief

There is nothing like burying a young person and — even more so — to bury that person’s son next to them just over 20 years later VIEWPOINT by Brenda Lynn Siegel

BELCHERTOWN, MASS.

Abortion itself is a ‘horrendous act of violence’

LETTERS FROM READERS by Timothy Grant

EUGENE, ORE.

As glaciers retreat

Icelandic glaciers will lose 25 to 35 percent of present volume over the next 50 years, largely as a result of global climatic changes. Never before in human history has ice worldwide decreased as quickly as it has over the last several decades. The disappearing ice holds staggering consequences. DISPATCH by M Jackson

LETTERS FROM READERS • A thanks to union stewards at Brattleboro Food Co-op

LETTERS FROM READERS • Heat-fund donations help neighbors stay warm

LETTERS FROM READERS • Storytelling series to highlight success and hope for people in recovery

Browse Voices stories through the archives

ARTS

GUILFORD

A cautionary tale

With an eye on Washington, Guilford Center Stage prepares a staged reading of Sinclair Lewis

• Photographer Nick Meyer exhibits ‘The Local’ series at Marlboro College

• Film shines a light on anxiety

• ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ at BUHS

• Marty Wendell headlines Wardsboro Curtain Call

• Documentary explores alternate therapies for PTSD, addiction

• BCTV announces award winners

• Interactive play offers environmental twist: BEEC presents its 25th Forest of Mystery, ‘The Witch’s Turn,’ on Oct. 24, 25, 26

• Musica Eclectica debuts with benefit concert for students in El Salvador

• Cosgrove, Kroos to perform at Next Stage

• Fiddlers to meet in Bellows Falls

• Launch party set for LGBTQ /POC literary magazine

Browse Arts stories through the archives

We love and appreciate our advertisers!

... and we hope you do, too. This week’s Commons is made possible by ad support from:

Check out their ads in this week’s newspaper or on this website.

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Help us thrive!

Basic deadline information

Let’s talk advertising

Regular ad features

More than a newspaper

Our mission

Nonprofit IRS filings

Office hours

Directions to the office

Mailing address:

Phone/email

Recent PDFs

Search The Commons from 2010 to present

TODAY’S FEATURE/VOICES/DISPATCH

As glaciers retreat

Icelandic glaciers will lose 25 to 35 percent of present volume over the next 50 years, largely as a result of global climatic changes. Never before in human history has ice worldwide decreased as quickly as it has over the last several decades. The disappearing ice holds staggering consequences.

TODAY’S FEATURE/VOICES

As glaciers retreat

Icelandic glaciers will lose 25 to 35 percent of present volume over the next 50 years, largely as a result of global climatic changes. Never before in human history has ice worldwide decreased as quickly as it has over the last several decades. The disappearing ice holds staggering consequences.

CALENDAR

CALENDAR

NEWS

BRATTLEBORO

Firms across southern Vermont are designing new training programs to attract new hires

BRATTLEBORO

At the Brattleboro Literary Festival, authors connect with readers over four days, offering perspectives and experiences through the celebration of the written word

WILMINGTON

Newfane mystery writer Archer Mayor releases the 30th Joe Gunther novel, ‘Bomber’s Moon’

BRATTLEBORO

AOT considers public input for extensive work on Route 9 in 2021

TOWN & VILLAGE

MILESTONES

SPORTS

VOICES

BRATTLEBORO

Support for those ‘damaged and suffering behind closed doors’ VIEWPOINT by Susan Avery

NEWFANE

There is nothing like burying a young person and — even more so — to bury that person’s son next to them just over 20 years later VIEWPOINT by Brenda Lynn Siegel

BELCHERTOWN, MASS.

EUGENE, ORE.

ARTS

GUILFORD

With an eye on Washington, Guilford Center Stage prepares a staged reading of Sinclair Lewis

We love and appreciate our advertisers!