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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.

View our bylaws here.

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.

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Owing to the pandemic, our office is open by appointment only, and masks are required at all times.

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

Office #601A: Newsroom

Office #604: Business/Advertising

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

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Submit items for publication in the news sections (News, Arts, Milestones, Around the Towns): news@commonsnews.org

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Recent PDFs

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Issue #665

May 25, 2022

Issue #664

May 18, 2022

Issue #663

May 11, 2022

Issue #662

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Search The Commons from 2010 to present

TODAY’S FEATURE/NEWS

‘A mother can’t be in two places at once’

After enduring relentless bombing and the horrors of war in the Ukraine, one woman reunites with her daughter from Guilford after making a harrowing 10-week pilgrimage to safer ground in the United States. And her journey isn’t over.

GUILFORD—Svetlana Karpenko, 50, and her 12-year-old son, Artem, live in an apartment on the 10th floor of a 12-story building in a part of Kyiv, Ukraine that has not been heavily bombed — yet.

But the sirens warning of incoming bombs are still regularly going off. They do not feel safe. They are not safe.... Continue reading story

TODAY’S FEATURE/NEWS

‘A mother can’t be in two places at once’

After enduring relentless bombing and the horrors of war in the Ukraine, one woman reunites with her daughter from Guilford after making a harrowing 10-week pilgrimage to safer ground in the United States. And her journey isn’t over.

GUILFORD—Svetlana Karpenko, 50, and her 12-year-old son, Artem, live in an apartment on the 10th floor of a 12-story building in a part of Kyiv, Ukraine that has not been heavily bombed — yet.

But the sirens warning of incoming bombs are still regularly going off. They do not feel safe. They are not safe.... Continue reading story

CALENDAR

CALENDAR

NEWS

BRATTLEBORO

Town OKs feasibility study for EMS plan

Wyoming-based consulting firm to research costs, staffing needs, and related challenges of assuming the work of Rescue Inc.

BRATTLEBORO

Brattleboro town manager will leave the job after five months

Yoshi Manale asked to resign, with parties saying he was ‘not the right fit’; town to pay severance package of almost $70,000

BRATTLEBORO

This preschooler saved his family, and now they all face homelessness

Five-year-old Nolan Goodnow just received a national award for waking his sleeping household during Brattleboro’s largest blaze of 2021. But without another place to stay, he and his parents, sister and grandmother may be living outside as of June 1.

BRATTLEBORO

Municipal manager throws hat in ring for state Senate

Wendy Harrison describes herself as an advocate for processes that let disparate people work together on issues

WILLIAMSVILLE

Work continues on Arch Bridge in Newfane

New bridge expected to be completed mid-October

COLUMN • Man with a mission: Anti-Chinese sentiments caught fire in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. One Brattleboro man made it his mission to enforce the Chinese Exclusion Act — as a federal district attorney, as a federal judge, and even as a vigilante on a train in Vernon.

• BMH offers reassurance, advice to parents during current formula shortage

Browse News stories through the archives

TOWN & VILLAGE

• Oak Grove’s pre-K students eat up their local veggies

• Around the towns

• Landmark Trust USA invites public to annual Naulakha rhododendron tour

• 4-Hers take part in horse competition

• Business plan competition underway

• Tag sale raises nearly $10,000 for area refugees, asylum seekers

Browse Town & Village stories through the archives

MILESTONES

• Milestones

Browse Milestones stories through the archives

SPORTS

• Colonel lacrosse teams focus on the positive through a rough season

Browse Sports stories through the archives

VOICES

VIEWPOINT • When divergent cultures create discomfort: New neighbors from Afghanistan bring with them cultural differences that we must accept — even as it may be difficult for some of us to do so

VIEWPOINT • River users: check, clean, and dry to keep invasive species at bay: Care in preventing further spread of these infestations is our only useful tool. All river enthusiasts should act as though every body of water harbors problem species.

VIEWPOINT • Yet again: ‘Nowhere else in the developed world has there been an increasing amount of such events where a person walks into a public place and kills as many people as possible. I am so fed up with the powerlessness of the majority of us in what is supposed to be a democracy.’

LETTERS FROM READERS • End of Roe v. Wade will be a glorious day

LETTERS FROM READERS • We need to address the real business at hand — namely, how are we to live in a collapsing world?

LETTERS FROM READERS • Artu and Hashim will bring new energy, experience to Senate

LETTERS FROM READERS • Bos-Lun, Goldman: 100 percent for the people

LETTERS FROM READERS • Bos-Lun cares about youth voice in government

Browse Voices stories through the archives

ARTS

Tour marks three decades of craft and creativity

Vermont Craft Council’s Open Studio Tour brings art lovers to the source

Windham County artisans participate in Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend

PUTNEY

Bringing joy

For more than four decades, Lisa Brande and Mark Trichka have created genre-spanning music in the region and beyond

• EOS Project explores tranquility and peace through music at BMC

• Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series at Living Memorial Park features Marquise Knox and Seth Walker

• New BUHS Players production debuts May 27

• Bobby DiTrani is June’s featured artist at Gallery in the Woods

• Jazz Age film ‘It’ will feature original score

• Next Stage presents Roots/Americana Music Festival on May 29

• New artwork by Oasa DuVerney on view in BMAC’s ‘Window Gallery’

• Work by the Friday Morning Art Group is June’s featured show at Crowell Gallery

• ‘Print Town: Brattleboro’s Legacy of Words’ wins design award

• River Gallery School receives grant to start BIPOC Creative Community space

Browse Arts stories through the archives

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