REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR BRANDON YARD SALE DAY

Ever year, thousands of people descend upon Brandon for its Annual Yard Sale Day. This year the event will be held on August 1 and lots of folks have already registered. After last year's sale day, one seller had this to say, "I had a very successful day. I had people who came looking for me based on the enhanced listing on the map and several who mentioned the website. I think the fee to participate is very reasonable and I'm happy to pay it and let you take care of the advertising. Yes, people were buying at my place." For a fee of $7, sellers get their name and address on the official map. $15 will buy an enhanced listing, which gets the seller an extra 25 words to describe specialty items that will grab buyers attention, and increase your traffic flow! Another seller had this to say last year, "We had a great day! A steady stream of shoppers from the time we set up till we decided it was over late afternoon." A registration form can be found in the Reporter, online at Brandon.org or at Carr's Florist & Gifts.

  Registration deadline is July 29. The event is sponsored by the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce. Contact or call 802-247-6401 for more info.

click here for registration form 2015

Point CounterPoint Faculty Concerts   Summer 2015:

The Brandon Town Hall is open and ready for a long summer and fall of exciting events!

July 22^nd...Encore Theater...Wednesday, 6:30 pm. "Who Will Save Brandon" Improvised audience participation play from Rutland's Summer Youth Theater honoring our Librarians from the Brandon Library. Adults...$4, Seniors/Students/Active Military...$3

July 25^th...Jon Gailmor...Saturday, 6:30 pm. Original, relevant, irreverent, children's, American, international, and totally absurd tunes by the popular singer and songwriter. Benefit for the Brandon Free Library and Brandon Town Hall. Free Will Offering.

August 1^st...Town Wide Yard Sales....Saturday, 8:00-3:00. Hundreds of items, inside and out. Town Hall Raffle, Special Raffle for a Cord of Wood, Refreshments for sale, Great Deals!!!

 August 8^th & 9^th...Shakespeare on Main Street..Saturday, 7:30 pm..Sunday, 2:00 pm. "Henry IV-Part 1". Set in the Elizabethan era with scenes of nobility to commoners. Adults...$10, Seniors/Students/Active Military...$8, Children 12 & under...FREE.

 August 11^th, 12^th & 13^th...Auditions for the 2^nd Annual "Brandon Has Talent" Show. Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 6:00 -8:00 pm. You must call 247-5420 to schedule your audition day & time. No matter what your age, if you like to sing, play an instrument, dance, play in a band, have a special talent, etc. call and schedule your audition. The Talent Show is scheduled for August 29

Dennis Marden President-Friends of The Brandon Town Hall. http://www.brandontownhall.org 

 802-247-5420  click here for Upcoming town hall events listing 

During this five-day experience, children will become puppeteers - and many original puppets will come to life! The Compass Music and Arts Center presents Puppet Palooza, a puppetry arts camp for aspiring puppet designers and puppeteers. It will be held July 27-31 from 8:30am - 3:00pm daily and is led by Laura King, literacy teacher leader and owner of "Friend-in-Hand" Puppetry Arts.

 Each morning, campers will learn puppetry, drama, and stagecraft techniques as they create a variety of original puppet skits and spontaneous performances. The afternoons will be devoted to puppet creation; campers will work in the "Puppet Workshop" designing a variety of puppets: instant puppets (made from recycled/repurposed materials), shadow puppets, hand puppets, rod puppets, simple marionettes, and large, collaborative puppets. Campers will share their puppeteering skills and puppet creations during Finale Friday, from 2:30 - 3:00pm. 

 Laura King is an elementary teacher with nearly 30 years of experience with children. She is a long-time advocate of puppetry arts in education, performs throughout the region, and has previously offered creative arts/puppetry camps in both Rutland and Addison counties. 

The camp is $200 with daily breakfast and lunch included and is open to kids 8-14 years old. The camp will run with a minimum of 10 campers; 20 campers maximum. Register here or via www.cmacvt.org. Contact Laura at 802-353-1029 with questions. Register by July 15th.

This event celebrates Vermont Arts 2015, in celebration of public funding for the arts.

One-of-a-kind Japanese composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter, Hiroya Tsukamotocreates evocative images through his music, taking listeners with him on scenic journeys of melody and rhythm. The Groove says"his music is earthy, organic and an amalgam of elements imported from diverse genres." Hear his unique sound,a hypnotic blending of folk, jazz and world music at Brandon Music on July 25 at 7:30pm.

 Celine Keating, of minor7th says Hiroya "plays with fluid mastery, pristine tone, and great warmth" while Folk Project says "he delivers skillful and innovative guitar instrumental solos".

While at college in Japan, Hiroya was introduced to a musical and social movement in South America called Nueva Cancion - headed by musical legends such as Victor Jara and Violeta Parra - which helped shape his musical career. After attending Berklee College of Music, he completed a debut album entitled 'The Other Side of the World' with his band Interoceanico, released in 2004. Two of his compositions have been nominated as finalists in The USA Songwriting Competition and an additional song in the International Acoustic Music Awards. Hiroya has since released five albums including his most recent 'Places' which has been enthusiastically received by the music press.

 Hiroya performs internationally including appearances at Blue Note in New York and has performed with Esperanza Spalding, Marta Gomez, Kendrick Scott (The Crusaders), Pete Kennedy (The Kennedys) and Dave Maxwell (Muddy Waters Band).

Concert tickets are $20.  A pre-concert dinner is also available for $20.  Reservations are recommended for the show and required for dinner. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 247-4295 or e-mail info@brandon-music.net for reservations or for more information.  Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733

www.brandon-music.net | http://www.hiroyatsukamoto.com
 

  Come back to Brandon Music for an energetic evening of bluegrass music with the very popular collaboration between Snake Mountain Bluegrass and the Connor Sisters. Guests to past performances know the groups are highly entertaining with vocal, instrumental, and original songwriting talents, plus a great sense of humor, onstage banter and of course banjo jokes! Snake Mountain and the Connor Sisters return to Brandon Music on August 1 at 7:30pm.

  According to Seven Days, Snake Mountain's "Toe-tapping tunes combine the best of modern and traditional bluegrass." Retired Middlebury College Professor, Gregg Humphrey, and Middlebury construction company owner, Mike Connor, formed Snake Mountain Bluegrass about twenty-five years ago. At the time, both Gregg (guitar) and Mike (banjo) were living near Snake Mountain and someone asked them what style of bluegrass they played. "Snake Mountain Bluegrass," was their immediate response and the name has been theirs ever since.  They are joined by Earle Provin (mandolin and resophonic guitar), Mike Boise (bass), and Monica Connor (fiddle). 

  The Connor Sisters are Katie(guitar), Monica (fiddle) and Meaghan (mandolin).  They have been singing together for years, throughout their homeschooling, resulting in "sister harmonies" that are tight and effervescent!  Younger brother, Joseph Connor,often shares his impressive vocal abilities and unique style by joining in as a special guest.

Concert tickets are $20.  A pre-concert dinner is also available for $20.  Reservations are recommended for the show and required for dinner. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 247-4295 or e-mail info@brandon-music.net for reservations or for more information.  Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733 www.brandon-music.net
 

The Northern Vermont band brings traditional and original bluegrass music to Brandon Music on August 15 at 7:30pm. The group features Patrick Murphy and Jim and Cindy Weed, the songwriting and vocal backbone of the band. Their unique three-part harmony arrangements are masterfully backed up by David Gusakov a well-seasoned picker adding to the innovative instrumentals.

The band just released its first all-original CD Plenty of Heartaches last year. Dan Bolles of Seven Days noted, "The Weeds write with all the warm nostalgia of a Norman Rockwell painting," and that Murphy "colors his lovelorn musings with a blues hue." Bolles goes on to say that "buoyed by plainspoken songwriting, sturdy picking and copious heartfelt odes to their home state, Missisquoi River Band offer a record that should find a place on the shelves of Vermont bluegrass fans - especially if that shelf rests in proximity to a wood stove."

Jim has been playing guitar for 30 years and was a founding member of the Backyard Bluegrass Band, along with his wife Cindy on rhythm guitar. Patrick (bass fiddle) has been picking and singing, mostly solo, for decades in a variety of styles including blues, rock and folk. Since 1973, David, playing fiddle, has been plying the music trade in his adopted state of Vermont, pingponging between the Vermont Symphony and assorted bluegrass (Pine Island, Midnite Plowboys) and jazzy (Will Patton Ensemble, Swing Noire) outfits throughout the state.

Concert tickets are $20.  A pre-concert dinner is also available for $20.  Reservations are recommended for the show and required for dinner. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 247-4295 or e-mail info@brandon-music.net for reservations or for more information.  Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733 www.brandon-music.net
 

Summer at the Brandon Artists Guild will focus on the fresh and vibrant work of two artists working in very different media.

Althea Bilodeau, a third generation fiber artist, creates clothing and accessories using wool felt and woven silk, using her own interpretation of an ancient wet felting technique. Her fabrics have been used in the NY fashion business in collections by designer Chris Benz.

Kathy Domenicucci paints with a classic yet fresh quality. Her skillful control of light, color and composition with spontaneity results in exquisite rich works of art. Her inspiration comes from everyday life enjoyed in this beautiful state.

Brandon Artists Guild   7 Center St.  Brandon, VT   802-247-4956   www.brandonartistsguild.org 

The 19th Century building that has been restored and remodeled to accommodate those devoted to the arts and to small business. Fully renovated, with new electrical and heating systems, insulation and new windows. Current studios are occupied by a publisher, illustrator, milliner, painters, sculptor, photographer, jeweler, graphic designer, and Brandon Artist Guild. 

This the only available studio space available in the building. 

 $385/month all utilities included (except AC)

If interested please contact me at: sjerome@visuallearningco.com, or 802-247-3214

Thanks! Stephanie                  Please forward this note to interested artists and small businesses~

  The Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace & Brandon Museum.

 The Brandon Museum opened on May 18 and is running 7 days a week until mid October. The museum makes history and information available to locals and visitors alike.

If you have an interest in the town and its roots keep us in mind and why not donate a couple of hours per week. We have daily shifts of 2.5 hours from 11:00am-4:00pm. If you don't like being alone and want company feel free to pair up and volunteer with a friend! Contact Museum Steward Dan Celik at 247-3888 to join the Brandon history team at the Brandon Museum for a fun summer season.

Our museum keeps Brandon's history alive by sharing and promoting our town and surrounding areas with the many visitors. In 2014 alone we had over 700 visitors come through our door asking for directions, looking for a place to stay and eat and enjoying the museum! Our museum and community room is a special place and is a great local resource.