Arts/ Music

It's hard to call someone younger than 18 years old a "legend," but Ava Lowery is just that in progressive circles. She created a website at fourteen where she made videos railing against the war. Today, her site, PeaceTakesCourage.com, gets nearly two million hits per month. And she doesn't live in a liberal hotbed like San Francisco or New York, rather in a small town in Alabama. Anthony Romero is the son of a proud Puerto Rican who worked hard to support his family while waiting tables. Anthony grew up to not only be the first in his family to go to college, but to become the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, and someone we thought Ava should have on her cell phone speed dial. Just in case. Together they discuss the legal quagmire the country has become since 9/11, among other quagmires created by George W. Bush and his Administration.

The Brownell Library along with other partners sponsored a series of book readings, presentations, theater, all under the heading of 'Love and Forgiveness'. This program includes perspectives of participants on the impact of the series. "Let's Talk About It:  Love & Forgiveness," is funded by the American Library Association & the Fetzer Institute.

In 1986, Burlington joined more than twenty other cities throughout the country and established a Kids Day Celebration. Since then it has grown into a community-wide collaboration between schools, service organizations, businesses, families, performers, volunteers, and other individuals dedicated to recognizing the value and importance of our young people, celebrating their individual differences and abilities, and encouraging them to look forward responsibly to the world they will inherit.

Matt Mantone promos the Vermont Roots Raggae Festival being held on the Waterfront June 20th 2009.