25 Sunday Aug 2024
Posted in arts, local event
Tags
The Hayfield Art Gallery is located at 671 River Road in Pawlet Vermont. Please park in the lower lot for easy access to the exhibit.
14 Wednesday Aug 2024
Posted in local event, Pawlet Happenings
After nine contentious months without a librarian, the Library Board has voted to sign a contract hiring Christine Edwins as the new Pawlet Library Director. The vote was divided 3 to 2 with the two newest board members, Lauren Herbert and Cori Rail, dissenting.
Edwins was in attendance at the meeting and introduced herself to the standing-room-only crowd after the vote. According to board chair Harley Cudney, Edwins’ first day of work for the library will be tomorrow, August 14.
Both Herbert and Rail indicated that they were in favor of the applicant, but objected that the contract that was being offered had not been officially reviewed by an attorney. Employment attorney Sue Edwards reviewed the contract in an unofficial, pro-bono capacity, according to board member Joni Lee.
Resident Rhonda Schlangen agreed with this concern.
“I would think that the board would want due diligence,” Schlangen said. “Given the debacle that you’re enmeshed in… I’m disturbed that (obtaining official advice from an expert) is not a no brainer for the Library Board.”
Another factor that appeared to arouse concern is that Edwins will at first work 10-14 hours per week, as opposed to the normal 25 hours per week. Cudney explained that Edwins is still under contract for the next year as library media specialist for the Currier Memorial School in Danby.
“If necessary (she will) hire another staff member,” Cudney said.
When assessing all the applicants, the Library Board requested the input of two community members: Joanne VanMeter and Martha Schoenemann. VanMeter spoke during public comment in support of the decision to hire Edwins, and encouraged community support.
“The new librarian is starting tomorrow and I strongly feel that we are a welcoming community. We want her to succeed,” Van Meter said. “I know there’s been controversy, but I feel we need to give this woman a chance.”
Resident Sue LaPorte, who has been a vocal opponent of the decision to fire previous library director Lyndsi Barnes, called for Harley Cudney’s resignation earlier in the meeting.
“I love this library, but I gotta tell you: ever since (the dismissal) everything has become disgusting and embarrassing.” LaPorte said. “I think that Harley needs to resign… We need to get Lyndsi back her job.”
Following the vote LaPorte asked,” Is the new director aware that there is the potential of a lawsuit?”
The board chair said that Edwins had been apprised of the situation during the interview process.
01 Thursday Aug 2024
Posted in local event, Pawlet Happenings
Tags
books, censorship, Cori Rail Treasurer, libraries, library, news, pawlet public library, special meeting video
Highlights from the most recent Library Board Special meeting:
For those who are counting, there have been five Library Board meetings in the last six weeks- four of which were short-notice Special Meetings. As of this posting the next Library Board meeting is a regular meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, August 13th at 5:30PM at the Pawlet Public Library.
Here is a link to the Manchester Journal article.
24 Wednesday Jul 2024
Posted in local event, Pawlet Happenings
Tags
books, community, library, library board appointment, news, pawlet public library, Pawlet Select Board, public-library, Vacancy filled on Pawlet Library Board
The Library Board held its third special meeting in a row on the evening of July 23rd, but it wasn’t until afterwards, at the Select Board meeting across the street, that a key decision was made: to fill the vacancy on the Library Board with applicant Cori Rail.
At the Select Board meeting several residents spoke out in favor of Rail’s appointment, including newest board member Lauren Herbert. Board Chair Harley Cudney stated that he worried about partisanship but ultimately expressed approval for Rail as a candidate for the position. Following the vote spontaneous applause broke out in the meeting room. To see the entire conversation watch the fifteen minute video below.
The Library Board meeting just prior had entertained extensive debate on two main questions: whether the board could continue to operate lawfully with only four members, and whether a recommendation for a new board member should be made to the Select Board for appointment immediately or in a few weeks time when other volunteers for the position might present themselves. Both questions became a moot point with Rail’s appointment.
The Library Board meeting which took place previously will be posted here soon.
22 Monday Jul 2024
Posted in local event, Pawlet Happenings
Tags
Librarian Controversy, Library Board Treasurer resigns, pawlet public library, Special Meeting July 16 2024
Below is the video from the most recent meeting: first half and second half. There’s a LOT going on with the Pawlet Library Board these days so let’s see if I can sum it all up:
For more info on the July 16 meeting, you can read the Manchester Journal article here.
08 Monday Jul 2024
Posted in local event, Pawlet Happenings
Tags
library board special meeting, new librarian hiring process in Pawlet, pawlet public library, unedited library board footage
This is the raw, unedited footage of the public portion of the Library Board’s Special Meeting on the evening of July 5th. Because it was a special meeting with shorter notice than regular monthly meetings, PEG TV was not available to record the meeting; this recording is presented here instead. As of this meeting no decision has been made to hire a new librarian, although three candidates have been interviewed. The next Special Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16 at 5PM, at the Pawlet Public Library, at which time it is expected that- like this meeting- a portion of the meeting will be conducted in executive session and another portion will be open to the public.
11 Tuesday Jun 2024
Posted in arts, Pawlet Happenings
Tags
art, evensteve, exhibition, exhibitions, fine-art, gallery, hayfield art gallery, Largest 110 photograph exhibition, Lomography, no ones home
EveNSteve are pleased to announce the fifth anniversary of the Hayfield Art Gallery with the opening of No Ones Home, a vibrant new exhibition which has the distinction of being the largest exhibition of 110 photographs ever, worldwide.
The Hayfield Art Gallery is the creation of EveNSteve, the husband-and-wife team of author Eve O. Schaub and artist Stephen Schaub. It is outdoors, free, and open to the public and is located in Pawlet, Vermont. Five monumental outdoor artworks compose this year’s exhibition, including one that reaches thirteen feet in height and another that is thirty feet long.
“Together, the works this year relate the story of a girl who is exploring a vibrant, pastoral landscape in a search for answers,” Eve Schaub describes. “We wanted to address this particular moment of uncertainty and ambivalence- and reference cultural methods for controlling chaos, through mythology and storytelling.” Schaub notes that the exhibit is appropriate for all ages.
“Like many kids of the seventies, the 110 was the first camera I ever had,” explains artist Stephen Schaub. “It’s a unique and somewhat strange format, and it’s a little-known fact that photographers can still access 110 film— and cameras— today. The negative is actually about a third the size of 35mm and creates a unique look which becomes even more interesting when you have it do something it was never intended to do: blow it up quite large.”
It was in May of 2020, that EveNSteve installed their first hayfield artwork, “My Heart is Very Big” on the land across the street from their home and art studio, as “a gift to our friends, neighbors, and community.” Over time the installation grew to encompass five monumental outdoor artworks. They have installed a new exhibition every year since.
“What began as a temporary solution to reach viewers during quarantine has evolved,” Stephen Schaub explains. “Now it is an exciting and creative way to reach new audiences. It brings our art out of the gallery and into everyday life.”
The Hayfield Art Gallery has been the subject of news stories on NBC Boston News 10, New England Cable News, WTEN Albany ABC, and WCAX Burlington CBS, as well as articles in Seven Days, the Rutland Herald, and the Times Argus.
Free and open to the public, the Hayfield Art Gallery may be viewed by driving by or by parking in the gallery lot and walking the mown trail through the field. Open dawn till dusk, it is located at 671 River Road in Pawlet Vermont. No Ones Home will be on display until Spring of 2025. For more information visit their website at www.evensteve.com or call 802-287-0287.
pawletvermont.com 