Burlington, VT, Jun 07, 2012 — Burlington's been awash in jazz this week with the arrival of the annual Discover Jazz Festival. There are some high flying musical acts in town. Since last Saturday, bands have set up on Church Street, at the water front and all across the city's restaurants and bars. There's music everywhere, and because it's free, anyone can enjoy it. Sarah Harris listened to a whole lot of jazz and sends this postcard.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, May 30, 2012 — The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival returns for ten days beginning Friday, June 1, at a variety of venues throughout the city. The festival's Managing Director, Brian Mital, talked about this year's highlights with Joel Hurd.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, May 29, 2012 — What started as a way to make unique Christmas gifts for family and friends has grown into a passion to admire and preserve some of the rarest writing systems in the world.

For the last few years, Burlington writer Tim Brookes has created handmade wood carvings in an attempt to help save alphabets at risk of vanishing. Brookes is an accomplished author who directs the writing program at Champlain College. While there are thousands of spoken languages worldwide, Brookes says there are fewer than a hundred alphabets, and many of them are threatened with extinction.

Tim Brookes will take some of the carvings in his "Endangered Alphabets" art and literacy project on the road again this summer. He spoke with Todd Moe about the reasons why written letters and symbols are disappearing, and his memorial to them.  Go to full article

South Burlington, VT, May 23, 2012 — Host intro: The Vermont Air National Guard is considering whether to make Burlington International Airport home to a fleet of new F-35 fighter jets. Communities around the airport debated the jets' presence at a public hearing last week. The Environmental Impact statement put out by the Air Force says that the new jets will bring higher noise levels to neighborhoods surrounding the airport.

On Monday night, South Burlington's City Council voted 4 - 1 to oppose the plan. Sarah Harris has more.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Apr 16, 2012 — 15 years ago Ben and Jerry's teamed up with Vermont band Phish to create their now-famous ice cream flavor, Phish Food. On Saturday they aimed for another accomplishment, setting a record for the world's largest cowbell ensemble while raising money for flood relief in Vermont.

1600 people wearing spotted T-shirts, eating free ice cream, and waving cowbells packed onto Church Street. Phish drummer John Fishman led them in classic rock covers. The first song: 1968 hit "Time Has Come Today," by the Chambers Brothers.

Sarah Harris brings us the sound of a 1600 cowbell interpretation for today's Heard Up North.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Apr 02, 2012 — President Barack Obama visited Burlington, Vermont last Friday for a fundraiser and campaign event. The state hasn't been visited by a sitting president since Clinton's trip in 1995. Obama arrived on Air Force One around 11:30 a.m. He met with Vermont politicians, lunched with high paying campaign donors, then spoke to a crowd of supporters at the University of Vermont. Sarah Harris was there and has our story.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Mar 02, 2012 — "Politics" are different in Vermont's largest city. Since 1985, a successful third party, the Progressive party, has dominated local government there. Progressive voters essentially sent Sen. Bernie Sanders to Congress after re-electing him mayor of Burlington for successive terms.

But for the first time in almost 30 years, there's no Progressive running for mayor this year.

Paul Heintz covers politics for 7 Days, an alternative weekly newspaper based in Burlington. He says this race isn't so much about issues as personalities and shifting loyalties. And he says that even though there's no Progressive on the ballot, those votes will still make a difference.

He told Sarah Harris there's a history of bad blood between Progressives and Democrats, and this race is a bit of a turf battle.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Feb 07, 2012 — For the first time since 1995, a sitting president will be visiting the state of Vermont. That's according to the Burlington Free Press.

According to the newspaper, the White House has confirmed that Barack Obama will be visiting Burlington on March 30th "to participate in campaign events."

First Lady Michelle Obama visited Vermont last June, but this will be the president's first trip to the state since he won office.

The last sitting president to visit was Bill Clinton in 1995.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Nov 30, 2011 — Flynn Center artistic director Arnie Malina is retiring early next year. Malina leaves a 15-year career at the Flynn in Burlington and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, and an artistic vision spanning popular, experimental and international work. Malina came to the Flynn in 1997 after many years of running the Myrna Loy Center for the Performing Arts in Helena, Montana.

Although he officially retires at the end of January, Malina will continue to consult with the Flynn through next summer. Todd Moe talks with him about the joys and challenges as performing arts curator.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Nov 11, 2011 — Burlington police have identified the man who died Thursday from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Occupy Burlington encampment in City Hall Park.  Go to full article