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Heather LaGarde

@heatherlagarde.bsky.social

690 followers 1.3K following 420 posts

Founder, Haw River Ballroom. All things Saxapahaw. Producer, Counterpoint Underground & SwitchPoint. Formerly War Child, Human Rights Watch. Kayaks a lot. https://www.hawriverballroom.com/ https://counterpointunderground.com/

www.hawriverballroom.com

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 10h

Sleepyfest in Saxapahaw this weekend - such a great time. ❤️

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize goes to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela & for her struggle to achieve a just & peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
@nobelprize
📸Adriana Loureiro
Fernandez for The New York Times

Maria Corina Machado standing on top of a car before a cheering crowd.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
As the leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela, Maria Corina Machado is one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.
Ms Machado has been a key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided - an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government. This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree. At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground.

Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence. The Venezuelan regime's rigid hold on power and its repression of the population are not unique in the world. We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and
militarisation. In 2024, more elections were held than ever before, but fewer and fewer are free and fair.
Maria Corina Machado meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel's will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate. She has brought her country's opposition together. She has never wavered in resisting the militarisation of Venezuelan society. She has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy.

Reposted by Heather LaGarde

Reuters @reuters.com · 2d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Reposted by Heather LaGarde

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 2d

Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - her incredible optimism has already changed her country. I spoke to her, and wrote about her, at the beginning of this year:
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

The ‘Anthropological Change’ Happening in Venezuela

Maduro is still in place, but a pro-democracy movement is transforming the beleaguered country.

www.theatlantic.com

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 6d

Great and meaningful statements by @kateruane.bsky.social and @gshans.bsky.social in this piece.

Reposted by Heather LaGarde

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 7d

What’s amazing about this is that it’s not activists, it’s random people in the street, dudes in trucks. They know who the villain is.

I think MAGA has a bigger problem here than they realize

Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 7d

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 7d

Beautiful day in Saxapahaw .

Yellow kayak on the Haw River in Saxapahaw on a beautiful Fall day.

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 8d

The @hawriverballroom.com this week

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 8d

Can’t wait for her to get back to @hawriverballroom.com ❤️

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you Women’s Resource Center of Alamance County for incl. me in the Founder’s Awards group amongst strong women pouring their hearts, souls, smarts &kindness into their communities &highlighting the bravery &resilience of women helping others manifest their dreams &support wild creativity!

Bio pic of Heather LaGarde (on a kayak in the haw River)

Flyer featuring the honorees for this years Leading the Way Awards for the Women’s Resource Center of Alamance County

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Reposted by Heather LaGarde

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 12d

BREAKING: Just hours before the fiscal year ended, a federal judge in R.I. has ordered the Trump administration to preserve $233 million in FEMA funds it attempted to abruptly steer away from 8 blue states.

Without that order, the states would've lost the money at midnight.

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 16d

Sorry about that - next time they say they will come for two nights www.instagram.com/reel/DO5HGNK...

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 17d

Stereolab at @hawriverballroom.com ❤️

Haw River Ballroom crowd shot with Stereolab

Haw River Ballroom with Stereolab on stage

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · 19d

Painful to see what is happening today at the UN General Assembly. - the only joy is reading @sominisengupta.bsky.social accuracy retorts in @nytimes.com live coverage re climate change.

Reposted by Heather LaGarde

kittykatcamera.bsky.social @kittykatcamera.bsky.social · Nov 22

Anne Erin Clark aka St. Vincent. Haw River Ballroom. 2014(ish)

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Reposted by Heather LaGarde

Prof Gavin Yamey @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 20d

Happy Monday

What an astounding Stereolab show last night @hawriverballroom.com, the former Dye House in historic Saxapahaw, one of the finest music venues in the US—Lætitia Sadier said it was “a special place” (true!)

They drew on their 33-year back catalog

Congrats @heatherlagarde.bsky.social

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Sep 3

Just finished the 20th season of Saturdays in Saxapahaw ❤️🦢❤️ 18 weeks of free shows each summer for 20 years = 360 bands, 250,000 audience members, 700 food truck visits, a million bubbles and smiles - community time together where all are welcome ❤️ feels good #swaneconomy

Crowds on the lawn for Saturdays in Saxapahaw summer music series and farmers/ arts market

Feed the swan - donations for the band sign on the stage at Saturdays in Saxapahaw

Band on the Saturdays in Saxapahaw Hay Wagon Stage.

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Sep 3

Kayaking the Haw River tonight in @saxapahaw.bsky.social

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Sep 3

Scientists Denounce Trump Administration’s Climate Report www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/c...

Scientists Denounce Trump Administration’s Climate Report

www.nytimes.com

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Sep 2

Trump Administration Live Updates: Judge Says President’s L.A. Troop Deployment Was Illegal www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Trump Administration Live Updates: Judge Says President’s L.A. Troop Deployment Was Illegal

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Heather LaGarde

Philo of Alexan @philoof.bsky.social · Aug 29

This explains the CDC resignations.

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · Aug 28

Wow.

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Reposted by Heather LaGarde

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Aug 29

CDC leaders on why the left: “I resigned because I could not be part of the weaponization of public health and CDC… we should always be questioning - but you shouldn’t have a preconceived idea before you have the data.”

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Aug 31

Just ordered it — dread/afraid to read it.

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Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Aug 31

Historians See Autocratic Playbook in Trump’s Attacks on Science www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/s...

Historians See Autocratic Playbook in Trump’s Attacks on Science

www.nytimes.com

Heather LaGarde @heatherlagarde.bsky.social · Aug 31

In Trump’s Federal Work Force Cuts, Black Women Are Among the Hardest Hit www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/u...

In Trump’s Federal Work Force Cuts, Black Women Are Among the Hardest Hit