Fun press release:

"BRATTLEBORO, Vermont (Sept. 3, 2010)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA), which has called Greenfield, MA, home since 1990, today is celebrating the upcoming move of its headquarters to the Graduate Center building in downtown Brattleboro planned for later this fall.

“This move by the Organic Trade Association to Vermont is a testament to the importance of organic agriculture in our state and the leadership and entrepreneurial spirit found here. I have long worked with the Organic Trade Association in Washington on organic policy matters and am delighted it has chosen Vermont as its home base and to bring these jobs to Brattleboro,” said Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy.

Everyone knows the Internet can be a powerful tool for growing and marketing a small business, but many don’t know where to begin or how to make it work for them.

Hours are wasted ‘trying to figure things out’, and valuable business is lost by missing out on the rich marketing opportunities the Internet offers to small and local businesses.

Brattleboro residents Lisa McCormick and Julian McBrowne, two local artists who actively use the Internet as their primary marketing tool, announce their new consulting service, Growing Your Business Online.

Lise and I got to do something today that we've never done before. We attended a pre-opening preview of a new Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant set to open in Keene tomorrow.

Our special, inside connection for this event is Lise's cousin, Cort Mendez. For the last few years he's been working on opening a series of Five Guys restaurants in New Hampshire, and we've been treated to updates and plans at various family gatherings when we see him.

The Harmony Underground tobacco supply store is now open in Harmony Parking Lot at 26 Harmony Place, Brattleboro. Stop in and have a look at our new store. We carry all kinds of tobacco supplies and accessories, incense, drip candles, tye dye, clothing, unique and hard to find weapons, body jewelry, hats, posters, stickers, vaporizers, hookahs, gifts, and much more....We are open Wednesday through Friday 10-7, Sat. 10-8 and Sundays 10-5. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Dear friends, supporters, vendors, and donors,

The Renew Board of Directors wishes to announce a significant change in our operating structure.

Faced with mounting financial concerns, the board has recently been required to make a variety of difficult business decisions. After careful consideration, the board unanimously concluded that operations needed to be streamlined, necessitating the elimination of the Executive Director position.

This financial crisis is a result of higher than expected costs coupled with an unexpected downturn in revenue and a grave lack of cash reserves.

When it comes to publicity, a picture is worth way more than a thousand words. Especially if you're trying to pitch a features story - and even more especially if it's an arts & entertainment features story.

Vermont Telecommunications Authority, Sovernet Communications and Supporting Partners Receive Federal Stimulus Funds to Bring Broadband Connectivity to Vermont Communities

MONTPELIER, VT. (July 2, 2010) — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) and Sovernet Communications reported today that their public-private partnership, Vermont FiberConnect, will receive a $33.3 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. The grant will allow Sovernet to develop, own, maintain, and operate a 773 mile fiber-optic middle mile network in southern, central, and northeastern Vermont. The project will connect over 340 community anchor institutions in the project area, including State owned buildings, public safety towers and all public and private K-12 schools, public libraries and colleges that elect to participate in the project.

The summer is a great time to get out and enjoy Main Street and downtown Brattleboro. It's social, it supports local business, and it is a lot of fun.

Starting on Friday July 30, and running for the full weekend through August 1st, you can double your fun with the Brattleboro Sidewalk Sales, an annual shopping tradition for the whole family.

It was on these very pages 3 years ago that I read of 2 young ladies who were stealing from folks in a door-to-door magazine subscription scam.

For the past 2 days, my wife, home alone with my 3-year old daughter, has had subscription sellers come into our mud room and knock on the door. Yesterday, she chatted pleasantly with the two male salesmen before letting them know that she wasn't interested. They didn't put up a fight or anything, though they were somewhat persistent.

The Brattleboro (Area) Chamber of Commerce debuted a new campaign and slogan this morning at a media event at the River Garden.

"The One and Only Brattleboro" is the slogan, and there is a new logo to show it off.

The Chamber's website explains "Not only is there no other town named Brattleboro anywhere in New England or in the rest of the world, but there's really no other place on earth quite like it!."

June 25, 2010

Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Where: Robert H. Gibson River Garden
153 Main Street, Brattleboro

Who/What: Press and Community Briefing with Jerry Goldberg, Executive Director, Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, members of the Chamber board, along with Brattleboro business leaders and event organizers to announce a new campaign promoting The Unique Offerings of Greater Brattleboro.

Brattleboro, VT – (June 2, 2010) – Marlboro College Graduate School will host a free, public lecture by Dr. Chuck Bennett, vice president of Earth and community care for the Aveda Corporation at 5:30pm on Friday, June 11, as part of its MBA in Managing for Sustainability Featured Speaker Series.

The talk, entitled "Aveda Earth and Community Care: A 30-Year Journey in Green Leadership" will examine how Aveda has translated its values into business reality to meet the challenges and realize the opportunities of being a mission-focused brand.

The Brattleboro Wednesday Farmers' Market opens for the season this Wednesday, June 2nd!

The market has moved to the north end of Main St-- between the Gibson Aiken Center and Merchants Bank (across from the post office).

10am-2pm EBT and Debit accepted 254-8885

Help us spread the word that the market has moved!
www.brattleborofarmersmarket.com

Building a Better Brattleboro in partnership with the Strolling of the Heifers and downtown Brattleboro merchants announces the schedule and guidelines for this year’s Cow Bucks Shopping Spree.

By submitting an entry form, otherwise known as a “cow buck”, that includes the entrant’s name, e-mail address and phone number, entrants grant permission to participating stores, BABB and the Strolling of the Heifers organization to contact them with various promotional materials. In exchange for this permission the entrant is entered in a drawing that offers them the chance to win a $1,500 shopping spree in downtown Brattleboro.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who got an innocent looking little notice with their checking statement recently.

It says in part, "As of February 27, 2010, the Federal Reserve Banks have consolidated all of its check processing regions into one.....Our general policy is to allow you to withdraw funds deposited in your account on the first business day after the day we receive your deposit. In some cases we may delay your ability to withdraw funds beyond the first business day. Then, the funds will generally be available by the second business day after the day of deposit. Longer delays may apply."

Are you kidding me?