QUESTION: "I can see why there are no U-turns allowed on toll roads but why can't we make a U-turn on a road like 89 or 91? It could save fuel for some people."

Good question - It really boils down to it being a "Safety Issue." Troopers and Highway Workers receive specific training concerning the proper way to take a U-Turn on the Interstate and/or how to pull out of one.

Post Oil Solutions continues its monthly series, "Building Sustainable Communities," with a cyberspace presentation by internationally-acclaimed speaker and author, Stacy Mitchell, entitled, "The Critical Role that Locally-Owned Businesses Can Play in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Oil Dependence."

The forum will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:00, in Room 2 East at the Marlboro College Grad Center, 28 Vernon Street, Brattleboro.

A great book fell into my hands - "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash - My Life, My Beats - A Memoir" by Grandmaster Flash and David Ritz. I was reading a bound galley version, but the official version from Harlem Moon/Broadway Books appears due in June 2008.

It's the story of Joseph Saddler growing up in the Bronx. As a kid, he was fascinated by musical beats that moved his parents and older siblings as they danced in the living room, and obsessed with the electronics that made it work. He was also beaten harshly by his father for going near the prized record player and record collection, but couldn't keep away from it.

Free Solar home tours Saturday and Sunday May 17th and 18th. In Putney, starting at 10:00 for the guided tour, and from 10 - 4pm for the self guided tours.

Maps and information available at: http://pec.putney.net/tour

Organized by the Putney Energy Committee. PEC.

Six local artists have donated images for a series of notecards to raise funds to support Brattleboro Area Hospice. The Local Artist Notecards come in two series: The Journey Series with art by Judy Hawkins, Petria Mitchell and Lydia Thomson, and The Quiet Series with art by Nancy Guzik, Rosemary Ladd, and Christine Triebert.

Each series includes six cards and envelopes and sells for $8.00. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will go to support hospice and bereavement programs. Cards can be purchased at Experienced Goods Thrift Store, 77 Flat Street, at the Transportation Center in Brattleboro.

Entergy Nuclear Cited for Security Breach

In February, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found serious security violations at Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee. The violations were revealed today in a story by Susan Smallheer in the Rutland Herald.

This security violation, and the secretive way it’s been handled by the NRC and the Douglas administration, reinforce the picture of an agency and a governor determined to prop up the operation of this old reactor, rather than safeguarding the public.

Okay so I thought I would post this after my visit to the doctor yesterday.

First some simple background, I'm an adult male who suffers from a life long case of Asthma and treat it using an inhaler. A short time ago maybe the end of last year I found my Inhaler to be quite different. I asked the pharmacy what was going on I was informed that due to a change in law the old style of inhalers were no longer allowed to be manufactured because the propellant in them contained CFCs.

This morning lilacs are blooming and a wood thrush is trilling in the trees on the hill across the street - what could be finer?

Best part? 50 degrees is cold...ahhhh.

Wait, I thought composting was good for the environment? Apparently not since Intervale Center could be fined for not filing for a permit.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8314663

Has anyone else woken up to terrible unexplained odors in the early morning hours (3 or 4AM) downtown and in the Clark/ Canal St. areas? This should be a relatively clean air time with virtually no traffic on the roads but something nasty is brewing causing people to be awoken by it and closing bedroom windows to keep it out. Is the Frost St Mill spewing something vile at that tender hour? Is someone cooking chemicals? Has anyone else smelled something very unusually unhealthy??

Nestled for almost 100 years among the pines across the West River in West Dummerston lies the campus of Green Mountain Camp for Girls.

If you are a former camper, director, board member, potential camper or have always wanted to visit, this Sunday is your opportunity!

From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Board members will be there to serve you some punch, give you a tour, and answer your questions.

Lise and I went to Burlington yesterday to speak on a panel at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility's 18th Annual Spring Conference. It was held at Champlain College.

Our panel was called "The World Wide Web Comes Home: How 'Local Online' is Changing Your Business." It was moderated by Michael Wood-Lewis, co-creator of Burlington's Front Porch Forum. Lise and I, representing iBrattleboro, were also joined by Richard Donnelly from Burlington Telecom, Chris Middings from Seventh Generation, and Paula Routly from Seven Days.

Three Brattleboro businesses will be awarded for their efforts to increase energy efficiency, use renewable sources of energy, and reduce global warming emissions. ReNew Building Materials & Salvage, Dr. Rebecca Jones, and Fibermark, Inc. will receive Brattleboro Climate Protection's second annual Sustainable Business Awards. "We're proud to honor these local businesses that are showing leadership in putting sustainable principles into practice", said BCP Executive Director Paul Cameron. The awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 20 during a meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street.

A father buried alive in a debris,after many attempts of dialing, fortunately got through to his daughter who studied in a college in Chengdu. The girl wasted no time in racing back home,and with some migrant workers' help,spent four hours digging out all family members with bare hands.