I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of May 9th

Upper Dummerston Road will be closed Thursday, May 12th beginning at 5:00 AM and ending at 9:00 PM so that the project team can work on concrete deck placement. This work is weather dependent.

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 may be reduced to a single lane intermittently, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of May 8

Brattleboro Time Trade:  Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time. See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade can do for you!

How Time Trade Works: You do something for someone and earn time credits for your “bank,” which you can then put towards someone else doing something for you! It’s that simple – and amazing!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from a post-chorus high:

Now anyone can see a listing of all our Offers and Requests: https://brattleboro.timebanks.org/ads?type=1

OFFERS (i.e. things people could do for you):

Wild Raspberry Plants
Electrical Wiring
Strawberry Plants
Artist will Draw or Paint a Full Color Picture of your
House/Dwelling
Will Build for You or Teach you to Make Anything out of
Papier Mache and Recyclables
Silver Wire Jewelry Making Lessons for Beginners


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet in Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 4:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Warning – Executive Session and Budgets

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:30pm to discuss labor relations agreements with employees and pending or probable civil litigation, and will reconvene the business meeting at 6:15pm.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office  (802) 251-8100


Next WBA Meeting on May 12th to Discuss Potential Re-use of Current West B Fire Station

The regular monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, May 12th at 6:00 PM at the New England House, 254 Marlboro Road. After a review of the treasury report, spring plantings, the last BizUp meeting and other issues, the WBA will discuss details of the Chicken BBQ coming up on Saturday, May 28th.

A feature every year of the group, the popular Chicken BBQ will once again happen in front of the First Congregational Church on Western Avenue in West Brattleboro. The menu will feature half chickens, baked beans, and coleslaw or salad, available from 11:00 a.m. until sold out.  More information on the event will be forthcoming.


Little Bike Lost

This bicycle has been abandoned (probably stolen) behind the Elliot Apartments on Spring Street. It has been there for about a month.


Strolling of the Heifers Seeks Volunteers, Vendors

Strolling of the Heifers is seeking volunteers to help make Stroll Weekend a success, and still has room for a few more vendors at its Expo. 

Strolling of Heifers Weekend takes place June 3-5, with the agriculturally-themed parade scheduled for Sat., June 4 at 10 a.m. in downtown Brattleboro. 

The Stroll is always looking for volunteers to help out in a multitude of ways at all events, including the Friday evening Street Festival (June 3), the Parade and Expo (June 4) and the Tour de Heifer (June 85), as well as at other events year-round.  

Prospective volunteers should contact Vicki Friedman, volunteer coordinator, at vicki@strollingoftheheifers.com. They may also stop in to see her at the Strolling of the Heifers River Garden, 157 Main Street in Brattleboro; or phone her at 802-246-0982 (leave a message if she is not in). Alternatively, a volunteer registration form may be found at . 


Brattleboro: Safer Streets Forum

Please plan to come to Brattleboro: Safer Streets Forum tomorrow night, Thursday, May 5th at the River Garden between 5-7:30.

The goals of the forum are three-fold:

1. The town can inform residents of ongoing work and projects that relate to bike/ped infrastructure.

2. Local volunteer groups can inform residents of their work on projects that relate to bike/ped safety.

3. Town residents have a chance to bring their concerns directly to the various groups who work on bike/ped issues.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – Permits and Plans

New fees for special event permits were almost adopted, but put off until the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard to allow for more public input.

The West Brattleboro Association won themselves a small amount of time to come up with brilliant plans for renovating and re-using the current fire station in West Brattleboro. The clock is ticking, as the Selectboard approved of continuing with plans for its demolition.

Energy audits for municipal buildings have been completed, a new traffic safety plan has been adopted, committees have received new appointments, and the Reformer will remain the newspaper of record for the next year.


Experienced Goods Thrift Shop Announces PopUp@77Flat to benefit Brattleboro Area Hospice

Experienced Goods Thrift Shop announces a new and exciting adventure in shopping. PopUp@77Flat is an online shopping event, featuring the best of the best that Experienced Goods has to offer. All proceeds of Experienced Goods Thrift Shop including PopUp@77Flat benefit the important work of Brattleboro Area Hospice.

The Pop-up event will go live at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 6th. Monthly, a new themed auction window at Experienced Goods at 77 Flat Street, in downtown Brattleboro will be unveiled. At that time the online auction also goes live at www.32auctions.com/popup77flat. Items can be viewed from the street or more closely online at the auction site. Bids will be accepted only online and can take place 24 hours daily from the comfort of your own home.


Rouleau Park Dedication

On Wednesday, June 1st, 2016 at 5pm, the Brattleboro Schoolboard will hold a ceremony dedicating Rouleau Park at the foot of the Canal Street School, in recognition of Lois and Larry Rouleau’s more than 35 years of relentless community service. A good show of community support would be wonderful: Everyone is invited.

Last year, Larry said that he and Lois, in their mid ’80s, are going to be less active: but still there was no sign of them slowing down. Whenever I run into them, they are on their way with a delivery to a food bank or community dinner, organizing a fund-raising tag sale, collecting bottles and cans to support community activities, or raking leaves and cleaning rubbish to maintain the park. Years ago, the Schoolboard had to remove a dangerously dilapidated jungle-gym, which they did not have funds to replace. With the Schoolboard’s permission the Clark-Canal Community Association installed two benches at the park, but otherwise the space remained empty.


BMAC Invites Input On Environmental Cleanup Plan for 11 Arch Street, Brattleboro

Brattleboro Museum & Art Center has developed an environmental cleanup plan for the property located at 11 Arch Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. The cleanup activities are being performed in support of property redevelopment for museum operations.  It is anticipated that the environmental cleanup will be funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Cleanup program.

A public meeting to discuss the draft cleanup plan will be held on Monday, May 9, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.


Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of May 1st

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 may be reduced to a single lane intermittently, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 3, 2016

At their next regular meeting on Tuesday, the Brattleboro Selectboard will review some suggestions from the West Brattleboro Association regarding the West Brattleboro Fire Station project. The Town Manager recommends rejecting 2 of the 3 proposals.

The board will consider streamlining the special events permit process to allow the Town Clerk to approve some liquor-related events, there will be a presentation regarding energy audits and traffic calming, an update on the local emergency operations plan, committee appointments, board goals and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation, and lend your views to anything on the agenda as well.

Tune in to BCTV for full coverage, and read about it here after.


Brattleboro’s Stephanie Huestis Hired as Commercial Loan Officer at Savings Bank of Walpole

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE WELCOMES NEW COMMERCIAL LOAN OFFICER

Keene, NH – Savings Bank of Walpole (SBW) is pleased to welcome Stephanie Huestis, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, to their business banking team.

Ms. Huestis brings over 20 years experience within the finance industry to her new position and has a broad understanding of Relationship Management, Commercial Lending, Sales and New Business Development. Previously, she held a number of positions at Peoples United Bank in Brattleboro, most recently as Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager, where she serviced several towns within Southern Vermont and established a proven track record of successful new business development and portfolio management. Prior to Peoples United Bank, Ms. Huestis was a Mortgage Lender and Originator at Brattleboro Savings and Loan.


Brattleboro DPW – On Flushing the Mains

With the water mains being flushed, I thought it might be fun to get some background information on why we do it and how it gets done. I sent some questions to Director of Public Works Steve Barrett and have the following to share with you.

– What’s the goal of the water main flushing?

The water entering our mains after treatment is of a very high quality, however, over time sediments can build up in the pipes; particularly if the water is slow moving.

If left alone – this could result in customers occasionally receiving discolored water, particularly if there has been a surge in the flow (perhaps because of fire-fighting or a burst water main). Too much sediment can also affect the taste, clarity and color of water. We also operate every hydrant in town to verify they are in good working order. Water valves are also operated & exercised to direct the water flow and ensure they are working properly.


Brattleboro: Safer Streets Forum

Are you interested in the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians on Brattleboro’s roads?

Are you interested in road projects in Brattleboro that relate to bicyclists and pedestrians?

If so, please plan to come to Brattleboro: Safer Streets Forum on Thursday, May 5th at the River Garden between 5-7:30. 

The goals of the forum are three-fold:


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of April 24

Brattleboro Time Trade:  Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time. See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade can do for you!

How Time Trade Works: You do something for someone and earn time credits for your “bank,” which you can then put towards someone else doing something for you! It’s that simple – and amazing!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from the circus limbo:

Now anyone can see a listing of all our Offers and Requests: https://brattleboro.timebanks.org/ads?type=1

OFFERS (i.e. things people could do for you):

Home Energy and Weatherization Advice
Brattleboro Food Coop Member Hours
Spanish Tutoring or Conversation