“Growing Up in Windham County” Focus of Historical Society of Windham County Annual Meeting

The Historical Society of Windham County will hold its annual meeting on Friday, August 23, 2013 at the NewBrook Fire House (Route 30) in Newfane.

Following a business meeting and potluck dinner, the program will feature a panel of local residents sharing stories about growing up in Windham County. The panel will include Linda Hellus (Brattleboro), Bea McFarland (Newfane), Eli Prouty (Grafton), Bruce Chapin (Jamaica) and the Druke family (Williamsville). The audience will be encouraged to share stories as well.


Bicycling Injury in Guilford

My son was hit by a vehicle Wednesday 8-23-13 in Guilford near Paul’s Road. He was headed to work on his bicycle. He was transported to BMH ER.

I am interested in communicating with anyone who happened to witness or pass by the area and saw the vehicle hit my son and throw him on the ground causing large abrasions.

We have protection for pedestrians and bicyclers in the form of the “Safe Passage Law” in Vermont which was .

We have seen too many injuries and deaths in Windham County in the past year caused by vehicles, to pedestrians and bikers.

Thank you for your help and comments.


Brattleboro School Of Dance 2013-14 Class Registration Begins Sept 6

School adds four to faculty; offers new Pre-Professional Training Program

Brattleboro, VT — (August xx, 2013) — Brattleboro School of Dance has published its schedule of classes for the Fall and Winter of 2013-14. The studio will host an open house from 5:00-8:00pm on Friday, September 6 for members of the public to get acquainted with the faculty and learn more about the programs.

Students can register online at www.brattleboroschoolofdance.com or by going to the studio at 22 High Street in Brattleboro from 3:00-8:00pm on Friday, September 6, 12:00noon-5:00pm on Saturday, September 7 or 12:00noon-2:00pm on Sunday, September 8. Classes begin on Monday, September 9.


XOPO plays the Brattleboro Farmers Market this Saturday

The Brattleboro Farmers’ Market hosts live music every week from 11am to 1pm. This week, Xopo performs: “Xopo plays traditional tunes of the Balkans on a variety of instruments including accordion, trombone, clarinet, drums and an array of stringed instruments. Haunting love songs, lively dance tunes and surprising rhythms create a diverse and entrancing musical experience.”


Little Toby Walker Benefit Concert for Twilight Music at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery

Twilight Music and Vintage Parlor Guitars present internationally acclaimed, roots music fingerstyle guitar virtuoso Toby Walker at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Saturday, August 24 at 7:00 pm. All proceeds from the show will go to support Twilight Music concerts in Brattleboro and Putney, VT. Guitarist Steve Chipman of Chester, VT-based Vintage Parlor Guitars and acoustic bassist Thom Huntington will open the concert.

Toby Walker mixes blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, rock and old time jazz in his own unique guitar style. He has been featured in the New York Times, the London Sunday Times, the London BBC and Sirius-XM radio, has won the International Blues Challenge Award given out by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN and has toured the US, England, Wales, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane says “Flat out… you have to hear this great musician… I’m blown away.”


PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Public Information Session Sept. 4

How can homeowners afford to insulate their homes or install solar electric systems in today’s economy? Many people want to “do the right thing,” but lack the money to finance energy-efficiency projects or install renewable energy systems in their homes. This hurdle has prevented many people from taking advantage of new technologies that would reduce their energy costs substantially and save them money in the long run.


Get on Board Windham County Accepting Applications

Get on Board Windham County is a community-based Board Fellows program that provides networking and skills development for young professionals while building the capacity of local nonprofits. Applications for Fellows (aged 22-44 years old) and Nonprofits are due September 15. To learn more, visit gs.marlboro.edu/boards.

Join an info session on Monday 8/26, 12-1 pm at the Grad School or Thursday 9/5, 5-6 pm at the Latchis Theater. All welcome; please RSVP at marlboro-nonprofit.eventbrite.com.

This innovative program is a partnership of Marlboro College with Latchis Arts, SeVEDS, United Way of Windham County and Youth Services.


Chairman Sanders Welcomes Continued Progress in Reducing VA Claims Backlog

BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 19 – U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bernie Sanders today welcomed a Department of Veterans Affairs report that outlined significant progress in addressing an unacceptable backlog of claims for disability benefits.

There was a nearly 20 percent drop in the number of backlogged claims from a peak that was hit four months ago, according to a VA analysis released today.

“As chairman, I am pleased to see the VA making significant progress in reducing what everyone continues to recognize as an unacceptable backlog. No veteran should have to wait years to receive the benefits they have earned,” said Sanders (I-Vt.).


Brattleboro Taxes and Utilities Due

The first installment of the 2013 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on August 15th, 2013. Payments made after August 15th, 2013 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on August 15th, 2013. Payments made after August 15th, 2013 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.


Windham County Celebrates its Past on Saturday, August 17

Windham County will celebrate its past with the 4th bi-annual history fair on Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 10am – 4pm on the historic Common in Newfane, in front of the County Courthouse.

The event will feature exhibits by the Vermont Historical Society, the Historical Society of Windham County, and the Estey Organ Museum, as well as eight historical societies in Windham County, including those from Brattleboro, Dover, Grafton, Guilford, Jamaica, Putney, Townshend, and Wardsboro. In addition to their exhibits, many of the towns will have their published town histories for sale as well as other historic memorabilia (prints, cards, photographs) of the area.


Brattleboro Union High School Board Meeting Agenda

BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The BUHS #6 Finance Committee will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 in the WSESU Central Office Conference Room, 53 Green Street.

NOTICE OF MEETING

The BUHS #6 Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 19 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Contractual Matter

A special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard is scheduled on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 2:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session to discuss a contractual matter.

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


Northfield Drive In – Help Us Survive Digital Conversion!

It is predicted that within the next year we will be forced to make the conversion to digital projection equipment here at the Northfield Drive-In Theatre. The digital conversion is the most significant advancement of technology in the movie industry since the introduction of audio soundtracks in the late 1920s. Just as the introduction of “talkies” led to the end of the “silent” movie era, digital projection technology will mean the end of 35mm film. This will be an enormous expense for us, especially given the fact that we are only a seasonal business.


Sanders: Congress Must Not Hobble Postal Service Rebound

BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 12 – With revenue rebounding, the U.S. Postal Service would have posted a profit for the past three months without an unprecedented requirement that it sink $5.5 billion a year into future retiree health care, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today.

The latest quarterly report on Postal Service finances showed a $740 million loss, but all of that red ink would have been eliminated and a $660 million profit would have been posted had the Postal Service not been forced to sink money into a system that already has set aside enough to meet the health care needs of retirees for decades to come.


Twilight on the Tavern Lawn Presents Occidental Gypsy on Sunday, August 11

Twilight Music continues its 11th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, August 11 with Berklee College of Music-trained, acoustic Gypsy jazz/swing/pop quintet Occidental Gypsy. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 25. All concerts begin at 5:30 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain. The series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Putney Food Co-Op, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Inn, Next Stage Arts Project, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations.