Electric Vehicle Fair October 3

Are you thinking about buying or leasing an electric car, scooter, or bicycle, or interested in learning about the benefits of EV ownership? Come to the second annual Electric Vehicle Fair on Saturday, October 3 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Marlboro College Graduate School, 28 Vernon Street in downtown Brattleboro. A wide range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, along with electric-assisted bikes, cargo bikes and electric scooters will be on display, with many available for test rides. Electric vehicle owners and local dealers will be on hand to answer questions, and table displays will provide information on electric vehicles. At 2:30 pm, local bike enthusiast Dave Cohen will offer a talk on the benefits of electric and cargo bikes.


Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Jazz Mini Fest w/ Jamie Baum, Steve Wilson, and Rebecca Holtz

VJC KICKS OFF 2015 – 2016 Concert Season with Jazz Mini-Fest from September 18th to 20th

The Vermont Jazz Center is kicking off its new season of concerts with a bang, presenting a three-night Fall Festival from September 18 through the 20th.

On Friday (September 18th) the VJC presents renowned flutist, Jamie Baum and her Septet +. They will be performing Indian and Pakistani-influenced music filtered through Baum’s keen jazz aesthetic. On Saturday night (September 19th) Steve Wilson—claimed by NPR to be “one of the finest saxophonists in the business”—will present his quartet, Wilsonian’s Grain, in a concert celebrating the release of their new CD: “Live in New York, the Village Vanguard Session.” On Sunday (September 20th) at 4:00 PM vocalist Rebecca Holtz will pull out all the stops by hosting a CD release party in a benefit for the scholarship programs for the VJC and NECCA. All events will take place at the Vermont Jazz Center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro, Vermont.


BS&L Introduces New Branch to the North End with ‘Brattorama’ Game

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – To celebrate its new solar-powered branch on Putney Road, Brattleboro Savings & Loan has launched Brattorama, a community-based game that charges area residents with collecting game pieces from various businesses to win prizes, now through Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The new location in Black Mountain Square on Putney Road, Brattleboro opened on Monday, Aug. 31, and is the latest entirely solar-powered bank branch operated by BS&L, which became the first completely solar-powered bank in Vermont earlier this year.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of September 13

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

Night work adjacent to Route 30 will continue this week, but will not affect traffic.

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 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Main Street Sidewalk Update #7

Although we had a short work week, extremely hot temperatures, and even some rain, we made great progress on the new sidewalks! We were able to pour several new sections of sidewalks between High Street and Harris Place and poured the new driveway access between Key Bank and Centre Congregational Church. You might be asking yourself why the new sidewalks are so narrow. This project includes a brick strip in between the granite curbing and the new sidewalk that is not only a decorative element but will also allow easy access to the underground conduits that are being installed.


Statewide First Wednesdays Talks Return October 7 with Diverse, Timely Topics

Statewide Vermont – NPR host John Hockenberry, Pulitzer Prize winners Joseph Ellis and Hedrick Smith, and Grammy-nominated musician and historian Stephen Wade are among the presenters in the fourteenth season of the Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays lecture series beginning October 7 at nine sites statewide. The series runs October through May at 7:00 pm on the first Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise noted). Talks take place in Brattleboro, Essex Junction, Manchester, Middlebury, Montpelier, Newport, Norwich, Rutland, and St. Johnsbury.


Brattleboro Area Hospice to hold a 7 Week Bereavement Volunteer Training

Beginning on Thursday, October 8, 2015 Brattleboro Area Hospice will offer a Bereavement Volunteer Training at its home office at 191 Canal Street in Brattleboro. This 21 hour volunteer training will run on Thursdays from 6:00 – 9:00 PM. The final session will take place on November 19th.

Bereavement Volunteers provide emotional support and companionship to individuals grieving the death loss of a loved one. Trained volunteers are asked to commit to one hour per week spent with a bereaved individual.


Calling All Kids: It’s OK To Talk About Death!

Parents and children are invited on Saturday, September 26, 10:30 – 12:00, to a free workshop, Calling all Kids: It’s OK to Talk about Death! at Brooks Memorial Library Upstairs Meeting Room (next to the Children’s Section).

Children who have experienced a death loss, whether of a beloved pet, friend or family member, don’t often have the opportunity to meet with other children who’ve had a similar experience. Through facilitated art activities and guided conversation led by Children’s Bereavement Counselor Elizabeth Ungerleider, this is an opportunity for children of all ages to ask questions, share stories and express feelings in a safe environment.


Public Invited To ‘Trail Talk’ To Be Held For I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, September 12, 2015, to discuss the progress of the bridge project. The talk will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor) and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.


Supporting Iran Nuclear Deal, Sanders Cites Lessons from War in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 – In a Senate floor speech later today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will detail his support for an agreement to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. In prepared remarks, Sanders likened critics of the agreement to those in Congress who voted to take the United States to war in Iraq in 2003.

“Those who have made every effort to thwart the diplomatic process and have spoken out against the Iran agreement, including many in this chamber, are the same people who spoke out forcefully on the need to go to war with Iraq,” Sanders said.

“I voted against the war in Iraq. Sadly, much of what I feared in fact did happen. I do not want to see it happen again.”


Sandglass Theater’s International Puppet Festival Launches this Weekend!

Brattleboro – This weekend, Sandglass Theater will launch the ninth edition of the Puppets in the Green Mountains International Festival, a rich selection of events and performances taking place all around Brattleboro and Putney, Vermont. The festival will feature an action-packed gala opening, a massive outdoor performance by Bread and Puppet Theater, and two of the last local performances of Sandglass Theater’s own award-winning D-Generation, a show about the effects of dementia upon individuals, families, and communities. Visiting artists are arriving from Cuba, Germany, England, Mexico, Quebec, and all around the United States to present this vast array of performances for adults and children of all ages.


Mid Autumn Moon Festival of China, Korea and Vietnam

The Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) presents the 17th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27 2015, 5:30-8pm. Zhongqiu Jie is celebrated in China, Korea, and Vietnam. After Lunar New Year, it is the second most important festival of the year.

This is a traditional time for families to gather and give thanks for the harvest and for harmonious unions. Offerings may be made to Chang’e, the Moon Goddess of Immortality. This is the festival for carrying lanterns and sharing mooncakes. Come celebrate this harvest festival with crafts, stories, songs, food, t’ai chi, martial arts, and the rope tug. Then watch the harvest moon rise. The celebration starts with a pot-luck.

Location: Kiwanis Shelter atop Memorial Park Drive, Brattleboro, VT.


Dustbowl Revival w/10 String Symphony at Vermont Jazz Center on Thursday, September 10

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Dustbowl Revival, a Venice, California-based roots collective that merges old school bluegrass, gospel, jug-band, swamp blues and the hot swing of the 1930’s, plus Nashville-based, progressive acoustic folk duo 10 String Symphony, at The Vermont Jazz Center on Thursday, September 10 at 7:30 pm.


Brattleboro Tree Committee Meeting Agenda

The Brattleboro Tree Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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


Main Street Sidewalk Update #6

Good morning! We have seen some big changes since our last update! On Thursday a subcontractor came in and installed all the new curb from Walnut Street to High Street. Green Mountain Power came in on Wednesday and installed two of our new street lights at the Walnut Street intersection and they look GREAT! To date, the contractor has completed all the sidewalk removal and electrical conduit installation from Walnut Street to High Street. The driveway crossings and many of the pedestrian ADA ramps have been installed.

Next week (there will be no work on Monday for Labor Day) the sidewalk subcontractor will be onsite to get all the new sidewalks installed from Walnut Street to High Street!