I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of March 1

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Route 30: One-Way Traffic and Night Work: Night work on the new bridge Route 30 will be conducted Monday night, March 2nd through Friday night, March 6th. Traffic on Vermont Route 30 within the work zone will be reduced to one-way starting later this week, so that the team can work on a very slight realignment of Route 30. Work will be conducted during daylight hours only, and flaggers will be present to control traffic. The work will be completed by the end of next week.

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.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Spring Session Begins

by Not Signed In | Music

The spring session of the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus begins Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 – 9:00 pm, and there is a second rehearsal option of Thursday, March 5 at 10:00 – Noon. These first rehearsals are open to anyone interested in trying out chorus without obligation. Both sessions will be held at Centre Congregational Church on Main Street. This is a location change until April for the Wednesday rehearsal.

Founder-director Becky Graber will lead the chorus in songs of travel in preparation for two concerts in May. Participation in the concerts is optional. All women and girls ages 10 and above are welcome to join without audition or previous musical experience. Financial aid is available.

Brattleboro Town Clerk Election Hours

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be open Saturday, Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon for early voting in Brattleboro’s Annual local elections. The Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, March 3 as staff will be conducting elections in the Municipal Center, room 212. Polling hours are 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Heavy Traffic on I-91 at Exit 2 & 3 This Weekend

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Please expect heavy traffic and resulting delays between Exits 2 and 3 on I-91 this weekend. Traffic is likely to be heaviest northbound on Friday afternoon and evening, and southbound on Sunday afternoon and evening. Those with flexible travel planes should consider alternate travel times and/or routes. Please also consider using Vt Rt 5 as an alternate route.

Official “Proposed Brattleboro Charter Amendment Information Sheet”

by Not Signed In | Politics

PROPOSED BRATTLEBORO CHARTER AMENDMENT INFORMATION SHEET 

Proposed amendments to Brattleboro’s Charter are on the March 3, 2015 ballot. The Brattleboro Selectboard asks you to consider the following when voting. 

TOWN MEETING TERM LIMITS 

Brattleboro’s Town Meeting is both participatory and representative democracy. Up to 155 residents get elected and gather annually to make budget and policy decisions for the Town. It is anti-democratic to ban Brattleboro residents from Town Meeting because they have attended 6 years in a row. Term limits would bar many residents who now attend Town Meeting, and the institutional memory they bring with them would be lost. Right now there are 25 open Town Meeting slots, so anyone interested in joining already can. Term limits actually could empty out Town Meeting so there would not even be a quorum. 

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of February 22

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

UPCOMING I-91 CLOSURE NORTHBOUND & SOUTHBOUND: Wednesday Night (2/18) 7:00 pm – 6:00 am and Thursday Night (2/19) 7:00 pm – 6:00 am.

Night work on the new bridge will continue at Route 30. Night work will be conducted Sunday night, February 22nd thru Friday night, February 27th (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.

Qigong and Healing – Taming the Monkey Mind

by Not Signed In | Health

Quieting one’s mind can often feel like an overwhelming task. During this half-day workshop, participants will learn simple yet effective ways to quiet the busy mind, also known as the “Monkey Mind”. Through the practice of Qigong we will gradually let go of the limits of our acquired self and open up to the infinite experience of our true nature. Participants will leave with a renewed and empowered sense of health and well-being.

Qigong consists of simple movements and breathing practices that relax the physical body, calm the mind and raise the spirit. It is an excellent form of preventative healthcare, and also used in treating major illnesses and minor ailments.

Winterpills and Rusty Belle at Next Stage on Saturday, February 21

by Not Signed In | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present indie/folk/chamber-pop quintet Winterpills, plus roots-rock/junk-folk trio Rusty Belle at Next Stage on Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm.

One of the most exciting bands to emerge from Northampton, MA in recent years, Winterpills plays haunting, delicate, dynamic music with shimmering melodies and aching lyrics. Critically praised as a mirror of sorrows and a beacon of hope, the music of Winterpills – true to the band’s name – is medicine for weary hearts.

Sandglass Theater Presents Do Elephants Dream of Eclectic Sheep?

by Not Signed In | Entertainment

PUTNEY- On February 20th and 21st Sandglass welcomes the puppet artist, Amanda Maddock, with a new collaborative work, Do Elephants Dream of Eclectic Sheep? In this piece the audience is invited to visit the bedroom and mind of a slumbering elephant whose dreams are just beginning to unfold. The elephant begins to question her fate as the contents of her room and mind reveal messages either fraught with meaning or frivolous…or perhaps both…or neither? Time, scale, character transformation, creatures and objects will be awakened, unpacked, and opened to interpretation.

This piece will be presented as part of Sandglass Theater’s New Visions Series, which serves as a laboratory for new works by artist in the field of puppetry and movement-based theater.

Welch Announces Legislation To Spur Use of Modern Wood Heating Systems

by Not Signed In | Politics

Bipartisan initiative would boost Vermont’s biomass industry

Burlington, VT—This afternoon in Montpelier, Rep. Peter Welch announced bipartisan legislation that would make it more affordable for Vermonters to install wood heating systems in their homes or businesses.

The Biomass Thermal Utilization(BTU) Act would expand the existing renewable energy tax credit to include wood, or “biomass thermal,” heating systems. Welch made the announcement at National Life Group’s Montpelier campus. The company installed a wood heating system in 2010 that has reduced its carbon footprint by 45 percent and heating costs by 50 percent.

Public Invited to “Trail Talk” to be held for I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, February 21, 2015. There has been a lot of progress at the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge project site, which will be shared with attendees. The talks 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).

Brattleboro Snow Removal Continues

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro would like to remind everyone that the snow emergency ban is in effect.

Snow and ice will be removed from Western Ave this evening. If they have enough time then they will work on Main St and the North Bridge Down.

Parked vehicles in the downtown area must be removed by 10:30pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Brattleboro Snow Removal Tonight

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro would like to remind everyone that the snow emergency ban is in effect.

Snow and ice will be removed from the parking lots in the downtown area this evening.

Parked vehicles in the downtown parking lots must be removed by 10:30pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

February Tax & Utility Payments Due in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town News

The third installment of the 2014 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on February 17th, 2015. Payments made after February 17th, 2015 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on February 17th, 2015. Payments made after February 17th, 2015 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

The Treasurer’s Office will be closed on February 16, 2015 in observance of President’s Day.

I-91 To Close Between Exits 2 and 3 Overnight February 18, 19

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91 between Exits 3 and 2 and the Exit 3 on ramps will be closed to both Northbound and and Southbound traffic so that crews can install a glare screen that will help shield the glare from on-coming headlights. The closure is scheduled for the nights of Wednesday 2/18 and Thursday 2/19 from 7:00 PM to 6:00AM. Traffic will use Route 5 as a detour.

Brattleboro Early/Absentee Ballots, Voter Registration and Town Clerk Hours

by Not Signed In | Politics

Early/absentee ballots for Annual Town and Town School District election to be held on March 3, are now available in the Brattleboro town clerk’s office. Anyone wishing to vote prior to March 3, may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person in the clerk’s office, mailed to the voter by the clerk’s office, picked up by the voter or delivered to the voter’s residence by two justices of the peace. All voted ballots must be received by the clerk before the polls close on election day in order to be counted.

Expect President’s Day Weekend Traffic Delays on I-91 in Brattleboro Area

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The traveling public is advised to expect traffic delays on I-91 northbound between Exits 2 and 3 in the Brattleboro area. These delays are likely to occur during periods of high traffic volume. Expect delays on I-91 Northbound on Friday afternoon and evening, and on I-91 Southbound on Sunday and Monday afternoon of President’s Day Weekend. Motorists are encouraged to use Route 5 as an alternate route between Exits 2 and 3, and those with flexible travel plans are encouraged to schedule their travel to avoid high travel periods.

Obama Signs Bill on Veterans Suicides

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was at the White House today when President Barack Obama signed legislation to address suicides among veterans.

“This bill says loudly and clearly that we understand suicide among veterans is a national tragedy and it begins the process of addressing the problem,” said Sanders, who headed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee when the panel late last year passed the measure.

Twenty-two veterans a day, on average, take their own lives. “The suicide rate, especially among young veterans, is tragically high and we have to do everything we can get these veterans timely access to the quality of care they have earned and deserve,” Sanders said.