Brattleboro Police Chief Search – Community Committee

In recognition of the fact that everyone is a legitimate stakeholder when it comes to public safety, a committee of citizens is being formed to participate in candidate interviews as one step in the overall process of hiring the next police chief. The Town Manager’s Office will be accepting letters of interest from motivated members of the public for participation in the Police Chief Search – Community Committee.


Vermont Economic Development Authority Public Meeting for Revolving Loan Fund

On Thursday, July 10, 2014, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) will hold a public hearing from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., in the Select Board Meeting Room, Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro.

The purpose of the public meeting is to take public comment on utilizing a portion of the $10 million made available through the MOU between the State of Vermont and Entergy Vermont Yankee to establish a Windham County Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) administered by VEDA. The RLF would be part of the Windham County Economic Development Program under development by ACCD to implement the MOU.


Sanders Votes No as Senate Panel Backs Tar Sands Pipeline

WASHINGTON, June 18 – Over staunch opposition by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 12-10 for the construction of the Keystone Pipeline which would transport oil from the tar sands region in Alberta, Canada, to refineries along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.

Sanders said extracting and refining “the dirtiest oil imaginable” would spew more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and worsen global warming.

Completing the Keystone XL pipeline, he added, would send a signal that the United States is unwilling to lead the way toward reversing global warming.


Rescue Inc. Hosts Open House – A Free Event for the Whole Family

BRATTLEBORO, VT—Rescue Inc. will host a community open house and barbecue on Sunday, June 22, 2014 from 11am to 2pm at Rescue Inc.’s headquarters (541 Canal Street) to celebrate nearly 50 years of serving 15 towns in Southeast Vermont and Southwest New Hampshire.

“This is a great time to get to know your emergency first responders up close and personal and see what it takes to be an emergency medical technician or paramedic,” says Drew Hazelton, chief of operations. There will be a variety of Tech Rescue demonstrations, a hi line for folks to ride, bounce house for the kids along with a coloring book station, as well as tours of the ambulances and Rescue’s headquarters. Free blood pressure checks and hands only CPR will also be available.


The Second Annual Southern Vermont Dance Festival Seeks Volunteers, Host Families and Sponsors

BRATTLEBORO, VT—As preparations heat up for this year’s Second Annual Southern Vermont Dance Festival slated to take place July 17- 20 in Brattleboro, Vermont, the organization is seeking volunteers to take care of a variety tasks from pre-event organizing to event set up and clean up to the myriad during-event activities.

Brenda Siegel, executive director of the Festival says, “the Festival couldn’t have pulled off last year’s event without the many, many wonderful volunteers who were ready to pitch in no matter what the task.


Home Energy Audit Open House, Solarize Putney, and Heat Pump information

Putney Cares Inc and the NeighborWorks H.E.A.T Squad to host a Home Energy Audit Open House on June 28, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 54 Kimball Hill Rd Putney VT.

Come learn about home energy audits, Solarize Putney, and cold climate heat pumps and hybrid heat pump water heaters so you can save money and be more comfortable all year round.

Mike Raymond, VT Home Performance with ENERGY STAR auditor, will walk us through an energy audit of the Activities Barn including live blower door testing and infra-red imaging. He will also discuss how homeowners can save money and be healthier and more comfortable once improvements are made.


New Electric Car Charging Stations Installed in Transportation Center

Electric vehicle owners living in or visiting Brattleboro now have a new option for charging their cars. The Town of Brattleboro has installed two level 2, 100 amp electric vehicle charging stations on the first level of the Transportation Center at 77 Flat Street. There are three parking spaces reserved for charging electric cars. The State of Vermont will be installing signage directing motorists from Exits 1 and 2 to the stations. These stations are replacing an old obsolete charging station that was installed when the Transportation Center was constructed in 2003.


Twilight On The Tavern Lawn Presents Kat Wright and Brett Hughes June 15

Twilight Music continues its 12th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, June 15 with Kat Wright and Brett Hughes’ Americana music quartet. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 24. All concerts begin at 6:00 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, Soundview Paper Company, Next Stage Arts Project, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available.


Not Another Round On The Budget

According to the Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office only 71 signatures were submitted by the 5pm deadline yesterday, in the attempt to force a reconsideration of the town’s municipal budget. 418 signatures of registered voted would have been necessary.

Bob Bady


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of June 15

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 in the Fall of 2015.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

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.


Compassionate Cities Campaign

BRATTLEBORO AREA INTERFAITH INITIATIVE INVITES YOU TO JOIN THE COMPASSIONATE CITIES CAMPAIGN

The Brattleboro Area Interfaith Initiative is reaching out to invite you to become part of a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations to participate in a movement called the Charter for Compassion, to make Brattleboro a “Compassionate City,” Created by Karen Armstrong in 2008, it has been building partnership networks around the world. The Charter for Compassion calls all to work to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to honor the sanctity of every single human being, and to treat all with justice, equity and respect. There are116 Compassionate Cities in the USA including smaller cities in our area: Fitchburg, MA and Leominster, MA. Seattle, Washington was the first city to sign the Charter.


Wednesday Farmers’ Market Opens June 18th! Downtown by the Co-op!

JUNE 18th– The Wednesday Market opens downtown by the Co-op on the Whetstone Pathway! We’ve got local farms offering freshly-harvested veggies, plants, strawberries, and cut flowers, plus maple products and preserves, fresh eggs, and more. A new baker, “Bijou Bakery- Jewels from the Oven”, joins us with delectable Italian baked goods, and of course there is the legendary Anon’s Thai Cuisine. EBT and Debit welcome! Open 10am to 2pm.

For more info, please call 802-254-8885 or find us on facebook.


Senate Passes Sanders-McCain Veterans Bill

WASHINGTON, June 11 – The Senate today voted nearly unanimously for a bill to expand hospitals and clinics run by the Department of Veterans Affairs and to hire more doctors and nurses to provide timely, quality care for veterans.

The bipartisan bill by Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would let veterans facing long delays for doctor appointments at VA facilities go elsewhere. Their measure also would hold VA officials accountable for trying to conceal patient wait times.


Guilford Church Old-Fashioned Strawberry Supper Taking Reservations for June 21

Guilford Church Old-Fashioned Strawberry Supper Set for June 21

Guilford, VT– A summer tradition for the whole family, the Strawberry Supper at Guilford Community Church will be held on Saturday, June 21. There will be two seatings to choose from, at 5 and 6:30 p.m. The price is $11 adults, $5 children 11 and under, and $3 preschoolers. For reservations, call (802) 254-9019 or email guilfordchurchsupper@gmail.com.

The menu features ham, baked beans, deviled eggs, potato salad, coleslaw, fresh baked rolls, strawberries, shortcake and whipped cream, coffee, iced tea, and milk. All proceeds benefit the church, which supports over 20 local programs and organizations that serve the community.


Rescue Inc. Announces Subscription Campaign for 2014-2015

Subscribers Benefit from Substantial Savings on Ambulance Services

BRATTLEBORO, VT—Rescue Inc., is in the midst of its subscription campaign, by which residents may sign up at a flat annual fee to receive substantial savings for the cost of certain ambulance services not covered by insurance.

Drew Hazelton, Chief of Operations, explains that for someone who had three ambulance calls in a year, the total cost could be $1500 or more. “For an uninsured person, our subscription plan could pay the full amount on a qualifying bill,” he said. “For an insured person, their plan may still require a patient co-pay, or the cost of the ambulance service might go toward an insurance deductible — but again, with a subscription they may not have to pay anything, if the call falls under the subscription parameters.”


Brattleboro Ad Hoc Futures Committee Organizational Meeting

At the Special Representative Town Meeting on June 2, 2014, Town Meeting Members voted to establish an ad hoc committee for the purpose of bringing forth a proposal for the establishment of a futures commission. An organizational meeting for the Ad Hoc Futures Committee is scheduled on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 5:30pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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


Vermont Minimum Wage To Rise To $10.50 Per Hour By 2018

MIDDLESEX – June 9, 2014 — Surrounded by supporters at the locally owned Red Hen Bakery, Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law legislation phasing in an increase in the state’s minimum wage from the current $8.73 per hour to $10.50 per hour by 2018.

Gov. Shumlin and other New England Governors appeared with President Obama earlier this year in Connecticut to call for a national increase in the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. However, noting Congressional inaction on that proposal, Gov. Shumlin said, “States like Vermont realize that working people can’t support their families on the current minimum wage, and we’re moving ahead to do the right thing on our own.”


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, June 14, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. 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).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, June 14, 2014, 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.