I’ve always called our library the Brooks Memorial Library, think that “Memorial” was part of the name. More recently I’ve seen official library announcements in which it is called, simply, Brooks Library.
My question: which is it? Was the name officially shortened? Was it never as long as I thought?
I like to use the right name, but also don’t mind shaving off a few letters from a frequently-typed phrase.
What say ye?
I was driving by Bondville yesterday and they were having the Bondville Fair, complete with rides such as Tilt a Whirls, Scramblers, giant slides, merry go rounds, and a Ferris Wheel and it got me thinking: Why doesn’t Brattleboro ever hold a carnival, with a midway, rides, food trucks, games, and so on?
No handfuls of tickets, no stepping over power cables, no sound of generators, no sight of colorful lights at the edges of every ride or booth.
Have you taken any classes with the professor?
“The World’s Foremost Authority” was born in Brooklyn in 1914, and believe it or not, is still going. This is despite living through World Wars, the Depression, the blacklists he was put on for being supportive of Cuban kids and communists, and panhandling for charity in the Queens Midtown Tunnel.
The Town of Brattleboro will consider its role in a planned multi-million dollar expansion of the Exit 1 industrial park at the next regular meeting of the Selectboard, on Tuesday at the Municipal Center on Main Street. The proposed project will be in conjunction with the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and will extend town services to make more land developable. And keep G. S. Precision in town.
The board will also consider proposed changes to parking ordinances, support for the Groundworks Housing Resource Center planning project, a decision on a cell phone tower, and more. Watch on BCTV, and/or read about it here after the meeting.
Remember Emo Philips?
One of a kind and hard to describe. There are lots of short pieces on YouTube, but no full shows. Alas, I give you about 10 minutes with him this week. Go search for additional materials.
Brattleboro’s municipal properties will be receiving energy audits now that an energy-auditing firm has been selected for the task. The Brattleboro Selectboard approved the work to look at 14 different structures, to see what additional work could be done to save money long-term.
The board heard an interesting pair of contrasting presentations regarding a proposed 140 foot cell tower for Putney Road. One presentation showed it to be essential to the life of our community; the other questioned its necessity as proposed.
A new playground structure has been approved for purchase for West River park, town finances are on schedule one month into the fiscal year, and a complaint about a closed pool leads to a discussion of who cut the hours in the first place.
Ready for another “Noticed Around Brattleboro” list? This is you chance to point out things that have caught your eye in recent months.
To get you started, here are a few things I’ve noticed recently:
– New, large Steve Proctor vases at the front door of Brattleboro Savings & Loan to welcome bank customers.
Let’s give a Brit a chance, shall we?
Here’s John Oliver, former Daily Show corespondent and stand-in host, and current star of his own “Last Week Tonight,” on HBO. This performance is his 2008 show “Terrifying Times.”
He’s been doing comedy just about all of his life, starting with being in a comedy troupe at college with David Mitchell (Peep Show) and Richard Aoyade (The IT Crowd).
Playground equipment for the West River Park, muncipal buildings’ energy audits, and a proposed new telecommunications tower for Putney Road are all on the next agenda of the Brattleboro Selectboard, set for Tuesday evening at the Municipal Center on Main Street.
You can attend in person, or watch on BCTV. You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Thanks to everyone who wrote us regarding iBrattleboro being offline.
The quick version of “what happened?” is that we weren’t properly notified that the domain was expiring today, and failed to renew it in advance. That led to quick renewals this morning, and waiting for it to come back online.
So, thanks for asking and welcome back. (We’re going to switch domain registrars.)
The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting Tuesday evening to consider and endorse the work of the NEA Our Town Arts Screening Committee, as well as to award a bid for the Green Street retaining wall work to be done.
The meeting wasn’t televised, though, so your report is based on their meeting materials.
According to meeting materials…
I’ve been reading about the early days of computers ((‘Turing’s Cathedral,’ by George Dyson) and one thing has struck methat I hadn’t considered before: we’re creating the digital DNA and artificial intelligence of future digital entities. Everything we have done with computers since their inception adds to the collective “being” of the next generation, allowing an evolving and increasingly complex core to develop over time.
An example: The very first instructions in code were for simple tasks, such as adding or subtracting. Those tiny sequences continue to be preserved today in every digital device made.
Here is Bo Burnham in his one-person show, called “what.”
I stumbled upon him just today, after reading a positive shout-out from Ten Rose, who proclaimed Burnham a possible 21st century George Carlin. As such, I’ve only seen a few minutes of his performance, but it was enough to give him the spotlight this week.
Bo seems to immerse himself in a mix of theater, music, and humor. Did I mention music?
Brattleboro has a connection with the famous art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The guard on duty that night lives here.
:
Mr. Abath, now 49 and living in Brattleboro, Vt., where he works as a teacher’s aide, could not be reached for comment. But he has long denied any role in the heist. Reached by phone on Thursday his wife, Diane, said, “I can’t deal with this right now,” and hung up.
I thought it might be handy to have a list that highlights all of the project proposals submitted for the Our Town grant. The Screening Committee is almost done narrowing this list, and the Selectboard will be authorizing 12 or 13 of these to prepare more detailed responses.
Here’s a quick look at the full list of 35 proposal submitted, and . Which ones inspire you the most?
Artists wondering if they are finalists in the Our Town selection process will be waiting one more week for the final decision of the board, pending the review of one more legit-but-overlooked proposal. The Brattleboro Selectboard will approve the list of finalists at a meeting next week.
Instead, the board was given an overview of the selection process thus far, and a glimpse of the work of the Screening Committee. They approved the Brooks Memorial Library Trustees request to restore lost library hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, approved of a plan to fine local businesses, and accepted what is likely to be the last in a series of radiologically-related grants funded by Entergy.
It has been a while since I have read news of a circus tent being blown down.
Yesterday, as some rather violent thunderstorms passed north of us, hundreds of people were inside a circus tent in New Hampshire enjoying a performance by the Walker Bros. circus. According to one report I saw, the wind came up, poles began lifting up and everything came crashing down. There were two deaths and many injuries.
It reminded me of .
As many people know, I like baking. The one aspect of it that makes me nervous, more than anything, is working with chocolate. It’s a finicky ingredient. It melts when you touch it, is very sensitive to temperature, and water will make it freeze up.
When I find easy ways of using chocolate to get great results, I’m thrilled. Just recently I took a break from summer pie-making to make a yellow cake with a chocolate frosting, and tried something new that I’d like to share.
I’m about to teach you a very simple but dangerously effective recipe for a fudge-like chocolate frosting.
This is David Cross in his HBO special, The Pride is Back. Perhaps you know him from Mr. Show, or Arrested Development. Or Waiting for Guffman, or Space Ghost. He gets around.
He was a first investor in Kickstarter. Went to Emerson College in Boston, too.
The NEA Our Town Grant Screening Committee has chosen finalists, and their list of screened proposals will be reviewed and approved by the by Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting, enabling the project to move to the next phase.
Brooks Memorial Library hours will be restored on Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons, the board will accept a grant, and allow the Assessors to fine more local businesses. You can bring up other items that aren’t on the agenda during Public Participation.
