SeVWA’s 2016 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Continued July 7th

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) had its second day of its monitoring program for the summer of 2016 on Wednesday, July 7th. Volunteers will be collected samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams and will continue to do so every other week through the end of August. This year, we have sites on the West River, Rock River, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Williams River (including South Branch and Middle Branch), Saxtons River, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.


Brattleboro Area Hospice to offer “2nd Thursdays in the Memorial Garden” on July 14th

Brattleboro, VT. A brief community memorial service will take place on Thursday July 14th from 5:30-6:00 at the Hospice Memorial Garden located at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro. The short program will consist of readings of inspirational poems and brief reflections on grief and loss, an opportunity to decorate a memorial stone to place in the garden or take home, and some quiet time to enjoy the beauty of the garden. Everyone is invited to this free event.

This new offering from Brattleboro Area Hospice is called “2nd Thursdays in the Memorial Garden”, and it will be repeated on August 11th and September 8th. The facilitator is Connie Baxter, BAH Bereavement Care Coordinator.


Brattleboro Senior Meals Breakfast Menu

JULY BREAKFAST MENUS

July 1st – Whole Wheat Pancakes, Syrup, Sausage,  Fruit, Yogurt, Juice, Coffee.

July 5th – Green Eggs & Ham, Home Fries, Fruit, Yogurt, Juice, Coffee

July 7th   – Cheese Omelets w/Tomato, Onions & Peppers, Home Fries, Fruit, Juice, Yogurt Parfait , Coffee


75th New Brook Horse Show to be held Saturday, 2 July 2016

(Brookline, Vermont) — Southern Vermont’s oldest horse show will be held Saturday, July 2 at West River Stables At Meadowbrook Farm, 102 Hill Road. The first class starts at 9 a.m., rain or shine. Admission is free to this family-friendly event and spectators are encouraged to root for their favorites from ringside. Refreshments will be served by the New Brook Fire Department Auxiliary and all show profits will benefit the New Brook volunteer fire department which serves Newfane and Brookline.


While We Still Have One

Let’s say Trump is elected and his first meeting with Kim Jong-un goes terribly wrong. The belligerence on both sides reach unprecedented levels. The kid, feeling threatened, decides to lob an ICBM over the polar icecap towards Manhattan, but misses. Instead, it accidentally explodes over downtown Brattleboro during the school year just after lunch recess. In March 2013, the boastful “Supreme Leader” threatened the United States with a preemptive nuclear attack. He is known to have tested a 10 kiloton nuclear weapon to “reliably defend the sovereignty and the dignity of the nation.”

If you’re a student anywhere within the full five-mile radius of a 10 kiloton air burst, you probably won’t be needing your school books anymore.


Jewish School in Brattleboro Welcomes New Students

It’s not too late to register children in the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community Hebrew School. Congregation Shir Heharim (Song of the Mountains), the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, offers a once-a-week religious school for youngsters from the age six up to thirteen or older.  The school offers a vibrant child-centered program that teaches Hebrew language studies as well as songs, stories, prayers, holiday observances, customs and traditions, history, current events, and all things Jewish.  Students can begin school at the age of six.  Anyone who is planning to become a bar- or bat-mitzvah must be enrolled for a minimum of two years.


SeVWA’s 2016 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Began June 22nd

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) began its monitoring program for the summer of 2016 on Wednesday, June 22nd. Volunteers will be collecting samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams every other week through the end of August. This year, we have sites on the West River, Rock River, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Williams River (including South Branch and Middle Branch), Saxtons River, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.

          Escherichia coli, more commonly known as E. coli, is a bacterium that is found in the guts of all warm blooded animals, including humans. Most E. coli will not make a person sick, but sometimes they can become pathogenic which means they can cause illness. Additionally, the presence of E. coli in waters acts as an indicator for the presence of other, more difficult to test for pathogens. We publish our results to the public in order to help everyone make informed decisions about recreating in Vermont’s waters.


Wondering About Westgate

Does anybody know how much the rent is for an apartment at Westgate? I am thinking about moving back to Brattleboro and am trying desperately to find affordable housing, if any exists there besides maybe the Co-op building.


Host a Spanish Teen This Summer

Expand your family’s horizons this summer by welcoming a student from Spain into your home through the STEP-to-U.S.A. program. The boys and girls, who range in age from 14 to 17, will arrive on June 25 and spend 3 1/2 weeks in New England, departing on July 20.

The students are all from the Basque region of Spain and are at an intermediate English level. Host families provide a warm and safe home environment for the student, as well as meals and transportation to a meeting spot on the days there are field trips ( Boston and Six Flags–host families are invited to come along).


Lost dog? – Mt Wantastiquet, Tues., 6/14/16

My neighbor and I live across the river on Wantastiquet Dr in Brattleboro, and we both heard a dog howling in distress on Mt. Wantastiquet. We weren’t sure if he/she was hurt or lost, but realized it was most likely lost when we heard the howling move further away towards the NH side. 

We first heard the howling on the VT side of the mtn. at about 8:30pm. 


Purchase Info Request II

In the vein of a recent post to iBratt, does anyone have information on how to dispell a curse or a hex, from a Voodoo doll or otherwise?  Some may see this as a frivolous request but it is not.  Confirmation that there is, indeed, a curse applied would hopefully be part of the protocol.


Brunch in Guilford Sunday

Broad Brook Grange will present its 20th annual Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday, June 19, from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Grange hall in Guilford Center.  The proceeds from the event support maintenance of the historic building.

The all-you-can-eat brunch features eggs and omelettes, any style, made to order.  Also on the menu are  pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon and home fries, with Guilford maple syrup.  Other treats include home-baked coffee cakes and other baked goods, fresh fruit salad, and bread for toasting.  A selection of juices will be available, along with coffee, teas and milk.


LGBTQ Community Vigil for Orlando

Green Mountain Crossroads is organizing a vigil this (Monday) evening at 7PM at The Root Social Justice Center for LGBTQ-identified people who want to come together to grieve, share, support each other, and be together.

We will have peer listeners on hand for folks needing/wanting one-on-one support. We will also have some light food and candles.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/591797724323154/ and here: facebook.com/greenmountaincrossroads

Contact Green Mountain Crossroads (info@greenmountaincrossroads.org) for more info or with questions. Let’s hold each other up today.


Rainmaker Wanted

This optical illusion speaks volumes to me. As it turned out, “the arrow” points to a skatepark that I came upon in my travels. It was so well done, so evolved in terms of progression and accessibility and fun, I was again reminded of what a tremendous resource it is for an area. To see the joy offered to kids of every age, even for the youngest, was inspiring.

Upon returning to Brattleboro, it was with some dismay that I saw we did not become a finalist for one of the Artplace grants, the windfall that was hoped to be the penny drop from heaven that would end our drought, and prime the pump.


Ways to Think about and Talk about Addiction: A Community Conversation on Stigma

The Community Opioid Response Committee Present, Ways to Think about and Talk about Addiction: A Community Conversation on Stigma, moderated by Geoffrey Kane, MD, MPH.

The Community Opioid Response is a collaboration between various community partners including VT Dept. of Health, Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition, Turning Point Recovery Center, Nar-anon Family Groups, Brattleboro Retreat and concerned community members.