On Thursday, December 8th, at 5:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will host its annual Holiday Party at Dalem’s Chalet, 78 South Street. This is a time for people and businesses in West Brattleboro to get together socially and to celebrate the Association’s numerous accomplishments in this past year. The evening will feature a cash bar with hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant. The WBA suggests a voluntary donation of $5 toward the food, although no one will be turned away.
In addition to this being a time to enjoy each other during this festive season, there will be a couple of short presentations. The Association’s board president Michael Bosworth will give a brief “state of the Association” report after which the group will present the West Brattleboro Community Leader of the Year Award to a deserving person or entity. Come to the party to help us celebrate this worthy recipient! Previous winners have been the staff and board of Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center, Bill and Judy Daley of the Vermont Country Deli, Ahmad and Kat Rashed of Rashed’s Garden Center, the staff and board of the Brattleboro Housing Authority, and Todd Darrah of the Chelsea Royal Diner, each for their many contributions to our community.
The West Brattleboro Association exists “to promote the thoughtful and effective evolution of the community of West Brattleboro as a place that is safe, healthy, attractive, and prosperous.” Our vision includes: a village that is safe and walk-able and that provides products, services, and social opportunities needed daily by its residents; a Marlboro Road that takes full advantage of being a “Gateway to Southern Vermont”, marketing the best in local products and goods and services for the Vermont Lifestyle; and an environment where small businesses and other organizations of all kinds can sprout and put down roots.
In the past year the WBA has launched a new initiative called “BizUp West B”, with quarterly networking meetings, decoration of the Chamber Window, and the beginnings of a push to help market the vacant commercial spaces in the village center and on Marlboro Road. The association penned a “Welcome Letter” and is now sending it to new households. Members continued to keep the village green looking beautiful, with barrels of seasonal flowers. The WBA also conducted a neighborhood safety survey on drugs, continued to lead Green-Up Day in West B, and ran two chicken barbeques as fund raisers. Also, finally, two “Welcome to West Brattleboro” signs were installed, for motorists heading into to the village from both Rte 9 directions. And the association was successful in getting its very first grant, $2,000 from the Thomas Thompson Trust, for support of its Neighborhoods mini-grant program!
The regular meetings (generally held on the second Thursday of the month) are open to all those interested in West Brattleboro, with the next meeting scheduled for January 12th, 2017. Come celebrate with us at our holiday party on Dec. 8th and plan to come to a regular meeting to see what we’re up to! Contact Michael Bosworth at mlb@sover.net to find out more.
To West B
An annual congratulations to the West B Association – a real model of what neighbors can do within town limits for the area they enjoy most. Years of hard work is paying off, and the results are starting to add up.
Nice work, all!
Who will start the Tree Streets Association? : ) (Goals including stopping drummers from being heard in neighboring homes every day, and replacing the big trees cut down over the last 20 years.)