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Too Big To Fail?

by RDavis | Health

Three years ago Vermont started an experiment to try to improve the quality of health care and to lower costs. A for-profit entity called One Care was created and, from the start, the organization’s complexity and lack of transparency has been an issue.

Those problems surfaced in a recent public hearing before the Green Mountain Care Board, the entity that has regulatory control over One Care. One Care is proposing a budget of $1.43 billion. Those funds come from insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid and private insurers and are then funneled directly to hospitals and providers.

Camino Pilgrimage Path Across Spain is Topic of Library Presentation

by Not Signed In | Travel

The experience of walking Spain’s thousand-year-old pilgrimage trail will be the focus of a talk and slideshow at Brattleboro’s Books Memorial Library on November 12, 2019, at 7:00 pm. The library is at 224 Main Street in Brattleboro, VT.

The slideshow and discussion will be led by Betsy Bates, Cicely Carroll, and Bob Lawson of Dummerston and Putney.

VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 11-4 to 11-8

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438

Mon – liver & onions, mashed potato, gravy & veg

Opening Week for the Winter Farmers’ Market

by Sherry | Food

The Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market opens its 14th season on Saturday, November 2nd once again in the C. F. Church Building at 80 Flat St in downtown Brattleboro. After the last outdoor market in October, fans of the famous summer farmer’s market in West Brattleboro, can simply follow many of their favorite vendors indoors to the only weekly farmers market in the region. The Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday, 10- 2, November through March.

Visitors will find plenty of farms and local produce, and this great location provides easy convenient parking and a spacious market where we can adequately serve both our vendors and customers. Most weeks, market visitors will find over 2 dozen vendors, including many favorites from past seasons and some new faces as well.

It’s Not Happening Here

by RDavis | Health

An October 18 article on the Medscape web site titled, “Over 700 Doctors Paid More Than $1 Million by Drug, Medical Device Companies”, got me to wondering about how our local doctors compare to some of their greedy counterparts in other areas of the country.

The article noted that, “Back in 2013, ProPublica detailed what seemed a stunning development in the pharmaceutical industry’s drive to win the prescription pads of the nation’s doctors: In just four years, one doctor had earned $1 million giving promotional talks and consulting for drug companies; 21 others had made more than $500,000. Six years later — despite often damning scrutiny from prosecutors and academics — such high earnings have become commonplace.”

Nov. 2 Hike to Historic Sites on Athens Dome

by Rosalyn Shaoul | Recreation & Sports

Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association (WHPA) will be leading a walk to the historic sites on WHPA properties in Athens and Grafton on Saturday, Nov.2 from 12:30-3:30.

These historic sites connected with the mining of soapstone include the remains of a mill, slag heap, boarding house for the workers, barn for the oxen, and multiple quarries cuts in the land. While mining there ceased in the early 1900s, there is interesting evidence remaining of this historic industry. Early Grafton pioneers first discovered and quarried this deposit of soapstone in 1784, carving pieces into household items such as foot and hand warmers, ink wells, and hearthstones.

VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 10/28 to 11/1

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438

Mon – Salisbury steak, mashed potato, gravy & veg

Beware of Medicare Advantage

by RDavis | Health

Anyone who is 65 years or older is most likely receiving notices about changing their Medicare plan by postal mail, e-mail or through a variety of other media. Medicare open enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7 and anyone enrolled in either traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan can switch coverage. New coverage would begin on January 1, 2020.

It is important to understand the history of the Medicare Advantage program. In 2003 President Bush signed into law changes to the Medicare program that included the creation of Part D Medicare which turned out to be a financial bonus for American pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Free Talk and Open House at Our Energy Efficient Straw Bale Home on Saturday

by Chad Mathrani | Home & Garden

Over the last five years or so – through open houses, tours, and educational events – hundreds of members of the Brattleboro Community have visited our home under construction in West Brattleboro. We are once again opening it to the public in hopes of sharing our journey, learning from visitors and sharing what we know about local and natural materials, energy-efficient building practices, and working in the building field.

VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 10-21 to 10-25

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-043

Is There Anything More Important?

by RDavis | Living

While there may be many items currently on the federal legislative agenda, there is nothing more important than impeachment that results in removing Trump from office. It should be clear, to what I believe is a majority of Americans and world citizens, that the U.S. president is displaying an escalating level of mental health instability putting this country and the world at risk for catastrophic consequences. The erratic swings in the U.S. stock market often reflect the damage Trump causes by his impulsive actions.

Moose Sighting in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Nature

On Friday October 11, 2019 I encountered a bull moose off the beaten trail of some woods in Brattleboro.  Earlier in the week on Monday, I had seen the same moose, or perhaps a different one, in the exact same location.  Before I saw the moose, I had encountered a pile of his fresh poop, and marveled over how each piece was the size of an acorn! 

VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 10-14 to 10-18

by Not Signed In | Health

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-043

Hoping For A Camaraderie of Justice

by RDavis | Activism

There is a new kind of camaraderie that has developed among people who feel that standards of justice, morality and fair play have been lowered to an unconscionable level by Donald Trump. Those lower standards have not only affected Americans but they have colored political activity throughout the world. Hopefully, once Trump is out of power, those standards will be somewhat restored.

The new comrades of the 21st century have created something akin to a massive support group because they feel the need to share their pain. Many have resorted to professional therapists, and if anecdotal evidence is close to statistical fact, the number of people who have sought therapy since Trump was elected has risen significantly.