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Governor Scott Announces Vermont Economic Relief and Recovery Package

by Not Signed In | State News

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today announced a $400 million economic relief and recovery package, using funds from the $1.25 billion the state received from the Federal CARES Act. 

The two-phase proposal, which is expected to be the first of multiple packages necessary to fully recover, will start with $310 million for immediate emergency relief to the most impacted sectors and businesses to be followed by $90 million in long-term recovery investments.

“The relief and recovery package we are proposing today, takes bold action to bring support to Vermonters in need, as we continue to manage this public health crisis and open the economy back up,” said Governor Scott. “We are looking to address the immediate cash needs of businesses so they can survive, while also laying the foundation for our economy to emerge stronger and thrive over the long term. These local businesses and their employees drive our economy, put food on the tables of Vermonters and help fund critical needs for families, public schools and so much more. We must step up and act quickly to help them survive this emergency and go on to thrive in the future.”

Brattleboro Emergency Order- Wearing Face Coverings Required

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard issued an Emergency Order at its meeting last night requiring that face coverings be worn by all employees, customers, and visitors in any store, office, or other indoor setting where business is conducted. This requirement is effective immediately and applies equally to businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental facilities anywhere in Brattleboro. The Selectboard made this decision after a lengthy discussion that included substantial public input on the GoToMeeting platform where Selectboard meetings are currently being held without any specific physical location due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Here is the full text of the resolution that the Selectboard adopted to issue this order: 

Be it resolved by the Selectboard of the Town of Brattleboro, Vermont, as follows: 

Infected

by tomaidh | Books

BenjaminFulford.net is a geopolitical news and discussion website from Canadian-born reporter and investigative journalist Benjamin Fulford, now residing in Japan.

According to Fulford, his reports are based on information from a broad range of sources including the yakuza, MI6, the Freemasons, the CIA, the KGB, Mossad, the triads, the Chinese government, Japanese military intelligence, etc.

Get your Sunflower Seeds at Brooks Memorial Library!!!

by Brooks Memorial Library | Home & Garden

Brooks Memorial Library is part of the Growing Hope Campaign!

Come to the Main Street library entrance from 10AM – 5PM, Monday – Saturday, up a sign that says sunflowers, growing hope, or even a picture of a sunflower and we will give you a packet of seeds for you to plant! You can also request seeds when you order items through our curbside service.

The Growing Hope Campaign is a partnership between Brooks Memorial Library and Building a Positive Community in Brattleboro, to distribute sunflower seeds to people who would like to have some hope growing, wherever they are. You can now get sunflowers from Brooks Memorial Library, with curbside pickup. Packets may also be found at the tiny libraries on Spruce Street, Coombs Street, and near the Oak Grove School. Please let us know if they have run out!

Brattleboro Committee Virtual Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Traffic Safety Committee will meet on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 8:00am.  In keeping with Governor Scott’s “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order, this meeting will be held with no physical location using GoToMeeting.  A copy of the agenda is attached and it contains information about how to access the meeting remotely.  

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 1:30pm.  In keeping with Governor Scott’s “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order, this meeting will be held with no physical location using GoToMeeting.  A copy of the agenda is attached and it contains information about how to access the meeting remotely.  

Live Stream – Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Terri Lyne Carringont & Social Science

by vtjazz | Music

The Vermont Jazz Center is excited to present an online event on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th with drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science.  The activities will be livestreamed from the VJC’s website at www.vtjazz.org beginning at 8:00 pm on Saturday and continuing Sunday, May 24th, from 2:00 – 5:00 PM. Saturday will feature a musical presentation and Sunday will be three separate masterclasses including Q&As with audience members.

The core of Social Science is Carrington on drums, pianist Aaron Parks and guitarist Matthew Stevens. This trio is expanded to a sextet on their recent double-length recording, Waiting Game, and, at the VJC event, will include multi-instrumentalist Morgan Guerin on bass and saxophone, as well as vocalists Kassa Overall and Debo Ray.

BCTV Schedules, Week of 5/18/20

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 / 1075 schedule for the week of 5/18/20

Monday, May 18, 2020

4:30 am Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium Virtual Learning – ‘”What’s the Matter” with Bobby Farlice-Rubio’
5:15 am Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium Virtual Learning – ‘At Home Science’ (Grades K-2)
5:30 am The Social Distance Reading Series – Kathryn Nuernberger 3/24/2020
6:00 am Groundworks Collaborative – Camp for a Common Cause 5/1/2020

Brattleboro Water Department’s Annual Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2019

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro Water Department’s annual Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2019 is now available. This report can be viewed on-line at https://www.brattleboro.org/ccreport or printed copies are available at the Brattleboro Municipal Center in the Town Manager’s Office or Town Clerk’s Office or at the Department of Public Works, Brooks Memorial Library, Tri Park CO–OP Office, and the Guilford Country Store.  Questions about this report can be addressed to the Department of Public Works at 254-4255

You Are Doomed. Congratulations!

by cgrotke | Creative

Class of 2020, welcome to your virtual commencement address. Please mute your microphones.

You don’t need me to tell you that the Class of 2020 is like no other. A world locked down over a virus caused your senior year to go off the rails. 

Some of you were probably happy to get out of classes and in-person tests, but you were denied the reward that every other senior before you received for faithfully attending school for so many years – the joy of the final countdown to graduation.

Surveillance Cameras

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

The attached image illustrates surveillance cameras installed in a street in Communist China. Fortunately we live in a free country where such things don’t exist (except on Main Street in Brattleboro).

Town of Brattleboro COVID-19 Response Status May 16, 2020 12:30pm

by Not Signed In | Town News

 WHAT IS NEW TODAY 

• The Recreation and Parks Department has received many questions about the usage of Town parks facilities by people from outside of Brattleboro. Recreation officials all over Vermont have received many similar questions. In the Governor’s “Stay Home – Stay Safe” addendum issued on Friday, May 15, he clarified earlier instructions regarding limits on day travel to Vermont from out of state. 

Divided We Fall

by RDavis | Activism

As the pandemic evolved there seemed to be hope for a unified effort to combat a common enemy. Despite the political polarization in the United States, it did seem possible that we might be able to cast aside some of the “us vs them” mentality to join forces and minimize the death and destruction that the COVID 19 pandemic is causing.

Instead, we have business as usual. The U.S. president is displaying more and more signs and symptoms of progressive mental illness. Everything is about him and, if you don’t agree with his unfounded recommendations about dealing with the virus, then he will punish you by withholding support and supplies from your state.

VT Governor Scott Extends State of Emergency; Updates Orders

by Not Signed In | State News

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today signed Addendum 14, a Be Smart, Stay Safe order to extend the State of Emergency to June 15 and update previous emergency orders to reflect re-openings and eased restrictions announced in recent weeks.

State data and modeling indicate the spread of COVID-19 continues to slow and Vermont now has one of the lowest 3-day and 7-day growth rates in the country. The Governor and Department of Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, however, continue to caution that the state must also consider neighboring states where the virus is much more prevalent and outbreaks are still occurring.

“Vermonters have stepped up in a time of crisis, following guidance from the beginning to quickly slow the spread and keep our health care system from being overwhelmed. These efforts have saved hundreds and hundreds of lives and given us time to build the testing and tracing capacity we need to contain future outbreaks,” said Governor Scott. “The important thing to remember is that the smarter we are about our individual actions, and the more disciplined everyone can be during each step forward, the more steps we’ll be able to take to safely restart Vermont.”

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 19, 2020

by cgrotke | Town News

COVID-19, and the Utilities Fund, will be the primary focus of the next regular, virtual meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The FY20 year-end budget will be reviewed, a new treasurer will be appointed, they will discuss the parking budget, and Brattleboro will apply for some grants. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during virtual public participation.

Time To Consider the Essential

by melevav | Spiritual

As the viral pandemic of 2020 reached American shores, certain clear actions were required. Life is worth living, so it must be preserved! Those in positions of public responsibility bear the weight of decision-making. Our survival depends on their just policies. How would human lives be best safe-guarded? How would vital services necessary for our well-being be maintained while simultaneously curtailing public gatherings? A virus needs time to spread from person to person, ensuring its deadly existence.

Brattleboro Area Hospice’s Taking Steps Brattleboro Online Q&A

by Not Signed In | Health

Brattleboro, Vermont.  May 20, 2020 10 -11 am Brattleboro Area Hospice’s Taking Steps Brattleboro (TSB) program will host a zoom Advance Care Planning/Advance Directive Question and answer Information session. If you are interested in attending, please contact Don Freeman by email: don.freeman@brattleborohospice.org  or calling 802.257.0775 ext 101 and leave your contact information so that you can receive the emailed zoom invitation and/or telephone call-in number.  

Interested people are encouraged to attend this informational session to ask questions about how to complete or update an Advance Directive for healthcare including where do I find the forms, who should be named as an healthcare agent, who do I give the completed form to, and how do I talk with my family about my healthcare wishes if I am unable to speak for myself? Anyone over 18 years old should have a completed Advance Directive. This is the third weekly zoom informational session, which will be held each Wednesday from 10-11 am through June 24, 2020.

Andre Jaeger Appointed as Brattleboro Finance Director

by Not Signed In | Town News

Town Manager Peter Elwell has announced the appointment of Andre Jaeger to be the Town’s new Finance Director. Jaeger’s first day with the Town will be on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. 

Jaeger comes to the Town of Brattleboro from Keene State College, where he was the Budget Director. That position was eliminated on May 1, 2020, as part of the college’s reducing and restructuring its administration and support staff. Prior to working at the college, Jaeger had 3 years of experience as a tax associate with the accounting firm of PriceWaterhouse Coopers and 16 years of audit and financial management experience with private companies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including 6 years at the headquarters of C+S Wholesale Grocers in Keene. He earned a BA in Economics and Accounting from the University of Massachusetts and is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts. He also is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Fraud Examiner.