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

by suzieqtex | Health

Recent news is full of stories about addiction, and not just the reports about arrests and overdoses. The good news is that more and more, we view addiction as a health-care condition, and we understand and support the life-saving measures available to manage the physical dependence. The media reflects this shift in attitude and covers things like new approaches to treatment and recovery; legislative efforts like the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and bills to combat the nation’s opiate crisis to ensure medical support is available to people struggling with substance abuse; more specialized programs, like Vermont’s Hub and Spoke provider system which supports people in medicated-assisted recovery from opiate addiction; programs like pre-trial services that redirect people to treatment rather than court when the situation allows it; and peer-recovery services that help people not only stop destructive behaviors but adopt healthy practices to thrive.

Two Maps – Commuters and Overdoses

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

Couple of Interesting maps for map and big data lovers:

First up is a visualization of how people commute. Go to and set the state and county to Vermont and Windham. You’ll see dots start flying around on the map. You can zoom in, slow things down or speed them up, and adjust the perimeter you are using.

What you’ll see is an animated graphic of showing people going to work and returning home. You’ll also see that the stories of Brattleboro being the hub for Windham County are true, with a rather dramatic shift of people in neighboring towns coming in to Brattleboro to work.

When you are done, go look at a big metropolitan area, such as NY, Boston, or DC.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn presents The Chris Kleeman Band on Sunday, May 29

by Not Signed In | Music

Twilight Music begins its 14th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, May 29 with an evening of hard driving, house rocking, in your face blues by The Chris Kleeman Band. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 21. All concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain. The series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available.

Keith Murphy and Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme at Next Stage on Friday, May 27

by Not Signed In | Music

Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project present Quebecois duo Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme, plus Newfoundland/New England solo balladeer Keith Murphy, for an evening of traditional songs in French and English as well as highly crafted traditional fiddle music at Next Stage on Friday, May 27 at 7:30 pm.

The pairing of Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme with Keith Murphy offers a rare breadth of musical ground, from Keith’s beautifully spare solo songs with elegant guitar accompaniment to the breathtaking level of musical interplay between Yann and Pascal. This twin bill also offers a unique and long awaited chance for these three musicians to explore some musical collaborations based on their shared passion for the music of Quebec.

Brattleboro Memorial Day Closings

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of Memorial Day, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Monday, May 30, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30, 2016. All other violations will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30, 2016.

Bolivian Baroque Archivist to Speak at Organ Barn Concert on May 29

by fomag | Music

Guilford, Vt. – Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG), now in its 50th Anniversary Season, has been presenting a series of programs with Baroque-era works from Bolivia that have been hidden away for centuries. Since presenting the new, the unusual, and the underperformed is a central mission of the organization, this project has been a fitting element of its half-century season.

The third and final event in the series is on Sunday, May 29, at 3 p.m. in the intimate barn at Tree Frog Farm, where FOMAG now hosts concerts on both Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends. Located off Packer Corners Rd. in idyllic rural Guilford, the barn is home to the organization’s c. 1897 Tracker Organ. One of FOMAG’s founders, the late A. Graham Down (1929-2014), purchased the instrument in Maine, moved it to the barn, invested in its restoration and improvements over the years, and performed the first concerts on it.

The Heifers Will Stroll Again In Brattleboro!

by MartinLangeveld | Town News

The 15th annual Strolling of the Heifers Weekend, featuring a parade of flower-bedecked heifer calves led by future farmers up the historic Main Street of Brattleboro, Vermont takes place June 3, 4 and 5. Organizers promise many special surprises for the occasion.

The centerpiece of the weekend is the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade, which starts promptly at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. The signature heifer calves lead the parade and are followed by other farm animals, tractors, bands, floats and much more.

The crowd then follows the parade to the all-day Slow Living Expo to enjoy food, family fun, entertainment and exhibits. The Expo stretches over 11 acres on the Brattleboro Common and the Brattleboro Retreat grounds.

Act 46 Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

ACT 46 STUDY COMMITTEE
Representing the Brattleboro Town School District, Dummerston Town School District,
Guilford Town School District, Putney Town School District and the Vernon Town School District
http://www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF MEETING

The Act 46 Study Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at the Putney Central School.
AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Alice Laughlin, Committee Chair

II. REVIEW, PRIORITIZE AND ESTABLISH DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR MEETING BY CHAIRPERSON.

Final Round of Primaries

by cgrotke | Politics

The primaries are about to wrap up with a series of state results in early June. Time to check in once again with our occasional political commentary series, starring your commentary.

In recent news, Trump is edging ahead of Clinton in head-to-head polls, Clinton has backed out of debating Sanders in California, and Sanders… isn’t being covered much by the mainstream news anymore. If you look hard, Sanders is continuing to attract large crowds, does well in polls against Trump, and is calling out the DNC for being less than fair.

Movie Monday – June

by KathrynT | Entertainment

June Showings

THE MATING GAME

 Movies starring:

June 6th – Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell – 10 am

June 13th – Goldie Hawn, Edward Albert, & Eileen Hacket – 10 am

June 20th – Claudette Colbert, Clark Cable – 10 am

My Prediction (West River Interstate Bridge)

by scrispe | Opinion

You heard it here from me first: my prediction as a citizen observer is that the West River interstate bridge will not be completed until August/September 2020.

That’s with every single last thing done: boths side, lines on the pavement, all construction equipment removed, landscaping done, everything. My prediction is that Labor Day weekend 2020 will be the grand opening completion celebration.

This isn’t a diss to the project, it’s just stating my prediction based on how long it has taken thus far and how far they realistically still have to go, that it won’t be done until Labor Day weekend 2020.

Does This Get the Selectmen’s Juices Flowing?

by DWard | Town Plan

How about the Townspeople of Bratt? 

Written by Michael Knight who advocates living in a Sharing Economy rather than a selfish economy. His facebook page can be found hither: https://www.facebook.com/michaelevknight?fref=nf

“By working TOGETHER and SHARING we can use a lot less vehicles which helps starve the money beast/system more/faster. We could have just 1 fifteen passenger van for every 45-60 people in a town. Members can take turns driving other members around town in the vans as part of their 10 – 20 hours a week for the community.

BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 5/23/2016

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 5/23/16

Monday, May 23, 2016

12:00 am Wabenaki Confederacy Conference

1:00 am Valley Homegrown: Rambling Kind

2:00 am First Wednesdays: Who Stole the American Dream

3:45 am Lit Fest 2015: Ann Beattie

4:30 am FOLA Follies: A Comedy Tonight

Look For The Little Non-GMO Label

by Lise | Food

I probably wouldn’t have noticed if there hadn’t been two of them, but there I was fixing dinner, two cans of food (Tuttorosso tomatoes and Pearls black olives) before me on the counter.  Both sported a little green label that I couldn’t read without my glasses but on which were printed the following words: “Non-GMO Project Verfied.”  What’s this?  A GMO label?  I thought we weren’t allowed to have those.  But no, it’s apparently fine to label your food products as long as it’s not mandatory to do so.

Pride Goeth Before the Fall

by Vidda | Op/Ed

The issue of inclusion has long been a concern of lesbian and gays. Following the gay riots in 1969 it was gay pride that was the focus of the movement. The Gay Liberation Front was the militant group of activist who helped to establish gay rights.In those days many gay people did not believe in bisexuals and oftentimes, like straight people, they denied there was such a thing. Gay pride was born of and lives in a dichotomous, black and white world where gays and straights are the axis of powers.

The struggle for gay rights extended through the Seventies and Eighties. Subsequently, it was gay people who took it upon themselves to add bisexuals to the initialism to create LGBT, in good part because it helped to buff up their numbers. The success of social movements regularly depend on how many thousands or millions they can put into the streets or add to their mailing lists to demonstrate widespread support.

Weekend Creativity Series – Cake Decorating

by cgrotke | Creative

Want to turn an ordinary cake into something a bit more fancy? You must learn to use a piping bag and cake decorating tips! It’s scary and weird the first few times, but you’ll get more comfortable with practice and soon you’ll be able to make any cake look a bit more finished.

Wilton is the company that makes and sells most cake decorating supplies, and they supplied this introductory video. To do some decorating, you’ll need something to hold the frosting (a bag), a variety of tips, a coupler to attach your tips to your bag, and then some practice.

Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:

Agricultural Advisory Board
ADA Committee
Arts Committee
Brattleboro Housing Partnerships
Cemetery Committee
Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC)

The Brattleboro Historical Society Presents: This Week in Brattleboro History Podcast – Fats Waller & Estey Organs

by reginaldwam3 | History

Fats Waller slams it down with Attila Zoller and other jazz luminaries on his Estey organ, from Brattleboro!

In 1927 famous jazz musician and composer Fats Waller recorded the first organ jazz records using a modified Estey Pipe Organ from Brattleboro. This is the story of Fats Waller, the Estey Organ and Brattleboro…