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Sanders and Vermont Religious Leaders Address Wealth and Income Inequality

by Not Signed In | State News

BURLINGTON, Vt., June 20 – Vermont religious leaders joined U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today to address the moral implications of extreme wealth and income inequality.

Bishop Thomas Ely, the Rev. Dr. Lynn Bujnak, Monsignor Roland Rivard and Rabbi Joshua Chasan joined Sanders to emphasize that increasing wealth and income inequality in the United States is one of the great moral issues of our time and is undermining the fabric of our nation.

Congressman Welch Joins Overwhelming House Vote To End Some NSA Activities

by cgrotke | Politics

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch voted in favor of defund some of the NSA’s spying on innocent Americans yesterday. He added his support to a bill that stops the backdoor searches of information collected under the Section 702 program and blocks the NSA from mandating that tech companies add backdoors in their software or hardware.

The Senate and White House will need to approve, but a vote of 293-123 shows that the House, at least, is ready to curtail some of the NSA’s unnecessary activities. It’s the first time that Congress has acted to defund NSA activities since Edward Snowden gave documents to journalists just over a year ago. It’s a pretty solid vote, too, across party lines.

Oil Speculators Use Iraq as Excuse to Drive Up Prices – Sanders’ Bill Would Invoke Regulators’ Emergency Powers

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, June 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today accused oil companies and Wall Street speculators of using unrest in Iraq as a phony excuse to artificially drive up crude oil and gasoline prices.

The price of oil today rose above $115 a barrel – a new nine-month high on the New York Mercantile Exchange – ostensibly because of concerns that sectarian violence in Iraq could cut off the country’s exports. The price of regular gasoline rose to $3.67 a gallon today, up a nickel in the past month. That was despite the fact that today there is more supply and less demand for gasoline than five years ago, when the average price of a gallon of gas was just $2.67 a gallon.

Brattleboro Police Chief Search – Community Committee

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

In recognition of the fact that everyone is a legitimate stakeholder when it comes to public safety, a committee of citizens is being formed to participate in candidate interviews as one step in the overall process of hiring the next police chief. The Town Manager’s Office will be accepting letters of interest from motivated members of the public for participation in the Police Chief Search – Community Committee.

Vermont Economic Development Authority Public Meeting for Revolving Loan Fund

by Not Signed In | State News

On Thursday, July 10, 2014, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) will hold a public hearing from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., in the Select Board Meeting Room, Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro.

The purpose of the public meeting is to take public comment on utilizing a portion of the $10 million made available through the MOU between the State of Vermont and Entergy Vermont Yankee to establish a Windham County Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) administered by VEDA. The RLF would be part of the Windham County Economic Development Program under development by ACCD to implement the MOU.

The Great American Drug War: “A Problem That Will Not Go Away”

by Vidda | Op/Ed

Getting inebriated is an intentional human behavior — it is not a mistake or an accident. Neither is it a mental health crisis. It is, in fact, perfectly normal human behavior well within the range of good mental health. Just like the drugs themselves, it is a question of degree (or percentage) of usage and effect.

Deeply ingrained in the desired effects of drug use is another perfectly normal human behavior: Moderation. In fact, moderation is the largest component of drug use behavior. It represents the behavior of up to 85-95% of all human drug use (…with one glaring exception – cigarettes, which run roughly at a 98-100% addiction rate).

Beware Of A Legal Hospital Scam Called “Observation Care”

by SK-B | Health

Hospitals can keep patients overnight — even for several nights — for “observation care” without telling the patient that they are officially an out-patient, even though they are in a hospital bed. Medicare patients can then be surpised to receive high bills which which are not covered, but should have been if they had been an in-patient. 

It is unconscionable — but unfortunately not so unusual — that at at a time of greatest vulnerability, a patient is on their own to defend themselves against a powerful institution. Here is a link to an article which warns patients who are kept overnight at a hospital that it is essential to verify exactly what their patient status is, since the hospital is not required to tell them.

Brattleboro’s Calamity – The First National Bank Ruined

by cgrotke | History

If you were alive in 1880, you may have been attracted to the following story in the newspaper: one of the three local banks left in ruins after the bank president skipped town after being discovered forging accounts.

It was a massive and stunning crime, as evident from this coverage in The Phoenix. Read on for an amazing story of Brattleboro banks, lawyers, investigators, detectives, and people who lost everything, today in history.

Dublin in Song and Story with Tom O’Carroll: Fund Raising Concert

by Brooks Memorial Library | Music

Get your tickets NOW for a great evening of music! Please join the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library in this fund raising event to celebrate James Joyce and Bloomsday. Dublin in Song and Story with musician and Irish folklorist Tom O’Carroll will be presented on Thursday, June 19, at 7:30 PM, in the Library’s Main Room. 

Dublin born folklorist, folk-singer and instrumentalist Tom O’Carroll brings a wealth of stories, humor, wit and history to his performances. In this program Tom tells the tales and sings the songs of his native city. This capital city on the River Liffey has an abundance of history and colorful characters and Tom will introduce you to some of them. This program is ideal for those interested in Irish Literature.

Social Media Surgery for Non Profits: A Workshop

by Brooks Memorial Library | Business

Join Rob Fish, Nonprofit Advisor and Community Organizer, Vermont Digital Economy Project Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) in a workshop, Social Media Surgery for Non Profits on Wednesday 18 June 2014, 7 pm – 8:30 pm at the Brooks Library. 

Does your organization need help using Facebook or Twitter? At this event, we will be bringing social media experts from around the state to work one on one with area organizations. This won’t be a workshop like any you have attended before.

Created by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) in response to the 2011 floods, the Vermont Digital Economy Project’s mission is to construct more resilient communities, by helping Vermont communities, businesses, and nonprofits better use online tools as a way to speed flood recovery, spur economic development and job growth, and improve community resilience to disasters.

Sanders Votes No as Senate Panel Backs Tar Sands Pipeline

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, June 18 – Over staunch opposition by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 12-10 for the construction of the Keystone Pipeline which would transport oil from the tar sands region in Alberta, Canada, to refineries along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.

Sanders said extracting and refining “the dirtiest oil imaginable” would spew more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and worsen global warming.

Completing the Keystone XL pipeline, he added, would send a signal that the United States is unwilling to lead the way toward reversing global warming.

Missing Child in Brattleboro

by Rolf | Town News

Missing child in Brattleboro.  This was posted to the Reformer at http://www.reformer.com/ci_25983683 There is also a photo of the girl at that link. Here is the text.

“The Brattleboro Police Department is currently attempting to locate a missing juvenile – Margaret Yost, 13, who goes by the nickname of May.

She was last seen at her home at approximately 7:20 p.m. on June 17 when she told her parents she was going out to have some alone time and hasn’t been seen since.

Putney Sweeps Doubleheader To Stay Atop CRVBL, Claremont and Walpole Wild Blue Also Winners

by CRVBL | Recreation & Sports

The Putney Fossils remain undefeated in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League after a doubleheader sweep of the Sunapee Old Lakers, while in other local adult baseball action, the Claremont Cardinals defeated the Brattleboro River Rats, while the Walpole Wild Blue came out on top of its crosstown rival, the Maples.

Putney took the first game of its twin bill by a 6-3 score with RIchard Bissell picking up a complete game win, and Keith Lyman driving in a pair of runs while going two for three at the plate. In the second game, the Fossils romped to an 18 – 6 win that featured a monster offensive performance from Kyle Whitworth who went four for four, including a home run and five runs batted in. Danny Lichtenfeld earned the victory on the mound.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Collective Bargaining Memo Signed, Search For Police Chief Begins

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a memo of understanding which, once filed, will recognize most remaining non-management staff as union members. This makes the fourth group of town employees participating in collective bargaining.

Brattleboro will have a thorough process for finding a new Police Chief, according to plans presented by Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland. If all goes well, the search will result in a new police chief by the end of the summer.

Committee members were appointed, grants enlarged, businesses fined, and more in this relatively short, summer meeting of the Selectboard.

Starting Sunday: A Cappella Workshop for Teens

by Pam Lierle | Music

A Cappella Workshop

Starting Sunday, June 22, the  Brattleboro Music Center will be hosting a 2-week a cappella workshop for teens.  The workshop is led by Keira Carmichael and Riley Goodemote; and focuses on Collegiate Style a cappella arrangements of traditional & popular music, beat boxing and more

Overview:

A fun and musically educational co-ed a cappella camp for teens ranging in age from 13 to 19.  The workshop will cover basic a cappella theory and beat boxing skills.  Participants will prepare at least 5 to 6 songs for live performance. Focus will also be placed on building skills that give students the independence to begin their own groups and lead rehearsals.

The Worst Nuisance – Ziz, Ziz

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Today in Brattleboro, in 1881, the Phoenix reported:

Again we are reminded that one of the worst nuisances is the man who is up at early dawn, making his lawn mower ziz, ziz, rasping the whiskers off the lawn.

I found this interesting, in that it seems to be a frequent, modern-day occurrence as well.

Rescue Inc. Hosts Open House – A Free Event for the Whole Family

by Not Signed In | Town News

BRATTLEBORO, VT—Rescue Inc. will host a community open house and barbecue on Sunday, June 22, 2014 from 11am to 2pm at Rescue Inc.’s headquarters (541 Canal Street) to celebrate nearly 50 years of serving 15 towns in Southeast Vermont and Southwest New Hampshire.

“This is a great time to get to know your emergency first responders up close and personal and see what it takes to be an emergency medical technician or paramedic,” says Drew Hazelton, chief of operations. There will be a variety of Tech Rescue demonstrations, a hi line for folks to ride, bounce house for the kids along with a coloring book station, as well as tours of the ambulances and Rescue’s headquarters. Free blood pressure checks and hands only CPR will also be available.

The Second Annual Southern Vermont Dance Festival Seeks Volunteers, Host Families and Sponsors

by Not Signed In | Arts

BRATTLEBORO, VT—As preparations heat up for this year’s Second Annual Southern Vermont Dance Festival slated to take place July 17- 20 in Brattleboro, Vermont, the organization is seeking volunteers to take care of a variety tasks from pre-event organizing to event set up and clean up to the myriad during-event activities.

Brenda Siegel, executive director of the Festival says, “the Festival couldn’t have pulled off last year’s event without the many, many wonderful volunteers who were ready to pitch in no matter what the task.

Car Keys Lost In/On West River

by BusyMom | West River Valley

While tubing Monday 6/16, discovered their absence about halfway between the Dummerston Covered bridge and the remnants of the old railroad bridge (near the Irving station on Route 30).  2 car keys (for upstream and downstream cars) were double-bagged together inside 2 ziplok bags.  

If you’re swimming or kayaking in this area or downstream and see something floating (or underwater) please grab them and reply to this article…replacement keys are expensive these days, so waterlogged or not, there’ll be a reward!  Don’t divulge details of exactly what you found in your reply, though, save that for private followup for identification.