Brattleboro

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Write-In Procedures Questioned; Body Cams Coming

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard began discussing a repeal of a 2011 Town Charter change to stop counting local write-in votes unless the write-in candidate had declared an intention to serve. 

The board heard a semi-annual update from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, approved of paving, police cars, body cameras for police officiers, and disc golf improvements. Snow sports at Living Memorial Park will continue, we have a new road in town, and new members were appointed to committees.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 17, 2018

by cgrotke | Town News

At the next meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard, the police will ask for approval of a contract for body worn cameras. Axon, of Scottsdale, AZ is the proposed vendor.

The board will buy some police cruisers, hear a semi-annual report from the designated downtown organization, approve of grants for disc golf improvements and paving, review goals, and name a road. They will also begin a discussion election write-in procedures, and more.

As always, you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Independent Candidates for Justice of the Peace Filing Deadline

by Not Signed In | Politics

The deadline for filing as an independent candidate for Justice of the Peace is rapidly approaching – Friday, August 17th.  The Town Clerk and current Chairman of the Board of Civil Authority urge you to consider becoming a candidate for Justice of the Peace (JP) on the November ballot.

While a historic back page in the election process and often the subject of humorous anecdote, JPs serve a vital role in the conduct of critical town responsibilities. A JP is a member of the Board of Civil Authority (BCA).  Along with the Selectboard members, and Town Clerk, they function as the Board of Elections by assisting in the maintenance of the voter checklist, determining key issues related to election day and voting, and serve as polling place officials on these days.

Color and Painting Workshop

by jna | Arts

Join us for a week at The Drawing Studio in Brattleboro and learn about yourself as a painter. We will explore color mixing, light, materials, composition and creativity in a clear and integrated way. During our lunch breaks, we will look at painters from art history who loved what we will be learning about.
For absolute beginners or painters looking to revisit the fundamentals in an inspiring and whole-hearted way.

Former Brattleboro Rocker On The Magic of Brattleboro

by Lise | Music
King Tuff

Although this story came out (in Fodor’s of all places) almost a year ago, it’s an interesting read and especially so since it’s about our very own Brattleboro, Vermont.  “The Magic of Brattleboro, Vermont, According to King Tuff,” by interviewer Rachael Roth, describes our town through the eyes of a young musician who was raised here and still maintains strong ties to the area.  is his name, and he makes good music, if you haven’t heard him already.  He’s signed to the major indie label Sub Pop Records out of Seattle.

Women Run Brattleboro

by cgrotke | Town News

With Sue Fillion’s appointment to become Planning Director, I got to thinking about just how many women are in key postions of Town government. I took a look. The majority of town offices in Brattleboro now have women heading them.

Town Assessor – Jenepher Burnell
Library – Starr Latronica

Sue Fillion Promoted to Planning Director in the Town of Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town News

Sue Fillion will succeed Rod Francis as Planning Director for the Town of Brattleboro. The transition will take place on Friday, July 6, as Francis completes his service to the Town of Brattleboro after more than 10 years as Planning Director. Francis will hold a comparable position in the Town of Norwich, Vermont, beginning on Monday, July 9. 

Selectboard Meeting Notes:  Brattleboro Municipal Property Tax Rate at $1.2762, Project CARE Community Cookout Announced

by cgrotke | Town News

Taxes are going up, as they always seem to do. The Brattleboro Selectboard adopted the FY19 tax rates for property owners that were approved by Representative Town Meeting representatives earlier this year.  The $14.8 million budget includes both the essential items suggested by the Selectboard as well as some optional extras added in by the representatives.

There’s also a new community collaboration that you can be a part of. Project Care is a new effort in Brattleboro to help addicts recover and do well.

And, in case you are curious, setting the tax rate during a heat wave calls for casual attire.

Things To Remember In Hot Weather

by BrattFireDept | Police & Fire

The Brattleboro area continues to be under a heat advisory as hot weather continues to have a grip on the region. The National Weather Service is forecasting much of the same through out the rest of the week and warn that heat and humidity will lead to dangerously high heat indices in excess of 100 degrees.

It’s So Hot In Brattleboro…

by cgrotke | Nature

…Brattleboro chickens are laying omlettes and the cows are giving powdered milk.

It’s day three of the heat wave. The forecast shows 90+ degree days all week until Friday, with heat indexes even higher. As I type this, there is a Heat Advisory, Hazardous Weather Outlook, and Air Quality Alert underway.

A Brattleboro History Exhibit

by cgrotke | History

I thought it might be fun to tell you about a project (in-progress!) I’m working on with the Brattleboro Historical Society. It’s an exhibit all about Brattleboro that will be on display at the Vermont Historical Society in Montpelier, from August to January.

BHS hired me on to do exhibit design and project manage, two things I enjoy doing. I also love Brattleboro history.

Early Voting in Brattleboro, Voter Registration and Town Clerk Hours

by Not Signed In | Politics

Early/absentee ballots for the Primary Election to be held on August 14, are now available in Vermont town clerks’ offices.  Anyone wishing to vote prior to August 14, may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13.   Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person in the clerk’s office, mailed to the voter by the clerk’s office, picked up by the voter or if a voter is in need can be delivered to the voter’s residence by two Justices of the Peace.

Help Brattleboro Time Trade

by Dfk-b | Activism

Brattleboro Time Trade www.brattleborotimetrade.org has an opportunity to win a grant WITH YOUR VOTE. Just follow this link:

https://www.mlb.com/redsox/community/impact-awards/form

to the voting page for the Red Sox Foundation’s “Impact Award” – an award which would help BTT regain financial stability:

Inspection of Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridges June 25-29

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

INSPECTION OF NH ROUTE 119 BRIDGES IN HINSDALE, NH – BRATTLEBORO, VT

EXPECT TRAFFIC IMPACTS WITH LANE CLOSURES FROM JUNE 25 TO 29

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announces in-depth inspections of the bridges carrying NH Route 119 over the Connecticut River between Hinsdale, New Hampshire and Brattleboro, Vermont are scheduled to begin Monday, June 25, 2018 and continue through Friday, June 29, 2018.

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

Arts Committee 

Brattleboro Housing Partnership Board of Commissioners 

Cemetery Committee 

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Aggressive Panhandling, Skatepark Design Firm Hired, Francis Moves On

by cgrotke | Town News
sb-jun19

The biggest news of the Tuesday meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard came not from the agenda but introductory remarks. The Town manager announced that Planning Services Director Rod Francis was leaving Brattleboro in the next couple of weeks.

This was followed by an unscheduled but surprisingly active discussion of aggressive panhandling in the downtown area.

Beyond those matters, the skatepark hired a design firm and got some extra cash, contracts and grants were approved, the utility budget passed, a long resolution was adopted, and more.

Guess What? CBD Actually Works

by Lise | Health
CBD salve

You’ve probably heard of CBD by now if you’re not already using it. It’s that new hemp product containing non-psychoactive the cannabinoid Cannabidiol that people are taking for inflammation and stress. As a recent convert myself, I thought I’d offer my experience treating long-term chronic neck and shoulder pain with CBD Oil. The short version is simply this: it works.

When I say chronic, I mean that the pain in my neck (I know) has been there since at least 2005 when I started doing yoga in an effort to relieve it. That didn’t work, and neither did stretching, deep relaxation, or massage. I wasn’t able to stop doing the thing that was causing the problem because it’s a constant and necessary part of my job. I’m referring to mousing, which is how I make the cursor move around. Typing is no problem but mousing is killer. I now use a trackball but even that hasn’t put a dent in the problem.