Helpful Brattleboro Election Information for August 11 State Primary

by Not Signed In | Politics

Good morning,

Below is information that might be helpful to know for August 11th State Primary elections.

Polling place for all three districts in Brattleboro is the American Legion, 32 Linden St., from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm. 

Due to COVID-19, masks will be required (and provided if needed) to enter the American Legion for voting, and hand sanitizer or gloves will also be provided. If you are unable to wear a mask and did not vote absentee, there will be a space outdoors for you to vote. Due to social distancing and reduced capacity indoors, please be prepared for potential wait times.

David Zuckerman and Brenda Siegel

by arlibra | Op/Ed

David Zuckerman and Brenda Siegel would make the team Vermont needs to move the state forward with vision, compassion, and commitment.

Most of us know what Zuckerman stands for. He has been a longtime surrogate and worker for Bernie Sanders and represents those ideals – economic and social justice, respect for the environment and the urgency of consequences of climate change.

Brenda Siegel is a less known figure, but is increasingly having an impact on what goes on in Montpelier. She’s been working tirelessly to find compassionate solutions to the opioid crisis, which we are still grappling with; and is firmly on the side of a livable wage, and Medicare for all. She is a passionate voice for the struggling, the marginalized in our society.

Voting in the Vermont State Primary?

by RobertOeser | Town News

Return your ballots now! Be sure your vote is counted!

The safest practice is to either bring ballots to the collection box in the Municipal Building parking lot or to bring them in person to the American Legion by 7:00 on Tuesday, August 11.

Stay safe!

Vermont Economic Recovery Grant Program Expands Eligibility for Businesses

by Not Signed In | State News

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Department of Taxes today announced expanded eligibility for Economic Recovery Grants for Vermont businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the original eligibility criteria, a business was required to have at least one W-2 employee who was not an owner of that business. Starting today, August 3, businesses with at least one W-2 employee – now including those who are an owner – are also eligible and encouraged to apply.

“Businesses of all sizes are doing everything they can to survive under the difficult circumstances caused by this pandemic, and it’s our responsibility to step up and support them in the recovery,” said Governor Scott. “We are hopeful these new requirements will provide some additional relief as we continue to rebuild together and emerge from this crisis stronger than before.”

Isaias Heading Toward Vermont

by cgrotke | Nature

Tropical Storm Isaias is pounding the Mid-Atlantic as I type this, and is heading our way. And although it is centered over Maryland right now, we’re getting hit with the outer bands of rain already. This storm stretches from Virginia to Canada at the moment.

Originally it was tracking to the east of us, then directly over us. Unfortunately for this area, the storm track has shifted west and the center is aiming at Albany. That puts us in the “worst” quadrant of the storm – the 12-3 o’clock positions. The heaviest rain and winds are usually in this section of a storm like this.

Submission of Community RFP Proposal for August 6 Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting

by Not Signed In | Town News

Good Morning –

Attached is the proposed RFP submitted by the community members for review at this Thursday’s Selectboard meeting.  This document has been posted in the section of the Town’s website where Selectboard meeting backup materials are posted.  Also posted there for easy reference are the related documents that the Selectboard has reviewed at its meetings on July 7 and July 21.

Please assist us in advising the public that these documents are all available for review in advance of the August 6 Selectboard meeting.

BCTV Schedules – Week of August 3, 2020

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 / 1075 schedule for the week of 8/3/20

Monday, August 3, 2020

4:00 am Taconic Music Summer Concert Series – 7/11/20 Concert
5:00 am Vote for Vermont – Linda Joy Sullivan
6:00 am St. Michael of Brattleboro Catholic Mass – Mass from this Sunday
7:00 am PR Benefits – Episode 10 – Barb Harris and Sharon Kreherp
7:30 am The Quarantine Sessions from Next Stage Arts – Sunny Lowdown

VFW $7 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 8-3 to 8-7

by LisaL | Food

Specials listed below are only $7 a plate.

Our hours are Mon-Fri from 11am-7pm. Sat & Sun from 1pm-7pm. We will be serving lunches Mon-Fri from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, with doors opening at 11 am. Lunches will be served on our hall side due to social distancing restrictions. Entrance will be through the glass doors, and the public is welcome. Per town ordinance, masks must be worn while walking around the hall, but not while seated at your table. Everyone must sign in at the bar with the bartender.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agendas and Notes – Regular and Special Meeting

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold two meetings next week. The first is their regular Tuesday meeting at which they will approve water and sewer construction contracts, set a date certain for Representative Town Meeting 2020,  set property tax rates, buy winter sand, resume water shutoffs for commercial and industrial customers, and more.

Their second meeting of the week will be on Thursday, to review the Community Safety RFP.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Vermont School Re-Opening Date Is Tuesday, September, 8, 2020

by Not Signed In | Education

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott has signed a Directive officially setting Tuesday, September 8 as the universal reopening date for Vermont schools.

“Schools should take this extra time to make sure systems are ready and effective, so we can deliver for our children, and build confidence in the public education system’s ability to be flexible and responsive,” said Governor Scott. “I know none of this has been easy, and I appreciate and have faith in educators and school boards, because I know they are 100% committed to giving kids the educational opportunities and support they need.”

Originally announced on Tuesday, the directive requires all public and independent schools to open for in-person or remote instruction on September 8, with an exception for schools primarily serving students with disabilities, which can restart operations prior to September 8. The Secretary of Education will have oversight and authority in the implementation of the order and local school officials and governing bodies are required to consult with, and abide by, the direction of the Secretary of Education.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meetings To Be Held Via Zoom

by Not Signed In | Town News

“After our recent discussion about the advantages of using Zoom for Representative Town Meeting,” said Brattleboro Selectboard Chair Tim Wessel, “I realized there are several reasons to go ahead and try Zoom now for Selectboard meetings. It’s more well-known to regular users than GoToMeeting, more user-friendly, and we will have time to ‘break-in’ the service as both a host and as users well in advance of RTM.” Wessel added that “the security concerns we had in March that swayed us toward GoToMeeting are no longer present.” 

The Great Vaccine Hype

by RDavis | Health

Listening to news reports one might think that the only way that we can move from pandemic mode to some degree of post-pandemic normalcy is to have a vaccine to rid us of COVID 19. Any vaccine that is developed will not magically make COVID 19 go away. It might help a little, but a magic bullet cure is unlikely.

The sound bite, short-attention span world is not suited to explaining complex issues such as how vaccines are developed and how they work. Instead, the world sees hope when a lab developing a vaccine sends out premature press releases of success so their stock value can increase.

There are well established scientific protocols in place for vaccine development and they all require years of trials and research. Sometimes vaccine development efforts are successful and sometimes they are not. When a vaccine is developed and made available to the public it takes years for us to see the big picture of how the vaccine works.

View the Cris Ericson Candidate Videos CCTV.org Town Meeting TV Refused To Air!

by CrisEricson2016 | Politics

“kvillemaire@cctv.org” of CCTV Town Meeting TV single handedly decided on July 20, 2020 to NOT allow Vermont voters to see 6 videos of candidate Cris Ericson who is on the 2020 Progressive Party primary election ballot for 7 offices. This person did allow one video in June of Cris Ericson’s campaign for Representative to Congress.

Here are the 6 videos that “kvillemaire@cctv.org” under “color of authority” deprived Vermont voters from viewing on July 20, 2020!

Tech Dinosaurs, VHS Tapes, and Groundworks Collaborative

by spot | Activism

I have a collection of VHS tapes (movies). They’re virtually all in good shape. I had hoped to donate them somewhere, but most places no longer accept them. I just can’t consign them to trash.

Proposal: I want to get rid of all of them in one “package.” You must take them ALL. What you do with them afterward is up to you (yard sale, whatever). After we agree on an amount, you’d make out a check to Groundworks Collaborative and give it to me. I’ll see that they get it. I am in no way associated with Groundworks; just want them to benefit by this donation.