Ten Strings And A Goat Skin and Hayley Reardon at Next Stage on Friday, August 5

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Prince Edward Island-based, acoustic, folk/fusion trio Ten Strings And A Goat Skin, plus Boston-based singer/songwriter Hayley Reardon, at Next Stage on Friday, August 5 at 7:30 pm.

Ten Strings And A Goat Skin transform tradition with vigor, curiosity and sparks of goofy humor, weaving old-school Franco-Canadian, Breton, Irish and Scottish tunes with wickedly current grooves and clever quirks. The young, bilingual trio expands on the Scottish and Acadian roots of PEI’s traditional music, infusing sometimes moody, sometimes high-energy, original and traditional songs with pop and world rhythms. Their brand new CD “Auprès du Poêle” (“Around the Woodstove”) highlights this cross pollination. Working with producer Leonard Podolak of Grammy- and Juno-winning eclectic roots favorites The Duhks, they push their music into new, dynamic and engaging territory.


Hate Motivated Assault in Brattleboro

Police report and details sent to us this morning:

“HATE MOTIVATED ASSAULT
August 2, 2016

Mariam J. Belarj, 20, of Medford, New York
OFFICER VINTON

On 7/31/16 at approximately 2107hrs, Brattleboro Officers responded to Elliot St. for a report of an assault. Upon arrival they discovered two victims. A male was attacked randomly and struck repeatedly with a beer bottle, and a female passerby was attacked because she was black. The suspects, a male and female, shouted racial slurs as they assaulted the female.

The suspects fled down Elliot St. after the assault. The victims were treated for non life-threatening injuries. Vermont State Police and the Windham County Sheriff’s Department assisted Brattleboro PD in searching for the suspects. VSP deployed their K9 Unit.


Vermont GMO Labeling Law Mooted as President Signs DARK Act Into Law

People generally decry Congress for the glacial rate at which it addresses the pressing issues of our time, but if so, we should be proud at the haste with which they acted to counter Vermont’s GMO-labeling law.  Vermont’s law only went into effect on July 1, requiring all purveyers of food products to disclose on their label if they contain genetically modified ingredients.  A mere 30 days later, a federal replacement was signed, sealed, and delivered:  Obama signed into law the so-called DARK Act, passed by both houses of Congress just this month, that supercedes and negates Vermont’s law, and according to critics, significantly waters down GMO labeling nationwide.  


Orchard Hill Pizza Night Benefits

Orchard Hill Breadworks is the region’s premier organic, wood-fired bakery.  As part of their social mission Orchard Hill hosts benefit make-your-own pizza events for non-profit organizations on Tuesday evenings during the summer at their outdoor bakery, often with live music and games. On August 23rd all proceeds will benefit Brattleboro Time Trade and music will be provided by the Jazz Kids. Admission is free. A pizza crust with sauce, and cheese will be available for purchase for $8 (or $10 for gluten-free crusts). 

 


Rigged System

What was a homeless guy doing in Donald’s dressing room? Actually it was a suite, including a wet bar and jacuzzi: A place of comfort, off-stage. 

“How the hell did you get past Security!” demanded the Donald. 

“No one stopped me,” replied the homeless guy.  

Donald’s face turned red as a beet. “Someone’s going to pay for this,” he muttered. Spittle appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“Who the hell are you, and what do you want?” 


Brattleboro Transportation Center – Temporary Closing of Elliot Street Entrance

The Elliot Street entrance to the Brattleboro Transportation Center will be closed temporarily from Thursday, August 4th to Friday, August 5th to allow for regular maintenance of the expansion joint on the bridge from Elliot Street to the garage. The work will be performed by Nicom Coatings Corporation of Barre, Vermont.

The closing is expected to commence on August 4, 2016 at 8:00am. The work will continue until complete, with an anticipated completion date of August 5, 2016. While the Elliot Street entrance is closed, the public is asked to use the Flat Street entrance. The parking of vehicles in the Brattleboro Transportation Center will not be affected by the closure of the Elliot Street entrance.


BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 8/1/2016

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 8/1/16

Monday, August 1, 2016

12:30 am Rock Voices – 1/8/16 Concert

2:00 am Authors at the Aldrich: Stephen P. Kiernan

3:00 am Milton Historical Society – Fine Furniture Makers

4:12 am Living In Town

4:30 am Community Solar Program by Integrated Solar Applications


Free Cell Phone and Minutes Provider

I heard earlier today that someone in Brattleboro had signed up for, and received a free cell phone with free monthly minutes included.  The person who was asked to help activate this phone today, asked me if I knew about any such program.

The only thing that came to mind was a monthly credit (that came directly from the service provider)  called “Lifeline”.  The application for Lifeline credits at one time was included in the state income tax booklets but I haven’t seen hide nor hair of any such application for several years now.  


US Marijuana Party on Nov. 8, 2016 Ballot If Cris Ericson Loses Democratic Primary

My name is Cris Ericson and I will appear on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot for the United States Marijuana Party if I lose the Democratic Primary election on Aug. 9, 2016.I am deeply disappointed in the Vermont Democratic Party because I have been excluded from the majority of candidate debates and forums for gubernatorial candidates, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy has refused to debate me for the U.S. Senate seat in this primary election Aug. 9, 2016.

Government should not be of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich, but that is what is going on in Vermont because candidates for governor and U.S. Senate without large campaign budgets are excluded from the majority of debates and forums, or denied any participation in democracy at all, as in the case of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy refusing to debate me.


Weekend Creativity Series – Building The Wall

It is essential that all good citizens being to learn wall-making skills. Wall-making will be a growth industry in the coming years, from the wall to keep Americans out of Mexico, to the walls we will certainly need to keep us out of Canada and New Hampshire as well.

Who better to teach us these essential American skills than a foreigner! And let’s learn the Traditional Irish Dry Stone Wall method of putting the stones together.


This Bald Eagle Almost Put Me In The Drink

I was kayaking just off the western shore of the Connecticut River, about half way between the Hinsdale bridge and the West River confluence, when I glanced up and saw this dude looking down at me. More than a little startled, I nearly fell in the drink.

He just sat there, maybe 15 feet up, sitting on the limb. He noticed, then quickly dismissed me as an object of interest. I, havening never before seen a Bald Eagle in the wild, was genuinly shocked. In the video you hear me mention the shakey video (I later used some software to stablize the image), which was a direct result of me being startled and excited to see this fellow.


Where’s The Rain? Moderate Drought in Southern Vermont

I’ve been wondering where the rain is, and did a bit of research.

According to the United States Drought Monitor, Brattleboro and Windham County are officially considered to be in Moderate Drought, with about 85% of Vermont being categorized as Abnormally Dry.

The trend started in late June and has remained steady through July. The last time we were this dry in Vermont was June of 2015.


West Brattleboro Fire Station Groundbreaking

The Town of Brattleboro invites citizens and interested persons to attend a ground-breaking ceremony celebrating the rebuilding of the West Brattleboro Fire Station on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 4:00pm at the West Brattleboro Fire Station.

TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO
Town Manager’s Office
230 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-4541
FAX (802) 257-2322


Brattleboro Selectboard Agendas and Notes – August 4 and 5, 2016

Brattleboro’s first Comprehensive Review of Town Operations will be presented for approval at the next not-so-regularly scheduled meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Property tax rates will be set for FY17, grants will be discussed, appointments to committees will be made, and more. Watch on BCTV or attend in person and participate. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

There is also a special meeting scheduled to hold a deliberative session the next day.


Brattleboro Senior Meals Breakfast Menu

AUGUST BREAKFAST MENUS

August 2nd – Bavarian Waffles w/Strawberries & Whipped Cream, Ham, Yogurt Parfait, Juice, Coffee.

August 5th Eggs Benedict w/Ham on an English Muffin, Home Fries, Fruit, Yogurt, Juice, Coffee

August 9th  – Stuffed Egg w/Sausage Gravy, Scone, Potato Pancake, Fruit, Juice, Yogurt Parfait , Coffee


Savings Bank of Walpole’s Branch ATMs Get New Security Device

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST AREA BANKS TO RETROFIT THEIR BRANCH ATMS WITH NEW SECURITY DEVICE

Keene, NH—In an effort to combat ATM fraud and “skimming,” Savings Bank of Walpole is pleased to announce that it will be one of the first area banks to utilize the ActivEdge Skim Guard system at all of their branch ATMs. The machines will be retrofitted with the ActivEdge system as of Thursday, August 4th.

Skimming means that a person (who is referred to as a skimmer) has installed a counterfeit card reader on the exterior of an ATM in an attempt to steal another person’s card information during ATM transactions or at point-of-sale machines like the ones used at gas stations or convenience stores.