It Is Time For Not For Profits To Pay Their Fair Share In Brattleboro – A PILOT Program

by Namaya | Op/Ed

One solution to the chronic income short fall in Brattleboro is a program that has been implemented around the US with considerable success that has benefited cash strapped communities a Payment in Lieu of Taxes or PILOT for businesses that are listed as not-for profit and yet generate revenue.  While it would not be a legally binding, it is an agreement between the town and income generating business like the Brattleboro Hospital, Windham Land Trust, colleges, and not for profits that generate say more than $100,000 in revenues per annum to pay fixed percentage of revenues like the Brattleboro Housing Authority that pays 10% of their revenues as a PILOT.  Why should multimillion dollar businesses like Windham Land Trust, the hospital, the Retreat not contribute equit

150 Years Ago (1864 9/9)

by BusyMom | History

Clifton Farm, Va. Sept. 9th, 1864.

Dear Cousin:-

Here I am, just about 1 ½ miles north of Berryville, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. I promised to write to you when in Washington, but have had so much to do that until within the past two weeks have had time to write to anyone, except my wife. I will give you a history of our movements since joining the regiment. Passed the Casey Board in Washington as first Lieut. for colored troops June 12th, went to Camp Distribution June 14th, drew arms and equipment that night (mine had been turned over at Brattleboro) next morning took a transport for Bermuda Hundred, reached there the third day after leaving Alexander. We went to City Point and the 6th Army Corps had just crossed the Potomac and were in front of Petersburgh. Went up there and reported June 20th for the places I shall mention. I will refer you to Leslie’s Illustrated Paper for Sept. 10th.

David William Fischer: Edible Mushrooms and Plants in the Brattleboro Area

by Brooks Memorial Library | Food

Due to a scheduling conflict, Chris Matherly, the mushroom hunter, will not be able to attend this workshop. Instead, meet mushroom expert David William Fischer at Brooks Memorial Library on Thursday, September 11, at 5 p.m. in the meeting room. Fischer, an internationally-known mycologist and ecologist, authored the classic books Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America and Mushrooms of Northeastern North America.

He has been a featured guest on NPR’s “Science Friday” program and his stunning mushroom photography has been spotlighted in numerous books and magazines. His web site — AmericanMushrooms.com — is a leading source of mushroom information. Fischer’s presentation will discuss edible wild mushrooms and plants in the Brattleboro area, with a 45-minute slideshow on how to safely find, identify and prepare common, delicious species. After his presentation, Fischer will be on hand to answer questions — you can bring your mushrooms for him to identify — and will have autographed copies of his books available. 

Cathy Barrows Is Back!

by LEH | Police & Fire

Back in January I posted a question if anyone knew why Cathy Barrows was no longer the Animal Control Officer. () No one knew. No one in the police station was talking – except for saying that we didn’t currently have an Animal Control Officer. Last week, however, I was pleased to hear that she is back, and even more happy to see Cathy on patrol.

I still have no idea what happened and maybe it doesn’t matter, except to Cathy. But the coincidence is a bit too obvious to ignore. She was back behind the wheel at pretty much the same time we hired a new Police Chief.

Friends of Music at Guilford’s Founder, A. Graham Down, Remembered

by fomag | Obituaries

GUILFORD, Vt., Sept. 6, 2014 – Friends of Music at Guilford founder A. Graham Down died August 30, 2014 at his home in Washington, D.C. He had just celebrated his 85th birthday.

Down was a transplanted Englishman—Kings College, Cambridge, class of 1952. He installed a baroque-style tracker organ in a Guilford barn to use as a practice instrument while he vacationed here, and gave its inaugural recital on Labor Day Weekend in 1966.  

He was then teaching at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, and visits from his students and colleagues inspired a number of them to move to Packer Corners Road in Guilford, along with their friends and families. As Friends of Music’s Zeke Hecker has said, “He founded more than a concert series; he founded a community.”  

New Spanish Class Session Begins Week of Sept 23. Free Class on Tuesday

by Not Signed In | Education

Express Fluency begins a new session of Spanish classes the week of September 23rd. More information can be found at www.ExpressFluency.com.

Come to a free class Tuesday, Sept 9th

Experience a radically fun and effective way of acquiring language! Express Fluency is offering a free intro class at Brattleboro’s Brooks Memorial Library this Tuesday, September 9th at 7:30pm. Whether you are interested in learning Spanish or another language, this class will help you know what to look for in a language program.

Please contact Elissa McLean with any questions. elissa@expressfluency.com, 802-275-2694.

150 Years Ago (1864 9/8)

by BusyMom | History

Thursday morning, Sept. 8th. I am here still in the old place, after cleaning up our company street, carrying off beef bones, scrap of beef that could not be eaten and bushels of cobs, husks, apple pearings, and had bean pods (you see there is plenty to eat). Those of us that could not draw the charges from our guns went out and fired them off. Was wiping out the gun when Zopher came over to see me. He is looking extremely well. Looks fresh and in good flesh. Was very glad to see him. The report is that the Johnnies are reported to have left, but I never put any confidence in reports after the fight on the 21st of August I was quite unwell until the next Friday morning. That morning I got up all right. My legs were so sore that I could hardly step.

Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of September 7

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Other

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

See below for exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from September sunshine:

OFFERS:

Wellness Classes
Curator Tour at BMAC, 9/18 at 7 pm
Artist Talk & Book-Signing at BMAC, 10/9 at 7pm
Cook You a Meal
Karaoke Empowerment Therapy
LOCAL Pickup Truck for Moving or Errands
Back to School Educational Support or Academic Coaching
2 Seat Kayak

Vermont Weaving School Weekly Classes Begin Sept 17

by Not Signed In | Creative

Weaving is the perfect balance between creativity, mathematics and fun! Beginning floor loom weaving classes will be on Wednesdays from 10:30-1 and can accommodate beginning and experienced students. Classes are taught by Dena Gartenstein Moses and the school is located in downtown Putney. Cost: $250 plus materials for a ten week series. A three day Beginning Retreat will happen from Oct 24-26 and Advanced Beginning Retreats are offered Oct 27-30 and Nov 9-14. All equipment is provided. 802-387-2656, dena@vermontweaver.com, www.vermontweavingschool.com

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 9/8/14

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 schedule for the week of 9/8/14

                   Monday September 8       

12:00 am      Road to Recovery: Peer-Oriented Housing

1:00 am       Salaam/Shalom – Gaza: The Real Story

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       UVM Comm Med School: Triggers of Sciatica

5:04 am       History… Where it Happened – Delwood Cemetery

Senate Poised to Vote on Constitutional Amendment to Undo Citizens United

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 7 – One day before the U.S. Senate votes on a constitutional amendment to restore limits on big money in politics, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called the drive to undo Supreme Court decisions that gutted campaign finance laws “the major issue of our time” and said Monday’s showdown vote is “a pivotal moment in American history.”

“Billionaires buying elections is not what our Constitution stands for,” said Sanders. He is a cosponsor of the amendment to reverse Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and later court rulings that let millionaires and billionaires spend virtually unlimited and unregulated sums to sway elections.

150 Years Ago (1864 9/7)

by BusyMom | History

  Camp-near Berryville-Sept. 7, 1864.

Dearest Abiah –

It is sometime since I have written, but it would have made no difference, as there has been no chance to send out letters since we came here until last night, and then I was away after some water and a few apples to stew. We have to go some distance for green corn and apples now. We will soon clean out a hundred acres of corn. We came here Saturday morning. I had just before written to Mary Ann and to Father. Since we came here have been pretty still. Have worked one night building breast works and then were marched back. The breast work was built on our right facing Winchester. I have not seen Zopher since I wrote to Mary Ann, but the 3d Division has been in no fights since the first was in, the night we came here expected to have to go out, but the Rebs ran their heads against something that hurt them and hauled off.

At AFL-CIO Convention, Sanders Proposes Wealth Tax

by Not Signed In | Politics

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 6 – With the wealth gap in the United States growing and greater already than in any other major country, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders today called for a progressive estate tax on multi-millionaires and billionaires.

“A nation will not survive morally or economically when so few have so much while so many have so little. We need a tax system which asks the billionaire class to pay its fair share of taxes and which reduces the obscene degree of wealth inequality in America,” Sanders said in a speech to be delivered this morning at the Vermont AFL-CIO annual convention here.

West Brattleboro Association Meeting – Revitalizing the Village

by WBA | Town News

Next WBA Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, September 11th

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held at the New England House
on Thursday, September 11th at 6:00 PM. After a review of the treasury and other ongoing items, the group will begin discussing the “Revitalizing Southern Vermont’s Villages – West Brattleboro” report made
available from the Windham Regional Commission and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.

5:45 Live: 9/5/14

by BrattleboroTV | Media

Get all the latest from a Friday Gallerywalk edition of 5:45 Live packed with footage from the Selectboard’s skatepark decision, I-91’s gas tanker shutdown, Temple Grandin’s Landmark visit, and much much more.

Weekend Concert Series: Fishbone in Amsterdam 2002

by cgrotke | Entertainment

This weekend we present the ska-punk-funk-rock of Fishbone, live in Amsterdam at the Melkweg Theatre in 2002.

They first caught my eye with a video for a song called Modern Industry. The group was literally bouncing off walls to a reggae-ska dance number, and shouting out names of radio stations. Very unusual, I thought.

I first saw them live in the 1980’s in Cleveland opening for the Beastie Boys, who were touring to promote a new record called Licensed to Ill. Before the show, Angelo Moore, Fishbone’s singer, wandered the big hall carrying a cane with him as he slowly made his way through the audience. None of us knew who he was, but we all noticed the well-dressed cane-carry gentleman. A while later, he was on stage. Great show.

Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ To Be Held for I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, September 13, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, September 13, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I- 91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.