ARPA Tree Fund Suggestion

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Brattleboro will soon be going through a public process to determine how to spend over $3 million in ARPA funding. The selectboard will be setting up a process for gathering ideas and suggestions, evaluating them, and deciding what to do. They will be looking for items that give the greatest long-term benefit to Brattleboro.

As the Lorax would say, “I’d like to speak for the trees.”

I’m not sure what the right amount is, but for argument’s sake I’d like to suggest $100k be spent on shade trees.  Few things would give longer-lasting benefits to the town.

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

REVISED AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair

II. COMMUNICATIONS

• Chloe Leary, Winston Prouty Center – Childrens’ Integrated Services

• Cassandra Holloway, BPAC – Prevention Efforts in the Community

Western Avenue Road Patching

by Not Signed In | Town News

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12, DMI Paving (a contractor of the town) will be patching Western Avenue between Melrose ST and Meadowbrook Rd.  The work is expected to take place between 7 am and 5 pm.  

(Rain date: Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14)

Motorists should expect delays in the area and seek alternate routes during these days.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Hosts Mother’s Day Singalong

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus will perform their spring “Singalong Finale” via Zoom on Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 9 at 4 pm.

As we finish our 25th anniversary year, the chorus will be singing songs led by Director Becky Graber and some guests as well! Some of the songs are very easy to join along with, and Becky will teach a song or two to all. Singalong-goers can register online via Zoom and pay for a ticket using the links on our website.

Singers will be muted, though we will hear harmonized vocal tracks, so feel free to sing along in the comfort of your homes, if you wish.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – FY22 Parking and Utility Funds, Paving, and the Whetstone Path

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro selectboard meeting

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard the sad tale of the Parking Fund and its many losses over the previous, current, and probably future year at Tuesday’s meeting. Estimates for the coming year are just guesses. One of the hardest financial discussions ever, the Town Manager told the board.

Everything else, however, went smoothly. The Utilities Fund is pretty much as it was before. New paving projects have been approved. Winston-Prouty got a liquor license (for a single event for grown ups, ahem…), and more. No public participation, either. “A return to normal,” your reporter snarks snarkily.

Brattleboro Dog & Wolf-Hybrid Licenses Due

by Not Signed In | Pets

Vermont dogs and wolf-hybrids 6 months of age and older must be licensed per Title 20, Section 3581(c) of Vermont State Statutes.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all licenses being renewed must be processed through the mail or online at www.brattleboro.org. Alternatively, you may drop your payment and forms in the Town Business drop box in the Municipal Parking lot, attached to the wooden light pole.   

Vaccination against rabies is required by Vermont Statutes before licensing.  A current vaccination means: 

No One Is Protected Until We Are All Protected

by RDavis | Health

Americans and others in the wealthiest countries may only have temporary protection against COVID unless there is more of a worldwide effort to vaccinate people in poorer countries. The science tells us that the longer the virus thrives and is able to mutate in countries with low vaccination rates the more the character of the pandemic changes.

The U.S. and other wealthy countries have hoarded millions of doses of vaccine and that has proven to be a very short-sighted way to deal with a pandemic. There are few places on the globe not affected by COVID and that means that we have to accept the fact that control of the virus depends on global cooperation. The needed level of cooperation has been slow to evolve.

BCTV Schedules – Week of May 3, 2021

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1085 schedule for the week of 5/3/21

Monday, May 3, 2021

5:00 am VT Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel – VT NDCAP – 4/12/21 Mtg
8:00 am The David Pakman Show – The David Pakman Show – Weekly Broadcast
9:00 am Energy Week with George Harvey – This Week’s Energy News
10:00 am Brattleboro Development Review Board – Brattleboro DRB Mtg 4/21/21

Vermont Barn Restoration Grants

by MarkTwain© | Home & Garden

Vermont grants for barn stabilization and restoration.  Be sure to see the manual before starting your project, because to be eligible the project may not have been started before the application was submitted.

Application:

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 4, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

At the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard they will discuss two proposed budgets – the FY22 Utilities Fund budget, the FY22 Parking Fund budget – approve emergency repairs for the Whetstone Pathway, review plans for summer paving, and more.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation. And of course, May the 4th be with you.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Representative Town Meeting Steering Committee will meet on Monday, May 3, 2021 at 4:00pm using Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” 

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 9 Southern Avenue (call 257-1164 for directions).  The agenda is attached.

Elliot Street Cats

by cgrotke | Pets

The Windham County Humane Society had this story in their most recent newsletter. Interesting project regarding the community cats of Elliot Street in downtown Brattleboro.

When we received a call from Brattleboro Animal Control Officer Cathy Barrows about a colony of community cats, we got straight to work. The first request from the property owner was that we come trap all of the cats and move them. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of people clamoring for cats that you can’t touch and who won’t sit in your lap.

VFW Serving Burgers/Fries Etc. 5/1, 5/8, 5/22 and 5/29 Public Welcome

by LisaL | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road will be serving hand made burgers, hot dogs, fries and chicken wings from noon to 6 pm the following Saturdays in May : 1st, 8th, 22nd and 29th. Yes, we are opening earlier for those Saturdays instead of at 2 pm. Open to the public for the food. Masks, social distancing, and contact tracing rules are still in place.

May 15th is our lasagna to go meal for $12. For $12, you will get lasagna, garlic bread, salad and chocolate cream pie. To-go or dine in (Dine in is allowed as of this moment, but keep in mind COVID can change everything at the last minute.) When calling in for reservations, please let us know if you are dining in or getting a to-go, time for your meal, type of salad dressing, and amount of meals needed. (Just tell us everything!)

Brattleboro Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2020 Available

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro Water Department’s annual Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2020 is now available. This report can be viewed on-line at https://www.brattleboro.org/ccreport or printed copies are available at the Department of Public Works, Tri Park CO–OP Office and the Guilford Country Store.  Questions about this report can be addressed to the Department of Public Works at 254-4255.

A Good Time To Die

by SK-B | History

Today In History, April 28:

1846
Coffins. A Very Large Assortment of all sizes, at A. Van Doorn & Sons, at reduced prices.

Does anyone else find it strange to advertised that there is a large supply of coffins at bargain prices? I would think that no one will be induced to purchase a coffin because the price is good, but that a person would only buy a coffin if it is needed, at whatever price it might cost.