Gang Attack in Brattleboro

by RDavis | Living

Brattleboro Vermont is a quiet town for the most part. Sure, we have our share of some of the world’s worst problems, but we handle them well and the quality of life for most residents is something to be envied. I never thought I would be terrorized by a gang of roving masked thugs in my safe little town.

On July 24 as I sat in my hot tub, as I do most nights, a pair of beady eyes framed by a facial mask stared at me over the edge of the tub. At first I thought I might be having some sort of hot water related hallucination but, sure enough, a raccoon had climbed the steps to the tub and decided to stare me down.

NXT Gallery Presents an Exhibit of Works by Vermont Center for Photography Artists

by hahrenholz | Arts

This small group exhibit, entitled “Four Perspectives,” represents the work of Al Karevy, Davida Carta, Joshua Farr, & Vaune Trachtman, four different local artists who are members of the Vermont Center for Photography in downtown Brattleboro. Each of these artists create photographic work covering a diverse range of style and subject matter, though are unified via a shared passion for the photographic arts and its many expressive possibilities. Each of the four artists will be displaying a small selection from a body of work, giving a greater context to their creative vision and process.

Brattleboro Firefighter Departures

by RobertOeser | Police & Fire

If you missed the recent article , “Brattleboro faces blaze of firefighter departures amid town EMS takeover debate,” here is the link:

https://vtdigger.org/2023/07/24/brattleboro-faces-blaze-of-firefighter-departures-amid-town-ems-takeover-debate/

The takeaway quote, I believe, is: “ …since … June of last year, 16 staffers have departed. Of the latter firefighters who quit, five had worked multiple years before leaving, while 11 had been hired just days, weeks or months before their departures ….”

“Here We Are” with Kathy Urffer

by Wendy O'Connell | Education

As Vt. River Steward for the Connecticut River Conservancy, KATHY URFFER talks about our relationship to the natural world, and the myth of separation.   Tune in for a new perspective on our connection to the mighty Connecticut River which flows right alongside us.

Bonnyvale Road Closing for Culverts

by Not Signed In | Town News

On Thursday, July 27 and Friday July 28, the Town has contracted A.S. Clark, to replace three culverts on Bonnyvale Road. Between 7:00am and 4:00pm, Bonnyvale Road will be closed between 986 Bonnyvale Rd (near Miller Road) and 1066 Bonnyvale Road (near the power lines.)  Emergency Services (and residents of 986-1066 Bonnyvale Road) will be able to access all addresses but there could be delays and detours involved.  

Maple Street Lights Off

by Not Signed In | Town News

Beginning on July 24, the street lights on Maple Street between Austine Drive and Guilford Street will be out or service through August 4, as Green Mountain Power works in the area.  Please plan accordingly if you use this area after dark, especially for walking or bicycling.

Vermont Progressives Take On Climate Change

by Lise | Activism

This is the summer that climate change got real for me, and after reading Richard Davis’ piece a few days ago, I realize I’m not the only one.  It may not be possible for us to solve all the problems of climate change (and environmental damage) that are underway now, but it’s been occurring to that even if the chances seem to be nil, I still owe it to the planet to care and to try to do my best to help out, or at least, not be part of the problem.  And yet, even setting the bar this low, it’s still hard to believe our efforts matter.  

But there’s impetus in numbers, and I was happy to see that the Vermont Progressive Party has decided to start organizing people to work together on the issue of climate change.  Their current project is focused on the state agency of transportation, VTRANS, in an effort to influence their thinking on climate change and how they spend $7 million in federal funds.

BCTV Schedules – Week of July 24, 2023

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 7/24/23

Monday, July 24, 2023

5:30 am Springfield Humane Society – July 2023 Adoptables

6:00 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – A Path Lit by Lightning: David Maraniss on Jim Thorpe

7:00 am Windham Solid Waste Management District Presents – Outreach Successes: Webinar 6/28/23

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

Huge Health Insurance Rate Hikes: Public Comment through 7/24

by ESchwartz | Health

Blue Cross and MVP Health Care want to raise rates by an average of 15.5% and 12.8% for individuals and 14.5% and 12.5% for small businesses. The affected plans are the ones people buy through Vermont Health Connect. This comes as an estimated 29,000 Vermont residents are being kicked off of Medicaid and forced to go uninsured or buy these expensive private plans.

If you are impacted by the rate hikes you can comment to the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), the state’s regulatory body. If you or your small business are currently purchasing one of these plans, if you are at risk of losing Medicaid, or if you are uninsured due to cost, you are or will be affected by these rates.

Brattleboro Selecboard Special Meeting Agenda and Notes

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will be holding their July moments of public participation for anyone wishing to provide feedback and comments on the EMS plan.

They will also approve new land use regulations, and hear a report on plans for improvements to Living Memorial Park.  You can sometimes bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation, if the Chair allows.

Bandwagon Summer Series Brings Vermont Institution Bread & Puppet to Putney

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents beloved Vermont institution Bread & Puppet, bringing their touring production to Putney on Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 pm at the Grammar School at 159 Grammar School Lane, in Putney, Vermont.

The Bread and Puppet Theater celebrates their 60th anniversary with The Mother Dirt Circus!
Audiences will delight as Bread and Puppet draws on its distinctive iconography to call attention to the urgent issues of the day. Young and old will thrill to see stilt dancers and paper maché beasts of all sizes accompanied by the riotous Bread and Puppet Circus Brass Band. A colorful spectacle of protest and celebration performed under the Vermont summer sky.

Sourdough rye with aioli will be offered after the performance and The Bread and Puppet Press and Cheap Art Emporium will be open for your perusal.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – July 20

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: Work continues to progress on waterline and drainage installation from north to south along the VT 142 corridor. Ledge removal along the north end of the project with hydraulic hammers has become necessary to advance this work and will continue until elevations above the ledge line can be achieved. The raising of drainage structures will continue as grade of the highway is increased.

The layout and formwork for the northern MSE wall moment slabs will continue this week as the contractor prepares for concrete. The moment slabs will hold the railings and become the sidewalk. It is anticipated that these locations will be ready for concrete in the coming weeks.

Windham Southeast School District Board Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA
I. Call To Order – 6:00pm – Kelly Young, Board Chair
II. Student Matters (5-10 minutes)
III. Administrative Report –
* Hires / Resignations / Retirements
* Summer Programming
* Update on contingency plans for buildings to be utilized as shelters in the event of future climate emergencies
* Update on BUHS re-branding and mascot selection – Action Required
* Update on selection of Restorative Justice Coordinator – Possible Action Required

Brattleboro EMS Request for Information

by RobertOeser | Town News

The town proposed a Request for Information (RFI) process on May 12, 2023 to identify potential EMS providers for Brattleboro. Vendors can provide input on the RFP’s structure, criteria, and requirements.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be developed based on feedback from the RFI responses, which the Select Board will review on July 25. Rescue Inc. enters Brattleboro EMS chat, Brattleboro Reformer, July 14, 2023.

The Body Is Dying

by RDavis | Activism

When a body is close to death organs start to fail. The kidneys lose their ability to filter out poisons, the gastrointestinal tract slows and stops moving and processing food, muscles waste away and the brain slips into a stage of fog until the big sleep takes over.

I can’t help but think that there are a lot of comparisons to the way we die and the way in which our planet is decaying and looking more and more like a body nearing death. We look to global warming and blame it for many of the disasters that are unfolding. The warming of the planet is much like a deadly disease that has taken over the body.

When a disease takes hold that has little hope for slowing or stopping the body knows that death is at hand and systems move into a different mode.

Is it possible that our planet knows that it is on a death spiral and that the catastrophes we are experiencing a part of the process of the death of a planet?