November 6 Shopping Day at Swap Shop

SHOPPING ONLY DAY at Swap Shop at WSWMD on Old Ferry Road, Brattleboro on Saturday, November 6, 8:30 am to noon. ALL ITEMS ARE FREE.   Photos of some available items are posted on Facebook’s Brattleboro, Vermont group page.
Swap Shop will be open on Nov. 6 for shopping only, Nov. 13 for donating only and our last day before closing for the winter will be Nov. 20 for shopping only. Come get your Christmas decorations and stocking stuffers while we’re still open!


More Goals For The Brattleboro Selectboard To Consider

The Selectboard was reviewing and adding to their goals at their most recent meeting. There are a few more items they should take up:

End Weigher of Coal Position

This is just embarrassing in 2021. Brattleboro should rid itself of any mention of coal. It’s such an easy thing to do.  Town Managers since Barb Sondag have promised to get this done. All it takes is sending an article to Representative Town Meeting.


Brattleboro Veterans’ Day Closings

In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11, 2021, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Thursday, November 11. All other violations will be enforced.


Selectboard Meeting Notes – FY23 Budget Season Begins

selectboard nov 1 2021

The Brattleboro Selectboard kicked off their FY23 budget season with an overview of the proposed town budget by Town Manager Peter Elwell. Questions were limited at this meeting, allowing the board and the public to take in a broad overview. Deep dive questions begin next week.

One of the lengthier passages in this meeting was a discussion of prepaid assigned funds compared to unassigned funds and how they both are accounted for legally and financially.


Broadband Grants Go To Four Vermont Communication Union Districts

Governor Scott Announces $9.9 million in grants to Accelerate Broadband Buildout in Four Vermont Communication Union Districts

Montpelier, Vermont – The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB), along with the Governor, Congressman Welch and other state and federal officials and representatives of many of the state’s Communications Union Districts, celebrated the awarding of $9.9 Million in Preconstruction Grants to four Communication Union Districts (CUDs) in an event in Montpelier Monday. The Districts represent 64 Vermont towns and villages.

Governor Scott celebrated the investment, “We all know how important broadband is to Vermonters and our economy. Connectivity is essential to our everyday lives, the way we do business, and how we stay connected with family and friends. Making investments in this critical infrastructure will allow us to grow in all 14 counties and help us retain and attract more workers, and I’m excited this work is moving forward.”


BCTV Schedules Week of November 1, 2021

Monday, November 1, 2021

4:30 am Guilford Selectboard – Guilford SB Mtg 10/25/21
5:00 am Windham Central Supervisory Union – WCSU Bd and Exec. Comm. Mtg 10/27/21
7:00 am Vernon Selectboard – Vernon SB Mtg 10/19/21
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


Halloween Trivia

A Vampire is a person who is not permitted to properly die (usually because of an evil life). A Vampire still has a soul. A Zombie is a soulless but undead being. (Vampires usually make more money.)

I had a friend in Saudi Arabia named George Ghoul. He was a Saudi Arab.


Don’t Forget The Flu!

Influenza (flu) is a contagious viral infection that can cause mild to severe symptoms and life-threatening complications, including death, even in healthy children and adults.

There was an epidemic of H1N1 Influenza that began in 1918 and petered out in about 1950. At the time, the spread of “The Flu” was blamed by many on the electrification of homes. Another H1N1 pandemic began from 1970 and is still with us today. A more severe flu variant, H3N2, has been running parallel. Electrification has nothing to do with any of it.


Press Release – Blog88.org October Issue

I apologize to everyone who woke early on the 1st to check your screen, disappointed that the Blog88.org October Issue was not up. Well, it is still October, and here it is!

Articles by Phoebe Sparrow Wagner in each of the first two issues was a hard act to follow. Phoebe had set a world-class standard. Following an Olympic Gold Medalist long distance runner, we will be happy to amble in her footsteps, enjoying the stroll. I think we ended up with a very nice issue. There is a lovely piece by amazing Justin Cabral. In a uniquely unencumbered style, with 83 exuberant words, Cabral extols an array of 40 things which bring him joy. The October Issue also features an Ask The Broker column, titled, “Black Swans.” And there is more.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 2, 2021

Budget season begins with an overview of the proposed budget by the Town Manager to the Selectboard, and this starts at the next regular meeting of the board.

They’ll also approve more repairs for the skating rink, increase the deductible on health insurance for town employees, review their goals, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.


“Here We Are” with Elena Dodd

Elena Harap Dodd talks about her childhood experiences of segregation in the south, and how that has informed her focus on inclusivity in her acting, writing and collaborations. She co-founded “Streetfeet Women”, a muti-racial, multi-cultural women’s writing and acting group which is still going strong after 40 years – and with a newly published book!


5th Saturday – Swap Shop Closed

CLOSED! The Swap Shop at WSWMD on Old Ferry Road, Brattleboro will be closed on Saturday, October 30 as it is the 5th Saturday of the month.
 
Swap Shop will be open on Nov. 6 for shopping only, Nov. 13 for donating only and our last day before closing for the winter will be Nov. 20 for shopping only.
 
SCHEDULE & HOURS:
Shopping Days- 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month
Donation Days- 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month


“Conversation Station” Video from October Artful Streets

Here’s a Video highlight of October’s Gallery Walk: “CONVERSATION STATION” where local youth talk with adults from the community about all kinds of things – Many insights, much laughing and some surprises……..Featuring Samirah Evans, Johnny Swing, Curtiss Reed, Jr., Steffen Gillom, “Woody” Woodworth and more.