Selectboard Special Meeting – FY18, Solar at the Landfill, DeGray Not Running Again

by cgrotke | Town News

Dick DeGray will be joining David Gartenstein at the proverbial Selectboard retirement center, announcing his intentions not to run at Tuesday’s special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The meeting had two focal points and one interesting diversion. The FY18 budget and tax rate is very close to being finalized, a new era of solar net-meter credits has dawned, and a citizen wonders how to get attention for a dangerous stretch of road.

BMH Expansion: Could It Tap Into BUHS Heat Plant?

by David Cadran | Town Plan

It looks like BMH is growing again to meet the needs of changing technology and a greying population. Part of this expansion is the multi-million dollar replacement of the oil boilers with new ones that use a slightly cheaper form of oil. A question I would like to pose is what is the possibility of extending lines from the wood chip plant at BUHS to meet the needs of BMH.

I am sure there are A LOT of considerations (cost, ability to serve both, etc etc) but I just wanted to pose the idea and get people’s thoughts… I just want to see them move off of oil….

Thanks

Cutting the Cord

by cgrotke | Media

My years of cable TV are coming to an end. The combination of rising cable service prices and completely lackluster programming options led me to make the move.

It’s not that hard to do. I called up Comcast and asked to be disconnected. My rep said, sure, then went through the script to try to prevent me from leaving.

Why do you want to end the service? Um.. ever-increasing rates, too many PBS stations, way too many shopping and religious channels, Comcast is a cruddy company, and so on.

Maybe you need more channels, how about an upgrade to 40 channels? Uh, no thanks. It costs more and doesn’t solve the problem.

BCTV Schedules For Week of 1/9/17

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 1/9/17

Monday, January 9, 2017

12:00 am At Landmark: Professor Lyrical, ‘Rapping with the Professor’ 2/8/16

1:30 am Northern Roots 2016

3:30 am Sean Gaskell’s Kora Concert

5:00 am GMMT: Friday News Show

5:30 am New England Cooks: Chef Todd Cassell

Bubble Party

by BusyMom | History

From today in history, 1885:

The Ceres club will give a “bubble party” next Thursday at Miss Minnie Pettee’s.

Apparently it was quite the fad in the 1870s-80s, among adults more than children!

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, January 9, 2017 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Brattleboro Food Co-op Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

by BratFoodCoop | Activism

The Brattleboro Food Co-op Staff and Board of Directors are pleased to announce they will be honoring Martin Luther King, Jr on Monday, January 16th with numerous social justice and activist organizations featured in the store throughout the day. There will also be a free screening of the movie “13th” in the evening, a bit of music, and, of course, food! The idea for the event grew out of the Co-op Board of Directors’ newly formed “Engagement Committee,” as well as feedback from staff. As Ruth Garbus, employee and Board Member, says, “We gotta get together!

Run for Office in Guilford

by DonInGuilford | Guilford

GUILFORD TOWN & SCHOOL BOARD OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION

Petitions are now available for those interested in seeking public office to be voted by Australian ballot at Guilford’s March 7th Town Meeting.  The filing deadline is Monday, January 30, at 5 pm, at the Guilford Town Office, where petition forms are now available. The office is open Monday through Thursday, closed Friday.

Brattleboro January Senior Meals Breakfast Menu

by KathrynT | Food

JANUARY  BREAKFAST MENUS

January 3rd – Stuffed Egg w/Sausage Gravy, Scone, Potato Pancake, Fruit, Yogurt, Juice, Coffee.

January 6th – Whole Wheat Pancakes, Syrup, Sausage, Fruit, Juice & Coffee

January 10th – Greens, Eggs & Ham, Home Fries,  Fruit, Yogurt, Juice, Coffee

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah presenting Stretch Music

by Not Signed In | Music

New Orleans Trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah to present “Stretch Music” at the VJC on Saturday, January 14th, 2017

The Vermont Jazz Center presents Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s Stretch Music on Saturday, January, 14th, 2017 at 8 PM. Scott is one of the leading voices of his generation – a composer, a bandleader, a record producer, an educator, an articulate activist championing racial equality and prison reform; he is an eloquent speaker whose goals include “reaching a consensus to move forward.”

Scott aTune Adjuah will be performing on trumpet as well as two custom-designed horns: a reverse flugel and a sirenette. He will appear with the same group that plays on his most recent and highly acclaimed CD Stretch Music. The ensemble includes renowned young artist Elena Pinderhughes (flute), Logan Richardson (alto saxophone), Lawrence Fields (acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes), Kris Funn (upright and electric bass) and Corey Fonville on drums.

VFW Lunch Specials Jan. 9th – Jan. 13th

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served from 11:30 – 1:30 PM. Specials are only $6 a plate. Burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken wings, soups and sandwiches are also available.

Mon – liver & onions w/ mashed potato & veg
Tues – mushroom swiss burger w/ homemade potato chips
Wed – Hungarian goulash over noodles
Thur – corned beef & cabbage dinner
Fri – tuna noodle casserole

Take outs available by calling 257-0438

Brattleboro Area Hospice to offer Six Week Grief Support Group

by Not Signed In | Health

A new Six Week Bereavement Support Group for adults begins January 18th and will meet each Wednesday from 4:30-6:00 pm, ending February 22nd. This group is sponsored by Brattleboro Area Hospice and will meet at the hospice office at 191 Canal St. in Brattleboro. Interested individuals must meet with the facilitator, Connie Baxter, prior to the first session, so please call her at (802) 257-0775 x104 by January 13th for a pre-group appointment. The group size is limited to 8 people.

My Failure As Inspector of Lumber

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

For many years I was a Fence Viewer, a town position that was fairly active, with a few calls and inquires per year. When I hit my term limit, I decided to continue to volunteer and looked at the two other “odd” jobs, Weigher of Coal and Inspector of Wood, Lumber and Shingles.

As a Fence Viewer I learned there were both state statutes and materials available from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to help explain the job, so my first step with Coal and Lumber was to look up what the jobs required.

VLCT said the positions were considered obsolete and unnecessary. They date from an earlier time prior to consumer protection laws, and now everything these positions were responsible for are handled in other ways.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of January 9th

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Monday, January 16th (MLK Day) from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (I-91 will remain open). Traffic conditions on both I-91 and through the town will be monitored closely throughout the day. Should traffic congestion become an issue, the ramps may be re-opened until traffic conditions improve. This will be managed actively throughout the day until peak traffic volumes have passed.

Loss of Fairground Rd Trash Bins

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

Am I hearing this right?

What a stupid move.

I lived in a town (Lake Luzerne, NY) where they tried something like this many years ago.

The unintended consequence was a “Yuuge” increase in trash being discarded by the side of the road.

Why not eliminate all trash and garbage collection for good and let the free market do its magic?

Ukulele Classes Start Next Week in Brattleboro!

by Ruthie | Music

Join the local ‘Ukulution’ and learn to play this sweet and easy instrument, with instructor Lisa McCormick!

Classes start the week of Jan.9, and run for 6 weeks, at New England Youth Theater, 100 Flat St., in Brattleboro.

Beginners (no musical background needed!), and Advanced Beginner levels available. Daytime and evening options. Ukuleles avaible for use in class.

More info and schedule: bit.ly/UkeClass

Selectboard Meeting Notes: The FY18 5 Cent Tax Increase Discussion, and Gartenstein Not Seeking Re-Election

by cgrotke | Town News

David Gartenstein will end six years of Selectboard service at the end of his current term. He announced his intentions not to seek re-election at the start of a long, first Selectboard meeting of 2017.

Most of the meeting was spent discussing budget loose ends and lingering questions regarding the FY18 budget. The board also heard about facilities project updates, had a late-evening welcome for our new Town Clerk and took up a few matters related to Representative Town Meeting.