Doggie Doo’s and Don’ts

by DWard | Opinion

Municipalities pass ordinances that require dog owners to pick up their doggie doos with a plastic bag and then throw it into the trash.  Now who the heck thought of this?  It’s actually much worse for the environment than leaving the poop where it is because microbes break down the poop and it’s good for the soil.  That is where poop is supposed to go. That’s the way nature intended. 

Enclosing that natural fertilizer in plastic and disposing it in the trash will prevent it from breaking down and puts more plastic into the waste stream. Dumb, dumb, dumb.  If anything, dog walkers need to have access to a garden trowel and simply scoop up some soil to cover the doo.  Or simply use a piece of a branch or stone that has the right shape for the job.  There is no need to go against nature.  It is easier if we go in harmony with it.  Stupidity is hammering the environment and we all bear the consequences because of someone’s ignorance in office. “Selectmen” – please think before making stupid ordinances. 

Weekend Creativity Series – Better Sandcastles

by cgrotke | Creative

Everyone can make sandcastles, and with a bit of practice and a few simple tools those sandcastles can be quite nice.

One of the best tools to have on hand is a straight edge. They are great for carving, packing, and shaping mounds of sand into walls, stairs, windows and doors.

In this first video, Jenny the Sand Castle Girl, an Australian sand castle making champion, shares some of her tips and tricks for making an enormous beach castle.

SeVWA’s 2016 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Continued August 17th

by sevwa.wqmp | Nature

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) had the penultimate day of our monitoring program for the summer of 2016 on Wednesday, August 17th. Volunteers collected samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams and will conclude monitoring on August 31st. This year, we have sites on the West River, Rock River, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Williams River (including South Branch and Middle Branch), Saxtons River, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.

The drought continues in our area with our entire sampling area remaining under moderate drought conditions and parts of eastern New Hampshire and Massachusetts being upgraded to extreme drought conditions. It’s hard to imagine the contrast in weather to our south in Louisiana where historic floods are devastating the southeastern part of the state. They received over two feet of rain with the most recent storm; it is the second rain event this year that received over 20 inches of rain. Many rivers have shattered previous flood stage records by 4-6 feet. If you are interested in donating to help flood victims in Louisiana, you can visit the United Way of Southeast Louisiana (). Unfortunately, as our climate continues to change, we can expect more extreme weather events throughout the world like the drought in New England and the flooding on the Gulf Coast.

Savings Bank of Walpole Breaks Ground on Fifth Branch

by Not Signed In | Business

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE BREAKS GROUND FOR FIFTH BRANCH
Local builder and tradespeople chosen to build new location

Keene, NH, – Savings Bank of Walpole continues to branch out into the community and recently celebrated its future new Court Street, Keene location with a groundbreaking ceremony. The ceremony was held on Friday, August 5th at the site of the new branch located at 817 Court Street, (across from Dunkin Donuts). Attendees included several SBW executives and members of the bank’s Board of Trustees, along with the president and architect from local design/build firm Bensonwood, who are handling the design and construction of the building.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn Presents Planet Zydeco on Sunday, August 21

by Not Signed In | Music

Twilight Music concludes its 14th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, August 21 with an evening of high energy accordion/guitar driven dance music of Louisiana by Planet Zydeco.

The seventh and final concert of the 2016 series begins at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain. The series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, Green Mountain Well, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available. For more information, call 802-387-5772 or visit www.twilightmusic.org.

New Providers Join Cardiology and Family Medicine at BMH

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Medical Group Director, Dr. Tony Blofson announced three recent additions to the hospital’s staff.

is joining BMH’s . Dr. Fleet received his BA from Columbia College of Columbia University and his M.D from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He served his internship and residency at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, as well as a fellowship in Cardiology at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. Dr. Fleet is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Most recently a member of Senior Staff at Lahey Clinic in Burlington and Peabody, MA, Dr. Fleet has also served on the medical staff at Beverly Hospital in Beverly, MA and Union Hospital in Lynn, MA.

Artist Reception for Cai Xi and Her ‘Edge’ Selections 1991-94

by CXSilverGallery | Arts

You are cordially invited to an artist reception, Friday, August 19, 5-7pm at C.X. Silver Gallery for Selections from ‘Edge.’ Cai’s ‘Edge’ paintings 1991-1994 are on view at C.X. Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, VT, through September 18, open daily by appointment, closed August 20-22 and 27-30. Inquiries: Contact Adam Silver, Operations Manager / Co-Director, (802) 257-7898.

Cai is featured in two exhibitions during August, her 1980s portraits in .

“I returned to my gymnastics and calligraphy experiences as a child, finding myself jumping, stretching, and reaching as I painted. Chinese traditional breathing exercise (Qigong) continued to help me channel energy when I painted. Throughout the nineties, materials, surface and texture were self-renewing areas of exploration. I derived a lot of inspiration from living in New York City. On the street and subway, on the ground in the cement sidewalk, a peeling wall, everywhere I went, I kept discovering: ‘Oh, look. There’s a painting!’ The experience of ‘Edge’ is about stepping into and out of myself. My art-making is characterized by this existential process. For me, Art is about Paradox: appearance-disappearance, life-death, nothingness-wholeness, chaos-groundedness, emptiness-substance, movement-fixity.”

Act 46 Update From Brattleboro Representatives

by Not Signed In | Education

ACT 46 UPDATE FROM BRATTLEBORO.

The Brattleboro representatives from the Act 46 Study Committee will host a community forum on Wednesday, August 24th from 6-7.30 PM at Oak Grove School. This will be the final presentation of the proposed articles of agreement to the community, before the Study Committee officially votes on whether or not to send them to the Vermont Board of Education for approval.

wsesu.org

VFW Luncheon Menu

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri. from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Specials are $5.50 a plate, and burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken wings, soups and sandwiches are available each day.

The menu for Aug. 22nd – Aug. 26th

Mon – Sloppy Joe’s w/ French fries
Tues – country fried steak w/ gravy, mashed potato, and vegetable
Wed – cheese stuffed manicotti w/ a salad
Thur – meatloaf w/ mashed potato and veg.
Fri – coconut shrimp w/ French fries

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of August 22nd

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 Sunday, August 21st, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open.

Neptune’s Car Duo at Main Street Arts

by NewsWriter | Entertainment

SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. – The folk duo Neptune’s Car, featuring Holly Hanson and Steve Hayes, will be bringing their watertight harmonies, tasty guitar and solid songs to Main Street Arts for a performance Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15.   

Hanson’s light soprano blends perfectly with Hayes’ warm tenor, while vibrant lyrics and compelling melodies nestle in inviting arrangements, telling stories rich in detail, from a miner’s life in “A Blue Sky Turned to Rust” to “Emily Dickinson,” told with lyrics as beautiful as the poet’s own words.

The duo offers music in a down-to-earth style that has earned the praise of the Great American Song Contest, which called their “Fly Fishing the Big Hole” “…vivid, focused and engaging.”

Yet Another Stolen Purse Downtown

by BusyMom | News & Information

But this time it was mine!  I parked behind Centre Church this evening to put up a concert poster, thought car was ok unlocked for a couple of minutes because my stepdaughter was right there but someone must have seized an opportunity when her back was turned.

So I’ve spent the evening cancelling all my credit cards, and the police officer said odds are no trace of the purse or any of its contents will ever be seen again.  Probably in a dumpster or the bottom of the river by now.  he said they usually just grab the cash and dump everything else.

Tobacco Cessation Workshop at BMH Starts September 7

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is offering a Tobacco Cessation Workshop starting on September 7, 2016.

The Tobacco Cessation Workshop is a FREE quit smoking program that meets for an hour each week in a caring and encouraging group format. Each week you will be given concrete strategies to use on working toward your goal of tobacco-free living. Together, the group will develop an understanding of the dynamics of tobacco addiction and the ability to choose alternative behaviors to tobacco use. The role of nutrition and healthy habits is covered as well as goal-setting and follow-through.

Brattleboro Union High School Board Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The BUHS #6 Finance Committee will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 22 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.

NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING

The BUHS #6 Board of Directors will meet at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 22 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room. The meeting will start with a Planning Session – the regular business meeting will immediately follow at approximately 7:00.

Brattleboro Fire Captain Howard Promoted to Assistant Chief

by BrattFireDept | Police & Fire

The Brattleboro Fire Department announces the promotion of Captain Leonard Howard to the position of Assistant Fire Chief. Captain Howard is a 29 year veteran of the department. He joined the Call Staff in 1987 and was hired to the Career Staff in 1997. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2001 and then to shift captain in 2007.

Throughout his career, Captain Howard has been a very strong advocate of training and he holds many certifications, including Fire Officer II, National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, and Fire Service Instructor. Captain Howard also is an NFPA certified Fire Inspector, has extensive training in fire origin/cause and arson investigations, and has taken numerous hours of supervisory and management training through the Vermont Fire Academy and the National Fire Academy.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Pedestrian Projects and Municipal Improvements

by cgrotke | Town News

Central Fire Station plans have been approved. The Brattleboro Selectboard took a look at a series of architectural and mechanical drawings provided by the project team, had no objections, and gave the architect a green light to continue.

The board announced decisions in three matters they have been considering regarding three streets in town, Brattleboro has a new Assistant Fire Chief, many municipal projects are underway, the Library will soon be renovated, DeGray ‘s request for immediate blinky lights was slowed somewhat, the Stone Church gets semi-belated approval for a liquor license, and more.

Throughout the meeting were small victories for pedestrians, from preserved access to possibilites of new funds for safer crossings.

Rt. 30 Closures in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The following dates Route 30, under I-91 Brattleboro will be closed from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. to ensure the safety of the traveling public while work occurs on the new bridge.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Thursday, September 01, 2016