Defining Affordable Care – A Tax Season Dilemma

by Lise | Op/Ed

This year, as I was doing my taxes, I got to wondering what is up with the healthcare “Personal Responsibility Tax” for the uninsured, and whether or not low income people really have to pay it.   This mostly affects the self-employed and people without coverage through their employers, but that’s a few people, so it seemed worth investigating.  As it turned out, finding out how to claim an exemption was most of the battle, and a battle it was with many spreadsheets and worksheets and interactive tax tools to be filled out.  The answer I arrived at was “no” — unless you make more than $53,737 (as a single person), you’re not required to pay the uninsured person’s tax.  This is because you are not required by law to expend more than 8.05% of your income to buy h

Weekend Creativity Series: Essential Art Supplies

by cgrotke | Creative

Everyone has their own favorite tools, and for artists this means art supplies. We have a room dedicated, filled with all sorts of goodies.

I’m rather simple in my essentials. I exclusively use whatever is available. If I get a choice in the matter, I’m drawn to soft pencils and black sharpies, and small sheets of paper. For animation I get out my Color-erase blue pencil and work with punched paper.

But that’s just for drawing. I also like to have easy access to rulers, flexible curves, colored paper, scissors, exacto knives, tape, a range of glues, wood, metal, glass, clay, fabrics, cameras, instruments, and reference books and videos.

Why Have An Age Barrier To Voting?

by DWard | Philosophy

What is the idea behind having a voting age?  Why can’t anyone who can read or write, vote in elections?  Shouldn’t the young also have a say on who is to make the rules they are to live by and their families are to live by? The rules that will affect their lives later on.  Some people will think it ridiculous that a six year old should be able to vote, but why?  Because they are too young?  By who’s designation? Shouldn’t we be teaching children how to become independent adults?  Being young and part of the system allows them to practice.  And why should they not have a say in the political system anyway?    

The Brattleboro Historical Society Presents: This Week in Brattleboro History Podcast – Daughters of the American Revolution

by reginaldwam3 | History

It was 103 years ago this week that the Vermont Phoenix reported that the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was locating and marking the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers in Brattleboro and nearby towns. You may not be aware that Brattleboro is virtually surrounded by the history of the American Revolution.

 

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – April 19, 2016

by cgrotke | Town News

Architects, advisors, and construction services for the police and fire facilities projects will be contracted by the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting at the Municipal Center.

An All-State Music Festival will ask for a parade permit, various grants will be applied for or accepted, and more. You can bring up items not otherwise on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Water Main Flushing To Begin

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Utilities Division crews will start Spring Flushing of the Town water mains on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 10:00 p.m. and continue through Saturday, May 7, 2016.

NOTE!! Some daytime flushing will continue throughout the weeks of May 9 and 16.

Please note that water main flushing will occur at night and also during the day.

Customers are asked to check the flushing schedule closely as flushing causes water discoloration, low water pressure, and in some areas, intervals of no water.

Night flushing will occur from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Day flushing will occur from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Chemtrails – This Time A Lawsuit Pending

by DWard | Opinion

“This is truly an assault upon all life on earth.”

“They’re trying to obscure the severity of what’s unfolding from the public as long as possible.”

“What our government and other governments are doing and their agencies are doing are trying desperately to hide the magnitude of what’s unfolding till the last possible moment, at which time total collapse ensues.”

Youth Music Festival Now Accepting Registrations

by brattrock | Town News

BrattRock — The Brattleboro Youth Rock Festival — is coming to Brattleboro October 1, 2016!

A celebration of young musical talent, BrattRock’s mission is to provide a venue for area youth musicians and bands to gather, connect, learn, perform, inspire, and be inspired. 

Participation is open to youth musicians and bands with all members under 20 years of age. 

The one-day event features music workshops for youth, offered by local adult music professionals and educators and culminates with an evening concert with performances by participating youth musical acts. 

Registration is now open at www.brattrock.org.

Candidates In New York

by cgrotke | Politics

All political eyes are now on New York.

It’s Trump’s home state, so he should do well. It’s Clinton’s adopted home so she should do well. It’s where Sanders was born, so he should do well. It’s where people know and dislike Trump, so Cruz should do well. Everyone will win!

For me, it’s a bit more fun watching candidates hop around NY than NH. I know the state better, so it has a bit more relevance. In terms of political campaigns, the pressure is on and the candidates are firing on all cylinders, including taking swipes at one another. And for some reason, New York matters greatly this year.

Retting Place Closure in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Effective immediately, Retting Place will be closed at Green Street for several weeks. This closure is part of the Green Street Wall Project.

Access to Retting Place will be from High Street.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes while this project is in progress.

If there are questions or concerns about this project, please contact the Department of Public Works at 802-254-4255 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m..

Town of Brattleboro
Department of Public Works
Highway Division

Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ to be held for I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, May 14, 2016. There has been a lot of progress at the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge project site since the last trail talk. The talk will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor) and William Johnson, Senior Quality Engineer for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Adrienne Ginter Exhibit Reception on Saturday at All Souls Church

by JoyW-P | Arts

West Brattleboro, Vt. – Putney-based artist Adrienne Ginter has just installed two solo exhibits for spring viewing at opposite ends of the state. Locally, a show of twenty finely detailed watercolors, oils, and paper-cuttings can be seen through May at All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist in West Brattleboro. An opening reception is set for Saturday, April 16, 4:30 to 6:-00 p.m. The Governor’s Gallery at the State House in Montpelier is hosting a large exhibit of her paper-cuttings through late June.

The exhibit gracing gallery spaces at All Souls Church includes both intimately scaled and large-format works, some in archival print form. Ginter’s work explores elements of the natural world as well as fanciful narratives depicting ancient myths, history, and her personal experience. In her artist’s statement, Ginter shares that “every scene in nature tells a million little stories, and I work to incorporate an extreme amount of detail to tell not only the macro but the micro stories in a scene. This gives the viewer a greater sense of depth, not only visually but narratively, depending on how close they choose to engage with the piece.” It can take weeks to complete her largest paintings and 30 or more hours for up to ten layers of work in paper.

Brattleboro Parking – Lifting Winter Parking Ban

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Parking Department would like to announce the lifting of the winter parking ban. Starting 04/13/16, at midnight, overnight parking will be allowed on all streets EXCEPT in the downtown area. The following streets are never available for overnight parking:

Main Street

High Street

Elliot Street (from School St to Main St)

Act 46 Study Committee Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

ACT 46 STUDY COMMITTEE

Representing the Brattleboro Town School District, Dummerston Town School District, Guilford Town School District, Putney Town School District, and the Vernon Town School District
http://www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF MEETING

The Act 46 Study Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at the Oak Grove School.
AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Alice Laughlin, Committee Chair

II. REVIEW, PRIORITIZE AND ESTABLISH DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR MEETING BY CHAIRPERSON.

No Chance

by tomaidh | Politics

“I watch Bernie. He wins, he wins, he keeps winning, winning and winning, and then I see he’s got no chance. They always say he’s got no chance. Why doesn’t he have a chance?” “Because the system is corrupt. And it’s worse on the Republican side.”

Donald Trump, during a rally in Rochester, N.Y.

BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 4/11/2016

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 4/11/16

Monday, April 11, 2016

12:35 am BTT: 2016 Spring Forward Extravaganza

3:00 am Chasing the Dragon

3:55 am Engineering on the Inside: Innovations in Implants

5:00 am Spotlight on Vermont Issues: Human Trafficking

7:00 am Open Studio: Can Cops Cook?

April 1874 Advertisement – I. K. Allen Has Lumber For Sale

by cgrotke | History

Below you will find an advertisement from the Vermont Phoenix, April 1874, that informs of us the wonderful selection of lumber at the lumber yard.

“Lumber! Lumber! The undersigned is now replenishing his Lumber Yard with a fresh stock of Lumber for the spring trade consisting of shingles, lath, and finishing lumber of all descriptions,” it begins.

The Importance of Being of No Consequence

by Vidda | Philosophy

Over the years, I’ve often posed this question to many people, “If I could somehow give you an eternal afterlife, but with the caveat that you cannot take God with you, would you still take the afterlife?

Because the question is unprecedented, it at first takes the person by surprise. After all, most Western people still connect an afterlife with the God they were raised to believe in. It would not normally occur to them to have one without the other.

So, there is often hesitation, but not for long.