My New Theory – Economic Fracking

by cgrotke | Economics

I’ve coined a new term for what I think is going on in the world economy. Certain speculators and money-obsessed groups are fracking the economy, trying to extract smaller and smaller amounts of profit from deeper and deeper crevices. In doing so, they’ve made the underlying economy unstable, and strange, unexpected, and dangerous events are the result. This makes it impossible for those who played by former rules to know how to participate. The old rules have changed.

So, an example of this fracking of the economy would be the investment houses that invest in algorithms to do high volume micro-trades at faster-than-human speeds. They are hoping to extract pennies, or portions of pennies, in their favor.

Ladies of the Rainbow Windham County Heat Fund Fundraiser

by RDavis | Entertainment

“Heating it up with the Ladies of the Rainbow” on Saturday, February 6 at 8:00 p.m. at the VFW on Black Mountain Road in Brattleboro will be this year’s major fundraiser for the Windham County Heat Fund.

In 2005 Daryl Pillsbury and Richard Davis decided to find a way to help people struggling to pay for home heating fuel who were not eligible for existing programs.  They simply decided to raise money and then figure out who was in need and help those people.

They have worked closely with SEVCA and the Windham County HELP Fund so that people can be connected with assistance programs. The Heat Fund is a one-time band-aid, usually consisting of a minimum fuel delivery. The Fund tries to make sure people have explored all other avenues of assistance first.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of January 17

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Monday, January 18, (Martin Luther King’s Birthday) from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open.

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.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 may be reduced to a single lane intermittently, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Notes: Paying the Piper

by cgrotke | Town News

The special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard examined the cost of borrowing for proposed Police and Fire facility options, life cycle cost comparisons, how and when to apply the excess fund balance, and preliminary Police and Fire facilities survey results.

It’s increasingly looking like two full fire stations and a Black Mountain police station will be presented to voters, but no decision has been officially made as of yet, and more meetings are scheduled before those decisions are cast in stone.

From Clay to Table Opening at The Putney School

by Not Signed In | Arts

Three local ceramic artists—Rob Cartelli, Heta Hilsdon, and Todd Wahlstrom—open their collective show on Friday, January 15 from 7-9 p.m. (snow date January 22) in the Michael S. Currier Center at The Putney School. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Naomi Lindenfeld, the ceramics teacher at The Putney School, curated the show. Her vision led her to display the finely-crafted functional pottery on furniture rather than gallery pedestals. That way viewers can get much more of a sense of how one would live with the pots on a daily basis.

YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program to be offered at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

by BMH | Health

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk for developing the disease by taking steps that will improve their overall health and well-being.

The (CDC)-led evidence-based program is delivered over a 12-month period in a supportive small group classroom setting. Sixteen weekly one-hour sessions are followed by eight monthly sessions. Facilitated by trained lifestyle coaches Terri Kneipp and Nancy Schaefer, the class is scheduled to begin January 21, 2016 and will be held at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.

Brattleboro Closures on Martin Luther King Day

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Monday, January 18. All other violations will be enforced.

A Worm of Robins?

by tomaidh | Nature

This chilly, windy morning, as I was walking my dog, I was surprised to see a large flock of robins fluttering all around the Spring Street Parking Lot.

Are they lost? Or did they miss the southbound AMTRAK?

(According to the Quebec based bird welfare organization Le Nichior, the proper collective noun for robins is
a “worm”.

)

Sanders Announces Finalists of State of the Union Essay Contest

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 11 – With President Barack Obama set to deliver his State of the Union address tomorrow evening, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced 20 finalists in his annual State of the Union essay contest for Vermont high school students. A record number of Vermont high schools and students participated in Sanders’ contest this year.

This year, 799 students from 39 Vermont high schools wrote essays of 250 words to 500 words detailing their own view of the state of the union. That is a substantial increase from last year when 454 students from 27 schools wrote essays for the senator’s contest.

Act 46 Study Committee Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

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, January 13, 2016 at the Green Street School, Brattleboro.

AGENDA

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

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

BMH Launches “Mindful Eating For Weight Loss” Workshop Series

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Community Health Team will present a free 4-part workshop series focused on the role of mindful eating for those seeking to lose weight.

Presented by Peg Canal MS, RD, CDE Nutritionist/ Registered Dietitian/Certified Diabetes Educator, Carrie Quimby MS, RD Nutritionist/ Registered Dietitian and Nancy Schaefer, BS Health Coach, the workshop series will help participants identify triggers that contribute to unhealthy eating and learn to develop mindful eating practices.

Mexican-Americans: Experience & Identity – A Reading-Discussion Series

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Mexican-Americans: Experience & Identity–A Reading-Discussion Series: Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. Wednesday 20 January 2016, 7 pm – 8:30 pm. This 4-Part series ‘Mexican Americans: Experience and Identity,’ deals with the experiences of Mexicans living in the United States, from the struggles of migrant farmworkers and day laborers in California to coming of age stories of Chicanos as U.S. citizens. The first book in the series is Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, which chronicles the story of an alienated New Mexico boy who seeks an answer to his questions about life in his relationship with Ultima, a magical healer.

Laptops for Loan at Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Education

Borrow a Laptop at Brooks Library! Four new laptops have arrived, courtesy of the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library, and they are ready for borrowing! Each one may be borrowed for 2 hours of in-library use, and they are set up for wireless printing to the new printer/scanner/copier located next to the computer stations. Ask a staff member for more details! 

For more information contact Brooks Library by phone 802-254-5290, by email info@brookslibraryvt.org, or on the web at brookslibraryvt.org. Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301.

On Exhibit at Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Arts

Library Exhibits at Brooks Memorial Library for January/February

SECOND FLOOR-CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATORS CASE: lluminating Illustration: Picture Book Art Inspired by Illuminated Manuscripts, an exhibit borrowed from the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA.

MEZZANINE-LOCAL HISTORY ROOM WINDOWS: left Abenaki artifacts collected locally; right Glass and ceramic vases from the Loud Collection.

MEZZANINE CASE and SECOND FLOOR ENTRYWAY: More objects from the Charles and Henrietta Loud Collection.  

Exhibits are accessible during regular library hours: Mon.-Wed. 10-9; Thur.-Fri. 10-6; & Sat. 10-5.

SeVEDS Announces 2015 CEDS Vital Project Rankings

by Not Signed In | Economics

Windham Region: Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) has announced the projects submitted for inclusion in the 2015 CEDS (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies) along with the list of 14 projects ranked at Vital Projects at a Press event held at the New England Center for Circus Arts at the Cotton Mill Hill studio. Vital Projects are the top ranked projects in terms of alignment and potential to advance the goals and objectives of the CEDS.

Sanders – Clinton Race Tightens, Trump Favored in NH

by cgrotke | Politics

New polling from a show Sanders within a margin of error with Clinton in Iowa (45% to her 48%), and show him leading her in New Hampshire (50% to her 46%).

Sanders beats or ties the top Republicans in those states. He beats Trump and Cruz by 19 points in New Hampshire.

Clinton would trail Cruz or Rubio in New Hampshire, but would beat Trump in either NH or Iowa. She does least well against Rubio, losing by 12 points.

Cruz beats Trump by a small margin in Iowa. Rubio and Carson are competing for third place there.

Trump beats Cruz in NH.

Technology Help at Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Education

Do you want to increase your knowledge and comfort on the internet, in social media, or on your smart phone or tablet? Cal LaFountain, the Library’s Electronic Services Support Specialist, is available for brief, private consultations to help. Mondays, 3 to 6. To book time with Cal, call (802) 254-5290 x104 or email cal@brookslibraryvt.org. 

BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 1/11/2016

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 1/11/16

Monday, January 11, 2016

12:00 am 12th Annual A Capella Concert 2/7/15

2:00 am 2015 Slow Living #3: Food Systems, Allison Hooper

3:00 am 1st Wednesdays: Roots of Latin Jazz

4:30 am Green Mtn. Vets for Peace: Syrian Refugee Medical Mission Pt 1

5:30 am Building Bright Futures: Beth Diamond and Janet Kilburn

6:05 am Firefighters Architects and Engineers for 911 Truth

Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of January 10

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Other

Brattleboro Time Trade:   Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.  See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade can do for you!

How Time Trade Works: You do something for someone and earn time credits for your “bank,” which you can then put towards someone else doing something for you! It’s that simple – and amazing!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from a sparkly zone:

OFFERS (i.e. things people could do for you):

Genealogical Research
Assistance Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance
Genealogy Tutoring/Mentoring