Where Have All The Comments Gone? The Participation Problem

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

A few people have noted that iBrattleboro commenting has dropped off a bit recently and wondered why. Usually, iBrattleboro follows the general trends in town, and Brattleboro as a whole has seen community participation dropping off for some time now.

Few people run for the selectboard or school boards, and town meeting struggles to find representatives. Public participation at selectboard and school board meetings is minimal. Few people commented publicly on major zoning changes being debated. Parents barely batted an eye when Common Core was implemented.

Food drives and non-profit fundraising efforts struggle to meet goals. Citizens haven’t been motivated to hold fundraising events for needed police and fire facilities. Skatepark fundraising efforts are quiet. And so on.

Conserving Our Water Resources: Green Infrastructure Workshops

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The quantity and quality of water in our region has direct impacts on all of us. Flooding causes a huge financial burden on municipalities, businesses, and individuals while threatening public safety. Droughts lead to crop failures, inadequate domestic water supplies, and stressed ecosystems. Water quality degradation diminishes ecosystem health, domestic water supplies, and recreational opportunities. New Vermont Clean Water Act legislation reinforces the need for all of us to treat water as a valuable resource.

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a suite of design tools and structural techniques that address all of these water issues by employing strategies that help to maintain natural hydrologic processes. GI presents significant opportunities for Vermont municipalities, businesses and individuals to reduce the impacts of stormwater on budgets and assets while protecting vital natural resources. As we adapt to the impacts of climate change, it is essential that we seek strategies to protect life, property, and our region’s natural resources.

Future Of Local Journalism Is Subject of River Garden Panel Discussion

by MartinLangeveld | Media

A group of local media business specialists will explore “The future of local journalism” in a panel discussion at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, downtown Brattleboro, on Thursday, Sept. 24 at noon.

The event is part of the daily Brown Bag Lunch events presented by Strolling of the Heifers, and is the second annual panel discussion on local journalism in the series.

Participants include Ed Woods, CEO of New England Newspapers, Inc. and publisher of the Reformer, Randy Holhut, deputy editor of The Commons, Kevin Moran, group editor for New England Newspapers, Roland Boyden, production manager of Brattleboro Community Television, and Martin Langeveld, retired newspaper executive and media blogger.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 9/21/15

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 9/21/15

Monday, September 21, 2015

12:00 am BCTV Archive: Llama Rangbar – Sacred Medicine, Sacred Space

2:00 am Building Vermont’s Moral Economy

3:30 am Heirloom Seeds at the Sitzmark 9/5/15

6:00 am Concerts on the Green: The Green Brothers

Masters of the Short Story at Brooks

by msquare | Books

Masters of the Short Story, a reading and discussion series will be held in the Brooks Memorial Library this fall on Monday evenings. The books and authors to be discussed, with dates, are:  Park City by Ann Beattie (October 5), Selected Works of Flannery O’Connor (November 2), Five Great Short Stories by Anton Chekhov (November 30) and Poetry and Tales y Edgar Allen Poe (December 7).  

The series discussion facilitator will be VHC scholar Dr. Richard Wizansky.  This is a Vermont Humanities Council (VHC) event with support from the Vermont Country Store.  Each Monday discussion group will be held at 7PM in the Library Meeting Room.

Brattleboro Parking Rules

by KAlden | Questions & Answers

Does anyone know if there are town regulations about taking up more than one parking space on a public street? There are 2 public parking spaces directly in front of my house. One of the tenants in my building insists on parking in the middle of the spaces- making it impossible for another person to park in front of or behind her. This is not an occasional occurrence- she does this 24/7 and often does not move her vehicle for days at a time. It makes it impossible when anyone comes to visit and for deliveries of any kind. I get medical transportation to all of my doctor’s appointments and the van has to either pull onto a side street or park in the middle of the street. It’s particularly difficult when I am on crutches – which I currently am.

Weekend Creativity Series: Salvador Dali

by cgrotke | Creative

This week we spend some time with surrealist Salvador Dali, speaking to reporter Mike Wallace in 1958.

Sometimes it is important to pay attention to things we don’t necessarily understand. Diving into subjects outside my own skill set can lead to inspiration and ideas which furthers my own work. I enjoy hearing from experts in almost any field discussing their work and ideas, and keep a notebook fo tips and tricks I’ve come across.

Main Street Sidewalk Update #8

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Fortunately this week has presented us with perfect weather for construction! All the crews are moving full steam ahead and as you may have noticed, the majority of the sidewalks from High Street to Walnut Street are poured and opened!

We were able to get the small ditch on the street side of the new curbing paved earlier this week that will make parking and walking much easier on that portion of the project. The crew installing the brick strip is also moving right along (the picture above is an example of their work in the High Street bump out). We’ve gotten many questions about the purpose of the brick strip. Not only is it a decorative feature that ties together with our historic brick structures on Main Street, but it will allow us access to the underground electrical conduits in the future.

Feed Me!

by tomaidh | Nature

A greedy raccoon steals cat food and then demands MORE by banging on a glass door with a rock.

:

Youth Services’ Battle of the Bands Seeks Musicians 20 and Under

by Not Signed In | Music

Youth Battle of Bands Held During November Gallery Walk at River Garden

Brattleboro, VT–Area youth bands can launch their musical careers by competing at Youth Services’ Battle of the Bands at the River Garden on Friday, November 6, during Gallery Walk night, from 7 to 10 p.m.

The public is encouraged to attend and vote for their favorite group with their applause, according to organizers. In addition to the audience and youth judges, several individuals from both the recording and music industry will help choose the top band.

“Youth Services’ Battle of the Bands celebrates the entrepreneurial nature of young musicians forming bands and expressing their musical inspiration,” said Russell Bradbury-Carlin, the agency’s Executive Director.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of September 20

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Sunday, September 27 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open. Sunday closures will continue through October to manage leaf-peeping traffic.

I-91

Please see above re Sunday closures of Exit 3 on ramps.

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.

Sandglass Theater’s Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival is in Full Swing!

by SandglassTheater | Arts

Following last weekend’s jam-packed three days of parades, puppet shows, and gala celebrations, the festival continues for another weekend of world-class entertainment for all ages, engaging public dialogues, and much more.

This Friday evening at New England Youth Theater, Sandglass Theater will perform the final local showing of D-Generation: An Exaltation of Larks, their multiple-award-winning production based upon stories written collaboratively by groups of people with late-stage dementia. At Sandglass Theater, Kimi Maeda will present Bend, a performance drawn in sand that addresses issues of war, memory, home, and trans-cultural identity.