Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – July 7, 2015

by cgrotke | Town News

At their first regular meetiing in July, the Brattleboro Selectboard will hear from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, (formerly the Downtown Alliance, formerly Building a Better Brattleboro,) about their plans for a proposed park in Harmony Lot.

The board will also set the tax rate for FY16 property taxes, appoint the Our Town phase III screening committee, get an update on Pay As You Throw, have a discussion about “Entergy money,” and more. You can attend in person or watch on BCTV. You can also bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Jeremy Kittel Band plays Celtic Bluegrass Gypsy Jazz at the Hooker Dunham Theater

by Judith Joiner | Music

The Jeremy Kittel Band bring their Celtic/bluegrass/gypsy-jazz fiesta to the Hooker Dunham Theater, Fri. July 10, 7:30pm.

Grammy-nominated fiddler JEREMY KITTEL (Turtle Island String Quartet, My Morning Jacket, Aoife O’Donovan), Florida mandolin prodigy JOSH PINKHAM (David Grisman), & Vancouver guitar whiz QUINN BACHAND (Ashley MacIsaac) are all up-and-coming acoustic stars.

Together, they blaze with musicality, chops, and a “sheer about-to-burst enthusiasm” (Strings Magazine).

SeVWA’s 2015 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Continued July 1st

by sevwa.wqmp | Nature

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) had its second monitoring day for the summer of 2015 on Wednesday, July 1st. As you may recall, a large thunderstorm came through our area Wednesday morning which coincided, rather unfortunately, right with our sampling time. Some volunteers were out before the storm moved through, but about half our sites were not tested due to the inclement weather. Our volunteers are a valuable asset and we never want to risk their safety to get a few water samples!

          Bacteria levels tend to spike following a heavy rain event when more water falls on the ground than can be infiltrated, or soaked into, the ground and it runs off directly into rivers and streams taking everything loose on the ground with it. In the case of impermeable surfaces such as concrete, pavement, and compacted sand or gravel, no water can ever infiltrate and always becomes runoff when it rains.

The Case of the Missing Newspapers

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

Every Wednesday I deliver about 4000 copies of “The Commons”, a weekly newspaper which is familiar to most of the people reading this. 

This Wednesday, something very mysterious happened – most of the papers I delivered have disappeared.

It is as if someone was following me around and removing the papers from the racks I filled just a few minutes before.

Got any ideas?

The Declaration of Independence

by cgrotke | Politics

I thought it might be nice to re-read the Declaration of Independence, to look again at how this country of ours began.

…

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Next West Brattelboro Association Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, July 9

by WBA | Town News

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held at the New England House
(restaurant), 254 Marlboro Road, on Thursday, July 9th at 6:00 PM. After a review of the treasury report, the WBA will tackle organizational issues such as progress toward making the group officially non-profit.  There will also be discussion regarding notification to abutters when public hearings affect property owned by a co-operative or collective.  The group will also take up the idea of forming a West B Welcoming Program. Another topic will be how best to recognize beautification efforts.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of July 5

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

On Sunday, July 5, both the Northbound and Southbound Exit 3 On-Ramps will be closed from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM to reduce congestion on I-91 Southbound caused by merging traffic. Because of highway logistics, we need to close both northbound and southbound on-ramps. Local southbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 south to Exit 1, and local northbound traffic will be rerouted on Route 5 north to Exit 4. Sheriff officers will assist in directing traffic.

Free Monday Morning Movies

by KathrynT | Entertainment

MONDAY MORNING MOVIES at BRATTLEBORO SENIOR CENTER

MOVIES FOR JULY

WE CAN LEARN

Movies starring:

Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Lawrance Fisburne, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Andre Braugher, Sissy Spacek, Miriam Thompson, Danny Glover, Daryl Hannah & Antonio Vilaraigosa.

Greece Should Be Taking Money Making Stock Tips from Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont!

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

Letter to the Editor of The Vermont Journal/The Shopper, Ludlow, Vermont,  published July 1, 2015.
“Congressman Peter Welch Gets Richer While Depriving Poor Vermonters!”

Last year

Do members of the United States Congress  get special hints telling them to  buy stock at a certain time, and then sell it, to reward them for voting a certain way on a certain Bill?

Selectboard Special Meeting Notes: New Permitted and Conditional Uses in Brattleboro

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a special meeting Tuesday evening to take care of a bit of regular business, but primarily to hear about and discuss the new zoning and land use regulations being proposed for adoption. If all goes according to plan, the new regulations will go into effect this fall.

Liquor Commissioners

The Brattleboro Selectboard, acting as Liquor Commissioners, granted a special events permit to Hermit Thrush Brewery for a Brewery Pint Night. Two actually, one scheduled for July 3 and another for July 24.

Reformer Down to Skeleton Crew

by DanAxtell | Media

that most of the newsroom staff at the Brattleboro Reformer was laid off on Friday (June 26, 2015) . The Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal were also reduced to “skeleton crews” by New England Newspapers. Only Dominic Poli and Howard Weiss-Tisman remain–with no editorial staff.

Vermont Announces $5,000 Downpayment Assistance

by Steven K-Brooks | Business

Thanks to a bill just passed by large majorities in both houses and signed by the governor, the  will soon be able to offer qualified first-time homebuyers a leg up in the form of a $5,000 “sleeping” loan.

The $5,000 assistance be in the form of a zero interest loan, with no payments. The loan is repaid when the homeowner sells their home or refinances.

In email correspondence with Brattleboro Buyer Brokerage, Seth Leonard, VHFA Homeownership Outreach Coordinator, wrote:

MAKE A ZINE at Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Creative

What is a zine? 

Zines are small or mini magazines that you can create! Zines can be comics, or stories or anything you want. Make a zine about the most amazing trip ever. Make a zine about something you are passionate about. Make a zine about anything you want and it will be awesome. Two local zine makers, comic drawers,  and super artists, Jo Dery and Hannah Cummins, will be there to give tips and tricks to make the best zines.

Draw your own pictures. Write your own words. Make your own zine.

Brattleboro Fourth of July Closings

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of the July 4th holiday, all Town offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2015, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. All other violations will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.

Solarize Dummerston Invites You To A Solar Open House Gathering. Tue June 30th 6-8p

by Not Signed In | Dummerston

Solarize Dummerston invites you to a Solar open house gathering. *This is not just for Dummerston residents – all are welcome and all can benefit – the more people signing up the greater the savings*.

Please tell your friends, and neighbors, please share this event!

Tuesday, June 30 from 6-8pm
Dummerston Grange – 1008 East-West Rd

Scrub Your Soul Castile Soap Now Available At The Co-op!

by Carolyn | Business

Love natural products?

Love hyper-local producers?

Love being squeeky clean?

The Brattleboro Food Co-op is now stocking Scrub Your Soul’s vegan castile soap in the bulk department.  Fill your own bottle to wash your body, your dishes, your hair, or anything that needs washing! Be sure to request scents you would like to see.