Real Estate Recovery: Wishful Thinking?

by SK-B | Business

MLS data for Windham County shows median home prices during the first three-quarters of 2014 running 5.26% below median home prices for the same period a year ago.

National real estate and other economic indicators are mixed and increasingly volatile, with even a fragile recovery, uncertain. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reports that prices for existing homes nationwide rose by 4.8% in August compared with the previous year, despite the number of sales slipping by 1.8%.

Retreat Tower Questions

by KAP | Questions & Answers

I took my young sons up to the Retreat Tower this past Tuesday — it was their first visit.  I’ve never been inside, but have heard that it is opened to the public now & then.  Does anyone know if there are fixed dates that it’s open, or where one can find out when it will be open?  The boys are dying to have a look inside and climb to the top for a view of the area.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of 10/19 and Road Closure

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91 Northbound Closure for Pothole Repair: Monday Night, October 20th

I-91 Northbound between exits 2 and 3 will be closed to all traffic to complete pothole repair in advance of the winter season. This work is scheduled starting at 8:00 pm Monday October 20th through Tuesday morning, October 21 at 6:00 am. Traffic will be routed onto Route 5, and law enforcement officials will be on site. If this closure needs to be rescheduled due to weather, we will inform stakeholders a minimum of 72 hours in advance after the team is able to confirm forecasted weather conditions are acceptable for work to proceed.

Upper Dummerston Road Closure: October 27th 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Upper Dummerston Road will closed on Monday, October 27th, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM to allow work on the new bridge that will span Upper Dummerston Road. If this closure needs to be rescheduled due to weather, we will inform stakeholders a minimum of 72 hours in advance after the team is able to confirm forecasted weather conditions are acceptable for work to proceed.

Don’t Let Billionaires Buy the Senate, Sanders Tells Labor Convention

by Not Signed In | Politics

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 15 – Speaking at a labor union convention here today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the future of American democracy is at stake.

“We are not living in a democracy when 60 percent of Americans are not voting, while billionaires like the Koch Brothers are spending hundreds of millions to buy the United States Senate. That’s called oligarchy, not democracy,” Sanders said.

The billionaires Charles and David Koch and other wealthy individuals are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into this fall’s campaigns by taking advantage of a disastrous 2010 Supreme Court ruling and subsequent court decisions that gutted federal and state laws limiting campaign spending.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Personnel

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 6:15pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 6:15pm to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

Brattleboro Town Manager Search Committee Meeting and Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Manager Search Citizen Committee will meet on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 2:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Committee will enter into executive session at 2:00pm to discuss the appointment or employment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.

Resigning From Academy School

by Not Signed In | Op/Ed

Letter to the Editor,

It is with deep sadness that after almost thirty years of dedicated service to the children of Brattleboro, I have made the decision to resign as a fourth grade teacher at Academy School.

I want to thank the approximately six hundred brilliant, insightful and talented students I have been privileged to work with while they learned, questioned, problem solved and continued their growth towards becoming empathetic and socially responsible members in their community.

I am in awe of the hundreds of devoted and nurturing parents I have had the privilege to work with as they wrestled with the educational, social and personal issues that parents raising children today face.

Hungrytown Duo Coming to Brattleboro

by msquare | Entertainment

The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library will host a fundraising concert on Friday, November 7, 7:30 PM in the Library, with Hungrytown, a Vermont folk-based duo. Hungrytown is the musical and married team of Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson.  They have released two highly acclaimed CDs, Hungrytown (2008) and Any Forgotten Thing (2011), both of which continue to receive much airplay on folk and Americana stations worldwide. 

Rebecca and Ken tour full time; their adventures have taken them throughout the US, Canada, Europe and New Zealand.  Their songs have been performed by many other artists, including Nashville songwriting legend David Olney, and bluegrass veterans the Virginia Ramblers. Hungrytown’s music has also appeared on several television shows, including the Independent Film Channel’s hit series, Portlandia. 

2nd Annual Career Expo & Job Fair — Nov. 10 @ BUHS gym

by Career Expo | Business

2nd Annual CAREER EXPO & JOB FAIR:

Monday, Nov. 10, Brattleboro Union High School gymnasium

Top employers from tri-state area are coming together to raise awareness of career opportunities; will also recruit for specific job openings. Several schools, agencies also on hand to support job searches, training needs

Whether an experienced professional or a newcomer to the job market, all are welcome to stop by the Brattleboro Union High School gymnasium, Nov. 10, to learn how to advance your career in southeastern Vermont and in the greater tri-state area. More than 20 employers, along with several temporary staffing agencies, colleges, technical schools, and human service agencies, will be staffing informational tables as part of the Second Annual Career Expo & Job Fair organized by the Windham Workforce Investment Board.

150 Years Ago (1864 10/14)

by BusyMom | History

Derby, Oct. 14, 1864.

Sister Abiah,- 

I have hired the Skinner House for one year and shall come after you Monday and stay all night so as to pack up and get an early start Tuesday. Father will come Tuesday for you and the children. Have Father Mansur come and help load Tuesday. Rec’d you letter last night.

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Invite: Oct 24 – “Medicare Facts & Medicare Fraud”

by RobertOeser | Health

The next “Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast” is planned for Friday, October 24,  2014 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

This month’s presentation will be given by Kelly McElheny, Southern VT Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Community of Vermont Elders – SMP Program.

The Vermont Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program is a federally-funded volunteer and education program designed to help protect Medicare beneficiaries from becoming the victim of healthcare fraud, error or abuse. The SMP message “Protect. Detect. Report.”, is delivered through the support of volunteers throughout Vermont. This program is helpful to those just turning 65, already on Medicare or caregivers and families.

Lisa McCormick’s New Beginning Guitar Course Has Global Reach

by Ruthie | Music

Brattleboro singer/songwriter and guitar instructor, Lisa McCormick, is teaching the world to how play the guitar. Senior faculty with the leading online guitar education provider, GuitarTricks, McCormick’s comprehensive new Guitar Fundamentals course went live on the internet on October 10. 

“Hundreds of thousands of people are going to learn to play the guitar from this course,” says Jon Broderick, Founder and CEO of GuitarTricks. The online education site has a subscription base of over two million members. 

McCormick has been teaching guitar in the Brattleboro area for over 20 years, combining her professional music skills with her Bachelors of Science degree in Education. 

Schedule a Home Energy Audit Today! Do It For Kitten

by csimmons | Home & Garden

Your house is drafty and your kitten is cold. It’s time to do something about that. If you’re a Brattleboro homeowner, schedule a home energy audit today and learn how you can save money and make your home more comfortable. Contact Brattleboro Town Energy Coordinator Paul Cameron to get started. 802.251.8135 or pcameron@brattleboro.org. Do it for kitten.

This is a project of the Brattleboro Energy Committee. Please watch and share this video on social media sites, email, blogs and list serves. Thanks!

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 10/13/14

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 10/13/14

Monday, October 13, 2014

12:00 am VT Historical Society 2nd Saturdays: Tools and Machinery

1:50 am TED Talks: Avi Reichental: What’s next in 3D printing

2:00 am FSTV Overnight

4:00 am Emotions and the Aging Process: Ep. 3

4:30 am Text, Talk, Act : What Will You Do When Your Friend Needs Help?

Brattleboro Time Trade – Week of October 12

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Other

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

See below for exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from a three day respite:

OFFERS:

Help with Minor Household Repair/Upkeep
Help with Fall Chores, Interior Painting
Young Chestnut Tree Seedlings
Borrow Our Kayak
Interested in Learning to Read Music?
Troubleshootin’!

Weekend Concert Series: Carolina Chocolate Drops

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Here’s a concert featuring the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a roots, bluegrass sort of group that has been playing since 2005, growing in popularity, winning awards, and appearing to have a good time doing it.

This is a well-filmed show at Nancy Jazz Pulsations in October of 2012. It’s a french show, which makes for interesting multilingual stage banter between songs from this very American group.

The reason to watch, though, is for the musical performance. It has an old-timey feel to it, and is a perfect laid back accompaniment to your weekend.