People in Hong Kong are Protesting China’s Interference in Election Choices, So Why Are Vermonters Not Protesting Similar Interference?

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

Protests are going on right now in Hong Kong because China wants to control which candidates will be on the election ballot in Hong Kong. The U.S.A.  owes a lot of “debt” to China, and Chinese firms own a lot of property in the U.S.A.  So, is their a correlation, is China interferring with elections in the U.S.A. by  Chinese owned multi-national  corporate sponsors giving donations, possibly under the guise of their corporate subsidiaries, to “non-profits” like Vermont Public Radio which refuse to allow all candidates to participate together in general election debates?

Brattleboro Firefighters Benefit Association – Firefighters for Fitness 5K Trail Run/Walk

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

The Brattleboro Firefighters Benefit Association is holding a “Firefighters for Fitness 5K Trail Run/Walk” fund raiser on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 10:00am. The race will start and end at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on Cedar Street in Brattleboro. Registration on race day is from 8:00-9:30 am for $20.00 per person. Pre-Race registration is available at a discount by going online to: www.brattleborofire.org We also have a Facebook Event page called “Firefighters for Fitness 5k Trail run”

Let’s Go To Valley Fair, 1893

by cgrotke | History

For many decades, Brattleboro was home to the annual Valley Fair at this time of year. It was a two day, town-wide celebration of livestock, farming, craftsmanship, sport, and entertainment. Brattleboro literally shut down so that everyone could participate. Imagine the Stroll merged with the Guilford Fair, on steroids.

The newspapers would hype the event for months, giving details of various fair committees and their decisions. After the fair, they would run multi-page accounts with full details, and pages with lists of every winner of every competition – from best pumpkin pie to the cow that can produce the most milk.

Let’s go to Valley Fair, 1893!  I’ve combed through the reports to recreate a visit for us.

Brattleboro Early and Absentee ballots, Voter Registration, and Town Clerk Hours

by Not Signed In | Politics

Early/absentee ballots for the General Election to be held on November 4, are now available in all Vermont town clerk’s offices. Anyone wishing to vote prior to November 4, may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3.

Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person in the clerk’s office, mailed to the voter by the clerk’s office, picked up by the voter or delivered to the voter’s residence by two justices of the peace. All voted ballots must be received by the clerk before the polls close on election day in order to be counted. For more information or to request an early/absentee ballot in Brattleboro call 251-8157.

Sanders: Arab Nations Must Step Up Fight Against ISIS

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 30 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria will not be defeated until neighboring Muslim nations deploy ground troops against the terrorist organization.

Sanders also strongly disagreed with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) who said on Sunday that the United States may have “no choice” but to send ground troops into Syria.

The Hoover Dam, 31-Mile English Channel Tunnel, and soon…The Panama Canal…

by scrispe | Op/Ed

…didn’t even take as long to build as the Brattleboro Skate Park, look it up.

If everyone donated one dollar for every discussion about the Brattleboro Skate Park, those seeking a skate park would have had enough money to build 73,242 skate parks by now. The time for superfluous discussion is over. The discussion topic of the skate park has been beaten to death. I sincerely think it has been discussed more than Vermont Yankee, the Middle East, and the Champlain Monster combined. It has gotten to the point of gross absurdity. It has become an embarrassment to our community’s supposedly progressive reputation. It is now time to get behind the Memorial Park Skate Park site and donate money.

BMH Collaborates with Winstanley Solar Development

by BMH | Health

(WSD) and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) announce an agreement to collaborate on the construction and operation of a 500 kilo-Watt solar power array on land owned by Winstanley Enterprises. The electricity generated by this array will serve the main BMH hospital building, and generate significant savings for BMH over the twenty-year term of the agreement.

This project is part of an initiative to bring solar power and utility savings to schools, municipalities and hospitals in the Windham and Windsor County region. WSD, a joint venture partnership between of Concord MA, of Waterbury VT and Powersmith Farm, Inc. of Guilford, VT, hopes to develop up to five 500kW net-metered solar arrays on individual lots in the North Springfield Industrial Park.

CCV to Receive $2.4 Million for Job Training

by Not Signed In | Education

BURLINGTON, VT– Vermont’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Peter Shumlin today announced a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) award of $2.4 million to the Community College of Vermont in Waterbury for job training.

The funds are a part of a $2 billion DOL program investing in job training at community colleges around the country.

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

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

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. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of September 28

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 the best of September days:

OFFERS:

Social Security/ SSI Disability Lawyer Consultation
Resume Revision/Composition
Available to Pet Sit
Pet Visits
Mediation Offered
Kombucha Starters

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Scheduled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 5:15pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 5:15pm 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

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 9/29/14

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, September 29, 2014

12:00 am  Green Mtn Vets for Peace: Ep 136: Soldiers of Conscience Pt.1

1:00 am  What Magic Is – Flying Sports in New England.

1:41 am  TED Talks: David Christian: Big history

2:00 am  FSTV Overnight

4:00 am  Envisioning the Future of VT’s Digital Economy

4:30 am  For the Animals: Grey Bear Designs

First Wednesday: Reading for the Life of the World

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Award-winning Vermont author Katherine Paterson will consider the importance and many benefits of reading in a talk at Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro on October 1 at 7:00 pm. Her talk, “Reading for the Life of the World,” is part of the Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays lecture series and is free and open to the public. 

Paterson has twice won both the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award. She received the 1998 Hans Christian Andersen Medal as well as the 2006 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for her work. Her books include Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob I Have Loved, The Great Gilly Hopkins, and The Day of the Pelican. An active promoter of reading and literacy, Paterson lives in Barre, Vermont.

Raising Butterflies On The Porch

by Lise | Nature

It was early September and I was standing on my back porch enjoying a bit of afternoon sunshine, when I saw a large butterfly, dusky winged but with the telltale tails of the swallowtail, fluttering down the driveway.  For some reason that I did not at that moment comprehend, she (for she it was) seemed fascinated by the two orange trees growing in pots outside.  She fluttered from leaf to leaf, never staying on one for long.  And then it hit me.  She’s laying eggs.  Oh no! She’s laying eggs in September in Vermont!  Which is how I came to have a family of giant swallowtail caterpillars on my porch, over whom I am anxiously watching as the nights get colder and their prospects as children of nature diminish….

Vermont Law: Handheld Devices While Driving

by Vidda | State News

State transportation records show 379 crashes resulting from electronic distracted driving from 2009 through 2013. There was one fatality.

Vermont became the 13th state to bar all drivers from handheld cell phone use.

Vermont Law S.314 Starts October 1, 2014

>All uses of handheld devices banned while driving (cellphones, MP3 players, iPods, etc.)

>Drivers under 18 banned from using “all handheld and hands-free devices” while driving

Train Your Brain to Retain: Sat. Oct 25: A Day-Long Memory Workout, Shared With Others

by northeastpni | Education

The Northeast PsychoNeuroImmunology Institute for Healing presents “Train Your Brain to Retain,” a one-day program bringing people together to improve their mental acuity. On Saturday, October 25th, we will gather in a relaxed, private home setting to learn memory strengthening techniques, to support one another on our memory journeys, to eat food that’s good for the brain (and the soul!), and to have a good time.

Participants will learn how to give their memories a workout by using tools proven through neuro-science. Advances in neuroplasticity show us that the brain can actually increase its capacity to learn and remember. This is a class for people who know their minds are still capable, but who have noticed declines in their sharpness.

150 Years Ago (1864 9/27)

by BusyMom | History

(Post marked Martinsburg, W. Va. Oct. 1, 1864)

 6th Vt. Vols. Spt. 27, 1864.

Madam –

 It is with very sad heart that I inform you of the death of your husband. He was killed in action Sept. 19th, at the battle of Winchester during the last charge made by our Regt; A canister shot passing through his breast. His last words were, “I am a dead man.” We were in a great hurry at the time and I did not see him fall and did not learn of it until after the excitement was over. His things were all lost much to my sorrow.

Weekend Concert Series: Styx 1982 Live at Budokan

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Ahh, Styx. Make me think of my high school neighbor, Jack. He and I used to have arguments over the best bands. I tended toward Beatles and Stones. He insisted Kiss and Van Halen were the true rulers of rock. We’d each take turns playing songs for each other in an attempt to convince the other.

Jack liked Styx while they were rocking hard with albums such as Cornerstone, Pieces of Eight, and Grand Illusion. He wasn’t so sure about Paradise Theater, their 1981 release. It was a rock opera and a new direction. Still, it was Styx and it eventually won him over.