COVID Update Are We Too Complacent?

by RDavis | Health

COVID will always be with us and most of us have learned to live with it. Unfortunately, people continue to die from the disease at a rate of 255 deaths per day in the U.S. Hospitalizations for the disease are up 8.7% and the death rate has increased by 4.5%. The U.S. full vaccination rate is 68%.

Mask-wearing continues to be rare, but it seems to me that a few more people are starting to mask up again and I am even considering if it makes sense to wear a mask in crowded public places now that a new variant is on the scene.

Many health care policy experts who also serve as talking heads tend to operate in the political realm as well. Too many of them are minimizing the threat of COVID and they are doing a disservice to the public by not urging more active prevention measures. The fact that the federal government has declared an end to the public health emergency doesn’t help.

Audio Issues with BCTV Channels?

by spot | Questions & Answers

Has anyone had problems with the audio on the BCTV channels (both of them) over the last several days?   I’ve contacted both BCTV and Comcast with no response from either.  Have been unable to get any TV audio on BCTV for several days,  but do get it on all other TV channels.  Happens both on “live” stuff and on replays via the BCTV schedules.  Not intermittent problems – constant silence.  Am I the only one?  (OK online, but that’s not convenient; lots of important stuff going on, hate to miss it.)

Wyn Cooper on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

One of our finest poets, WYN COOPER has had some remarkable serendipity over the years (Joni, Madonna, Sheryl), and written some wondrous poems and lyrics that he creates by sound – harmonies of depth, irony and pure pleasure.

Senior Center Rescinds Petition Ban

by SK-B | Town News

Town of Brattleboro Rescinds Warning

After hearing that Kathryn Turnas, a volunteer at the Brattleboro Senior Center, was ordered to stop collecting signatures on a petition opposing the Town of Brattleboro’s recommendation to the selectboard to approve of a municipal EMS system and to instead support Rescue Inc., Steven K-Brooks sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for any law, rule, regulation or other document which forbids Turnas from engaging in the constitutionally-protected activity which she had been pursuing.

The messages pasted below (each sent via email) tell the story:

Anatomy of a Tree Swing

by AnneODyne | Creative

No sooner did I divulge my affection for knots, that I came across this beautifully done, frankly irresistible, play thing. The setting being stunning only adds to the effect.

How was it done? What combo of knots? Such a simple thing made of a single run of rope and one piece of wood with a hole in its center. And let’s take note, this swing is made in such a way as to not harm the tree. How would you go about rigging a timeless item like this?   

The single line, around half inch in diameter, has an eye spliced into one end. Ok, that part is somewhat tricky to do. But you could get a similar effect with a bowline, it’d work the same way just be a touch less elegant. The line is heaved over the branch, the two halves made equal. Then the bitter end is put through the eye, and the whole thing is tightened-up. Note that no matter how much the branch expands, the loop will hold, grow with the tree, and not choke the limb.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – September 19, 2023

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard has one item on the agenda for discussion at their next regular meeting: whether or not to accept the recommendation of Town staff to proceed with a municipal EMS system, or to support a regional system favored by others in the community. During last week’s public forum, the public was encouraged to attend and comment at this selectboard meeting.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir Return To Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents “dirty gospel” band Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir, on Saturday, October 14th at 3:00 pm at the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Rd., in Putney.

“Reverend Vince utilizes his mixture of gospel, funk, and dance music as a platform to preach peace, tolerance, and love of humanity,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We hosted the Rev and his Love Choir last year inside the theater, and after that evening of religious intoxication through music, we knew we had to bring him back as part of our Bandwagon Series.”

After coming to New York in the 90’s to enter the seminary, studying to be a Methodist minister, Reverend Vince Anderson dropped out to follow his second calling – music. His band, The Love Choir, defines its style as “dirty gospel,” busting out trumpets, guitars and a keyboard. Together, they have played a now-legendary weekly show in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for over twenty years. Reconnecting with his faith and using his intense soulful music, he began to preach a type of spirituality that meets people where they are, is open to all, and moves everyone that sees him play. Reverend Vince is also deeply involved in social activism, working with other progressive faith leaders at home and around the country to build inclusive communities.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Sept 14, 2023

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

Placing cap blocks along the South MSE wall has been completed and that area is being cleaned up. Other clean up being done to ready the project for winter includes completing the gravel wetland, cleaning up and around the parking lot at 28 Vernon Street, and working the new slopes on either side of the road. Moment slab work has been paused to allow this work to be done without congesting the corridor further now that traffic is moving through.

Inconvenient Truths Are Not Personal Attacks

by SK-B | Op/Ed

I think defining what is a personal attack, and how it differs from a strong but fair statement is often not understood.

Today, on the Brattleboro Facebook Discussion page, Steve West accused me of having make a personal attack because I had written that a deceptive statement about the Rescue EMS response time was allowed to stand unchallenged by town department heads and the town manager at Tuesday’s EMS forum.

Internationally Renowned Composer/2018 Guggenheim Fellow Felipe Salles Presents His Groundbreaking Multimedia Work The New Immigrant Experience at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents Internationally renowned composer/2018 Guggenheim Fellow Felipe Salles’s groundbreaking multimedia work “The New Immigrant Experience”, on Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney, Vermont. The project captures the experiences of Dreamers in America in concert.

“Felipe Salles is a jazz composer who uses his personal narrative of an immigrant to help us understand the human stories behind headlines in the news,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “We love presenting artists who utilize their artistry as a lever for social change and bringing us together. We’re proud to bring Salles into local schools to talk with kids and present his craft.”

Brattleboro Fall Water Main Flushing Schedule

by Not Signed In | Town News

Utilities Division crews will start Fall Flushing of the Town water mains on Friday, September 22 and continue through Friday, October 13.  Occasional daytime flushing will continue throughout the week of October 6 through 13..  

Customers are asked to check the flushing schedule closely as flushing may cause water discoloration, low water pressure and in some areas, intervals of no water.  Users who experience a short period of discolored water or air in the water lines after flushing is complete should run the cold water for a few minutes to clear the lines.

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

CALL TO ORDER—6:00 p.m. – Anne Beekman, Chair
The chair announced that the previously scheduled presentation on Act 173 is postponed until the October meeting.

On a motion by Deborah Stanford the board approved the minutes of August 16, 2023.

Letter to the Editor – Brattleboro EMS Petition

by KTurnas | Op/Ed

While trying to gather names in support of keeping Rescue, Inc. ,at the Senior Center, I was informed that this was not allowed. This was not a partition for any political party, it was a partition involving the health and welfare of the people of Brattleboro.

Let us go back just a bit. Originally the Town Representatives voted for monies to go to Rescue, Inc. not to be put in the Town Budget as an axillary line item. So they hire a Town Manager, who we find out later that had ties with Golden Cross. When this happened why did this not alert our Selectboard to question these ties. Instead of admitting that they dropped the ball they continue to try to ram this down the throats of the Brattleboro residences, even with the multitude of responses that we want Rescue, Inc .

About The Meeting to Reveal Brattleboro EMS Issues

by cgrotke | Police & Fire

Last week, the Brattleboro Selectboard voted to reveal the major issues with Rescue that board members have known about but have not shared with the public. At the time, Chair Ian Goodnow said “It will be a meeting prior to our decision with ample time for public participation,” and “We’ll have a new schedule with plenty of notice for everyone.”

The public meeting to tell the full story from Brattleboro’s point of view took place in the middle of Tuesday’s EMS Public Forum, in comments made by HR Director Sally Nix.

Brattleboro History Walking Tour this Saturday!

by giddyitup | History

Designed as a fundraiser, volunteers from the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club have created a walking history tour of downtown Brattleboro. With the help of the Brattleboro Historical Society and the Brattleboro Words Project, Sunrise Rotary volunteers pooled their collective knowledge to put together a great introduction to Brattleboro, Vermont’s illustrious history.

Tours will be scheduled on a rolling basis for select Saturdays at 11 am for the fall. The fall tours will take place Saturdays, September 16, October 14 & 28, and November 4.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Seeks New Singers!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to sing with us in an Open Rehearsal tomorrow, September 14th. Come join in the singing in person on Thursday mornings or evenings, or virtually on Friday mornings (just for the month of October). This Open Rehearsal is for to new singers to come and check out the chorus to see if it is a good fit for them. Advance registration is required for all singers via our website.

The Chorus welcomes anyone ages 10 and up who identifies as female or non-binary, and whose vocal range comfortably includes the A in the middle of the treble staff. All abilities are welcome and no auditions are required. 

Brattleboro EMS Options

by fidel | Op/Ed

Ever since the relationship between Rescue and Brattleboro was ruptured in 2022, the Town has been faced with the challenge of arranging for EMS services. While the explanations for the 2022 break have been vague and unconvincing, the plan is for the Selectboard to decide how to proceed at its 19 September meeting. There are three options. Details on the three are worked out in Town Manager Potter’s 1 September “Transition Update” memo and a 7 September “Supplemental” memo (hereafter first and second memos); both of them, and much more information, is posted at the dedicated Fire-EMS Transition section of the Town website. . It is important to note that Mr. Potter’s analysis of the three options are focused on the first year–FY25 impacts—on the General Fund. Longer-term financial impacts for a Town EMS are not estimated.