In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11, 2021, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Thursday, November 11. All other violations will be enforced.
The Brattleboro Selectboard kicked off their FY23 budget season with an overview of the proposed town budget by Town Manager Peter Elwell. Questions were limited at this meeting, allowing the board and the public to take in a broad overview. Deep dive questions begin next week.
One of the lengthier passages in this meeting was a discussion of prepaid assigned funds compared to unassigned funds and how they both are accounted for legally and financially.
Governor Scott Announces $9.9 million in grants to Accelerate Broadband Buildout in Four Vermont Communication Union Districts
Montpelier, Vermont – The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB), along with the Governor, Congressman Welch and other state and federal officials and representatives of many of the state’s Communications Union Districts, celebrated the awarding of $9.9 Million in Preconstruction Grants to four Communication Union Districts (CUDs) in an event in Montpelier Monday. The Districts represent 64 Vermont towns and villages.
Governor Scott celebrated the investment, “We all know how important broadband is to Vermonters and our economy. Connectivity is essential to our everyday lives, the way we do business, and how we stay connected with family and friends. Making investments in this critical infrastructure will allow us to grow in all 14 counties and help us retain and attract more workers, and I’m excited this work is moving forward.”
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes – October 12, 2021
2. Whetstone Village WRCC property transfer update
3. Fiscal Year to Date Financial Statement
4. FY23 Budget Planning Timeline & update
It is November and there are more dashboards to summarize. We continue daily and limited-weekend COVID-19 dashboard numbers from the Vermont Department of Health, and MA and NH counties that surround Brattleboro. Scroll down the new comments for the latest.
Monday, November 1, 2021
4:30 am Guilford Selectboard – Guilford SB Mtg 10/25/21
5:00 am Windham Central Supervisory Union – WCSU Bd and Exec. Comm. Mtg 10/27/21
7:00 am Vernon Selectboard – Vernon SB Mtg 10/19/21
8:00 am The David Pakman Show – The David Pakman Show – Weekly Broadcast
9:00 am Energy Week with George Harvey – This Week’s Energy News
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MENU
Nov. 1 Franks & Beans
French Fries
Cole Slaw
Watermelon
A Vampire is a person who is not permitted to properly die (usually because of an evil life). A Vampire still has a soul. A Zombie is a soulless but undead being. (Vampires usually make more money.)
I had a friend in Saudi Arabia named George Ghoul. He was a Saudi Arab.
Influenza (flu) is a contagious viral infection that can cause mild to severe symptoms and life-threatening complications, including death, even in healthy children and adults.
There was an epidemic of H1N1 Influenza that began in 1918 and petered out in about 1950. At the time, the spread of “The Flu” was blamed by many on the electrification of homes. Another H1N1 pandemic began from 1970 and is still with us today. A more severe flu variant, H3N2, has been running parallel. Electrification has nothing to do with any of it.
I apologize to everyone who woke early on the 1st to check your screen, disappointed that the Blog88.org October Issue was not up. Well, it is still October, and here it is!
Articles by Phoebe Sparrow Wagner in each of the first two issues was a hard act to follow. Phoebe had set a world-class standard. Following an Olympic Gold Medalist long distance runner, we will be happy to amble in her footsteps, enjoying the stroll. I think we ended up with a very nice issue. There is a lovely piece by amazing Justin Cabral. In a uniquely unencumbered style, with 83 exuberant words, Cabral extols an array of 40 things which bring him joy. The October Issue also features an Ask The Broker column, titled, “Black Swans.” And there is more.
Budget season begins with an overview of the proposed budget by the Town Manager to the Selectboard, and this starts at the next regular meeting of the board.
They’ll also approve more repairs for the skating rink, increase the deductible on health insurance for town employees, review their goals, and more. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Agenda (start time / minutes = 90)
• Call to order
• Agenda review (6:30 / 5)
• Approve last meeting minutes (6:35 / 5)
• Action items from last meeting (6:40 / 5)
The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 6:30pm at the Co-op Community Room.
Elena Harap Dodd talks about her childhood experiences of segregation in the south, and how that has informed her focus on inclusivity in her acting, writing and collaborations. She co-founded “Streetfeet Women”, a muti-racial, multi-cultural women’s writing and acting group which is still going strong after 40 years – and with a newly published book!
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – Thomas Nolan, Task Force Chair
II. Approval of Minutes from August 31, 2021
III. Receive an update from Paul Smith about progress on the Environmental Awareness and Responsibility policy that was adopted in May.
IV. Discuss work remaining for the Task Force.
CLOSED! The Swap Shop at WSWMD on Old Ferry Road, Brattleboro will be closed on Saturday, October 30 as it is the 5th Saturday of the month.
Swap Shop will be open on Nov. 6 for shopping only, Nov. 13 for donating only and our last day before closing for the winter will be Nov. 20 for shopping only.
SCHEDULE & HOURS:
Shopping Days- 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month
Donation Days- 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month
Here’s a Video highlight of October’s Gallery Walk: “CONVERSATION STATION” where local youth talk with adults from the community about all kinds of things – Many insights, much laughing and some surprises……..Featuring Samirah Evans, Johnny Swing, Curtiss Reed, Jr., Steffen Gillom, “Woody” Woodworth and more.
Preparations for nuclear war have been in the news, even mainstream news, more than just occasionally:
NATO unveils master plan to defeat Russia in nuclear war, Voice of London, UK., October 23, 2021 [1]
America’s failed weapons test shows Washington is currently hopelessly outgunned by Beijing in the race for hypersonic supremacy International Journal, Oct. 22, 2021 [2]
China says new hypersonic missile a blow to US ‘strategic superiority,’ New York Post, Oct. 17, 2021 [3]
This writer is puzzled by the absence of fear of nuclear war as a topic of concern.
6:00-6:10 Call to order
1. Agenda Amendments
2. Announcements
6:10 -6:15 Approve Minutes of October 4, 2021
6:15 – 7:00 Solar Siting
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Agenda Additions/Changes
III. Approval of Minutes – October 15, 2021
IV. Review Calendar and Upcoming Responsibilities
V. Recommended Protocol for Board/LC Communications – Action Plan
