King Condemned US Wars Maintaining Predatory Capitalist Investments and Was Shot Dead

by jay janson | Op/Ed

Was King’s death fortunate or necessary for investors? The violent history of the American empire is replete with stories of seemingly pointless assassinations always characterized by media as senseless acts of individuals acting on their own, assassinations that nevertheless brought investment opportunities for investors on Wall St. either by chance or plan? For crime prevention, indict, prosecute the beneficiaries!

Saturday Nights on WVEW

by cgrotke | Media

Saturday night on WVEW 107.7 FM features two of my favorite local radio programs.

Recycled Radio, hosted by Steven Twiss, is a musical time machine. Tune in at 6 pm each week to be transported back in time to the era of big bands and ballads.

What makes this a spectacular show is Twiss, who picks a date in history, does the research, and is able to weave popular songs, radio show excerpts, national news, and even local headlines into his steady, two-hour mix.

Often times, what goes around comes around, and the pressing issues of today correspond to what was going on in the 1940’s.  A radio bulletin about a war effort sounds both distant and current.

Reformer Comics

by BusyMom | Media

I see the Reformer added more comics…but no more page space…time to get out the magnifying glass.  Somehow I’m not surprised.

Prosecutable US Crimes Against Humanity in Korea

by jay janson | Op/Ed

While staring at the New York Times front page photo of the bat-winged nuclear-capable B-2 Stealth Bombers up in the blue sky on their first non-stop long-range mission from the US on their way to a practice sortie to end in a mock bombing drop of inert munitions on a range off South Korea’s coast, I ponder.

The thought that ‘enough is enough’ will apparently never arise in the mind-set of those commanding the first planet-encompassing space-age military, blown up now to an uncontrollable magnitude and fueled by an uninterrupted flow of trillions of dollars by ledger line pre-occupied elite of the speculative investment banking community; a community possibly still being led by multi-war promoting confidants of ninety-eight year old David Rockefeller.

Weekend Concert: U2, Berlin, 1981

by paulgardner | Music

This is very early U2.

It’s Nov. 4, 1981.

Guitarist Dave “The Edge” Evans and drummer, Larry Mullen are 20. Singer, Paul (Bono Vox) Hewson and bassist Adam Clayton are 21.

Their second album, October was released a few weeks earlier on Oct. 12. The music is still largely unknown to U2 fans. This Berlin crowd responds best (when they respond at all) to the material from the first album, Boy.

Sanders Statement on Obama Cuts in Social Security, Veterans Benefits

by Not Signed In | Politics

LOS ANGELES, April 5 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today issued the following statement on President Obama’s proposal to cut benefits for Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and others:

“I am terribly disappointed and will do everything in my power to block President Obama’s proposal to cut benefits for Social Security recipients through a chained consumer price index. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I also am especially concerned about the impact this change would have on disabled veterans and their survivors.

Brattleboro Committee Meetings Scheduled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 4:30pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Leaks, Lies and Lawyers – Remarks of Deb Katz, CAN

by cgrotke | Activism

Miss the rally last weekend? Here is copy of the remarks made by Deb Katz of the Citizen’s Awareness Network.

“Leaks, Lies and Lawyers 03.30.13

Deb Katz, Citizens Awareness Network

This is a moment when people feel outrage, helpless, frustrated and discouraged. Yet we are at a tipping point. Why outraged?

The Name of the Thieves Who Stole Our Future

by Vidda | Op/Ed

While Senator Sanders may portray our Social Security programs as solvent, it really depends on your reading of what actually happened. The Social Security coffers as it stands today may very well be in the black – as best as in the black can be for a program that’s post Baby Boomer era.

With most of us Baby Boomers closer to our sunset than our sunrise the “contributions” we pay into Social Security is not the same as before. We are increasingly dependent on what the younger generations put into this Roosevelt-inspired retirement piggybank. Unfortunately, the population scale of our young folks shrink into the shadow of a huge and very needy Baby Boomer population.

War on Public Education

by tomaidh | Education

I’ve been observing what appears to be a nation-wide war on public education, and to the “greedy” schoolteachers who profit by being employed therein.

In state after state we see education budgets being cut and teachers being laid off, along with movements to voucher children to private schools, and to replace Public Schools with so-called Charter Schools, which are privately operated schools paid for with taxpayer money. (Some charter schools are founded by teachers, parents, or activists who feel restricted by traditional public schools. State-authorized charters are often established by non-profit groups, universities, and some government entities. Additionally, school districts sometimes permit corporations to manage chains of charter schools. The schools themselves are non-profit entities…Wikipedia)

Strolling of the Heifers Explores River Garden Role

by MartinLangeveld | News & Information

BRATTLEBORO, VT — Strolling of the Heifers, which operated under the non-profit umbrella of Building a Better Brattleboro when it presented its first parade and festival in 2002, is developing a proposal to assume responsibility for the Robert H. River Garden from BaBB.

While details of the proposal are still being worked out and a formal proposal has not yet been submitted, the Stroll’s priority for the River Garden will be to maintain the building as a community resource, according to Orly Munzing, founder and executive director of the organization.

Can Selectboard Members Be Voting Members of Committees? Brattleboro Charter Appears to Say No

by cgrotke | Politics

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard appointed John Allen to the PFFP (Police Fire Facility Project) Oversight Committee.

To keep the number of votes on the committee an odd number and to prevent tie votes, the Selectboard authorized Mr. Allen to be the 9th voting member of that committee.  Did they make a mistake?

5:45 Live- 4/2/13

by BrattleboroTV | Media

***

Packed with media–like photos of the Dummerston Covered Bridge after a Budget truck smashed through roof joists, video of this weekends Leaks & Lies VY Protest, live skypecasts from the Montpelier, and more–this midweek edition of BCTV’s ever-popular media round-up 5:45 Live should shed a little light on happenings around town, including rumors of a deal to lease McDonald’s a slot in the Brooks House.

No Rug Big Enough

by spinoza | Education

For your consideration, about the place of technology in schools.

Beyond any personal loss, I find it disturbing the school board and administrators chose to cut this service, and continue to obscure the fact that schools are not facing the reality described in the video.

It is equally disappointing that this is not more of an issue for the community. My kids are grown now, and they’re facing other educational horizons. But it seems crucial for a town that wishes to be vital, these challenges cannot be shirked.

Kurn Hattin Homes To Host Annual Jazz Invitational Featuring Trombone Legend and KHH Alum, Dick Nash

by KurnHattin | Music

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children welcomes the public to attend its Annual Jazz Invitational Wednesday, April 10th at 7:00 pm, with performances by the Bellows Falls Union High School Jazz Ensemble, Kurn Hattin Jazz Ensemble, Northfield Mount Hermon Jazz Ensemble, Vermont Academy Jazz Ensemble, and Vermont Jazz Center Youth Jazz Ensemble. The event will be hosted by Eugene Uman, Director of the Vermont Jazz Center, and the evening will conclude with a performance by the Keene Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Scott Mullett.

BMH Center for Wound Healing Opening in May

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced the establishment of Vermont’s only comprehensive Center for Wound Healing. Located on the BMH campus, the Center provides the most advanced therapies available for the treatment of chronic and non-healing wounds.

When the Center opens its doors and begins seeing patients on May 9, it will be the first facility of its kind in the state of Vermont and has been designed to serve the tri-state region, said BMH President and CEO Steven R. Gordon.

“Chronic, non-healing wounds are a problem for 8 million Americans, many of whom are elderly and managing chronic health problems, including diabetes, venous disease and injuries from radiation therapy,” said Gordon. With Windham County having the oldest population in Vermont, which in turn is the second oldest state in the whole country, Gordon adds that “The BMH Center for Wound Healing fills the need for this vital medical service not only for our local community, but also for the region.”

What’s Western About Western American Art?

by Brooks Memorial Library | Arts

What’s Western about Western American Art?
Wednesday April 3, 2013
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM

Amherst College professor Carol Clark considers how the works of painters such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, George Catlin, and Albert Bierstadt have defined the American West as place and idea.

The lecture is a First Wednesday program sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council. Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Vermont Department of Libraries.