Business Planning Competition Winners

by MartinLangeveld | Business

Awards were announced yesterday in the 2015 Windham Regional Business Planning Competition, a collaboration of Strolling of the Heifers and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. A total of $64,000 in prize funds were given out: $10,000 to each of four first-place category winners, $3,000 each to the four second-place category winners, and $1,000 each to the 12 runners-up. Funding for the competitition came from a grant from the Windham County Economic Development program (the “Vermont Yankee settlement” fund), the Vermont Community Foundation and the Windham Foundation.

Here are the winners and runners-up, listed by category:

You Can Do It, But You Can’t Control The Reaction

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

I find it interesting that one of the outcomes of the shooting in Charleston appears to be the dismantling of the imagery that appealed to the shooter. Overnight, the Confederate flag is something for politicians to distance themselves from, and calls for its removal from license plates, statehouses, and other official uses are being acted upon. Long a symbol of southern pride, its days seem numbered.

Dylann Roof probably didn’t anticipate this reaction, but he accomplished it.

Sanders: Corporate America Wins Again

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, June 23 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed deep disappointment today after the Senate voted 60-37 to cut off debate and advance legislation that would grant President Barack Obama powers to complete a major Pacific trade accord.

“The vote today – pushed by multi-national corporations, pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street – will mean a continuation of disastrous trade policies which have cost our country millions of decent-paying jobs,” said Sanders, who voted no.

“American workers deserve a trade policy that works for them and not only for the CEOs of major multi-national corporations. We cannot continue trade policies which outsource jobs to low-wage countries overseas and lead us into a race to the bottom,” Sanders added.

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies Reconvening Technical Working Group

by Not Signed In | The Region

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) has reconvened its Technical Working Group (TWG) to develop further implementation strategies for the Windham Region’s federally recognized Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). The TWG is comprised of professionals from around the region engaged in economic, community and workforce development initiatives whose expertise is needed to aid in continued development and effective implementation of the CEDS.

NEA Our Town Call for Artists

by Not Signed In | Arts

CALL FOR ARTISTS

In furtherance of an NEA Our Town grant the Town of Brattleboro seeks proposals for an inaugural creative placemaking project – a permanent or temporal public artistic expression or (an) arts-based performance(s) – intended as a response to Brattleboro’s past, present, and future, its relationship with natural and built landscapes, its cultural heritage, and its vision for itself as a community that embraces the arts. There is a budget of $50,000 allocated to this project. Application Deadline 9PM July 26, 2015. Details at www.brattleboro.org

Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of June 21 & Heads Up Regarding Fourth of July Weekend

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

On Sunday, July 5, both the Northbound and Southbound Exit 3 on-ramps will be closed from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM to reduce congestion on I-91 Southbound caused by merging traffic. Because of highway logistics, we need to close both northbound and southbound on-ramps. Local southbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 south to Exit 1, and local northbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 5 north to Exit 4. Sheriff officers will assist in directing traffic.

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.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 6/22/15

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 schedule for the week of 6/22/15

Monday, June 22, 2015

12:00 am Road to Recovery: Overcoming Trauma and Violence

1:00 am VT Economic Resiliency Initiative 4/23/15

2:25 am Norwich Bookstore Presents: Robert Santulli and Kesstan Blandin

3:30 am Organic Politics: Applying for R Credits 5/7/15

4:00 am The 20th Century Mass: Blanche Moyse Chorale

The Cost of Housing

by spoon | Economics

According to a recent study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition the minimum wage required for a two bedroom apartment in Vermont is $20.68/hour.

                   http://nlihc.org/oor

About 40% of the households in Brattleboro do not have that much income.

Angel Boy Art Gallery Opens Downtown Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Arts

Gallery For and By Individuals with Disabilities Joins Downtown Brattleboro’s Community

Brattleboro, VT – June 2015 – Gallery Walkers have a unique new stop to enjoy at 61 Main St. in Brattleboro’s vibrant, artistic, downtown community. Angel Boy Art’s Resource Center is a special gallery and community center run for artists with disabilities by volunteers with disabilities.

“We named it our ‘Resource Center’ because this space is much more than just an art gallery for people with disabilities,” says Kim Gove, Vice President, “this is a place to learn, confront and erase stigmas, and challenge yourself.”

Donations Needed for Coffee Break at the Vermont Welcome Center

by Dummerston Community Center | Dummerston

The Dummerston Community Center is holding an all day bake, snack, coffee fundraiser at the Vermont Welcome Center, on Friday, June 26th from 7:30 AM to 7 PM. We need your donations of baked goods, snacks, fruit, veggies, coffee, coffee cream, bagels etc.

Any donation food, gift certificates or money would be greatly appreciated.Volunteers to help on the 26th at the snack tables are also needed.

Why We Have To Love Texas

by spoon | Philosophy

Why do we have to love Texas?  Because they teach us so much about our species.  Here’s a brief synopsis of an article from Governing Magazine.

The Texas Department of Agriculture just approved a new policy re-allowing soda and fried foods in public schools.  “Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Thursday restored the option for public schools to serve certain fried foods and soda by lifting a decade-old statewide ban on deep fryers and soda machines.”

“We are working to put an end to a one-size-fits-all approach mandated from Austin,” Miller said in a press release. “We want families, teachers and school districts to know the Texas Department of Agriculture supports their decisions and efforts to teach Texas students about making healthy choices.”

Weekend Comedy Series: Brian Regan

by cgrotke | Entertainment

I know little about this Brian Regan fellow. This was recommended to me by someone just yesterday as stand-up comedy in the “good, clean” genre, without reliance on swearing to make people laugh. Count me in!

Regan does this by talking about food labels, flying first class, and refrigerators, among other things.

Emily Mason Exhibit Opening July 2 at Mitchell – Giddings Fine Arts

by Mitchell • Giddings FIne Arts | Arts

On Thursday, July 2 Emily Mason’s exhibit Chromatic Celebrations will be opening with a reception at Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts from 5 – 7pm at 183 Main Street, Brattleboro.

Chromatic Celebrations, the featured exhibit from July 2 to August 16, 2015, showcases Emily Mason’s printmaking production and illustrates a richness and spontaneity equal to her paintings in oil.

Emily Mason, recognized for her abstract paintings, has pioneered with several master printmakers since the mid 1980s to establish a singularly rich and distinctive body of prints. Several different printmaking techniques are represented. Common to all is an involvement with a variety of processes leading to a mixture of sharp focus and ambiguity. She embraces unique states, giving each work its own space.

NEA Our Town Grant Screening Committee

by Not Signed In | Arts

On July 7, the Town of Brattleboro’s Selectboard will consider the appointment of an ad hoc committee to conduct initial screening of artists who apply for funding through the Town’s NEA “Our Town” grant.

The Screening Committee will review all application materials submitted by all artists and will recommend to the Selectboard a group of finalists. The Screening Committee’s work will occur during the week of July 27-31. The Selectboard will consider the Screening Committee’s recommendations on August 4. The only minimum requirements for service on the Steering Committee are residence in Brattleboro and/or prior experience in judging artistic ability and experience.

Brattleboro Savings & Loan Throws Switch on New Solar Array

by Not Signed In | Business

Energy Source makes BS&L the first completely solar-powered bank in Vermont

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – Situated next to a classic red-clapboard barn on land farmed since the early 1800s, a new piece of Vermont history is taking shape: an award-winning community solar array poised to provide energy to both Brattleboro businesses and residents.

Contributing companies Soveren Solar, the Vermont Agricultural Business Education Center (VABEC), and Brattleboro Savings & Loan will ‘throw the switch’ on a 150kW, 64-rack array on Tuesday, June 23 at 5 p.m., which represents one of five Vermont Community Solar projects in the state. Gov. Peter Shumlin is scheduled to speak.