The Koch Brothers Primary

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 24 – Potential Republican presidential candidates are hobnobbing this weekend with politically potent billionaires at an invitation-only gathering in Palm Springs, California, that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and others have called “the Koch brothers primary.”

Four Republican hopefuls – looking to line up benefactors to bankroll their campaigns – are participating in mostly closed-door meetings of millionaires and billionaires assembled by Charles and David Koch, the industrial tycoons who control the second largest family fortune in the United States.

I Read This Story Related To The Shrinking Middle Class in America. We Are Number 2.

by Rolf | Economics

The excerpt below is from an article documenting the shrinking middle class, and the accumulation of wealth upward, ever upward. According to the authors, Of the 50 states, Vermont was, surprisingly to me, #2 for this phenomena.

“2. Vermont
> Middle income growth 2009-2013: -5.9%
> Fifth quintile income growth 2009-2013: 2.8%
> Fifth quintile share of income: 48.8%
> Middle class household income: $53,020 (20th highest)

Authors Live@BML: Marc Songini and the Boston Mob

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Join independent scholar and Boston author Marc Songini for a book talk on his book, Boston Mob The Rise and Fall of the New England Mob and Its Most Notorious Killer, on Saturday, January 24, at 3 PM in the Library’s Meeting Room.

Author Marc Songini will discuss a true story of revenge, corruption, and power. Hear how Joe turned on the Mafia for killing off his gang; how Joe put away his former friends; then went on the run.

Weekend Comedy Series – Russell Brand, Messiah Complex

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Russell Brand is quick witted and politically-minded. In this stage show, filmed live at Hammersmith Apollo in London, Brand looks at media, poverty, symbols, advertising, image and values.

The show starts off with some audience banter, but soon he gets down to business. Jesus, Malcolm X, Che Guevara, and Gandhi are the icons that frame his larger discussion, and it makes for quite an evening of laughs as well as provocation of thought as he discusses each one.

King Penguin Died Today

by Namaya | Creative

23 January 2015  On the death of the Saudi King. Greetings from Algeria


King Penguin Died Today


“King Penguin died!” said I


“Long live the fishes!” 


“Al Hamdulilah.” Said the dissident locked in the tower!

 

For these words alone we could have gotten

lashes!

Make Music With Steven P. West

by AirBrattleboro | Music

Greetings, iBrattleboroans!

It’s me, Steve West, the former host of WKVT’s “Live and Local”. I’ve been laying low since leaving talk radio, and have been busy plotting my first solo record. I’ve been writing songs for decades now, but have never made a recording of just my songs. Some may remember Relative Strangers, a group I did here in southern Vermont with Clayton Sabine and Rose Gerber. I also played in a band in the 80s that some may remember called Miracle Legion (Rough Trade Records) out of New Haven, CT.

BDCC, Stroll Offer $68,000 in Business Planning Competition Prizes

by MartinLangeveld | Business

A total of $68,000 in prizes is being offered for innovative business models and plans in the .

The competition is presented in collaboration by Strolling of the Heifers and the .  It is largely funded through the , created through the settlement agreement between Vermont Yankee and the state of Vermont.

Additional competition funding came from the  and the .  is providing partnership support.

Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer Peer Facilitator Training

by Cassandra Holloway - BAPC | Other

1 in 20 Windham County teens misused a prescription drug in the past 30 day (2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Do you live with, work with, or directly support teens?Do you want to help prevent prescription drug misuse by teens?Here’s HOW you can help!

Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer Peer Facilitator Training   

Another Chance – DRB Review Postponed

by ChrisPratt | Town Plan

For those who did not come to the meeting with Brattleboro’s  Development Review board last Weds the 21st, you have another chance. The Retroactive Site Plan submitted by ZB Properties will not be reviewed until Feb 18th. It was postponed. I will post another announcement when the meeting gets closer.

I did learn that public comments and supporting documents can be entered into the record at that time. In other words THIS IS IT. If interested landowners or the public wants any input pertaining to the approval or rejection of what has been done to this property (282 and 486 Western Ave). This is your only opportunity to do so.

I-95 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of January 25

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Night work on the new bridge will resume at Route 30. Night work will be conducted Monday night, January 26th thru Friday night, January 30th.

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.

BFC Shareholders Want Transparency

by solidarity05301 | Activism

by Several Members of the Shareholder Forum

Recently The Commons printed an article and letters regarding the Putney Coop, changes to their by-laws and involvement with CDS Consulting. As members, we mean – shareholders, of the Brattleboro Food Coop, the assumption is that the Putney Coop is going to become like our coop in Brattleboro.  Perhaps not the size, but the management structure, profits and corporate feel.

In August a few disheartened shareholders started the Brattleboro Food Coop Shareholder Forum – for shareholders, by shareholders.  We meet on the third Sunday of the month from 5:00-7:00pm in the Coop Community Room. All are welcome.

French President Promised Justice but Terrorists Seek Real Justice for Muslim Millions Slaughtered

by jay janson | Op/Ed

DESCRIPTION:
Meaningful justice, would be Europeans recognizing their legal responsibility to compensate the survivors of Muslim and non-Muslim millions slaughtered, maimed, impoverished, enslaved and exploited on three continents over the centuries of Europe’s rise via the plunder of three continents, including Muslim and other cultures and civilizations older, more advanced and wealthier than those of Europeans at that time. Patience!

Presidential Hopefuls – Stage Left or Right

by Vidda | Politics

No one on the political horizon can stir my voting allegiance. And, no one ever has. My vote like so many other voters goes to the lesser evil. Too often the greatest pull is to not vote at all.Now that 2016 presidential hopefuls are at stage left or right, no one captures my undivided interest.

Take Bernie Sanders, Vermont’s Senator who is dancing on the edge of the presidential hat ring. At first glance, his recent 12-point national economic program enumerates what many in our state would expect from him: job creation, wages, unions, in-sourcing, climate and fossil fuel concerns, trade policies, equal pay, break up big banks, wealth disparity, Medicare-for-all, Social Security and tax reform – all quintessential Bernie.

Addressing Racial Bias in Vermont Law Enforcement

by Not Signed In | Op/Ed

By Curtiss Reed, Jr., Executive Director, Vermont Partnership for Fairness & Diversity

Brattleboro. We believe Robert Appel’s Commentary “Racial bias plagues Vermont, too” (Rutland Herald & Times Argus, December 28, 2014) does a disservice to the Vermont State Police by casting the agency in the very narrow, negative lens of deficient data analysis. More so than any other state agency, Vermont State Police (VSP) has demonstrated conspicuously courageous leadership in the areas of bias reduction and cultural competency. This commentary offers a brief retrospective on how VSP leadership has been shaping a more responsive, culturally competent agency.

Brattleboro Dog and Wolf Hybrid Licenses Available

by Not Signed In | Pets

Brattleboro dog and wolf-hybrid licenses are available for the 2015 licensing period. Vermont dogs and wolf-hybrids 6 months of age and older must be licensed on or before April 1.

Renewal licenses may be obtained in person at the Town Clerk’s office, through the mail or online at www.brattleboro.org. Dogs being licensed in Brattleboro for the first time may be licensed in person or through the mail by printing the license form from the website listed above.

Vaccination against rabies is required by Vermont Statutes before licensing. A current vaccination means:

Dustbowl Revival w/ Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell at Next Stage on Saturday, January 24

by Not Signed In | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Dustbowl Revival, a Venice, California-based roots collective that merges old school bluegrass, gospel, jug-band, swamp blues and the hot swing of the 1930’s, plus the Vermont-based Americana duo Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell at Next Stage on Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 pm.

Known for their inspired live sets, the Dustbowl Revival boldly brings together many styles of traditional American music. Some call it string band-brass band mash up. Imagine Old Crow Medicine Show teaming up with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Sevens, or Bob Dylan and The Band jamming with Benny Goodman and his orchestra in 1938. It’s infectious, joyous music – a youthful take on time-worn American traditions by the “Best Live Band in LA” – LA Weekly.

It’s Fundraising Week At WVEW, 107.7fm

by Stevil | Media

Hello Everyone. It’s pledge week at WVEW, 107.7fm. Those who are familiar with us may not know that our station is run and managed entirely by volunteers. Our operating funds come from memberships in our non-profit, fundraisers, underwriting, and donations from our listeners.

For only the second time since we started broadcasting on September the 1st, 2006, we are having an on-air fundraiser. If you listen to our station, if you believe in Community Radio, please consider making a donation. No amount is too small.

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by spinoza | Town Plan

I’ve been trying to follow recent threads on town politics and process, (amendments, charter revision, RTM v Selectboard v Open Meeting, committees, juristictions, budgets) it’s pretty exasperating to not be able to pin-point what is what, or when or why. And who is driving the train, and where do ordinary citizens fit in?

To the best of my discernment here’s how it works here.  There’s no straight line between any two points, and no item, article or initiative, will be judged based on its own merit. By affixing and conflating two and sometimes more disparate issues or events, a crucible for divining the true will of the people is prepared.