To Mask Or Not To Mask

by RDavis | Health

Many of us have been wearing masks for over a year and have looked forward to the day when our faces could be on full public display. The Coronavirus is showing signs of receding, at least in this country, and vaccination numbers are increasing.

The CDC has said that fully vaccinated people can do away with masks in most public places and that they do not need to social distance. Exceptions include public transportation such as buses, airplanes and hospitals.

The new CDC guidelines are confusing a lot of people as well as states and municipalities.

VFW Meals Open to the Public

by LisaL | Food

Breakfast at the VFW every Wednesday and Saturday from 6 am – 10 am. Public welcome for our meals! Lunch is served Thursdays and Fridays from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Wed. May 26th breakfast special will be 3 slices of French toast with real maple syrup for $5.50

Thur. May 27th is a large salad with chicken and bacon. Dessert will be raspberry or blueberry pie with whipped cream for $2.25 a slice while supplies last.

Vermont Re-Making Jurassic Park – You Can Be A Part Of It

by cgrotke | Creative

There’s a project in Vermont this summer to re-create the film Jurassic Park, and you can be a part of it.

Crowdsourced Cinema VT is looking for Vermont filmmakers, videographers, artists, animators, musicians, and more to volunteer to re-make a scene from the dinosaur park movie. It’s a state-wide project and regional collaboration among media access centers.

WSESD Social Justice Committee Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 4:00 p.m. – Thomas Nolan

II. Approval of Minutes – March 23, 2021

III. Assess Progress on Diversifying Staff

IV. Discuss Incorporating the Ongoing Commitment Into the Bidding Process of the Academy Project

V. Discuss the “Groundwater Presentation” and Whether it is Worth Taking Part In

WSESD Climate Crisis Task Force Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – Thomas Nolan, Task Force Chair

II. Approval of Minutes from September 15, 2020

III. Discuss Progress on Rich Earth Institute Program

IV. Discuss Future Role of Task Force After the Board’s Adoption of an Environmental Policy

V. Hear from Kurt Daims About the Greta Resolution for Devoting Public Education to Climate Rescue

Thoughts On The Ski Jump Sculpture

by cgrotke | Op/Ed
ski jump statue

The Town of Brattleboro has been given a gift of a metal ski-jumper-shaped object that lights up. It will be placed near Wells Fountain during the winter season. The selectboard accepted the gift at their most recent meeting.

The gift is in celebration of 100 years of Harris Hill, a truly unique part of the Brattleboro landscape. Creating a sculpture to celebrate is a good idea. And a free gift of a sculpture is a great thing.

The presentation to the selectboard left me with some questions, though.

Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards: 

Agricultural Advisory Board 

Agricultural Advisory Board Ex-Officio Members 

ADA Advisory Board 

Arts Committee 

Brattleboro Housing Partnerships Board of Commissioners 

BCTV Schedules – Week of 5/17/2021

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1075 schedule for the week of 5/17/21

Monday, May 17, 2021

4:55 am Barre Rotary Club Cocktails – Blackberry Cooler
5:00 am BUHS Varsity Bowling – Brattleboro vs. South Burlington – State Semifinals 3/24/21
6:00 am Keeping Up with Senior Solutions – Ep 16 – Gary Hilliard
6:35 am The Feed – GorMatt StrangePeak – Great Art Undone
7:00 am The News Project – In Studio – A Conversation With Ashley Moore
7:30 am Rotary Cares – Ep 35 – John Mabie

The Future of Democracy: Brattleboro Democracy Forum With Nick Biddle, Tim Kipp and Friends

by Woody Bernhard | Activism

Nick says: A recent study of 75 nations with democratic governments in 1994 found that only 15 remain democratic. The rest (60) have turned into autocracies. Does democracy have a future?

A quadrennial report released last month by the National Intelligence Council, an advisory group to the eighteen intelligence agencies of the federal government (e.g. CIA, DEA, NSA, etc), is not optimistic. Using the report, titled “Global Trends, 2020-2040,” as a springboard, this session of the Democracy Forum will explore a prognosis for democracy’s future. Nick Biddle will open with a short presentation to which Tim Kipp will respond. General discussion will follow.

The meeting will be recorded and aired on BCTV and WVEW 107.7 FM.

Brattleboro VFW Breakfast/Lunches Open to the Public 257-0438

by LisaL | Food

The Brattleboro VFW serves breakfast to the public every Wednesday and Saturday from 6 am – 10 am. Breakfast special’s are offered on Wednesday’s, and the special for May 19th will be a three egg meat lover’s omelette with toast for $7.50. Breakfast is served from 6am-10am. Public welcome, as are to-go’s. We will also be offering breakfast Monday Memorial Day May 31st from 6am-10am.
Per town mandate, masks are still required at this time.

We are also serving $7 lunch specials Thursday’s and Friday’s, open to the public, along with hand made burgers fries, wings, etc.
Dessert for the 20th will be chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for $2.50 a slab while supplies last.
Thur. May 20th is a steak, baked potato and veg.
Fri. May 21st is garlic parmesan pork, mashed potato & veg.

Close Your Mouth And Take A Deep Breath

by RDavis | Health

Breathing is something most of us don’t think about very much. It just happens and we take breathing for granted because we haven’t been educated enough about how breathing affects the functioning of our body, except when we are not breathing.

I recently read a book titled Breath by James Nestor and it has caused me to make some small changes in my life and to be more thoughtful about how I breath. In the introduction to his book Nestor says, “This book is a scientific adventure into the lost art and science of breathing. It explores the transformation that occurs inside our bodies every 3.3 seconds, the time it takes the average person to inhale and exhale. It explains how the billions and billions of molecules you bring in with each breath have built your bones, sheaths of muscle, blood, brains, and organs, and the emerging science of how these microscopic bits will influence your health and happiness tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, and decades from now.”

Town of Brattleboro Mask Order Still In Effect

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Manager’s COVID-19 update today says the following:

“WEARING FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED 

At its meetings on May 19 and May 26, 2020, the Selectboard adopted the following resolution. The resolution was reviewed and reaffirmed at the Selectboard meeting on June 16. On May 13, 2021, the United States Government issued new guidance that says fully vaccinated people can safely choose not to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors. Today, Governor Scott reiterated that guidance to Vermonters. The updated guidance states that “fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” The Town of Brattleboro’s face covering order remains in effect at this time. Moreover, it is important to remember that many people are not yet fully vaccinated so individual businesses may choose to continue to require face coverings on their premises even after government-issued face covering orders have been rescinded. “

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting Agenda and Notes – May 18, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will continue to review FY22 proposed budgets for the Parking and Utilities Funds at their next regular meeting. Either or both may be adopted.

The board will also buy two new dump trucks, discuss placement of a ski jumper sculpture on Main Street during winter months, figure out details of dependent care reimbursement for themselves, and consider buying a summer sidewalk tractor.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.