Brattleboro Dog & Wolf-Hybrid Licenses Due

Vermont dogs and wolf-hybrids 6 months of age and older must be licensed per Title 20, Section 3581(c) of Vermont State Statutes.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all licenses being renewed must be processed through the mail or online at www.brattleboro.org. Alternatively, you may drop your payment and forms in the Town Business drop box in the Municipal Parking lot, attached to the wooden light pole.   

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


No One Is Protected Until We Are All Protected

Americans and others in the wealthiest countries may only have temporary protection against COVID unless there is more of a worldwide effort to vaccinate people in poorer countries. The science tells us that the longer the virus thrives and is able to mutate in countries with low vaccination rates the more the character of the pandemic changes.

The U.S. and other wealthy countries have hoarded millions of doses of vaccine and that has proven to be a very short-sighted way to deal with a pandemic. There are few places on the globe not affected by COVID and that means that we have to accept the fact that control of the virus depends on global cooperation. The needed level of cooperation has been slow to evolve.


BCTV Schedules – Week of May 3, 2021

BCTV Channel 1085 schedule for the week of 5/3/21

Monday, May 3, 2021

5:00 am VT Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel – VT NDCAP – 4/12/21 Mtg
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
10:00 am Brattleboro Development Review Board – Brattleboro DRB Mtg 4/21/21


Vermont Barn Restoration Grants

Vermont grants for barn stabilization and restoration.  Be sure to see the manual before starting your project, because to be eligible the project may not have been started before the application was submitted.

Application:


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 4, 2021

At the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard they will discuss two proposed budgets – the FY22 Utilities Fund budget, the FY22 Parking Fund budget – approve emergency repairs for the Whetstone Pathway, review plans for summer paving, and more.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation. And of course, May the 4th be with you.


Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

The Representative Town Meeting Steering Committee will meet on Monday, May 3, 2021 at 4:00pm using Zoom (with no physical location due to the ongoing social distancing requirements of COVID-19). The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.” 

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 9 Southern Avenue (call 257-1164 for directions).  The agenda is attached.


Elliot Street Cats

The Windham County Humane Society had this story in their most recent newsletter. Interesting project regarding the community cats of Elliot Street in downtown Brattleboro.

When we received a call from Brattleboro Animal Control Officer Cathy Barrows about a colony of community cats, we got straight to work. The first request from the property owner was that we come trap all of the cats and move them. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of people clamoring for cats that you can’t touch and who won’t sit in your lap.


VFW Serving Burgers/Fries Etc. 5/1, 5/8, 5/22 and 5/29 Public Welcome

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road will be serving hand made burgers, hot dogs, fries and chicken wings from noon to 6 pm the following Saturdays in May : 1st, 8th, 22nd and 29th. Yes, we are opening earlier for those Saturdays instead of at 2 pm. Open to the public for the food. Masks, social distancing, and contact tracing rules are still in place.

May 15th is our lasagna to go meal for $12. For $12, you will get lasagna, garlic bread, salad and chocolate cream pie. To-go or dine in (Dine in is allowed as of this moment, but keep in mind COVID can change everything at the last minute.) When calling in for reservations, please let us know if you are dining in or getting a to-go, time for your meal, type of salad dressing, and amount of meals needed. (Just tell us everything!)


Brattleboro Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2020 Available

The Town of Brattleboro Water Department’s annual Consumer Confidence Report/Water Quality Report for 2020 is now available. This report can be viewed on-line at https://www.brattleboro.org/ccreport or printed copies are available at the Department of Public Works, Tri Park CO–OP Office and the Guilford Country Store.  Questions about this report can be addressed to the Department of Public Works at 254-4255.


A Good Time To Die

Today In History, April 28:

1846
Coffins. A Very Large Assortment of all sizes, at A. Van Doorn & Sons, at reduced prices.

Does anyone else find it strange to advertised that there is a large supply of coffins at bargain prices? I would think that no one will be induced to purchase a coffin because the price is good, but that a person would only buy a coffin if it is needed, at whatever price it might cost.


Saying Good-Bye To Steve

We were sorry to hear that our buddy Steve, long time resident and “howdy neighbor” of Upper Forest Street, has passed away. He was 80 years old and died of complications of a stroke.

When we lived on Cedar Street, we used to walk by his house all the time on our way to my mother’s or to Main Street. His place was always interesting. He had a cute little cat for many years that looked a bit like a miniature raccoon. He had a stone wall out front that he decorated with little plastic figurines. Some of them — the little pink teddy bear, for instance — were added by passers-by such as myself. I always got a kick out of his Beware of Falling Acorns sign too.


Brattleboro’s Academy School Building Renovations Vote May 11

The Windham Southeast School District wants to know if you’d like to spend an extra $2 million. The money would be spent on renovations to the Academy School in Brattleboro, grades K-6. The vote is called for everyone in the school district – Putney, Guilford, Dummerston, and Brattleboro.

If you’ve been following Wendy Levy’s meeting minutes for the school meetings, you already know all about the renovations, which include an addition to the building and updates to “student learning environments.”


Austrian Terrorists

A few years back, I was attending ski instructor training at Jay Peak and there was no snow, so we had to drive north 20 miles to Mt. Sutton (Quebec) where there was. There was no border patrol either way.

One day, as we re-entered Vermont, a Border Guy WAS sitting in his car checking crossings,

He stopped us and asked the usual questions: What’s your name and where are you from?

The woman in the front seat said she was Canadian. No problem.


Making A Connection To The Past

Youth is a time of great possibilities. It can also be highlighted by arrogance and ignorance. Those qualities may not become apparent until we have moved a few decades down the road. I have been thinking about these issues in relation to the history of my family.

When my grandparents and other relatives were alive I never asked them about where they came from and about the history of our family.

Three of my grandparents came from Eastern Europe and they arrived in this country during a wave of immigration when Jews were looking for a better life in the “golden land”.


BCTV Schedules – Week of April 26, 2021

BCTV Channel 1075 schedule for the week of 4/26/21

Monday, April 26, 2021

4:02 am Education and Enrichment for Everyone – Politics 2021 – The New Administration after Two Months 3/26/21
5:00 am Addiction Recovery Channel – Public Health Alert – Harm Reduction 3/25/21
6:10 am Special Olympics Vermont – 2021 Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Vermont Racial Justice Alliance – Abolish Slavery Vermont Learning Session 4/7/21