A Tale of Two Cities

by RDavis | Activism

The southeast corner of Vermont, that includes Brattleboro and Windham County, is a unique place. There is an abundance of people whose sense of fair play compels them to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to commitment to social, political and economic issues.

Although there are what some might consider too many non-profit organizations, local people are generous and give time and money freely when they see a need. Windham County has a reputation of being a very liberal area and that has most people characterizing it as a harbor for activists who consider themselves far to the left on the political spectrum.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Broadband, A Tale of Five Cities

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard oct 1 2019

The Brattleboro Selectboard learned the tales of five nearby municipal broadband projects and expressed varying levels of support for something local, along with many questions. Some answers will come at their next meeting.

The Work Today program is being delayed until spring 2020, the parking garage will get a new elevator cab, the DPW will get their generator, and the Town hopes to get some volunteers for committees.

New Historic Marker Unveiling to Celebrate Acclaimed Local Author Mary E. Wilkins Freeman Kicks Off the 2019 Brattleboro Literary Festival Events

by Desmond Peeples | History

On Thursday, October 17th, at 11 a.m., the West Brattleboro Association, in conjunction with the Brattleboro Words Project and Brattleboro Literary Festival, are unveiling a Historic Marker commemorating four historic schools that stood near the current site of today’s Academy School, and acclaimed local author Mary E. Wilkins Freeman.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman was repeatedly voted the most popular female author during the 19th century. Best known for her short stories, she published over 250 in her lifetime. Freeman spent a significant part of her life in Brattleboro, and credited Brattleboro for its influence on her writing and success. During her time here, Mary attended the Glenwood Ladies Seminary, one of the four schools being commemorated with the historic marker.

Breakfast at the Brattleboro VFW Saturday Oct. 5th – Public Welcome

by Not Signed In | Food

The VFW will be having a breakfast Saturday Oct. 5th from 8 am – 10:30 am. This is not a buffet, but you may choose to purchase eggs made to order, sausage, bacon, tater tots, toast, homemade sausage gravy over biscuits, and pancakes or French toast with real maple syrup. This will be on the canteen side, not the hall side.

BCTV Schedules – Week of 9/30/19

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 9/30/19

Monday, September 30, 2019

4:00 am Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – White People and Racial Justice
5:00 am Education and Enrichment for Everyone – The US Supreme Court in a Time of Political Chaos
6:05 am New England Cooks – Chef Todd Cassell
7:00 am The Drawing Studio – Color Mixing Part 4

Amazing Animal Balloons

by tomaidh | Arts

A Japanese artist creates amazing animal sculptures out of balloons.

Masayoshi Matsumoto, 29, has created a wide range of intricate figures from the animal kingdom, including a monkey, an ostrich, a parrot, an octopus, a hermit crab, a deer, an ant and a buffalo.

Autumn Crickets — Singing Their Way Back Home

by Lise | Books, Nature
Mr Cricket In Cup

At first, I thought our cat was bringing them in.  There seemed to be a cricket in every corner — crickets behind the bookcase, crickets in the sink, crickets behind the refrigerator, all chirping away.  As fast as we could catch them and put them back outside, more would arrive.  One cricket even had the temerity to hop back in the moment his feet hit the welcome mat on the other side of the door.  What was up with the crickets?

Two Wrongs and a Right

by tomaidh | Politics

Do two wrongs ever make a right?

Hunter Biden got a nice job paying $50,000 a month because of his encyclopedic knowledge of the Gas Industry. Nothing wrong with that!

Joe Biden threatened the Ukraine in order to protect his son. Just a father doing his duty. Right?

And Donald Trump threatened the Ukraine if they fail to expose the Bidens. Just a concerned citizen doing his duty. Right?

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 1, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

An unusually-short agenda awaits the Brattleboro Selectboard at their next regular meeting. Short agendas sometimes imply absent board members.

They will get an update on the Work Today program at Youth Services and hear results of staff research into a potential new utility, municipal broadband. There are just two other items – buying a generator and announcing committee vacancies. You can extend this meeting by bringing up other items not on this tiny agenda during Public Participation.

VFW $6 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 9-30 to 10-4

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438
Sept. 30th – Oct. 4th

Mon – meatloaf, mashed potato, gravy, & veg

Shine Your Light on Changing the Race Dance

by Not Signed In | Arts

Join InterPlay and special guest, Oakland dancer and activist Sonyika Rahim, for “Changing the Race Dance,” a night of racial justice work through singing, dancing, drumming, and storytelling.

Soyinka Rahim, GSP, is a Grassroots Spiritual Practitioner, and the founder of BIBOLOVE, which stands for breathe in, breathe out love. She is a performing artist, a Conference Weaver, and an InterPlay Leader from Oakland, California.

The Dismantling of American Health Insurance

by RDavis | Health

Instead of repealing the Affordable Care Act Republicans have found other ways to erode access to health care for more Americans. Policy changes, budget cuts and the elimination of programs have made it harder for moderate and low income Americans to access Medicaid, family planning services and a host of smaller programs.

These moves don’t make headlines and the people who are hurt by the changes may not even realize that they have lost something until they need a service. They also may not know that they lost coverage they may have had because they never tried to access the kind of care they had not needed.

FLOW at Next Stage on Wednesday, September 25

by stobro | Music

Forty years after Windham Hill became a catalyst for a global musical phenomenon, its bountiful legacy of best-selling instrumental artists and Grammy-winning musicians extends into a new age with FLOW — a new four-piece ensemble comprised of Windham Hill Records Founder Will Ackerman and three of today’s most acclaimed independent artists.  FLOW is an anagram of the group’s names Fiona Joy Hawkins (Australian Pianist), Lawrence Blatt (acoustic guitarist), Jeff Oster (Flugelhorn master) and Grammy winning guitarist and producer Will Ackerman.

Brattleboro Planning Commission: We Need Your Input!

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The Brattleboro Planning Commission is working on a Downtown Design Plan, which will describe and illustrate the community’s vision for future downtown improvements and projects. This planning process will address:

Improving routes, access and circulation for pedestrians and bicyclists;
Incorporating green stormwater practices into streets and public spaces;
Identifying opportunities for creative placemaking that use arts and cultural activities to enliven and revitalize public spaces; and
Enhancing long-term economic stability for downtown businesses.

Vermont Workers’ Center Get Involved Meeting

by ESchwartz | Activism

Join us on September 25, 1-2:30 PM at Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room, 224 Main St.
to learn more about the Workers’ Center, the Healthcare Is A Human Right campaign, and ways to be involved. We’ll share basic information about the Workers’ Center, a grassroots member-run organization that organizes for a more just and democratic (small ‘d’) Vermont.

Strength of the Storm Film & Discussion

by ESchwartz | Activism

As part of the week of climate action, the Vermont Workers’ Center and Extinction Rebellion of Southern VT are sponsoring a screening of the film, “Strength of the Storm,” directed by Rob Koier. The screening will take place on Thursday, September 26th, 2019 at 118 Elliot Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro) from 7:30pm-9:30pm, and will be followed by a discussion.

This film shows Vermont residents who were directly impacted by climate change during the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene, as they realized that they were all in this together and organized after the destruction of much of their mobile home community.