Puppies and Kittens: The Morning Briefing

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

I think we make a mistake by requiring the president to have a morning intelligence meeting.  Why? I think it ends up brainwashing those elected to favor certain information.

Imagine if instead, the president received a morning puppy and kitten briefing from the ASPCA. Yes, this sounds absurd already, but if we have morning meetings about spies and bad guys, it is possible to have a morning meeting on a weird topic.

So, each morning it is puppies and kittens. I think most of us would begin our presidency being polite and interested in the presentations. Within a few months, we may start to get involved with the details of all these puppies and kittens. 

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of December 12th

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

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.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 may be reduced to a single lane intermittently, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Internet Rumors

by tomaidh | Rumors

There’s stuff circulating on the net that Julian Assange is among the missing, maybe even dead. Specifically, he has not made an identifyable appearance in 6 weeks or so. Lending credibility to the story is the infallible Alex Jones.

Does anybody know where he went?

10 reasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAbq9RbgVyc

Reminder – West Brattleboro Association Holiday Party Dec 8th at Dalem’s Chalet

by WBA | Town News

On Thursday, December 8th, at 5:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will host its annual Holiday Party at Dalem’s Chalet, 78 South Street. This is a time for people and businesses in West Brattleboro to get together socially and to celebrate the Association’s numerous accomplishments in this past year. The evening will feature a cash bar with hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant. The WBA suggests a voluntary donation of $5 toward the food, although no one will be turned away.

44th Christmas at Christ Church: “O, Happy Yule!”

by fomag | Arts

Friends of Music at Guilford’s 44th annual holiday program at Christ Church, the iconic New England landmark along Rt. 5 in Guilford, Vt., is set for December 16 and 17. Performances on Friday at 7:30 and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. will include vocal music, instrumental interludes, a holiday story, and a brief carol sing, the  traditional format. The “O, Happy Yule!” subtitle refers to this season’s thematic choice of Music from the British Isles.

The Guilford Chamber Singers, under the direction of Tom Baehr for a fifth season, present ten a cappella seasonal songs from England, Ireland, and Wales. These span several centuries and are interspersed with instrumental selections played by the Guilford Chamber Players under the direction of Amy Cann.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Single Stream Coming, MRF Killed, RT 30 Planned, Budgets Examined

by cgrotke | Town News

The selectboard got through a long meeting, accomplishing much but under strained and tense moments at times. They chastisted one of their own for poor judgement and actions, explored a change in Rt 30 as it approaches and leaves Brattleboro, voted to go forward with a switch to single stream recycling, killed the MRF at the WSWMD, offered suggestions to organizations over workplans and budget requests, and more.

Rise Above

by Lise | Op/Ed

On the morning of November 8, Election Day 2016, I was standing in my kitchen looking out the window up at the sliver of sky you can see between the houses next door.  As I looked at that slice of blue, two little words popped into my head: “rise above.”  And I thought, today of all days, that’s probably good advice.  And then, that it might be good advice in many situations beyond just electoral politics.  How many of the world’s ills could be solved if we could somehow rise above, at least long enough to get a clear view and the lay of the land?

New Brattleboro Skatepark Promotional Video and Crowdsourcing link – Donating Made Easy!

by scrispe | Recreation & Sports

The Living Memorial Skatepark has its ACT 250 permit and is ready to hopefully break ground in 2017. We just need more contributions. Please donate to this important cause for recreation and youth in Brattleboro. A skate park would be a tremendous asset to our town and region!!

Here is the link to watch the new video and DONATE!

Making Connections Conference Welcomes Stern Center Professional

by sterncentervt | Education

Brattleboro, VT- On November 5, the Brattleboro Area Early Childhood Educators hosted the Making Connections Conference at Brattleboro Retreat. Professional learning providers from around the state shared their expertise through workshops covering a variety of topics, thereby enhancing the knowledge of roughly 80 Vermont early childhood providers and educators. Funded by the generous support of the Turrell Fund, Karen Rodgers, a Speech Language Pathologist at the Stern Center for Language and Learning, was able to provide two valuable workshops to these educators.

Town Trash Bag Quality?

by rootrunner | Questions & Answers

Just this past week putting out trash in the early morning dark I had the large purple bag split open like a ripe watermelon and no I wasn’t over stuffing or using excessive force. The next time around two weeks later when I had less trash going out, the smaller yellow bag failed me when I went to pull the draw string it just simpley ripped off like a fly away rip cord to no where, so I had to do a quick make shift tie job with what was left of excess plastic bag on the top barely binding enough to tie a simple granny knot, not the best way to start the day.The entire package of yellow bags had the same defect. 

Should I feel like this is just a fluke in the overall  quality of these costly bags or is anyone else out there had a simular experience?

BCTV Schedules For Week of 12/5/16

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 12/5/16

Monday, December 5, 2016

12:00 am Deep Change for Climate Justice

1:30 am Mongolian Music and Dance- 10/29/16

3:30 am Western Bombs-Eastern Societies: Destruction of Nations and Humanitarian Interventionism

5:00 am GMMT: Friday News Show

5:30 am The Next Chapter – An Exploration of Caregiving

Drive, Walk, and Ride Safely

by cgrotke | Nature

Brattleboro is getting a first dose of real winter weather, and conditions for walking, biking, and driving are poor. Take your time, go a bit slower, and get to your destination safely.

Just this morning I was walking near Western Ave and Cedar and BANG – two cars collided. (Another guy and I were close enough to check on everyone. We also directed traffic for a moment until the police arrived.) Both drivers were safe, but they are both looking at lots of car repair.

If you don’t need to go out, by all means stay in. And watch the forecasts. More snow and rain is expected this week, along with cold temperatures.

VFW Lunch Specials Dec. 5th – 9th

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Specials are only $5.50 a plate. Burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken wings, soups and sandwiches are also available.

Mon – chicken cordon bleu w/ baked potato & veg
Tues – beef stew w/ homemade bread
Wed – chicken marsala w/ mashed potato & roll
Thur – spaghetti w/ homemade meatballs & salad
Fri – crab cakes w/ coleslaw & onion rings

If you have more than 4 people in your group, please call ahead of time at 257-0438. Take out orders are available, and some specials sell out fast.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – December 6, 2016

by cgrotke | Town News

It’s going to be a long meeting Tuesday night when the Brattleboro Selectboard takes up an agenda covering just about everything.

There will be an update on the Police and Fire facilities, a presentation on the Rt 30 “gateway,” a decision on what to do about recycling and the Town Representative voting against Town wishes, and more budget discussion. And…

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 10:00am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office Closed December 13

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, December 13, as staff will be conducting the Town School Vote in the Municipal Center, room 212. Polling hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Annette L. Cappy
Brattleboro Town Clerk
230 Main Street, Suite 108
Brattleboro. VT 05301

acappy@brattleboro.org
ph 802-251-8129
fax 802-257-2312

Scrabble! At Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Interested in joining others in a lively game of Scrabble? Weekly drop-in Scrabble at Brooks Memorial Library begins on Wednesday 14 December 2016 at 6 pm. Drop-in Scrabble will continue weekly on Wednesdays at 6 pm in the Local History Room, except on First Wednesdays. 

Brooks Memorial Library
224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Contact us at info@brookslibraryvt.org or 802-254-5290

First Wednesdays at Brooks Library: How William Carlos Williams Changed Poetry

by Brooks Memorial Library | Arts

UVM professor Huck Gutman will look at the work and legacy of poet William Carlos Williams in a talk at Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro on December 7 at 7 pm. His talk, “William Carlos Williams: America’s Most Revolutionary Twentieth Century Poet,” is part of the Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays lecture series and is free and open to the public. Gutman’s talk will consider how Williams changed American and world poetry forever by creating a new poetic language and new poetic forms.

Huck Gutman is Professor of English at the University of Vermont, where he teaches courses in nineteenth- and twentieth-century American poetry, and in modern poetry in translation. A former Chair of the English Department, he has twice taught abroad as a Fulbright Fellow. He has written or edited four books, and has been a regular political columnist for major newspapers abroad.  He has returned to teaching at UVM after six years in Washington, where he served as Chief of Staff to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Brooks Memorial Library Like-New Holiday Book Sale

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Don’t miss the 11th Annual Friends of Brooks Memorial Library Like-New Holiday Book Sale! It will be held Thursday and Friday, December 1st & 2nd, from 10am-6pm, and Saturday, December 3rd from 10 am-2 pm. What better place to find a gift for the holidays?