Which Four Year Show To Watch?

by cgrotke | Politics

Summer is a time for TV execs to preview fall programming. So it is in politics, too. Conventions are previews for presidencies. What shall we watch for four years? Let’s look at the choices.

Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton today, marking the official end of his campaign to become President and the beginning of his more-powerful-than-this-time-last-year campaign for major changes. This leaves us a Coke-Pepsi type of choice. Sorry, we’re out of root beer.

Clinton has been laying somewhat low, presumably preparing for the convention and general campaign. It’s certainly hers to lose. She’s got more money, she’s been through the election cycle many times before and has the connections and “ground game” to pull it off. The Clinton network has reach and power.

Speak Now – Vermont Health Plan Premiums Are Headed Up (Again)

by Lise | Health

As you probably already know, healthcare isn’t cheap in Vermont.  In recent years, our state’s healthcare has been among the costliest in the nation, mostly due to low population and little competition in the so-called marketplace.  This year, the state’s two health insurers — MVP and Blue Cross — have again sought rate increases, averaging over 8%.  If you’re already struggling to afford healthcare and haven’t seen an increase in your income in a while, such hefty increases in insurance premiums are going to take a toll.

2 Free Everyday Bicycling Workshops

by acharkes | Other

Alice Charkes is offering two Everyday Bicycling workshops this week. They will take place in the back parking lot at the Brattleboro Food Coop. They are free! Come to one or both!

Everyday Bicycling – how to use your bicycle for doing errands and/or commuting – Wednesday, July 13th, 4:00-5:00pm

Fix-A-Flat & Bike Maintenance- Wednesday, July 13th, 5:15-6:30pm

Please rsvp if you plan to attend: acharkes@myfairpoint.net

BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 7/11/2016

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 7/11/16 

Monday, July 11, 2016

12:00 am BAPC: Community Conversation on Stigma 6/2/16

1:15 am TED Talks: Allan Adams: What the Discovery of Gravitational Waves Means

1:30 am PCC: Understanding Rivers and Streams 6/7/16

3:30 am Global Warming Climate Justice Presentation: Brian Tokar

5:00 am UVM Comm Med School: Examining Medical Cannabis

Ukulele for Beginners Class, Starts Wed., July 20

by Ruthie | Music

Learn to play the ukulele from scratch in a small group class. We will learn tuning, basic chords and strumming techniques, and a bunch of fun easy songs to play.

Class runs for 6 Wednesday evenings, from 7:15-8:15pm, at Neighbor’s Hall in Brattleboro. There will be no class on Aug. 17, and the final class will be Aug. 31. Sliding scale tuition $140-160.

Taught by Lisa McCormick. More info and registration: http://bit.ly/UkeClass

I Hid Some Treasure

by Rolf | Other

I hid some treasure,( one of Zak Grace’s energy orbs), somewhere beautiful. It needs to be found before it gets too cold. Consider that a clue.

Here is a link to Zak’s webpage. On the second page, you can find pictures of orbs similar to the one that I hid.

If you search for this, and find it, please take the orb. It’s yours.

But, please bring a small treasure with you, to set out for the next person. Something beautiful, and natural, and small.

Weekend Creativity Series – Whittling

by cgrotke | Creative

Summer is a great time for sitting outside with a piece of wood and a small knife, carving away at a leisurely pace and passing time.

It’s also not that difficult to make something useful, ornamental, or both. A few simple tips and tricks are all you’ll need to get going.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

1855 Account of Nearby Balloon Ascent

by cgrotke | History

Vermont Phoenix, July 7th, 1855  “BALLOON ASCENT.—Mons Gustave Reynard, an experienced aeronaut, ascended in a balloon from Springfield on the 4th. The Springfield Republican says:

“The wind was high, and when the cords were loosed, the balloon with its daring aeronaut shot upward like a rocket. It rapidly rose and swept away to the east of north and in a very few minutes was lost behind a large bank of white clouds. When at an estimated height of four thousand feet, the aeronaut detached his parachute, an umbrella-like structure, to which was attached a live white cat in net work and basket. This came slowly and safely down, but was wafted so far north by the wind that it only reached the earth in Chicopee Falls. Pussy was very badly frightened, net unhurt.

SeVWA’s 2016 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Continued July 7th

by sevwa.wqmp | Nature

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) had its second day of its monitoring program for the summer of 2016 on Wednesday, July 7th. Volunteers will be collected samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams and will continue to do so every other week through the end of August. This year, we have sites on the West River, Rock River, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Williams River (including South Branch and Middle Branch), Saxtons River, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of July 11th

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.

On Wednesday, July 13th and Thursday, July 14th, Route 30 under I-91 in Brattleboro will be closed from approximately 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM to ensure the safety of the traveling public while work occurs on the new bridge.

Next WBA Meeting on Thursday, July 14th at Westgate Housing

by WBA | Town News

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, July 14th at 6:00 PM in the Community Room at Westgate Housing on Westgate Drive. Park on Westgate Drive if there is no room in the lot.

After a review of the treasury report and addressing the issue of directors and officers insurance, there will be an update on the spring plantings and the upcoming BizUp event.  Among other pending issues to be addressed are the result (if any) of the Thompson Trust application for the Neighborhoods Fund and an update on West B neighborhoods and drugs.

The Brattleboro Historical Society Oral History Project presents Bill Holiday’s Interview with Peter Gould

by reginaldwam3 | History

In 1969 Peter Gould was, “tired of the Vietnam War, [and] angry at my county,” as he fled the disconsolate urban chaos in search of an alternative. He found it in at Packer Corners, in Guilford, Vermont and spent the next 9 years at the farm.

In June of 2016 Peter sat with Brattleboro educator and historian Bill Holiday to recount those times in Peter’s personal narrative and the narrative of a remarkable place that lives on, nearly 50 years later.

Jon Gregg Exhibit Opens at Mitchell – Giddings Fine Arts

by Mitchell • Giddings FIne Arts | Arts

Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts is pleased to present the painting exhibit Jon Gregg: evolving a mark, with an opening reception for the artist Thursday, July 14, in two locations: Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts at 183 Main Street and the new MGFA Annex at 132 Main Street in the Brooks House Atrium, both from 5 to 7 pm. An Artist Talk is scheduled for Saturday, July 23 at 5pm.  Friends and alumni of the Vermont Studio Center are encouraged to attend.

Gregg’s work features gestural, abstract, richly textured oil paintstick on paper and canvas. Fortress-like structures and crowded spaces are central themes, even as his characters are caught mid-narrative, jostled by insistent markmaking and surface activity.

Governor Shumlin Awards $450k to Brattleboro for Bradley House Renovations

by Not Signed In | State News

Governor Shumlin Awards $450k for Bradley House Renovations

Brattleboro, VT—Governor Peter Shumlin awarded $450,000 yesterday to the Town of Brattleboro for renovations and an expansion of Bradley House, a Level III Residential Care Home located on Harris Avenue. The planned renovations will enhance the property’s capacity, accessibility and safety.

The award, recommended by the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP); and confirmed by Vermont Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Patricia Moulton; was presented by the Governor at a Bradley House ceremony. Approximately 50 people were on-hand to witness the presentation of awards to Brattleboro and six other recipients.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn presents The Stockwell Brothers Band on Sunday, July 10

by Not Signed In | Music

Twilight Music continues its 14th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, July 10 with contemporary bluegrass and folk music quartet The Stockwell Brothers Band. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 21. All concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain. The series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, Green Mountain Well, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available.

Michael Johnson w/ Laura Molinelli & Ben Campbell at Next Stage on Friday, July 8

by Not Signed In | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present singer, songwriter and guitarist Michael Johnson, plus the Vermont-based Americana duo Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell, at Next Stage on Friday, July 8 at 7:30 pm.

Michael Johnson began playing guitar at age thirteen, and over the next ten years, he won an international talent contest, recorded for Epic Records, studied classical guitar with Graciano Tarrago at Liceo Conservatory in Barcelona, Spain and joined the Chad Mitchell Trio for a year, spending some of that time co‐writing with fellow band member John Denver. After a short stint as an off‐Broadway actor, he released his first album “There Is A Breeze,” produced by Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone on Atlantic Records in 1971.