Sanders On Earth Day

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., April 22 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a member of the Senate environment and energy committees, said today’s observation of Earth Day is a reminder that dramatic action is needed to curb the carbon and methane emissions responsible for the planetary crisis of global warming.

Sanders cited a warning this month by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made up of the world’s leading climate scientists, which reported that emissions of greenhouse gases have gone up nearly twice as fast so far in the 21st century as they did in the last decades of the 20th century.

Free Spanish Classes in Brattleboro and Putney

by Not Signed In | Education

Express Fluency- a new language school offering Spanish classes in Brattleboro and Putney– is offering free intro classes over the coming weeks.

The way that they teach language is so radically different from the way most of us were taught language in school that you have to experience one of these classes for yourself to see what it feels like to pick-up a language easily.

“Project Unspeakable” at NEYT May 3

by Ezie | Arts

“Project Unspeakable” Reading Explores Why Our Leaders Died 1964-1968

A dramatic reading of “Project Unspeakable,” a new play about the 1960’s assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy, will be presented on Saturday, May 3 at 7:00pm at New England Youth Theater.

“Project Unspeakable” was inspired by James Douglass’ groundbreaking and meticulously researched book, JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters.  It was written by playwright Court Dorsey and associate playwrights Debbie Lynangale and Steve Wangh (author of The Laramie Project), based on extensive research.  Like the book, the script focuses not on how the four leaders died, but why.

A Proposal for Augmenting Municipal Resources

by Chris Chapman | Op/Ed

Note: This was the text I had composed and sent to the board prior to being scheduled to appear.
…

It is fair to say that Brattleboro has asked about as much as it can of its citizens from property taxes. There is, however, another route to gaining more resources. It does not include taxation or fees. Rather, I am suggesting that the town take advantage of some key but under appreciated qualities it enjoys and raise money from contributions over and above the property tax. I am suggesting that Brattleboro do what many, if not most, charitable organizations do: invite, or appeal for, charitable contributions from those who appreciate the community and its services.

Normal Teen, or Terrorist?

by cgrotke | Other

What kind of teen do these behaviors describe to you?

“Parents might see sudden personality changes in their children at home—becoming confrontational. Religious leaders might notice unexpected clashes over ideological differences. Teachers might hear a student expressing an interest in traveling to a conflict zone overseas. Or friends might notice a new interest in watching or sharing violent material.”

A normal teenager?

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 4/21/14

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 Schedule for the week of 4-21-14

                   Monday April 21              

12:00 am      The Stone Church Live: Jatoba

1:30 am       The Folklorist – Ep.7

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Everyday Gardening – Ep.1: Biodynamic Gardening

5:00 am       The Climate Show – Vermont Gas Pipline 3/6/14

150 Years Ago (1864 4/20)

by BusyMom | History

Brattleboro, April 20, 1864.

Dearest wife,-

I am well. You must have been alarmed by what I wrote. There has been nothing the matter with me except
some bad boils. I am glad that I wrote to you on Sunday, as you will see by that letter that I was well enough to be on duty. I have not yet been excused from it. I have just lighted my candle to read a letter from Catherine. I wrote her a long time since, but it appears that she did not get my letter. This is the first evening in my new quarters. It seems good to be alone. Wish that you could be here to spend the evening with me. “My heart is in the Highlands, my heart is not here” but the body is. The weather is chilly and gloomy enough. Have had no sun for several days. The making of sugar is over here, but I think it must be pretty good weather for it in the North part of the State. It is cool enough here, but the season is over. I miss the chance of going over to Hinsdale. I have written to Jacob today.

The First Social Security Beneficiary

by tomaidh | History

The First Social Security Beneficiary

The first person ever to receive a Social Security benefit check was Ida May Fuller from Brattleboro
Miss Fuller (known as Aunt Ida to her friends and family) was born on September 6, 1874 on a farm outside of Ludlow, Vermont. She attended school in Rutland, Vermont where one of her classmates was Calvin Coolidge. In 1905, after working as a school teacher, she became a legal secretary. One of the partners in the firm, John G. Sargent, would later become Attorney General in the Coolidge Administration.

Change In The Air At BMH?

by SK-B | Op/Ed

I have not yet met Steve Gordon, the new CEO of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, but after I wrote to him about a problem I had experienced at a BMH physician’s practice, the problem got resolved.

This was refreshing. It was the first time since the Reformer ran my Oct. 5, 2007 op-ed, “Hospital’s complaint process needs reform,” that I felt a glimmer of hope. In that piece, I had written:

“Patients are naturally vulnerable, and rely on the hospital staff and administration for kindness and protection. To prevent lapses, there must be a trustworthy complaint procedure.”

Hire Putney School Students to Work For You – Proceeds Go to Citta (An International NGO)

by rachelida | Activism

Charitable Work Day is The Putney School’s way of contributing to the global community by donating our labor towards a cause. This year’s Charitable Work Day will be Saturday, May 10th.

This year we have elected to donate the funds we raise to Citta, an organization dedicated to providing access to healthcare and education in some of the poorest and most isolated places in the world. Citta also works holistically with these communities to help them develop their prospects for sustainable economic development.

Weekend Concert Series – De La Soul in Montreux

by cgrotke | Entertainment

De La Soul has been on my mind lately. They were a refreshing entry into the rap scene, adding some silliness and psychedelia to a sound dominated, at the time, by bragging. De La Soul switched the rules around and broke rap open with others such as the Jungle Brothers, Tribe Called Quest , Shortie, Monie Love and others.

Suddenly there was room for some smarter poetry. Jungle Brothers gave us songs about eating well and respecting women, for example. Tribe lost their wallet in El Segundo. De la Soul rapped about potholes in their lawn, and daisies.

Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office Closed Wednesday

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Wednesday, April 23. Staff will be attending training seminars.

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

1902 Report on Necessary Fire Department Repairs and Expenses

by cgrotke | History

From April 18, 1902, published in the Brattleboro Phoenix, a discussion of necessary repairs for the fire department:

“Your bailiffs report that during the last year they have thoroughly renovated the engine house on Elliot Street, repainting both its interior and exterior, putting on a new roof, putting in a bath room and improving the accommodations for the men permanently on duty there’ this house had not been painted for six years and the roof had not been renewed for ten, thus making there repairs absolutely necessary. The expense connected with this was about $1400. The repairs from the Estey Organ company’s steamer, which was damaged in the Crosby block fire, was another extra expense in connection with the fire department….

Rt 30 Reopens

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Good Morning:

The section of VT Rt 30 that intersects with I-91 is now open to traffic.

Cindy Cook
Public Relations Officer
Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project

FCC Uses 1950s Jim Crow Laws To Allow VPR To Exclude Independent Candidates From General Election Debates

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

FCC, the Federal Elections Commission, is using 1950s Jim Crow Laws that were created by the U.S. Congress to keep Negroes out of political candidate debates, but they are STILL using them today, even in 2014, to keep independent candidates from participating in Vermont Public Radio general election debates.   (Bernie Sanders runs in the Primary in the summer as a Democrat and takes millions of dollars from them and their PACs, and then switches at the last minute in the general election for November to “independent” so he is not a “real” independent.) 

Brattleboro Budget Rejected

by cgrotke | Town News

Brattleboro voters rejected the proposed budget Tuesday.

478 voted in favor, but 771 voted against, sending the Brattleboro Selectboard back to work on another version.

1249 people participated by voting. 554 of those were by absentee ballot. Results are for the entire town; votes were not counted by district.

Community Conversation: Preventing Teen Rx Misuse

by BAPC | Health

Did you know that 1 in 5 Windham southeast high-school students have misused a prescription (Rx) stimulant or opiate (pain reliever), not prescribed to them? And 1 in 10 have misused an Rx medication in the past 30 days?

The Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition (BAPC) will be hosting a Community Conversation-Preventing Teen Rx Misuse. This event is designed to bring teens, parents, adult mentors, educators and community members together, using a “World Cafe” styled event, to discuss and develop solutions to prevent youth Rx misuse.

Teens and adults will take part in determining achievable strategies to address teen Rx misuse and create an opportunity to develop and execute strategies in the coming year.