Flood Watch in Effect for Windham County

There’s a flood watch in effect for Windham County for most of the day, and a showing every day now through Independence Day next Thursday. A very wet week.

The Windham County Sheriff’s Department posted this photo of the Whetstone this morning:


Reductions in Emergency Housing Program – Brattleboro Support Agencies Plan Tent & Sleeping Bag Drive

BRATTLEBORO – Brattleboro’s Continuum of Care group is conducting a Tent and Sleeping Bag Drive in response to anticipated increases in people experiencing homelessness. July 1st marks another round of budget cuts by the Vermont Legislature, reducing services for General Assistance emergency temporary housing statewide. The last-resort program, which provides limited emergency motel vouchers for elderly and disabled homeless individuals and homeless families with young children, continues to experience cuts. This year, it means many families and individuals who currently qualify will be ineligible for services starting July 1st, and those who do qualify will see the length of their motel stay drastically reduced.


How To Format Links in Stories and Comments on iBrattleboro

Sooner or later, most people like to add links to their stories or comments. To make things easier for your readers it is helpful to learn to format your links.  This helps you avoid really long, ugly internet addresses in the middle of your great work.

Here’s how to format a link in a story or comment on iBrattleboro:


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Contractual & Personnel Matters

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 5:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session to discuss a contractual matter and personnel matter.

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


Double Matching “Harvest Health” Coupons for EBT Customers at the Brattleboro Farmers Market – July

Attention EBT customers! The Brattleboro Farmers’ Market will be matching EBT dollars spent at market (up to $10 per person, per visit) with the Harvest Health Coupons, available starting in July.

The Brattleboro Farmers Market operates the Wednesday Market, downtown by the Co-op on the Whetstone Pathway, 10-2, and the Saturday Market, 9-2, on Rte 9 in West Brattleboro (past the covered bridge). Come to market, swipe your EBT card at the manager’s booth, and receive wooden tokens that can buy any EBT eligible foods, like fresh produce, fresh breads, eggs and meats, maple syrup, etc. While supplies last, double your EBT money and receive the matching Harvest Health coupons.


CRVBL Weekend Roundup

CLAREMONT BEATS BRATTLEBORO IN CRVBL ACTION

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

The defending Connecticut River Valley Baseball League champion Claremont Cardinals held off a surprisingly strong effort by the winless Brattleboro River Rats and came out with a 6 to 3 victory in recent CRVBL action.

The game at Claremont’s Barnes Park featured strong pitching by Claremont’s Mike Wells and Brattleboro’s Todd Bell, both of whom pitched complete games. Cardinal third baseman Justin Pierce singled, doubled, scored a run and drove in two more, while John Waitekus of the River Rats went three for three with a pair of RBI.


Electric Fence in Saxtons River

Electric Fence returns to Pleasant Valley Brewing in Saxtons River, Friday night, June 28. Music starts at 8 p.m. Our good friend Alan Metcalfe will join us to blow some sweet harp. Electric Fence is Steve Carmichael, Howard Weiss-Tisman, Jonny Sheehan and Jeremy Holch. Music is free. Pleasant Valley is a great pub so come on up.


Eat Some More! Brattleboro Cheese Introduces Expanded Lunch and Light Dinner Menu

Starting tomorrow, Thursday, June 27th, Brattleboro Cheese rolls out its new and expanded lunch and light dinner menu.  In addition to our great grilled cheese sammiches, we now offer more options, all developed by Chef Joseph Motika.  Come see us before you head to the movies! 

Our new menu is available Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30am-7pm; Friday and Saturday from 11:30am-8pm; and Sunday from 12:30 to 5pm.  Don’t forget!  Breakfast every day (but Monday, when we’re closed) from 7am-11am, Sundays til noon!


Senator Sanders’ Warning on Student Loans

WASHINGTON, June 26 – Citing a major crisis in college costs, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today urged quick action by Congress to keep student loan interest rates from doubling on Monday.

“If we do not act immediately, the subsidized Stafford loan program will see a doubling of interest rates from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent,” Sanders said in a Senate floor speech. “That would be a disaster for millions of students and their families in our country. We must not allow that to happen.”

At the very least, Sanders said, the current Stafford loan program interest rate of 3.4 percent must be extended. In the long term, the Higher Education Act should guarantee that students will be able to attend college and not be burdened with crippling loans.


NSA Spying Not About Safety

NSA whistleblower Russel Tice has told reporters examples of people the NSA was spying on prior to the PRISM program. Tice says these people were targeted for blackmail and other leverage over them.

:

  • “Members of Congress, both Senate and the House, especially on the intelligence committees and on the armed services committees and some of the–and judicial”
  • “One of the judges is now sitting on the Supreme Court”
  • “Two … former FISA court judges”

D.O.M.A. Struck Down

The Supreme Court has ruled DOMA is unconstitutional. The Federal defensive marriage act which was writting to prevent recognition by the federal government of same-sex marriages is no longer a valid law.   The supreme court has also sent back prop 8 to california, which means the last ruling stands.  Two landmark rulings delivered today.


Fresh Today at Wednesday Market in Brattleboro

Come on down RIGHT NOW to the Wednesday Farmers Market, 10-2, by the Coop. What’s fresh: Spring Garlic! Strawberries! Sugarsnap Peas! Salad Mix! Rhubarb! Cabbage! Greenhouse cukes and peppers! Beautiful flowers!
Anon’s Thai and Loaves and Stitches bakery– have you tried a gluten-free Vermont “poptart” yet?
Farm to Family coupons are being distributed on-site at the market today.
EBT and debit welcome! 802-254-8885


Love and Equality Win!

A good day to living in the US! Good job, Supreme Court Justices.

The Supreme Court Wednesday struck down as unconstitutional the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married in the states where they reside. The court said it violated equal protection to provide benefits to heterosexual couples while denying them to gay couples in the 12 states plus the District of Columbia where same-sex couples may marry. The law passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton recognized marriage as only between one man and one woman.


Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Notes – GMO – Right to Know & What We Can Do

Presenter: Tristan Toleno – State Representative (Brattleboro – District 3)

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast 

June 21, 2013 – Gibson-Aiken Center – Brattleboro VT

Brief Legislative History

The GMO Labeling Bill was last considered by the General Assembly in the second year of the  biennium, so that first bill went away, having been assigned to a committee and failing to see the floor for a vote.


Antje Duvekot w/ Lizzy Mandell at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Friday, June 28

Twilight Music presents award-winning contemporary folk singer/songwriter Antje Duvekot at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Friday, June 28 at 7:30 pm. Vermont-based singer/songwriter Lizzy Mandell opens the show.

Antje Duvekot is a German-born, American-raised singer/songwriter whose songs have been critically praised for their hard-won wisdom, dark-eyed realism and street-smart romanticism. Her bicultural upbringing and relative newness to English have helped shape her unique way with a song, giving her a startlingly original poetic palette.


Strawberry Day at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market

The Brattleboro Farmers’ Market hosts a free educational strawberry event this Saturday, June 29th. From 9:30 to 11, sample different varieties of fresh berries and vote for your favorite! Learn about how strawberries are grown, and check out our scavenger hunt for kids!

The Farmers’ Market is open from 9am to 2pm outdoors on Rte 9, in West Brattleboro. EBT and debit are welcome. There’s something for everyone at the market– shoppers find the freshest food from local farms, globe-spanning cuisine, and gorgeous crafts. Strawberry season is here!

This week, Mary Lea, Andrea Larson, and Marko Packard will be playing Swedish music on violin and guitar from 11-1.


Sanders Statement on Global Warming

WASHINGTON, June 25 –Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a member of the Senate environment and energy committees, issued the following statement on President Obama’s proposals today on global warming:

“Global warming is the most serious environmental crisis facing the world today. It demands bold action to preserve our planet for our children and grandchildren. I applaud the president for saying he will take steps to limit heat-trapping pollution from coal-fired power plants and boost renewable energy production. These steps will help not only the environment but the economy too by creating many, many jobs. But let’s be clear: much more must be done.