Rip Currents

by spinoza | Nature

In a recent comment I used the metaphor that we Americans were headed for a Rip unless we woke up, and it got me wondering if this was accurate. My exact line was “…the election is a vast nasty leading to a larger and far more dangerous rip tide.” Rips are naturally occurring, and while often deadly, they are avoidable, and deal-able, if panic doesn’t prevail. Most fatalities happen because people freak out and try to swim against the current, directly into shore, and drown from exhaustion or fright. Even strong swimmers can’t contend with the force of outgoing surge.

It’s worth keeping in mind, Rips don’t have vertical pull, they won’t suck you under. Mostly they channel water back out, built up from incoming waves.  Some Rips, according to recent science, a great many, are large surface level conveyer whirlpools, streams that will eventually return you to shore if you go with the flow.  You can’t always be sure that will happen though, so riding it out may not be practical, even if viable. In any case the current will only carry someone out a few hundred yards beyond where the waves break as a result of shallower seabed, or sand bars. 

Devastating Victories and Optimistic Losses

by cgrotke | Politics

Sanders can’t win in the south! Clinton can’t win in the north! Cruz is considered a sane alternative to Trump! Kasich just needs Ohio! Rubio will win if he comes in 5th better next time! They’re all nuts!

Our strange election year continues, with polls being terribly inaccurate at times, traditional efforts to stop opponents backfiring, and major media following rather shaping results.

Up is the new down. And quite a few states have yet to weigh in.

A new thread to talk politics through the next big round of primaries.

Pop-Up @77 Flat Begins in May – Donations Welcomed

by Not Signed In | Entertainment

Brattleboro Area Hospice is excited to announce a new retail and auction experience in Brattleboro: Pop-Up @77 Flat! On Gallery Walk Fridays beginning in May, and each month to follow through December, a new pop-up auction window will be unveiled at Experienced Goods, the Brattleboro Area Hospice Thrift Shop at 77 Flat Street. Each window will be unique and different and will feature a creatively themed assortment of distinctive riches and other curios. The items in the window will be available for online bidding from midnight of that evening throughout the following month. This is a new spin on its annual Cherished Goods Auction that has traditionally taken place annually in the fall. All proceeds will benefit Brattleboro Area Hospice programs and services.

Pop-up retail, also known as pop-up store (pop-up shop in the UK, Australia and Ireland) or flash retailing, is a trend of opening short-term sales spaces in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Pop-Up @77 Flat is a new exciting way to prominently feature the most unique and special items for a limited duration of time. We hope people will become engaged and interested and will subscribe to the online auction site and bid monthly throughout the year on those items they fancy.

Help with Final School Project

by David Cadran | Questions & Answers

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for helping me with my survey for my last school project. We just started our final project (can’t believe it’s almost over) and would love it if any of you could help by taking this survey. It will take approximately five minutes and your help is greatly appreciated. Feel free to share it with your friends as well.

Thank you!

-David Cadran

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Malfunction Junction Is Here To Stay

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard received a detailed report on why our downtown traffic system is just about the best it can possibly be, as is. In discussing the lack of major opportunities for improvements, the name Malfunction Junction returned as shorthand for the intersection causing problems up and down Main Street.

The board also learned about the best path forward toward addressing issues related to being a hub town in Vermont, which is to form a coalition with other hub towns, such as Bennington, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield, to put pressure on the state to create new sources of revenue.

A trailer was bought, committees have new members, and the town now offers larger loans to help businesses.

Brattleboro Town Meetings: Get Involved! March 2016

by BrattleboroTV | Town News

Town Manager’s Office teammates Peter Ewell, Patrick Moreland and Jan Anderson take a few moments to discuss the different ways area residents can get involved with Town Meeting–whether it’s participating in the annual town meeting, attending this year’s special Town Meeting on the Police-Fire Upgrade, prepping yourself with the pre-town meeting info sessions, attending the regular selectboard meetings throughout the year, or watching all of it on BCTV. .

Job Hunt Helper at Brooks Memorial Library

by JMW | Education

During the months of March and April, visitors to the Brooks Memorial Library can consult will CCV student intern Ben Howe for help using computer technology for job and career-related tasks. Ben will meet individually with citizens to help them explore careers and online education, prepare resumes, search for jobs, and complete online job applications. Ben’s services are provided through a partnership between the Community College of Vermont and the Vermont Department of Libraries, which will place “Job Hunt Helpers” in town libraries in six Vermont communities. These services are made possible by funding from the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation and federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Thumb Drives Need Labels

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

Thumb drives and USB sticks are very common. Almost none of them have a space available to write on. 

Thought for the morning: Want to invent something and make some money? Develop a USB drive that has a space for a label, so we can write a note about what’s on it. Make it so we can change labels, too, if the contents of the drive change.

Can a Walmart Employee in Kenya Influence Walmart’s Political Contributions to Candidates in the USA?

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

Why does the U.S. Marijuana Party care what George Oloo thinks?

George Oloo works for Walmart in the Country of KENYA, where President Barack Obama claims his father is from.

Studying the opinions of George Oloo, gives us an idea of what ethics and moral values may have been taught to President Obama by his father.

Walmart has employees around the world, and may have regard for their opinions, depending on the particular employees position, status and work record.

Brattleboro Town Meeting Informational Forum and District Caucuses – Public Invited

by Not Signed In | Politics

Brattleboro Town Selectboard will hold a pre-town meeting information forum on Wednesday, March 9 at Academy School beginning at 7:00 PM. At 6:30 p.m., town meeting members of each district will be available to meet with constituents to offer residents an opportunity to share their views and discuss articles to be voted on at the annual meeting.

Also, at that time, district 2 will be accepting nominations to fill a town meeting member vacancy for 1 year. Any District 2 resident interested in being considered for this position should be present at Wednesday’s 6:30PM caucus. Classroom locations at Academy School for each caucus will be posted in the school lobby that evening. The public is invited to attend their district’s caucus and stay for the information meeting.

Act 46 Study Committee Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

ACT 46 STUDY COMMITTEE

Representing the Brattleboro Town School District, Dummerston Town School District, Guilford Town School District, Putney Town School District, and the Vernon Town School District
http://www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF MEETING

The Act 46 Study Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Academy School.

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Alice Laughlin, Committee Chair

II. REVIEW, PRIORITIZE AND ESTABLISH DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR MEETING BY CHAIRPERSON.

Brattleboro OB/GYN Offers a New Model of Group Care

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro OB/GYN & Four Seasons Midwifery, a department of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce their CenteringPregnancy® site approval. CenteringPregnancy is a holistic childbirth program committed to the empowerment of pregnant women. “This is an exciting time for our practice as we offer CenteringPregnancy, a nationally recognized model of care,” said Cynthia Pearson, Director of Maternal and Child Health.

In CenteringPregnancy, pregnant women with similar due dates join together in a group with their healthcare provider. They receive all the components of prenatal care, including health assessment, education and support. There is a facilitated discussion of pregnancy, birth and newborn care as well as overall health, stress management, etc. Studies in sample populations show Centering care increases breastfeeding rates and duration of breastfeeding. Patient and provider satisfaction are higher than traditional care.

BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 3/7/2016

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 3/7/16

Monday, March 7, 2016

12:00 am WWAC: Paul Morgan – Paris Climate Agreement 2/19/16

1:30 am Hunger Mtn Coop Workshop Series – Creative Ideas

3:10 am TED Talks: Shonda Rhimes: My Year of Saying Yes to Everything

3:30 am 13th Annual A Cappella Concert 2/6/16

5:45 am The Opiate Effect – Film and Discussion

Primary Numbers and the Combined Anti-Trump

by Lise | Politics

As the primary process rolls on, the media has tended to focus on the simplest form of result, declaring winners and losers in the tightest of races. But there is more to the aggregate numbers than simple winners and losers, state by state. A closer look at who voted for whom and where reveals some interesting things about both parties, not least of which is the power of the combined anti-Trump, about which more later.

First, the Democrats. Hillary Clinton has won a fair number of states so far, but not all of them were landslides. For instance, she “won” Massachusetts by a mere 1.4%, not exactly a mandate-making majority. She won Iowa by an even tinier margin of 4 votes, which translates to less than a third of one percent. Even in Nevada, her margin of victory was only 5%. These states are outside the deep south.

Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of March 6

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Other

Brattleboro Time Trade:  Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time. See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade can do for you!

How Time Trade Works: You do something for someone and earn
time credits for your “bank,” which you can then put towards someone
else doing something for you! It’s that simple – and amazing!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from the arctic depths:

Now anyone can see a listing of all our Offers and Requests: https://brattleboro.timebanks.org/ads?type=1

OFFERS (i.e. things people could do for you):

Help with Spring and Summer Chore’s – Many T.T. Ref,s.
Help Moving Items and/or Hauling Items to the WSWMD
Genealogy Tutoring/Mentoring

Next WBA Meeting on March 10th to Feature Q&A with District 1 Town Meeting Members

by WBA | Town News

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held on Thursday, March 10th at 6:00 PM in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive (just west of the W Bratt PO). After a review of the treasury report, the WBA will discuss the status of the welcome signs and other pending issues.

A feature of this month’s meeting is the WBA hosting of District 1 Town Meeting representatives at 7:00 that evening. This is a chance for area residents to engage in an informal Q&A regarding the warrants for the upcoming March 12th Special Town Meeting which will specifically address the proposed police/fire facilities upgrade, and to engage them in a discussion about the March 19th Annual Representative Town Meeting. This part of the meeting will be facilitated by West Brattleboro’s own Orion Barber.

A Political Hypothetical

by cgrotke | Philosophy

Imagine a voter that generally wants to vote for their party. In an election cycle, this voter likes one of the party candidates and supports them actively throughout the primary and caucus season, but their candidate falls short and another candidate becomes the nominee.

The voter wants to vote for their party candidate, because the other party is, of course, y’know… the other party. However, the voter finds their official party candidate to be repulsive, dangerous, icky, and generally bad for the future of the country.

How should the voter vote?

Purimpalooza!

by BAJC Shir HeHarim | Entertainment

Are you getting cabin fever? Here’s the perfect solution: A party! Join Brattleboro Area Jewish Community for a musical variety show and costume party to celebrate Purim, our happiest holiday. Come in your most inventive or extravagant costume (Purim-themed or not).

Join the talent show – contact us to sign up with any talent you’d like to share! Bring your friends, Jewish or not – all are welcome! We’ll provide amazing baked goods, beer from Hermit Thrush Brewery, bagels by Bruegger’s, a photo booth, a mask making station, musical acts, and much more.

The highlight of the evening will be a set of Jewish songs by renowned jazz and R&B singer Wanda Houston and pianist Eugene Uman. Come dance, “schmooze”, eat, and celebrate!

Community Passover Seder

by BAJC Shir HeHarim | Spiritual

Please join Brattleboro Area Jewish Community for a community seder on the second night of Passover, Saturday April 23, 2016 at the West Village Meeting House at 5:30 p.m.  Main dishes will be catered by Sharon Myers, and Cantor Kate Judd will be leading us through a traditional Jewish seder. You don’t have to be Jewish to share this journey and feast with us – all families and individuals are welcome! 

We will be accepting reservations by phone and through our   Sign Up Genius is easy to use and has no membership fee, nor do you have to become a member of to reserve your space, see how you can contribute and see what others have already pledged to bring.  If you don’t feel comfortable signing up this way, just call Laura Berkowitz 257-0922 or BAJC 257-1959, and we’ll happily make your reservation for you!