Appreciating the Right to Disorder – Our Evolving Fourth of July

by cgrotke | History

The way we celebrate the 4th of July has changed.

I read the news from long ago each day, scanning old copies of the Phoenix, and for the last few days (many decades ago), the papers were filled with reports of Fourth of July celebrations. It appears that our earlier celebrations of independence involved more mayhem and being quite independent for the day. It almost seemed a bit more like Halloween, with noise, pranks, costumes, and silliness.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of July 13

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.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Night work on the new bridge will continue at the columns on Route 30. Night work will be conducted Monday night, July 13th thru Friday night July 18th.

Putney Sits Atop CRVBL As Season Enters Final Month

by CRVBL | Recreation & Sports

After a break over the Independence Day weekend, six of the seven town teams in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League return to action next Sunday, each of them hoping to gain ground on the undefeated Putney Fossils. The Fossils enjoy another week off after running off nine straight victories to start the season. Regular season play will end in early August with two weeks of playoffs to determine the winner of the 2014 CRVBL Cup.

WKVT “Green Mountain Mornings” Available as Podcasts

by KAP | Media

Fans of WKVT’s “Live and Local” show probably know that due to some scheduling/programming changes, L&L is no more, but that host Chris Lenois is now on “Green Mountain Mornings” on WKVT (100.3 FM or 1490 AM) from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. with a similar approach to topics of local interest.

If, for whatever reason, you can’t listen to the show live on-air, podcasts from “Green Mountain Mornings” can be heard online or on your iPod/MP3 player any time.

No Palm Trees in Brattleboro

by SteveJD | Sci-Tech

The ice at the poles are the highest since measurements, but the warming models predict otherwise! Oh well, it’s good to be wrong unless you ‘re a palm tree salesmen !

Global warming latest:. 

Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ To Be Held For I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, July 12, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

New River Garden Exhibit, “Farms in 7 Media” – Gallery Walk Opening To Feature Bondville Boys

by MartinLangeveld | Arts

During July’s Gallery Walk (Friday, July 11) a new exhibit, featuring works by members of Brattleboro-West Arts, is arriving at the Strolling of the Heifers’ Gallery at the Garden, located at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden at 157 Main Street, Brattleboro.

Entertainment during the opening will be by the Bondville Boys, an edgy, eclectic bluegrass band that plays a huge assortment of music, including a ton of original tunes and everything from Flatt and Scruggs to Blondie.

The reception, with refreshments, is free and open to the public. It takes place during Gallery Walk, Friday evening, July 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and thereafter will be on view weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., continuing through August. 

I Dropped The Ball: On Missed Opportunities During Child Rearing

by Rolf | Family

Recently I was hiking with my wife and boy, up Wantastiquet. We made this hike despite knowing that rattlesnakes have been seen on the trail suning themselves.  The chance to hike in nature, despite such risks, is one of the reasons we live here, and not some nature deprived metropolis. 

During this hike, I had a mission; to get up as far as we could in a certain amount of time.

Morgen, my boy, saw water coursing over the trail and down the hillside, in a little stream filled with rocks. “WOW !”, he said. Can we explore that stream? Can you come with me?” My instantaneous reply was, ” I think you know that we arem’t going to do that right now”. I had my mission, and it was to hike, and I marched farther up the trail.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 7/7/14

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 7-7-14

Monday July 7             

12:00 am      2014 Slow Living Summit: Plenary 4 – Martin Ping: “Soil, Soul, and Society ” 

1:30 am       True North Reports: 21st Century Info Age and Jeffersonian Ideals

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Lecture at the Montshire Museum: Black Bears of VT

5:00 am       The Vermont Difference – Essays on Vermont

Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of July 6

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Activism

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

See below for exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from the White Mountains:

OFFERS:

Fresh Garden Produce
Live Music for Parties, Weddings or Concerts, Fundraisers
from Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist
French Tutor
Citizen’s Awareness Breakfast at the Senior Center 3rd
Friday of the Month
Child Care

Chris Lenois on WVEW

by pockets | Entertainment

Join DJ Pockets this tuesday for another experience that you won’t soon forget..this one features Chris Lenois former host of 1490 WKVT AM’s “Live & Local”. “Live & Local” is changing into Green Mountain Mornings…

Green Mountain Mornings is a morning news/talk program on WKVT 100.3 FM/1490AM in Brattleboro, Vermont, that broadcasts every weekday from 6:00-9:00am. Podcasts at www.wkvtradio.com. Guest booking: clenois@wkvt.com.

The show features interviews with local, state and national political figures, as well as members of the arts community, local newspapers, local town government officials, and anyone and everyone worth hearing from on the issues affecting life for folks in the area.

Not An Optimist

by tomaidh | Economics

Chris Martenson is a guy from nearby Montague Mass. He appears from time to time in Brattleboro. He’s a very bright guy with a PhD in neurotoxicology, but his real strength is economics.

Currently he is a writer and trend forecaster interested in macro trends regarding the economy, energy, finance and the environment. He is the founder of PeakProsperity.com and creator of the “Crash Course” which is available free on his website: www.peakprosperity.com (you can buy it on DVD as well).

150 Years Ago (1864 7/5)

by BusyMom | History

July 5th. Still in camp. Alvin Stokes came over to see me last evening. Had quite a visit from him. Shall try and see Zopher today if I can find the third, but the different divisions and brigades are moving to get good places for shade and water. Should like to see David Morse and Zopher before I finish this, but it will make it too late to get the letter off today. You asked me if I had a rubber blanket. I bought a light one in Washington and some other things. Have no woolen blanket. Could not carry it if I had. Want to keep as light a knapsack as possible. Have to keep four days rations on hand all the time, and that is no small load. Some throw the rations away and get short, but had rather sweat some more and have enough to eat.

SeVWA’s Second 2014 River Monitoring Day – E. coli Results Charts

by sevwa.wqmp | Nature

On July 2nd SeVWA (Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance) successfully collected water samples from all 26 sites along the West, Williams, and Saxton rivers as well as the Whetstone brook. The E. coli results from our second sampling day of the summer can be found in the attached charts.

When reviewing the results please keep in mind that the samples were collected prior to the rain we just experienced and E. coli levels have a tendency to spike after it rains. This is due to run-off washing into the rivers and carrying animal, pet or human waste. The general rule is to wait 24-48 hours after a rain event before swimming in the rivers to minimize risk of waterborne illnesses.

Globalization

by ChrisPratt | Media

For the brave few who listen to me I have been ensconced behind my computer developing a new website based on the principles of Free Speech. In doing so I came across the best video I have ever seen that describes Predatory Capitalism and does so in just over 2 minutes!

Don’t get me wrong I am not opposed to capitalism; I founded and ran my own software company for years. I am huge believer in SMALL business. What I am opposed to are the MEGA CORPORATIONS – you know the ones that pay Congress to write laws that Media never questions – the laws that makes them richer and the poor, poorer – those corporate giants that cashed in their morality for profits a long time ago.

The Beatles: Band of the Sixties

by Not Signed In | Entertainment

The Friends of the Library will present a free lecture, The Beatles: Band of the Sixties by scholar, Aaron Krerowicz on Friday, July 18 at 7PM in the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro. This 60-minute presentation includes a film and audio clips plus excerpts of interviews with the band members.

The lecture starts with the band’s seminal visits to Hamburg from 1960-62; continuing through Beatlemania in 1963-65. Krerowicz will also review the Beatles psychedelic experimentation, their trip to India to study Transcendental Meditation and the subsequent White Album in 1968. He will conclude his presentation with Let It Be and Abbey Road in 1969.

Tanabata+Obon, Japan’s Double Summer Festivals, in Pliny Park

by ACCVT | Arts

Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) presents Brattleboro’s Tanabata-Obon Festival, 2012, downtown, in Pliny Park Park, corner of Main and High Streets.

This festival celebrates a Japanese tradition: the double festivals of summer in a single evening observance, downtown, during the July Gallery Walk.

Obon is a celebration of ancestors and remembrance of loved ones and the departed. Tanabata is a star festival for communities to make wishes for the future (happening each year when the paths of two of the brightest stars, Vega and Altair, meet in the sky).

150 years Ago (1864 7/2-4)

by BusyMom | History

Down in the Woods near the Railroad,

July 2, 1864.

Dearest wife, 

Here I am on Picket again, near a good spring. Some of the boys have shot a fat heifer and are engaged in
frying, drying and boiling the meat, but I draw more than I can eat, though my appetite is pretty good, I assure you.