The Scene: Presidential primary election, March 3 in Vermont.
Election official: “Which ballot do you want? Democratic or Republican?”
Vermont voter: “Why do I need to tell you which ballot I want?”
“Well, umm, it’s the law . . . .“
BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 2/17/20
Monday, February 17, 2020
5:00 am Brattleboro Democracy Forum at the Brooks Memorial Library – Drugs and the CIA, with Nick Biddle, 1/6/20
6:30 am Southern Vermont Live Music – The Butterfly Swing Band – Songs from Set 2 – 9/13/2019
7:00 am Michael Bloomberg 2020 – Vermont Organizing Kick-Off
7:30 am The World Fusion Show – EP 67 – Brazilliance with Derrik Jordan
Many endorsements for the Brattleboro selectboard tout the candidate’s open-mindedness, integrity, intelligence and compassion. If you have heard David Schoales’ positions on the board over the years, or if you read the long list of issues that he has championed, you know that he is all these things plus much more. If you’re a public employee you may remember that David led the board in support of a successful effort to negotiate a much better health insurance plan for town workers. More recently, he supported the successful effort for the town to hire a Sustainability Coordinator, a position critically to address the challenges ahead that go well beyond climate change. David also spent many cold days with others campaigning for the ban on distribution of single use plastic bags in Brattleboro. By any measure, he is a true champion of the environment, local businesses, and fiscal responsibility.
I am writing to express my endorsement of Daniel Quipp, who is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.
Our town is lucky to have Daniel.
Daniel’s work with SEVCA, helping local people make sure their homes stay warm, and as a community organizer with Vermont Interfaith Action, point to his dedication to making sure our neighbors’ basic needs are being met. When someone works on behalf of people who are struggling, and demonstrates a drive to be helpful to others, I take notice.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A 21-year-old Slovenian bested more than 40 of the world’s top up-and-coming athletes Sunday to win the Harris Hill Ski Jump’s annual namesake Fred Harris Memorial Tournament.
Blaz Pavlic, performing for a crowd of several thousand spectators, retired the event’s Winged Ski Trophy by topping the field for a third year after victories in 2017 and 2019.
“I’ll find a place for it,” Pavlic said of the weighty trophy that has only been retired by five other jumpers in the venue’s nearly century-old history.
Early voting is open. In person voting is on March 3.
There are two three-year seats that are contested for the merged school district. These seats will set the tone for the next few years. So far the merged (against our will) board has done a tremendous amount of work with much more to come. Seven of the eight members of the current board were strongly against merging which helped this first year of operation to be collaborative rather than contentious. This sense of collaboration is critical for our merged schools to not become like many other areas of the state.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A young Slovenian topped a field of 45 of the world’s best up-and-coming ski jumpers Saturday on the first day of this weekend’s Harris Hill Ski Jump.
Blaz Pavlic, 21, won the most total points in front of a crowd of several thousand spectators, with Simon Viehhauser, 18, of Austria second.
In the men’s U.S. Cup, Canden Wilkinson, 17, of Colorado’s Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club finished first, with teammate Niklas Malacinski, 16, second.
Big front page story in Ref this am about all the prep for & equipment & etc to “broadcast” today’s Harris Hill Ski Jump o BCTV. Many of us, of course, aren’t on cable (not available here) so I thought I’d try the online live stream. Clicked on the link given in the Reformer article & got an error message.
Been poking around on the BCTV site — found the 2019 jump! But can’t find today’s — if it’s really there.
Brattleboro Senior Meals Menu February 17 to February 21
Feb. 17 CLOSED FOR PRESIDENTS DAY
Feb. 18 Roasted Pork
Sweet Potato
Green Beans
Chocolate Pudding
The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, February 17, 2020, at 5:00pm in the meeting room at the Brattleboro Tennis Club, located at 202 Cedar Street.
Early/absentee ballots for the Presidential Primary and Brattleboro Annual Town Meeting to be held March 3, are now available in the Brattleboro Municipal Center, first floor. Anyone wishing to vote prior to March 3 may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2.
Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person at the Municipal Center, mailed to the voter by the Clerk’s office, picked up by the voter, or if a voter is in need can be delivered to the voter’s residence by two Justices of the Peace. All voted ballots must be received by the Clerk before the polls close on election day in order to be counted. For more information or to request an early/absentee ballot call 251-8157.
The Vermont Jazz Center welcomes Bobby Watson and Horizon on Saturday, February 15th at 8:00 PM. Watson, on saxophone, will be joined by Rising Stars Jazz Award-winner Giveton Gelin on trumpet and a rhythm section comprised of members of the original group: pianist Edward Simon, bassist Carroll V. Dashiell and the legendary drummer Victor Lewis.
Horizon is a supergroup that performs straight-ahead, acoustic, hardbop music. According to band leader Watson, his composing style and the group’s sound is influenced by Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, and Sly and the Family Stone. Horizon does not play covers, they definitely play jazz.
The public is not engaged enough in the process of health care reform. That is nothing new. Most people don’t get worked up about health care issues until they get sick and have to use their health insurance, if they have it, or when they find out about all the details of payment and coverage.
Yet, many polls indicate that health care is one of the most important issue for voters. What that means is that Americans who have to use their health insurance or who pay premiums are sick and tired of being used as pawns in a money game that should be focusing more on health and not as much on finances.
The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438
In observance of Presidents’ Day, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2020, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, February 16 and February 17. All other violations will be enforced.
This has been a very difficult winter for many roadways in Brattleboro. We have experienced multiple freeze/thaw cycles that have deteriorated the roadways and made maintenance a challenge. Potholes are formed when the road surface fails, introducing water into the roadway which weakens the soil beneath the pavement. Traffic applies loads to the roadway that stress the pavement past the breaking point.
The Town of Brattleboro would like to remind everyone that the snow emergency ban is in effect.
Snow and ice will be removed from the streets in the downtown area this evening.
Parked vehicles in the downtown district must be removed by 11:00pm or they will be towed at the owner’s expense.
The Guilford Free Library has announced that the 10th anniversary “Send A Kid to Camp” raffle is now underway. Community support of the Library through the raffle over the past nine years has raised almost $17,000 and has helped to make summer camp a possibility for hundreds of local kids who might otherwise have missed out on the experience.
Tickets are $10 each and the prize is a $200 gift certificate to T. J. Buckley’s restaurant in Brattleboro.
At the last two meetings of the Brattleboro Selectboard, members of the board and the Chief of Police implored people NOT to use social media for official business, such as reporting crimes.
“Don’t rely on social media,” said board member Tim Wessel. “Social media has never been a form of reporting things,” added Chair Brandie Starr.
Where could the public have gotten such a crazy idea as to use social media for town business? Perhaps from members of the Selectboard?
Do you like trees? They reduce energy use, provide erosion control, and help control storm water runoff. The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Board is short-handed and needs a new member. If you are a resident of Brattleboro, and want to help us look after the Town’s trees, fill out the online application at the Town’s website: www.brattleboro.org > Serving the Community > Boards and Committees > Application. (Don’t be intimidated by the application; it’s an all-purpose document. If you have questions about it, Jan Anderson at 251-8100 can help.)
