Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 6, 2019

by cgrotke | Town News

Summer is over (just kidding) and meetings are back in session.  At the next regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard, Whetstone Station will request permission from the Brattleboro Selectboard to make noise on Frost Street, the ice rink will be approved for some energy efficiency measures, and the board will consider providing childcare at their meetings.

For the first time in quite a long time, a vendor unable to fulfill a paving contract will be replaced on the project. The board will hear updates on Project CARE and the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, and more.  You can, as always, bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, August 5, 2019, at 5:00pm in the Community Room at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op, located at 2 Main Street.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at 4:30pm in the Mezzanine Meeting Room at Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, August 9, 2019, at 9:00am in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

Van Deusen Runs For VT AFL-CIO President

by Not Signed In | Politics

VERMONT AFL-CIO UNITED!
A TEN POINT PROGRAM & SLATE FOR WORKING CLASS POWER!

VT AFL-CIO United! Candidates For Executive Committee
President: David Van Deusen, AFSCME
Vice President: Karl Labounty, AFSCME
Secretary/Treasurer: Danielle Bombardier, IBEW
Member-At-Large: Tim LaBombard, IBEW
Volunteer In Politics: Omar Fernandez, APWU

Barn Dance to Benefit Asylum Seekers

by Not Signed In | Entertainment

SAXTONS RIVER – A barn dance Tuesday, Aug. 13 will help support asylum-seekers who are seeking a better life in the United States.

The Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP) is hosting the dance at 5 p.m. in the barn of Mary Hepburn at 27 Pleasant Street, Saxtons River, with live music and calling for dancing by Andy Toepfer.

Zachary Stephens Retiring From In-Sight Photography

by Not Signed In | Arts

It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that we announce Zachary Stephens’ departure as Program Director of In-Sight Photography Project, effective August 30, 2019. Since 2013, Zach has played a critical role in the development and success of our programming. While we will miss him, we wish him the best of luck in his new teaching endeavors. We want to thank him for the 6 years of dedicated service which involved many significant accomplishments.

Guilford Welcome Center Construction Update

by Not Signed In | Guilford

We are nearly halfway through VTrans’ project to resurface the Guilford Welcome Center parking lot! This seven-week effort includes repaving of entrance and exit ramps. While the car parking area is paved, visitors have been using the truck/bus parking area. Trucks, buses, and RVs are parking at alternate sites for the duration of the project.

Brattleboro Senior Center Temporary Closure

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Recreation and Parks would like to announce that The Brattleboro Senior Center will be closed to both the congregate meals and all activities that occur in the Senior Center due to kitchen floor replacement September 7th-15th.  During this time activities such as Painting classes and Tai Chi will still run in their normal time and location on various other floors of the building, please use the front entrance of the building during this time frame. 

Town of Brattleboro Finance Director and Treasurer John O’Connor To Retire

by Not Signed In | Town News

Town of Brattleboro Finance Director and Treasurer John O’Connor has announced his intention to retire in October. 

O’Connor has been the Town’s Finance Director and Treasurer since July 7, 2011. During his tenure, the Town has received 7 years of “clean” audited financial reports with no findings requiring corrective action. In addition to that stellar record of financial reporting, O’Connor successfully managed $32.5 million in bond funds from a variety of sources for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project; $13 million of bond funds for the Police Fire Facilities construction project; and millions of dollars more in Federal, State, and private grants for a wide variety of Town programs and projects, including $1.6 million in FEMA grant money for 39 separate recovery projects after Tropical Storm Irene. 

Canal Street and Fairground Road Traffic Light Repair

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

On Thursday, August 1, East Coast Signal will be working on the traffic lights at the intersection of Canal Street and Fairground Rd. Crews will be working on the vehicle detection loop in the southbound, left turn lane. All efforts will be made to keep one southbound lane open at all times but there may be a need to close both lanes at some points during the day. There will be an officer there to assist with traffic control. The work will begin at 10:00am and continue through approximately 2:00pm

Let’s Read 2019!

by Not Signed In | Books

Let’s Read 2019 is a community reading initiative happening this summer and fall.  All members of the communities of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, and Vernon may participate. Let’s Read 2019 features The Benefits of Being an Octopus by local author Ann Braden.  This book is appropriate for children in 4th grade and up, as well as adults.  Several events including author talks, staged readings, and book club discussion groups will be held in September and October at local libraries, the Brattleboro Boys and Girls Club, and area schools.  

Everyone Else Wants You To Quit Facebook First

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

Your friends and family will ultimately thank you. Take a few moments and quit Facebook.

Yes, go ahead and quit. 

I’ve done an informal survey of this summer and it seems many people who use Facebook don’t like that they use it. They know it is a crappy platform that is in the business of selling personal information to the highest bidder. They know Mark Zuckerberg is using them. They know the site is undermining democracy and is weaponized by political parties to sway voters. They know there are privacy problems. They are tired of being a commodity and tired of supplying personal data for free.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Conducting Site Visit In and Along the Whetstone Brook

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, will be looking at wetlands, floodplains and sediment depositions along the Whetstone Brook on Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1.  Citizens can expect to see U.S. Army Corps of Engineer staff in and along the Whetstone Brook on these days. In addition, the Army Corps has partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct cross section surveys of the river. The survey work will be occurring through mid-September and will be accessing the river via public property, as much as possible.

BCTV Schedules – Week of 7/29/19

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 7/29/19

Monday, July 29, 2019

4:30 am Winston Prouty presents – Family Matters Ep 22 – Brandy Levesque and Alyssa Kelly
5:00 am Poets Speak – Conversations with VT Poet Laureate Chard deNiord – Diana Whitney
5:46 am North Branch Nature Center – The New England Caterpillar
7:00 am Brattleboro Area Interfaith Leaders’ Alliance – 15th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising 6/28/19
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Daily Episode

Free – E-Bike Demo – Saturday Aug 10th 3-6pm – at West Hill Shop in Putney VT

by Not Signed In | Sci-Tech

See an assortment of e-bikes, try one – experience the joy of e-bikes! Learn about e-bike kits, and how easy it is to install one on your bike.  Meet e-bike owners and hear their stories. Check out the cargo bike of the future from VBIKE. Learn about e-Bike rebates – yes, rebates!   And…

Meet the PEBL – The Micro-Car eBike For A Sustainable Future. The PEBL is a micro-Car eBike designed to be your local transportation solution. With a 750 watt motor plus the option to pedal, we have combined the ease of a car or golf cart, with the exercising ability of a bike. Whether you want to replace your car, get back into your exercise routine, or just cruise around, you can bet that the PEBL will be with you.  http://www.better.bike/pebl

Sam Reider and The Human Hands plus Aura Shards at Next Stage on Saturday, August 3

by stobro | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music’s “Rising Star” concert series continues with Sam Reider and The Human Hands, a “staggeringly virtuosic band” (RnR Magazine) of Brooklyn-based bluegrass and jazz musicians, plus Brattleboro-based world fusion duo Aura Shards, at Next Stage on Saturday, August 3 at 7:30 pm.  NSAP and Twilight Music are committed to supporting young, emerging artists, and the new series puts the spotlight on exciting, ready-to-be-discovered performers who are appearing at Next Stage for the first time.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn presents the Julian Gerstin Sextet on Sunday, July 28

by stobro | Music

Twilight Music continues its 17th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, zydeco, Celtic, jazz, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, July 28 with the Julian Gerstin Sextet performing original jazz influenced by rhythms and melodies of the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.  The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 25.  All concerts begin at 6:00 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain.  The series is sponsored by the Town of Putney, Green Mountain Well, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney area businesses and organizations.  The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available.  For more information, call 802-387-5772 or visit www.twilightmusic.org.

VFW $6 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 7-29 to 8-2

by Not Signed In | Food

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 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

Mon – chicken fried steak, macaroni salad, veg

River Garden Brown Bag Lunch Series Continues!

by Erika Elder | Entertainment

Strolling of the Heifers has announced the schedule for its Brown Bag Lunch at the River Garden series for the week of Mon. 7/29– Fri. 8/02. This week, join us for a discussion of Emotional Wellness and Diabetes Prevention, The Wonder and Gift of Reiki ,What We Can Learn From Horses, music with Mr. Blair, a group sing along with Rich Grumbine and more!

All Brown Bag Lunch events take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Robert H Gibson River Garden, 157 Main St., Brattleboro, and are free and open to the public.