Weekend Creativity Series – Tree Houses

by cgrotke | Creative

For a kid in the summer, nothing quite compares to having one’s own tree house to escape to to for privacy. It was the perfect place meet with friends. Parents knew where you were, but you were away from them and could see them coming. Just think of all the deep discussions that have been held by those admitted to treetop forts.

Tree houses aren’t just for kids to play in, of course. All around the world grown-ups build tree houses to work, play, and live in.

Brattleboro’s Lower Whetstone Brook Corridor: Planning a Design Response to Climate Change Charrette, June 6 – 8

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

With assistance from the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the Town of Brattleboro will host a 3-day design charrette from June 6-8, 2016. This a multi-day opportunity for property owners, business owners and Brattleboro residents to collaborate with a team of planners, landscape architects, and hydrologists to create a new vision for the Lower Whetstone Brook.

“We were inspired by work of other communities redesigning urban river spaces with a focus on ecology, flood protection and amenity,” said Rod Francis, Brattleboro Planning Director. “Scientific research predicts more frequent and heavier downpours leading to increased flooding, this is the right time to visualize a resilient urban landscape for downtown Brattleboro.”

New Evening Farmers’ Market Starts Tuesday, May 31

by Not Signed In | Food

The downtown Brattleboro farmers’ market has a new time and place this year: Tuesdays, from 4 to 7PM on Flat Street, next to the Boys & Girls Club. You’ll find Full Plate Farm, Circle Mountain Farm, and Lost Barn Farm, offering a variety of fresh, local produce and eggs, Mad Radish CSA with produce and a large selection of local meats, Walnut Ridge Farm with produce and plant starts for the garden, Jerry Smith’s fresh cut flowers and maple syrup (and dahlia tubers, while they last), as well as prepared foods to grab on the go.

You can use your debit and EBT cards for market tokens, and don’t forget about our EBT matching program! We’ll match up to $10 in EBT tokens with Crop Cash coupons, good for fruits and veggies.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Weekend of May 27th and Week of May 30th

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Monday (Memorial Day), from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open.

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. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 may be reduced to a single lane intermittently, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone. There will be no lane closures scheduled during the holiday weekend.

Closest Shaves

by spinoza | Activism

In the light of our electoral horror-show, one question screams out to me loudest, will we ‘dodge the bullet’? My concern comes mainly by way of the candidate who incites hate, separation, anti-intellectualism, a repudiation of altruism..in short… standing for everything anathema to humanist values.  His constituents seems to revel in exercising base expression of privilege, xenophobia and opportunism.  His ultimate opponent in the race, whomever that comes to be, while clearly more sympathetic to so-called liberal values, also chills me, but seems less potentially catastrophic due to perpetuating the familiar.

Stroll Weekend Entertainment Features Fiddlers and Much More

by MartinLangeveld | Entertainment

Entertainment is front and center during all of Strolling of the Heifers Weekend, with the headline event being an all-start FiddleFest during Saturday’s Slow Living Expo.

“We’ve got a lineup of top-notch local fiddlers,” said Beth Kiendl, the Stroll’s entertainment chair. “This is a great chance to listen to lots of different fiddling styles, including English, Irish, New England and contemporary. “

The fiddlers will play from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Fiddlers Tent, which is on the Brattleboro Retreat
lawn.

Dave Zuckerman: No Fortunate Son

by Not Signed In | Opinion

Fellow Working Vermonters,

I am a former District Vice President and Member-At-Large of the Vermont AFL-CIO (UAW Local 1981). As such, I know there is only one candidate for Lieutenant Governor who has the backs of working class Vermonters; State Senator David Zuckerman. Dave has walked picket lines with me. He, like Bernie Sanders, has fought like hell (against the Democratic & Republican establishment) for livable wages, healthcare for all, and for the rights of union & non-union workers.

Mitchell – Giddings Fine Arts Annex Opens at the Brooks House Atrium

by Mitchell • Giddings FIne Arts | Arts

 

Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts is a two-year-old gallery showcasing contemporary art in solo and group exhibitions. Along with its 183 Main Street Brattleboro location this southern Vermont destination gallery is planning a celebration for its new Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts Annex located in the Brooks House Atrium, 132 Main Street, with a public opening reception at the Atrium, Saturday, June 4, from 6 – 8pm.

The Ways to Think about and Talk about Addiction: A Community Conversation on Stigma

by suzieqtex | Health

Recent news is full of stories about addiction, and not just the reports about arrests and overdoses. The good news is that more and more, we view addiction as a health-care condition, and we understand and support the life-saving measures available to manage the physical dependence. The media reflects this shift in attitude and covers things like new approaches to treatment and recovery; legislative efforts like the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and bills to combat the nation’s opiate crisis to ensure medical support is available to people struggling with substance abuse; more specialized programs, like Vermont’s Hub and Spoke provider system which supports people in medicated-assisted recovery from opiate addiction; programs like pre-trial services that redirect people to treatment rather than court when the situation allows it; and peer-recovery services that help people not only stop destructive behaviors but adopt healthy practices to thrive.

Two Maps – Commuters and Overdoses

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

Couple of Interesting maps for map and big data lovers:

First up is a visualization of how people commute. Go to and set the state and county to Vermont and Windham. You’ll see dots start flying around on the map. You can zoom in, slow things down or speed them up, and adjust the perimeter you are using.

What you’ll see is an animated graphic of showing people going to work and returning home. You’ll also see that the stories of Brattleboro being the hub for Windham County are true, with a rather dramatic shift of people in neighboring towns coming in to Brattleboro to work.

When you are done, go look at a big metropolitan area, such as NY, Boston, or DC.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn presents The Chris Kleeman Band on Sunday, May 29

by Not Signed In | Music

Twilight Music begins its 14th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, May 29 with an evening of hard driving, house rocking, in your face blues by The Chris Kleeman Band. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through August 21. 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, Soundview Paper Company, The Putney Food Co-op, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available.

Keith Murphy and Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme at Next Stage on Friday, May 27

by Not Signed In | Music

Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project present Quebecois duo Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme, plus Newfoundland/New England solo balladeer Keith Murphy, for an evening of traditional songs in French and English as well as highly crafted traditional fiddle music at Next Stage on Friday, May 27 at 7:30 pm.

The pairing of Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme with Keith Murphy offers a rare breadth of musical ground, from Keith’s beautifully spare solo songs with elegant guitar accompaniment to the breathtaking level of musical interplay between Yann and Pascal. This twin bill also offers a unique and long awaited chance for these three musicians to explore some musical collaborations based on their shared passion for the music of Quebec.

Brattleboro Memorial Day Closings

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of Memorial Day, all Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Monday, May 30, 2016, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30, 2016. All other violations will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30, 2016.

Bolivian Baroque Archivist to Speak at Organ Barn Concert on May 29

by fomag | Music

Guilford, Vt. – Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG), now in its 50th Anniversary Season, has been presenting a series of programs with Baroque-era works from Bolivia that have been hidden away for centuries. Since presenting the new, the unusual, and the underperformed is a central mission of the organization, this project has been a fitting element of its half-century season.

The third and final event in the series is on Sunday, May 29, at 3 p.m. in the intimate barn at Tree Frog Farm, where FOMAG now hosts concerts on both Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends. Located off Packer Corners Rd. in idyllic rural Guilford, the barn is home to the organization’s c. 1897 Tracker Organ. One of FOMAG’s founders, the late A. Graham Down (1929-2014), purchased the instrument in Maine, moved it to the barn, invested in its restoration and improvements over the years, and performed the first concerts on it.

The Heifers Will Stroll Again In Brattleboro!

by MartinLangeveld | Town News

The 15th annual Strolling of the Heifers Weekend, featuring a parade of flower-bedecked heifer calves led by future farmers up the historic Main Street of Brattleboro, Vermont takes place June 3, 4 and 5. Organizers promise many special surprises for the occasion.

The centerpiece of the weekend is the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade, which starts promptly at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. The signature heifer calves lead the parade and are followed by other farm animals, tractors, bands, floats and much more.

The crowd then follows the parade to the all-day Slow Living Expo to enjoy food, family fun, entertainment and exhibits. The Expo stretches over 11 acres on the Brattleboro Common and the Brattleboro Retreat grounds.

Act 46 Meeting Agenda

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, May 26, 2016 at the Putney Central 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.

Final Round of Primaries

by cgrotke | Politics

The primaries are about to wrap up with a series of state results in early June. Time to check in once again with our occasional political commentary series, starring your commentary.

In recent news, Trump is edging ahead of Clinton in head-to-head polls, Clinton has backed out of debating Sanders in California, and Sanders… isn’t being covered much by the mainstream news anymore. If you look hard, Sanders is continuing to attract large crowds, does well in polls against Trump, and is calling out the DNC for being less than fair.

Movie Monday – June

by KathrynT | Entertainment

June Showings

THE MATING GAME

 Movies starring:

June 6th – Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell – 10 am

June 13th – Goldie Hawn, Edward Albert, & Eileen Hacket – 10 am

June 20th – Claudette Colbert, Clark Cable – 10 am

My Prediction (West River Interstate Bridge)

by scrispe | Opinion

You heard it here from me first: my prediction as a citizen observer is that the West River interstate bridge will not be completed until August/September 2020.

That’s with every single last thing done: boths side, lines on the pavement, all construction equipment removed, landscaping done, everything. My prediction is that Labor Day weekend 2020 will be the grand opening completion celebration.

This isn’t a diss to the project, it’s just stating my prediction based on how long it has taken thus far and how far they realistically still have to go, that it won’t be done until Labor Day weekend 2020.