Brattleboro Water Discoloration – Notice To Public

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Water Department has experienced some slightly discolored water complaints from customers of the Brattleboro Water System. Because of drought conditions and the replacement of a one million gallon storage tank we were unable to conduct fall water main flushing. Flushing normally occurs spring & fall and removes organics and minerals from the water distribution system.

Naturally occurring minerals (primarily iron) are typically to blame for water discoloration. These minerals, which are heavier than water, settle in water pipelines and may be stirred up from increased water flows in our system.

The discolored water poses no health hazards and the Brattleboro Water System is in full compliance with public water supply standards.

Halloweeny Ukulele Flash Mob Tonight!

by Ruthie | Music

All are welcome, no need to play or sing – just come out and savor the spooky-fun scene!

Brooks House Atrium, Main St., Brattleboro. Friday Oct. 28, 6pm sharp!

Free, accessible, fun! Led by Lisa McCormick.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 1, 2016

by cgrotke | Town News

Should Brattleboro ban single use plastic bags in retail stores? It is one of many issues the selectboard will take up at their next regular meeting, Tuesday at the Municipal Center.

Brattleboro’s selectboard will also get a first look at the proposed budget for FY18, see the lease agreement with The Reformer, help with some refinancing of business loans, apply for a grant to buy a new fire truck, learn of two new mural proposals for downtown, buy winter sand, talk more about pedestrian safety measures to implement, and more.

You can attend and participate, and also bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 4:30pm in the Brattleboro Food Co-Op community room.

The Brattleboro ADA Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00am in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

No More Wounded Knees

by DWard | Activism

If you get your news from television you’re probably not familiar with what has been going on in North Dakota and which is of great importance in these days of corporate trickery. The mainstream news wants to keep you ignorant. They’ll report on things but only when they cannot avoid it. Amy Goodman of Democracy Now was arrested and this brought attention to what is going on.

Groundworks Seeking Volunteers for Seasonal Overflow Shelter – Opening November 1st

by Not Signed In | Activism

BRATTLEBORO – Groundworks Collaborative will be coordinating this year’s Seasonal Overflow Shelter (SOS) in downtown Brattleboro at the First Baptist Church, 190 Main Street. The shelter – open each winter from early-November through the end of April – provides a safe and warm place to stay for individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter season. Dinner is provided on a nightly basis.

The Shelter will open for the season on Tuesday, November 1st and will remain open through the end of April.

Halloween Costume Ideas From Previous Years

by cgrotke | Family

It’s almost time for Halloween, and here on Cedar Street that means hundreds of kids in costumes of all varieties.

For many years, we’ve kept a list of the costumes that were worn to our door. If you are having trouble thinking up a costume, perhaps a look through some of the older lists will spark some ideas. I’ve provided some links below.

I Like This One

by SK-B | History

1888:

We refuse absolutely to repeat the remarks about the condition of the street crossings which the letter carriers have made to us the past week. They are all good boys, and if they grew profane when they saw the mud half-way up to their knees they were excusable and it will never be set against them as a sin.

An Extensive Take On Act 46, Education and Community

by spoon | Op/Ed

Act 46 and the Quality of Education and Community

As far as I can see Act 46 is not going to have any measurable impact on the quality of education we provide to our children or, by extension, their lives thereafter.  

The driving force behind Act 46 is to hold down school taxes by reducing the per pupil cost of education.  This does not mean we will see lower education tax rates.  An expectation of a lower tax rate will only prove disappointing and frustrating. We will, however, be persuaded to agree that fewer buildings, higher teacher/pupil ratios and lower administrative costs must add up to more efficient operations. In the end we will sigh and shrug and accept that the Act ought to be beneficial because the cost after consolidation should logically be less than it would have been without consolidation.  If precedent holds there will never be any demonstrated evidence that our assumptions are correct.

French Weekend Intensive & Trip to Quebec

by Not Signed In | Education

Express Fluency is offering a weekend French intensive November 4th-6th and a trip to Quebec November 10-12. Both of these opportunities are geared toward “intermediate” French speakers.

Many of us studied French for years in school and have lots of vocabulary and grammar rules locked away in our brains, yet we struggle to speak. This class will help unlock your brain and improve your comprehension and speaking skills. It draws upon the latest language-acquisition research to help students speak French comfortably. Conversation, storytelling, videos, and reading are all part of this dynamic and entertaining class.

Where’s Walden

by spinoza | History

This article continues in the vein of my previous piece, The events described in both happen in roughly the same timespan, yet this one looks at impacts individuals can have. These articles share a common theme, that being; what are among the greatest assets of our country have come about as byproducts of our worst behavior. This is less a case of finding a silver lining, I prefer to see it as recognizing a lotus emerging from the muck. 

We know plenty about Henry David Thoreau’s famous retreat, and his legendary wanderings. However were it not for the meeting and influence of his Penobscot friends, Joe Aitteon and Joe Polis, Thoreau’s time at Walden pond might have been a singular episode rather than the start of a lifelong obsession. It was these friendships that took HDT from admirer of Nature to avid student, from a pastoral pastime to a central compulsion. 

Staying Safe Online at Putney Library: Viruses, Scams and Flim-flams in the 21st Century

by emilyzervas | Sci-Tech

There are many ways to be snookered, manipulated, tricked and even bullied into becoming a victim on the internet, as well as through regular mail, phone, etc. People tricking others into doing things against their better interests is not a new phenomenon, but the ways that can happen has changed in recent times. It helps us all to have us all be more aware, more informed, and more skeptical of seemingly innocent inquiries.

BHS Podcast – First Peoples, Part II, with Rich Holschuh

by reginaldwam3 | History

Rich Holschuh serves on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and spends his nights and weekends investigating the story of Brattleboro and its peoples, dating to a time 12,000 years before William Brattle was even a twinkle…

In this podcast, Rich talks about his work uncovering the history of Brattleboro’s first peoples and reconnecting modern peoples to that heritage.

Future Use of Melrose Terrace

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Board of Commissioner Action on the Future Use of Melrose Terrace

The Brattleboro Housing Partnerships’ Board of Commissioners affirmed the following statement at their regular meeting on October 24, 2016:

“After extensive engineering, planning and analysis we have determined that it is in the best interest of the entire community for the future use of the land at Melrose Terrace to be used for the Brook and flood hazard area water storage. We have worked very closely with Town staff in reaching this decision and plan. We have adopted a plan to remove 11 buildings at Melrose Terrace; widen the Whetstone Brook and add a box culvert to the George Miller Bridge. We have submitted a request for Pre-Disaster Mitigation funds to assist with this project and are looking for other funding as well. After we have done this work, we will proceed to remove all the remaining structures.

Menopause – The Climacteric Cause of Female Life Extension and the Freedom of Newfound Sexuality

by Vidda | Nature

My sister-in-law told me that when she was menstrual and having babies she had little to no interest in sex. It was more obligatory to please my brother than necessary for her.Yet, after her divorce, and when she reached menopause, she said that she was really horny all the time, but because she was older and in her opinion, less attractive and post mid-forty, her opportunities to meet men to satisfy the newly acquired sexual urges were diminished. She complained that the sexual frustration was difficult to bear. I found her candor fascinating and I immediately understood that she was not alone.

Chain Reactions

by spinoza | History

135-65 Million years ago, shallow seas covered much of what would later be constellated as the Southern States.  More specifically, the ancient North American coastline corresponded with what is now termed the Mississippi Delta. As a result, the soil there, in a fairly narrow crescent, was particularly fertile due to the deposits of chalk and other alkaline elements. So fertile, in fact, that cotton production flourished to a greater degree there than anywhere else on the planet. 

Act 46 Study Committee Meeting 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, October 27, 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.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Reminder

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

A reminder of the lane closures for Tuesday, October 25th and Wednesday, October 26th.

· Interstate Deck Repairs, Preventative Maintenance:

o On Tuesday, October 25th, I-91 Northbound will be closed between Exits 1 & 3 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

o On Wednesday, October 26th, I-91 Southbound will be closed between Exits 3 & 2 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

Know It All, Or Just Part?

by cgrotke | Philosophy

Would it be better to have a supercomputer loaded with all the world’s knowledge, or just the “good” knowledge?

An immensely powerful AI engine could be loaded with everything we know, good or bad. It can know about love, puppies, and flowers. It can be told about torture and abuse. Those programming it can set a direction.

Would it be better to go forth relying on something that knows evil, or should evil be programmed out of the AI system?