The American Model of Democracy Is Beyond Repair

by RDavis | Activism

It is frustrating to watch the political process play out in this country and hold out hope that things will improve. Lies, corruption and every imaginable form of deceit rule the day. Some might say that this is the way it has always has been and they point to scandals and scoundrels that have ruled the day since the birth of the republic.

One can give up on the political process completely and not vote and not engage in any activity of a political nature and try to ignore the mess of the current political state. Others may work to change things and look to a brighter future where common sense and decency prevail. I don’t see a lot of hope for optimism when it comes to politics.

On the other hand, an argument might be made that politics has always been a messy business and that all of the bad that comes of political work is the price we have to pay in order to accomplish the work of government. If we buy that argument then we give a pass to a lot of bad people doing bad things and I just can’t accept that kind of thinking because it only makes it harder for many of us to engage in the world.

Assassinations of Leaders

by tomaidh | Questions & Answers

I just finished watching a long 4-part documentary entitled “Bobby Kennedy for President” (Worth watching). Bobby was murdered. His brother JFK was murdered. Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King was also murdered. 

It causes me to wonder: what kind of America would we be living in today if these leaders were allowed to live?

Helpful Election Information for November 8 General Elections in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Politics

Below is information that might be helpful to know for the November 8th General Election.

All active registered voters were automatically mailed a ballot. Please make sure to follow the instructions included with your ballot, including SIGNING THE CERTIFICATE ENVELOPEand making sure your ballot is INSIDE that envelope. Please use a BLACK PEN to mark your ballot. DO NOT USE A MARKER as it can bleed through to the back of your ballot and require you to need a replaced ballot. If you have not received your ballot, or if you have any questions about your ballot, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 802-251-8157.

BCTV Schedules – Week of October 24, 2022

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1078 schedule for the week of 10/24/22

Monday, October 24, 2022

5:45 am Current Topics in Science Series – Jared Ulmerm MPH, AICP
7:00 am The News Project – In Studio – State Representative Candidates Discuss Issues
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Around Town with Maria – Brattleboro Museum and Arts Centers 50th Anniversary 9/10/22
11:30 am New England Cooks – LENTILS with Vermont Salumi

Make the Best Decisions on Saturday Oct. 22, 2022 at 10 PM

by CrisEricson2016 | Other

I rarely make astrological predictions, but I was looking for a new subject to make a new youtube video, and my brain is stuck. At the moment, Oct. 21, 2022 the moon is in Virgo. Virgo is too analytical, I need to let my mind flow freely.

Good news is that tomorrow, Saturday night Oct. 22, 2022 at (ten) 10 P.M. there are four positions all in Libra, which is rare, and brings a fresh breeze of thought to the mind. But, it only lasts for a moment!

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – Kelly Young, Board Chair

II. CONSENT AGENDA

• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – October 11, 2022 / Motion to Amend Minutes from the August 9, 2022 Meeting

III. PRESENTATION: Student Issues (10 minutes)

IV. PRESENTATION: BUHS Administration Team and Faculty Council RE: the First Weeks of School

Join The Brattleboro Charter Revision Commission

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard is pleased to announce its intention to establish a seven (7) member Charter Revision Commission before the end of this calendar year. Article 4, Section 5(H) of the Brattleboro Charter requires, “At least as often as every fifteen (15) years, the selectboard shall appoint from among the voters a charter revision commission to review the language of the charter and the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities specified therein. The commission may propose amendments and may redraft the charter in whole or in part.”

Voters are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, either in hard copy to 230 Main Street, Suite 208, Brattleboro, VT 05301 or by email to
jsticklor@brattleboro.org. Please describe why you would like to be appointed to the Commission, along with your qualifications and what you hope to achieve. Your submission must be received in the in the Town Manager’s Office no later than 5:00pm on Friday November 11, 2022.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro RTM Human Services Review Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center and over Zoom.

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Community Room at the Brattleboro Co-op.

The Brattleboro Town Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Community Room at the Brooks Memorial Library.

Ask the Broker: Rents, Home Price Downturn?

by SK-B | Business

Newly listed home sales down as sellers explore options: Realtor.com economist – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ7sQ8gUOOE

Realtor.com economists are typically cheer-leaders for an endlessly rising market. But this video with Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale talking about a market turnaround came out today. If you google “housing market” or use that as a youtube search term, you will get lots of recent real estate crash warnings.

Ethiopian Ensemble QWANQWA Performs at Next Stage Arts on November 18th

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents an evening with Ethiopian ensemble QWANQWA on Friday, November 18 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts.

“The legacy of Ethiopian music has a rich history,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “It’s amazing to watch the musicians of Ethiopia carrying and building upon that rich tapestry of cultural music coming out of Eastern Africa. Qwanqwa exemplifies the virtuosity and talent in current Ethiopia – we’re excited to host them at Next Stage.”

Brought together by a shared passion for the power of Ethiopian music, this group shines an experimentalism based in the virtuosity of rooted traditions. With swirling mesenko (one-stringed fiddle), punk krar solos (electric lyre), wah-wah-violin, bass krar boom, and the unstoppable rhythm of heavy kebero (goat-skin drum) beats, powerful traditional lead African diva vocals, Qwanqwa keeps the people wrapped in celebratory attention. After making a splash at world renowned festivals Roskilde and WOMEX, and after 2 European tours under their belt, this world traveling ensemble is hitting the road in 2018 and beyond.

“Here We Are” with Fenibo Kalaiwo

by Wendy O'Connell | Media

From Nigeria to Brattleboro, Fenibo Kalaiwo discovered music along the way through Bach, Jimi Hendrix and David Byrne. He also worked with adolecscents at the Brattleboro Retreat. Fenibo shares some great stories of his explorations and the deep connections that have influenced his music and his life.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – AP Triton, Charter Commission, and Bikes

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard october 18, 2022

The new bike ordinance was almost adopted by the Brattleboro Selectboard, but it looked strange upon a second review, and was delayed until the next meeting.

Reps from AP Triton said they, too, would not be giving much weight to community input gather by their own community survey on EMS feasibility. They will present four options, but not a preferred choice, and will leave it to the board to come to their own conclusions. They are also 75% done with their work, but would love to hear from the public at their Wednesday night meeting.

The board bought their simulation machine, and started a Charter Review Commission at the last moment possible, despite earlier requests to get the process going multiple times in the past few years.

Oct 18 Select Board Meeting & Oct 19 Public Forum on EMS

by RobertOeser | Police & Fire

This study has been described a way to assess the feasibility of a Fire/EMS service within the
Brattleboro Fire Department. It might be noted that $25k of the money set aside for this study was approved as part of the Town Budget on a vote of 100-6 (5 abstentions) by members at a March 19, 2022 Representative Town Meeting. At that time the line item for the appropriation was for a ”strategic plan” to help with “community expectations, concerns, positive feedback, help identifying critical issues, service gaps as well as give … guiding values and principles on how we move forward ….” 2021-2022 Annual Report, p. 48

There was no mention of Fire/EMS at that time.

The Truth No Longer Matters

by RDavis | Activism

We live in a time in which the truth has less and less bearing on how the world operates. This is something that has evolved over a long period of time but it feels like we are, more acutely, feeling the effects of allowing ourselves to be influenced by those who are willing to lie to get whatever they want.

It may seem like this is something new, but the world of politics has witnessed this phenomenon for as long as the political game has been played.

The difference today is that the years of not stopping the lies forcefully enough have finally caught up with us and there are now millions of people around the world who are easily convinced that lies have somehow been magically converted into the truth because someone in power has told them to believe them.

Recent News Combined w/ Google Research Proves Politics Just Got a Little Dirtier! Get The Mud Rag Out!

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

“GlobalFoundries secured $30 million in federal funding to accelerate development of chips that will allow devices to … power electric vehicles….
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt….secured the funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2022.”

We pay our taxes to the I.R.S. and then the U.S. Congress (House & Senate) votes to give our tax dollars away as subsidies to corporations to make products which they will sell internationally and they will keep the profits for themselves even though we paid for their subsidies. Where is our share?