Pre-Convention Politics

by cgrotke | Politics

The latest twist in the presidential campaign season comes primarily on the GOP side, with regular, traditional GOP members freaking out about Trump as their nominee. So much so that delegates to the Republican convention are being given a nod and wink to, if they want, maybe, perhaps, just change their support come convention time. (But not you Democrats! Stay in line!)

Others are reporting push polls testing Paul Ryan and Kasich against Clinton. President Ryan?

Clinton, meanwhile, has called for those under FBI investigation to not be allowed to purchase handguns. This comes while she is under investigation by the FBI.

IRS Scam

by tomaidh | Rumors

There’s a very scary scam going around purporting to be from the IRS.

A very threatening robocall promises that very bad things will happen to you if you don’t call their number immediately.

It’s all BS. The IRS doesn’t work this way.

They can be every bit as nasty and scary, but they will contact you directly, not via a robocall.

BCTV Schedules For The Week Of 6/20/2016

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV channel 8 schedule for the week of 6/20/16

Monday, June 20, 2016

12:00 am Voices Live! Homelessness Forum 6/8/16

1:30 am Reinventing Harmony Place: Unveiling the Vision 5/31/16

3:05 am GGE: Ep 4 – Global Social Entrepreneurs Lab

3:50 am Celebrating Burlington Poets

6:00 am 2016 Strolling of the Heifers Parade 6/4/16

Remembering the U.S.S. Liberty

by tomaidh | History

The story of the Liberty is not well known. On the surface, it doesn’t make sense at all.

Yet it happened, and Lyndon Johnson covered it up.

Read what Phil Giraldi says about it:

“Last Wednesday at noon at Arlington National Cemetery I attended the annual commemorative gathering of the survivors and friends of the U.S.S. Liberty. The moving service included the ringing of a ship’s bell for each one of the thirty-four American sailors, Marines and civilians that were killed in the deliberate Israeli attack that sought to sink the intelligence gathering ship and kill all its crew.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – June 21, 2016

by cgrotke | Town News

Raises and benefits for town employees will be among the various items the Brattleboro Selectboard plans to discuss at their next regular Tuesday meeting at the Municipal Center.

Attend in person or watch on BCTV, and you’ll learn more about grants, paving, finances, parade permits, Business Property Tax Fines, and more! You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Weekend Creativity Series: Topiary

by cgrotke | Creative

I’m a sucker for good topiary. It’s unreal and unusual, unnatural and often results in something quite amazing and lovely.

My first memories of topiary are, of course, the gardens at Walt Disney World. Disney has long employed master gardeners and encourages creative topiary work that shows off their characters and other fanciful creatures. There was a sea serpent made of multiple shrubs, for example, that seemed to be swimming near the entry to the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT, by the way, hosts an annual garden festival.

(Another not-as-fond memory is the topiary in the remake of The Shining.)

Nimby-Pimby

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

It’s very easy to fear that which you don’t know (or highly misunderstand). And the average person knows very little about drugs and addiction. Part of this is by design. The very lucrative “war on drugs” would have never happened if people were better informed. TPTB filled us full of fear about drugs and druggies, and Presto! Unlimited funding!

This has left a deep scar upon society which destroyed lives and persists today.

One consequence is the morbid fear felt by most of the populace about drug treatment and the people undergoing it.

Brattleboro Energy Committee Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 5:00pm in the Planning Services Department at the Municipal Center. NOTE: This meeting replaces the meeting that was previously scheduled on July 4.

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

Dim Sum Buffet with Leonard Ragouzeos Paintings on Paper – and More – Sunday June 19

by CXSilverGallery | Arts

This Sunday, June 19th, welcome to Chef Cai’s Dim Sum Buffet, the Dim Sum Teahouse, at C.X. Silver Gallery, 814 Western Avenue, Brattleboro, VT:

* seatings from 11am to 7pm. Fixed price, all you can eat, with gluten free and vegan options, a selection from the menu

* Call ahead for a visit or reservation: (802) 257-7898.

* other days, throughout the month, dining in, orders to go, or other catering can be arranged from the menu at dimsumvt.com and dimsumvt.com/party-menus.

Bernie and the Revolution

by Lise | Politics

All along, Bernie Sanders has been telling us that he is seeking
nothing less than “a political revolution” — a complete change in the
way America operates with regard to its people and the world.  As it
turns out, he’s not the only one. Over 25 million people cast a vote for
change in the recent primaries on both sides of the political spectrum,
or about 65% of voters.  How individuals define “change” differs from
right to left, but in the end, both sides are united in their
disenchantment with the current state of government and the continued
unravelling of their hopes and dreams.

Host a Spanish Teen This Summer

by Not Signed In | Family

Expand your family’s horizons this summer by welcoming a student from Spain into your home through the STEP-to-U.S.A. program. The boys and girls, who range in age from 14 to 17, will arrive on June 25 and spend 3 1/2 weeks in New England, departing on July 20.

The students are all from the Basque region of Spain and are at an intermediate English level. Host families provide a warm and safe home environment for the student, as well as meals and transportation to a meeting spot on the days there are field trips ( Boston and Six Flags–host families are invited to come along).

Gang of Motorcycling Investors Seeks Businesses Looking to Grow

by MartinLangeveld | Business


Strolling of the Heifers and Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation invite you to apply to participate in the 2016 FreshTracks Road Pitch.

The Road Pitch, a gang of motorcycling business investors and advisors, is stopping in Brattleboro on the afternoon of August 2 to hear up to six funding pitches from local businesses that are ready to scale up.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of June 20th

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of June 20th

I-91

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. No additional restrictions are anticipated.

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.

Elliot Street Bridge Closed For Repair

by cgrotke | Town Plan

I’m a bit surprised that no one has mentioned that the Elliot Street bridge construction is now underway. Work started a few days ago.

If you are used to using the bridge near the end of Elliot, where it meets up with Williams, Birge, etc. as a crosstown cut-through, you will need to change your travel plans for a short while.

If you are a fan of Public Works, take this chance to go see the project.

Lost dog? – Mt Wantastiquet, Tues., 6/14/16

by thered5 | Pets

My neighbor and I live across the river on Wantastiquet Dr in Brattleboro, and we both heard a dog howling in distress on Mt. Wantastiquet. We weren’t sure if he/she was hurt or lost, but realized it was most likely lost when we heard the howling move further away towards the NH side. 

We first heard the howling on the VT side of the mtn. at about 8:30pm. 

Act 46 Study Committee 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 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2016 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.
AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 p.m. – Alice Laughlin, Committee Chair

II. REVIEW, PRIORITIZE AND ESTABLISH DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR MEETING BY CHAIRPERSON.

The Final Primary – D.C.

by cgrotke | Politics

Just a little shout-out to my ol’ stomping ground of D.C. As a former resident of Washington, let me say that Sanders staying in until D.C. has voted is appreciated. It won’t change anything, but residents of D.C. are accustomed to being overlooked and ignored with all things political, which is very strange for such a political city.

The fact that he’s made statehood for D.C. his final campaign issue before the convention is also appreciated. The district has license plates that point out the irony of taxation without representation. Politicians are opposed because it will give Democrats extra seats on Congress, but this former resident says it shouldn’t be about balancing politicians. It should be about about giving everyone in the county representation in Congress.