As Propane Prices Soar, Vermont Congressional Delegation Seeks Emergency Export Curbs

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., Feb. 16 – With unusually cold winter weather gripping much of the nation, the Vermont congressional delegation wants the Obama administration to clamp limits on propane exports to bring down skyrocketing prices for the home heating fuel.

Calling for “urgent and decisive action,” U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) asked Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to use her emergency powers to temporarily halt exports of propane. In , the lawmakers sought the export curbs at a time when domestic prices of propane nationwide are 60 percent greater this winter than one year ago.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 18, 2014

by cgrotke | Town News

Tuesday’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard at the Municipal Center on Main Street will feature discussions of many grants. Of greater interest, however, may be the discussion and setting of the FY15 Utilities budget, rates, and plan for capital improvements, or the discussion about creating a new public turnaround at New England Drive.

Connecticut River Transit will explain rate and route changes, a bid to begin work at the Western Avenue/Union Hill intersection will be awarded, a town hiring pause discussion will continue, and you can bring up other items not mentioned in the agenda during public participation. Watch on BCTV, and read the summary here the day after.

Honey, There’s a Bobcat Stuck in the Window…

by tomaidh | Nature

I couldn’t resist sharing this-

Leanne Kalabis, who lives in Nelson, British Columbia, was quite surprised to come home and find a bobcat in her basement. The poor, confused animal probably got in because a door was blown open while she was out. Once in, though, it couldn’t find a way to get out again, and became agitated, lunging at a window…”Initially I just saw the front of its face and thought, ‘oh, it’s just someone’s cat,’ but then I saw the rest of it,”

Rest of story here: http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/honey-theres-bobcat-stuck-window.html

Paid Sick Days are a Vermont Value

by Not Signed In | Activism

By David Van Deusen*

We, in each of our towns, and throughout Vermont are, together, a community. As Town Meeting approaches, I trust that all of us, regardless of your particular political persuasion, agree. And as a community we do well to agree that one does well, when one’s neighbor does well. This commitment to our friends, family, and fellow residents is old one. When the Green Mountain Boys evicted New York land surveyors, tax collectors, and sheriffs, I do not doubt that they too were motivated by this notion of self-preservation as inalienably linked to community; Freedom and Unity. More recently, we saw this belief manifest during the crisis following Irene. Such acts of human solidarity will never be forgotten. In essence Vermont has a long and proud history of people reaching out in solidarity when their neighbors could use a hand. We are, in a word, a people who embrace and honor the core value associated with the very notion of community as the foundation upon which rests the prosperity of the individual.

Weekend Concert Series: Sheila E, Pete Escovedo, and Tito Puente

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Most of us became familiar with Sheila E via Prince and her album The Glamorous Life.

The “E” in her name comes from her family name Escovedo, and the family is best known for afro cuban latin jazz percussion. Her father, Pete, is a percussionist. Tito Puente is her godfather. The musical family (brothers, uncles, cousins, etc.) has ties to Santana, and they’ve played and collaborated with numerous other artists.

Senators to Obama: Don’t Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 – A group of senators today urged President Barack Obama to spare Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the budget blueprint that he will submit to Congress on March 4. 

A  written by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and signed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and 14 other senators praised the president for improving the economy and creating jobs while reducing the deficit. In making the case against cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, however, the senators expressed concerns about retirement insecurity, growing income inequality and rising poverty.

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast Hosting A Selectboard Candidates Forum

by Not Signed In | Politics

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast is hosting a Selectboard Candidates Forum on Friday, February 21, 2014 at 8:00am at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main Street.

The forum is not a Selectboard meeting and is not intended for the purpose of taking action on any Town of Brattleboro Selectboard business. While individual candidates may express their opinions on Town business, the purpose of the forum is to elicit candidates’ views.

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

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of February 16th, 2014

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

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 in the Fall of 2015.
Weather permitting, night work will be conducted Sunday night, February 16th through Friday night, February 21st.

Route 30
The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Fall of 2015. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Center for Cardiovascular Health at BMH to Host Red Dress Event

by BMH | Health

To raise awareness among local women that heart disease is their #1 health threat, the Center for Cardiovascular Health at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announces it will host a Red Dress breakfast with Phaedra McDonough, APRN. The breakfast is free of charge.

The breakfast will occur on Wednesday, February 26, starting at 7:15 AM in the Brew Barry Conference Center. Phaedra will discuss the risk factors for women’s heart disease, symptoms and what women can do to prevent or reduce their risk of a heart attack. There will be time for questions to follow.

Police Indifference

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

Every morning, my room-mate Jake and I go for a walk.

Sometimes, we witness behavior that seems suspicious. For example, a carful of people pulls up to a house, a person gets out, knocks on the door and is admitted. Within about a minute, the person exits, gets in the car, and the gang drives away.

When we see this happening frequently, it appears that something is going on. Maybe they’re borrowing a few eggs for breakfast, but I think it’s drugs.

After a few days, this seems to stop happening, only to begin again in a few weeks.

Third Quarter Brattleboro Tax and Utilities Due February 18

by Not Signed In | Town News

The third installment of the 2013 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due on February 18th, 2014. Payments made after February 18th, 2014 will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The utility billing is also due on February 18th, 2014. Payments made after February 18th, 2014 will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

Got Tweens & Teens? Free Parenting Teens Wisely Class – March 3rd

by BAPC | Family

Do you want to learn how to problem-solve with your teen, encourage cooperation, how to listen and be heard, and to develop fair and effective discipline skills? On Monday, March 3rd from 6 to 9 PM a FREE
Parenting Teens Wisely class will be offered by the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro.

This free 3-hour workshop teaches parents skills and techniques to help them better understand and deal with their children ages 10 to 19.

Strolling of the Heifers Launches 2014 Culinary Competition: Bread Pudding!

by MartinLangeveld | Food

Amateur and professional chefs, tie on your aprons! It’s time to gear up for the Stroll’s annual culinary competition, this year featuring that good old-fashioned comfort food, bread pudding!

Now’s the time to start perfecting your bread pudding recipe, whether it’s a family heirloom handed down from your great-grandmother, or something you dreamed up and perfected yourself, and get it ready to enter in the Strolling of the Heifers Great New England Bread Pudding Bake-Off.

This year’s event will showcase bread pudding as an easy, economical and delicious dessert, and as a healthy alternative to processed commercial desserts. Contest finals will happen at the Stroll’s new home at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, downtown Brattleboro.

150 Years Ago (1864 2/14)

by BusyMom | History

Feb. 14th. I have had a hard spell of the head ache. I have got to go to work. Shall go on dress parade this afternoon and go on guard as corporal of the guard. Shall not have to stand guard. There are two corporals detailed every day and one Sergeant. The corporals have to post the guards, but one is up at a time in the night, so it is not very hard and there is a chance to learn something. I tell you, there is a great deal to learn sometimes. I think I shall never be able to get through with it. There are others that think if they can explain a right face they are ready for an examination, but to go through it in shape will require a great deal of study and pains taking.

WPTZ News: “Shumlin On Heroin”

by Norsehorse | Media

If one is in need of a good laugh, check out the caption under the overlaid image of Governor Peter Shumlin reportedly aired recently on (Burlington, VT/Plattsburgh, NY: i.e., “Shumlin on Heroin”), via Haik Bedrosian, .

Either the folks at WPTZ must know something the rest of us don’t or they’re just plain dopey.

(smile)

GMCFit is having a Membership Drive during February.

by derekgladding | Health

Green Mountain Community Fitness is the perfect place for small group trainings in downtown Brattleboro at 80 Flat St.

Start a new membership during February and your first month is only $75 (a savings of $50).

GMCFit offers a variety of trainings including Boot Camp, Cardio blasting INSANITY, BEAST Boot Camp, P90X, POWER Pilates, and Zumba.

Nutritional Couseling and personal training sessions are also available.

All levels are welcome. Are you ready for a change?!?

Strength • Wellness • Community

www.gmcfit.com