Brattleboro Skatepark Site Selection Committee Applications Due Nov. 14

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the newly formed Skatepark Site Selection Committee. The Committee was formed by the Selectboard on November 5, 2013, and will consist of seven interested citizens. The Recreation & Parks Director will serve as lead staff member to support the Committee and also engage staff from other Town departments as needed.


Fox Screams Heard on Chestnut St. Last Night

We were woken a little after midnight by a hoarse barking sound under our window. It went on at intervals of maybe 2 or 3 seconds between each bark. There was an answering bark in the middle distance as well.

The barking moved from yard to yard pretty quickly, but seemed to come back to our yard several times before moving off for good.


Americans Assassinating 1 to Create 4 Conterproductive? No! A Ruling War Investors Strategy

DESCRIPTION:

Investors in war, dominant on Wall St. almost since the birth of the US, must be calculating that it be convenient to have more, not less, people ready to die fighting  a cruel and genocidal desperate American super empire of amoral senseless greedy speculative investment banking governance.
Likely stratagem of investors interested in big wars, not skirmishes. Their trial must happen before the 3rd world conflagration being invested in


To Understand TPP, Watch TBYP

It’s difficult to square the sentiments of the author, tomaidh, in “TPP: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You/ibrattleboro”, November 4, 2013, with the .  

Those pushing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agenda aim to enshrine corporate pillaging and weaken legislative safeguards that protect public interests and the environment. 

We see the same modus operandi at work with smart meters; proponents have introduced legislation to “make ‘smart’ meters mandatory for the entire nation”.


Findings on Southern Vermont’s Brand and Recruitment Development Project to be Presented in Wilmington

Can Windham and Bennington counties recruit employees and market to tourists more effectively by working more closely together? This is the key question a project underway by a host of Southern Vermont partners will answer. A public meeting to present the findings of initial research will be held on Thursday November 15th at 6 PM at the Wilmington Town Meeting Room.

The Southern Vermont Sustainable Marketing Project has been named as a high priority project in economic mitigation plans for the announced closure of Vermont Yankee and as a Vital Project in the Southeastern Vermont CEDS due to be released on December 5th.


Small Business Loans Available From Vermont Non-Profit Lender

Community Capital of Vermont is a nonprofit, statewide small business and microenterprise lender. Our loans range in size from $1,000 to $100,000 and can be used for business start-up or growth and expansion. CCVT specializes in providing loans to business owners who lack the collateral or credit history to qualify for traditional bank loans.

Loan proceeds can be used for working capital, equipment or vehicle, inventory, or to refinance debt.


BMH Invites Public to Forum about VT Health Connect Exchange

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) is inviting the public to a community forum about the on November 12, 2013.

Join the conversation to learn more about the state’s new health insurance marketplace, which is designed to help you, your family or your small business find, compare and enroll in health insurance coverage.

According to the State’s Health Care Reform website at , “The Exchange is an online marketplace for health insurance products that requires all vendors (insurance carriers and state health programs) to play by the same rules. In 2011, the Vermont legislature passed Act 48 — a law that created the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange. Vermonters will be able to start shopping for health plans on October 1, 2013 and the Exchange plans will kick in on January 1, 2014. The Exchange will be the only place where individuals and businesses with 50 or fewer employees can get health insurance.”


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Skatepark Site Selection Committee, Budget Challenges Ahead

A new Brattleboro Skatepark Site Selection Committee is taking applications. The Brattleboro Selectboard voted Tuesday evening to form the committee at the request of the town skatepark committee, BASIC, but not before ample discussion.

The board announced that Brattleboro faces budget challenges to keep tax increases to a minimum. Expect cuts to services and more discussion of a 1% sales tax as possible solutions being offered.

Brattleboro has new restaurants downtown and in West Brattleboro (with liquor licenses), ALDI opens in January (selling beer and wine), and the town bought a backhoe.

All this in more below the fold.


The Duhks w/ Red Heart the Ticker at Next Stage on Saturday, November 9

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Winnipeg, Canada-based roots music quintet The Duhks at Next Stage on Saturday, November 9 at 7:30 pm. The Grammy nominated and Juno award-winning band’s original members – Jessee Havey (vocals), Tania Elizabeth (fiddle), Jordan McConnell (guitar, pipes, whistles, vocals), Leonard Podolak (banjo, vocals) and Scott Senior (percussion) – have reunited after a three-year hiatus. Vermont-based, Americana, folk and roots music duo Red Heart The Ticker will open the show.


Archer Mayor Talk at Dummerston Community Center

Archer Mayor will be present and discuss his latest Joe Gunther mystery novel “Three can keep a Secret” on Monday Nov. 18th, at 7 PM at the Dummerston Community Center.

Autographed new and recent novels will be available for purchase, to benefit the Dummerston Community Center operating and maintenance expenses. The Community Center is located at 150 West Street in West Dummerston Village, and is Handicap accessible.

 


Dairy Nutrition Program with Amy Fletcher

Dummerston Cares will present the program “Dairy Nutrition” with Amy Fletcher, Nutritionist.
Monday, Nov.18th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

The program and light luncheon will be held at the Dummerston Community Center located at 150 West Street, in the West Dummerston Village. Amy will present a short Power Point presentation and a brief talk on nutritious dairy products, followed by general participation and conversation.


Hungry Heart Film Conversation

As a follow up to the showing of the Hungry Heart Film in Windham County, there will be a community conversation  on Wednesday, November 13, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. This event will take place at the Brattleboro Retreat Conference Center and light snacks will be served.

The Hungry Heart film explored the world of prescription drug addiction through the intimate world of Vermont Pediatrician Fred Holmes who works with patients struggling with this disease. The film provided an intimate look at the often hidden world of addiction and recovery and revealed the many challenges Dr. Holmes and his patients face in confronting a relentless and difficult disease.


Brattleboro Veterans’ Day Closings

In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2013, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.


My God, How The Money Rolls In!

Back in college we used to sing this bawdy song. One of the more presentable verses went:

My brother’s a poor missionary,

He saves fallen women from sin;

He’ll save you a blonde for ten dollars,

My God, how the money rolls in!

You get the idea.


Sanders Statement on Employment Non-Discrimination Act

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement tonight after the Senate voted 61-30 to advance a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender Americans:

“I am very pleased that the Senate took a step closer to protecting gays from workplace discrimination. Vermont has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation since 1992. It’s been illegal to discriminate against transgender Vermonters since 2007.


David Macaulay: Life in the Studio

David Macaulay, award-winning author and illustrator of Castle, Cathedral, and The Way We Work, will discuss current projects in a talk, “Life in the Studio,” at the Library on Wednesday, November 6, at 7 PM, in the Main Room. The talk is part of the Vermont Humanities Council First Wednesday Lecture series.

Macaulay is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books have sold millions of copies in the United States alone, and his work has been translated into a dozen languages. Macaulay has garnered numerous awards including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, an American Institute of Architects Medal, and the Washington Post–Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award.


Rethinking the Police/Fire Facilities Project

I have distributed the following proposal to Town Meeting Members. It should be noted that any town meeting action that may come about can only deal with the bonding amount. All other aspects of this proposal must be considered separately. Voting to change the bonding does not automatically put anything else into effect. The purpose of holding back on the second bond is to open the scope of the project to far greater possibilities and benefits.

Rethinking the Police/Fire Facilities Project


TPP: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You

The TPP is a corporate handout disguised as a trade deal. It gives multi-national corporations unprecedented rights and is being negotiated in secret.

From “Reject Fast Track for the Trans Pacific Partnership Action Page”: