Windham Region CEDS Release Pushed to December 5th to Address Short Term Post VY Strategies

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) has voted to change the date for the public release of the federally recognized Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) from October 24th to December 5th.

The six week delay was approved in order to ensure adequate time to accurately research and articulate short term impacts and development strategies in light of a date certain closure of Vermont Yankee.


Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SEVEDS) Elects New Board Members; Reorganizes

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) has reelected the following board members to 3 years terms: Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro Interim Town Manager, Bill Colvin, Bennington Region Planning Commission, Colby Dix, Vermont Geeks.

Five new board members have also been elected: Ann Andresatos from New Chapter has been elected to a three year term. Cynthia Stoddard, Putney’s Town Manager, has been elected to fill the remaining two years of SeVEDS founding member and former Brattleboro Town Manager Barb Sondag’s term. Ariel Brooks of Marlboro College, Francis “Dutch” Walsh from the Town of Rockingham and Konstantin VonKrusenstiern from the Brattleboro Retreat have each been elected to fill the remaining one year terms of seats vacated by Julia Sorensen, Tim Cullenen and Dan Yates.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – A Personnel Matter

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 2:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 2:00pm to discuss a personnel matter.

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


SEVCA’s 15th Annual Flea Market, Silent Auction and Raffle Fundraiser Sat. 9/28

WESTMINSTER — SEVCA will be holding its 15th Annual Flea Market, Silent Auction and Raffle Drawing on Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in Westminster, Vermont (91 Buck Drive, off I-91 exit 5). SEVCA provides an array of comprehensive anti-poverty services to low-income residents of Windham and Windsor counties. Always a fun annual community and fundraising event, proceeds will support SEVCA’s programs including: fuel and housing assistance, crisis resolution, Weatherization, Emergency Home Repair, Economic and Workforce Development, clothing and nutrition, Head Start and much more. For more information call (802) 722-4575 x-105.


A Lifetime of Vermont People – Talk and Exhibit at Brooks Library

A Lifetime of Vermont People  
Exhibit all October
Talk on Wednesday, October 09, 2013, 7 pm – 9 pm

Frog Hollow, the nations first state craft center, presents a traveling exhibit A Lifetime of Vermont People – A bold glimpse of the rural people who gave Vermont its character as documented over 60 years by the photographer-writer Peter Miller.

This tour coincides with the release of Peter Miller’s new book of the same title and focuses on Vermont Libraries as community hubs to tell the tale of the writing of the book which explores the changing culture of Vermont over the past half century.


Poetry 180 at the Brattleboro Literary Festival

Poetry 180 at the Brattleboro Literary Festival 
Thursday, October 03, 2013, 7 pm –  9 pm

The Brattleboro Literary Festival was founded in 2002.  Since then the festival has gone on to present nearly 300 authors, including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal.

Since 2003–the first year of Vermont Reads, which featured Brattleboro’s Newbury Award Winning resident Karen Hesse and her book,  Witness–Vermont Reads program has been an integral part of the Festival.


The Colonial Meetinghouses of New England

Photographer Paul Wainwright will present at talk on New England’s colonial meetinghouses.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Using photographs of the few surviving “mint condition” meetinghouses as illustrations Wainwright will tell the story of the society that built and used them, and the lasting impact they have had on American culture.


BMH Kicks Off Community Engagement Portion of “The Doorway to Exceptional Care” Capital Campaign

YOUR DOOR HELPS OPEN OURS!

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) announced the start of the community engagement portion of its Emergency Department capital campaign today. The hospital is seeking to raise $3.5 million to renovate and expand the 31-year-old facility.

Co-chaired by Art Greenbaum and Martha O’Connor, a committee of community leaders has spent the past year working to solicit charitable support from the hospital board, the campaign committee and key supporters, as well as from BMH leadership, physicians and employees. Now that over $3 million has been committed they are asking the community to join them in supporting the facility that impacts every life in the greater Brattleboro area.


Vernon Flood, 1936

I just ran across this article

 

Vernon, VT Dam Burst & Flood, Mar 1936. Big Vermont Dam Goes Out; Deaths In Its Path Feared.

BOSTON, Mass., March 18, 1936 (AP).—A $1,000,000 dam at Vernon, Vt., went roaring out before the force of the flood swollen Connecticut River Wednesday night. State police announced as they ordered everybody out of the valley below.


The Government May Shut Down – Do We Care?

The government may shut down in a few days.

Unlike previous almost-shut-downs, this time no one seems to care.

Perhaps The White House and Congress have cried “wolf” too many times. It could be that the fear has worn off. (“Yawn.”)

Perchance we’ve been taken to the edge of the fiscal cliff too many times. It’s possible that we used to worry that we could go over, but now the edge doesn’t bother us. (“Oh, you again.”)


Wednesday Farmers’ Market: Fall Harvest Downtown! Through October!

Please keep the Wednesday Farmers’ Market on your to-do list- we are open through October!

This small, friendly market boasts orchards and several farms, offering shoppers a ton of great fall produce, storage crops, apples and cider, plus maple syrup, baked goods, flower bouquets, and pasture-raised pork.
Anon’s Thai Cuisine, too.

EBT and debit welcome! 10-2, Wednesdays, downtown by the Brattleboro Food Coop, through October!

802-254-8885


Plans Move Forward for Replacement of Melrose Terrace Senior Housing

[BRATTLEBORO, VT]: The Brattleboro Housing Authority (BHA), at a meeting today with officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and representatives of Vermont’s Congressional delegation, described substantial progress in creating new affordable apartments to replace the senior public housing at Melrose Terrace damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.

“With the help of Housing Vermont, our development partner, we’re well into the predevelopment phase,” said BHA Executive Director Chris Hart.

Housing Vermont secured an option on the 2.8-acre site at 464 Canal Street in July.


Career Expo Coming to Brattleboro This Thursday

Working professionals, jobseekers, and students are encouraged to stop by the Quality Inn in Brattleboro, Sept. 26, to learn about the variety of careers that Southeastern Vermont businesses have to offer. Twenty five employers, along with several colleges, technical schools, and employment services agencies, will
be staffing informational tables from 2 to 6 p.m. as part of Windham County’s first ever Career Expo.

The Expo will showcase several of the county’s largest employers in health care, hospitality, manufacturing, wholesale trade, food production, and energy, among other industry sectors. A complete list of exhibitors is available at www.vermontcareerexpo.com/exhibitors.


150 Years Ago (1863 09/24)

Brattleboro, Sept. 24th,1863.

It is a mystery to me why I am here. While I was writing the foregoing sheet I received order to pack my knapsack and go to Brattleboro. In two minutes from that time I was on my way to the boat stopped over night in Boston reached here last night. The captain that came on with me knew no more about it than I did. He said Major Jarvis had orders from Major Austin to send me back.


Source To Sea Clean Up Day – Oct. 5th

Wantastiquet Hellgrammites Volunteer for the Connecticut River Watershed Council

The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) is organizing a volunteer opportunity for those who are eager to help clean up the shorelines of our regional resource of beauty and recreation, the Connecticut River. The Wantastiquet Local River Subcommittee of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions is pulling together a group of volunteers to clean up the island under the Hinsdale Bridge in Brattleboro/Hinsdale.

Meet up at our base camp on Oct. 5th at 9:15 am at the Amtrak Vermonter Train Stop parking lot, 36 Bridge Street, Brattleboro. Look for a big tent. Please join the community of volunteers that day. Gloves, trash bags, and refreshments will be provided.


Author Elly Griffiths at Everyone’s Books

English author Elly Griffiths will be at Everyone’s Books on Monday, September 23 at 4:30 pm to discuss her new novel, A Dying Fall. With baby Kate in tow and Cathbad the Druid to help, Forensic Archeologist Ruth Galloway heads off to Lancashire to investigate the death of a friend as well as the momentous discovery he said he had made.

Ms. Griffiths will also be available to sign books.

http://www.ellygriffiths.co.uk/


Need For Help As Your Fellow Community Members

We are desperately seeking a tent as well as a place to pitch it, we are willing to pay anyone that has a large quantity of land or at least a decent amount. … and we are willing to pay quiet a bit to stay there until we are able to find housing. please contact me via FB by private message if you can help and are interested. THANKS SO MUCH!!!!


Common Core Curriculum: National Standards or Corporate School Reform?

This year, Brattleboro’s schoolchildren and their teachers will be working within the new national curriculum, known by most as Common Core.  The Common Core Curriculum, or CCSS, has been adopted by 46 states, Vermont among them.  It will replace the regional and state curriculums now in place, and usher in a new era of standards-driven education aimed at creating graduates who are ready for “the global economy.”

What is this thing called Common Core, who created it, what are its goals, and why are so many people, including and especially teachers and parents,  against it?


Saturday Rally for the Climate & Against the Pipeline

About 50 people rallied in Brattleboro on Sunday for action on climate change and in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline.  The latter, if built, would bring petroleum from Alberta, Canada to ports in New England for trans-Atlantic shipping, but at terrific cost to the environment in Alberta and the climate in general.  A contingent of students from Williams College made the trip to Brattleboro, a number came from down in the Pioneer Valley as well as from up valley.