Brattleboro Memorial Day Closings

In observance of Memorial Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2013, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, 2013. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.


Sanders: Let States Require GMO Food Labels

WASHINGTON, May 22 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today proposed an amendment to the farm bill that would let Vermont and other states require clear labels on any food or beverage containing ingredients that have been genetically modified.

“All over this country, people are becoming more conscious about the foods they are eating and the foods they are serving to their kids and this is certainly true for genetically engineered foods,” Sanders said. “I believe that when a mother goes to the store and purchases food for her child, she has the right to know what she is feeding her child.”


Does Vermont Have a Heroin Problem?

Tune into VPR today, Wed 5/22/13 Noon& 7 pm The number patients seeking treatment for heroin and prescription opiates in Vermont has risen significantly over the last few years. And the spin-off effects, like burglary, have also been in evidence in the state.

United States Attorney Tristram Coffin explains the depth of the heroin and opiate abuse problem. We also hear from Skip Gates, whose son overdosed on heroin, and about the documentary () that his death inspired.


On Exhibit at the Library: Barbara Johansen Newman

On Exhibit at the Library: Barbara Johansen Newman    

2nd Floor Children’s Illustrator Book Cases May/June  2013    

Johansen Newman has illustrated many children’s books with her colorful, whimsical illustrations, including the first book she also authored, Tex and Sugar: A Big City Kitty Ditty, and her newest, Glamorous Glasses. Check out her website HERE. 


Denny Rivers Named BMH 2013 Employee of the Year

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital named Denny Rivers, MLT, its 2013 Employee of the Year during an employee appreciation event held May 16.

A member of the Laboratory Services secretarial staff since 1995, Rivers was nominated for the award in recognition of her problem-solving abilities, among other qualities. She holds a Medical Laboratory Technician certification from University of Vermont, which her peers say makes her a fast worker and thinker while guiding patients.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Brattleboro Housing Authority Updates, and Ash Tree Destroying Insects

The Brattleboro Selectboard heard sobering news about rental housing for low income citizens at Tuesday’s meeting. Section 8 funds are threatened, said the Brattleboro Housing Authority, which could impact residents and landlords alike.

The board also heard about the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect expected to start eating our ash trees in the near future if action isn’t taken soon. The board discussed bonding, budgets, project architects, and whether it was a good idea to serve liquor outdoors in Harmony Lot.


Host Families Needed for Spanish Students this Summer

Expand your family’s horizons this summer by welcoming a student from Spain into your home. These boys and girls, who range in age from 14 to 17, will arrive on June 26 and spend 3 1/2 weeks in New England. 

The students are all from the Basque region of Spain and have studied English for several years.  Host families provide a warm and safe home environment for the student, as well as meals and transportation to a meeting
spot for field trips (to Boston and  Six Flags–host families are invited too). It’s fine for a student to share a room with a host sibling, and students have their own spending money and medical insurance.


Tip Jar Stolen from Top of the Hill Grill

I took my family to the Top of the Hill Grill for dinner on Tuesday night around 7:00 pm. Just before we arrived, apparently someone walked off with the staffs tip money, jar and all!

If anyone at that time noticed that happening, I would hope that they would tell someone anything that might bring the theives to justice. Maybe a description or a licence plate #.


Among the Wounded: A Civil War Talk by Dave Twombly

Among the Wounded: A Civil War Talk by Dave Twombly

Wednesday May 22, 2013
7:00 PM until 8:30 PM

Please join fellow Civil War enthusiasts and others who treasure family heirlooms for a talk by local area resident Dave Twombly about the discovery of his great-great grandfather’s civil war diary that was written between May-June 1864 as a volunteer minister in the Union Army.

The diary came to light in 1995 when David’s daughter was in sixth grade and needed information for a report on the Civil War. Twombly’s father, Gilmer, found this Civil War-era memoir entitled “Among the Wounded in 1864,” written by his great-grandfather Alexander S. Twombly in an old steamer trunk some years ago, and then sent her several illustrations from the memoir.


Sanders Calls for Gas Price Probe, Emergency Action by Oil Market Regulators

WASHINGTON, May 21 – With gasoline prices rising rapidly, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today proposed an amendment to make U.S. federal regulators follow the lead of Europeans and investigate oil and fuel price manipulation.

Sanders also proposed a 30-day deadline for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use its emergency powers to curb excessive speculation in crude oil markets.

“We must do everything that we can to make sure that oil and gasoline prices are transparent and free from fraud, manipulation, abuse and excessive speculation,” said Sanders, a member of the Senate energy committee.


Unstoppable Progress on the New Appian Way

Roughly two Millennia ago, settlers atop the high plateau of Masada, in the Judean Desert, saw the approach and intended siege by the Romans. The largest ramp in human history was erected before their eyes to breech the fortress.  Imagine the experience of watching one’s slow but inevitable overtaking by legions of warriors. Followed by the conqueror’s worldview being instilled unavoidably.

When the Romans finally succeeded and surmounted the peak, they found a surprise.

If you’re not familiar with the event, feel free to Google it.


River Garden Repayment Repealed (Annotated)

 After sending out the Brattleboro Reformer article appearing below, I received several emails questioning the sentence reading

the original language of the bill said that “Building a Better Brattleboro, Inc., its successors and assigns, shall not convey this property to a for-profit entity, unless it shall reimburse the town of Brattleboro the sum of $150,000, without interest, at the time of said conveyance, if it ever were to occur.”

And folks are rightly confused!  This language is not in the original bill. That bill, Act 29 (1999)  contained the following wording:


CRVBL Weekend Roundup

CHESTER/SAXTONS SWEEPS BRATTLEBORO, KEENE KNOCKS OFF CLAREMONT, SUNAPEE EDGES PUTNEY AND WALPOLE BEATS NEWPORT IN CRVBL ACTION

By Kevin McElhinney, CRVBL

The Chester/Saxtons Crush vaulted into first place in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League by sweeping a doubleheader against Brattleboro, while the Keene Black Dawgs handed Claremont its first loss of the year. In other town team action, Sunapee’s Old Lakers edged Putney and the Walpole Wild Blue defeated the Newport Polar Bears.


Horse and Rider Become One at Kurn Hattin Homes for Children

Riders and horse enthusiasts from all over New England converged at Kurn Hattin Homes’ Westminster campus last weekend for the Two-As-One-Horsemanship® Clinic, presented by renowned horse trainers
and riding clinicians Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard of Middletown, NY. The Two-As-One philosophy, developed by Jeffreys and Sheppard, focuses on teaching riders steps toward better communication with their
horse, improved connection and partnership, and a higher degree of harmony between horse and rider, resulting in enhanced riding performance.


Peter Amidon and Jokers Wild perform at Putney Contradance Sat. May 25

This Saturday, May 25, the East Putney Contra Dance at Pierce’s Hall is bridging the generations, pairing one of the region’s most celebrated and accomplished callers with the youth band that grownups are raving about.

Our caller will be Peter Amidon, who for the past twenty years has dedicated himself to traditional song, dance and storytelling. Renowned for his teaching, Peter is a familiar face at the major northeast U.S. music and dance festivals, at teacher conferences, and at summer folk camps of traditional dance and song. He last appeared at Pierce’s Hall anchoring the packed fundraising dance that helped make the hall’s new roof possible.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – May 21, 2013

The Brooks House loan will be on Tuesday night’s Selectboard Agenda. The board will also hear about bonding options, invasive insects, retaining walls, online maps, and more. You can bring up other items that aren’t on the agenda during Public Participation.

You can participate by attending the meeting at the Municipal Center, or by watching on BCTV. As always, we’ll have coverage here the next day, too.


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 5/20/13

BCTV Channel 8 Schedule for the week of 5/20/13

Monday May 20         

12:00 am      CATV & WRIF 48 Hour Film Slam 2013

1:05 am       Panel Discussion – Immune Dysfunction: What’s in a Name?

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       2nd Annual Cider Awards – Part 1

6:07 am       Porches of Chittenden County: Character, Context, and Memories


Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast notes – “A ‘Sneak Preview’ of the Slow Living Summit “

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast, Gibson-Aiken Center – Brattleboro VT – A “sneak preview” of the Slow Living Summit

Presenter: Martin Langeveld –

Mention the “Strolling of the Heifers,” and one ordinarily thinks of the weekend parade, this year scheduled for Saturday, June 8. And for good reason as surveys have demonstrated attendance during the Strolling weekend from 26 states and 400 zip codes. It has certainly helped to put Brattleboro on the map, ranking eighth among the –


If Our Re-elected Prez is WarCriminal, What Are We? King Would Have Asked!

Cornel, how am i doing?

TITLE:
IF Our Re-elected Prez is WarCriminal, What Are We? King would have asked! by jay janson

DESCRIPTION:
Cornel West, most outspoken anti-imperialist and defender of Black and minority civil rights since Martin Luther King now says Obama is a war criminal, a black puppet of corporate plutocrats, head of the US killing machine. Will West tell us that King said America, Americans, are responsible for the atrocity wars, being capable of making them unacceptable and inoperable through non-participation and conscientious objection?