FCC Vote Opens Opportunities

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

The Federal Communications Commission voted today to regulate broadband under Title II of the Communications Act. In ordinary speak, this is Net Neutrality. It eliminates threats of a multi-tiered system, where certain bandwidth costs more than other bandwidth depending on what you want to access.

The actual rules will be published in the near future, but the impact is a good one for anyone who has, or is wanting to start, a site on the internet. Your site will remain as accessible as all others.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of March 1

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Route 30: One-Way Traffic and Night Work: Night work on the new bridge Route 30 will be conducted Monday night, March 2nd through Friday night, March 6th. Traffic on Vermont Route 30 within the work zone will be reduced to one-way starting later this week, so that the team can work on a very slight realignment of Route 30. Work will be conducted during daylight hours only, and flaggers will be present to control traffic. The work will be completed by the end of next week.

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.

Brattleboro Time Trade – week of February 22

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Other

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

BTT’s First Annual Spring Forward Extravaganza:

Friday, March 6 from 4:30-8:30 pm at the River Garden (during Gallery Walk):
• Spring Gardening Show • Music
• Silent Auction & Raffle • Dessert Bar & Cafe!

See below for more exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

Brown Bag Lunch at the River Garden: Technology That You Can Borrow From Brooks Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Education

Bring your lunch and learn about tech toys you can borrow from Brooks Library! As part of the Strolling of the Heifers Brown Bag Lunch Series, Reference Librarian Jeanne Walsh and Library Director Jerry Carbone will talk about the technology that you can borrow from Brooks Memorial Library.

The library has pre-loaded Kindles, Nooks, and iPads and more. The library also has a LCD projector, Canon Digital camera, and portable screen, which were received as part of a Vermont Economic Development Project from the Vermont Department of Libraries. The policy and procedures needed to borrow these items will be reviewed at that time. 

At Brooks Library: Revenge – A Reading and Discussion Series

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Revenge– A Reading and Discussion Series on Wednesdays 7 pm – 8:30 pm. What are the causes of revenge? What are the consequences? Is taking revenge ever justified? Explore this most passionate and provocative of human desires through drama, short stories, and novels. Join Vermont Humanities Scholar and long-time Brooks facilitator Richard Wizansky for an evening of engaged discussion on this universal topic. First in the four-part series: Agamemnon. Books are available for checkout at the circulation desk.

The books, which will be available for checkout, are the following:
February 25, 7 PM: Aeschylus, Agamemnon
March 18, 7 PM: E.L. Doctorow, Welcome to Hard Times
April 15, 7 PM: Andre Dubus, Selected Stories
May 27, 7 PM: Russell Banks, The Sweet Hereafter

Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market Seeks New Members

by brattleborofarmersmarket | Town News

The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is now accepting applications for new members to vend their products at the Saturday and/or midweek markets. The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is the region’s largest and oldest open-air market and supports local agriculture, prepared foods and crafts. The market features over 50 diverse vendors from the local area and attracts thousands of visitors annually.

The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is a not-for-profit membership organization and welcomes applications from those who grow and/or create their own high-quality products, especially those working with local ingredients/materials to bring variety to the market’s offerings.

3rd White House Error Message – You Have To Keep Your Eye on President Obama All The Time!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

3rd White House Error message at “We the People” petition section of President Obama’s official government White House website.  This has occurred at 1091 signatures on the Make Marijuana Legal petition, and it previously occurred at 1064 signatures on the Make Marijuana Legal petition, and before that it occurred when the petition had not reached the first 150 requirement. 

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Spring Session Begins

by Not Signed In | Music

The spring session of the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus begins Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 – 9:00 pm, and there is a second rehearsal option of Thursday, March 5 at 10:00 – Noon. These first rehearsals are open to anyone interested in trying out chorus without obligation. Both sessions will be held at Centre Congregational Church on Main Street. This is a location change until April for the Wednesday rehearsal.

Founder-director Becky Graber will lead the chorus in songs of travel in preparation for two concerts in May. Participation in the concerts is optional. All women and girls ages 10 and above are welcome to join without audition or previous musical experience. Financial aid is available.

Heads Up!

by tomaidh | Rumors

A big, fat false flag is likely in the works, so the DHS can get its funding

 A video purported to be by Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked rebel group al-Shabab urged Muslims to attack shopping malls in the U.S., Canada, Britain and other Western countries.

The masked narrator concluded an hour-long video by calling on Muslims to attack shopping malls, specifically naming the Mall of America, as well as the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the Westfield mall in Stratford, England.

New Town Rep Candidates Badly Needed!

by JohnWilmerding | Town News

Alert! More candidates needed for Representative Town Meeting!

If you read the paper, you know that Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting is woefully short of candidates for the Town Election next week (Tuesday, March 3).

So we are putting out an appeal to all Town residents to consider running as write-in candidates for any uncontested (currently having NO candidates) seats at Representative Town Meeting.

Economic Development Pitch Night with Lt. Governor Phil Scott

by SeVEDS | State News

On behalf of both the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and Lt. Governor Phil Scott, we wish to invite you to attend the Southern Vermont Regional Economic Pitch Night.  The event will be held at Vernon Elementary School in Vernon from 4pm-6pm on Monday, March 9th.

Southeastern Vermont has done extensive analyzing of and strategic planning for growing the Windham Regional economy through development of our Federally approved Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies.  Now you are also invited to present ideas to legislators on how to move the Vermont State economy forward. Presentations will be limited to 5 minutes per person.  This is an opportunity to provide positive ideas for improving Vermont’s economy, and hopefully encourage new legislation.

1% Local Option Tax

by Judy3d | Op/Ed

Brattleboro residents can vote on March 3 ( or by early voting now at the Town Clerk’s Office) about whether we should add a 1% optional sales tax here in Brattleboro.

This is a difficult issue because many fear it will hurt our downtown businesses and Brattleboro residents will also pay this extra 1% tax.( It won’t just be people who live out – of -town or out -of -state. ) On the other hand, it has been estimated that it could raise around $600,000 in extra revenue for the town.

I haven’t heard much public comment about this issue and I ‘d be interested to know what I-Brattleboro readers think.

If the White House Doesn’t Like Your Petition, You Get Repeated “ERROR” Messages So People Can’t Sign It!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

At the top of the column it says “An error has” and then it states “Sorry there is a technical problem and this petition cannot be signed right now.  Please try again n a few minutes.   If you receive this error repeatedly, you may contact We The People to report the problem.  

Well, this is the 2nd time the “MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL!” petition at the White House – We The People section of the official Presidential website, has occurred.  This really slows down collecting petition signatures!   Funny, I don’t see this “Error” message on other petitions.

iBrattleboro Interview: David Gartenstein

by cgrotke | Politics

David Gartenstein is running for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard. We asked him some questions, and his answers follow. Election day is Tuesday, March 3rd.

…..

– What lessons would you say you have you learned since joining the board? 

Serving as a member of the Selectboard, and as Chair, have reinforced for me the vital importance of ensuring that everyone is heard with respect.  We face many competing priorities in Brattleboro, and our goal should be to achieve what is best for the town and its residents given our limited resources.

Brattleboro Town Clerk Election Hours

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be open Saturday, Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon for early voting in Brattleboro’s Annual local elections. The Town Clerk’s office will be closed Tuesday, March 3 as staff will be conducting elections in the Municipal Center, room 212. Polling hours are 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Area Hospitals Launch Community Health Needs Assessment

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the , and are launching a new community health needs assessment (CHNA) to engage the communities they serve and learn more about the most pressing health care concerns and needs. Based on the data that the hospitals gather, each hospital will develop an implementation strategy to address prioritized health care needs. This CHNA is also an opportunity for hospitals to maintain compliance with federal regulations.

The three health care organizations are working collaboratively to gather information by conducting focus groups, developing and disseminating a short survey to the general public, and collecting and analyzing quantitative data. The Vermont Department of Health is providing population based indicators as part of the process.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 2/23/15

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 schedule for the week of 2/23/15

Monday, February 23, 2015

12:00 am Energy Week Extra: Aquaponics

1:00 am A Crazy Cat Lady: Kitty Kisses

2:00 am Green Mountain Vets for Peace: Police Militarization

3:00 am VT Religious Leaders’ Call for Reevaluation of F-35 Base in Burlington

1849 Opening of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad

by cgrotke | History

The Vermont Phoenix account of the first train arriving in Brattleboro, from Boston, on February 20, 1849.

Celebration of the Opening of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad

This celebration took place on Tuesday last, the 20th inst., and will be long remembered by those who were present at it. By the arrangements made, the cars from Boston were to arrive about 1 o’clock P.M., but owning to the large train of passengers, they did not arrive until 3 P.M. Our citizens, and guests from the adjacent country, in the mean time were assembled “en masse” – and notwithstanding the long delay, had not the least difficulty in keeping cool.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers

by SeniorSolutions | Other

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a free educational series designed for caregivers of elders. This six-week program will be offered for the first time in our region starting March 31 and meeting every Tuesday through May 5. Led by staff from Senior Solutions, the meetings will be 2:00-3:30 P.M. at Hayes Court in West Brattleboro.

Family and friends who help elders will learn how to reduce stress, improve communication, find helpful resources, navigate difficult decisions, and balance their lives.

RSVP by March 18 to the Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119.

Guilford Pre-Town Meeting Thursday

by DonInGuilford | Guilford

Broad Brook Grange will hold its annual Pre-Town Meeting on Thursday, February 26, 7:00 pm at the Grange hall. 

This is the only opportunity for voters to hear details of the articles which will be presented at the Town and School District Meetings, and to meet and discuss issues with the selectboard and school board all in one evening, in advance of Town Meeting.  

In addition, candidates for town and school board offices are urged to attend to introduce themselves to the voters.  State law prevents any “campaigning” by candidates at Town Meeting, when an Australian ballot is used, as in this instance.  So this is the only time before the vote for the public to meet and hear the candidates all at once.