Circus Arts and Puppetry Come Together at Sandglass Theater This Weekend!

by SandglassTheater | Entertainment

Sandglass Theater’s New Visions series presents, Leila Ghaznavi with Pantea Productions: Beyond the Light. This new work, a theatrical exploration of dance, aerial acrobatics, light effects, and puppetry, was conceived by Leila Ghaznavi, a 2012 recipient of the Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant and the 2012 Puffin Grant.  Beyond the Light is an elegant hybridization of dance, puppetry, shadow work, aerial acrobatics, lighting effects, all set to the poetry of Walt Whitman and Emma Lazarus.  Creator Leila Ghaznavi blends these media to create an epic journey of a soul that is torn in two, seeking to reunite itself.

McLean Book Sparks Available

by DonInGuilford | Books

We had a great book publication event in Guilford Nov. 2 for my just-issued Sparks, the collected writing of my mother, Jean Stewart McLean, on the 50th anniversary of her death.  (In fact, BCTV recorded the program and it’s being shown several times this week on the cable station.)

The book came out really nicely; its 368 pages include short stories, poems, four one-act plays and other of my mom’s writings, not to mention extensive editorial commentary and notes by her son (that’s me.)

Brattleboro School Endowment Will Run “Mt. Snow Express Bus” to Mt. Snow This Year

by Not Signed In | News & Information

MT. SNOW EXPRESS BUS SERVICE OFFERED THROUGH BRATTLEBORO SCHOOL ENDOWMENT

Looking for a ride up to Mt. Snow to ski or snowboard on Sundays in December?

The Brattleboro School Endowment is organizing a bus, driven by First Student personnel. The “Mt. Snow Express” will leave from Academy School’s parking lot at 9 AM on Sundays in December (December 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29). It will make a return trip back to Academy School’s parking lot, leaving at 4.15 PM, arriving back at 5 PM.

The Mt. Snow Express will cost $5 roundtrip, or $2.50 each way, per person.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of November 24, 2013

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.

There will be no night work the week of November 24th. Night work will resume the week of December 2nd, and will continue Sunday through Thursday nights for the next several months, until demolition is complete.

Old-Time Gospel Hour at Dummerston Community Center

by Dummerston Community Center | Music

An old-time Gospel Hour is planned in West Dummerston on Sunday Dec. 1st.,from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dummerston Community Center. Guitar and vocals will be by GinMillBill.

There will be no preacher and no preaching, just music and singing. Songbooks will be available. Light refreshments will be available. Donations will be accepted for the Community Center’s heating and maintenance fund.

Learn How To Videoconference at Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Education

Brooks Memorial Library is one of fourteen Vermont libraries across the state that now is offering videoconferencing, thanks to a grant from Google. The Library will be offering monthly orientation sessions on the new equipment beginning on Wednesday, November 20, at 7 PM in the Library’s Meeting Room.

It will be taught by the library’s e Vermont computer intern, Justin Polnack. There is no registration necessary and the workshop is free and open to the public. The 90 minute session will demonstrate steps on setting up the equipment and using Google hangout. There is no charge to use the equipment, but people wanting to reserve the equipment must register for a Google+ account, attend a workshop, or schedule a one-on-one session with the trainer.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: No New Town Manager For Now, and Your Taxes Are Probably Going Up

by cgrotke | Town News

To keep the town services the same as last year and pay our obligations, the property tax rate would need to go up by 16 cents. It’s a major problem that the Brattleboro Selectboard shared with the public at Tuesday night’s meeting as they pondered how much of a tax increase Brattleboro could handle, and discussed various options for cuts and revenue generation.

The town’s search for a new Town Manager was a bust, and the process will begin again in the near future.

The Plan for Red Clover Commons took a step forward with the board supporting Brattleboro Housing Authority’s need to formally “dispose” (an HUD term) of the Melrose property and buildings to enable the upcoming move to new developments.

Much of the rest of the meeting was dedicated to Brattleboro citizens who like to skate. The skating rink got the go-ahead for a series of improvements to improve the refrigeration and preserve the compressors. And now the Town of Brattleboro has an official skatepark site selection committee.

From the Principal’s Office: Kurn Hattin Gets it Right for Kids

by KurnHattin | Education

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children’s School Principal, Scott Tabachnick, recently wrote an op-ed piece for the local paper, the Brattleboro Reformer (published Friday, November 8), to share a few of the reasons why he feels thankful to be a part of the Kurn Hattin community. In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we thought we’d share Scott’s letter with you!

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children: Getting it Right for Kids

by Scott Tabachnick

Veterans’ Panel Advances Health Care, Jobs and Other Legislation

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 – The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today advanced legislation to expand access to health care and dental care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The panel also approved a package of other bills, including measures to help veterans find jobs and shield veterans from benefit disruptions in the event of another government shutdown.

“I am proud that we are making good progress in improving and expanding health care and other benefits for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the committee chairman.

Coke-Is-It

by tomaidh | History

“Wealthy eccentric” Fred Koch of Guilford, tired of “cotch” pronunciation, legally changes name to “Coke-is-it.”

I remember this guy getting into the papers every so often for erratic behavior. One time, if I remember correctly, he was arrested for giving away $20 bills on Main Street. When he got before the Judge, the Judge scolded the cop with some pithy remarks.

JFK Memorial Events In Nearby Greenfield, MA

by tomaidh | Other

“Every once in a while a Generation has a chance to look back and reflect as to the state of the world. This November 22nd offers such an opportunity; it will be 50 years since the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. Most Americans don’t believe in the Warren Commission Report. What do you think? Was there a
military coup d’etat fifty years ago and a cover-up to this day?” …Jon Mark

On the eve of the anniversary consider the evidence in a documentary film by John Hankey, called: “Dark Legacy – George Bush and the Murder of John F. Kennedy.” It will be shown at the GREENFIELD GARDEN CINEMA,
Thursday, November 21st, 7:00 PM.

The Claire Lynch Band w/ Hot Mustard at Next Stage on Friday, November 22

by Not Signed In | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of bluegrass and Americana music with the award-winning Claire Lynch Band and double banjo bluegrass quartet Hot Mustard at Next Stage on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 pm.

The Claire Lynch Band – Claire (guitar, vocals), Matt Wingate (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Mark Schatz (bass, clawhammer banjo, percussive dance) and Bryan McDowell (mandolin, fiddle, vocals) has the innate ability to perfectly interpret the beauty, subtlety and genre-defying sophistication of Claire’s music. By any measure, the quartet is high on the bluegrass world’s A-List, with musicians whose accolades include three International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year awards and two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album (Claire), two IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards (Mark), MerleFest Doc Watson Guitar Champion (Matt ) and an unprecedented first-place win in three instrument categories at the Walnut Valley National Flatpicking Championship (Bryan).

5:45 Live: 11/15/13

by BrattleboroTV | Media

5:45 Live goes live to the Rivergarden for the Strolling of the Heifer’s first minutes of official ownership, on a jam-packed edition of BCTV’s weekly media round-up that includes a look at the new structures going up in Harmony as the Brooks House project moves ahead, as well as footage from this week’s pedestrian auto-accident on Western Ave, and much much more.

New Vermont Department of Health Page

by Rabiah | Health

The local.

We are currently running a contest for healthy holiday vegetables. Like us now and tell us the name of your favorite recipe and enter to win a gift certificate to the Brattleboro Food Co-op.

Get updates on local health and wellness events, health insurance, WIC, nutrition and other helpful information.

For more information, contact your local Department of Health at (802) 257-2880

Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith To Be Guest Speaker at November Full Commission Meeting

by Not Signed In | Other

Speaker of the House Shap Smith will be the guest speaker at the November Full Commission meeting of the Windham Regional Commission to be held Tuesday, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Westminster Institute (3534 Route 5). He will share his perspective on the issues confronting the legislature and the state in the upcoming session.

BMH Annual Meeting Features Special Guests and Key Topics

by BMH | Health

The Annual Meeting of the Southern Vermont Health Services Corporation and its subsidiary, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) held on November 8, 2013 featured special guests, key topics, and various recognitions.

Keynote speaker Dr. Kathleen McGraw, the Chief Medical Officer at BMH since January 2013, discussed the many ways that BMH has been focusing on and enhancing safety systems throughout the hospital. McGraw, who most recently worked at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, has earned recognition and awards during her career for improving health safety systems and leading team-based approaches to health care.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of November 17, 2013

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.

Night work on the existing I-91 bridge will begin on Sunday night, November 17th and will continue through Friday morning, November 22nd. Night work will continue Sunday through Thursday nights for the next several months, until demolition is complete.