Weekend Retreat: Art as a Healing Tool for Self and Earth

Making Art in Paradise Presents: Art as a Healing Tool for Self & Earth: Fri. eve, Sept 20 – Sun. Sept 22, 2013

A clay sculpture and writing workshop in the hills of Townshend VT.

Nourish your creative vision with a writing & clay sculpting retreat led by Psychosynthesis guide/potter Alan Steinberg & writer/teacher Fred Taylor

  • Encounter the life & landscape of the forests and hills of Vermont  
  • Immerse yourself in the tactile, intuitive earthiness of clay. 

Brattleboro Conservation Commission Hike

The Conservation Commission will meet at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Eaton Avenue for a hike of Hogle Wildlife Sanctuary Trail.

Directions to the site are included in the attached agenda.

Julia Perks
Planning Services Clerk
230 Main Street, Ste 202
Brattleboro, VT 05301
802-251-8107


Free Wild and Medicinal Plant Walk at the Brattleboro Farmers Market

Free Plant walks at the Brattleboro Farmer’s Market: Saturday July 20th, Aug. 3rd & 24th at 11am

The Brattleboro Farmers Market is open 9 to 2 outdoors on Rte 9 and SUMMER is hitting it’s stride! Peaches, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, beans and glorious delights of all shapes and flavors are in. Harvest Health Coupons are in: EBT customers, double your money up to $10 while supplies last! 802-254-8885

Join botanist, herbalist and naturalist Heidy Adams on a walk at the Brattleboro Saturday market. We’ll be exploring traditional uses of the native and introduced plants growing in the field, wooded areas and down by the river. There are over 40 plants to discuss!

For all ages! Anyone interested in learning more about the uses of wild local plants are welcome.


The Problem Solvers, Co-chaired by Rep. Welch, Unveils Legislative Agenda

Rep. Welch announces bipartisan coalition aimed at breaking Congressional gridlock

Washington, DC. (July 18th, 2013) At an outdoor rally on Capitol Hill this morning, Rep. Peter Welch joined  in announcing a new bipartisan, bicameral coalition aimed at breaking Congressional gridlock. Welch is a co-founder of the coalition, known as “The Problem Solvers,” and serves as one of eight co-chairs. 

The Problem Solvers coalition, which is affiliated with No Labels, is comprised of 37 Republicans, 43 Democrats, and 1 Independent. At the rally, the group unveiled its legislative agenda, which includes a Welch-authored energy efficiency initiative.


Sanders Says Southeastern Vermont at Cutting Edge on Broadband

WASHINGTON, July 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today that a region in southeastern Vermont is getting the fastest consumer connection to the Internet anywhere in the United States.

Springfield, Vt., and 13 neighboring towns – Saxons River, Chester, North Springfield, Grafton, Bridgewater, Cuttingsville, Wallingford, Hartland, Killington, Pawlet, Danby, Mt. Holly and Middletown Springs – are in the process of getting state-of-the-art Internet access at speeds 100 times faster than average and faster than anywhere else in the United States except a Kansas City, Mo., pilot project by Google.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Sondag Sayonara, Strand Ave Stress, Skating Rink Committee

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard was the final regular Selectboard meeting for outgoing Town Manager Barb Sondag. Former Chair Dick Degray appeared during Public Participation to offer her a sincere, heartfelt send off. A public thank you and farewell is scheduled for later this week.

Residents of Strand Avenue came to request that the road and retaining wall repair project on their street be temporarily halted to enable a discussion of closing the street to vehicles. They were told it had been decided long ago to allow cars to go through, but that recent project mishaps would be straightened out.

The Selectboard voted to form a citizen committee to research long-term ice rink options, the board heard about the Recreation and Parks department, and they worked on granting of permits, permitting of grants, public hearings, and more.


CRVBL Weekend Roundup

CHESTER/SAXTONS , WALPOLE, CLAREMONT AND BRATTLEBORO TAKE LATEST CRVBL GAMES

With all teams in the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League in action over the last few days, the Chester/Saxtons Crush, the Walpole Wild Blue, the Claremont Cardinals and the Brattleboro River Rats emerged victorious.

The first place Chester/Saxtons Crrush lived up to its name with an 11 to 3 win over the Putney Fossils. Andrew Robbins of the Crush hit a solo home run and pitchers Scott Renfro and Nick Wirkkala combined to allow Putney seven hits. Defending league champion Claremont relied on the pitching of Andrew Sullivan and the hitting of second baseman John Grainger in its 9 to 2 victory over the Newport Polar Bears.


The Apron Theater Company Presents Wit at Next Stage Arts in Putney

The Apron Theater Company and the Next Stage Arts Project, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT present Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Wit, directed by Hallie Flower. Wit will run July 18th thru July 20th. Performances are at 8 pm. Tickets are $10.00, general admission. Reservations: 802-387-0071.Tickets: online at www.nextstagearts.org.

Wit marks The Apron Theater Company’s return to the local theater scene and its first production as the Next Stage Arts Project’s “theater-company-in-residence.” The play has received rave reviews by audiences and critics alike.


Salon Jacque Chosen By Elle Magazine As One Of America’s Top 100 Salons

SALON JACQUE has just been notified by ELLE MAGAZINE that we have once again been chosen as one of AMERICA’s TOP 100 SALONS and the only one in the state of Vermont. This is our 3rd year in receiving this honor and our team is absolutely thrilled.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Bilodeau, Krystie Curtiss, Heather Fish, Ilene ‘Re’ Sheppard, Casey Langstraat, Kelly Darling-Snow and Lorraine Gordon.


Aggressive “Medical Alert” Telemarketer Warning

This evening, I picked up the one non-caller-ID phone in the house to hear a chipper youthful male voice intrducing himself and saying he was calling to arrrange an installation appointment for my new medical alert system.  I quickly said no thanks, not interested, and he just as quickly responded that I already had on on order, they just need to install it.  When I said I never ordered such a thing, he said it was already paid for, and that “someone who loves me or cares about my welfare” must have placed the order for my benefit.  Yeah, right.


I’m Going To Be On Television In A Story About Brattleboro Psychic Con Man T. P. James

I,  am  going to be on television on Thursday, at 9 PM on the travel channel. They interviewed me for a piece on Brattleboro’s own Psychic Con man, T. P. James. The show is called Monumental Mysteries.

We don’t have a television. I had envisioned watcing it at someone else’s house. However, I am going to be in Maine, at a cabin with no electricity. So, I probably won’t even get to see myself on the television. I hope someone from Brattlebor does watch it though. It is such a Brattleboro story.


Public Farewell to Brattleboro Town Manager Barb Sondag

The Brattleboro Selectboard, Administration and Staff invite the public to a farewell celebration for outgoing Town Manager Barb Sondag on Friday, July 19, 2013 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room, Suite 212 at the Municipal Center. You are also invited to meet the Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland. Cake and punch will be served.

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


World-Gypsy Fusion Concert with Marissa Licata

Honduran violinist Marissa Licata will perform with her World-Gypsy Fusion ensemble at the Hooker-Dunham Theater on Monday, July 29 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 at the door – cash or checks only.

Featuring Licata and Ethan Wood on double violins, the performance will draw on influences from all over the world including EasternEuropean, Latin American, Middle Eastern and Americana. They are joined by Jim Guttmann on bass and Sergio Martinez on percussion.

The concert is presented by Cox Violins to coincide with the one-man show of Doug Cox’s work at David Walter’s Master Craft Gallery. Licata plays on a Cox instrument modeled after one belonging to her teacher, the late Eric Rosenblith of New England Conservatory.


Ask-a-Cop: Decriminalization of Marijuana

“How has decriminalization of marijuana impacted the department so far? Is the law clear or confusing? Have tickets for small amounts of marijuana been given out to anyone?”

Decriminalization of marijuana has not impacted the department in a meaningful way.  Officers have been trained in the new law and the various enforcement actions involved.  There have been some minor changes in the way we store and process marijuana evidence as well.

The law is relatively complex, with different enforcement requirements based on the defendant’s age and the weight of the drugs.  There were also changes made to the law related to the forensic testing of suspected marijuana by the Vermont Forensic Laboratory.  That said, the law is not confusing.


Will There Be A Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast in July?

Will there be a Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast in July?

The short answer: yes! Please reply if you plan to attend.

The longer answer: The next “Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast” will take place on Friday, July 26, 2013 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

The presenter will be: you!


HIT IT! Percussion Camp Starting Next Week!

Ages 13-18

“Hit It” percussion camp uses a two-pronged approach to help student percussionists develop the combination of performance and listening skills necessary to be successful.

One of the camp’s focuses is on “classical” percussion instruments such as timpani, snare drum, marimba, cymbals, tambourine and triangle – instruments on which percussionists need proficiency in most school music programs.  An equal focus will be placed on gaining skills and understanding on Cuban, Brazilian and African percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, cowbells, shekere, timbales and incorporating them into polyrhythmic patterns characteristic of traditional music’s of those countries.


HIT IT! Percussion Camp Starting Next Week!

“Hit It” percussion camp, for drummers ages 13-18, uses a two-pronged approach to help student percussionists develop the combination of performance and listening skills necessary to be successful.

One of the camp’s focuses is on “classical” percussion instruments such as timpani, snare drum, marimba, cymbals, tambourine and triangle – instruments on which percussionists need proficiency in most school music programs. An equal focus will be placed on gaining skills and understanding on Cuban, Brazilian and African percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, cowbells, shekere, timbales and incorporating them into polyrhythmic patterns characteristic of traditional music’s of those countries.


Putney Author Stuart Strothman Discusses “Sackett” at Brooks Library

Join Putney author, Stuart Strothman, on Wednesday, July 17, at 7 PM, in the meeting room of the Brooks Memorial Library for a discussion of his novel, Sackett, an historical novel that spans the years 1682 to 1763, the story of a lost hero of the Abenaki, born of an abducted little girl gone native, grandchild of Greylock, enemy of the British.

Stuart Strothman has been interested in the original land and its people since he was a young child, canoeing in Nova Scotia, wandering in the woods of southern New York where he grew up. As an undergraduate, he focused on Native American studies under advisor Larry Hauptman, and took bachelors degrees in history and literature, and later a masters in education. He taught for many years at Landmark College and has published articles in the Dictionary of American Biography and The New Paltz Historical Review. He is past president and now secretary of the Putney Historical Society, which he staffs in the summertime, helping visitors with any research they may be interested in.  


Turtles to Toads – Live Animal Program at the Brooks Memorial Library

Turtles to Toads – LIVE ANIMAL PROGRAM at the Brooks Memorial Library

Explore the worlds of repitles and amphibians through an interactive slideshow, touchable artifacts and live animals.

Saturday, August 3, 10:30 AM
Main Room

Presented by the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum as part of the Dig into Reading Summer Reading Program. Register by calling 254-5290 ext 110.