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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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.


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 11/18/13

BCTV Channel 8 Schedule for the week of 11/18/13

                   Monday November 18

12:00 am      Windham Orchestra: The Social Waltzes – 10/27/13

1:35 am       For the Animals: Ep.127 – Friends of Strays

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       What Does The End Of Domestic Violence Look Like

5:00 am       Green Mtn. Global Forum – The Future of Nuclear Power


Chile: Human Rights Arts Project at Villa Grimaldi – Week1

We are in Santiago,Chile for our human rights art project MEMORIA HABLAR DIGNIDAD which is also at our Facebook site by the same name. Last year we were at Villa Grimaldi the Peace Park where thousands of
people were tortured, and two hundred thirty six people were killed by Pinochet’s soldiers. The history of this horrific period is well documented at .

We schlepped the tower about 25 kilos with the 100 Flowers of peace poems down with us. Our friend Roger did a beautiful job in making the portable tower.  We who normally travel with less than 15 kilos of luggage anywhere, were a bit overwhelmed, and then the airlines charged extra for my guitar.  But we arrived in a nice flat in the downtown.