SeVEDS and BDCC To Testify On Economic Impacts With Date Certain VY Closure

by Not Signed In | Business

Public testimony from 5-7 pm in Vernon

On Monday October 28th, the Vermont House Commerce and House Natural Resource and Energy Committees will hold a joint hearing in Windham County to hear about community and economic impacts expected from the date certain closure of Vermont Yankee. The hearing is scheduled from 1:30 to 4:30 for regional organizations, municipalities and others to testify with an open time for public testimony from 5-7 pm at the Vernon Elementary School.

BDCC, southeastern Vermont’s regional development corporation, and SeVEDS (Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies) will testify at 2:15 PM about the pressing economic development needs, and the plans they have developed to meet those needs, in the Windham Region.

Brattleboro Committee Meetings Scheduled

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 5:30pm in the community room at the Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet and hold an Informational Meeting on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. Human Service Agency funding applications and information is posted on the Brattleboro website.

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

Paddlng In The Retreat Meadows

by Lise | Nature

In an effort to get me to stop talking about the beach, Chris bought us a canoe this summer, well used but sturdy and appropriately green.  I’m not an expert paddler but I love to float around in boats, so I was appeased by this gesture.  Even so, it was almost September before we had mastered our knots (for tying it to the car) and assembled our gear.  But all the preparation turned out to be worthwhile once we pushed off into the Retreat Meadows.

Thank You For The Success of the Chicken Barbeque!

by WBA | Op/Ed

The West Brattleboro Association is celebrating another successful barbecue. To raise funds for programs that help our neighbors and our neighborhood, we sold 216 half chickens over Columbus Day weekend.

We could not have done it without the support of our generous members and sponsors, including Joe Jewett, who gave up part of his birthday to mix up his signature marinade and serve as head chef;  Tim Cuthbertson, who coordinated the event and shared chef duties; Helen Robb, who baked many, many beans—and the rest of the Robb family, including Charlie Robb Jr., who helped with the cooking; Mary Durland, whose giant bowls of slaw rounded out a delicious meal; Carl Hirth, Kris McDermet, Stewart McDermet, and Lynette Hamilton for rounding out the crew; and Barbara Gentry, of Dynamic Words, for promoting the event.

SPARKS: A Nov. 2 Publication Party & Musical Premiere

by fomag | Arts

Guilford, Vt. — The life and works of Jean Stewart McLean will be celebrated on Saturday, November 2, at Guilford Community Church. The date marks the publication of the author’s collected writing in book form, edited by her son, Don McLean, of Guilford. The 7:30 pm program combines a publication party with performances of her work, presented by Friends of Music at Guilford.

“Sparks” is the title of the new book, the evening’s program, and a musical setting of eleven of the author’s poems, set to music by Don McLean, to be premiered by mezzo-soprano Evelyn McLean.

Weekend Concert: REM, 1985.

by paulgardner | Music

Here’s a band that seems largely forgotten now.

Back in ’85 when this concert was recorded, REM was becoming one of the biggest bands in America – even if nobody could understand Michael Stipe’s mumbled lyrics.

From Germany, REM, in 1985.

Sanders Condemns Spying on U.S. Allies

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 18 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today decried “outrageous” eavesdropping by the National Security Agency on some of the United States’ closest allies.

Sanders is cosponsoring legislation that would significantly rein in the sweeping surveillance activities of the NSA and other intelligence agencies.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, the senator also voiced concern that the U.S. actions could undermine cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Local Food-Wine Event – Sunday Oct 27 11-3 – Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole

by Nan Stefanik | Food

Hello –

Some of you may know that I started a specialty food business last year. Part of Vermont Quince’s social mission is to reintroduce the ancient fruit to palates throughout the U.S. Toward that end, we are teaming up with our primary source of quince on “Honoring the Heirloom: A Culinary Celebration of Quince & Apples,” a food event happening this Sunday afternoon at Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, NH. 

Brattleboro Selectboard and Town Manager Search Citizen Committee – Meetings and Executive Sessions

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 3:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 3:15pm to discuss a personnel matter.

The Brattleboro Town Manager Search Citizen Committee will hold a meeting on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 3:15pm in the Hanna Cosman/Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. It is anticipated that the Committee will enter into executive session at 3:20pm to discuss a personnel matter and meet with the Selectboard.

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

Spoken Word and Theater Workshops Lead By Visiting Artist Lenelle Moïse

by SandglassTheater | Culture

Powerhouse poet, theatre artist and dynamic speaker Lenelle Moise will be in residence in Putney the week of Oct 27- Nov 3.   Lenelle is nationally renowned and celebrated for her writings, performances, and workshops on  race, class, feminism, LGBTQ identities, new theater aesthetics, immigration and Haitian-American culture.  She has taught and performed at colleges, theaters and conferences across the United States.

As part of her time here in Putney, Lenelle Moïse will conduct two workshops open to the community, at Next Stage Arts Project, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney.

2nd Annual Vermont Vision for a Multicultural Future Conference Registration Open

by Not Signed In | State News

Brattleboro – Vermont Partnership for Fairness & Diversity has opened the general registration for the 2nd Annual Vermont Vision for a Multicultural Future Conference. Individuals interested in attending this strategy-sharing event may register on-line at www.vermontpartnership.org .

Beginning at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 7th, Vermont Partnership will convene its signature conference at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel & Conference Center at Mount Snow in Dover, VT. The one and a half day conference will bring together Vermont leaders and interested parties who are working to strengthen business and institutional practices for an increasingly diverse marketplace within the state and beyond. The conference will close at 5:00pm on November 8th.

Windham Orchestra and Kurn Hattin Homes for Children Present Collaborative Works

by Not Signed In | Music

As part of the opening of the Windham Orchestra’s 44th season, Maestro Hugh Keelan and the Windham Orchestra, along with musicians and singers present Resounding Hills: A Transformative Musical Collaboration. This concert takes place at 7:30 PM November 1 at Kurn Hattin Homes’ Higbie auditorium and is open to the public. Admission is by donation at the door.

G.S. Precision Helps BMH Open “The New Doorway to Exceptional Care”

by BMH | Health

is the latest business to join Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s “The Doorway to Exceptional Care” capital campaign. Hospital officials announced the Brattleboro-based company has made a $100,000 pledge to help renovate and expand the Emergency Department.

“G.S. Precision’s slogan is, ‘Quality, Efficiency and Reliability,’ and that is exactly what they are supporting with their gift to BMH,” says Steven R. Gordon, the hospital’s president and CEO. “The number of patients coming to the Emergency Department each year has more than doubled since it was built in 1982. The additional 2,500 square feet of space will enable us maintain a high standard of care while also improving speed, comfort and privacy for patients and families.”

Washington Street Closed for Three Weeks

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Washington Street will be closed to through traffic from Highland Street to Prospect Street for three weeks starting Monday, October 28, 2013. Renaud Bros. will be working with the Department of Public Works to replace the failed retaining wall. Motorists should plan to use alternate routes.

If there are questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Public Works at 254-4255.

-Department of Public Works

150 Years Ago (1863 10/24)

by BusyMom | History

Brattleboro, Oct. 24th, 1863

Dear wife –

I received your most welcome letter last night, and night before last I received Mr. Martin’s letter. It is strange that letters are so much delayed on the way. I have not much time tonight, but I will improve the time I have in writing to you. I do not mean to let you get the start of me. I am on guard tomorrow. I shall come off Sunday morning at nine o’clock and shall then try and get a pass to go over and see Susan and Mary Ann. I had a letter from Mary Ann tonight. Susan’s youngest child is very sick with the dysentery. I will enclose Mary Ann’s letter and let her tell her own story. I guess that she is homesick, she felt very well when I was over there.

Weekend Spanish Immersion Course in Brattleboro November 9th-10th

by Not Signed In | Education

Escuelita Spanish School is offering a weekend Spanish Immersion Course November 9th-10th at Hilltop Montessori School in Brattleboro. These courses make learning Spanish feel effortless, fun, and truly effective. Many of us have had frustrating experiences learning a second language. The way we were taught in school might have taught us the rules of the language but, in most cases, we did not learn how to speak the language.

Escuelita’s approach is based on brain and language acquisition research and it gets students understanding and speaking the language quickly and with a lot of laughter and fun along the way. After our weekend immersion course last June, one of our students wrote:

Free Brattleboro Film Festival Daytime Screenings and Discussion at Brooks Memorial Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Arts

This year, the Brattleboro Film Festival has chosen two examples of film-noir that explore greed and the psychology of dependency in abusive relationships for free daytime screenings and discussions presented in collaboration with and at Brooks Memorial Library: 
On Monday, November 4, beginning at 3 PM, “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” (US, 1946, 116 minutes) directed by Lewis Milestone will be screened.

Green Mountain Mummers Perform In Their 39th Year

by noe-hays | Entertainment

The Green Mountain Mummers, Windham County’s men’s sword dance troupe, will be performing on Halloween weekend for the 39th consecutive year! On Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, the group will present its symbolic death-and-resurrection “street theater” rain or shine in seven locations in Windham County, Vermont (see full schedule below).

The group of 12 men (mostly Windham County residents) is the oldest continuing sword dance and mumming troupe in the United States. Founded in 1975 and with only one of the original members still performing, the group has added many younger members over the last several years. However, it still operates in the manner of the traditional English morris and sword dancers from which the dances were originally collected: they meet to practice and perform only once a year. A favorite every year at election season is the group’s mummers play which has been characterized as a “live political cartoon,” drawing on current events and providing social commentary through humor.

Dummerston Emergency Fuel Fund Supper Fundraiser

by Dummerston Community Center | Dummerston

A Baked Bean & Ham supper will be held on Saturday Oct. 26th from 5-7p.m. at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center.
Delicious baked beans, baked ham, (hot dogs if preferred) with tasty scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, marinated carrots, and rolls. Yummy gingerbread with real whipped cream for dessert.

Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 5-12 years old.
Take-out is available. Call 254-1138 between 5-7 p.m. on the 26th to order.