Welcome To The Newest iBrattleboro

by cgrotke | iBrattleboro

It’s the same as before, except different!

Technically speaking, this is version 3.0. We’ve switched the underlying content management system, the site  is now mobile-friendly, and everything will soon be encrypted.

Our work isn’t finished, but it is close enough to let you join us as we make final adjustments. It helps to have people using the site actively as we fine tune. You may see a few test items come and go over the next few days, and you will see some definite improvements.

Calling All Bakers! Friends of Brooks Memorial Library Fundraiser!

by Brooks Memorial Library | Food

Calling All Bakers!!! We are looking for people who love their library AND love to bake, to volunteer a little time and a baked good for a yummy Friends of Brooks Memorial Library Fundraiser.

We will need them in time to sweeten up Friday, April 13th! For more information, please email friendsofbrookslibraryvt@gmail.com , attention Betsy. You may also call and leave a message at 802-254-5290 x1206, and you will get a call back!

CoverageCo Cell Service Likely To Cease

by cgrotke | The Region

Vermont League of Cities and Towns says:

“Vanu CoverageCo Inc. is a company that provides small cell wireless communications in several communities throughout Vermont. On March 13, 2018, company officials notified the Department of Public Service that CoverageCo would likely cease operations in Vermont due to financial difficulties. CoverageCo was under contract with the State of Vermont to deploy small cell antennas along specific travel corridors. CoverageCo provides limited, wholesale coverage to Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular. Retail users of these services in CoverageCo’s coverage areas may experience a loss in service. Facilities owned and maintained by these retail providers and other providers will not be affected.

2018 Dog and Wolf Hybrid Licenses Due Soon

by Not Signed In | Pets

Brattleboro dog and wolf-hybrid licenses are due on or before April 1 (There is a grace period, this year only, until April 2nd due to the fact that April 1 falls on a Sunday). Vermont dogs and wolf-hybrids 6 months of age and older must be licensed on or before April 1. For dogs not previously licensed in Brattleboro, a first-time license must be obtained in person from the Town Clerk’s office. Licenses being renewed may be processed in the Town Clerk’s office, through the mail or online at www.brattleboro.org.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Firefighters Retroactive Raise, Final Meeting For John Allen

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved a new contract with Brattleboro firefighters Tuesday evening. Negotiations began in 2016, stalled, resumed, and just recently wrapped up. Firefighters will be getting a retroactive raise going back to when the process began.

Liquor licenses, a finance report, a grant for bulletproof vests, and an update on Windham Regional Commission were all punctuated by news that this meeting was John Allen’s final regular selectboard meeting.

Nice Description of Spring in Today’s History 3/20/18

by BusyMom | Nature

1858: “The mild and balmy breezes of Spring are at length upon us. The snow banks, in which all moisture has been suspended for weeks, have commenced discounting freely while their deposits are daily diminishing, indicating a very free circulation. There is less inquiry for mud; occasionally a patch of ground grows a shade firmer, while ladies dresses are slightly on the rise. But this state of things cannot last.”

You Were In My Dream

by Brattleboro Poet | Creative

Monday morning I woke up having just experienced a lucid dream. 

I had just come out of a large building. It was in a city (I have been dreaming of being in big cities lately).  I realized that I was dreaming.  

I looked at my surroundings. Everything looked so real even though I knew it was a dream. I did not want to lose this dream, which can happen if you get too excited about knowing that you are in a lucid dream. So I started to look at the ground, thinking that by focusing on something mundane I can keep things on an even keel and the dream will continue.

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at Next Stage on Friday, March 23

by Not Signed In | Music

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of acoustic/electric Americana music from Sleepy Hollow, NY by The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (aka The Grand Slambovians) at Next Stage on Friday, March 23 at 7:30 pm.

The music of The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been described as “hillbilly-Floyd,” “folk-pop,” “alt-country, roots-rock” and “surreal Americana” – a clear indicator of its singularly indescribable uniqueness. A rootsy psychedelica that Maverick Magazine calls “Mightily impressive and hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana,” the quartet’s melodic avant-folk conjures with an exotic instrumental arsenal (accordion, cello, mandolin, theremin) in addition to standard rock regalia, and a palette of styles ranging from dusty Americana ballads to huge Pink Floydesque cinematic anthems. Dancing freely between all existing religious and philosophical mythologies, the music is uplifting, empowering and a lot of fun.

Thank You John Allen!

by Timmy | Opinion

Over the past year as I served on the Selectboard, I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know John Allen. When I first joined the board, I fully expected to butt heads with John over many issues, and while we sometimes did disagree, not once did we do so with acrimony. It quickly became clear to me that we shared a love for Brattleboro, and that while we might come at problems from different viewpoints, we could usually arrive together at solutions that were best for our town.

Representative Town Meeting – The Fire Truck

by spoon | Op/Ed

Town meeting is this coming Saturday, the 24th.  The big issue that has come out so far, not surprisingly, is the request for a new ladder truck for the fire department.  Generally speaking, from what I saw a the informational meeting the issue is less about it than whether this happen this year or next and how should it be paid for.  Of those two the issue taking up the most time was how to pay for it.  I concede that I brought that up.

BCTV Schedules Week of 3/19/18

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 8 schedule for the week of 3/19/18

Monday, March 19, 2018

12:06 am Magic with Jonas Cane – Jonas Cane – 4000 Years of Magic!

1:30 am Windham World Affairs Council – WWAC: Edward Cameron – Brexit and the European Union 2/16/18

3:30 am The World Fusion Show – Ep 18 – Eshagh Shaoul

4:00 am Moccasin Tracks – Holding Space

Windham Regional Energy Plan Public Hearings

by cgrotke | Town Plan

The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) will hold two public hearings on the proposed Windham Regional Energy Plan as an amendment to the Windham Regional Plan at 6:30pm on Monday April 9 at the Townshend Town Hall and Thursday April 12, 2018 at The Westminster Institute.

Suggestion! High School Play on Gun Rights?

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

How About A Brand New High School Play on Gun Rights?

Alternate method to teach gun rights to children by doing a high school play! (Just a suggestion!)

(1) The scene where the Native American Indians are defeated by the European settlers with guns
and the Native American Indians are forced onto reservations, losing their homelands;

(2) the scene where the European settlers invade Africa and chain the Black African people and stack their
live bodies in the bottoms of sailing ships and take them to the new America to work as slaves;

VFW $6 Lunch Specials Open to the Public

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438.

Poverty

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

Poverty is not a 3rd world phenomenon.

A friend who lives in Bennington writes poignantly about it:

“In Bennington there are three very distinct classes.

First, there are the ‘fancy people’. They are the ones who rule and control everything. They are on the boards — the hospital board, the library board, the select board, the school boards. They attend the formal fundraisers for the hospital and other institutions. They have the power — even the power over life and death. They, occasionally during a medical crisis in the hospital, make the decision to pull the plug or allow life to go on.