BCS Brooks Compromise On Police In Schools

by Kurt Daims | Town News

Many people want police officers (SRO) removed from schools across Vermont, and there is state legislation pending about it. At last night’s (Tuesday March 16) meeting WSESU school directors heard public comments about the officer in the high school located in Brattleboro.

School administrations and other advocates cling to the SRO’s as high-power hall monitors and deterrents to school shooters and terrorists, while opponents like BCS and most notably Youth for Change, want students to feel safe and not intimidated at school. BCS is proposing a compromise: following the BCS S.A.F.E. policing disarmament plan the police could continue their SRO function without their pistols (or other non-lethal weapons).

Pot Roast Meal To Go at the Brattleboro VFW April 17th! Public Welcome

by LisaL | Food

Thank you to everyone that came out and supported the VFW for our turkey to go meal that we had March 13th. It was a great success, and we appreciate all the people that ordered from us!

It’s a bit early, but mark your calendar for our next meal and let us do the cooking for you. Saturday April 17th we are offering a pot roast to go meal with pick up times from 4pm – 6:30pm.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Whetstone Woes, WRC Wows, and Playgrounds

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard march 16 2021

Water leaks and collapsing walls were part of  the first post-Daylight Savings Time regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard.  The Department of Public Works reported on a couple of recent and ongoing emergency repairs downtown involving water.

The board heard an update on the work of the Windham Regional Commission, found out more about how poorly parking revenues are going this year, hired a company to do cemetery maintenance, and purchased some new playground equipment. And board members said goodbye to Brandie Starr and Jan Anderson, thanking them for their service.

Big Sticks

by tomaidh | Other

Einstein theorized that Matter and Energy were just two forms of the same thing. However, the numerical value of energy was the equivalent of the numerical value of matter, multiplied by an enormous number (186,000 x 186,000 or nearly 35 Billion times). That’s a lot of energy!

Achieving this quantity of energy in a bomb motivated scientists in the early years of WWII to figure out how to do it. In July of 1945, they achieved this goal.

Preston Lot Closed Wednesday 6 am – 3 pm

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

On Wednesday, March 17 the Preston Lot will be closed beginning at 6:00 am and will remain closed until approximately 3:00 pm.  Crews will be working to remove the Whetstone Pathway Bridge in preparation for repairing the failing retaining wall along the Whetstone Brook.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Public Works at 254-4255

Lower Main Street Traffic Restrictions, Water Service Interruption

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

On Wednesday, March 17, Utilities Crews will be working in the junction of lower Main Street and Canal Street.  The work will begin at 9:00 pm and continue through approximately 6:00 am Thursday morning, March 18.  Traffic will be restricted in that area during the scheduled time while the Utilities Division works to repair a water main leak.  

Motorists should plan to use alternate routes during this time period.

Whetstone Pathway Closed

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Effective immediately, the Whetstone Pathway Bridge connecting the Whetstone Pathway and the Preston Lot on Flat Street is closed.  

A section of the retaining wall beneath the Whetstone Pathway Bridge has failed.  The Department of Public Works is working with engineers,  contractors and the State’s Stream Alteration Engineer to develop a plan for repairing the retaining wall.  The bridge will be closed until the repairs are made and the safety of the bridge is restored.

BCTV Schedules – Week of March 15, 2021

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Channel 1075 schedule for the week of 3/15/21

Monday, March 15, 2021

6:00 am BrattRock – Virtual BrattRock 2020
6:45 am Yoga with Liza Eaton – Hatha Yoga 2
7:51 am Fusion Nomads with Tony Vacca – Troubling Tendencies Funeral with Paul 10/2/20
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am At BMAC – 2021 Vermont Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Historic Vermont General Strike Authorization – Film of Full Debate and Vote As It Took Place On Nov. 21st, 2020

by David Van Deusen | Politics

As political storm clouds gathered in the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, on November 21, just 18 days after Trump LOST, the 10,000 member Vermont AFL-CIO anticipated that a fascist coup could be on the horizon. To better prepare for the defense of our democracy, the Vermont State Labor Council brought to its rank & file a General Strike Authorization Resolution empowering the democratically elected eleven member Executive Board to call for such an action across the Green Mountains if events demanded.

This film (approximately one hour in duration) is now being made available to the public for the FIRST time. The film documents the full discussion, debate, and vote as it unfolded at our Convention (held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Leading up to the Convention we had 72 Delegates & Alternates register for the event from 28 Locals involving 15 Internationals. With additional rank & file members attending (along with invited guests) the Convention had upwards of 100 Vermont Union leaders and political allies from all corners of the State in attendance. With the passage of this resolution (overwhelmingly supported by seated Delegates), the Vermont AFL-CIO became the ONLY State Labor Council in the Nation to take such a stand in defense of democracy.

Best Blues Roadtrip Ever!

by SK-B | Music

THE BEST VERSION OF JOHN HENRY I EVER HEARD, STARTS AT 15:00

If you love Blues, but sometimes start to want something more than even your favorite singer punching out one song after another in their particular style: This video will keep your interest… but it might disrupt your work if try to use it as background. Pretty soon it may draw your attention to the screen, as it moves along from one incredible venue to the next.

Vermont Jazz Center Presents Live Stream Performance of Acclaimed Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt

by vtjazz | Music

The Vermont Jazz Center will present trumpeter Jeremy Pelt in a live stream show featuring his working quintet on Saturday, March 20th at 8:00 PM. He will be performing music from his most recent album called Griot, This is Important! Joining Mr. Pelt will be the performers featured on this new recording: Chien Chien Lu (vibraphone), Victor Gould (piano), Vicente Archer (acoustic bass) and Allan Mednard (drums).

Jeremy Pelt is one of the finest jazz trumpeters of his generation; he has been compared favorably to Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw and Miles Davis. Nate Chinen of the New York Times sums up his abilities in a simple phrase: “Mr. Pelt plays brilliantly with warmth and depth.” Pelt expresses his mastery in a variety of settings. For example, his most recent trio album, The Art of Intimacy, Volume 1, showcases his golden tone in an understated set of Great American Songbook gems with pianist George Cables and bassist Peter Washington. Pelt’s numerous albums as a leader and sideman reveal his ease in playing over burning tempos and his delight in grooving over a visceral, swinging beat or taking his time on a saucy blues. Furthermore, Pelt is an accomplished composer and arranger – his original compositions convey unpretentious yet complex harmonic choices that complement the natural cadences of his melodies, resulting in song forms of enigmatic beauty.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 16, 2021

by cgrotke | Town News

Playground equipment, cemetery maintenance, and Representative Town meeting loose ends will be on the agenda for the next regular meeting for the Brattleboro Selectboard.

The board will also buy an insertion valve, hear updates on recent projects at the Windham Regional Commission, and appoint a new health officer, WRC delegates, and committee members.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Should Try A Warrant Committee

by cgrotke | Op/Ed

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting members should try an experiment. The body should form a Warrant Committee for a trial period of one year and see how it goes.

What’s a Warrant Committee? 

When Bob Gannett brought Representative Town Meeting to Brattleboro, his experience with it began in Milton, MA. And in Milton, Town Meeting Representatives have a much bigger role in setting the agenda and budget to be voted on. Representatives elect a 15 person Warrant Committee to decide what articles will be warned.

Growing Old Is Not For Sissies

by RDavis | Health

As we age our bodies, with few exceptions, start wearing out. Every creature lives and dies and in between those two ends they age. Some of us are able to accept aging better than others but no matter our outlook, we all have to deal with bodily changes that annoy and pain us.

As parts wear out such as knees and hips it can become a matter of choosing the right time to replace them now that we have the technology and expertise available to us. Most people that choose to have new knees and hips are happy with the outcome and they are able to get on with their lives much easier with less pain and greater mobility. Those are the relatively easy aging body parts to deal with.