I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of December 15, 2013 – Rt 30 Closure Info

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

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.

This week, night work will be conducted Sunday through Friday nights (December 15th – 20th), and will continue Sunday through Thursday, and occasionally Friday, nights for the next several months, until demolition is complete.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Fall of 2015.

Brattleboro Offices Christmas Closures

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of the Christmas holiday, all Brattleboro Town offices will close at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 24, and will be closed all day Wednesday, December 25, 2013, with the exception of emergency services. The offices will resume normal hours on Thursday, December 26.

Brooks Memorial Library will be open on Tuesday, December 24, from 9:00am to 12:00 noon and will be closed all day Wednesday, December 25. It will resume normal hours on Thursday, December 26.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots from 12:00 noon on December 24 through December 25. Parking enforcement will resume normal hours on Thursday, December 26. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.

WVEW Fundraiser at The Backside Cafe

by wildgoose | Music

Everyone is welcome to come and meet their favorite DJ’s from 107.7 FM WVEW.

Attendance to the event is free, and Backside Café will have their bar and a limited bar food menu available for attendees. A portion of the proceeds from the night’s drink sales will go towards the radio station.

Live DJ’s:
Selector D (host of One Drop)
Zig-Zag (host of Patterns of Chaos)
Wild Goose (host of The Future Collective Presents…)

BCTV Video Calendar: 12/12/13 – WVEW Dance Party, Reel Queer Movie Nights, Digital Arts, + More!

by BrattleboroTV | Media

 

A movie screening-tastic edition of BCTV’s Video Calendar includes ‘ShrinkRap: Dysfunctional Families in Film’ at Next Stage Arts, ‘Crime After Crime’ presented by the Women’s Freedom Center, Reel Queer Movie Nights’ ‘Queer Farmer Film Project.’ Plus, get a look a WVEW’s big dance party fundraiser, and Hollywood algorithm master Matthew Ostrowski at the Center for Digital Arts.

Three Fundraising Events to Benefit the Brooks Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

The Holiday Book Sale at the Brooks Memorial Library will continue until December 21st. 

Raffle tickets are on sale for a custom designed and hand knitted doll created by local Newbury Award winning author, Karen Hesse.  Hesse says that she designs these unique, one-of-a kind dolls as she knits – the doll’s character, shape and color evolves while she is knitting. The raffle tickets are $1.00 each or $5 for six tickets. Raffle proceeds will benefit the Children’s Room programs.

Also on sale is the very popular 2014 Book Lover’s Calendar. The calendars are great holiday gift items and are available at the Library Front Desk for $10 each.

Local Independent Radio Needs Us

by Lise | Media

One of the great things about Brattleboro is the abundance of locally produced media including, for those of us who love music, independent community radio station WVEW.  This year, WVEW has been especially wonderful with many new shows featuring a wide variety of music including jazz, R&B, vintage American pop, indie rock, blues, reggae, avant garde, and much more. At the risk of sounding a bit hackneyed, there is truly something for everyone.  Check it out and see.

Independent radio is a treasure and if you want it to continue, it helps to support it as they rely on membership, donations, and underwriting for their funding.  Now would be an especially good time to support them as their annual fundraiser is Friday night (December 13) at the Backside Cafe from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  Just buy a drink at the bar and you’ll be supporting the station.  Drop a check or some cash into their donation jar and you’ll do even more to make sure their great programming continues.

Stroll In For Lunch! Brown-bag Events Continue at River Garden

by MartinLangeveld | News & Information

Strolling of the Heifers has announced three more brown bag lunch events at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden in downtown Brattleboro, to take place during the week of December 16.

Each event is from noon to 1 p.m. and is free, open to the public, and indoors. People are encouraged to bring a lunch from home or a local takeout restaurant, and to enjoy it at one of the River Garden’s café tables.

On Monday, Dec. 16, Scott Hurley performs classical piano. Scott is a student at the Brattleboro Music Center studying with Bruce Griffin. He has produced a CD which he is selling to support his further education as a yoga teacher.

Orthopaedic Surgeons Join BMH Physician Group

by BMH | Health

Orthopaedic surgeons Elizabeth McLarney, MD, Jon Thatcher, MD, and William Vranos, MD, announce they have joined the BMH Physician Group, changing their practice from Southern Vermont Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine to BMH Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Their office location remains the same at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Richards Building, First Floor, 17 Belmont Avenue, but their phone number has changed to 802-251-8611.

Another Low-Life Off the Street :)

by TechFan | Op/Ed

It’s been very encouraging to read about all the recent arrests of people stealing things from cars in Brattleboro. Our officers seem to be going above and beyond to keep the community safe, and I can’t express my gratitude enough.

A few days ago, I was the victim of yet another theft in town, and the officer who handled my case showed exemplary professionalism and courtesy. Even though it didn’t happen to one of the wealthy elite, and he probably has a ton of things on his plate to deal with, he was very respectful, handled business, and brought resolution to the case within a matter of days. Thanks to his good work, there’s now yet another scumbag with a mile long rapsheet off our streets, and our community is a little safer.

More Suspicious Calls

by KAlden | Other

Today I received two calls -both on my cell phone – both looking for medical information. The first- from # 767 – 275-9061-was from someplace called ” National Medical Audits”. The second – about 2 hours later- was from # 356-490-5697. and from “US Medical Associates” Both calls were obviously from call centers – there was a lot of background noise-and both times the caller was a man with a very pronounced Indian accent.

Brattleboro Annual Expenses Rise to $7,000 a Year

by cgrotke | History

I was updating our Day in History listings and came across something that might astound and amaze you.

In 1875, according to the Vermont Phoenix, Brattleboro’s total expenses for the year were estimated at about $7,000. To compare, in 2015 our expenses are projected to be just under $17 million.

To be fair, they had just added a major expense to the Brattleboro budget in 1875 – streetlights, at a cost of $1,000 per year. Without them, the amount spent would have been lower.

Residents at the time voted to lay a tax of 40 cents on the dollar of the grand list to cover the cost of running the town.

It’s Official! Kurn Hattin’s Bianconi Makes Top 10 for Grammy Music Educator Award!

by KurnHattin | Education

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children’s Music Director, Lisa Bianconi, got the thrill of a lifetime last week when she learned that she is one of only 10 finalists for the inaugural Grammy Music Educator award. Bianconi received the call from the Grammy Foundation while at work at on Friday, letting her know the good news and telling her to tune in to the televised Grammy Nomination Concert to watch the official announcement live on CBS Friday night. The 10 finalists, from 10 cities across eight states receive $1,000 and a matching honorarium for their schools. One winner will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 56th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014.

5:45 Live: 12/6/13

by BrattleboroTV | Media

Join 5:45 Live from Pliny Park in downtown for a special Holiday Gallery Walk edition that includes BaBB’s annual tree-lighting ceremony, the Governor’s million-dollar trip Brattleboro, the Safe & Green campaigns SafStor expert panel on VY’s decommissioning, and much much more.

Open Letter to Obama and Congress – Restrict the Surveillance

by cgrotke | Business

It appears that spying on citizens is impacting bottom lines. Today, major tech companies released the following letter.

….

Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress,

We understand that governments have a duty to protect their citizens. But this summer’s revelations highlighted the urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide. The balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual — rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. This undermines the freedoms we all cherish. It’s time for a change.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 12/9/13

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 Schedule for the week of 12-9-13

                   Monday December 9             

12:00 am      Ethan Allen Homestead Enrichment Program

1:29 am       Cuban Bridge Music Program -Episode 15

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Vermont Arts Summit – Plenary One

5:05 am       The Modern Grass Quintet at the Valley Stage Music Fest