150 Years Ago (1863 12/28)

Dec. 28th.  I shall commence where I have left off, though before this you have probably seen Zopher.  he will tell you all about me and our company.  Amory Parker has been down here and left this morning.  I should have sent a pair of pants and blouse by Zopher, but they were not to be found when he was here.  I have just been to the barracks and hunted them up.  I am there but little by daylight and things get changed round there some.  The Pants have been worn since I took them off but they are mine for I found some nails and strings in the pockets, of course they were mine.


The Acceptance

Here’s a project just completed in time for the new year. It’s an abstract, torn-paper animation done to accompany a song, The Acceptance, by composer and musician Denis Malloy.

It’s a short journey from dark to light, mixing torn edges and clean cut lines.


GMP Surcharge.

I know that climate change is a myth, but somebody better tell Green Mountain Power. They have just announced that customers will be assessed a 1 ½% surcharge due to increased frequency of major storms.


Back To School: Questions on Public Education In Brattleboro

When I said last year that I was going to try to figure out what was going on in public education, I had no idea what a gigantic project that would turn out to be. Not only is it complex, it’s also political, making it that much harder to unravel the claims of groups both for and against. In short, despite hours of research, I still have questions. But our own Brattleboro Town School Board says it wants to do outreach on education, and I think we should take the opportunity to reach out to them so we’ll get our questions answered and our concerns allayed (or not). To get the ball rolling, I have a list of questions I’d like to see addressed by local education officials. Even if no public discussion ensues, at least we’ll know what’s going on.


Weekend Concert Series: Concert for George

One year after George Harrison died, a group of his musician friends gathered at Royal Albert Hall for a memorial concert.

This show begins with the Ravi Shankar orchestra and a few meditative pieces, followed by some Monty Python. The second half is a collage of Harrison tunes performed by his friends. Taxman by Tom Petty. If I Needed Someone by Eric Clapton. Photograph by Ringo. All Things Must Pass by Paul. It is that kind of show.


Youth Essay Contest – Youth Suffrage

I can’t say how few submissions we have, but a local teenager submitting an essay now has a VERY good chance of winning !

“BRATTLEBORO REFORMER” Day Managing Editor Bob Audette will judge

YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

$500 FIRST PRIZE, two $100 second prizes. HOW: write essay on the subject: “YOUTH SUFFRAGE: SHOULD THE VOTING AGE BE LOWERED”


150 Years Ago (1863 12/25)

U.S. Barracks, Brattleboro, Dec. 25, 1863.

Dear wife –

It is Christmas and here I am well and hearty.  I have a little leisure and will improve it.  Zopher has just called.  He and Mary Ann, they have gone over to the hospital.  There were a lot of Vermont boys came in to the hospital last night, I understand some from Columbia College Hospital.  If there is any news from Jacob I will know before I close this.  Zopher came in with the Charleston boys, staid with me night before last, and is going to stop with me tonight, going home tomorrow.  Captain Brannon bought a lot of fine turkeys last night and the wherewith to stuff them, lots of pies and cheese, and he is going to let us have a Christmas.  The turkeys are now baking at the bakery.


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 12/23/13

BCTV Ch.8 Schedule for the week of 12-23-13

                    Monday December 23

12:00 am      The Inner Life of Animals – Virginia Morell

1:30 am       Spotlight on Issues: The Impact of National Policy on VT Farmers

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Dartmouth Wind Symphony Children at Play

5:05 am       Heat Pump Workshop- Nov 18, 2013 in Brattleboro

6:40 am       On The Drive – Timber in the CT River Valley


150 Years Ago (1863 12/18-21)

U.S. Barracks, Brattleboro, Dec. 18th,
1863.

Dearest Abiah,

I improve the leisure I now have in writing to you a few lines. The recruits are coming in fast. Yesterday 161 arrived. 260 have just marched from the ground for the cars. The paymaster worked all night getting the rolls signed. Just imagine 260 slow penmen signing their name 12 times each, that is equal to one man signing 3120 times. Any ordinary penman could write the names in one fourth the time. I was in the Captain’s office writing at the time they commenced, so escaped and got to bed at 9.

Charles Brooks slept with me last night. He, William Barrett, Sam Townsend and Elbridge Varnum are in barracks close to ours. I have only seen the names of Calkins Burroughs, Parker and Elias. I put them down. Perhaps, Zopher thought they would go into the 10th Regt. But a sharp shooter got hold of them and they are booked for the 3 S. S. I am now waiting for the bank rolls to commence filling them for the next detachment. They mean to get them off Monday. Charles Brooks and the boys that came with him were just one day too late to get their names on for this detachment. Wesley Allen is here yet. The detachment for the gulf will not get off for some time. Wesley has been quite sick, but is now better. He is going home on a furlough. He has got one for eight days, if I can get it signed for him. Am waiting for the captain to come back. Six is all they give. If I succeed for him I think I shall stand a good chance when I want one. If he comes he will probably get home tomorrow night. I do not have as good a chance to see people that I know as I did when I was in Mead’s office, but it is much more pleasant where I am now.


5:45 Live: 12/20/13

Get in the spirit of the season with a full-to-the-brim edition of 5:45 Live stuffed with holiday cheer, along with the latest headlines and reports–like this week’s big Brattleboro Town School Board decision, DRB approval for a new marijuana dispensary in town, and much much more.


Weekend Concert Series: Muppets

Esoteric out jazz? Strange funk from specific neighborhoods in Washington, DC? An overplayed pop star?

Not this week. This week we have Muppets.

This is a 1987 TV special called Muppet Family Christmas, featuring holiday songs, talented frogs, fashionable pigs, and bad jokes by bears. In fact, it features characters from the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies all performing together.


World Book Night in Brattleboro

Register Now to be a Giver at World Book Night in Brattleboro. The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library are once again participating in World Book Night – an international event that gives volunteers thousands of free books to distribute in their communities. 

This year’s book titles are diverse and wonderful; authors like Agatha Christie; Joseph Heller and Maria Semple; books ranging widely from the incredibly popular “The Dog Stars” to “The Tipping Point” to the beautifully written “Bridge to Terabithia”.

It’s easy to get involved. Simply go to and look over the book titles; choose the 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of books that you would like to give away. Read the guidelines and apply to be a giver and submit. It’s that easy!


BCTV Video Calendar: Dec 2013 – Pub Sing, Nutcracker, Santa

Get in the spirit of the season with an edition of BCTV’s Video Calendar that includes the Brattleboro School of Dance as they bring the holiday classic the Nutcracker to NEYT, KidsPlayce as they bring Santa to town, and the Brattleboro Musuem as they bring the sun back closer to the earth with their annual Solstice Celebration.


UFOs Cancelled Due to Snow

Instead of launching UFOs on the solstice, this year we will be carving more giant faces in some of the snow mounds that have cropped up all over Brattleboro. We will be meeting at the Bagel Works at 10 AM this Saturday. If you are interested in carving faces with us, come on down. Bring a shovel or a trowel. We had a great time carving these last winter, and they really add some good cheer to Brattleboro during dark December days.

Here is a link to a photo we took of last years face. 



More Holiday Fun – The Classic Cards, Calendars, and Videos

Time for more holiday fun.

In addition to the iBrattleboro animated interactive calendar, there are some more goodies in the bag to share.

For example, we have the Christmas Calendar at Castle Arcana, and numerous cards to play with, such as Build Your Own Snowman, Trim Your Own Tree, and more at http://www.castlearcana.com/christmas/


Continuing Education Courses Now Open at Marlboro’s Graduate Center

Enrollment is now open for Marlboro Continuing Education courses that can be taken on a per-class basis. The trimester begins Friday, January 3rd. Register using the : http://gradschool.marlboro.edu/admissions/application/cep?d=CEP

Also, if you know someone you think would be right for a Marlboro graduate degree, this is a great time for them to contact admissions to find out more information. 


5:45 Live: 12/13/13

It’s a Friday-the-13th edition of 5:45 Live that includes in-depth(ish) reporting on the latest VY v. VT tax news, the big VT Health Connect website phase two IT contract, the DOJ’s plans for Marijuana enforcement, and plenty of seasonal excitement–like Townshend’s Holiday of Horses parade, Brattleboro’s Vigil for the Homeless, and much more.