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COVID 19 and the U.S. Health Care System

by RDavis | Health

There may be a bright side to the current COVID 19 pandemic, at least in terms of showing how the current U.S. for-profit health care system fails people when they get sick. In the political debate about a Medicare for All plan the defensive posture is to tell people not to support it because they will have to give up their current health insurance.

Last time I checked I couldn’t find people who tell me they love their current health insurance plan and that they would never give it up. As things stand now for people who have private insurance that they pay for in part, or in whole, contracting a serious case of COVID 19 could mean bills anywhere from $10,000 to one million dollars depending on the type of insurance they have or don’t have.

Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market Update

by Sherry | Food

Because of the concern with COVID19 spreading via public gatherings, a number of our vendors will not be coming to the market this week. We were going to officially cancel the market, but at least one intrepid farmer, Elizabeth Wood from New Leaf CSA insisted on coming down to sell veggies to you, and she will be joined by Mary Ellen from High Goose Farm with all those healthful black currant concoctions, and likely Orchard Hill Breadworks as well. I’m sure others will be there too. Check our Facebook page -@brattleborowinterfarmersmarket – for updates.

So when you come to the market on Saturday, you will find a smaller version of us, and you will not find a terminal to run credit, debit or EBT card sales. Plan accordingly and be prepared with cash or check, or the tokens and coupons you already have on hand.

Should Brattleboro Hold Representative Town Meeting?

by cgrotke | Questions & Answers

With the flurry of cancellations and postponements in the area, would it be smart to postpone Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting?

On one hand, Brattleboro hasn’t had any confirmed cases. And there is a bit of time pressure on representatives to pass the budget before the fiscal year ends. Perhaps it would be best to get this out of the way early and hold it as scheduled.

Coronavirus: We Need Public Healthcare, Paid FMLA, Paid Unemployment Benefits For All – Not More Rhetoric

by Not Signed In | Health

As Vermonters, we have heard the warnings to avoid crowds and unnecessary travel. We have heard the recommendation to wash hands frequently. And now we are hearing that some institutions, like Vermont Law School, Middlebury College, & Champlain College are closing their campuses. We also hear rumblings that school districts and perhaps even aspects of State Government will follow suit if and when the infection rate grows. We are being told that this is to diminish the transmission of the Coronavirus and therefore to save lives. What we have NOT heard is how 10,000s of workers are expected to survive with no wages and a limited access to healthcare if and when more workplaces shutdown.

So if I work for private non-union shop that closes its doors in reaction to the virus, and if I am receiving no pay, and if I have no healthcare, how I am expected to feed my family, pay rent, get medical care, and not face an economic disaster? Conversely, what if my work stays open but my kid’s school closes down? Without public (or affordable) childcare how am I suppose to care for my children? Where is the plan to protect working people not only from the virus, but also from economic ruin? Must we as workers decide between exposure to a deadly disease or total economic collapse? Or will that bad choice be made for us?

Survey: Your Wishes for Reps Voting at Brattleboro 2020 Annual Representative Town Meeting

by Not Signed In | Activism

You are invited to fill a survey to help Brattleboro town reps know what people want for voting by reps at the March 21 Brattleboro annual town meeting. This survey is for people who are NOT Brattleboro town reps.

The survey is here: http://bit.ly/townarticles2020

The survey asks your opinion on each article that will be voted on. Results will be shared with town reps, and also available to anyone.

Seeking Moving Advice or Recommendations

by Wendy M. Levy | Questions & Answers

Hello friends,

I’m moving the contents of my apartment into a storage space here in Brattleboro in about a month.

In 2012, I hired Crofter’s to move me, and their rates seemed fair. Now, they’ve been bought by a company in Lebanon, NH, and their minimum is $800. That’s more than my monthly rent. My stuff can easily fit into a small rental truck. $800 is ridiculous.

Brattleboro VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 3-9 to 3-13

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 $6.50 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

Mon – Salisbury steak, mashed potato, gravy & veg

Brattleboro VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 3-2 to 3-6

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 $6.50 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

March 2nd – March 5th

Mon – meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, veg. & roll

Coronavirus – How Much of A Threat?

by RDavis | Health

We are being bombarded with information, misinformation, warnings and all kinds of reports about the spreading coronavirus. How do you know which information is factual and how do you know what to do to be able to deal with an outbreak of the virus in your community or in your home? Should you be concerned, or is there just too much fearmongering and hype to take this new disease outbreak seriously?

The only accurate, factual and up-to-date information is being provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID which is part of the CDC) and infectious disease specialists and clinicians who work for state health departments throughout the U.S.

Tanglewood Marionettes at Sandglass Theater March 7

by SandglassTheater | Family

Putney- Sandglass Theater’s Winter Sunshine Series continues its 13th season of puppet shows for young audiences with The Fairy Circus by Tanglewood Marionettes on Saturday, March 7th at 11am and 2pm. The Fairy Circus features over twenty turn-of-the-century-style trick puppets. The puppets dance, play instruments, juggle, contort, transform, and fly through the air with the greatest of ease, all to the best-loved music of favorite composers. This show is sure to delight young children and family audiences alike.

Sugar on Snow Supper in Guilford March 7

by DonInGuilford | Food

Broad Brook Grange’s annual Sugar on Snow Supper will be held Saturday, March 7, at the Broad Brook Community Center in Guilford. The meal features ham, and the following homemade items: baked beans, deviled eggs, scalloped potatoes, cole slaw, rolls, donuts, Guilford pickles, and Guilford maple sugar on Guilford snow.

There will be three seatings: at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 pm. At each seating, a half-gallon of Guilford maple syrup will be raffled.

Brattleboro VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 2-24 to 2-28

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 $6.50 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

Mon – country fried steak, mashed potato, veg

Legislative Efforts To Lower Prescription Drug Prices

by RDavis | Health

The political process is rarely proactive. When it comes to dealing with the obscene prices charged for prescription drugs politicians, both locally and nationally, have been too slow to react. People are suffering and dying while legislators and policymakers offer us little more than words.

Slovenian Wins Harris Hill Ski Jump For A Trophy-Retiring Third Time

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A 21-year-old Slovenian bested more than 40 of the world’s top up-and-coming athletes Sunday to win the Harris Hill Ski Jump’s annual namesake Fred Harris Memorial Tournament.

Blaz Pavlic, performing for a crowd of several thousand spectators, retired the event’s Winged Ski Trophy by topping the field for a third year after victories in 2017 and 2019.

“I’ll find a place for it,” Pavlic said of the weighty trophy that has only been retired by five other jumpers in the venue’s nearly century-old history.

Slovenian Scores On First Day of Harris Hill Ski Jump

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A young Slovenian topped a field of 45 of the world’s best up-and-coming ski jumpers Saturday on the first day of this weekend’s Harris Hill Ski Jump.

Blaz Pavlic, 21, won the most total points in front of a crowd of several thousand spectators, with Simon Viehhauser, 18, of Austria second.

In the men’s U.S. Cup, Canden Wilkinson, 17, of Colorado’s Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club finished first, with teammate Niklas Malacinski, 16, second.

How to Watch Harris Hill on BCTV?

by Not Signed In | Questions & Answers, Uncategorized

Big front page story in Ref this am about all the prep for & equipment & etc to “broadcast” today’s Harris Hill Ski Jump o BCTV.  Many of us, of course, aren’t on cable (not available here) so I thought I’d try the online live stream.  Clicked on the link given in the Reformer article & got an error message.

Been poking around on the BCTV site — found the 2019 jump!  But can’t find today’s — if it’s really there.

Brattleboro Senior Meals

by KathrynT | Food

Brattleboro Senior Meals Menu February 17 to February 21

Feb. 17 CLOSED FOR PRESIDENTS DAY

Feb. 18 Roasted Pork
Sweet Potato
Green Beans
Chocolate Pudding