Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith To Be Guest Speaker at November Full Commission Meeting

Speaker of the House Shap Smith will be the guest speaker at the November Full Commission meeting of the Windham Regional Commission to be held Tuesday, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Westminster Institute (3534 Route 5). He will share his perspective on the issues confronting the legislature and the state in the upcoming session.


Age Math Trick

Here is a math trick for you.

1. Start with your shoe size (No half-sizes, round up to nearest whole number).

2. Multiply it by 5.

3. Add 50.

4. Multiply by 20.

5. Add 1,013.

6. Subtract the year you were born.

The first digit (or first two digits) is your shoe size and the last two digits is your age!


Award-Winning Game Designer Comes to Southern Vermont

Kathryn Blume, co-founder and Executive Director of Vermontivate!, an award-winning sustainability game, will be coming to Brattleboro on Wednesday, November 6th hosted by the Brattleboro Energy Committee. She’ll be sharing the story of creating a frolicsome on-line/real-world competition which infuses joy and creativity into the serious and important work of tackling the global climate crisis.

Launched in May 2012, Vermontivate! has had players from towns all over the state racking up points for everything from changing lightbulbs and starting compost piles to writing energy-related poetry, decorating bicycles and reaching out to people around the world who’ve been affected by climate change.


Elliot St. Fire

There is a huge fire in one of the Elliot St buildings, near Union Hill. I’m hearing skuttlebutt but so far nothing confirmed except that the fire is more than one floor. By the vid Joe Bushey posted on FB, it looks like most of the back of the building is involved. I hope everyone is safe, pets included.


War Legacies Project Director to Speak

Sue Hammond of the War Legacies Project is speaking Tues., Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Putney Public Library. The WLP focuses on the long-term impacts of war to develop a fuller understanding of the costs of war, increase public understanding of these costs, foster public dialogue about the impacts of war and conduct programs that help mitigate the impacts of war at home and abroad.

Currently, their work is primarily focused on the long-term health and environmental impacts of the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and the on-going impacts of unexploded ordinance. The talk is sponsored by the Brattleboro branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and is open to all.

-American Association of University Women


Suspicious Phone Call About Medical Compensation

I just received a call from this #: 954 -399-6639 – and the man -who could just barely speak English -stated that he was calling about “medical compensation” due to me. When I asked where he was calling from he said his name was “Eddie’ and he was calling from ‘the medical office”. I hung up and called the number back and got a message saying it was disconnected. More scams in the making.


SEVCA’s 15th Annual Flea Market, Silent Auction and Raffle Fundraiser Sat. 9/28

WESTMINSTER — SEVCA will be holding its 15th Annual Flea Market, Silent Auction and Raffle Drawing on Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in Westminster, Vermont (91 Buck Drive, off I-91 exit 5). SEVCA provides an array of comprehensive anti-poverty services to low-income residents of Windham and Windsor counties. Always a fun annual community and fundraising event, proceeds will support SEVCA’s programs including: fuel and housing assistance, crisis resolution, Weatherization, Emergency Home Repair, Economic and Workforce Development, clothing and nutrition, Head Start and much more. For more information call (802) 722-4575 x-105.


Wanted: Feasibility Study Support and Resources

WANTED: Looking for people to call on for support and resources as I complete my graduate capstone which is a feasibility study to determine if a community resource center in Brattleboro should and could be created and if it would be sustainable. The center would provide a shared office space for small social service organizations in order to reduce administrative expenses and to increase communication and collaboration among them. Additionally this center would offer community members access to many services and resources in one location. .


West Brattleboro Power Outage?

People have been calling to see what’s going on in West Brattleboro. Power went out a while ago.

Green Mountain Power’s outage center says Brattleboro has 3 separate problems, affecting 3252 customers. Not much other information to share.


Operation Northwoods Revisited

So. what is/was Operation Northwoods? This article will take you up to speed: “Declassified:Joint
Chiefs approved false flag attack on America”
at 

Excerpt:

A Department of Defense document declassified in 1997 shows that the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces had drafted and approved a plan to attack and kill Americans and to blame it on Cuba. The original document is stored at the National Security Archives at George Washington University in Washington,
DC, and is available here at 


Huge Tag Sale Sunday Morning

Brattleboro Time Trade is having a huge tag sale tomorrow, Sunday, at 8AM at the Centre Congregational Church on Main St. I can presonally attest to the fact that there is A TON of stuff for sale, especially books, but lots of other things as well. So come on down!


Aggressive “Medical Alert” Telemarketer Warning

This evening, I picked up the one non-caller-ID phone in the house to hear a chipper youthful male voice intrducing himself and saying he was calling to arrrange an installation appointment for my new medical alert system.  I quickly said no thanks, not interested, and he just as quickly responded that I already had on on order, they just need to install it.  When I said I never ordered such a thing, he said it was already paid for, and that “someone who loves me or cares about my welfare” must have placed the order for my benefit.  Yeah, right.


Wallace Stevens Essay, Commas, Connecticut, Rugged Independence and Good Will to All

This passage from a Wallace Stevens essay moved me, in part because I have been in the Connecticut visiting my mom, family and the land of my origin. It also strikes me that all of those writing instructors that I have had, who kept trying to remove almost every comma from my writing, were wrong. Notice how lovely the abundant use of commas make this piece, and how hard it would be to create as lovely an essay if it was attempted without them.

“I was not myself born in the state. There is nothing that gives the feel of Connecticut, like coming home to it. . .


Are We Trustworthy? Laptop Stolen

I have the sweetest daughter. Roia is my angel. She has a mild form of autism called aspergers. She loves her life, family, faith, pets and her music. Although not true, Roia will tell you she is nothing without her music. Music is her connect, her happy place that sets her soul free in these bittersweet times.

Roia is also one of the most ethical and moral people I know. In a heartbeat she would and has given a beloved treasure to a child in need.Sometimes we take away treasures more precious than things.


SVDF 2013 Has Intern Opportunities!

Southern Vermont Dance Festival is looking for interns! We have opportunities for interns at the undergrad and graduate level in dance, arts administration, non profit management or business looking for experience and an amazing resume item as well as the high school level, looking for an amazing opportunity that looks great on college applications! If you are interested please send an email with resume and letter of interest to brenda@flowyogadance.com . Acceptance is rolling, but limited spaces are available. Join us and get in at the ground floor of an huge and exciting brand new dance festival.

For more information on the Southern Vermont Dance Festival go to www.southernvermontdancefestival.com. 


Assistant Director Needed

The Southern Vermont Dance Festival is looking for an assistant director.  The response to the festival has been so fantastic that we are in need of more hands on deck.  The festival takes place in 6 weeks from Jully 18th to July 21st and qualified applicants must be available from now and through the event weekend.  This position is a volunteer position with potential to receive stipend as well as the potential to become a part time paid position in years to come.  To apply please contact brenda@flowyogadance.com or call 410 227 3173.  For more information about the festival please see our website www.southernvermontdancefestival.com . 


Food for Discussion – Superheroes

Who is/was your favorite superhero and why?

To get the ball rolling:

Mine was Plasticman. He could change himself into any shape imaginable, but you could always tell it was him because the new shape always retained his features: Hair, sunglasses, smile, red costume, striped belt and diamond belt buckle.

BTW, does anybody remember the name of his clumsy sidekick?


Public Talk – Introduction to Psychosynthesis

There will be an introduction to psychosynthesis on the evening of Wednesday, March 27th, at 6:30 p.m. in Brattleboro. The program includes a brief presentation on the principles of psychosynthesis, along with some experiential exercises and an overview of training opportunities in the field.

Psychosynthesis literally refers to the synthesis of the many aspects of the self into a more complete and whole experience of being. Developed by Dr. Roberto Assagioli, a contemporary of Carl Jung, psychosynthesis is used in the fields of counseling, mental health, social work, education and other related fields of human development.