West Brattleboro Association: Non-profit Status Plus Village Revitalization – Thursday, Nov 13

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held at the New England House
on Thursday, November 13th at 6:00 PM. The meeting will start with a review of the treasury and other ongoing items such as progress on the planned welcome signs for the village and whether to continue to pursue Vermont non-profit status. The group will also discuss how much to spend for the holiday party at the New England House on Thursday, December 11 at 6:00 (held in lieu of the regular December business meeting), and will discuss holiday lights and where they might go in the village.


Brattleboro Veterans’ Day Schedule

In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro town offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, with the exception of emergency services.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Tuesday, November 11. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.


Vermont Land Trust Removes Tenney House for Reuse and Farm’s Renewal (Fayston, Vermont)

In an effort to revitalize the Tenney property, on Marble Hill Road in Fayston, as a working farm and forest in the Mad River Valley, the Vermont Land Trust has contracted with Deconstruction Works to remove one of two farmhouses located on the property.

Deconstruction Works is a team of deconstructionists, specialized in the salvage and repurposing of the built environment. The experienced team will carefully dismantle, salvage and repurpose components of the red farmhouse located at the top of Marble Hill Road. This undertaking is driven by the significant disrepair of the building and the financial burden that would be transferred to the next farm owner if it were left on the site.


Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ To Be Held For I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, November 8, 2014. There has been a lot of progress at the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge project site, which will be shared with attendees. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor) and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I- 91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: The Gartenstein School of Budget Realities

The Election Day edition of the Selectboard meeting was held in the studios of BCTV, one floor up from the polling stations that had taken over their regular meeting space. The board pressed on in their atypical surroundings, covering budgets, staffing, and development.

The budget discussion began with an optimistic sounding 1 cent increase, but then covered future FY16 financial issues, such as the cost shifting of garbage pickup. the need for new police and fire vehicles in addition to new facilities, and the possibility of cutting back on library or recreational services. By the end, budget reality had set in, and the selectboard was again looking to citizens for advice on hard decisions.

Five buildings in town may get an overhaul, you can have beer or wine with your pizza, and whispers of outsourcing aspects of the DPW rounded out the evening.


Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Hires Executive Director

Dan Normandeau, President of Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation announced today that the Board has selected Adam Grinold of Wilmington as the next Executive Director. The position has been vacant since May. Stephan Morse has served as Interim Director and conducted the search.

In making this announcement Normandeau said, “We had some great candidates to choose from and I am excited about our decision. I look forward to working with Adam in the upcoming year as we strive to improve the regional economy through working with our existing businesses, helping to create new business ventures and attracting people and businesses who want to relocate to our region.”


Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Director to Speak

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – The work of the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies is the topic of a talk by the center’s director, Dr. Henry “Hank” Knight, Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the West Village Meeting House.

Located at Keene State College, the center was founded in 1983 by Dr. Charles Hildebrandt and is devoted to the memory and study of the Holocaust and genocide.

The program is co-sponsored by the Brattleboro branch of the American Association of University Women, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and All Souls Unitarian/Universalist Church.


I-91 Bridge Replacement Project: Week of November 2

No planned closures this week.

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. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

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 Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Brattleboro Time Trade – Week of November 2

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

See below for exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from Daylight Savings darkness:

OFFERS:

Learn About Meat Rabbits at Home
Reiki and Flower Essence Therapy
Energy Healing with Jin Shin Jyutsu
Borrow my Kayak(s)
Healthy Mindful Meal Prep
Will Finish Knitting Projects
Will Paint Your Fence


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – November 4, 2014

Tuesday night is election night, but the Brattleboro Selectboard will be devoting their evening energy to their regular Tuesday meeting. The meeting will be held in the BCTV studios on the third floor of the Municipal Center (elevator available).

Rather routine business on the agenda, including staffing level reviews of the Police and Public Works departments, some discussion of the FY16 budget, a liquor license for House of Pizza on Canal Street, and a hearing about plans to do some major building rehabilitation at five of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust properties in town.

You can bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation, and add your wisdom to the conversation in general. Watch on BCTV, and read the details here the next day.


American Bus Association Names Stroll Weekend One of North America’s 100 Best Events for 2015

The American Bus Association has named Brattleboro’s Strolling of the Heifers Weekend (June 5-7) as one of its Top 100 Events in North America for 2015.

Inclusion in the Top 100 list indicates that Stroll Weekend offers “excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world,” according to ABA.

Held annually since 2002, Strolling of the Heifers Weekend is built around an agriculturally-themed parade on Brattleboro’s historic Main Street, which is headed by 100 or more well-groomed and well-dressed heifer calves from regional farms, led by farmers and 4-H club members.


Brattleboro Energy Committee Meeting and Agenda

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. Attached is the second revised agenda.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100


Brattleboro Fire Department Smoke Detector Reminder

The Brattleboro Fire Department would like to remind residents that when you turn back your clocks this Saturday night, Nov. 2, you should also change the batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

According to the department, 83% of all fire deaths occur in the home. The majority of those occur at night when people were asleep in homes without working smoke alarms.