News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Videoconference with Economist-Entrepreneur Michael Shuman

by Brooks Memorial Library | Business

Brooks Memorial Library is pleased to announce that Michael Shuman, author of several books including “Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street and Achieve Real Prosperity,” will be featured at the first annual “New Economy Lunch at the Library” to discuss how buying local can positively impact the economy. The lunch talk will be at noon on Friday, October 11th in the library’s meeting room on the 2nd floor. The event is free and open to the public, and a brown bag lunch may be brought into the meeting room. The Library will be using the new videoconferencing equipment received as part of the Vermont Department of Libraries/Google grant. 

War Legacies Project Director to Speak

by Not Signed In | Other

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

Windham Regional Career Center Offers Fall Community Education and Training Programs

by betsg | Town News

The Windham Regional Career Center at Brattleboro Union High School is pleased to announce their Community Education and Training Programs for this fall. Betsy Gentile, Workforce Development Manager and Adult Education Coordinator has developed 15 community education and training programs to meet the needs of area employers and their employees as well as providing personal and professional enrichment opportunities for all community members.

Irene Business Recovery Grants: Workshops Scheduled for Funding Assistance

by Not Signed In | Business

Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and Springfield Regional Development Corporation have received an additional $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) to assist businesses with “unmet disaster recovery needs” related to Tropical Storm Irene. The two groups have scheduled free, mandatory, workshops in October for those interested in applying for funding through this program.

West Brattleboro Association Monthly Meeting – Visit With Fire Chief

by WBA | Police & Fire

On Thursday, October 10, 6:00-7:30 pm, the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will hold its monthly meeting at The New England House, 254 Marlboro Road. The Association will finalize planning for their Columbus Day Weekend Chicken Barbecue on Saturday, October 12.

Fire Chief Mike Bucossi will be on hand to discuss plans for the West B fire station, which might mean a less expensive option of building a new building instead of adding on and renovating the existing one.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of October 6, 2013

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

Single lane closure of the passing lanes on I-91 Northbound and Southbound will continue thru the week of October 6.

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 August 2016. Truck activity on Route 30 will continue for the week of October 6. On Monday, October 7 and Tuesday, October 8, Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane. Flaggers will regulate traffic flow.

West Brattleboro Association Chicken BBQ Is Saturday, October 12, 11 am Till Gone

by WBA | Town News

A Chicken BBQ will be sponsored by the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) on Saturday, October 12th, starting at 11 a.m. and lasting until gone. The Chicken BBQ held earlier this year was a sell-out by noon, so the WBA is increasing the number of chickens it barbecues along with the amount of baked beans and coleslaw. However, we suggest you plan to get to the event in West Brattleboro in front of the First Congregational Church on Western Avenue in plenty of time to enjoy the chicken and fixin’s. There will also be a bake sale sponsored by the Church.

For $5 you can get half a barbecued chicken, or you can enjoy a dinner with sides of homemade baked beans and coleslaw for $8. The recipes used to make these goodies have a local history. The chicken barbecue sauce recipe is one used by the Guilford Fair Fireman’s BBQ, cooked up for many years by Joe Jewett when he was a member of the fire department.

Suspicious Phone Call About Medical Compensation

by KAlden | Other

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.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: A New Station in West Brattleboro and New Location For Skatepark Contemplated

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard showed signs of revisiting the location of the skatepark, but no firm decision was made. Tuesday evening’s meeting saw opponents of the Crowell location pledging fundraising support for a different location, while BASIC petitioned to make the Crowell skatepark smaller and more in line with their expected funds.

The board also heard of changes in plans for the West Brattleboro Fire Station. It turns out that building a new wooden structure in line with the surrounding area would give the Fire Department a brand new station at a lower cost than repairing the current one. This and other money-saving ideas will be explored.

The town got an update on the solar installation planned for Technology Drive, and considered options for encouraging public hearings on the matter before the Public Service Board.

All this and more in an animated Selectboard meeting in Brattleboro.

Brattleboro Human Services FY15 Funding

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Human Services Review Committee will hold its initial meeting on October 15, 2013. The
applications and information for FY15 Human Services Funding will be made available soon after that. The Human Services Review Committee will also announce the date and time of the information meeting. The Town Manager’s office will issue a Press Release when the information is available and documents will be posted on the Town’s website – www.brattleboro.org.

For information regarding the application process, contact Jan Anderson in the Brattleboro Town Manager’s at 802-251-8151.

Help with the Vermont Health Connect

by Not Signed In | State News

The federal government may not be operating at full steam today but you can be assured that Vermont is. Today Vermont Health Connect went live – there will be lots of stories and information about it.

Right now I would like to give you some contacts that can give you help. For individual customer support call 855-899-9600. Small businesses can access specific support at 855-899-9800. If you prefer to use the web the site is http://healthconnect.vermont.gov.

Good health to everyone.
Jeanette White

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – October 1, 2013

by cgrotke | Town News

West Brattleboro Fire Station will be knocked down and a new building built to replace it if the Brattleboro Selectboard accepts the recommendations of the Police-Fire Facility Project committee at next Tuesday’s regular meeting at the Municipal Center.

Also on the agenda: BASIC is returning to to ask for a new conceptual design to reduce the size and scope of the planned skatepark at the Crowell location, the ad hoc citizen Town Manager Search Committee will be appointed, firefighters will apply for a big, capital-saving grant to replace aging radios and breathing apparati, and the board will take a look at two suggested ordinance amendments.

You can attend in person or watch on TV. If you’d like to bring something up that isn’t on the agenda, there is time for that, too. You can read all about it here the morning after, too.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Another Personnel Matter

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Monday, September 30, 2013 at 12:30pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.  It is anticipated that the Board will enter into executive session at 12:30pm to discuss a personnel matter.

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

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of September 30, 2013

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

Single lane closure of the passing lanes on I-91 Northbound and Southbound will be in effect next week during the construction of the temporary cross-overs. The lanes will be opened over the weekend when no workers are present.

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 August 2016. Truck activity on Route 30 will increase next week and shoulders will be closed. Flaggers will regulate traffic flow to allow truck and equipment access to the work zone. Traffic will be stopped for a maximum of ten minutes.

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SEVEDS) Elects New Board Members; Reorganizes

by Not Signed In | Business

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) has reelected the following board members to 3 years terms: Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro Interim Town Manager, Bill Colvin, Bennington Region Planning Commission, Colby Dix, Vermont Geeks.

Five new board members have also been elected: Ann Andresatos from New Chapter has been elected to a three year term. Cynthia Stoddard, Putney’s Town Manager, has been elected to fill the remaining two years of SeVEDS founding member and former Brattleboro Town Manager Barb Sondag’s term. Ariel Brooks of Marlboro College, Francis “Dutch” Walsh from the Town of Rockingham and Konstantin VonKrusenstiern from the Brattleboro Retreat have each been elected to fill the remaining one year terms of seats vacated by Julia Sorensen, Tim Cullenen and Dan Yates.