News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Strolling of the Heifers Explores River Garden Role

by MartinLangeveld | News & Information

BRATTLEBORO, VT — Strolling of the Heifers, which operated under the non-profit umbrella of Building a Better Brattleboro when it presented its first parade and festival in 2002, is developing a proposal to assume responsibility for the Robert H. River Garden from BaBB.

While details of the proposal are still being worked out and a formal proposal has not yet been submitted, the Stroll’s priority for the River Garden will be to maintain the building as a community resource, according to Orly Munzing, founder and executive director of the organization.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Brattleboro Goes Solar, PFFP Committee Formed

by cgrotke | Town News

Wine and beer at galleries and bookstore events will have to wait until Vermont offers up definitions of galleries and bookstores. So sayeth the Selectboard.

Brattleboro’s Police-Fire Facility Project oversight committee has been formed, a new skating rink compressor will be purchased, and Brattleboro has begun the first of what may be many solar energy projects.

The new Selectboard got off to a good start, with a new commitment from the Chair to hear all viewpoints. The new seating arrangement is, from left to right, Schneck, Schoales, Gartenstein, Sondag, O’Connor, and Allen. Longtime Selectboard watchers can make of it what they may.

Brattleboro Spring Leaf Pickup Schedule

by Not Signed In | Town News

The following dates have been scheduled for Brattleboro’s curbside Spring Leaf Collection. Whereas in the past leaf pickup was determined by scheduled day of rubbish pickup, all locations will be picked up each Friday:

Leaf Pick Up Date

ALL RESIDENTS Friday, April 12, 2013

ALL RESIDENTS Friday, April 26, 2013

River Garden Walkthrough Monday April 1 @ 6:00 PM

by JohnWilmerding | Town Plan

Dear friends and correspondents on iBrattleboro,

Hopefully you will have  seen some of my earlier posts in support of keeping the River Garden as a public space. I am working with a group of people now who share the intention of putting together a new, independent non-profit entity, to run the River Garden for the benefit of the people of Brattleboro and the surrounding areas.

I wish to thank those of you who voted at Representative Town Meeting for the eleventh-hour successful resolution I introduced, in which RTM strongly urges BaBB to keep the River Garden open to the public by choosing an organizational plan that will allow for that.

Finalists Are Announced in Stroll Business Plan Competition

by MartinLangeveld | Business

Finalists have been selected in the 2013 Strolling of the Heifers Vermont Business Plan Competition, which offers a total of $60,000 in prizes.

The 14 finalists, chosen by a statewide panel of judges, were chosen on the basis of business prospectuses submitted during the first phase of the contest. They will now prepare detailed business plans and will make presentations at the final judging session on June 5.

The competition is a collaboration of Strolling of the Heifers, a Brattleboro-based local foods advocacy organization, and Vermont Technical College, with additional partnership contributions by Vermont Small Business Development Center, Southern Vermont Community Action, and Vermont Interactive Television.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – April 2, 2013

by cgrotke | Town News

At the first meeting of the new Brattleboro Selectboard, the board will again take up the issue of a new state law allowing beer and wine at gallery events. They’ll also discuss a proposal to purchase solar energy from ISA Solar and Green Lantern Capital from a site to be determined.

They will also hear from new owners of Elliot Street Fish, Chips and More, appoint members to the Police Fire Facility Project oversight committee, consider skating rink repairs, set board goals, and review their rules of conduct. All this and more, and you can watch on TV or attend in person. 

Ask-a-Cop: Serving Notices

by BrattPoliceDept | Police & Fire

On a Saturday morning at 6:45 a.m. there was a loud and persistent knock at my front door. It was a police officer, who was there to serve a no trespass order which had been filed maliciously as retaliation by an irresponsible individual whom I had had to evict from a property I own. (He has been caretaking the property rent free, and it is not his residence.)

When I came to the door to find out who was banging so loud, there was a tense moment during which I felt threatened not knowing who it could be, and tense because the officer did not know whether he was about to be confronted by a dangerous person.

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast – Home Energy Challenge – Notes

by RobertOeser | Town News

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast, March 15, 2013, Gibson-Aiken Center – Brattleboro VT

 

 

Presenter: Tad Montgomery  –  ecological engineer, principal of  and member of the Home Energy Challenge and PACE sub-committees of the Brattleboro Town Energy Committee.

Tad began by asking the audience of about 25 people whether they had done energy efficiency retrofits on their houses since 2007.  About ? had. He noted that statewide it is 5.6%, or about 1% per year.  At that rate it will take 100 years to get to the 20%-30% goal the state has set for itself by 2020.  

Winter Farmers’ Market – 6th Annual CSA Fair

by Not Signed In | Business

Saturday, March 30, 2013, marks the final week for the 7th season of the Winter Farmers’ Market.

It is also the 6th Annual CSA Fair hosted at Post Oil Solutions’ Winter Farmers’ Market. A variety of CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) Farms will join our regular market line-up to offer information about their farming operations and their CSA share options.

An Intriguing Way to Encourage Local Spending – Property Tax Credit for Dollars Spent Locally by Residents

by Amanda | Business

With recent discussion here about how to keep local dollars in Brattleboro, I’m hoping someone here in Brattleboro might read about this exciting option and run with it!  Apparently this program incents residents to shop locally at participating businesses who provide % credit for purchases (via a card), which is then applied to the purchaser’s property tax bill (renters receive a yearly rebate check instead.)  The program is a win-win — local businesses get increased patronage, residents are rewarded for shopping locally, and as I understand it, the decrease in town revenue from the property tax credit is directly offset by the increase in taxes paid by healthy, thriving local businesses.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Articles

by cgrotke | Town News

Below you’ll find a handy guide to the Town’s half of the Town Meeting Articles (the Schools half I couldn’t find; if you have it add it in the comments).

Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting is Saturday at the high school on Fairground Road. BCTV will be there covering the events of the day, and we’ll be streaming their signal here so you can observe and make comments from the proverbial peanut gallery.

Another Loss for Brattleboro – Adivasi

by KAlden | Business

I was saddened to hear that ADIVASI will be closing it’s beautiful store on Flat Street. It hs always been a favorite place of mine to pick up an unusual gift or a beautiful tablecloth while supporting independent artisans. This is a huge loss for our town. I wish the family well.

One of the Best Little Towns!

by KAlden | Town News

Brattleboro has been named one of the 10 best towns in the US by Fodor’s magazine! Despite all our problems and all the complaining it’s still a pretty good place to live. Also included in the top 10 was Provincetown, Massachusetts- one of my favorite places to spend time.

www.fodors.com

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Tax Stabilization For Brooks House, Departing Board Members Say Good-Bye

by cgrotke | Town News

Amidst discussions of Brooks House tax stabilization and other business came the final thoughts and words of three Selectboard members sharing a final regular Tuesday meeting together. The two longest serving agreed that Brattleboro could use a mayor.

The Brooks House got their savings, Chris Chapman started a discussion about future plans for the Brattleboro’s earliest existing train station, the utility budget was approved for FY14, and many liquor licenses were approved en masse.