The Indoor Cat That Goes Out

This is a story I submitted to iBrattleboro a couple years ago and it got a thousand or so views which is pretty good. And since the cat in question, Friskey, is turning 14 today, i thought it might be appropriate to resubmit it

When we got Friskey from the Windham County Humane Society as a 3 month old back in July of ’99, she was to be an indoor cat.

Cats who go out live an average of 4 years; cats who stay in live 16. Not much wiggle room for debate there.


AARP Safe Driving Class for Senior Citizens, April 20

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and AARP are co-sponsoring a Driver Safety program on Saturday, April 20 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Brew Barry Conference Room.

This driver’s refresher course is for people ages 55 and over and is designed to provide awareness of aging as it affects driving. The class covers normal physical changes associated with aging, provides practical techniques to compensate and review “rules of the road” with an emphasis on defensive driving practices.

Space is limited to 20 participants. The cost is $12.00 for AARP members with a membership card & $14.00 for non-AARP members. Call 802-251-8425 to register in advance. Fee covers materials only. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.


Spring Cleaning: Holistic Detox at MFTP

Spring is a great time to gently support the body as it emerges from winter and gears up for the warmer months of sunlight and activity. Getting digestion moving properly and supporting the organs of detoxification and elimination can help you experience freer movement of energy through the body and mind. Attempting to detox on your own can be daunting. Success is more likely with the positive support of a group and the opportunity for individualized support. The detox with take place April 22-27th.;


NY Times Personal Health Columnist Jane Brody Kicks Off Westminster Cares “Speaking of Aging” Series at Kurn Hattin Homes April 16

New York Times Personal Health columnist Jane Brody will give a free lecture on issues of aging on Tuesday, April 16, at 5:30PM at Higbie Auditorium on the campus of Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Westminster, VT. Brody’s appearance is the first of a four-speaker series sponsored by Westminster Cares in celebration of its 25th-year anniversary. The series, titled “Speaking of Aging,” explores key issues in aging such as physical and mental health, financial well-being, maintaining social connections, and end-of-life issues.


Come and Walk Among Masters – Peru with the Shamans

Puma Quispe, in association with Ed Liebfried of Divine Within, LLC (Guilford, VT) invite you to join us for a journey of initiation in Peru. 

This is not the typical Sacred Valley journey. You’ll experience the “Hatun Karpay” over a 10-day period, in traditional sacred locations in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and climaxing with our great initiation at Apu Ausangate – perhaps the most sacred mountain in the Andean tradition. 

Puma is a master altomesayok, trained traditionally yet fluent in English and a master tour guide. 


Get Paid to Improve Communications with Your Teenager!

Parenting does not come with a handbook but Parenting Teens Wisely does. In an effort to promote positive communications between parents, caregivers and teens, the Brattleboro Area Prevention
Coalition (BAPC) is offering the Parenting Teens Wisely workshop, on Tuesday, April 9 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Putney Central School Library.

This free three hour workshop teaches parents skills and techniques to help them better understand and deal with children ages 10-19. Participants will learn how to problem-solve and encourage cooperation with their teen and learn to develop fair and effective discipline skills. 


Stroll’s Quiche Competition to Showcase Fresh, Local Ingredients

Strolling of the Heifers announces its 2013 keynote culinary event: The Great New England Quiche Cookoff.

Quiche is defined as a baked, open-faced savory tart, comprised of a crust filled with a mixture of eggs, cream, cheese and a variety of other ingredients.

This year’s event will showcase quiche as an easy meal.  For presentation to the judges and exhibition to the public, entries will be paired with a slice of buttered bread and a salad of dressed, local greens, all donated by sponsors.
“Strolling of the Heifers helps the public understand where their food comes from.  Sustainable, local food is not just healthy and delicious, but it is also easy to use to provide meals for our families. This contest is another way we make that point.” said Orly Munzing, the Stroll’s founder and executive director.


Computer Helper?

Can anyone help me solve this horrible problem? I have a laptop (HP) 5 years old. I recently noticed on the bottom right of the screen where it used to say “windows 7”, that it suddenly read :

Windows 7 Professional Test mode
Windows 7 Build 7600

So here’s my idiot of the century mistake explained;

My curiosity led to one thing after another and I found myself at a tech blog trying to understand what may have happened to create this change. I never did find out because I went only so far before reading some instructions on how to remove that message which required downloading a program .. Said to be from Microsoft.. Called “fix it”.


Carpet Sweeper Saves The Day

The solution to our ongoing problem — how to keep the carpets clean without scaring the cat — turned out to be a carpet sweeper.  Back in the day, my grandmother had one of these things.  Every afternoon, when the house was clear of grandchildren and other people, she would say “I’m going to pass the carpet sweeper.”  And then out would come the magical implement, and in a few minutes, all the dirt on the living room floor was gone. 


Leaks, Lies & Lawyers Parade & Rally

Parade & Rally to Mark One-Year of Illegal Operation & Waste by Entergy

Bread and Puppet Theater and the SAGE Alliance will join forces to mark one year of illegal operation by Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee on Saturday, 3/30/13 at 3:30pm, with a parade through the streets of Brattleboro and a rally at the Latchis Theater.

The state of Vermont’s original operating license for Yankee expired on March 21, 2012. In blatant defiance of Vermont state law and the will of the people, Entergy continues to operate Vermont Yankee; generating additional radioactive waste, polluting the Connecticut River with thermal waste, and barraging the state of Vermont with lawsuits. It has been one year of waste.


BMH Improves EEG and PFT Outpatient Services

The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Respiratory Care Department announced it has established regular hours for electroencephalogram (EEG) testing and made an upgrade to its Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) system.

BMH Respiratory Services Manager Laurie Kuralt, RN, BSN, CCRN, says a staff member recently received extensive training in performing EEG tests, enabling the hospital to offer regularly scheduled hours for EEG testing three days a week on an outpatient basis, as well as on weekends should the need arise. An EEG test measures electrical activity in the brain. It is used to diagnose epilepsy, study sleep disorders like narcolepsy, and check for mental health problems or problems with dementia, among other applications.


New Program Helps Seniors With Balance

Senior Solutions will offer a free, eight-week program that helps senior citizens with balance issues, starting Saturday, April 13 at 10:00 AM in the Brew Barry Conference Center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

“A Matter of Balance” helps seniors deal with their fears of falling and creates better solutions to prevent falls. To register for this free program, call 802-257-8877.


Wellness Recovery Action Plan [WRAP] Workshop in Brattleboro

A Wellness Recovery Action Plan [WRAP] workshop will once again be available in Brattleboro and facilitated by Jane Winterling,one of the original designers of this evidenced based plan that is used world-wide by people who are dealing with mental health and other kinds of health challenges.


Snow Allows Brattleboro Ski Lift To Remain Open

The ski/snowboard lift at Living Memorial Park here in Brattleboro still has plenty of snow. The lift will run today 3-9, Saturday 10-4, and Sunday 12-4.

Always only $5 for all day lift ticket! Kids 5 and under always free!

The non profit, all volunteer Living Memorial Park Snow Sports web site can be found at www.vtsnowsports.org


Rockingham Library Leads Trip to Boston’s Isabell Stewart Gardener Museum–Saturday, April 13

The Rockingham Free Public Library is planning an excursion to Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for Saturday, April 13. A chartered bus will depart Bellows Falls at 7AM, returning at 7PM. The cost is $95 per person and includes round trip transportation and a museum tour. There will be time for shopping and lunch in addition to the tour.


Curbside Composting video

Here is the link to “Brattleboro Curbside Composting” You Tube video. http://youtu.be/kfoD2ZkPufc

Please watch it and learn the why’s and how’s of Curbside Composting. Share with your friends and neighbors who have doubts or questions about the Curbside Composting program.