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The Dismantling of American Health Insurance

by RDavis | Health

Instead of repealing the Affordable Care Act Republicans have found other ways to erode access to health care for more Americans. Policy changes, budget cuts and the elimination of programs have made it harder for moderate and low income Americans to access Medicaid, family planning services and a host of smaller programs.

These moves don’t make headlines and the people who are hurt by the changes may not even realize that they have lost something until they need a service. They also may not know that they lost coverage they may have had because they never tried to access the kind of care they had not needed.

FLOW at Next Stage on Wednesday, September 25

by stobro | Music

Forty years after Windham Hill became a catalyst for a global musical phenomenon, its bountiful legacy of best-selling instrumental artists and Grammy-winning musicians extends into a new age with FLOW — a new four-piece ensemble comprised of Windham Hill Records Founder Will Ackerman and three of today’s most acclaimed independent artists.  FLOW is an anagram of the group’s names Fiona Joy Hawkins (Australian Pianist), Lawrence Blatt (acoustic guitarist), Jeff Oster (Flugelhorn master) and Grammy winning guitarist and producer Will Ackerman.

Brattleboro Planning Commission: We Need Your Input!

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The Brattleboro Planning Commission is working on a Downtown Design Plan, which will describe and illustrate the community’s vision for future downtown improvements and projects. This planning process will address:

Improving routes, access and circulation for pedestrians and bicyclists;
Incorporating green stormwater practices into streets and public spaces;
Identifying opportunities for creative placemaking that use arts and cultural activities to enliven and revitalize public spaces; and
Enhancing long-term economic stability for downtown businesses.

Vermont Workers’ Center Get Involved Meeting

by ESchwartz | Activism

Join us on September 25, 1-2:30 PM at Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room, 224 Main St.
to learn more about the Workers’ Center, the Healthcare Is A Human Right campaign, and ways to be involved. We’ll share basic information about the Workers’ Center, a grassroots member-run organization that organizes for a more just and democratic (small ‘d’) Vermont.

Strength of the Storm Film & Discussion

by ESchwartz | Activism

As part of the week of climate action, the Vermont Workers’ Center and Extinction Rebellion of Southern VT are sponsoring a screening of the film, “Strength of the Storm,” directed by Rob Koier. The screening will take place on Thursday, September 26th, 2019 at 118 Elliot Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro) from 7:30pm-9:30pm, and will be followed by a discussion.

This film shows Vermont residents who were directly impacted by climate change during the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene, as they realized that they were all in this together and organized after the destruction of much of their mobile home community.

BCTV Schedules – Week of 9/23/19

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, September 23, 2019

4:30 am RAD-TV Presents – Working Towards a Zero Waste Society
5:00 am Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce – The Growing Business of Cannabis 9/5/19
6:39 am Doing Life – 167 – Is God Your Handler?
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast
9:00 am Community Forum – With VT Commerce Secretary Michael Schirling

Richard Davis Leaves Reformer

by RDavis | Media

After 25 years of writing a weekly column for the Brattleboro Reformer I am severing my relationship with the newspaper. Over the past two years I have had to fight a constant battle to receive timely payment for the meager forty dollars per column. It has been common for them to pay me up to six to eight weeks after submission of invoices and then after constant reminders for payment.

Epiphany!

by tomaidh | Op/Ed

I spent all of yesterday devouring UFO stuff. In this morning’s reverie, it all came together.

Why have governments devoted enormous resources to denying their existence?
They are afraid that we’d “panic”. Yeah, right!

The Kids Are Alright!

by KAlden | Op/Ed

The Climate Strike. What an incredible outpouring of commitment, community, passion and determination.

Hundreds of people-( some counts are as many as 1000!) many of them elementary and high school students took to the streets to voice their fears and anger about the mess adults have made of this earth and the terrible legacy they are left with.

VFW $6.50 Lunch Specials Open to the Public 8-23 to 8-27

by Not Signed In | Food

The Brattleboro VFW located at 40 Black Mountain Road is open to the public for lunch. Lunch is served Mon-Fri from 11:30 – 1:30. Specials listed below are only $6.50 a plate. Hand made burger, fries, sweet potato fries, wings, onion rings, soups and sandwiches are also available. Take outs available by calling 257-0438

Mon – chicken fried steak, mashed potato, gravy & veg

Blues & BBQ with Danny Brooks and Li’l Miss Debi plus Sunny Lowdown at Next Stage on Saturday, September 21

by stobro | Music

Next Stage Arts Project presents Blues & BBQ with Texassippi Soul Man Danny Brooks and Li’l Miss Debi and Blues Blast Music Award nominee Sunny Lowdown at the Next Stage Café, on Saturday, September 21. BBQ by Top of the Hill Grill will be for sale starting at 6 pm, with music starting at 7 pm. Admission is $10 in advance available online at nextstagearts.org or at the door. Next Stage offers a beer and wine cash bar, and there will be a dance floor.  Next Stage is located at 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT. For more information, visitinfo@nextstagearts.org.

Sept. 29: The Classical Guitar’s the Star!

by fomag | Music

West Brattleboro, Vt. — As a musical treat for local residents and foliage visitors alike, Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG) is presenting “A Celebration of the Classical Guitar” at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, at All Souls UU Church in West Brattleboro. Featured performers include David William Ross and the Procter/Hale duo of Steve Procter, guitar, and Alison Hale, flute.

Vocalist Jessica Gelter introduced FOMAG to Keene-based guitarist Ross in February 2018, when he was a member of the instrumental trio for her performance of David Lang’s “Death Speaks,” the centerpiece of FOMAG’s musicale “The Last Dance.” Soon afterward, Ross queried whether FOMAG would host a solo guitar concert connected with his next recording project. This expanded celebration of the guitar evolved from that proposal.

Fix Or Tear Down The Parking Garage

by scrispe | Op/Ed, Opinion

Hopefully more and more people will join the growing movement to have Brattleboro either step up or tear down the parking garage. A huge number of people no longer park there because The Town of Brattleboro has abdicated its basic duty to taxpayers and citizens to upkeep the garage. Let’s go through some basic undisputed facts about the current state of the garage:

Trash and stains punctuate the parking garage. Parking Enforcement told me there used to be a full time caretaker of the garage and now that person was cut to only 4 hours. Everyone feels this is unacceptable; there needs to be a full-time caretaker.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Warnings

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Human Services Review Committee will meet on Monday, September 23, 2019, at 1:00pm, in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center.

The Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee will meet on Monday, September 23, 2019, at 5:00pm, in the Mezzanine Meeting Room at the Brooks Memorial Library.

The Brattleboro Citizens Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, September 23, 2019, at 5:30pm, in the Community Meeting Room at the Brooks Memorial Library.

Some Thoughts On Climate Strike Day

by cgrotke | Nature

Today there is a world Climate Strike. It is amazing, and amazing that it took this long.

As kids almost 50 years ago, we were already concerned about the environment. Earth Day got started, we read Ranger Rick and National Geographic World, and we knew that littering made an old Native American by the side of the road cry. We knew about animals going extinct from hunting and pollution. We used to plant trees on Arbor Day each June. We read the Lorax.

Disability Justice Advocate Lydia X.Z. Brown Speaks at Landmark College, October 1

by landmarkcollege | Activism

The Fall 2019 Landmark College Academic Speaker Series opens with disability justice advocate Lydia X.Z. Brown on Tuesday, October 1 at 7 p.m. in the Brooks M. O’Brien Auditorium, located in the East Academic Building.

The talk, entitled “Cripping Intersectionality: Neurodiversity and Disability Justice” will focus on how disabled people’s cultural work, community building, and leadership offer necessary interventions for liberation work everywhere, from the streets to the ivory tower, grounded in intersectional theory and practice.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Climate Still Not An Emergency

by cgrotke | Town News
Brattleboro Selectboard meeting

The Brattleboro Selectboard decided once again that there is no climate emergency worth declaring. The proposed declaration was “a mess” and existing efforts were deemed ample.

The board had their expectations managed about possibilities of self governing anytime soon, budget season is lurking, and the possibility of a bike lane on Western Ave will be further investigated.

Brattleboro Water Main Flushing Schedule Fall 2019

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Utilities Division crews will start Fall Flushing of the Town water mains on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 10:00 p.m. and continue through Saturday, October 12, 2019

NOTE: Some daytime flushing will continue throughout the weeks of October 15th and 21st

Customers are asked to check the flushing schedule closely as flushing causes water discoloration, low water pressure and in some areas, intervals of no water.