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WSESD Board Special Meeting Minutes – July 9, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

KP Motioned and seconded to find that premature public knowledge would place the board at a disadvantage for the purposes of providing professional legal services to the body.

Motion Carried Unanimously

KP Motioned and seconded, to enter into executive session inviting Kendall Hoechst into the meeting.

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes July 23, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

Community Safety will be one of the major topics at the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeting. The Town will give an update on current and future community safety initiatives, including a Brattleboro Police data project and convening a “Brattleboro Collaborative.”

EMS billing policies will change.  The Town will buy a new sand and salt shed, HVAC system, improvements at Living Memorial Park, a new Fire Bucket Truck replacement, and more! You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – July 19, 2024

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

Formwork for sidewalks and rail copings is still being installed on the bridge deck. Concrete is being placed today into a portion of those forms, and that work will continue. Placing concrete for another deck section is scheduled for July 24th.

Additional rebar to complete the bridge deck had to be ordered, and installation of that should be finished next week.

The subgrade for the approach slab at the Vermont abutment has been graded in preparation for building forms and installing rebar next week.

Yann Falquet & Keith Murphy and The Murphy Beds at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present a double bill of traditional and original folk, with Yann Falquet & Keith Murphy, and The Murphy Beds on Saturday, August 10 at 7:30 pm

Keith Murphy and Yann Falquet are masters of contemporary Celtic guitar, representing the compelling textures, harmonies and rhythms that the guitar has brought to traditional songs and instrumentals since the Celtic music revival in the 1970s.

Rainbow Girls at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of folk, roots, and Americana music by California-based trio Rainbow Girls at Next Stage on Thursday, August 15 at 7:00 pm. Children of Divorce open.

Rainbow Girls are an eclectic folk trio hailing from the golden countryside just north of California’s Bay Area. Vanessa May, Erin Chapin, and Caitlin Gowdey seamlessly combine soul-touching harmonies, varitextured instrumentals, and poignant lyrical content into a beautiful sonic tapestry. Throughout their performance, voices are paired with an ever-changing amalgamation of acoustic and slide guitar, keys, upright bass, harmonica, and an array of vocal techniques creating an engaging and emotionally moving live show.

Ian Goodnow for District 9 State Rep

by RDavis | Politics

Ian Goodnow should become the next state representative from Brattleboro District 9 because he is the right person at the right place at the right time. The 32 year old Brattleboro lawyer has already proven that he has extremely effective leadership skills serving on the Brattleboro selectboard for four years, two of those as chair. Anyone who has been elected and then re-elected to office has earned the trust of his constituents and that is one of the many reasons why I am voting for him.

Ian represents a generation that does not have enough presence in the statehouse. If we are to remain a vibrant state that is responsive to the needs of the long future ahead for this state then we must elect people who are part of the emerging social and economic fabric of communities.

David Gartenstein Is The Best Choice

by fidel | Politics

In the contest for the Democratic nomination for the Windham 9 (old 3) district, we have two candidates with records of community service and good policy values. In part because he is older, David Gartenstein has a much longer history of working for the people of Brattleboro; moreover, he has broader experience, including 20 years as an assistant State’s Attorney and service on Brattleboro school boards.

What really distinguishes Gartenstein is the depth at which he has thought about the issues that matter to Brattleboro. He speaks with more than superficial knowledge on these things and has concrete plans for trying to improve the town’s circumstances. (For evidence, watch the candidate forum on BCTV.)

“Thinking Outside The Box”

by RobertOeser | Op/Ed

We often talk about the merits of “thinking outside the box,” yet the reality is, we live within the confines of culture, experience, tradition and . . . the law.

But there are some unique individuals who can think creatively while both recognizing those boundaries and working to change them in meaningful ways. I believe that David Gartenstein is one of those individuals.

This is particularly evident in the area where criminal justice and mental health issues intersect.

Safe Bicycling

by RDavis | Recreation & Sports

We live in a world where safety is often elusive. The police have their areas of responsibility and all other departments of cities, states and the entire country protect us in many ways. But there is one area where Americans seem to be more vulnerable than they need to be: bicycle safety.

As a member of the Brattleboro selectboard, a small Vermont town with limited resources, I am trying to work on making our town safer for bicyclists. There are lots of reasons why we should promote bicycle travel and in order to do so it means citizens have to become activated because they can’t rely on government alone to get the job done.

That is why I, and a number of local people, are working to figure out how to make our town safer for bicycling. As with any other issue, safe bicycling is something that is not simple to assure. This is especially true when it comes to trying to plan bicycle paths along public roadways.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – July 12, 2024

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

Overhang formwork for the bridge deck and welding the girders to the VT abutment bridge shoes has been completed.

Crews are continuing to install stainless steel rebar for the bridge deck, and should complete that next week.

Conduit and hanger supports are being installed along the underside of the bridge this week, and should be completed early next week.

Bandwagon Summer Series Presents: Slavic Soul Party! Live in Concert

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series is thrilled to announce the return of Slavic Soul Party! to the Bandwagon stage, on Friday, August 9th, at The Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Rd, Putney, VT. This event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Balkan brass, jazz, and funk, set against the picturesque backdrop of a Vermont summer evening.

Slavic Soul Party! has carved out a unique niche in the music world with their fiery Balkan brass sound, irresistible beats, and virtuoso jazz chops. Hailing from New York City, the nine-piece ensemble brings together influences from across the globe, blending them into a high-energy musical experience that is both infectious and soul-stirring.

The band’s Tuesday night residency in Brooklyn, spanning over two decades, has garnered international acclaim and a reputation for delivering an electrifying live show. Their latest album, “SSP! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite,” has been praised for its innovative reinterpretation of Duke Ellington’s iconic work, combining East European, Romani, and American sounds into a seamless fusion.

Western Avenue Sidewalk Project

by Not Signed In | Town News

Beginning Monday, July 15, 2024, DMI Excavation, a contractor hired by the Town, will be replacing the southern section of sidewalk on Western Avenue between Edward Heights and Greenleaf Street.  This project is expected to take several weeks. 

Crews will be working Monday through Friday between 6:30am and 6:30pm daily. There will be no on-street parking during this project and motorists should expect heavy delays in the area and seek alternate routes. Bicyclist and pedestrian traffic should use caution within the work zone and also seek alternate routes. Temporary walking paths will be established where necessary.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Rising Parking Costs and Property Taxes

by cgrotke | Town News
selectboard july 9 2024

A hot July evening, and the Brattleboro Selectboard approved new property tax rates. , The Town’s Finance Director told the board 75% of the increase is because of education. Dick Degray called it an unsustainable increase.

The new parking ordinance had a first reading. The costs to business owners and employees on Main Street was a concern to some and an outright horror to others.

The board made a list of things to discuss with legislators, adjusted rules for political signs, and discussed parking enforcement at the Vermont Country Deli.