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While We Still Have One

by Vidda | Activism

Let’s say Trump is elected and his first meeting with Kim Jong-un goes terribly wrong. The belligerence on both sides reach unprecedented levels. The kid, feeling threatened, decides to lob an ICBM over the polar icecap towards Manhattan, but misses. Instead, it accidentally explodes over downtown Brattleboro during the school year just after lunch recess. In March 2013, the boastful “Supreme Leader” threatened the United States with a preemptive nuclear attack. He is known to have tested a 10 kiloton nuclear weapon to “reliably defend the sovereignty and the dignity of the nation.”

If you’re a student anywhere within the full five-mile radius of a 10 kiloton air burst, you probably won’t be needing your school books anymore.

Jewish School in Brattleboro Welcomes New Students

by BAJC Shir HeHarim | Spiritual

It’s not too late to register children in the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community Hebrew School. Congregation Shir Heharim (Song of the Mountains), the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, offers a once-a-week religious school for youngsters from the age six up to thirteen or older.  The school offers a vibrant child-centered program that teaches Hebrew language studies as well as songs, stories, prayers, holiday observances, customs and traditions, history, current events, and all things Jewish.  Students can begin school at the age of six.  Anyone who is planning to become a bar- or bat-mitzvah must be enrolled for a minimum of two years.

Weekend Creativity Series – Water Fountains

by cgrotke | Creative

One of my favorite urban design features is a water fountain. Just about anything that sprays water or features interesting pools catches my eye and ear.

One of my favorite things to do when living in DC, for example, was to visit all the water effects along the mall on a hot day. There’s a first ladies’ grotto by the capital that is very cool and refreshing, the Canadian embassy and East Wing of the art museum feature fountains, there are reflecting pools, fountains at the Navy exhibit, and a pond at Freedom Plaza, to name but a few.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda – Visiting Streets

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 and will conduct site visits at three locations (see agenda). The Board will convene at 5:15pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center then recess and move to each of the three sites to hold site visits. At the conclusion of the site visits, the Board will reconvene the special meeting in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center (approximately 7:30pm) and hold public hearings pertaining to each site.

ASL interpreters will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community members when the Board reconvenes at the Municipal Center after the site visits.

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

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, June 27, 2016 at 5:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library in the community room.

The Brattleboro Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

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

SeVWA’s 2016 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Began June 22nd

by sevwa.wqmp | Nature

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) began its monitoring program for the summer of 2016 on Wednesday, June 22nd. Volunteers will be collecting samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams every other week through the end of August. This year, we have sites on the West River, Rock River, North Branch Ball Mountain Brook, Williams River (including South Branch and Middle Branch), Saxtons River, Sacketts Brook, and Whetstone Brook.

          Escherichia coli, more commonly known as E. coli, is a bacterium that is found in the guts of all warm blooded animals, including humans. Most E. coli will not make a person sick, but sometimes they can become pathogenic which means they can cause illness. Additionally, the presence of E. coli in waters acts as an indicator for the presence of other, more difficult to test for pathogens. We publish our results to the public in order to help everyone make informed decisions about recreating in Vermont’s waters.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of June 27th

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Monday, July 4th from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (I-91 will remain open). Traffic conditions on both I-91 and through the town will be monitored closely throughout the day. Should traffic congestion become an issue, the ramps may be re-opened until traffic conditions improve. This will be managed actively throughout the day until peak traffic volumes have passed.

Wondering About Westgate

by RCastine | Questions & Answers

Does anybody know how much the rent is for an apartment at Westgate? I am thinking about moving back to Brattleboro and am trying desperately to find affordable housing, if any exists there besides maybe the Co-op building.

Learn to Play the Ukulele! New Beginners Class Forming

by Ruthie | Music

Learn to play the ukulele from scratch, with instructor Lisa McCormick.

In this beginner-friendly class in Brattleboro, you’ll learn all about tuning, playing basic chords, basic strumming techniques, and how to play several fun classic Folk and Boomer songs, in an easy-going small group setting.

Class will run for 6 weeks, at the Marlboro Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., Brattleboro, featuring off-street parking and wheelchair accessibility. Tuition is a sliding scale between $140-$160. 

A Cappella à la Carte & 50th Season Party

by fomag | Music

Guilford, Vt. – Now in its 50th concert season, Friends of Music at Guilford is staging its series finale at a hilltop property in Guilford, not far from the junction of Hinesburg Rd. and Carpenter Hill Rd. The main house and yard overlook an impressive view of neighboring and distant hills, and the recently constructed barn offers shelter in case of inclement weather. The festivities are set for 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.

As usual, the annual A Cappella à la Carte menu offers three distinct elements: a membership meeting, a community potluck, and a vocal concert. The brief and entertaining Annual Membership Meeting sums up the year’s events, introduces plans for the following season, and offers a slate of trustees for a vote, among other agenda items. The gathering is open to all interested folks, but only members can participate in any voting; one can join the organization on the spot to participate fully in the meeting.

July 1 Opening Of From The River, To The River

by Not Signed In | Arts

The Town of Brattleboro and the artist team of Elizabeth Billings, Evie Lovett and Andrea Wasserman invite the Brattleboro community to bring a picnic and enjoy ice cream floats by the river during Friday July 1 Gallery Walk to celebrate the opening of From the River, To the River, a public art project funded by the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant awarded to the Town of Brattleboro.

Town officials and the artists will welcome the community at 6 pm at the Brattleboro Transportation Center against the backdrop of River Wall, a kinetic sculpture of 38,000 sequins imagining water patterns on the the Transportation Center. Projected Water, a video of images of over 300 people in the Brattleboro community and water imagery, will play at the site throughout Gallery Walk.

Absentee Voting Starts Friday June 24th? Yikes! I’m On The Ballot, And Who Knows Who I Am?

by CrisEricson2016 | Politics

Absentee voting starts Friday June 24th? Yikes! I’m on the ballot, and who knows who I am?

The majority of media have blasted across Vermont that there are only 3 Democratic Party candidates for governor – NOT true! There are 5! If you want to see all five Democratic Party candidates for governor of Vermont for the very first time together, then please attend the Democratic Party debate tomorrow, Thursday, June 23rd being held at the Congregational Church, 77 Main Street, Springfield, Vermont starting at 6 PM for socializing with everyone, with the debating starting at 7 PM.

This is the first time you will see me with the other candidates, and as of today, June 22nd, I have NEVER met any of them. I was certified by the Secretary of State Election Division on May 3rd, and now over 6 weeks later, ONE DAY before absentee voting starts, I’m finally included in one candidate forum with all of the other Democratic Party candidates.

Cool Summer Comedy Comes To Main Street Arts

by Not Signed In | Entertainment

SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. – A cool summer comedy comes to Saxtons River when Main Street Arts presents The Foreigner, beginning a two-week run Friday, July 1.

Called “one of the funniest shows in American theater,” Larry Shue’s award-winning comedy has grown into an audience favorite and a comic staple of regional theater companies across North America since its premier in the 1980s.

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Successful Union Negotiations and General Goodness For Solstice

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved of contracts for most of the town’s union and non-union employees, with a range of raises, salary adjustments, and benefits packaged at minimal additional cost to taxpayers over the next three years. The negotiating process went smoothly, with cooperation on all sides, pleasing those involved.

Brattleboro’s 4th of July parade permit was approved, finances are looking good, tax bills will be delayed, Bradley House got lots of money, paving will be done under budget, grants were accepted, the town is suing over a breached contract, citizens were appointed to committees, a property will be demolished, Brattleboro businesses will face fines, and more.

Pre-Convention Politics

by cgrotke | Politics

The latest twist in the presidential campaign season comes primarily on the GOP side, with regular, traditional GOP members freaking out about Trump as their nominee. So much so that delegates to the Republican convention are being given a nod and wink to, if they want, maybe, perhaps, just change their support come convention time. (But not you Democrats! Stay in line!)

Others are reporting push polls testing Paul Ryan and Kasich against Clinton. President Ryan?

Clinton, meanwhile, has called for those under FBI investigation to not be allowed to purchase handguns. This comes while she is under investigation by the FBI.

IRS Scam

by tomaidh | Rumors

There’s a very scary scam going around purporting to be from the IRS.

A very threatening robocall promises that very bad things will happen to you if you don’t call their number immediately.

It’s all BS. The IRS doesn’t work this way.

They can be every bit as nasty and scary, but they will contact you directly, not via a robocall.