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Brattleboro Savings & Loan Throws Switch on New Solar Array

Energy Source makes BS&L the first completely solar-powered bank in Vermont

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – Situated next to a classic red-clapboard barn on land farmed since the early 1800s, a new piece of Vermont history is taking shape: an award-winning community solar array poised to provide energy to both Brattleboro businesses and residents.

Contributing companies Soveren Solar, the Vermont Agricultural Business Education Center (VABEC), and Brattleboro Savings & Loan will ‘throw the switch’ on a 150kW, 64-rack array on Tuesday, June 23 at 5 p.m., which represents one of five Vermont Community Solar projects in the state. Gov. Peter Shumlin is scheduled to speak.


SeVWA’s 2015 E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites Began June 17th

The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) began its monitoring program for the summer of 2015 on Wednesday, June 17th. We will be testing 27 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 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 bacteria 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.


The Third Coming: Marx Returns

Local actor, playwright, and director Jerry Levy has announced he will give a special benefit performance of his original one-person play “The Third Coming: Marx Returns” on Sunday, June 28, 2015, at 7:30 PM, at The Space at118 Elliot, 118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.  

“The play,” explained Levy, “is about Marx’s thoughts and observations should he theoretically return to life in our time.” Levy has played the character of Karl Marx in Howard Zinn’s play, “Marx in Soho,” touring intensively for many years, both domestically and internationally. This experience informed him deeply about the Marx character, and inspired him to write the new play he will be performing in Brattleboro.


Pay As You Throw Brattleboro

Hello my fellow citizens!  This is another thread to talk about the new Pay As You Throw system of trash disposal. The intention here is practical; what are your strategies for coping with this transition?  Composting and Recycling are key, this is a given.  So what’s your plan?  We signed up early on for curbside compost collection.  It is awesome.  For a family of four, weekly pickup of recycling and compost has reduced our trash accumulation to 2 to 3 price chopper plastic bag’s worth. It’s kind of amazing,actually. 


In Search of a Home for Miss Daisy

We are in search of a loving home for a wonderful older female dog, who we took in a couple of months ago, but has let us know that she would prefer to not live out her golden years with two rambunctious babes in diapers. She is great with people, cats, dogs, kids, walks on or off leash, great in the car, and stays home alone during the day too.

She is sweet, and while she did express her need for some space from the tots, I know for a fact she is good with kids because she came from home where she was the beloved companion of a girl from toddler to teen. Anyone who has any ideas, please let me know! ♥

This post was created with love.

Brandie Starr


Celebrate Solar Tours Saturday

Sunny Skies Forecasted for First Annual Statewide Celebrate Solar Tours Saturday

Sunny skies are forecasted for the weekend of the Summer Solstice when more than forty locations throughout Vermont will open their doors for Celebrate Solar Tours. Like the open sugarhouse weekend in the spring and open art studio weekend in the fall, the summertime tours will give Vermonters and visitors the opportunity to get an up-close view of solar systems to learn about the technology, solar economics, and the benefits of solar to our communities. Many locations will offer refreshments, music or other entertainment like community walking tours, miniature golf and on-site yoga.


Sen. Sanders’ Statement on Charleston Church Shootings

WASHINGTON, June 18 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today on the killing of nine people by a white man at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina:

“The Charleston church killings are a tragic reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation. This senseless violence fills me with outrage, disgust and a deep, deep sadness. The hateful killing of nine people praying inside a church is a horrific reminder that, while we have made significant progress in advancing civil rights in this country, we are far from eradicating racism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their congregation.”

Contact: Michael Briggs: (202) 224-5141


The Barefoot Movement at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Saturday, June 20

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Nashville-based, Telluride Bluegrass Festival award-winning, bluegrass and Americana quartet The Barefoot Movement at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 pm.

Heartfelt, energetic and down home, The Barefoot Movement is “one of the most promising bands on the bluegrass scene” (CMT Edge). Their down to earth music ranges from poignant ballads to rip-roaring barn-burners, and takes audiences back to a simpler place and time, inviting listeners to sit back, relax, take their shoes off and stay a while.


Super Costumes Needed!

Desperately seeking tween-sized superman and spiderman costumes.  They will be used by kids in one of NEYT’s upcoming Melodrama Summer Camps.  I am hoping to borrow, rather than buy or rent.  

These would be returned, and the generous lender would receive gracious acknowledgement for their donation.  Please contact via call, text (579-9756) or email (isewfunny@gmail.com).

Thanks!


Brunch in Guilford Sunday

Broad Brook Grange will present its 19th annual Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday, June 21, from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Grange hall in Guilford Center.  The proceeds from the event will allow for continued renovations of the historic building.

The all-you-can-eat brunch features eggs and omelets, any style, made to order.  Also on the menu are  pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon and home fries, with Guilford maple syrup.  Other treats include home-baked coffee cakes and other baked goods, fresh fruit salad, and bread for toasting.  A selection of juices  will be available, along with coffee, teas and milk.


Anyone Know Who Helps Injured Birds?

I found a bird this AM that might have an injured wing. I doesn’t try to move away when I approach it on my deck.

It seems to be a mature bird but on the smaller side. It is yellowish-green on top and white on the belly. The edges of the wing have a black and white pattern and it has a rather pointy beak.

It was breathing heavily I think (though maybe not?).

So my question is: Does anyone treat and try to rehabilitate injured or sick birds?
thanks


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Mostly Money Matters

At their regular Tuesday meeting, the Brattleboro Selectboard dealt primarily with money issues — spending, granting, analyzing, raising, applying for, and otherwise interacting with it. It wasn’t always the main topic of discussion, but it was an undercurrent. Much of it was good news, too.

For example, it was announced that over $50,000 has been allocated for artists applying to fulfill the public arts component of the NEA Our Town grant, and requests for proposals will be out shortly. Many Town employees will receive raises. 

The Brattleboro Selectboard also learned about keeping water clean, discussed cable access, purchased a variety of  vehicles, and approved contracts for new roads and sidewalks. 

Should dogs be punished for the human’s behavior? This and more below.


Birds In Our Backyard

We’ve always heard birds from our backyard, singing in the woods behind the house, but until this year they never bothered to visit the yard itself.  I attributed this to the presence of cats, who are numerous in these parts, but even with many furry carnivores patrolling the vicinity, the birds have not been deterred this year.  Many varieties of ground feeding bird have been hanging about, including the elusive wood thrush—right here on Cedar Street!


Brattleboro Hospice Hosts 7th Death Café to kick off The Wake Up to Dying Project

On Wednesday evening, June 24, 2015, from 7 – 8:30 PM, Brattleboro Area Hospice in partnership with the Wake Up to Dying Project will host a Death Café at The Works Bakery Café, 118 Main St. in downtown Brattleboro. This free event is part of an international movement begun in Europe (www.deathcafe.com ), and is dedicated to taking death out of the closet in order to discuss it publicly.

This event will represent Death Café #7 for southern Vermont. Previous events that have taken place throughout Windham County have been met with tremendous praise. People have reported them as comfortable, supporting a full range of emotions – from tears to raucous laughter, easier than anticipated, energy charged, inspirational and fun.


Tools of War

The United States is effectively supplying Islamic State with tools of war. Iraqi security forces lost 2,300 Humvee armored vehicles when Islamic State overran the northern city of Mosul. Further losses by default to Islamic State include at least :

40 M1A1 main battle tanks,
74,000 machine guns,
52 M198 howitzer mobile gun systems.
1,000 additional Humvees, along with their armor upgrades, machine guns and grenade launchers.
250 Mine Resistant Armored Personnel carriers (MRAPs) Like in Keene!

plus unaccountable amounts of materiel left behind when American forces departed Iraq in 2011.


Native American Teens Travel To Brattleboro For ‘Gathering In Gratitude’ Workshop and Performances

A delegation of teen leaders and counselors from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota are traveling to Brattleboro to join a mixed-age group of locals for a multi-cultural ‘Gathering in Gratitude’ workshop led by drama therapist and musician Luz Elena Morey, director of the Brattleboro-based Mahalo Art Center.

The eight Oglala Lakota teens and two counselors will participate in the week-long intensive, a nature-based creative exploration of the concept of gratitude that culminates in a unique brand of performance art where each cast member’s contribution is woven into a modern, mythical pageant described by past audience members as “a feast for the soul.”