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Welch takes on FDA Regulatory Roadblock to Vermont Brewers Providing Spent Grains to Farmers

by Not Signed In | Politics

New FDA rule threatens mutually beneficial and environmentally sound partnership between brewers and farmers

Waterbury, VT (May 14th) – At the Alchemist Cannery today in Waterbury, Rep. Peter Welch unveiled a two-prong bipartisan effort to block a proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule that would likely end the longstanding practice of Vermont brewers providing nutritious and cost effective spent grain to farmers to feed their livestock. The spent grain would otherwise be dumped in landfills or composted at a significant cost to brewers.

Selectboard Special Meeting Notes: FY15 Budget Decisions and Police-Fire Options

by cgrotke | Town News

Two sets of budget numbers were prepared at the request of the Brattleboro Selectboard since their last FY15 budget meeting. One involves specific cuts the Selectboard was considering; the other takes a look at a 1% across-the-board cut for all departments.

At Tuesday’s somewhat heated meeting, the board considered and voted on which cuts to include in their revised budget for presentation to town meeting representatives on June 2, ending up with a combination of the two approaches. Members of the public also weighed in, sometimes with great passion. Accusations were thrown, apologies offered, and and ideas were suggested.

By the end, the board had a list of requests for the Interim Town Manager to include in a revised budget that they hope to adopt and have ready for representatives in June.

Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:

Agricultural Advisory Board
Arts Committee
BASIC (Brattleboro Area Skatepark Is Coming)
BCTV (Brattleboro Community Television)
Brattleboro Housing Authority
CPCC (Citizen Police Communications Committee)

WKVT To Broadcast Forum On Heroin Problem In Community, May 15

by Not Signed In | Media

WKVT radio will present “A Call to Action” on Thursday, May 15, a special community forum about the increasing problems with heroin use and related criminal activity in the Brattleboro Area.

The program will be broadcast live from Brooks Memorial Library and air during the “Live and Local” show’s regular slot, from 9am-12noon, on 100.3FM and 1490AM.

“A Call to Action” brings together policy makers, members of law enforcement, treatment providers and drug awareness and prevention specialists for a discussion about what every community member can do to assist those who are on the front line waging the battle against crime and addiction every day.

Sanders and Welch Bills Would Give States More Say In Nuclear Plant Shutdowns

by Not Signed In | Politics

Commissioner Recchia to Testify at U.S. Senate Hearing

WASHINGTON, May 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced legislation to give states a greater role in decommissioning nuclear power plants.

Vermont and neighboring states should have more input in the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission process for determining what happens after the shutdown later this year of the 42-year-old Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, Sanders said. Aging plants also are projected to be mothballed in the next decade in Florida, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.

Union Hill Closing Thursday

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

NOTICE OF STREET CLOSING

Union Hill will be closed to through traffic on Thursday, May 15, 2014, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weather permitting. The street closing will allow Utilities Division personnel time to perform water main repair work near the intersection with Williams Street.

Beech Street and Union Hill residents will be able to access their properties from Western Avenue.

Essential Digital Tools for Non Profits: A Workshop

by Brooks Memorial Library | Business

Join Rob Fish, Nonprofit Advisor and Community Organizer for the Vermont Digital Economy Project Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) in a workshop, Essential Digital Tools for Non Profits on Tuesday 13 May at 7 pm at Brooks Library.

This event provides an overview of the project and services offered, as well as introduction to various tools non profits can use to further their missions. Created by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) in response to the 2011 floods, the Vermont Digital Economy Project’s mission is to construct more resilient communities, by helping Vermont communities, businesses, and nonprofits better use online tools as a way to speed flood recovery, spur economic development and job growth, and improve community resilience to disasters.

End-Of-The-World Blues

by Robyn Flatley | Questions & Answers

what do you do when you’ve got the end-of-the-world blues? You know: I ice is melting, our pollinators are dying, the sea is rising, the West Coast is burning, the East Coast is losing it’s beach front houses, fracking is depleting water supplies in America’s driest areas, landslides, sink holes, tornadoes, typhoons, earthquakes, fake clouds, drones, economy crashing, oil slicks, tsunamis, big floods, big droughts, nuclear pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, all this makes me sick!…need I say more? what-what-what do you do when this gets you down?

Kids Day and Master Gardeners at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market – May 17

by Not Signed In | Food

This week at the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market: Saturday, May 17th is Kids’ Day! Kids are vendors, too! Kids can come sell things they make themselves; no cookies from mixes or crafts from kits, please! Come get your garden started with healthy, local plants direct from our talented growers. Garden advice is also available this week from the UVM Extension Master Gardeners table. Bring your questions!

There’s something for everyone at the market. Our local farmers are selling starts, perennials, hanging baskets, herbs, fresh produce and preserves, eggs, meats, cheeses, maple syrup, and much more. Globe-spanning hot lunches, fresh breads and pastries, gelato, and gorgeous crafts of all kinds. Celebrating 40 years in business in 2014! EBT and debit are welcome. Please leave dogs at home!

Electric Fence @ Whetstone Station Thursday

by ElectricFence | Music

Electric Fence will play Thursday night, May 15, at Whetstone Station in Brattleboro. We’re very excited to have our friends Mark Trichka on mandolin and Lisa Brande on fiddle for the show. Electric Fence is Steve Carmichael, Howard Weiss-Tisman, Jonny Sheehan and Jeremy Holch. We play original music and cover rock, swing, rhythm and blues and country, finding the funky groove throughout. Music starts at 8:30 and is free.

Sanders Legislation Would Help Students Afford College

by Not Signed In | Politics

BURLINGTON, Vt., May 12 – Flanked by Vermont college students and graduates who are deep in debt, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today he will introduce legislation to help students earn college credits in high school in order to cut the cost of earning a college diploma.

Sanders said he supports a separate bill to lower interest rates on student loans. And, as a member of the Senate education committee, he also is working on ways to bring down college costs.

iBrattleboro Spring Request

by cgrotke | iBrattleboro

Every once in a while we ask fans of the site to help cover the costs of keeping it going.

If you are in a position to do so and would like to help out, consider a gift to help offset some of the expenses of keeping this ship sailing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (for over a decade).

Tenants Rights Organization in Brattleboro?

by KAlden | Questions & Answers

Hi fellow ibrattleboro-ians,

Does anyone know if there ia any kind of tenant rights organization or advocacy program available to low income residents in Brattleboro? I’m having an issue in my current apartment regarding a tenant smoking in a porch area that is the only access to my apartment. I was told that the building I live in was a smoke free building including common areas and despite the fact that the porch is technically outside this tenant’s cigarette smoke comes in my windows and every time I enter and exit my home I have to walk through a cloud of smoke. I have serious medical issues that are being made worse by this constant exposure to second hand smoke.

I’m looking for some legal advice as to how address this issue. Thanks.

BMH CEO Receives National Award for Exceptional Leadership

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital President & CEO Steven R. Gordon has been honored with a 2014 American Hospital Association Grassroots Champions Award for exceptional leadership in generating grassroots and community activity in support of a hospital’s mission.

The (AHA), in partnership with the state hospital associations, presents these awards annually to one individual from each state, with winners being chosen by the state association. The 2014 honorees were recognized at a special Breakfast of Grassroots Champions at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting on May 6 in Washington, DC.

Brattleboro Concert Choir Presents Missa Gaia

by Pam Lierle | Music

Get ready, Brattleboro. The wolves are coming to church.

The Brattleboro Concert Choir, directed by Susan Dedell, joyfully present Paul Winter’s “Missa Gaia” on Saturday, May 17th at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, May 18th at 4 p.m.  Both concerts will be at Centre Congregational Church, downtown Brattleboro.

And the wolves?  Their recorded voices, along with those of loons, whales, and harp seals, will join with the men and women of the Brattleboro Concert Choir in interconnected harmony in this joyful, rhythmic, and contemporary mass for the earth.

Clean Energy Development Fund Public Hearing

by Ezie | Town News

The Clean Energy Development Board will be holding a public hearing to receive comments regarding the $2.6 million that the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) received (see press release below) for clean energy development activities in or for the benefit of Windham County.  The public is also welcome to provide comment on the deployment of the $2.6 million to be spent state-wide by the CEDF and on the performance of the Clean Energy Development Fund Manager.  Here are the details of the public hearing:

When: Wednesday, May 14 2014 at 5:30 PM

Where: Brattleboro Union High School.  In the “multi-purpose” room

BMH and Hospice Co-Sponsor Free Workshop Discussing End-of-Life Issues

by BMH | Health

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Brattleboro Area Hospice are co-sponsoring a free interactive workshop on May 19 entitled, “How to Talk About the End of Life.”

Talking about one’s dying is not something most people feel comfortable doing. We would rather put it off until we absolutely have to. Even healthcare providers avoid it. This interactive, how-to workshop will include personal stories and examples of the powerful benefits of talking about it.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 5/12/14

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 Schedule for the week of 5-12-14

Monday May 12            

12:00 am      Tom Goldtooth – Indigenous Resistance

1:40 am       Ted Talks: Wendy Chung: Autism – what we know and what we don’t know yet

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       The Road to Recovery: Diverse Cultures and Recovery

5:00 am       Dr. Gil Fanciullo – Prescription Drugs and You

BMC Offers New Summer Programs For Kids, Singers, Instrumentalists and Ensemble Players

by Pam Lierle | Music

The Brattleboro Music Center is offering a full line-up of new
programs this summer. 

Children as young as 5, teens and adults will find opportunities to play, sing and be part of ensembles.  

Programs for kids include “Camp Presto” for 5-9 year-olds, which provides a great introduction to music and playing an instrument; “Time Traveling Through Music” for 7-12 year olds creatively explores time through music; “Traditional Arts Camp” for 9-14 year-olds explores traditional music and arts;  “Musicals Workshop” for 7-12 year olds is all about singing for theater; “Chamber Music for Kids” for ages 9-12 and  “Piano Duets” for ages 10-17, explore the fun of making music with others; there is a beginning guitar camp for ages 8-10; and also a place for horn players in the BMC’s Trumpet Camp for elementary and middle school students.