Fascinating stories of Kristin Sullivan’s explorations into the arts and traditions of other cultures, indigenous people here and abroad – she wraps all of that into her job here as E.D. at the Retreat Farm. Take a look, it’s an engaging ride!
RTM Human Services Committee
Monday, December 30, 2024
6:00-9:00pm
Selectboard Meeting Room (RM 212) The Municipal Center 230 Main Street and Zoom
Agenda
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82025368613
• Approve minutes from previous meetings
• Complete review of grant applications.
• Go into deliberative session to discuss rubric scores of applications
BRATTLEBORO – On a blustery cold Saturday, December 14, standing with supporters in front of the Brattleboro Post Office on Main Street, Isaac Evans-Frantz announced his campaign for a one-year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard. The election will be on March 4, 2025. Seeing the other side of the street bathed in warm sunshine, while he and his supporters shivered in the shade, Evans-Frantz invited everyone to move toward the light and quickly regroup across Main Street for speeches, songs, and distribution of campaign materials.
“During the coming difficult years,” Evans-Frantz, who was born and raised in Brattleboro, said, “Brattleboro needs a new leader who will stand up for all of us. The current selectboard has made decisions contributing to a potential 22% increase in property taxes. Most of our incomes are not increasing by anywhere near this amount. In a year where calls to the police for serious crime increased by 16%, the selectboard passed an ordinance that would fine building owners when some residents report crimes. The current selectboard, left unchecked, risks making life harder — and less safe – for people in Brattleboro.”
There are a lot of evil, power-intoxicated people ruling countries all over the world. With the imminent ascension of a new evil person in our own country I was prompted to do some research to see if my fears of a world dominated by dictators and oligarchs might be closer to reality than most people realize.
Consider this. According to the United States Institute of Leadership and Diplomacy, “There are currently 49 dictatorships and authoritarian regimes in the world (21 in Africa, 18 in Asia, 7 in the Middle East, 1 in Europe and 2 in Americas). We define a dictator as the ruler of a land rated “Not Free” by the Freedom House in their annual survey of freedom.” That number was reduced to 48 with the fall of Assad in Syria, but who knows what kind of government will replace him?
Dec. 30 Cheddar & Ham Quiche
Home Fries
Onion & Peppers
Fruit Parfait
The Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office will be closed from Thursday, December 26, 2024 to Thursday, January 2, 2025
A group of current and former legislators who have worked on housing issues (former Sens. Illuzzi, Will Hunter, Jim Leddy, current Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky and Rep. Kate Logan) will hold a press event MONDAY at 10:30 at Delta Hotel, 1117 Williston Road, South Burlington to request Gov. Scott declare a state of emergency regarding the homelessness crisis and they will suggest some short-term solutions that should be promptly considered and enacted.
Attached is an introductory document to provide the theme and basis for the request for an emergency declaration, which has been done by one state and several communities across America.
In observance of the Christmas holiday:
Brattleboro Town offices will close at 12:00pm (noon) on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
Brooks Memorial Library will close at 1:00pm on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
In observance of the Christmas holiday all Town Offices will be closed Wednesday, December 25, 2024, except emergency services. .
Need something to lighten your day? Here are some of our holiday specials created over the years. Apologies for the corporations slapping occasional ads on there now (wasn’t us…). It’s all run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.
Dec. 23 Kielbasa w/Sauerkraut
Boiled Potatoes
Carrots
Jell-o
Dec. 24 Meals on Wheels Only
Dec. 25 CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
II. Evaluate (2:00 – 3:00)
F8 Student Medication
F16 Head Lice
Invited Attendee: Rebecca Olmstead, Nurse Leader
– H6 Annual School Reports
– Gender Freedom in Schools – Proposed new policy
The Town of Brattleboro is offering free parking downtown during the final two weekends of the year. Parking will be free on Dec. 20, 21 and 22, 2024, and again on Dec. 27, 28 and 29 to coincide with the busy holiday season.
Since launching the new parking system in late November, Town staff have been making improvements to it based on public feedback. Several upgrades are currently in development, including additional signage, step-by-step instructions displayed on the sides of the parking kiosks, revisions to the parking zone/kiosk map, and the creation of a “how-to” video that will guide drivers through the three parking methods available downtown.
Summary
● Significant discussion regarding budget development
● Two policies submitted for first reading
T’was the week before Christmas and all through the town, not a creature was stirring except for the Brattleboro Selectboard discussing FY26.
The board used Town staff suggestions and assumptions as a starting point. They boldy saved items from being cut but also agreed on cuts worth close to $2 million. Police will get new uniforms, for example, but snow cleanup, arts, and human services will see cuts. Members of the public cautioned that these were superficial, one-time, unsustainable cuts and told the board they pushing taxpayers over a cliff in years to come.
Summary
● Following a discussion about holding or cancelling the Board Retreat, it was determined to proceed with the Board Retreat on 1/13/24 and have a potluck meal to assist with the containment of expenses.
● Approved EES (Early Education Services) to move forward with the preparation and subsequent submission of their application for funding in the amount of $3,483,623.00 (due 1/6/25).
● To settle on a potential ‘shared read’ for the Board to engage in, a group of three to four Board Members have committed to review suggestions in order to select one to bring to the Board.
● A presentation was given by Dr. Rachel Glickman about Community Schools.
Next Stage Arts presents a special duo collaboration between cellist Mike Block and master kora player Yacouba Sissoko on Saturday, January 18 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage.
Mike Block is a Grammy-winning multi-style cello player, composer, singer, and educator, with a passion for cross-cultural collaborations. Hailed as “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene” by Gramophone, he was acclaimed by the New York Times for his “vital rich-hued solo playing”, and “a true artist… a sight to behold” by Salt Lake City Deseret News. In addition to his solo performances and touring bands, since 2005 Mike has been a member of the Silk Road Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, with which he has been featured as a cello and vocal soloist, contributed arrangements and compositions, and earned a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
Many of us consider health insurance companies to be the enemy. They have too much control over our lives and we feel frustrated having to pay high prices for premiums and then not being sure if our insurance will even cover us when we need it. Sadly, one person recently took his outrage on an insurance company CEO by killing him. That doesn’t make matters better. If that murderer wanted to change the system he could have done a lot of other things, but he chose to make headlines the wrong way.
Short of creating a single payer system where private insurance companies are eliminated, there are a few ways to rein them in and get what you need. One of those ways is to go through the appeals process when a claim for service is denied. Every state has different rules about how to appeal denied claims and I will talk about how to beat the big boys in Vermont. I have helped people with appeals over the years and have won appeals against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont three times.
Joe Biden should be tried and convicted of illegally providing American bombs and planes for genocide, but not before being forced to watch videos of some of the thousands of adorable Palestinian kids murdered or maimed by Biden’s bombs and warplanes. Let Biden see the blank look of horror of a temporarily surviving Palestinian child alongside the bloodied dead body of its mother, father, brother, sister, playmate, auntie, uncle, grandad, grandma, or as often enough all of them killed by the same blockbuster bomb.
Let the condemnable President of the United States of American brutality be seen on the cover of Time Magazine as ‘Man of the Year.’ Let Americans become aware of the reality of their government’s horrific most monstrous ever crime against humanity. Though there is currently an international arrest warrant for Biden’s partner in the crime of genocide, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the International Criminal Court lets Biden off the hook.
Dec. 16 Ham Steak
Sweet Potato
Mixed Veggies
Pineapple Cake
The Brattleboro Fire Department was dispatched on a first alarm on December 13, 2024, at 10:37 a.m. to 12 Valley Road in the Mountain Home Trailer Park for a reported structure fire. Units from Station Two and Central Station responded. Engine Four arrived on the scene at 10:40 a.m. Lt. Ben Aither reported a shed fully involved with extension into the garage. Crews stretched hose lines and extinguished the fire. Command reported under control at 11:10 a.m.
