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Selectboard Meeting Notes: No New Town Manager For Now, and Your Taxes Are Probably Going Up

To keep the town services the same as last year and pay our obligations, the property tax rate would need to go up by 16 cents. It’s a major problem that the Brattleboro Selectboard shared with the public at Tuesday night’s meeting as they pondered how much of a tax increase Brattleboro could handle, and discussed various options for cuts and revenue generation.

The town’s search for a new Town Manager was a bust, and the process will begin again in the near future.

The Plan for Red Clover Commons took a step forward with the board supporting Brattleboro Housing Authority’s need to formally “dispose” (an HUD term) of the Melrose property and buildings to enable the upcoming move to new developments.

Much of the rest of the meeting was dedicated to Brattleboro citizens who like to skate. The skating rink got the go-ahead for a series of improvements to improve the refrigeration and preserve the compressors. And now the Town of Brattleboro has an official skatepark site selection committee.


From the Principal’s Office: Kurn Hattin Gets it Right for Kids

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children’s School Principal, Scott Tabachnick, recently wrote an op-ed piece for the local paper, the Brattleboro Reformer (published Friday, November 8), to share a few of the reasons why he feels thankful to be a part of the Kurn Hattin community. In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we thought we’d share Scott’s letter with you!

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children: Getting it Right for Kids

by Scott Tabachnick


Veterans’ Panel Advances Health Care, Jobs and Other Legislation

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 – The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today advanced legislation to expand access to health care and dental care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The panel also approved a package of other bills, including measures to help veterans find jobs and shield veterans from benefit disruptions in the event of another government shutdown.

“I am proud that we are making good progress in improving and expanding health care and other benefits for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the committee chairman.


Coke-Is-It

“Wealthy eccentric” Fred Koch of Guilford, tired of “cotch” pronunciation, legally changes name to “Coke-is-it.”

I remember this guy getting into the papers every so often for erratic behavior. One time, if I remember correctly, he was arrested for giving away $20 bills on Main Street. When he got before the Judge, the Judge scolded the cop with some pithy remarks.


JFK Memorial Events In Nearby Greenfield, MA

“Every once in a while a Generation has a chance to look back and reflect as to the state of the world. This November 22nd offers such an opportunity; it will be 50 years since the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. Most Americans don’t believe in the Warren Commission Report. What do you think? Was there a
military coup d’etat fifty years ago and a cover-up to this day?” …Jon Mark

On the eve of the anniversary consider the evidence in a documentary film by John Hankey, called: “Dark Legacy – George Bush and the Murder of John F. Kennedy.” It will be shown at the GREENFIELD GARDEN CINEMA,
Thursday, November 21st, 7:00 PM.


The Claire Lynch Band w/ Hot Mustard at Next Stage on Friday, November 22

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of bluegrass and Americana music with the award-winning Claire Lynch Band and double banjo bluegrass quartet Hot Mustard at Next Stage on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 pm.

The Claire Lynch Band – Claire (guitar, vocals), Matt Wingate (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Mark Schatz (bass, clawhammer banjo, percussive dance) and Bryan McDowell (mandolin, fiddle, vocals) has the innate ability to perfectly interpret the beauty, subtlety and genre-defying sophistication of Claire’s music. By any measure, the quartet is high on the bluegrass world’s A-List, with musicians whose accolades include three International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year awards and two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album (Claire), two IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards (Mark), MerleFest Doc Watson Guitar Champion (Matt ) and an unprecedented first-place win in three instrument categories at the Walnut Valley National Flatpicking Championship (Bryan).


5:45 Live: 11/15/13

5:45 Live goes live to the Rivergarden for the Strolling of the Heifer’s first minutes of official ownership, on a jam-packed edition of BCTV’s weekly media round-up that includes a look at the new structures going up in Harmony as the Brooks House project moves ahead, as well as footage from this week’s pedestrian auto-accident on Western Ave, and much much more.


New Vermont Department of Health Page

The local.

We are currently running a contest for healthy holiday vegetables. Like us now and tell us the name of your favorite recipe and enter to win a gift certificate to the Brattleboro Food Co-op.

Get updates on local health and wellness events, health insurance, WIC, nutrition and other helpful information.

For more information, contact your local Department of Health at (802) 257-2880


Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith To Be Guest Speaker at November Full Commission Meeting

Speaker of the House Shap Smith will be the guest speaker at the November Full Commission meeting of the Windham Regional Commission to be held Tuesday, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Westminster Institute (3534 Route 5). He will share his perspective on the issues confronting the legislature and the state in the upcoming session.


BMH Annual Meeting Features Special Guests and Key Topics

The Annual Meeting of the Southern Vermont Health Services Corporation and its subsidiary, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) held on November 8, 2013 featured special guests, key topics, and various recognitions.

Keynote speaker Dr. Kathleen McGraw, the Chief Medical Officer at BMH since January 2013, discussed the many ways that BMH has been focusing on and enhancing safety systems throughout the hospital. McGraw, who most recently worked at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, has earned recognition and awards during her career for improving health safety systems and leading team-based approaches to health care.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update – Week of November 17, 2013

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 in the Fall of 2015.

Night work on the existing I-91 bridge will begin on Sunday night, November 17th and will continue through Friday morning, November 22nd. Night work will continue Sunday through Thursday nights for the next several months, until demolition is complete.


BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 11/18/13

BCTV Channel 8 Schedule for the week of 11/18/13

                   Monday November 18

12:00 am      Windham Orchestra: The Social Waltzes – 10/27/13

1:35 am       For the Animals: Ep.127 – Friends of Strays

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       What Does The End Of Domestic Violence Look Like

5:00 am       Green Mtn. Global Forum – The Future of Nuclear Power


Chile: Human Rights Arts Project at Villa Grimaldi – Week1

We are in Santiago,Chile for our human rights art project MEMORIA HABLAR DIGNIDAD which is also at our Facebook site by the same name. Last year we were at Villa Grimaldi the Peace Park where thousands of
people were tortured, and two hundred thirty six people were killed by Pinochet’s soldiers. The history of this horrific period is well documented at .

We schlepped the tower about 25 kilos with the 100 Flowers of peace poems down with us. Our friend Roger did a beautiful job in making the portable tower.  We who normally travel with less than 15 kilos of luggage anywhere, were a bit overwhelmed, and then the airlines charged extra for my guitar.  But we arrived in a nice flat in the downtown.


Mary’s Mosaic

At midday Friday, November 22, 1963, my junior high school administration announced the suddenly and immediate closure of the school day – without explanation. Boarding the school buses already idling on the roundabout parking drive all students were taken home. Somehow, by the time we debarked at my rural stop, word had reached us that the President had been shot. Approaching the front lawn of our small farm, I saw my mother holding the front door half open with her head buried in the crook of her elbow sobbing uncontrollably. I knew before I climbed the front porch that our youthful President was dead.


Simple Survival Technology

The “4 Block” Rocket Stove! – DIY Rocket Stove – (Concrete/Cinder Block Rocket Stove)

– Simple DIY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmDYUrVHPWc

Lotsa lynx here.


Car Break in Suspects Arrested

Taken verbatim from the police report. More details are in the Reformer.

“Theft/Credit Card Fraud
November 15, 2013

Date of Incident: 11/14/13 1:30 am

Sgt. Witherbee

James Smith/ Arthur Jacobs IV 35/18

Brattleboro Police have been investigating numerous thefts from motor vehicles. The investigation led to James Eric Smith and Arthur Jacobs IV and Crystal Jobe. All three suspects were taken into custody by Brattleboro Police on 11/13/13.


Weekend Concert Series: David Murray Big Band and Macy Gray

Let’s visit the Estival Jazz Lugano on July 6, 2012 for a show by David Murray’s Big Band, with guest vocalist Macy Gray.

David Murray has been one of my favorite sax players since his days with the World Saxophone Quartet. He always keeps moving and experimenting, releasing albums with out-jazz trios, quartets, octets, and big bands. he works with great musicians, dabbles in musical styles he’s new to such as music of the Grateful Dead, and has embraced a unique approach to world music through his own style. He reminds me Dolphy and Coltrane, but for this era.