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Rep. Welch Statement on Syria

by Not Signed In | Politics

Congressman Peter Welch made the following statement in response to President Obama’s remarks this afternoon on Syria:

“Congress has a clear Constitutional responsibility to authorize military action. Consistent with this profound responsibility, I have strongly advocated that President Obama send any plan for military intervention in Syria to Congress for review and authorization. I am pleased that he has now agreed to do so. I will be an active participant in the forthcoming debate and will be mindful throughout of the enormous sacrifice we ask every day of the men and women of America’s military and their families.”

Sanders Statement on Syria

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 – Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement today after President Barack Obama announced that he will ask Congress to authorize military strikes against Syria:

“The use of chemical weapons by the Assad dictatorship is inhumane and a violation of international law. However, at this point in time, I need to hear more from the president as to why he believes it is in the best interests of the United States to intervene in Syria’s bloody and complicated civil war. I look forward to the Senate debate that will be taking place in the very near future.”

Grossed Out On Main Street

by Not Signed In | Op/Ed

I wonder who left a huge pile of partially formed excrement on Main Street Friday evening. I think it was near Fireworks. More importantly, though, it was in the middle of the sidewalk. It was presented to the town, I would guess, by either a big dog or a sick or inebriated human. Or by an individual with serious boundary issues.

I know about it because I stepped in it!

It fouled my almost brand new pair of shoes, which don’t feel new anymore. It caused a disgusting end to a pleasant evening out. And then, at home, I had to spend time and energy scrubbing the sole of the soiled shoe with a grout brush.

What Are You Grateful For?

by Lee | Arts

There are two big chalkboards in town asking “What are you grateful for?”

Both photos are from the one on Flat Street. The other one is in Harmony Lot. They are the launch of the Watching Angels Public Art Show.

So, what will you write?

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

by Not Signed In | Family

Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) presents the 15th annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (Zhongqiu Jie) which is celebrated in China, Korea, and Vietnam. After Lunar New Year, this is the second most important festival of the year.

This is a traditional time for families to gather and give thanks for the harvest and for harmonious unions. Offerings may be made to Chang’e, the Moon Goddess of Immortality. This is the festival for carrying lanterns and sharing mooncakes. Come celebrate this harvest festival with crafts, stories, songs, food, t’ai chi, martial arts, and the rope tug. Then watch the harvest moon rise. The celebration will start with a pot-luck.

Weekend Concert Series- Cyndi Lauper- Jazzaldia, San Sebastien, Spain, 2011

by annikee | Entertainment

A few months back I posted the . That concert was Cyndi at her height of popularity from her first album “She’s So Unusual”, when she was young and full of frenetic energy. This concert is from the tour for her 11th album, “Memphis Blues”, and shows her as an older, accomplished musician. Lauper’s voice has lost none of its range and if possible is even more remarkable at nearly 60. 

The album and tour celebrated her lifelong love of the blues. Lauper sings many of her hits along with these, most rearranged to showcase her unique talents. I’ll leave the surprises for you to find. 

SeVWA’s E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites is Finished for 2013

by sevwa.wqmp | Nature

August 28th was the last river sampling day of Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance’s (SeVWA’s) 2013 river monitoring program. In 2013 there were 24 river and stream sites that SeVWA monitored. Those sites were in the West River and Williams River watersheds and along the Saxtons River and Whetstone Brook. This summer the river monitoring program began on Wednesday, June 19th and this past Wednesday, August 28th was SeVWA’s sixth and final monitoring day of the 2013 season!

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 3, 2013

by cgrotke | Town News

Two departmental reports are scheduled for the first September meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard. Planning Services’s Rod Francis and Brooks Memorial Library’s Jerry Carbone will update the board and the public about their respective departments and answer the question of what they would do with a 5% increase or decrease in their budgets.

ASL interpreters will begin translating each meeting beginning Tuesaday evening. This will allow even more members of the public to find out about repairs to Williams Street and the Cooke Road Bridge, preliminary budget discussions, the communications tower on Wantastiquet, the Town Manager search, and more.

You can attend in person at the Municipal Center or watch on BCTV via cable or stream, or read about it here the next day. Feel free to bring up other items not on the agenda during Public Participation.

Community Meeting on Revitalizing Brattleboro’s Downtown

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The public is invited to take part in a town hall meeting on revitalizing Brattleboro’s downtown. The meeting will take place on Monday, September 9th at 5 p.m. at the Latchis Theater.

Because of the hardships downtown Brattleboro suffered as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, the State of Vermont has chosen Brattleboro, along with six other towns, to receive consulting assistance through a federal Disaster Relief Grant. As the designated downtown organization, Building a Better Brattleboro has been asked to help implement the project.

Yankee, What Next?

by tomaidh | Sci-Tech

When Yankee powers down, it will have to be “decommissioned”. However, that process only applies to those structures and appurtenances that were actually involved in nuclear production or otherwise affected. There are numerous other buildings that can remain. They should be put to useful service.

The spent fuel, of course, must be dealt with in an urgent manner. In reality, nothing useful can be developed there while the fuel remains.

One of the biggest assets at the site is the 345,000 volt transmission line network extending North, South and East. Although not owned by Yankee, it is located there and has been significantly upgraded recently. Any new development needs to take this into consideration.

Senator Leahy Welcomes Long-Awaited DOJ Guidelines For Enforcement Of Federal Marijuana Laws

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday welcomed the Justice Department’s release of guidelines for enforcement of federal marijuana laws in light of action at the state level.

Leahy has pressed the administration for such guidance since last year, when he wrote to the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) after two states voted to legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Leahy also announced earlier this week that the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next month titled “Conflicts between State and Federal Marijuana Laws.” Deputy Attorney General James Cole, who released DOJ’s guidelines on Thursday, will testify at the hearing.

West Brattleboro Power Outage?

by cgrotke | Other

People have been calling to see what’s going on in West Brattleboro. Power went out a while ago.

Green Mountain Power’s outage center says Brattleboro has 3 separate problems, affecting 3252 customers. Not much other information to share.

Windham Regional Commission Statement on Announcement by Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee That the Plant Will Close in 2014

by Not Signed In | State News

The Windham Regional Commission has always maintained a neutral position as to whether or not the Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee power station located in Vernon should continue operation. We have taken this position so we could facilitate discussions among those on all sides of the issue. The Commission has, however, been very involved in Vermont Public Service Board dockets since 2007, arguing not for whether or not the plant should continue operation, but rather for what is in the best interest of the region when the plant does eventually cease operation, whenever and for whatever reason that occurs.

BMH Receives National Breast Cancer Foundation Grant

by BMH | Health

Will fund nurse navigation services for third straight year

Officials at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced today that the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) has awarded a grant in the amount of $22,560 to help continue providing nurse navigation services as part of the hospital’s Comprehensive Breast Care program.

The NBCF awarded similar one-year grants to BMH in 2011 and 2012. The amount reflects both the need for nurse navigation services and the benefits it provides for patients with breast cancer.

Windham Regional Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WRVOAD)

by Not Signed In | The Region

The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) is pleased to announce that it is forming a local VOAD to serve the Windham region. For the past two years, the Southeastern Vermont Irene Long Term Recovery Committee (SEVT LTRC) has been working steadily to help Windham County residents who were left with unmet needs after Tropical Storm Irene. Although most of those who fell victim to the floods received help from FEMA Individual Assistance, there remained almost 1500 cases in our region with unmet needs. Disaster relief donations of over $300,000 (with United Way of Windham County as fiscal agent) have been judiciously distributed by the LTRC, along with state funds and hundreds of hours of volunteer labor. With the resources expended, the LTRC will be “going dormant” on August 31, 2013.

Brattleboro Labor Day Closings

by Not Signed In | Town News

In observance of Labor Day, all Town offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2013, with the exception of emergency services.

The Brattleboro Treasurer’s office will also be closed for renovations on Tuesday, September 3. Anyone wanting to make a payment will be asked to see the Finance Director in Suite 208 on the second floor of the Municipal Center.

Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Sunday and Monday, September 1 and 2, 2013. All other violations, including extended parking, will be enforced.

Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, September 1 and 2, 2013.

Trash, recycling and composting WILL NOT be picked up on Monday, September 2, 2013. All pick-ups will be delayed by one day all week.

Gov. Peter Shumlin’s Announcement On Entergy’s Planned Closing Vermont Yankee

by Not Signed In | Politics

“This is the right decision for Vermont as we move to a greener energy future.

Entergy’s announcement today confirms what we have known for some time.  Operating and maintaining this aging nuclear facility is too expensive in today’s world.  Vermont utilities no longer have contracts with Vermont Yankee, and our regional grid is not reliant upon it for stability.  Vermont has made clear its desire to move toward more sustainable, renewable sources of electricity, and many of our surrounding states are doing likewise. 

Vermont Yankee was built with an expectation that it would operate for a limited period of years.  While it is no secret that Vermont and Entergy have disagreed on how long that should be, it is now clear that Vermont Yankee is a part of the energy past, and will not be a part of our energy future.