Hello

Stories

A Few Days In – An iBrattleboro Update

by cgrotke | iBrattleboro

I thought I’d give a little update on where we stand after a few days with the new site.

Overall, we’re really happy with the way things are going. You seem to be finding your way back, logging in, and using the site like before. Do fill out your user profile, and be sure to list your skills…

We’re very happy to receive your reports of problems, issues, and suggestions. We’ve solved many of them, and are continuing down the list. Next up is work on the image uploading system. 

PACE (Property-Assessed Clean Energy) Info Event, February 27th – All Welcome, Especially Town Meeting Reps!

by meimar | Town Plan

To the Brattleboro Community:

The PACE (Property-Assessed Clean Energy) subcommittee of the Brattleboro Energy Committee invites all Brattleboro citizens – especially Town Meeting Reps – to an evening workshop on Wednesday, February 27 to learn about the PACE decision on the agenda of our upcoming town meeting on 3/23, and get answers to any questions you may have about this very exciting and significant new avenue to energy efficiency and renewable energy in our town.

Efficiency Vermont consultant and PACE expert Carol Weston will join us either in person or via Skype to answer your questions and describe how communities all over Vermont are in the process of implementing PACE.

iBrattleboro Weekend Concert Series: Modest Mouse

by Lise | Music

To make up for last week, and only a day late at that, I opted for a more straight-ahead rock show from now veteran Modest Mouse, performed in 2010.  YouTube commenters seem to have decided that the venue was in Sioux Falls, SD.  I’ve been a fan of Modest Mouse for most of the last decade, having originally fallen for Moon Over Antarctica.  One of the best songs on that record, Third Planet, is included on the playlist along with a host of other tunes from throughout their career.

Warning: There are a few swears.

Skatepark Design on Selectboard Agenda This Tuesday

by JohnWilmerding | Op/Ed

Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Readers of iBrattleboro.com:

You will recall that the Selectboard acted a handful of months ago to commit to a contract with a design firm, which has since been working on the design for the skating facilities at Crowell Park.

Senators Challenge Postal Plan to End Saturday Delivery

by Not Signed In | Politics

Unauthorized proposal would hurt rural communities, cost jobs

WASHINGTON – Twenty-four senators, led by Tom Udall of New Mexico, are challenging the postmaster general’s authority to discontinue Saturday mail delivery later this year without congressional approval.

In a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, the senators acknowledge the financial challenges the Postal Service is facing and urge him to work with Congress to address these problems through bipartisan reform, such as the Senate legislation passed last year.

They also point out that a shift to five-day service could lead to further declines in mail volume and revenues, worsening the U.S. Postal Service’s overall condition.

Gay Jew in Uganda Travelogue/Fundraiser

by KenS | Activism

If you’re free, please please come! (I really want to pack the house…)  -Ken

“TULIBALUGANDA” A BENEFIT TRAVELOGUE PERFORMANCE FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AIDS CHARITIES, AT THE NEW ENGLAND YOUTH THEATRE ON FEBRUARY 20, 2013 at 7:00pm.

River Garden Finances

by RobertOeser | Town News

Does anyone have a comprehensive file on how much public monies were invested in the Robert Gibson River Garden?  At a recent Selectboard meeting, a member of the Town Finance Committee asked the question. After some thought, the Town Manager said the Town probably could not answer that specific question. It could only account for Town funds that went into the property, not all public funds.

Safely Dispose Of Your Medication In An Rx Drug Drop Box Near You

by BAPC | Health

Flushing your prescription medications is not safe for the environment. Medications thrown in the trash or left in your home could end up in the wrong hands. Three Prescription (Rx) Drug Drop Boxes are now available in Windham County. Safely dispose of your prescription medications (pills and patches only) at the following locations:

Brattleboro Police Department: 230 Main St., Brattleboro (24/7)

Bellows Falls Police Department: 170 Rockingham St., Bellows Falls (24/7)

Windham County Sheriff’s Department: 11 Jail St., Newfane (7am-10pm daily)

Brains Matter – Understanding the Developing Adolescent Brain

by BAPC | Health

At BAPC, we’re often asked by parents, caregivers and educators, in our community, to share tips and strateges for preventing youth from experimenting with drugs, alcohol and other substances. Many parents are aware that teens often have a prevelant misconception about the safety of experimenting with substances including marijuana and prescription drugs.

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – February 19, 2013

by cgrotke | Town News

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Brattleboro’s new Town Plan will be approved by the Selectboard at their next regular Tuesday night meeting at the Municipal Center.

If you attend in person or watch on TV, you will also hear discussions of a new gravity fed sewer line for Black Mountain, an update on progress with Brattleboro’s new skatepark design, talk of taxing your gasoline, thoughts on changing the boundaries for the Downtown Improvement District, and the parking garage committee will be dissolved.

All this and more on Tuesday night, and you can read about it in detail here the morning after.

Near Misses

by Ezie | Other

In the many years I have worried about what disaster could befall Vermont Yankee, I never imagined this one:

“…the area where the meteor exploded was 100 kilometers (60 miles) from
the Mayak nuclear storage and disposal facility, which holds dozens of
tons of weapons-grade plutonium. He said the Russian government has
underestimated potential risks of the region.

A chemical weapons disposal facility at Shchuchye in the Chelyabinsk region
contains some 6,000 tons (5,460 metric tons) of nerve agent including
sarin and VX, accounting for about 14 percent of the chemical weapons
that Russia is committed to destroy.”

Douglas Cox – iBrattleboro 2013 Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Moderator Interview

by cgrotke | Politics

This year, two candidates are hoping to get your vote to become Moderator of Representative Town Meeting. As with Selectboard candidates, we’ve sent emails and invitations to use the site to communicate with voters to each.

Douglas Cox is one of those candidates, and his interview follows.

….

Tell us a little about yourself…

Photo… Solar Collector…

by monteverde | Pets

In Which Doodle Takes Advantage of Some Bright February Sunshine to Fight the Cabin Fever, and I Try to Figure out the New iBrattleboro Image Posting System

Sanders, Boxer Propose Climate Change Bills

by Not Signed In | Politics

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 – Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) today introduced comprehensive legislation on climate change.

Boxer is chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Sanders sits on the environment committee and also is a member of the Senate energy committee.

Under the legislation, a fee on carbon pollution emissions would fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. The proposal also would provide rebates to consumers to offset any efforts by oil, coal or gas companies to raise prices.

Downtown Brattleboro Sidewalk Project Meeting

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Residents and Business Owners:

The Town is planning to install new sidewalks on the east side of Main Street, starting at the Gilbert Memorial Bridge and continuing north to Walnut Street. Some sections of this sidewalk were recently replaced as part of a VTrans project. The Downtown Sidewalk Project will replace the sections that have not yet been upgraded. The project is intended to improve safety for pedestrians and create a more attractive Main Street. Two FHWA Enhancement grants and a local match in the form of a bond fund this project.