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150 Years Ago (1863 12/18-21)

by BusyMom | History

U.S. Barracks, Brattleboro, Dec. 18th,
1863.

Dearest Abiah,

I improve the leisure I now have in writing to you a few lines. The recruits are coming in fast. Yesterday 161 arrived. 260 have just marched from the ground for the cars. The paymaster worked all night getting the rolls signed. Just imagine 260 slow penmen signing their name 12 times each, that is equal to one man signing 3120 times. Any ordinary penman could write the names in one fourth the time. I was in the Captain’s office writing at the time they commenced, so escaped and got to bed at 9.

Charles Brooks slept with me last night. He, William Barrett, Sam Townsend and Elbridge Varnum are in barracks close to ours. I have only seen the names of Calkins Burroughs, Parker and Elias. I put them down. Perhaps, Zopher thought they would go into the 10th Regt. But a sharp shooter got hold of them and they are booked for the 3 S. S. I am now waiting for the bank rolls to commence filling them for the next detachment. They mean to get them off Monday. Charles Brooks and the boys that came with him were just one day too late to get their names on for this detachment. Wesley Allen is here yet. The detachment for the gulf will not get off for some time. Wesley has been quite sick, but is now better. He is going home on a furlough. He has got one for eight days, if I can get it signed for him. Am waiting for the captain to come back. Six is all they give. If I succeed for him I think I shall stand a good chance when I want one. If he comes he will probably get home tomorrow night. I do not have as good a chance to see people that I know as I did when I was in Mead’s office, but it is much more pleasant where I am now.

5:45 Live: 12/20/13

by BrattleboroTV | Media

Get in the spirit of the season with a full-to-the-brim edition of 5:45 Live stuffed with holiday cheer, along with the latest headlines and reports–like this week’s big Brattleboro Town School Board decision, DRB approval for a new marijuana dispensary in town, and much much more.

Weekend Concert Series: Muppets

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Esoteric out jazz? Strange funk from specific neighborhoods in Washington, DC? An overplayed pop star?

Not this week. This week we have Muppets.

This is a 1987 TV special called Muppet Family Christmas, featuring holiday songs, talented frogs, fashionable pigs, and bad jokes by bears. In fact, it features characters from the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies all performing together.

World Book Night in Brattleboro

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Register Now to be a Giver at World Book Night in Brattleboro. The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library are once again participating in World Book Night – an international event that gives volunteers thousands of free books to distribute in their communities. 

This year’s book titles are diverse and wonderful; authors like Agatha Christie; Joseph Heller and Maria Semple; books ranging widely from the incredibly popular “The Dog Stars” to “The Tipping Point” to the beautifully written “Bridge to Terabithia”.

It’s easy to get involved. Simply go to and look over the book titles; choose the 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of books that you would like to give away. Read the guidelines and apply to be a giver and submit. It’s that easy!

BCTV Video Calendar: Dec 2013 – Pub Sing, Nutcracker, Santa

by BrattleboroTV | Media

Get in the spirit of the season with an edition of BCTV’s Video Calendar that includes the Brattleboro School of Dance as they bring the holiday classic the Nutcracker to NEYT, KidsPlayce as they bring Santa to town, and the Brattleboro Musuem as they bring the sun back closer to the earth with their annual Solstice Celebration.

UFOs Cancelled Due to Snow

by Rolf | Culture

Instead of launching UFOs on the solstice, this year we will be carving more giant faces in some of the snow mounds that have cropped up all over Brattleboro. We will be meeting at the Bagel Works at 10 AM this Saturday. If you are interested in carving faces with us, come on down. Bring a shovel or a trowel. We had a great time carving these last winter, and they really add some good cheer to Brattleboro during dark December days.

Here is a link to a photo we took of last years face. 


More Holiday Fun – The Classic Cards, Calendars, and Videos

by cgrotke | Entertainment

Time for more holiday fun.

In addition to the iBrattleboro animated interactive calendar, there are some more goodies in the bag to share.

For example, we have the Christmas Calendar at Castle Arcana, and numerous cards to play with, such as Build Your Own Snowman, Trim Your Own Tree, and more at http://www.castlearcana.com/christmas/

Continuing Education Courses Now Open at Marlboro’s Graduate Center

by Caleb Clark | Education

Enrollment is now open for Marlboro Continuing Education courses that can be taken on a per-class basis. The trimester begins Friday, January 3rd. Register using the : http://gradschool.marlboro.edu/admissions/application/cep?d=CEP

Also, if you know someone you think would be right for a Marlboro graduate degree, this is a great time for them to contact admissions to find out more information. 

5:45 Live: 12/13/13

by BrattleboroTV | Media

It’s a Friday-the-13th edition of 5:45 Live that includes in-depth(ish) reporting on the latest VY v. VT tax news, the big VT Health Connect website phase two IT contract, the DOJ’s plans for Marijuana enforcement, and plenty of seasonal excitement–like Townshend’s Holiday of Horses parade, Brattleboro’s Vigil for the Homeless, and much more.

Christmas Tree Factoids

by cohnpr | Culture

Vermont-grown Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes are currently for sale by the Brattleboro Rotary Club in front of Brattleboro Bowl on Putney Road.  Sale hours are Monday-Thursday 11-7; Friday 11-6 and Saturday-Sunday 10-6.

All trees are $40 with proceeds supporting the club’s annual local student scholarship awards.

The Club offers the following Christmas Tree factoids to use around your decorated tree.

BCTV Channel 8 & 10 Schedules for the Week of 12/16/13

by BCTVProg | Media

BCTV Ch.8 Schedule for the week of 12-16-13

                   Monday December 16                

12:00 am      Organic Farming Pioneers: CSA Showcase – 11/10/13

1:02 am       Tech Jam 2013 Panel: Civic Hacking Showcase

2:00 am       FSTV Overnight

4:00 am       Foundations of the American Constitution Pt.2

5:15 am       2013 Veterans Day at the VFW in Brattleboro

6:29 am       Cuban Bridge Music Program -Episode 15

Renowned Choir Seeks Singers

by JohnWilmerding | Arts

I recently joined the Blanche Moyse Chorale, a longtime hope and ambition of mine, and discovered that the group is down a few singers. If you are an experienced choral singer, drop me an email and I will put you in touch with the Chorale’s officers for an audition. I just know there are a few fine singers out there who will jump at the chance to join one of the finest select choruses in the region!

150 Years Ago (1863 12/13-15)

by BusyMom | History

U. S. Barracks, Brattleboro, Vt. Dec. 13th, 1863.

Dear Abiah –

This is Sunday, but I have done a hard day’s work. Two hundred men have signed the pay rolls today. Each
man has signed name on ten different rolls. There were four of us to attend to it, Barton Works, Henry Newell, Stephen Josyln and myself and I tell you it has been close work, the blunders. You now how it is about showing them where to sign. Well, imagine 200 and I took them first. It has rained hard all day, all come in as wet as rats.

Weekend Concert Series: John Coltrane

by cgrotke | Entertainment

I’ve been listening to John Coltrane since college, when my pal Everett introduced me to the world of jazz. At first it sounded like a lot of squeaking and noise to my ear. After hearing a new piece, I’d jokingly ask if he was done tuning up.

Ev taught me to think of the jazz sax as a voice, a singer. He wanted me to listen to what Coltrane was saying, not playing.

It took a while to get it. I made a cassette with Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, and John Coltrane’s Love Supreme on the other side, and let it play over and over again.

WVEW Fundraiser at The Backside Cafe

by wildgoose | Music

Everyone is welcome to come and meet their favorite DJ’s from 107.7 FM WVEW.

Attendance to the event is free, and Backside Café will have their bar and a limited bar food menu available for attendees. A portion of the proceeds from the night’s drink sales will go towards the radio station.

Live DJ’s:
Selector D (host of One Drop)
Zig-Zag (host of Patterns of Chaos)
Wild Goose (host of The Future Collective Presents…)

BCTV Video Calendar: 12/12/13 – WVEW Dance Party, Reel Queer Movie Nights, Digital Arts, + More!

by BrattleboroTV | Media

 

A movie screening-tastic edition of BCTV’s Video Calendar includes ‘ShrinkRap: Dysfunctional Families in Film’ at Next Stage Arts, ‘Crime After Crime’ presented by the Women’s Freedom Center, Reel Queer Movie Nights’ ‘Queer Farmer Film Project.’ Plus, get a look a WVEW’s big dance party fundraiser, and Hollywood algorithm master Matthew Ostrowski at the Center for Digital Arts.

Three Fundraising Events to Benefit the Brooks Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

The Holiday Book Sale at the Brooks Memorial Library will continue until December 21st. 

Raffle tickets are on sale for a custom designed and hand knitted doll created by local Newbury Award winning author, Karen Hesse.  Hesse says that she designs these unique, one-of-a kind dolls as she knits – the doll’s character, shape and color evolves while she is knitting. The raffle tickets are $1.00 each or $5 for six tickets. Raffle proceeds will benefit the Children’s Room programs.

Also on sale is the very popular 2014 Book Lover’s Calendar. The calendars are great holiday gift items and are available at the Library Front Desk for $10 each.