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Paid Sick Days are a Vermont Value

by Not Signed In | Activism

By David Van Deusen*

We, in each of our towns, and throughout Vermont are, together, a community. As Town Meeting approaches, I trust that all of us, regardless of your particular political persuasion, agree. And as a community we do well to agree that one does well, when one’s neighbor does well. This commitment to our friends, family, and fellow residents is old one. When the Green Mountain Boys evicted New York land surveyors, tax collectors, and sheriffs, I do not doubt that they too were motivated by this notion of self-preservation as inalienably linked to community; Freedom and Unity. More recently, we saw this belief manifest during the crisis following Irene. Such acts of human solidarity will never be forgotten. In essence Vermont has a long and proud history of people reaching out in solidarity when their neighbors could use a hand. We are, in a word, a people who embrace and honor the core value associated with the very notion of community as the foundation upon which rests the prosperity of the individual.

Center for Cardiovascular Health at BMH to Host Red Dress Event

by BMH | Health

To raise awareness among local women that heart disease is their #1 health threat, the Center for Cardiovascular Health at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announces it will host a Red Dress breakfast with Phaedra McDonough, APRN. The breakfast is free of charge.

The breakfast will occur on Wednesday, February 26, starting at 7:15 AM in the Brew Barry Conference Center. Phaedra will discuss the risk factors for women’s heart disease, symptoms and what women can do to prevent or reduce their risk of a heart attack. There will be time for questions to follow.

Got Tweens & Teens? Free Parenting Teens Wisely Class – March 3rd

by BAPC | Family

Do you want to learn how to problem-solve with your teen, encourage cooperation, how to listen and be heard, and to develop fair and effective discipline skills? On Monday, March 3rd from 6 to 9 PM a FREE
Parenting Teens Wisely class will be offered by the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro.

This free 3-hour workshop teaches parents skills and techniques to help them better understand and deal with their children ages 10 to 19.

Strolling of the Heifers Launches 2014 Culinary Competition: Bread Pudding!

by MartinLangeveld | Food

Amateur and professional chefs, tie on your aprons! It’s time to gear up for the Stroll’s annual culinary competition, this year featuring that good old-fashioned comfort food, bread pudding!

Now’s the time to start perfecting your bread pudding recipe, whether it’s a family heirloom handed down from your great-grandmother, or something you dreamed up and perfected yourself, and get it ready to enter in the Strolling of the Heifers Great New England Bread Pudding Bake-Off.

This year’s event will showcase bread pudding as an easy, economical and delicious dessert, and as a healthy alternative to processed commercial desserts. Contest finals will happen at the Stroll’s new home at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, downtown Brattleboro.

GMCFit is having a Membership Drive during February.

by derekgladding | Health

Green Mountain Community Fitness is the perfect place for small group trainings in downtown Brattleboro at 80 Flat St.

Start a new membership during February and your first month is only $75 (a savings of $50).

GMCFit offers a variety of trainings including Boot Camp, Cardio blasting INSANITY, BEAST Boot Camp, P90X, POWER Pilates, and Zumba.

Nutritional Couseling and personal training sessions are also available.

All levels are welcome. Are you ready for a change?!?

Strength • Wellness • Community

www.gmcfit.com

Zero Energy Homes Presentation

by Not Signed In | Home & Garden

Interested in home energy efficiency? A net Zero Energy Home is one that generates as much renewable energy as it uses. Existing homes can become Zero Energy Homes with recent innovations in heating systems and cost-competitive renewable energy options. Efficiency Vermont’s Li Ling Young will talk about this year’s pilot program to support Zero Energy Homes. For many homes, investing in radical efficiency and a renewable energy system is the most economical way to operate the home. If you have been waiting for a chance to do something about your home energy use, the time is now. Take advantage of Efficiency Vermont’s expertise to make your home what all homes should be: gracious guests on planet Earth.

Today We Fight Back

by cgrotke | Activism

You may have noticed a new banner at the bottom of the page. Today, we’re using the site to help protest NSA spying on innocent Americans, weakening of encryption standards, being generally creepy without oversight, and making the internet less fun and less useful. It’s all a part of a day of action to let legislators know that they should work on reforms. You are invited and encouraged to participate.

Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of Feb. 8th

by Brattleboro Time Trade | Activism

The Brattleboro Time Trade and iBrattleboro are exploring ways to advertise BTT members’ services & goods regularly on the iBratt website. We will start by simply submitting recent offers & requests as a story, and see what other mechanisms unfold or get developed.

RECENT OFFERS:
Pickup truck for moving or errands
Eco Toilet Tours
One ticket to a VJC concert
Complimentary Adult Lift Ticket to Mount Snow
Graphic Design
Repair Lamps/Appliances
Solar Energy Site Evaluation

Summer Ski Jump?

by cgrotke | Questions & Answers

The advance weather forecasts for the mid-February ski jump look good. More snow, perhaps, comes later in the week.

I was reading minutes of old Selectboard meetings from the 1950’s and noticed a mention of permission being granted for a banner to be hung advertising the Summer Ski Jump.

What was the Summer Ski Jump and why don’t we do it nowadays?

Winter Farmers’ Market Happenings

by Sherry | Food

Stop by the Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market Saturday! 

Lots of familiar faces, as well as some new ones for the late winter season.  Back for their second Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market visit is Bee Field Farms of Wilton, NH with honey, herbs, teas and more! Vermont Quince continues to dazzle folks with all the possibilities presented by the humble quince! Green Mountain Flour is serving up smiling pancakes with sweet maple syrup.  Or take home a fabulous quiche or some hummus to enjoy during the week from  Clay Hill Corners Blueberry Farm and CSA. There are still fresh organic apples from Dwight Miller Orchards, and fresh spinach has appeared from Deep Meadow Farm.

When Religion Is Politics – Prof Dan Miller

by Not Signed In | Spiritual

Recent decades have witnessed the emergence “political religion,” that is, social groups of global significance who define their political identities in explicitly religious terms. Examples of this phenomenon are numerous, and include global Islamism, Hindu nationalism, and the American Religious Right. This talk explores the significance of these movements for Western social and political thought and suggests how we need to reconsider our understanding of the social in light of them.

Belly Dance for Core Intelligence and Creative Expression

by MFTP | Health

Belly Dance for Core Intelligence: Our core is much more than the surface abdominals, connecting down to our pelvic floor and back and around to our sacrum. Learn how to utilize basic belly dance exercises and moves to build deep core awareness, strength, and control without ever having to do a crunch or sit up. 

Belly Dance for Creative Expression: Dance is a universal form of expression and belly dance is ancient, drawing on the social and ritual dances of many cultures. This class will provide a safe space for dancers of all levels and abilities to explore dance improvisation and creation through the language of belly dance. No prior dance experience is necessary. Please wear loose or stretchy, unrestrictive clothing. 

Taiji Quan Beginner’s Class Begins

by MFTP | Health

New Beginners Tai Chi & Taoist Exercises Starting in Putney.    

Taiji Quan, otherwise known as Supreme Ultimate Boxing, is an ancient form of martial art that has been practiced for both health and self defense. It can be practiced for recreation and to increase strength, flexibility, and vitality well into old age. Taiji Quan is not performed in the same manner as most western calisthenics or sports. It requires a tremendous amount of mental and physical concentration and control. Taiji Quan is often described as a moving meditation. After practice, one feels invigorated, clear-minded, and peaceful.

Just So Pediatrics Moves to New, Larger Location

by BMH | Health

is moving to a new location in the Medical Office Building at 19 Belmont Avenue, Suite G102 on the ground floor, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

Situated just across the street from their old location at 16 Belmont Avenue, the new office provides larger space and updated facilities, including five exam rooms instead of four. The move will take place on Friday, February 14, with the office reopening in its new location on Monday, February 17.

Just So Pediatrics offers comprehensive care to infants, children, and adolescents. The pediatric group includes Dr. Valerie Rooney, Dr. Jane Katz Field, and certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Cynthia Howes. Along with their staff, they share the goal of making your child’s visit a comfortable one.

Putney Road Traffic

by tomaidh | Questions & Answers

I had occasion to travel Putney Road today (Thursday) form about 3 till about 5, from the Common to Black Mtn. Rd..

For this entire time, traffic was bumper-to-bumper heading North.

Southbound was normal.

Does anybody know why the Northbound traffic was so slow?

92nd Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition – The Road to Olympic Ski Jumping

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Competition Slated for February 15 and 16 in Brattleboro, Vermont

BRATTLEBORO, VT. – The Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition slated for February 15 and 16, 2014 in Brattleboro, Vermont will feature more than 40 of the world’s top jumpers from the US, Europe and Canada. One contender is Chris Lamb of the Andover Outing Club, who won the 2010 and 2013 Harris Hill competitions and holds the hill record for the longest jump, 335 feet. Lamb says he’s looking forward to competing at Harris Hill and retiring the Fred Harris Trophy. The Fred Harris Trophy has only been retired five times.

Lamb is only one of a number world-class jumpers who have competed at Harris Hill—some as recently as last year. Of the recently announced male members of the U.S. Olympic ski jumping team all have competed at Harris Hill. This includes Nick Alexander, Nick Fairall, Peter Frenette and Anders Johnson.

Caregiver Support Group

by Not Signed In | Health

Are you feeling alone and stressed taking care of a loved one? Would it be helpful to have a safe and confidential place to discuss your concerns and feelings related to being a caregiver? Would support, encouragement and connection to community resources help you in your role as caregiver?

Whether you are caring for a loved one full-time or part-time, please join us at our next Caregiver Support Group. You will be able to connect with others who are currently caring for loved ones (including long-distance) or perhaps are beginning to prepare for the responsibilities of care.