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The Games of Boris Spassky – Part III – Match of the Century Game 11

by CCM Holland Mills | Recreation & Sports

The 1972 World Chess Championship in Reykjavik saw Spassky’s early two-game lead become a three-game deficit after Fischer won games 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10.    In the face of such dire straits, Spassky chose to enter Fischer’s beloved Poisoned Pawn variation despite the Challenger having a +5=4-0 record with the Black pieces.

Spassky uncorked a novelty on his 14th move; soon after, Fischer began to play inaccurately while Spassky’s relentless precision soon allowed him to win the wayward Black queen.   At its midpoint the outcome of the match was again in doubt.

Death By Medicaid Cuts

by RDavis | Activism

Cutting social support programs that help the most vulnerable in our society has always been a Republican blood sport. Most of those rich old white men have contempt for “those people” who live on handouts because they deem them too lazy to help themselves. It is an old trope. But now things have gotten worse.

The current Republican budget plan which looks likely to pass includes massive cuts to the Medicaid program.

Here is some context from the Center for American Progress. “Last week, House Republicans passed a budget resolution directing Congress to make cuts that would slash Medicaid funding and threaten health care access for millions in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Medicaid is the largest single health insurance program in the United States and covers 72 million Americans, including low-income kids and adults, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.”

The Games of Boris Spassky – Part II

by CCM Holland Mills | Recreation & Sports

Spassky became the Tenth World Champion in 1969, overcoming Tigran Petrosian in a tightly-contested match.   Here the Challenger becomes Champion by exploiting minor missteps to achieve a material advantage which is then converted into a winning attack.

The Zelensky- Trump Setup

by RDavis | Activism

If you think that the shouting match that unfolded between Zelensky and Trump in the White House was some sort of spontaneous, unexpected event then I have some oceanfront property in Nebraska I can sell you for a very low price.

Trump never intended to make a deal with Ukraine’s leader so he used his usual grifter/bully tactics to stage an event that would allow him to withdraw U.S. support from Ukraine. At least in his twisted, devious mind he would now be able to throw all support behind Russia.

The entire scene in the White House was bizarre from the start. It was billed as a deal-making event where Ukraine would agree to sell rare earth minerals to the U.S. in exchange for concessions in the Russia-Ukraine war.

February 2025 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

February was a wet, mostly snowy month.  Total moisture recorded for the month was 4.74″ compared to the NOAA average of 3.11″.  For the calendar year 6.31″ compared to the normal of 6.50″.

Snow for the month measured 26.3″ compared to my average since 1993 of 16.5″.  The most I have recorded in February is 40.0″ in 2014-15 and the least is 0.0″ in 2012-13.  For the season, snow total stands at 50.4″, about a foot below the season average of 62.5″ with March and April to go.  My snow stake out in the yard is at 14″ this morning and will vary greatly upon how much sun you receive along with how much snow has fallen.

The Games of Boris Spassky – Part I

by CCM Holland Mills | Recreation & Sports

This game, from the 1960 USSR Championship played in Leningrad, Spassky’s birthplace, was famous in its own right at the time and served as inspiration for the chess game featured in the James Bond film From Russia With Love.

While Spassky’s 15th move was later found to be technically inaccurate, Bronstein had used two hours of time at that juncture, leaving a mere half-hour for his next 26 moves.   Under time pressure even the elite stumble in the face of complexity, and  so Black’s consequent misstep allowed Spassky to finish the game with unerring precision.

Local Solutions Protect Us All – Windham County Heat Fund Benefit at Vermont Jazz Center

by RDavis | Activism

On Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. the Windham County Heat Fund will hold a benefit concert in conjunction with the Vermont Jazz Center. It is 20 years since we started the fund and the need never diminishes. This concert is not so much of a celebration but more of a lamentation of the fact that the fund still needs to exist. On a hopeful note, we do not rely on any government funding for our efforts and that means our money is local and it stays local.

This has been an unusual year for the fund. Although it is still February our statistics put us at the end of the season, meaning we are very low on funds because about 100 individuals and families have been provided with $48,850 in fuel while we have received $45,503 from individual donors, local businesses, churches and grantees. The surplus we had at the end of last year has made a big difference.

Interfaith Youth Group Sets Sights on Spring Service & Learning to Asheville, NC

by Nanci Leitch | Activism

A multicultural community of idealistic teenagers and young adults, the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Youth Group comes together monthly to develop friendships, to have fun and to provide service to others. Twenty-one members of their group, ranging in age from 13 to 22, are busy fundraising to make their dream of a service and learning trip to North Carolina a reality this spring.

Brian Remer, one of the adult leaders describes the group as being made up of young people who are interested in sharing their life experiences and cultures and providing each other support while doing community service that helps others. Nearly half of the group are young newcomers from Democratic Republic of Congo, refugees who were resettled in the area in the last several years.

“We first got the idea last fall when we heard about the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene on the area surrounding Asheville, North Carolina, as it was eerily reminiscent of the damages we experienced from Hurricane Irene in the Windham County area,” Remer said.

Harris Hill – All Events on Saturday

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Brattleboro, VT. (February 15, 2025) —   This weekend’s Harris Hill Ski Jump competition schedule has changed due to pending winter weather that will be arriving late afternoon today.

Today’s event will be a full day of competition hosting both the Pepsi Challenge/US Cup competition AND the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament. There will be no competition tomorrow, Sunday. Below is the schedule of events.

A Bigger Prize

by RDavis | Activism

I told myself I was going to try to keep away from writing about the madman who is running this country. All of us have to figure out a way to preserve our sanity for the next four years and retreat has become an option for many. But the future that I see unfolding demands to be talked about because all of our lives may be transformed in ways we do not welcome.

I got a call from a woman in Florida who is married to a Puerto Rican man and they have two small children. They are living in a state of heightened fear every day and they are looking for a safer place to live. She knew nothing about Brattleboro but happened upon our little town in the cybersphere and wanted to talk to someone who lives here.

Harris Hill Ski Jumping Weekend

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

WHAT: This weekend marks the 103rd year of the Harris Hill Ski Jumping competition, the only Olympic sized ski jump in New England, February 14-16, 2025 in Brattleboro, Vermont. The event has a festive atmosphere for the whole family with opening ceremonies, live event announcing, music, local food and drink, a jumbotron and souvenirs. The weekend will serve as a stop on the US Cup competition of the United States American Ski Jumping (USASJ) series.

On Friday, February 14 ♥️, Harris Hill Ski Jump will host a Friday night target jump competition featuring athletes from the weekend’s lineup of competitors. Jumpers aim to land as close as possible to a TSSD Services logo painted on the landing to win a cash prize. The event is FREE and a thank you for the greater Brattleboro community for its continued support of the annual ski jumping event. Live announcing and limited hot drinks will be available for sale for Friday.

Spring Training for Serious Illness Program Volunteers

by EileenBAH | Health

BAH is pleased to be offering another volunteer training for the Serious Illness Program. The training will be starting in April with days/times to be determined to allow for maximum flexibility and accessibility.
 
The Serious Illness Program was created to offer support, solace, and assistance to people going through a life-altering serious illness that may or may not carry a terminal prognosis. 
 
This is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with clients who are learning to adapt to the changes a serious illness brings. 

Brattleboro and VT COVID-19 Regional Dashboard Summary – February 2025

by cgrotke | Health

Welcome to the February 2025 dashboard summary. We continue semi-regular COVID-19 dashboard numbers from the Vermont Department of Health, and MA and NH counties that surround Brattleboro, as long as they continue providing them. Numbers are low, but not zero. Scroll down the new comments for the latest.

VT, NH and MA do weekly updates, near the end of the week, so we update on Fridays usually. Variant updates are every two weeks.

Sports – A Healthy Refuge

by RDavis | Recreation & Sports

If there was ever a time when we needed a refuge from the madness of the world it is now. Many of us are finding are own personal refuges and one of mine is sports. It doesn’t matter whether you are a participant or a spectator/fan because once you are immersed in any kind of sporting experience it is easy to forget about the rest of the world for a time. Reminiscing about your own personal sports history also has value.

My favorite sports are baseball and basketball. I have never been a football fan and I attribute that to the fact that my high school didn’t have a football team. I was the team manager for most of the sports at my high school, sort of a combination mascot and all around errand boy for the coach and players.

Our soccer team was one of the best in the state. A lot of that had to do with the fact that all the other teams we played had their best athletes on their football teams. All the big guys that usually don’t play soccer were on our team and we literally trampled most of the other teams.