News & Information

News and information sections, from near to far

Express Fluency Featured in Brattleboro Reformer

by expressfluency | Other

“Brattleboro’s Express Fluency offers new approach to learning languages.”
August 18, 2016

BRATTLEBORO — Elissa McLean has heard the same sad story more times than she can count: Adults say to her, “I took (fill in the language) for years in high school/college, but I can’t speak a word.”

McLean, founder and owner of Express Fluency, a language school and teacher training center, intends to change that by offering a new kind of language class. The method she uses is based on TCI, Teaching with Comprehensible Input. (Listening and reading comprise input; speaking and writing are output.)

RT 30 Closure Schedule Update – Monday

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

Route 30 closure for today, August 29, 2016 will be extended to 8:00 p.m. this evening.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Bonnie Clark
Field Office Manager
Public Relations Officer
PCL Civil Constructors, Inc.
41 Spring Tree Road | Brattleboro, Vermont 05301

Savings Bank of Walpole Hosts Annie Kuster

by Not Signed In | Business

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE HOSTS CONGRESSWOMAN ANNIE KUSTER AS PART OF ABA’S “TAKE YOUR LAWMAKER TO WORK” INITIATIVE

Keene, NH, – Savings Bank of Walpole was pleased to host Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) on August 23rd as part of the American Bankers Association’s (ABA) “Take your Lawmaker to Work,” program. During her visit to the Bank, Congresswoman Kuster met SBW employees and customers and also learned more about the Bank’s operations and role as a community partner.

Western Avenue Paving Schedule

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

As part of the Town’s paving program, the Town has contracted with Vermont Roadworks LLC to resurface Western Avenue from Allerton Avenue to Chestnut Hill. They are currently scheduled to mill the pavement on August 30th, 2016 from 6:00 pm until 12:00 am (midnight). We anticipate paving Western Avenue on September 6, 2016 during the evening hours as well to reduce traffic impacts.

During these evenings, please find off street parking in this area.

If you have any questions, please contact Hannah O’Connell, Highway and Utilities Superintendent, at the Brattleboro Department of Public Works at (802) 254 – 4255 or hoconnell@brattleboro.org.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Energy Committee will meet on Monday, August 29, 2016, at 5:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. NOTE: The committee will NOT meet on its normal Monday schedule in September due to the Labor Day Holiday.

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

RT 30 Closure Schedule Update

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The RT 30 Road Closure Schedule has been revised as follows:

Friday, August 26, 2016 – CANCELLED

Monday, August 29, 2016 – ADDED TO REPLACE 8/26

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 (Backup/Makeup Day if Needed)

Thursday, September 01, 2016 – CANCELLED

Town of Brattleboro Invites Public Comment on Comprehensive Review of Town Operations (CRTO)

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is reminding all residents that the draft Comprehensive Review of Town Operations (CRTO) document is posted on the Town’s website and that everyone is welcome to provide input. The deadline for submitting comments and suggested changes is Friday, September 9. The revised draft will be considered at the Selectboard meeting on September 20 or October 4.

The draft CRTO contains an introductory letter from Town Manager Peter Elwell and 50 separate “action items” in categories ranging from “Already Accomplished” and “in Progress” to short term (0-2 years), medium term (2-5 years), and long term (more than 5 years) timeframes for implementation. The draft document was created by the Town’s management team after it completed a thorough review of all Town services and support functions. The 50 action items represent small and large scale changes that staff is proposing to improve the community and/or save taxpayers money
.

Savings Bank of Walpole Breaks Ground on Fifth Branch

by Not Signed In | Business

SAVINGS BANK OF WALPOLE BREAKS GROUND FOR FIFTH BRANCH
Local builder and tradespeople chosen to build new location

Keene, NH, – Savings Bank of Walpole continues to branch out into the community and recently celebrated its future new Court Street, Keene location with a groundbreaking ceremony. The ceremony was held on Friday, August 5th at the site of the new branch located at 817 Court Street, (across from Dunkin Donuts). Attendees included several SBW executives and members of the bank’s Board of Trustees, along with the president and architect from local design/build firm Bensonwood, who are handling the design and construction of the building.

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of August 22nd

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

To reduce congestion on I-91, both Exit 3 on ramps will be closed on Sunday, August 21st, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. I-91 will remain open.

Yet Another Stolen Purse Downtown

by BusyMom | News & Information

But this time it was mine!  I parked behind Centre Church this evening to put up a concert poster, thought car was ok unlocked for a couple of minutes because my stepdaughter was right there but someone must have seized an opportunity when her back was turned.

So I’ve spent the evening cancelling all my credit cards, and the police officer said odds are no trace of the purse or any of its contents will ever be seen again.  Probably in a dumpster or the bottom of the river by now.  he said they usually just grab the cash and dump everything else.

Brattleboro Fire Captain Howard Promoted to Assistant Chief

by BrattFireDept | Police & Fire

The Brattleboro Fire Department announces the promotion of Captain Leonard Howard to the position of Assistant Fire Chief. Captain Howard is a 29 year veteran of the department. He joined the Call Staff in 1987 and was hired to the Career Staff in 1997. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2001 and then to shift captain in 2007.

Throughout his career, Captain Howard has been a very strong advocate of training and he holds many certifications, including Fire Officer II, National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, and Fire Service Instructor. Captain Howard also is an NFPA certified Fire Inspector, has extensive training in fire origin/cause and arson investigations, and has taken numerous hours of supervisory and management training through the Vermont Fire Academy and the National Fire Academy.

Selectboard Meeting Notes: Pedestrian Projects and Municipal Improvements

by cgrotke | Town News

Central Fire Station plans have been approved. The Brattleboro Selectboard took a look at a series of architectural and mechanical drawings provided by the project team, had no objections, and gave the architect a green light to continue.

The board announced decisions in three matters they have been considering regarding three streets in town, Brattleboro has a new Assistant Fire Chief, many municipal projects are underway, the Library will soon be renovated, DeGray ‘s request for immediate blinky lights was slowed somewhat, the Stone Church gets semi-belated approval for a liquor license, and more.

Throughout the meeting were small victories for pedestrians, from preserved access to possibilites of new funds for safer crossings.

Rt. 30 Closures in Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Town Plan

The following dates Route 30, under I-91 Brattleboro will be closed from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. to ensure the safety of the traveling public while work occurs on the new bridge.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Thursday, September 01, 2016

VFW Becomes One-Time Polling Site November General Election

by Scam Buster | Town News

The 2016 General Election polling place will be moving to a different location.  Voting on Election Day, November 8th, will take place at VFW Carl Dessaint Post 1034 on Black Mountain Road.  The Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority, which has jurisdiction over polling places reluctantly made this decision earlier this year.  “We considered a number of factors including accessibility, traffic congestion, cost, and parking before selecting the VFW for our polling place, “ according to Elliott Greenblott, Chairman of the Board of Civil Authority.

The Presidential Election voting was held at Brattleboro Union High School but a combination of factors including the rental fee charged by the school, limited parking, traffic congestion, and the fact that school is in session combined to make the location less attractive.  “BUHS is a fine site in itself,” said Greenblott, “but it has been challenging in recent elections.  The heavy volume of traffic, limited parking, school activity, and cost are big concerns. Many have asked me why we have to pay to use ‘our’ high school.  The reality is that BUHS is a separate political unit owned by the member towns of the high school district, not Brattleboro alone.”

Want To Buy The Chelsea Royal Diner?

by cgrotke | Business

The Reformer is reporting that Brattleboro’s classic Chelsea Royal Diner is up for sale. The owenrs simply want to retire after decades of running a restaurant. Can anyone blame them?

Business is reported to be good there, so some enterprising diner chef to-be could pick up and keep things going. If you have $850,000, it could be yours.

The restaurant, among other things, has been featured in Zippy cartoons.

Brattleboro Arts Committee Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Arts Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 4:00pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center. NOTE THE CHANGE IN THE REGULAR MEETING DAY FOR THIS MONTH ONLY.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – August 16, 2016

by cgrotke | Town News

Central Fire Station’s plans will be presented and reviewed at the next Brattleboro Selectboard meeeting at the Municipal Center on Main Street.

The Stone Church is applying for a liquor permit, road re-classifications (if any) will be announced for three sites in town, there will be a discussion of push button crosswalk lights, ordinances will begin the amendment process, and other projects will get underway.

You can bring up other matters not on the agenda during public participation.

3 Record Drive Mobile Home Fire Press Release

by BrattFireDept | Police & Fire

At 11:46pm on August 8, 2016 the Brattleboro Fire Department responded to 3 Record Drive for a mobile home fire with occupants trapped. Two of the four occupants in the home at the time of the fire perished. Glen Euber, age 42 and Michelle Blake, age 52 were both found upstairs on the main living level after firefighters extinguished the fire that destroyed their mobile home. Neither was able to escape the fire and were dead at the scene.

The other two occupants, Carroll Page, age 68 and Sean Stoltz, age 27, both lived in the lower level of the home and were able to escape safely. Stoltz received a second degree burn to the back of his neck and was transported to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital by Rescue Inc for treatment.

Pedestrian Flags for Western Avenue Crosswalk

by kathleenwhite | News & Information

In collaboration with the Holton Home and Brattleboro Department of Public Works, the Safe Streets Project recently launched a pilot program to improve pedestrian visibility.  It is located at the crosswalk between Holton Home and Trinity Lutheran Church on Western Ave. Two fluorescent orange and yellow flags sit on the yield signs on each side of the crosswalk,  with instructions to “carry a flag when crossing the street and place it in the container on the other side”.