Talk Like a Pirate

Arrh! Today is officially “International Talk Like A Pirate Day”.

To help you get started:

Ahoy, me Hearties!

Avast ye

Blow me down!

Dead men tell no tales

Hang ‘im from the yardarm


Community Input on Future Use of Melrose Terrace

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions for the future life of Melrose Terrace. They came via email, mail, phone, in person, and here on ibrattleboro. Some are practical, some fanciful, some a bit tongue-in-cheek, but we asked for all ideas. There were a few that have not been included because they clearly were sarcastic comments on the process and those involved.

The ideas seemed to run on a continuum – leave it as for housing or another use to modified to active open space to natural open space to complete redevelopment. Many of the ideas blend between the categories. Many ideas are similar but all have been included because they have a slightly different approach.


Kilburn Joins Youth Services Board

New Board Member Join Youth Services Brattleboro— Bobbi Kilburn of Westminster, recently joined 15 other community members in serving on Youth Services’ board of directors. Through 10 programs ranging from Court Diversion to Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nonprofit agency helps Windham County children, youth, and families thrive.

The board and staff are looking forward to tapping Kilburn’s background in financial management and business consulting services, as well as her willingness to help with the many fundraising activities of the organization.


Better Business Bureau: Scams, Fraud & Identity Theft

Join Amy Schram, Community Outreach Specialist for The Better Business Bureau, on Wednesday, September 17, at 7 PM, in the library’s meeting room for a program on Scams, Fraud & Identity Theft. 

The talk will  cover the most common tactics scam artists are using to obtain our personal information and steal our identities, the major Red Flags to watch out for, and the precautionary steps we can use to protect ourselves from falling victim to fraudulent activity.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: Necessary PAYT Fees & The Question of Human Services

The Pay As You Throw Working Group is leaning toward high fees for Act 148 compliance, the Brattleboro Selectboard learned Tuesday evening. The “necessary fee” isn’t yet calculated, but is suggested to be calibrated to cover the costs of all tipping fees, program costs, and program materials, and no sliding scale for low income residents is planned.

The board also contemplated cuts to human service funding, and asked for citizen input on the question. The Police received a grant to improve their abilities to unlock and look at everything on your phone, tablet, or GPS device. (Your silly passwords are useless.)

Other grants were received and community members stepped up to serve on town committees and boards. All this and more, below.


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of September 14

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

See below for exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from a view:

OFFERS:

Citizen’s Awareness Breakfast at the Senior Center
FREE Garden Bed Edging
Learn to Sell on E-Bay
Borrow My Chimney Brush
Guitar or Piano/Keyboard Lessons
Computer Assistance – Brattleboro/Townshend/Newfane
Tutoring in Biology, Chemistry, or English
Resume Revision/Composition


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – September 16, 2014

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hear a preliminary report from the Pay As You Throw working group at their next regular Tuesday meeting. The police and fire departments will receive grants and a number of people will be appointed as delegates and committee members.

Tune in and watch on BCTV, or attend in person. You can bring up items not otherwise on the agenda during Public Participation, and you can read all about the meeting the next day right here.

…….


Brattleboro Pay-As-You-Throw Advisory Committee/Working Group

The Brattleboro Pay-As-You-Throw Advisory Committee/Working Group will hold a special meeting to meet with the Selectboard on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center. 

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


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of September 14

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.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Elm Street – The Sacred Cow is Untouched

What is really behind the battlelines over this park? Is any decision a good decision? Over time the amount of skatepark comments on iBrattleboro really overwhelmed its readership; it also exposed one of the deepest rifts seen in this microcosm of our community.

How could such a small community be so glaringly and bitterly divided for so long over what should have been a relatively simple matter?Two recent columns in the Reformer make the case for Elm Street as well as I’ve read anywhere on this topic of a skatepark site. Is it too late, or will we really putting this park out at Living Memorial?


Lower Green Street Closed

The Department of Public Works has closed Lower Green Street from Retting Place to High Street until further notice. An exception of the Lower Green Street entrance from High Street will temporarily be two way traffic only to allow entrance to the side of the building located at 22 – 26 High Street. There will be no through traffic allowed.

A stone retaining wall below lower Green Street is failing and the roadway is being closed for public safety.

Today (Monday) a section of Harmony Parking Lot will be closed so D&E Tree can remove trees on the bank between the Harmony Lot and Green Street. The parking lot is expected to be fully opened by noontime today.

The Green Street road closing and tree removal are all part of an immediate public safety plan.


Cathy Barrows Is Back!

Back in January I posted a question if anyone knew why Cathy Barrows was no longer the Animal Control Officer. () No one knew. No one in the police station was talking – except for saying that we didn’t currently have an Animal Control Officer. Last week, however, I was pleased to hear that she is back, and even more happy to see Cathy on patrol.

I still have no idea what happened and maybe it doesn’t matter, except to Cathy. But the coincidence is a bit too obvious to ignore. She was back behind the wheel at pretty much the same time we hired a new Police Chief.


Brattleboro Time Trade Listings – Week of September 7

Brattleboro Time Trade:

Exchanging services, creating connections, strengthening communities, one hour at a time.

See below for exciting Upcoming Events and learn what Time Trade is all about!

This week’s fabulous listings, brought to you from September sunshine:

OFFERS:

Wellness Classes
Curator Tour at BMAC, 9/18 at 7 pm
Artist Talk & Book-Signing at BMAC, 10/9 at 7pm
Cook You a Meal
Karaoke Empowerment Therapy
LOCAL Pickup Truck for Moving or Errands
Back to School Educational Support or Academic Coaching
2 Seat Kayak


West Brattleboro Association Meeting – Revitalizing the Village

Next WBA Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, September 11th

The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held at the New England House
on Thursday, September 11th at 6:00 PM. After a review of the treasury and other ongoing items, the group will begin discussing the “Revitalizing Southern Vermont’s Villages – West Brattleboro” report made
available from the Windham Regional Commission and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.


Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ To Be Held for I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, September 13, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, September 13, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I- 91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.