When Entergy withdraws money from the Vermont Yankee decommissioning trust fund, should the company be required to first seek approval from the federal government?
That's the question at the heart of an Aug. 31 ruling by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB).
The ASLB granted the state a hearing on the matter, giving Vermont officials a chance to argue in detail as to why they think Entergy should continue to provide a 30-day notice before trust-fund withdrawals.
Entergy wants to amend its Yankee license so that the company can spend money from the fund - including cash for spent-fuel management - without giving that notice.
Firefighters should not have to work in unhealthy conditions; their jobs are unhealthy enough as it is. I agree totally with Brattleboro Fire Chief Mike Bucossi and hope that funding can be found, maybe piece together some grants from state and the feds. Money for emergency services is out...
I really appreciate the comprehensive balanced approach of this article. It's a good antidote to the piece written a couple of weeks ago by Bruce Parker of Vermont Watchdog, “Economic fallout from closed Vermont Yankee plant to continue for years,” which relies heavily on comments by Dart Everett and...
On Saturday, Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m., The Root Social Justice Center will be hosting a second anniversary party to celebrate its second year of operation and raise funds to keep its doors open for years to come. The event is open to the public and free, though donations are encouraged. The Root Social Justice Center, located at 28 Williams Street in the Whetstone Arts Building, provides a physically and financially accessible space to support and bring together communities working...
The Brattleboro Music Center's Windham Orchestra, under the direction of Hugh Keelan, begins its 46th season with an open rehearsal at the River Garden on Main St. in downtown Brattleboro on Monday, Sept. 14, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Current orchestra members - players of all backgrounds, abilities, and ages - invite musicians to join the orchestra for an evening exploring and rehearsing the Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz and Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave Overture. This is not an audition. Keelan and...
This year, the Westminster West Community Fair is on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in and around the church in Westminster West. The theme this year is “Keeping the Spirit Alive,” and the Grand Marshal will be Susie Webster-Toleno, to recognize the “ways she supports spiritual connection and internal reflection in this community,” according to a news release. Other events include a bake sale, a parade through the village, music on the lawn by the Grafton...
Steven Strong, founder of one of the first solar companies in the United States and an industry leader and innovator, will speak at the Hooker-Dunham Theater, 139 Main St., on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. Strong's talk will assess the current state of solar in this country, how we reached this point, and what needs to be done in the future to make solar mainstream. It will cover all aspects of solar, from individual residences to large-scale utility solar...
Public tree inventory begins in Brattleboro BRATTLEBORO - The town is working with the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program this month to inventory the public trees along streets downtown, along residential neighborhoods, and in parks. Over the next couple of weeks, foresters from the state Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation will be collecting data on the location, species, size, and condition of the trees within the public right-of-way in Brattleboro. The inventory will help town leaders understand, steward,
I have a 4-year-old boy on the autism spectrum. It's the same story with him. He has two modes: He is either hyper, physically hitting, babbling, and screaming, or he is hyper-concentrated, quiet, intelligent, affectionate, and sweet. My 3-year-old is starting to copy everything. I loved the article! I need to stop beating myself up about slacking in certain areas because just getting through the day with my sanity right now is an accomplishment.
Say what you will about a “clenched fist,” but Curtiss Reed Jr.'s writings, like the disruption in Seattle, have boosted the signal of the issue of race in this country and have elevated the importance of this conversation far more than open hands have. Ideas like “credit where credit is due” and “inexcusable disruption by the alleged BLM woman and her allies” and “these people” are driving any divide that might exist, because justice-loving Bernie Sanders supporters, like Sanders himself,
The 2015 Readsboro Arts Festival - an annual gathering of artists, musicians and lovers of both art and music - will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Readsboro Central School. Admission is free. The festival will feature the creative work of artists and craftspeople, live music and free art-making activities and family fun for children and adults of all ages. Artists and craftspeople will offer a wide variety of fine art and craft for...
The Brattleboro Centre for Children has founded a new scholarship fund aimed at helping families stay at the Centre who encounter a short term financial shortfall, such as a temporary job loss or other crisis and need help to continue to pay their child care bill. The Centre has received private donations and a $2,000 donation from the Edwards Child Care Scholarship Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation to establish this fund, called the Starfish Fund. “If it helps even...
College news • Rachel Spence of Newfane has enrolled at Kent State (Ohio) University as a member of the Class of 2019. • The Western New England University College of Pharmacy in Springfield, Mass., formally welcomed Meghan Armstrong of Searsburg into the profession during a White Coat Ceremony held recently on the Western New England University campus. Armstrong is one of 74 members in the College of Pharmacy's Class of 2019. Transitions • The Vermont Democratic Party has reappointed Carol...
With harvests coming in, it's a perfect time to visit the local farmers' market for some fresh corn, tomatoes, and other seasonal vegetables. Farm to Family coupons are a great resource available in our region to help qualified households access this fresh, nutritious produce. This summer, Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) had 340 coupon books worth $30 each to distribute to low-income households to help meet their food needs. The agency has coupon booklets for seniors (age 60 and older);
At sundown on Sunday, Sept. 13, Jewish people all over the world will welcome Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish year 5776. Rosh Hashanah (translation: head of the year) begins a sacred period known as the Days of Awe that culminates 10 days later on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, observed this year on Sept. 23. Daniel Kasnitz, president of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (Congregation Shir Heharim), announces that Rosh Hashanah services will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13...
Putney Fire Chief Thomas Goddard warned town officials his department has a serious staffing shortage and that “the system that's in place is not working well.” Goddard told the Selectboard at its Aug. 26 regular meeting the Fire Department is “barely getting by” with its current number of volunteer firefighters. “The way things are, it's not going to last,” he said, explaining that “every year our call volume is increasing,” but “every year we lose people." Although he told the...
The Vermont Jazz Center will host a new 10-week session of classes beginning this week. Courses include an expanded youth program for ages 10 to 16, a new ensemble led by bebop master Scott Mullett (Blue Note Ensemble), Anna Patton's popular Ear Training, Vocal Harmony Chorus, and the VJC's Latin Jazz Ensemble. Consider joining a combo and learn how to perform classic jazz compositions under the guidance of one of the VJC's professional faculty. Never improvised? No problem. There are...
A developer that has proposed Windham County's first commercial wind turbines will have another two years to study the weather at the secluded project site in the towns of Windham and Grafton. The Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) has granted the request of Atlantic Wind LLC - the local business name of international wind-power developer Iberdrola Renewables - to allow its meteorological-testing towers to continue gathering data until December 2017. The extension was approved despite objections from the town of...
The Westminster Historical Society once again presents a re-enactment of the Westminster Massacre. Come to the Westminster Fire Station on Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon, for a Tory Tavern-style lunch of chicken vegetable or vegetable and bean soup, soda bread, and tea. The Massacre, considered an event that sparked the American Revolution, took place March 13, 1775 in the wake of a clash between the land grant citizens and the Tories (supporters of the king). Judge Chandler will once again...
Although many local towns began complying with Vermont's Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) on July 1 of this year, Vernon opted to begin on the same date in 2014. For Vernon's town officials, establishing the pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) program was supposed to provide some relief to the town budget in anticipation of a possible loss in revenue from Vermont Yankee closing. By encouraging residents to reduce the amount of trash sent to the landfill by offering curbside recycling pickup and encouraging...
Vermont State Police continue to investigate a burglary at the town garage and seek the public's help in finding the perpetrator. According to state police. the town garage was burglarized sometime during the weekend of July 11 and 12. On the morning of July 13, town employees reported to work, discovered the break-in, and called state police. Trooper Nader Hashim reported to the scene, and his investigation determined that approximately $13,000 worth of tools and equipment was stolen. Town Manager...
Registration is open for lessons and classes in 20 instruments and voice, as well as membership in a number of across-the-board musical ensembles, this fall at the Brattleboro Music Center (BMC). The BMC's fall semester begins the week of Sept. 14. Two new classes debut this fall: a weekend music leadership course taught by Windham Orchestra conductor Hugh Keelan, and a songwriting workshop taught by Emmy-nominated lyricist and Broadway performer Alisa Hauser and Vermont Academy's Steve Cady. Perennial favorites return...
As reported in The Commons, 11 people aspiring to culinary careers successfully completed the Strolling of the Heifers Farm-to-Plate apprenticeship program and are about to begin new jobs at local food businesses. We would like to be sure that all of the partners who made this possible are given full credit. Major grant support came from the Walmart Foundation, the Procter & Gamble Foundation, and the Sandy River Charitable Foundation. Each of the participants completed an internship at a local...
Write Action thanks the businesses that contributed their services to our online and in-person silent auction: Altiplano, Amy's Bakery Arts Café, The B's Nest, Bartleby's Books, Brattleboro Books, Brattleboro Film Festival, Brattleboro Holistic Health Center, The Commons, Crafty Cauldron, Everyone's Books, Katy's Great Food, Latchis Hotel, Life's Little Luxuries, Mystery on Main Street, River Gallery School, Sam's Outdoor Outfitters, Thai Bamboo, Turquoise Grill, and Zephyr Designs. We also thank those who donated professional services and products: Ezra Distler, Joshua Distler,
The Twilight Tea Lounge has been a great spot! Anneka Kindler upgraded the ambience and expanded the menu. When out-of-towners visited I would take them there. I'm sorry to see it go!
It's about time! I've had enough of institutions like the Brattleboro Retreat stealing our hard-earned tax dollars in the name of “mental health.” We should all applaud whistleblower Thomas Joseph and anyone like him. Well done!
This year, 2015, is the year of eyes wide open, and Vermont's General Assembly needs to question the use of Holtec's on-site dry cask storage system for Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station's nuclear waste solution. After decades of research, and billions of dollars spent, no radioactive waste has been relocated, and treated, and placed in a safe and permanent disposal location anywhere.
I've written to NPR to express my disappointment and disapproval of what I'm perceiving to be a conscious and deliberate blackout of coverage of Bernie Sanders' campaign for president of the United States. I am a longtime listener of NPR, and a longtime supporter of both Vermont Public Radio and New Hampshire Public Radio, and a member of the left fringe of the Democratic party. I live in New Hampshire, but just across the river from Vermont, and have chosen...
We've heard from many listeners recently regarding NPR's coverage of Bernie Sanders. In particular, many felt that Mara Liasson's recent analysis during All Things Considered regarding a possible Joe Biden bid for president missed the mark. We at Vermont Public Radio shared these concerns directly with our colleagues at NPR, who shared the following with us: “The reference in that conversation to Clinton 'basically running against herself' was intended to mean that her campaign is being buffeted in large part...
To say “thank you” for such a well-executed evacuation of the Valley Cares West River Valley Senior Housing assisted-living facility in Townshend on Aug. 5 does not adequately reflect what transpired that evening. My 94-year-old mother was one of those residents, and I am her only child. That simple phrase does not cover what needs to be said about that night and following days. Smoke alarms set in motion a quick-thinking staff to evacuate all 39 residents rapidly. They were...
As a tenacious merger committee enters its ninth month of meetings to amend the town charter for a town merger that has been considered periodically for decades, yet another stumbling block appears to have stalled the process. Having gotten through amending the water and wastewater utilities in Chapter 9 of the town charter chapters in June, the committee in July found its biggest challenge in Chapter 10, which deals with the fire and police departments. Chapter 10 also deals with...
The Selectboard hopes members of the public will participate in a discussion on the municipality's role in economic development, during a special Selectboard meeting on Sept. 29. “The core role of a municipality is to deal with municipal services,” Selectboard Chair David Gartenstein said Sept. 1. Tasks like maintaining roads, supporting emergency services like police and fire departments, and hosting quality of life programs like the library and recreation departments all fall under a municipality's traditional role. The Selectboard has...
The Selectboard unanimously approved two funding sources for a feasibility study by Groundworks Collaborative for 39 Frost St. First, the board approved submitting a grant application to the state for its Vermont Community Development Program. The board also approved a municipal grant to help fund the feasibility study. Groundworks seeks to move some of its services and programs now at the cramped Drop-In Center at 60 South Main St. to a new location. So far, 39 Frost seems to be...
Governor Frederick Holbrook was a Renaissance man, an agriculturalist, and an inventor; his role as a farmer was his love and avocation. The farming population, he believed, should be the basic social and economic unit of the country. In his early life in Windham County, “he worked upon the farm and knew what was meant by manual labor,” wrote Brattleboro historian Mary Rogers Cabot. Holbrook's accomplishments were many, and he ranked near the top of those noted agriculturalists of his...
Rehearsals for the Main Street Arts winter production of Bat Boy: The Musical will be held Friday, Sept. 11, and 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, at noon. David Stern direct the large multi-age cast that offers parts for ages 12 to adult. The production team would prefer to see all who wish to try out at a minimum of two audition calls if possible. A departure from some of the usual MSA theatrical...
The Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) will host its annual Walk for Animals benefit fundraising event, featuring a pet parade, refreshments, and prizes on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event begins and ends at the Crowell Lot Park on Western Avenue in Brattleboro and will take place rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to noon. WCHS' Walk for Animal's fundraising goal is $15,000. Participants are asked to collect donations from friends, family, and co-workers. Walkers can even sponsor themselves - or...
The Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College will host a Season Kick Off Party on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Kick Off Party, which is free, celebrates the start of the Redfern's 34th season of presenting performing arts. The event includes food, art exhibits, and a preview of the Redfern season. Keene State radio station WKNH disc jockeys will be on hand to spin music, and there will be demonstrations of art works, puppetry and...
It was 24 hours that the Bellows Falls Terriers football team will remember for a long, long time. Last Thursday night, the Terriers stood on the turf of Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., as guests of the New England Patriots. Before the Patriots played the New York Giants in the final exhibition game of the season, the BF football program was honored during the pre-game ceremonies. Earlier this year, the Patriots sent out letters to all New England high schools...
For 22 years Jerry Carbone has been riding a tiger. Now he's hopping off. The longtime director of the Brooks Memorial Library will retire on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. Originally from Denver, Carbone, 65, took his master's degree in library science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975. He was hired at Brooks in November of 1978 and took over as the library's director in 1993. That means he has spent almost his entire library career in Brattleboro.
Like its name, the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel is a bit unwieldy: Its 19 members include government officials, private citizens, and representatives of the nuclear industry. “I think it's unlikely that there's any topic that we would find that we have consensus on, given the range of parties on the panel,” said Martin Langeveld, a citizen member of the panel. At the same time, though, the word “advisory” is in the panel's name and its charter. So, at...
The puppets are back. From Sept. 11 through Sept. 20, Sandglass Theater presents its ninth international Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival: Walking to the Borders. Artists from Canada, Cuba, England, Germany, Mexico, and all around the United States will gather in Brattleboro and Putney to perform puppet shows for adults and children of all ages. This 10-day celebration also features a sumptuous festival gala, fringe events, and community meals, all offering audiences unusual opportunities for connection and interaction with...
In the past four months, Brattleboro has upped its geek cred by quite a few notches. Whereas earlier this year one would be hard-pressed to find much for sale downtown to satisfy lovers of comic books or video or board games, today the town has two outlets for assorted geekery. The first to open, in early June in the Latchis Block on Flat Street, was Monsters & Heroes. Labor Day weekend saw the debut of Positive Geek, a shop selling...
Though Windham County is taking a big economic hit from the closure of the Vermont Yankee, it's business as usual - at least, so far - at the elementary school across the street from the nuclear plant. Despite worries that Vernon Elementary School would see an enrollment dip after the first significant layoffs at Vermont Yankee earlier this year, officials are reporting the same number of students - 160 - as last year. Officials are offering demographic and financial reasons,
Eighteen years ago, Mary Ellen Copeland began drawing up a new method for dealing with mental illness. She was looking for a way to reclaim her own life after years of battling anxiety, depression, and mood swings, and Copeland decided “personal empowerment” - allowing a person to take charge of one's own treatment - would be key. The Dummerston resident's WRAP strategy, standing for Wellness Recovery Action Plan, was the result, and it appears to have worked on a large...
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented Algiers Village Housing, a 17-unit affordable housing development in Guilford, with a Phoenix Award for outstanding achievement in the redevelopment of a brownfields site in New England. The award was presented Sept. 3 in Chicago as part of the EPA's major national conference on environmental revitalization and economic development. Susan McMahon, associate director of the Windham Regional Commission, accepted the award on behalf of all of the organizations that worked on this...
While negotiations are still in the early stages, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is leading the charge with the town and with state agencies on assembling a funding package to entice a family-owned high-tech manufacturing firm to stay and expand in town rather than build a new facility in New Hampshire. Keeping the company in town could mean retaining more than 300 local jobs and adding more than 100 new jobs. Vermont Yankee, another driver of the regional economy, shut...
I'm sitting in the bathroom, basically locking myself in solitary confinement while I type on my phone. I'm not hiding from my kids - no, that would be cliché and no different from what I do every day. Hiding is my norm, but tonight I am hiding from something a little more dangerous and harder to avoid. Tonight, I huddle in the bathroom and hunker down in my safety bunker because I need to prove to myself that I can...
Why does the section of Main Street between High and Grove streets always seem to flood during heavy rainstorms? Intense rains easily overwhelm the downtown's stormwater system, said Director of Public Works Steve Barrett. It would take millions of dollars and many decades to completely replace the undersized stormwater pipes, drains, or culverts that channel rainwater and snowmelt to the Connecticut River, he continued. According to Barrett, other factors also prompt localized flooding during intense storms, such as the one...