WKVT, BCTV sponsor candidates forum
BRATTLEBORO - WKVT and Brattleboro Community Television will co-produce a candidate's forum on Thursday, Feb. 11, for voters to learn more about the three candidates vying for two seats on the Brattleboro Selectboard.
Current Chair David Gartenstein, former chair Richard DeGray, and businessman Avery Schwenk are all seeking election to one-year terms when Brattleboro residents go to the polls on Tuesday, March 1. No other elected position in the town has more than one candidate.
The one-hour forum will take place at 7 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. Admission is free and open to the public. The forum will be broadcast live on both BCTV Channel 10 and WKVT 100.3 FM/1490 AM.
Both outlets will rebroadcast the forum before the March 1 Town Meeting Day elections and make them available on wkvtradio.com and brattleborotv.org. To submit a question to be considered for use during the forum, email wkvtam1490@gmail.com.
Town seeks to fill committee vacancies
BRATTLEBORO - The town of Brattleboro seeks citizens to serve on the following committees and boards: Agricultural Advisory Board, Arts Committee, ADA Advisory Committee, Conservation Commission, Development Review Board (Alternate), Energy Committee Fence Viewers (by statute, must be legal voters of the town), Honor Roll Planning Commission, Senior Solutions Advisory Council, and the board of Southeastern Vermont Community Action.
Applications and more information about various committees and boards can be found on the Brattleboro website, www.brattleboro.org, or by calling the Town Manager's office (802-251-8151).
If you are interested in serving on a Brattleboro committee or board, submit your application online, or send an email to the Town Manager's office (tmsecretary@brattleboro.org), or mail or deliver the application to: Brattleboro Town Manager's Office, Attn: Committee Vacancy, 230 Main Street, Suite 208, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
The Selectboard will make appointments at upcoming regularly scheduled meetings.
Senior Center hosts Valentine's luncheon
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Senior Center and the Brattleboro Senior Meals Program will host a February Birthday Luncheon and Valentine's Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11:30 a.m. at the Gibson Aiken Center, 207 Main St. The meal will include appetizers, punch, yankee pot roast, red potatoes, carrots, and Valentine cake and ice cream.
Those with birthdays in the month of February are invited to celebrate the occasion by sitting at the birthday table and waiving their donation for the day. They may invite one guest to sit with them; however that guest is encouraged to make the regular donation. The suggested donation for people 60 years of age and over is $4, and is $6 for all others.
Entertainment will be provided. Reservations are requested at 802-257-1236 or 802-257-7570. Organizers ask that callers state whether they are celebrating a birthday and how many spots they wish to reserve at the birthday table.
Police/Fire Project to be discussed at next WBA Meeting
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The next monthly meeting of the West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will be held in the Hayes Court Community Room on Garfield Drive on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.
At 7 p.m., Town Manager Peter Elwell, Fire Chief Mike Bucossi, and Police Chief Michael Fitzgerald will give a brief presentation about the proposed fire and police facility upgrades, after which there will be an informal question-and-answer session. Any and all concerned West Brattleboro residents are invited to attend.
Chocolate Scat Sampler for sale to benefit BEEC Nature Camp Scholarships
BRATTLEBORO - Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center (BEEC) will be offering Valentine Chocolate Scat Samplers for sale to benefit the scholarship fund for its nature vacation camps.
These boxed Valentines contain hand crafted chocolates, resembling scat of four common wildlife species.
The BEEC Valentines will be for sale at Brattleboro Food Co-op, Vermont Country Deli, KidsPLAYce, Guilford Country Store, Grafton Village Cheese Store at the Retreat Meadows, and Putney Co-op. Boxes sell for $15. More information can be found on the BEEC website at www.beec.org.
AARP chapter meets for Valentine's lunch
BRATTLEBORO - Join members of Brattleboro AARP Chapter #763 for a “Hearts and Flowers” Valentine's Luncheon at American Legion Post 5 on Linden Street on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at noon.
The menu will feature roast pork, oven baked potatoes, applesauce, a vegetable, green salad, rolls, tea and coffee, and cupcakes for dessert. Entertainment will be provided by the Brattleboro Music Center Trio.
The cost is $8 per person. Members, guests, and interested persons are welcome. For reservations, contact Edna Fletcher at 802-254 2583.
Vernon to hold candidates forum
VERNON - The Vernon Voters Alliance will host an open forum for candidates for office in Vernon on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the Vernon Elementary School cafeterium.
The discussion will be moderated and all candidates will have an opportunity to make short opening statements, followed by audience questions and comments.
Grange plans pre-Town Meeting, meet the candidates night
GUILFORD - Broad Brook Grange will hold its annual Pre-Town Meeting on Thursday, February 18, 7 p.m. at the Grange hall.
This is the only opportunity for voters to hear details of the articles that will be presented at the Town and School District Meetings, and to meet and discuss issues with the Selectboard and School Board, all in one evening, before Town Meeting.
In addition, candidates for town and school board offices are urged to attend to introduce themselves to the voters. State law prevents any “campaigning” by candidates at Town Meeting, when an Australian ballot is used, as in this instance. So this is the only time before the vote for the public to meet and hear the candidates all at once.
Those interested in declaring as a write-in candidate could take this opportunity to appear before a group of voters.
Town Meeting itself will be held, as usual, on the first Tuesday of March, which this year is March 1, commencing at 10 a.m., in the gym of the Central School.
Broad Brook Grange is in Guilford Center, 4 miles west of the Country Store. Refreshments will conclude the evening.
Brattleboro Area Tech members meet Feb. 18
BRATTLEBORO - Michael Knapp, CEO of the Brattleboro computer firm Green River, will speak at the Feb. 18 meeting of Brattleboro Area Tech. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m., and is hosted by Green River in its offices at 167 Main Street, Suite 103.
Green River builds software for sustainability, environmental protection, school improvement, and public health, and is thought to be the largest IT development firm in southeastern Vermont.
Knapp will speak about the work of Green River, its choice of technologies, and his experience running an IT company in Vermont.
Brattleboro Area Tech is a networking group for those interested in or working in technology in the greater Brattleboro area. The group gathers to informally network, discuss, and provide people with an excuse to get out from behind their computers. The group includes designers, programmers, makers, educators, freelancers, videographers, artists, consultants, and business people who work in these fields. There is no cost.
For more information, contact Bob Lawson at bob@lawsontechconsult.com or 802-490-8409, or Caleb Clark at 917-703-5580 or cclark@gradschool.marlboro.edu.
Brattleboro Auditors' Reports now available
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Town and Town School District Auditors' Reports for fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 are available upon request and may be picked up at the Brattleboro Town Clerk's office, 230 Main St.
The Auditors' Reports will also be available as part of the Town and School District Annual Report,which will be available at the Town Clerk's office no later than Feb. 19.
Based on a vote at the 2010 Representative Town Meeting, the town no longer mails the Auditors' Reports to all voters of the town. Therefore, persons interested in obtaining a copy should contact the Brattleboro Town Clerk (802-251-8157), or view it at the town's website, www.brattleboro.org.
Get On Board Windham County seeks nominations
BRATTLEBORO - The Center for New Leadership at Marlboro College has announced the 2016 Get On Board Fellows Program (GOB), designed to give Windham County residents, age 22 to 44, the opportunity to build leadership skills and their personal and professional networks while serving the community.
Fellows attend all Board Leadership Institute workshops and personal leadership development sessions for $100 to $200 sliding scale, which is less than half the full cost. Through these events, fellows build relationships with each other, and with members of local nonprofit boards.
Fellows will also receive extra recognition during the Board Matching Event, which will help them make connections with nonprofit boards that match their interests and passions.
These links offer a complete list of dates and topics: bit.ly/GOBsched16 and to apply: bit.ly/1PUqo7T. Completed applications are due by Feb. 16. Fellows will be notified of acceptance on Feb. 19.