Voters urged to check their personal data ahead of elections
BRATTLEBORO - With the August state primaries and the November general elections just round the corner, Town Clerk Hilary Francis encourages all voters to visit their My Voter Page to update their registration address, including their physical and mailing addresses, and request an absentee ballot to be mailed to them.
The My Voter Page is now found at mvp.vermont.gov. If you encounter problems logging in, contact the Town Clerk's office at 802-251-8157 for assistance.
People can also register to vote using the online voter registration page at olvr.vermont.gov.
Note that both of these links have been updated.
Francis wrote last week in a news release that no decisions have been made yet about changes to the process for local elections or for the August and November statewide elections.
“The Secretary of State's office is working on planning for any necessary changes, and taking these measures will ensure that we keep voters and election workers safe, while still maintaining the integrity of our elections and our democracy,” Francis wrote.
Free produce distribution in Putney
PUTNEY- All are welcome to come for free produce and some non-perishable items distributed by the Vermont Foodbank and the Putney Foodshelf on Thursday, April 23, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., at Putney Meadows, 17 Carol Brown Way (white building across from the Putney Co-op and Putney Fire Station).
This food is available to anyone in the community.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, drive up to the location and stay in your car. Volunteers will put the bags in your trunk.
BrattleMasters reveal insider tips
BRATTLEBORO- Anyone attending the next online meeting of BrattleMasters will learn tips on how to mentor new members and how to provide feedback to speakers using the Pathways Learning Experience. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23 at 6 p.m.
Carolyn Handy of Putney will give the speech on mentoring and Lisa Sieverts of Nelson, N.H. will speak on the feedback methods.
East Dummerston resident Lee Ives Tice will emcee this meeting.
To join the meeting, visit zoom.us. The meeting ID is 996 7208 5445, and the password is 012583. Telephone (if you prefer to dial in) is 646-558-8656. To join, sign in at about 5:50 p.m. and first check your camera and speakers.
The local Toastmasters club meets twice monthly on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month and helps members develop public speaking and leadership skills. Until further notice, the club will meet online only.
For more information, visit brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Rec. Dept. cancels spring youth sports programs
BRATTLEBORO - The Recreation & Parks Department says it has made the “difficult decision” to cancel the spring youth sports season.
“With all that is going on with COVID-19 and the Stay Home, Stay Safe order set forth by the governor, we feel this is in the best interest of all involved,” the department said in a news release, urging the community to “work together and help defeat COVID-19.”
For those who have already paid and registered for programs this spring, the department will either credit the account or send a refund.
For more information or to choose an option, contact Carol Lolatte or Sarah Clark at recreation@brattleboro.org or leave a message at 802-254-5808.
Follow the department on Facebook for tips and tricks to work on your skills at home along with other virtual programming. The department's summer program brochure will appear on the Facebook page and at brattleboro.org.
Town resumes issuing minor zoning permits
BRATTLEBORO - The Planning Services Department has resumed approving minor zoning permits that can be handled administratively and issued electronically.
Visit shorturl.at/bratt-zoning to view a list of issued permits and to contact the department.
Don't forget child immunizations
TOWNSHEND - Grace Cottage Family Health has procedures in place so your child's immunizations can be done safely.
Immunization is “recommended at ages of 2 months, then 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18 months,” Grace Cottage Pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth Linder said in a news release. “It's important to stick with this schedule so your child is fully protected.”
The next recommended immunizations are discussed at each wellness visit, but if you don't remember what's next or when they should be administered, call your Grace Cottage medical provider at 802-365-4331, or send a message if you have signed up for the Grace Cottage Patient Portal (accessible at gracecottage.org).
“Children under age 18 months are the most vulnerable to a variety of diseases, so it is very important to keep up with immunizations,” says Dr. Linder.
For more information on recommended immunizations, visit cdc.gov/vaccines.
Grace Cottage Family Health screens patients at separate entrances to separate patients who are sick. Masks are distributed at each entrance. Rooms are cleaned between patients, and “every safety precaution is being followed,” the hospital assures.