Winter parking ban begins Dec. 5
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Parking Department announced that the winter parking ban will go into effect on Saturday, Dec. 5. Overnight parking is forbidden on all streets in the town of Brattleboro. Vehicles parked for longer than one hour between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. may be ticketed and towed at the owner's expense.
Brattleboro has a flashing light system in place to let citizens know when plowing will take place.
A flashing amber light designates the need to remove snow from off street lots. A flashing purple light designates the need to remove snow from the streets. Snow removal starts at 11 p.m. During snow storms, vehicles must be parked under cover in the Transportation Center.
As well, DPW will place sign boards around town with notification of pending snow removals. Vehicles may be towed at any time if they are hampering snow plowing or snow removal.
The winter parking ban will remain in effect until April 15, 2016.
Brattleboro Rotary Club starts annual Christmas tree fundraiser
BRATTLEBORO - The 51st annual Brattleboro Rotary Club Christmas tree fundraiser officially began on Nov. 28.
Since 1965, the Rotary Club has sold Christmas trees as a fundraiser for local student scholarships. Vermont-grown trees of all shapes and sizes will be sold daily in front of Brattleboro Bowl on Putney Road from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Brattleboro Rotary Club's Gateway Foundation, established in 1986 to create a local fund to support scholarships awarded annually to Brattleboro-area students pursuing college, is funded by annual Rotary fundraising projects and contributions from Rotarians and other community members.
Proceeds from the Christmas Tree Sale support the club's annual student scholarship awards of $2,000 to 3,000 each. To date, the club has awarded close to $500,000 in scholarships.
For more info about Brattleboro Rotary Club or its Gateway Foundation, visit www.brattlebororotaryclub.org.
Hospice hosts holiday grief support gathering
BRATTLEBORO - On Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Brattleboro Area Hospice office, 191 Canal St., residents are invited to gather with others who are grieving and talk about challenges of, and strategies for, grieving during the holiday season.
BAH Bereavement Counselors Connie Baxter and Cheryl Richards will provide the hospitality and gentle guidance for the conversation. There is no charge for this event. It is not necessary to register. Information is available at 802-257-0775, ext. 104.
Invasive insects is topic of library talk
PUTNEY - Jim Esden, a forester for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, will give a presentation about common invasive insects in our area at the Putney Public Library, 55 Main St., on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.
The presentation will focus on three of the insects of greatest concern in Vermont: the emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid and Asian longhorned beetle. Attendees will learn where these insects are found, how to recognize an infested tree, how the bugs spread to new locations, and what can be done to help slow the spread.
Smartphone users will have the opportunity to learn how to participate in a community effort to survey the location of ash trees (all of which may be in danger). This presentation is a partnership between the Putney Public Library and the Putney Conservation Commission. This program is free and open to the public.
Putney Mountain Association presents winter tree identification class
PUTNEY - The Putney Mountain Association will host a class on winter tree identification using a dichotomous key on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. Those interested should meet at the Putney Mountain parking lot.
Rich Grumbine, a Putney resident and biology teacher at Landmark College, will lead a stroll on and around the trails toward the Putney Mountain summit. The focus will be using a dichotomous key as a tool to identify trees in winter, when their leaves are gone. While trees are easier to identify by their leaves in the growing season, it is possible to learn tree identities through their twigs and buds only.
With the help of a dichotomous key, and some knowledge of terminology, participants will look carefully at the distinctive features of the species encountered on the ridge. Grumbine will have on hand many copies of dichotomous key guides and hand lenses.
I-91 closures planned on Dec. 8, 9
BRATTLEBORO - Interstate 91 between Exits 2 and 3 will be closed to complete preventative maintenance on the West River Bridge before the winter season begins in earnest.
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, I-91 south will be closed between exits 3 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, I-91 north will be closed between exits 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic officers will be on hand to detour traffic onto Route 5.
BF Woman's Club plans holiday activities
BELLOWS FALLS - The Dec. 8 meeting of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club will be held at the United Church on School Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Members will make holiday table favors to be given to various area agencies and homes.
Club members have donated many winter items such as new socks, warm hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and hand warmer packets to the Greater Falls Warming Shelter, which opened on Nov. 15.
Club members will provide cookies for the Dec. 5 Rotary Club-sponsored movie and time with Santa at the Town Hall. Cookies should be taken to the Lower Theater by 1 p.m., or left prior to that at Village Square Booksellers.
Members have signed up to attend the Kurn Hattin holiday luncheon and concert on Dec. 10. Also coming up is Central Elementary School's Dec. 16 “shopping day,” when club members can volunteer to help wrap gifts.
Death Café comes to Putney
PUTNEY - On Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Brattleboro Area Hospice will host a Death Café at Katy's Restaurant, 118 Main St. in downtown Putney.
This free event is part of an international movement begun in Europe (www.deathcafe.com), and is dedicated to taking death out of the closet in order to discuss it publicly. Previous events that have taken place throughout Windham County have been met with tremendous praise. People have reported them as comfortable, supporting a full range of emotions – from tears to raucous laughter, easier than anticipated, energy charged, inspirational, and fun.
A Death Café is not a support group, a counseling session, or even a workshop. It is a simple gathering of people sharing respectful, thought provoking, life affirming conversation about living and dying in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere while enjoying warm beverages and snacks.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend, but space is limited to 30 people. RSVPs are required. People are asked to arrive promptly, as doors to the event will close at 4:10 p.m. For more information or to RSVP for the Death Cafe, contact Cheryl Richards at Brattleboro Area Hospice at 802-257-0775, Ext. 108, or [email protected].
Climate Change Café hosts carbon pollution tax presentation
BRATTLEBORO - The Climate Change Café will host a presentation by Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) Field Organizer Walt Gustafson about placing a price on carbon emissions in Vermont through a carbon pollution tax.
This event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m., at Brooks Memorial Library on Main Street. As always, the café is free, and light refreshments will be available.
VPIRG, along with environmental groups and some for-profit renewable energy companies in the state, is part of a new entity called Energy Independent Vermont that has been advocating for a carbon pollution tax. A bill, H.395, has been introduced in the Vermont Legislature. Its sponsors include Rep. Mollie Burke, P-Brattleboro, who has been invited to attend the café presentation.
As might be expected, the tax is controversial. In addition to its positive impact on a warming planet, advocates of the proposed legislation maintain that it would offset cost increases through the establishment of an Energy Independence Fund to help Vermonters finance energy-efficiency measures.
The proposal from Energy Independent Vermont would impose a tax on fossil fuel distributors – anywhere from 45 cents per gallon to $1.35 per gallon for gasoline, for instance – and phase in the surcharge over 10 years.
A portion of the money would be invested in energy efficiency projects; the remainder would go to individuals and businesses in the form of refundable tax credits. The current proposal includes a 1 percentage point reduction in the state sales tax, and is essentially revenue neutral.
For further information, contact Tim at 802-869-2141 or [email protected].