Interesting proposition. There is a lot of possibly unnecessary packaging on many consumer products, especially items like cell phones, televisions, coffee makers, and the like.
The Amazon and eBay phenomena also greatly contribute to this waste. A packaging tax would certainly give manufacturers an incentive to reduce that packaging if applied at the producer end.
However, the point is well taken that this could then create an extra tax burden to shoppers at the grocery store as manufacturers pass the cost on to the consumer.
The pay-as-you-throw (a.k.a. SMART - save-money-and-reduce-trash) model also works to put the cost onto the “trashers,” and it is certainly easier to institute at the local level without the need for legislation.
Green River 167 Main St. (Paramount Building) #103, Brattleboro, 802-257-0641 The company also maintains a satellite office in Cambridge, Mass. • Website: greenriver.com • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/green-river • Twitter: twitter.com/greenriver • Founded: 2000 • Employees: 19 • Annual revenue: $2.5 million • Structure: Vermont domestic limited liability company (partnership) •
Singer/songwriter and guitar instructor Lisa McCormick will offer a brand new Women's Easy Acoustic Music Ensemble Class, beginning June 7, in Brattleboro, according to a news release. The class invites women to experience playing acoustic Folk and Boomer classic songs together, in a fun, easy-going group ensemble. A world-renowned...
For locals driving by the splintered remains of the Newfane Creamery, which was destroyed by fire March 2, every trip past the site is a sad reminder of the beloved cafe, Selectboard Vice-Chair Carol Hatcher told her colleagues at the May 2 Board meeting. “The holdup is, the state discovered that there was a linoleum floor in the upstairs bathroom, and sometimes linoleum has asbestos in it,” Board member Gary Delius said at the meeting. State officials put a 10-day...
Savings Bank of Walpole recently announced the dates and bands scheduled to perform at the annual “Concerts on the Green” summer concert series held on the town green in Walpole. The nine-concert series will kick off on Sunday, June 26 with a performance by The Springfield (Vt.) Community Band and conclude with two concerts on Aug. 14 featuring the Hope Haitian Choir (who are being sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Walpole) and The Jazz Express. All of the...
The River Singers, led by Mary Cay Brass, will hold their spring concert on Saturday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m., at The White Church. The 90-singer ensemble will perform soulful, thrilling music from the Balkans, South Africa, Rwanda, and the Republic of Georgia, with a special focus this session on old-time country music with guest musicians Emily Miller and Jesse Milnes joining the choir for a special joint concert, according to a news release. Milnes and Miller perform country and...
Jil “JilMac” MacMenamin, a self-proclaimed “Google Girl” who has been studying, using, and incorporating Google Tools at every opportunity, will share her expertise in a two-hour workshop, “Using Google Tools for Productive Collaboration,” on Tuesday, June 7, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Marlboro College Graduate Center, 2nd Floor, 28 Vernon St. The workshop will include: • Creating a Google site, because it is the way to organize one's Google presence. • Incorporating Google Calendar, combining calendars on a Google...
As the Listers near completion of the digital version of the town's outdated parcel maps, they and the Selectboard weighed options for who can gain access to what and how much they should pay for it. Listers Jeremiah Sund and Andy Cotton have worked closely with Northampton, Mass.-based MainStreetGIS to develop an updated version of Guilford's tax maps. At the May 9 regular Selectboard meeting, Sund and Cotton presented their progress. Sund told town officials MainStreetGIS offers two versions of...
One compromised spent-fuel canister could deliver an 1850 msv dose of radiation to the population within 1 mile. I really don't think it's a good idea to be moving this stuff around too much.
Don't believe that Senator Jeanette White didn't understand that the Senate's marijuana legalization bill got transformed into a sellout to corporate interests. And, yes, we read it - every single version.
Many children rely on school meals during the school year. In Windham County, 48 percent of students are eligible for free meals. But once schools let out for summer vacation, these children must look for other sources of food. Summer meal sites provide this crucial source of nutritious food but, in the Windham Region, not all of the eligible locations are actually serving children during the summer months, according to a news release. The Springfield area is of particular concern,
Community theater is a unique experience. For about eight weeks, a dozen or more individuals who have full-time jobs or classes make putting on a show one of their primary goals. They skip dinners, they brave all sorts of terrible weather conditions, they sacrifice their precious family time and even some of their own financial resources just so that they can create a theatrical entertainment for the enjoyment of others, many of whom are complete strangers. Why would they do...
The Rockingham Arts and Museum Project (RAMP), Sherwin Art Glass, Flying Canvas Studio and Hunter Studios are hosting the film, “Mr. Turner,” starring British actor Timothy Spall and directed by Mike Leigh, on Wednesday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m., as part of Classic Movie Night at the Bellows Falls Opera House. The film is an acclaimed 2014 biographical drama that focuses on the last 25 years of the life and career of landscape painter J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). “Mr. Turner” is...
WBA sponsors chicken barbecue WEST BRATTLEBORO - The West Brattleboro Association (WBA) will hold a chicken barbecue on Saturday, May 28 in front of First Congregational Church on Western Avenue. The barbecue will feature half chickens, baked beans, and cole slaw, available starting at 11 a.m. until it is sold out. The barbecue sauce is made from a recipe used by the Guilford Fair for years, and the beans cooked from a Thurber Farm recipe. Helen Robb cooks her beans...
College news • The following local students were awarded degrees at Keene State College's Commencement on May 7: Alyson Jones of South Newfane graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education, Olivia Capponcelli of Brookline graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Nursing - Pre-Licensure, Beth Freeman of Brattleboro graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology, and Emma Parro of Vernon graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. • Kevin Ameden and Jason Bean, both from Jamaica,
The Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA) recently honored Clifford Allard and Allard Lumber Company as the recipient of its 2015 Outstanding Sawmill Operator Award. NELA Board Secretary William Sayre presented the award at the annual Loggers' Banquet in South Burlington in a ceremony attended by more than 200 members of the Northeast's forest products industry. Sayre said Allard Lumber - in its 42nd year of business - was started by Cliff and his brother on the farm of Robert Allard Sr.
The Selectboard voted to hire Michelle L. Pong of West Chesterfield, N.H., as the new town administrator. The vote in favor of her hiring was unanimous, minus the absent Emily Vergobbe, at the May 2 regular board meeting. Board Chair Christiane Howe said Pong will begin “in at least a month,” because she has to give adequate notice to her employer. According to the unofficial Vernon town website, vernonvermont.org, Pong has been program director of the Lead Safe & Healthy...
The Aug. 6 Grace Cottage Hospital Auxiliary Fair Day will again include an art show, according to a news release. Area artists and craftspeople are encouraged to display their works in this show, which will be held in the Townshend Church on the Townshend Common throughout Fair Day. The artwork and crafts pieces in the show will be for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Grace Cottage Hospital. Those interested in exhibiting in the show should...
Serving my first two years as your representative in the Vermont House of Representatives has been a privilege and an honor. On your behalf, I worked hard every day to learn the legislative process, forge productive relationships with my colleagues, and use my experience and voice to assist our district, our neighbors, and our state. My work ethic and willingness to work across the political spectrum on state and local challenges allowed me to be more effective than might otherwise...
I'm glad that alimony-reform discussions are moving forward, but to have the state Supreme Court's Family Division Oversight Committee be in charge with no one from the reform side having input is disturbing at best and downright corrupt at worst. They are the reason reform is needed since there is no evidence of Family Court oversight at this point in time. Hopefully, this committee will come back with a proposal for meaningful and positive reform. Permanent alimony is the equivalent...
I recently returned from a hiking trip to the wondrous Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Canyon national parks. The Southwest desert is a fascinating place: it offers beautiful nature in some areas and is desolate and poverty stricken in others. It also is affluent and fast-growing in cities and some towns. The limited areas we saw in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona seemed to have two striking things in common: sunshine almost all the time and no solar! I know...
Twilight Music begins its 14th annual Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series of folk, world beat, rock, jazz, zydeco, Celtic, swing, blues, and bluegrass summer concerts on Sunday, May 29, with an evening of hard driving, houserocking, in-your-face blues by The Chris Kleeman Band. The seven concert series continues every other Sunday through Aug. 21. All concerts begin at 6 p.m. in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at...
Newfane Anew Community Volunteers (NACV), working with businesses and event planners, announced a wide variety of activities and events for Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, May 28, the Newfane Garden Club is holding its annual plant and bake sale, starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 29, brings two special events. The Morris Dancers perform on West Street beginning at 5 p.m. Directly following the dancers, Four Columns Inn hosts its first ever Summer Garden Party. Food and beverages will be...
I thank the voters I met in just three towns - Bellows Falls, Springfield, and Rutland - for signing petitions to allow me to appear on the Aug. 9 Statewide Democratic Party Primary Election ballot for governor and for United States senator. Some people told me they didn't know anything about me, but they'd sign my petition after talking with me. I have been on the statewide ballot every two years starting 2002. Why am I so unknown? I'll tell...
Selectboard Chair David Gartenstein said in his opening statement at the May 17 board meeting that the town hopes to soon complete collective bargaining negotiations. Lately, the board has held numerous executive sessions, in part because of ongoing contract negotiations, Gartenstein said. The municipality is committed to transparency, Gartenstein said, adding that he wanted to shed a little light on why the board has held so many closed-door sessions of late. Four unions represent town employees. Gartenstein said two unions...
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced major revisions to the classification of exempt employees. The designations “exempt” and “nonexempt” refer to whether a position is subject to regulations for paying overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The changes go into effect on Dec. 1 and will require significant adjustments for some employers. In Vermont, it is estimated that up to 10,000 employees might be affected by these rules. Employers should begin the process now of understanding...
The Selectboard approved two more steps for the Police-Fire facilities project on May 17. The board endorsed site plans for the West Brattleboro Fire Station. The board also gave a nod to moving forward with energy-efficiency plans provided by Efficiency Vermont. Members of the Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee hashed out the overall designs for the West B station along with the professional design team, Town Manager Peter Elwell said. The committee sought the board's endorsement before the Development Review Board...
Probably one of the first things the new president is going to have to do is nominate someone to the Supreme Court. This prospect does not seem to be very prominent in the campaign. When I asked a politically minded friend why this might be so, she suggested that to most people, the Supreme Court is too abstract. But what is abstract about affirmative action? What is abstract about abortion rights? What is abstract about voting rights or gay rights?
Bellows Falls has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to art and culture, and I'm proud to be a small part of that.
At the excellent Brattleboro Safer Streets Forum (May 5), the town manager invited everyone to suggest how the streets could be safer for pedestrians and cyclists, saying that good ideas could be implemented as soon as possible. Then officials responsible told us why not. An experienced crossing guard explained how an infamous intersection endangers schoolchildren and crossing guards. Officials said that engineers have approved it. Some Keene crosswalks double as speed bumps. Officials said not in Brattleboro, because they slow...
“How can this be addressed, knowing we're not happy campers at all?” an attendee asked Agency of Transportation (AOT) officials at the public hearing on the Route 5 bridge replacement project, held on May 3 in the town offices. The “this” she referred to was a 25-mile detour for anyone south of the Broad Brook Bridge trying to get north of it, and vice versa. The project, scheduled for summer 2017, requires an estimated 28-day bridge closure, which means no...
Creators and purveyors of alcohol seeking special-event permits from the town of Brattleboro will now pay an additional local fee. A local $15 charge is added to catering permits, special-event permits, and art gallery permits. Festival and educational-sampling permits now carry a $50 fee. The state Department of Liquor Control charges a fee for special-events permits. It also allows towns to add their own fees. The board approved the new fees after much discussion on May 17. This decision follows...
Organizers of Brattleboro's Independence Day celebration have passed the halfway point toward a $5,000 fireworks fundraising goal, thanks to a WTSA-FM radio-thon Friday that reaped several large contributions from local businesses. The town's 43rd annual free family July 4 event is set to feature a morning parade downtown, and an afternoon and evening of sports, concerts, and fireworks at Living Memorial Park, according to a news release. Brattleboro's Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, known for leading the annual march...
On Wednesday, June 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Green Writers Press and Next Stage Arts Project will present readings from three leading memoirists, according to a news release. M Jackson, author of “While Glaciers Slept: Being Human in a Time of Climate Change,” will give a talk and slide show on her work in Iceland. John Elder, Vermont nature writer and former Stewart Professor of English and Environmental Studies at Middlebury College, will read from his memoir, “Picking Up...
I don't believe Bernie Sanders can win against Hillary Clinton and the Democratic machine. What's important to me is his slogan - “A Future to Believe in” - and his platform of: • taking money out politics • raising the minimum wage • holding Wall Street accountable • preventing catastrophic climate change • supporting single-payer health care • breaking up financial institutions • moving from free to fair trade • making infrastructure investments • reforming education and the criminal justice...
Town officials have become familiar faces in the Statehouse, where they've argued repeatedly that municipalities like theirs should have a bigger role in deciding where energy projects are built. But now that both chambers of the Legislature have approved a bill addressing that issue, Selectboard Chair Frank Seawright is less than impressed. Seawright and his wife, anti-turbine activist Nancy Tips, say S.230 doesn't go far enough in ensuring that local concerns are taken seriously. And they aren't convinced that further...
I thought I'd mastered our community's center. The shops. Eateries. Banks. The quite-outstanding food co-op. The iconoclastic Latchis complex. The bookending cultural monuments: Brooks Memorial Library up north and the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center down south. And, yes, Brooks House - the belle of the ball - anchoring once again a town with a history to be proud of. Who knew that in the old Paramount Building, across the street from where I worked for so many years, would...
Carol Levin and her late husband Richard Gottlieb - solar energy activists and co-founders of Sunnyside Solar - are among the 25 renewable-energy innovators honored in an exhibit at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury. “Portraits in Action,” the press release says, “is a multimedia exhibit that brings together pioneers in renewable energy, environmental conservation, and land-use planning and invites them to speak to the issues at hand. “For over a decade, the Vermont Folklife Center has been exploring the...
American Legion Post 5 will celebrate Memorial Day this year with a Convocation at Brattleboro Union High School on Friday, May 27, at 9 a.m., and the traditional Memorial Day event at the Brattleboro Common on Memorial Day, May 30, at 11 a.m. Brattleboro attorney Tom Costello, a decorated Marine Corps combat infantry officer in Vietnam, is one of the Post 5 members organizing the two services. He said the convocation at BUHS is designed to honor the 11 Brattleboro-area...
Dorothy Vander Meulen of Brattleboro was recognized for her significant contributions to her community and to the Brattleboro branch of the American Association of University Women at its recent 90th birthday celebration. Vander Meulen was cited for her volunteer work with the branch as a member of the scholarship committee and with the book sale that raises money for the scholarship fund. An active community member, Vander Meulen volunteers with the overnight shelter and the food pantry. She is also...
I have been re-reading Hitler's secret diaries lately. Just excerpts - I never had the chance to see the whole volume of work. But they really exist. I have the issues of Newsweek International in which they were touted. Three cover stories. The first one all red and black with a long-running story quoting all kinds of excerpts, the most poignant his concern about Eva Braun's miscarriage. Then a second one proclaiming “the storm over Hitler's diaries.” The last cover,
The Friends of the Wardsboro Library is sponsoring its annual Memorial Day weekend Plant Sale, “From Our Gardens to Yours,” on Saturday, May 28. Admission and parking are free for the event, held rain or shine as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Wardsboro Library, a nonprofit organization that supports the Wardsboro Public Library (friendsofwardsborolibrary.org). The plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will take place at 170 Main St. on the library's front lawn and on the...
As the summer season heats up, the crews at the Department of Public Works gear up. The department will cram more than $2 million of capital projects into the months between the end of mud season and Thanksgiving. Someone from the department is always working on something, DPW Director Steve Barrett said. While one crew repaints the street markings, for instance, another mows, another runs the street sweeper, and a fourth repairs the department's equipment, he said. Water & Highway...
Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project present Quebecois duo Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme, plus Newfoundland/New England solo balladeer Keith Murphy, for an evening of traditional songs in French and English as well as highly crafted, traditional fiddle music at Next Stage on Friday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. According to a news release, the pairing of Falquet and Gemme with Murphy offers “a rare breadth of musical ground,” from Keith's beautifully spare solo songs with elegant guitar accompaniment...
It seems like the spring high school sports season barely started. But this week is the final week of the regular season for baseball and softball, the boys' and girls' tennis playoffs began this week, and the state track & field meets are next weekend. But this has been a spring with way too many cold and rainy days and not enough sunny days. So, the last eight weeks have alternated between days of rainouts, and teams being forced to...
A group of local high school students will take to the stage at Main Street Arts (MSA) in a collection of four short plays Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28, at 7:30 p.m., according to a news release. Members of The Young Company are Simon Bupp-Chickering, Ellie Guyon, Emily Wunderle, Alden Parmelee, Alexis Larsen, Faith Byfield, Ira Richardson, Jackson Purdy and Zoe Schemm of Bellows Falls Union High School. All have cut their acting teeth on the BFUHS stage,
In a crowded conference room here on May 19, officials from neighboring counties in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts were asked to rank the biggest threats to the regional economy. The closure of Vermont Yankee finished dead last - far behind problems like an aging population and a need for improved infrastructure. It was a somewhat surprising outcome, given that the Vernon nuclear plant's shutdown was the original motivation for scheduling the meeting of leaders from Windham County, Franklin County...