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Monday, May 30 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.  Please join us for the 150^th birthday part celebration of the Town Hall.Gene Childers and Friends will perform his new song the "Ballad of Brandon".  The Girl Scouts will be serving their grand birthday cake with punch and the "150 Years, $150" plaque will be presented with the many generous people's names that have already contributed to their town hall already listed.Free event.  Come join the celebration!  For more information, call 247-5420 or 247-3971.

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Monday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m.The Friends of the Town Hall will present the movie "How to Train Your Dragon"which is a 2010 3Dcomputer-animatedfantasy film by DreamWorks Animation based on the 2003 book of the same name. The film stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 83rd Academy Awards, which it lost to Toy Story 3 and The Social Network, respectively. The movie also won ten Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature. Free will offering at the door, refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase from the FOTH concession area.  For more information, call 247-5420 or 247-3971.

ART MAKES BRANDON TICK

Memorial Day Weekend is when art lovers expect the Brandon Artists Guild (the BAG) to kickoff the annual fund-raising event and this year is no exception! To celebrate "Art Makes Brandon Tick," there will be a Friday night unveiling open to the public. An exciting variety of unique and functional artist-created clocks are displayed at the BAG gallery. Opening reception is 5:30 to 8 PM, Friday May 27th). The clocks are on view Saturday and Sunday as well, coinciding with Open Studios Weekend.

Commemorating the town's 250th anniversary, Warren Kimble says, "It's 'Hour' Time in Brandon."  In addition to the clocks with working mechanisms, a number of nonfunctional clock panels will decorate the town. Clocks and timepiece items will be showcased at the BAG gallery all summer.

Clock by Medana Gabbard

Some of the approximately twenty-five BAG artist members donating their time and artistry are Liza Myers, Judith Reilly, Robin Kent, Rick Haver, George Wetmore, Steven Zorn, Linda Evans, Klara Calitri, Joan Drew, Karen Deets, Joan Curtis, Sandy Mayo, and Warren Kimble. 

Proceeds from the October clock auction benefit local school programs, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Town Hall renovation project. An annual $1,000 scholarship is awarded a high school student pursuing the arts. The fund-raising project allows the Brandon Artists Guild to continue its mission of presenting arts to the local community. 

Fri, May 27, Unveiling of Auction Clocks at Brandon Artists Guild Gallery, 7 Center St., Brandon; 5:30 to 8 PM.

Sat/Sun, May 28/29: Auction Clocks on view all weekend (and until Oct 8); also statewide Open Studios Weekend.

Sat, Oct 8, Columbus Day Weekend: "Art Makes Brandon Tick" Auction, Brandon Town Hall, 7 PM (preview 1 hour before auction).  

The next phase of Love-A-Park is PLANTING. Volunteers should gather at 8 am on Saturday, June 4 in Brandon Green Park (across from Town Offices). 

Brandon has beautiful public parks. Help make them even more beautiful. Volunteer to help on Saturday, June 4 at 8 am!

The group can  decide what park they want to tackle and fan out from there. If enough people show up the work should be done in an hour or so and you can be off to do other Saturday activities. Bring work gloves, hand trowels and other tools you think you may need or like to use when you plant your own gardens.  There will be no need for any real clean -up after the work is finished other than sweeping up, so if you have a broom, please bring it.

Rain date is scheduled for the following Saturday, June 11,  same time and place!

Intrepid Master Gardener, Amanda Berry, will work on planting diagrams for each park.  She has done measurements and an assessment of the plants already growing.  Her thoughts are to make sure we have a variety of perennials that will provide color all  

Master Gardener Amanda Berry helping at Love-A-Park I

summer and will supplement those with annuals. If you remember as you clean out your own gardens and are dividing perennials, you can deliver the extras to Amanda at 9 Pearl Street in Brandon.  She will see what she ends up with and plan her flower-ordering accordingly.

The Town of Brandon will purchase plantings and Moo-Doo mulch from local vendors and we will schedule a pick-up time for the raw materials.  If you have a preference for something to be included in the plantings please let us know.  Amanda can include those plants in the park gardens based on what works best for them and augment with other plants, herbs, bushes etc.

Bring your friends and neighbors! Love-A-Park is sponsored by the Downtown Brandon Alliance.

CENTRAL PARK BANDSTAND GETTING A FACELIFT

Thanks are in order to the Town of Brandon's  new Public Works Superintendent, Brian Sanderson (here in red t-shirt) and Brandon Selectman, Devon Fuller (in black t-shirt) for repairing the steps and railings of the Central Park bandstand. The structure suffered damage at the hands of vandals last fall. Next, Brandon Rotary Club members will be painting the bandstand and getting it ready for the busy park season ahead! Thanks to all for their efforts.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES:

In their own words:  

 

ST. THOMAS CHURCH ORGAN CONCERT - JUNE 4 at 7 pm 

Featuring GEORGE MATHEWS of Brandon playing on the 1885 PIPE ORGAN (among others playing will be Betsy Kilbrar on flute, Helen Wright - violin and Aileen Durkee on the organ). Free will donation accepted. For more info contact 247-6759.

 

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OVUHS JAZZ BAND & CHORALE 

Sunday, June 5th at 7pm.  Jazz Band, Treble-Makers, and Senior Chorale at the Brandon Town Hall. 

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VERMONT DAYS at the Vermont History Museum

June 11 and 12, 2011   

Saturday: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm  

Sunday 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm  

Vermont History Museum,  Pavilion Building, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT

Free admission both Saturday and Sunday for visitors and Vermonters to experience the Freedom and Unity exhibit in the Vermont History Museum. Vermont Days also features free day use of Vermont State Parks and free entrance to state-owned historic sites as well. For more info, please call 1-(800)-VERMONT. If you want to come visit the museum, please call (802) 828-2291.   

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BRANDON TOWN BAND

will play in Central Park every Monday starting Juen 20 through Labor Day Monday from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in Brandon's Central Park, weather permitting.

BRANDON'S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

JULY 2, 2011

THEME: LET'S PARTY ~ 250 YEARS

Brandon's Independence Day Celebration doesn't just "happen." A

Support the Parade with a $25 or more donation and get a free American flag!

committee of volunteers is hard at work scheduling floats, bands, vendors, fireworks, and much more. Besides all the hours of work involved, the celebration takes money! Join the team! Donate! The committee is once again offering the gift of a 3 x 5 American flag for any donation of $25 or more.Click here for details

CONSIDER MEMBERSHIP IN BRANDON MUSEUM

SUPPORT BRANDON'S HISTORY

 The Brandon Museum has a growing list of members -- community folks who love the building, the mission of the Museum, and Brandon history. We thank them for helping keep the building open and viable as a true community landmark. 2010 was  a great year for the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace organization. Here are statistics and accomplishments: 

In 2010:

• More than 1250 visitors visited the Brandon Museum and Visitor Center between mid-May and mid-October.
• The Museum was open every single day from 11:00 am - 4 pm during that time.
• 23 volunteers kept the Museum open for 632 hours and John Dilts, Museum Steward, worked approximately 400 hours throughout the season.
• Visitors were from many parts of the U.S. and a number of foreign countries.
• Many local folks stopped by to learn more about Brandon history, view the hundreds of photos in the database, and tell stories of "the good 'ol days."
• Students from local schools as young as first graders and up to 10th grade came with teachers who incorporated the Museum into their curriculum.
• A number of organized groups visited the Museum including: a local Sierra Club and senior field trips.
• The meeting room, now named The Cliver Room in honor of Blaine and Mary's contributions to the building, is used by a number of community organizations and local boards including: Brandon Planning Commission, Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, Brandon-Leicester-Salisbury Insect Control Board, Hawk Hill committee, Brandon Economic Development committee, Brandon Rotary Club, and a local support group.
• A Civil War history event was held in June 2010 featuring reenactors and historic lectures.
• Members of the Vermont Attractions Association which entitles us to be featured on the Official State of Vermont map, distribution 1.2 million annually. This organization recognizes us in the same league as 70 of Vermont's top tourist attractions.

Plans for 2011 include:

• We will add recording equipment to our computer so we can record visitor's memories "on the spot."           
• We are producing a digital rendition of our Anti-Slavery museum panels.
• We are planning another Civil War Days event, June 18, 2011, which will include reenactor enlisting activites, a historic house tour, and talks featuring professor Dr. Kevin Thornton and author Howard Coffin.

The Board of Directors of the organization are very proud of the Museum's first full year in operation. The building use and museum visitations surpassed expectations. The Board hopes you will consider membership in the organization. At this point in time, they are trying to retire a small debt left-over from the construction project.

Click here for a Membership Application. 

Thursday, June 9 from 12 - 5:30 pm at the Brandon Fire Station

Thanks to Lindy Brown at Reflexology for the Sole for hosting a great Chamber mixer. Right before the mixer, Lindy had a ribbon cutting and officially opened her new office, which is located in the Ayrshire Building. Contact Lindy at

282-3538 to learn more about reflexology or to schedule an appointment.

The Brandon Museum at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace is looking for volunteers. The Museum opened to the public last week and is being staffed by Museum Steward John Dilts along with community volunteers.

Extensive knowledge of history and / or Brandon is not required, but a positive attitude and a love of people are essential. Volunteer shifts will be 2-1/2 hours a week although there is also a need for substitutes and people who can help on a less regular schedule. This is a fun and exciting attraction in Brandon and a great place for community members and history lovers to get involved. Contact John Dilts at johnd@brandon.org or call 247-3006 (leave a message).

Congratulations to the staff at The Reporter for their fantastic 250th commemorative editior. The 44 page issue hit the newstand and local mailboxes this week and it is fantastic. Lee, Alyssa and Mandy worked hard on putting together this special piece, which will be a keeper for many years.

Its Not Too Early To Think About Your Yard Sale - AUGUST 6

• Click here for a Yard Sale Registration form. 
• Make sure you get on the Official Map.
• New Enhanced Listing opportunity this year.

From our friends at the Killington Chamber of Commerce:  

KILLINGTON STAGE RACE this weekend: Call for Volunteers 

ACEDC and SBDC in Addison County are pleased to present: Listening to Your Business:  Designed for the Entrepreneur

• Do you currently spend more time working IN your business rather than ON your business? 
• Do you know what development stage your business is in and what challenges to expect as you move to the next stage?
• Do you have a plan for getting where you want to be?

The workshop will help you evaluate and measure your personal as well as business strategies. Specifically designed for entrepreneurs, this workshop WILL guide you in answering the question "What do I really want from my business and how do I get it?"

The seminar is divided into four components:

1.      The Three Year Vision

2.      Business Lifecycles & Transitions

3.      Planning Tools & Competencies

4.      Transition Tactics

Date:  Friday, June 10th, 8 am - noon. Cost:  $125 per person. Location:  VT Small Business Development Center in Middlebury

 Register Here . Questions?  Call Steve or Robin at 802-388-7953.

The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce administers a low-interest revolving loan fund available to businesses for an approved building improvement project. The loan fund was originally established as a way to recognize that each and every improvement to Brandon's built community is important to a revitalized town. This loan has been lent several times in the past and there is $2500 available to be lent at the current time. Please contact the Chamber if you would like more information about this little pot of gold!

Free Wireless Internet DSL is being provided at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace, Brandon Museum, and Visitor Center by FairPoint Communications.  

BRANDON MUSEUM AT DOUGLAS BIRTHPLACE IS NOW OPEN FOR THE SEASON

The Brandon Museum at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace is now open daily between the hours of 11 am - 4 pm. It is free to the public and is handicapped accessible. The Stephen A Douglas Birthplace also houses the Brandon Visitor Center and a municipal restroom, which are open daily 8 am - 6 pm 365 days a year.

The Douglas Birthplace is located on Route 7, just north of downtown Brandon. The street address is 4 Grove St., next to the Brandon Baptist Church at the corner of Routes 7 and 73 West. For more information, call 802-247-6401 or visit www.brandon.org

www.brandon.org

Please take the time to link our website:

www.brandon.org to your website. It will help with search engine optimization for both your business and the Chamber.