JULY 1 - 2 in BRANDON 

250 YEARS - LET'S PARTY

Brandon's Independence Day 

Celebration is Vermont's best! From Friday night kick-off to Saturday morning karoake, parade at 1 pm and fireworks at dusk, the day is full of fun.

Here is the official line-up:

July 1, 2011:

• Food Fest and Street Dance at Central Park. Food Vendors open 5 PM Street Dance 6 PM-10 PM.

July 2, 2011

• Central Park opens at 9AM with food and Craft Vendors and Karaoke in the Band Stand.
• Silent Auction in hall in back of Central Park starts at 10AM.
• High Peaks Juggling show in Green Park from 10AM-11 AM.
• Parade kicks off at 1PM at the top of Park Street and ends at Rt 73 West by Post Office. Bet-Cha Transit will bus from OVUHS to Central Park and back from 9AM to 4PM.
• The Great Brandon Ball Race will take place in Green Park at 3PM. Balls will be on sale in Central Park for $5.00 each until 2:30 PM. Prizes are $300, $200 and $100.
• Wildwood Bluegrass Band will play in Central Park from 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM.
• Park Village opens at 6PM with DJ, inflatables for "Kids", food and craft vendors and Fire Works at dusk.[slideshow id=12] The parade is Vermont's largest. The parade is all-American: floats, bands, cars, with a few politicians too! Central Park is the hub of activity: food, vendors, games, and music. The Great Ball Race is exciting and could be profitable for a few lucky winners! The evening crowd at the grounds at Park Village (former Brandon Training School, 1-1/2 mile north of downtown on Route 7) is full of games, music, food and fireworks.

Remember, Brandon's Independence Day Celebration doesn't just "happen." A committee of volunteers has put together the above mentioned schedule and will be working extra hard in the coming days to make the event enjoyable for all.  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 

Back by popular demand. You saw them first during Art in the Snow! The Avant  Garde  Dogs  Band  is an eclectic collection of musicians: two members of the Sleeping Dogs of old (Jim Murphy and Tad Merrick), The Keating Five (Jim Keating), and other members who are relatively new to the local music scene (Liam Murphy and Doug Wilhelm). The band's songs range from John Hiatt, The Subdudes, Bruce Cockburn, Greg Brown, Ry Cooder. Los Lobos, The Rolling Stones, The Band, and even a little R&B, all twisted around whatever light pole can be found by the band members. Dancing is the goal, but if people want to just squat, listening is certainly an option. Concert sponsored by Ms. Bette Moffett. Rain location to be announced if necesssary. 

 BRANDON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2011 SCHOLARSHIP

The Brandon Chamber Scholarship is awarded annually to an OVUHS graduating senior who is well-rounded and has participated in school and outside activities. The student should also be pursuing a course of study in business or a business-related major or who aspires to be entrepreneurial.

This year, the Chamber's Scholarship Committee chose a very deserving student to receive our prize. During her high school years, Ashlie Delphia has been involved in many activities, sports, clubs and committees. She has gainful employment, has had a business internship at a local bank, and runs her own lawn care business. Ashlie will be attending Champlain College and plans to study accounting and eventually become a Certified Public Accountant. Good luck Ashlie  and Congratulations!

FROM OUR MEMBERS

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

FOOD SAFETY AND RESOURCES  

Retain in event of future food safety or service requirements

Food Safety

ServSafe® Certification, Re-Certification or Re-Testing

Classroom or Online Sessions convenient for Individuals or Groups, Best for proprietors, administrators, chefs, all food service professionals. Next class: Library in Brandon Vermont on July 19, Aug 23 and Sept 13^th. Hold sessions at your facility or other preferred location, Call 802.247.0098

Food Handler Food Safety Essentials

Ideal for all existing and entry level full and part time food service associates. Four hour session assimilates FDA and national food safety requirements

Resources

Pre-Regulatory Inspection "Fresh Eyes" Analysis

Improve annual Board of Health inspection results

Waitstaff Dining Service Workshop

Excellent session for existing and entry level table service associates

Food Service Consultant

Have concerns? Find source, solve with viable solutions.

Information

Food Safety Resources and Services available through Training to Excel, Norm Milot, Certified ServSafe® Instructor and Registered Proctor, 31 Franklin Street, Brandon, Vermont 05733-1111

Telephone: 802.247.0098, answered by Rosebelle's Victorian Inn

Email: info@trainingtoexcel.com 

Information on Web Site: www.trainingtoexcel.com 

ServSafe Certification offered monthly at public library in Brandon, Vermont

Saturday, July 16 

Chicken Barbecue / Salad / Bean Supper

 Congregational Church Fellowship Hall 

Barbecue chicken, variety of salads, slaws, baked beans, strawberry shortcake, beverages  

Adults - $10; Youth 5 - 12 - $5; Under 5 - their guest

BATTLE OF HUBBARDTON ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND - JULY 9 - 10

A colorful full scale history pageant unfolds at the Battle of Hubbardton living history weekend on July 9 and 10 at the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site. This special event honors the July 7, 1777, Revolutionary War battle, the only one fought in Vermont. 

Experience a full immersion into the past, walking in the footsteps of an exciting time, and enjoy entertainment for all ages in honor of the July 7, 1777, Revolutionary War battle. More than 400 re-enactors will be on hand, making it one of the largest events at Hubbardton site in years.

It was in these green hills 234 years ago that British troops under Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne first met the resistance and bravery of Americans in battle.  Experience the sights and sounds of the Revolutionary War and colonial times-musket fire cracking, black powder smoke curling in the air, seeing food cooking over open fires, men and boys in breeches and waistcoats, and women and girls in long skirts and caps. 

The weekend offers activities for all ages and interests, including visiting the museum.  Organizers expect a large contingent of re-enactors, who portray American, British, and German soldiers and their families.  Walk through their tent camps and see the tactical and artillery demonstrations (BOOM!), camp life activities, courts martial, learning how to drill, and guided camp and battlefield tours.  Mistress Davenport will set up her popular school and storytelling.  Children also will love the activity tent just for them, near the museum building. Many sutlers (the traveling shopkeepers of the time) will set up sutler row, with a colonial shopping experience for the public.  Local groups offer the popular food concession stand both days. 

Saturday afternoon is a dramatic military tactical on the slope of Monument Hill, weather permitting and the weekend highlight is the battle on Sunday morning, with troops starting formations about 7:30 a.m.  The extended tactical demonstration begins at 8 a.m., with sounds of muskets in the distance and then an explosion of color as the troops emerge over the top of Monument Hill and fight their way down the slope.   Around 9 a.m. see the start of a symbolic Revolutionary relay across Vermont to Windsor's Old Constitution House, celebrating a 234^th anniversary of Vermont's Constitution.  The modern relay will carry to the constitutional delegates in Windsor the news about the battle and withdrawal from Mt. Independence and Fort Ticonderoga.  

During the Battle of Hubbardton soldiers from Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire fought in a decisive rear guard action to halt the British army and allow the main American army under Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair to withdraw southward to safety from Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence.  Events at Hubbardton saved St. Clair's troops and led to the stunning American victory in October 1777 at the Battle of Saratoga, considered a turning point in the Revolutionary War and in world history.

The site opens at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.  Sunday's events start about 7:30 a.m.  Admission each day is $5 for adults and free for children under 15.  There will be plenty of nearby parking and a "people mover" from the parking area to the central location for those who wish to ride.  The event is offered by a partnership of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, Living History Association, and the Hubbardton Historical Society with support from many other Hubbardton organizations and area Scouts and businesses.   

The Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site is located on Monument Hill Road 6 miles off VT Route 30 in Hubbardton or 7 miles off exit 5 on US Route 4 in Castleton.  Carefully follow the signs.  The site is regularly open Thursdays through Sundays and Monday holidays through Oct. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information about the Battlefield or this event, call 802- 273-2282 or visit www.historicvermont.org/sites.

YARD SALE REGISTRATION FORM is BELOW, keep scrolling down! 

SUPPORT THE BRANDON TOWN HALL:  

www.brandontownhall.org.

Just click on the word "here" in the first paragraph to get the form.

HOST A CHINESE STUDENT THIS SUMMER

Contact Jim Avery or Jeff Jeskie at Otter Valley Union High School:    

Phone: 802.247.6833

E-mail: jjeskie@rnesu.org  

javery@rnesu.org

SOAR SUMMERFEST Monster Pot of Gold!  

www.SOARSummerfest.org  to see the entire list of items  

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

www.brandon.org

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