FEBRUARY 2012
BRANDON CHAMBER ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICERS, DIRECTORS
AND PRESIDENT AWARD WINNERS
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is pleased to announce
New Chamber President Beth Carr
the recipients of this year's President's Awards. Immediate Past President Ed Bratton presented one award to Courtney and Jon Satz of Wood's Market Garden and another to Janet Mondlak, BACC Executive Director, at the organization's Annual Meeting on February 3 held at the Brandon Inn in front of a crowd of more than 90 people. This annual award is presented to a business or individual(s) who make Brandon a better place to work and live.
 
President Award Winners: Courtney and Jon Satz

Jon and Courtney Satz have been giving back to the community for years. Literally thousands of pounds of produce are annually donated to the food shelf, schools, community events and in 2011, hard-hit neighbors after Tropical Storm Irene. In addition, Courtney, a graphic designer, donates her talents to many community organizations and events. Courntey is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce. Janet Mondlak was acknowledged for her 20 years as Executive Director of the Chamber.

The Brandon Chamber also is pleased to announce new Officers and Directors for 2012. The new President is Beth Carr of Carr's Florist & Gifts. New Vice-President is Liz Gregorek of Omya, Inc. Wendy Bizzarro of Heritage Family Credit Union has taken over as Secretary and Sam Glaser remains Treasurer. Elected to the Board are two new Directors, Thomasina Magoon of Naylor & Breen Builders and Betsy Quigley of New England Woodcraft. Re-elected to the Board are returning Directors Christy Gahagan of Pillar Pilates, Wayne Rausenberger of WLR Improvements and Courtney Satz of Wood's Market Garden. Retiring Directors Ed Bratton of Maple View Farm Alpacas and Judy Reilly of Judith Reilly Gallery were acknowledged for their many years of service and are now considered Honorary Directors.

The Chamber congratulates the President's Award winners on their awards and the new Officers and Directors. For more information contact the Chamber at 247-6401. Thanks to Thomasina Magoon for all photos!

 




ART IN THE SNOW
Brandon's Winter Arts & Wine Festival 
February 18 - 19, 2012 
 
BEAT THE WINTER BLUES:  

There is not much going on outside this winter. SO... Spend the weekend of Feb. 18 - 19 in Brandon and you will find lots to do. Forward on this email and invite over friends and family!

We can't guarantee snow but we can make sure everything is in place for you to have a great weekend! 
 

Art in the Snow has many exciting parts and pieces: Almost two dozen Open Studios and Demos; the Wine Trail; Culinary Classes; A Wine-Pairing Dinner; Science Pub; Entertainment; and $50 in Brandon Bucks for the first 20 two-night-stay rooms booked at any of our participating lodging partners!  

 

WINE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
(go to website for details and to register):  

  • Wine-Pairing Dinner: Sat. evening, Deb. 18, at the Brandon Inn featuring the local wines of Neshobe River Winery. SEE ALL DETAILS BELOW. Advance registration requested.
  • Science Pub: Vine to Wine: Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19 at the Brandon Inn. An Informal Chat about a grape's journey and the ecology of cork. Advance registration requested.   
  • The Wine Trail - Saturday, Feb. 18 from 11 am - 4 pm and Sunday, Feb. 19 from 12 noon - 4 pm. Listing below and details on website) 

 

ENTERTAINMENT:  

  • Ten Rod Road playing Sat. night, Feb. 18, at 9:00 pm at the Center Street Bar. No cover. Cash bar
  • Concert featuring Olivia Gawet accompanied by Rip Jackson on piano, Sun., Feb. 19 at 2:00 pm. Brandon Music. $10 fee fundraiser for Compass Music and Arts Center. 

LEARN TO COOK:  

  • Crepe Making with Chef Robert. Registration requested. 
  • Mad for Macaroons with Judy Bunde. Registration requested. 
  • Shop at vermont kitchen supply

 

VISIT OPEN STUDIOS & DEMOS (no fee):

  • Brandon Music
  • Meg Brash 
  • Joan Curtis
  • Karen Deets
  • Barbara Ekedahl
  • Robert Gold 
  • Lee Greenewalt  
  • Wendy Jennejahn 
  • Warren Kimble
  • Debbie Kirby
  • Jill Listzwan 
  • Mike Mayone
  • Coliene Moore 
  • Judy Reilly
  • Don Ross 
  • Patty Sgrecci
  • Susan Smith-Hunter   
  • Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio 

 

TAKE THE WINE TRAIL ($5 wine glass purchase):

  • East Shore Vineyard at Brandon Artists Guild
  • Eden Ice Cider at Carr's Florist & Gifts 
  • Lincoln Peak Vineyard at The Granary
  • Neshobe River Winery at Tastes of the Valley 
  • Shoreham Winery at Gourmet Provence

 

JUST FOR FUN & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:  

  •  Visit with the Alpacas at Maple View Farm Alpacas (no fee) 
  • "Brandon Roadshow" at Antiques By The Falls - Verbal appraisals (no fee) 
  • Shopping at Blue Moon Clothing & Gifts
  • Delicious lunch and dinner at Brandon House of Pizza
  • Shopping at Shapiro's Dept. Store 

 

STAY: TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
$50 in Brandon Bucks to be given to the first 20 two-night-stay rooms booked at any of these lodging partners (good for either Feb. 17 & 18 or Feb. 18. & 19)  

  • Brandon Inn
  • Brandon Motor Lodge
  • Inn on Park Street
  • Old Mill Inn  
  • 12 Franklin Street

 

 Art in the Snow offers an opportunity to experience Brandon in a whole new way. Art in the Snow is for life-long learners and the curious. 

Follow this link for a list of weekend offering and event sponsors 




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Attention everyone! Chef Louis is Cooking!

 

In coordination with Brandon's Art In The Snow Weekend, Chef Louis of the Brandon Inn will be preparing a delicious dinner accompanied by Brandon's own local wines from the Neshobe River Winery in a wine-pairing dinner event.

 

For those of you who know Louis' cooking, this is your chance to enjoy a great meal prepared by him, and for those who have not yet had that opportunity, here is your chance and we hope to see you, too!

 

Brandon Inn Main Dining Room

Saturday evening, February 18, 2012

beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

$55.00 person ~ includes all taxes & gratuities

 

The Menu:

  • Mesclun greens salad with pear, walnuts and Vermont creamy goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette
  • Broiled haddock with a light mushroom dill sauce served with a beurre noisette polenta and roasted winter vegetables
  • Roast Loin of Pork with a prune and thyme stuffing and a rich caraway gravy with mashed red potatoes and roasted winter vegetables
  • Apricot, ricotta strudel with crème anglaise and fresh whipped cream

Advance Reservations only.

Reserve before Monday, February 13th to:

Neshobe River Winery at 247-8002; NeshobeRiverWinery@gmail.com or

The Brandon Inn at 247-5766; Mail@BrandonInn.com

Looking for Fun & Learning for your Children During February Break?

 
Sign them up for the fiber workshops at

Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio at Maple View Farm Alpacas

 

Sign up Today ~ Space is Limited

Tuesday, 2/21 - Wet Felting

9:30 - 11:30  Grades 1-3

1:00 - 3:00    Grades 4-6

The workshop will introduce the alpacas and their fiber and attendees will create felted soap and toys.

 

Thursday, 2/23 - Needle Felting

9:30 - 11:30  Grades 1-3

1:00 - 3:00    Grades 4-6

Attendees will needlefelt ornaments and make flowers. The older group will also use the FeltLOOM to create a scarf.

 

 Cost is $15 per child and includes all materials.  

To enroll contact Deb Bratton at vtfibermill@gmail.com or 802.236.9158.


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LOAF, LEAF, LADLE SUPPER

 

     SATURDAY, FEB 25TH 2012     TIME: 5-7

 

     BRANDON CONGREGATIONAL FELLOWSHIP HALL

                RT 7--BRANDON, VT.

 

10-12 HOMEMADE SOUPS TO TRY---BREADS---SALAD BAR--PIES & BEVERAGES

 

ADULTS $9  YOUTH 5-12  $4    UNDER 5-OUR GUESTS

 

FURTHER INFO: CALL CINDY 247-4130

 

 


TASTE OF VERMONT
The third annual Taste of Vermont fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Brandon will be held on Sunday, March 11 at the Brandon Inn. Start at 4 pm with a Meet the Chefs gathering together with local cheesemakers, farms, wines and a silent auction. Dinner tasting starts at 5 pm with the live auction and dessert starting at 6 pm. This annual event not only helps scores of kids in Rutland and Addison Counties, it tastes great too! For more information, to donate, or purchase tickets, contact the Boys and Girls Club of Brandon at 802-465-4131 or email: tasteofvtbrandon@gmail.com
NEXT CHAMBER MEETING
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce will next meet on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 6:30 pm in The Cliver Room at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace. The general membership and public are invited to attend.

BRANDON ROTARY ICE OUTBrandon VT

Guess the date and time the flag sinks on Belden's Pond (Rt 7 north of town). Look for the snowman who will stop the clock when the flag goes down. Winner's share is 50% of entry fees with the balance going to Rotary to support Rotary projects locally and internationally. $1 per entry or 6 for $5.  Click for an entry form.

The DUNMORE DIP 

The Dunmore Dip helps fund  eradicating the milfoil in Lake Dunmore and Fern Lake. The fun part is trying to predict when the ice on Lake Dunmore will melt, causing the red flag to tip and fall into the water. Lord Dunmore stops his clock when the flag goes down. That is the "official" Dunmore Dip time. Visit the web site http://www.ldfla.com/other/dunmore-dip.html. Donation is only $1 per guess. Or call John Ebert at 802-352-9392.  Entries MUST BE postmarked by MARCH 15, 2012.  

Vermont Communities in a Digital Age  Thursday, February 16th 

9am - 4:30pm

Vermont Technical College, Randolph VT. Visit

evermontworkshop.org
for links to more information and registration.

 

Join community leaders from around the state to share ideas and learn how online tools are being used to create jobs, reinvent schools, attract visitors, improve civic involvement, and enliven Vermont communities. The workshop is sponsored by the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project.  

Anne Galloway of VtDigger.org will be the keynote speaker. Session topics include mobilizing community resources for emergencies, a hands-on lab exploring online tools for business, a showcase of how technology is expanding the classroom for 4-6th graders, a look at conducting town meetings in the digital age, and ways to increase public Internet access in your town (and why).  

Registration is $20 and includes course offerings, refreshments, lunch and the chance to win a Kindle reader and other prizes in our raffle drawing.

For more information about the day go to evermontworkshop.org. Pre-register online, by phone 802-859-3090, or by e-mail joanna@snellingcenter.org.

e-Vermont partner The Snelling Center for Government is the lead organizer for Vermont Communities in a Digital Age.
CONTACT INFO
Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 267
Brandon VT 05733

802.247.6401

info@brandon.org
COMMUNITY RECOVERY PARTNERSHIP

"My name is Noelle MacKay and I am the Commissioner of Economic, Housing and Community Development for the State of Vermont.   Governor Shumlin asked me to coordinate an interagency team to help communities as they begin thinking about long-range recovery efforts. To support these local efforts and target limited resources, the state has launched the Community Recovery Partnership, starting with a series of conversations to reach out and listen, identify short and long term needs and develop a framework to help communities emerge from this disaster stronger and more resilient.  The wealth of local experience captured in these conversations will be shared online and help make our towns, economy, our environment and the entire state stronger in the years ahead.

 

Meeting Details:

Who: Local leaders, flood responders, and community members from Rutland City, Town, Wallingford, Clarendon, Brandon, Mt. Holly, Proctor, Shrewsbury and surrounding towns

Where:Rutland Free Library, The Fox Room (upstairs), 10 Court Street, Rutland

When: Monday, February 13, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, all are welcome 

Regarding: Short- and Long-Term Flood Recovery

 

*The venue is wheel chair accessible.  Questions regarding accessibility should be addressed to Chris Cochran 802.828.3047 [voice].  Relay calls welcome.

 

Meeting Overview:

The visits include a cross-agency team from the Agencies of Commerce & Community Development, Transportation, Human Services, Natural Resources and Vermont Emergency Management, as well as representatives from the Regional Planning Commissions and Regional Development Corporations.  The initial conversation will focus on the local recovery efforts like emergency response, roads, bridges, rivers, people, housing, etc -- what worked and what didn't.  We would then like to learn more about your community's current needs, it's capacity to meet those needs and to identify the gaps.   We'll conclude with a discussion about the vision for the long-term recovery along with strategies to make communities more resilient. 

 

Outcomes:

The state partnership team will summarize the results of these community conversations to help in local recovery efforts and to assist the state in understanding communities' long-term recovery needs. The state will then help match needs with existing services in the short term, while creating a recovery plan for the longer term that will more effectively support local recovery and rebuilding efforts.

 

Please feel free to forward this message to let others know - all are welcome.  If you plan to attend please RSVP here. 
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