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February
2013
(beginning)
Chamber &
Community News
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BRANDON CONTESTED RACES CANDIDATES FORUM
There are three candidates for Brandon's two one-year Select board seats and all three candidates have been invited to a Candidates Forum on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Brandon Senior Citizens Center. The three candidates are incumbent Ethan Swift and newcomers Blaine Cliver and June Kelly. The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event, which will be moderated by Bernie Carr. Candidates will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and answer questions from the public. For more information, contact the Chamber at 802-247-6401.
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BRANDON CHAMBER WEBSITE FACELIFT
Thanks to Jackson Whelan, web designer, the Brandon Chamber website has been undergoing an overhaul. Please note there are still corrections needed, photographs being worked on, and some organization being re-arranged. But, we are ready for our members to send us your info. We have a page for each and every member and can add photos (up to 3 each) and a descriptive paragraph. Take some time and look through the entire website or cut right to our Members page. Send your corrections, photos and blurb to: info@brandon.org.
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HELP WANTED:
The Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace Community Center, Inc. (SADBCC) is hiring a Museum Steward to begin work in the spring of 2013. The Steward will work 15-20 hours a week from mid-May through mid-October. The successful candidate will be responsible for stewardship of the Museum and property, as well as recruitment, supervision, and management of a team of volunteers. Go to: http://brandon.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/SAD-Museum-Steward-job-description.pdf for more detail on the job requirements.
Please send a cover letter and resume to:
info@brandon.org or by mail to: SADBCC, Inc., PO Box 246, Brandon, VT 05733.
Questions can be directed to SADBCC by phone at 802-247-6401. Deadline is February 28, 2013. SADBCC, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce it is now accepting scholarship application forms from graduating OVUHS students pursuing a course of study in business or business-related major. The Chamber Scholarship will be presented to a student who is well-rounded, has participated in school and outside activities, who is pursuing higher education, and is planning on a career in business or aspires to be entrepreneurial. Interested students should contact the Guidance Office for applications. The deadline for applying is Wednesday, May 1, 2013. For more information, you may also call the Chamber at 247-6401.
http://brandon.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/scholarship.pdf
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BRANDON BUILDS
Starting this spring, Brandon will be going through the first phase of the long-awaited Route 7 Segment Six project. Water lines will be addressed at two main access points: the Brandon Inn alley and the foot of W. Seminary Street.
Chamber officials recently met with Town officials to hear about the project and to provide input on minimizing negative impacts to vehicular traffic and the business community. We will be meeting with them again in about a month.
We want to hear from the business community. If you have ideas or concerns, please see Bernie at the flower shop or contact Janet at the Chamber: email at: info@brandon.org or phone at 247-6401.
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FLOWER GIRLS WANTED FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
Were you ever a "Flower Girl" in the Brandon Memorial Day Parade? One of the first grade girls from the Seminary Hill or Neshobe School wearing a white dress, who marched in the parade and laid flowers at the Civil War Monument? Its been a Brandon tradition for more than 100 years! Looking for girls and women for a Flower Girl Reunion Marching Unit in this year's Independence Day Parade (July 6). Contact Ellen Knapp at Neshobe School if you 247-3721 if you want to march!
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NEXT CHAMBER MEETING
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will next meet on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Cliver Room at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace. The Chamber will NOT have a meeting in February.
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CHAMBER MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BRANDON BIZ CARD
The Brandon Biz Card is a new initiative for all Brandon Chamber members and their employees. We have offers from about a dozen businesses and the list keeps growing. In the next month or two, we will be moving forward with printing cards, getting offers out to you, our membership, and soliciting more offers. The list will be on-line and will be able to grow continuously. You tell us what discount you would like to offer to Chamber members and employees. ∙ You tell us how many Biz Cards you would like (count yourself and one for each employee) ∙ We start the list and get you the Biz Cards. ∙ Show your Biz Card when making purchases at participating businesses and reap the reward. ∙ Honor the Biz Card when someone presents it at your business. ∙ 10% Discount - could be off one particular item [i.e., a certain toy] or a group of items [i.e., all toys]
∙ $2.00 off a particular item or group of items - or some other dollar amount
∙ One Hour Free Professional Consultation
. Free XX with purchase of XX
. Buy One Get One Free or Discounted
Be creative and be generous. This is exactly the type of benefit that pays you back many times over with loyalty and customer appreciation. When we contact you regarding Chamber Dues Renewals, we will ask about your offer and how many Biz Cards you would like. For more information, contact the Chamber at info@brandon.org.
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 February Specials at Village Spa:
Feb 1-7 Custom Facial....$45
Signature Facial....$60
Feb 8-14 All 50 min Massages $50
Feb 15-22 All waxing 20% off
Feb 16 & 23 Shellac Manicures...$25
Feb 22-28 All 25 min massages $25
Please remember to mention these specials when booking.
39 Center St., Brandon 802-236-9087
Brandonvillagespa.com
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"home"
Congratulations to Nancy Leary on the opening of her new store called "home" located at 47 Center Street in downtown Brandon. "home" is full of cheery home decorator items, jewelry, fair trade products, antiques, photography, natural products, aromatherapy, funky and unusual items, and much much more. Contact Nancy at 802-558-1444 or stop in and see what she's got!
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VERMONT CULINARY RETREATS
" Cafe Provence" and the " Lilac Inn" have the pleasure to unveil their Vermont Culinary Retreat program to people with a passion for cooking, who love Vermont and all its bounties. How about a special gift for friends and family who live away: The Culinary weekend includes per person:
2 nights at the Lilac Inn
Reception with Champagne at Café Provence
2 Dinners at Café Provence
Lunch at Gourmet Provence (Café Provence's bakery)
Visit to Blue Ledge Goat Cheese Farm
3 hr. class/workshop at Café Provence
Brunch with demo at Café Provence
Embroidered apron
The Vermont Culinary Weekend is available for the following dates:
Feb. 22-24
March 8-10 & 22-24
April 5-7 & 19-21
For information or reservation:
Café Provence: Call 802-247-9997 and ask for Nadene or Chef Robert or info@cafeprovencevt.com
or call Doug or Shelly at the Lilac Inn at : 800-221-0720 or innkeeper@lilacinn.com
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NOURISH YOUR PURPOSE
2013 Life Purpose & Longevity Classes with AnnMarie continue in February!
Lessons in Love: A Heart Line Hand Analysis Workshop
Saturday, February 9, 2013
1:00-3:00 pm
@ Nourish Your Purpose in Brandon
From Digestive Distress to Belly Bliss (Part 2) ..because Good Health Begins in Your Gut
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
7:00 - 8:30 pm
@ Nourish Your Purpose in Brandon
You can register for one or both classes at www.nourishyourpurpose.com/events
If you have any questions or want to register directly with AnnMarie, please call: 802.247.5300 or write to: info@nourishyourpurpose.com
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BRANDON MUSIC PRESENTS PIANO & ACCORDION DUO ANNEMIEKE & JEREMIAH Brandon Music presents the classical piano and accordion duo, Annemieke & Jeremiah, on Saturday, February 9th at 7:00PM. Dutch classical piano virtuoso Annemieke Spoelstra and Vermont master accordionist Jeremiah McLane join forces for an evening of music by composers from Europe and South America. General Admission is $15 and reservations are encouraged. A dinner & show package is available for $30. Venue is BYOB. For reservations call Brandon Music at (802) 465-4071.
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FROM THE GREATER COMMUNITY:
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SEMINAR ON INVASIVE INSECTS:
Learn how to combine birding and alien hunting and find out what you can do to help protect our trees and wildlife at this hands-on program on invasive insects.
All ages welcomed!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Neshobe Sportsman Club,97 Frog Hollow Road, Brandon
10 am-1:30 pm
For more information and to register contact Rhonda Mace:
rhonda.mace@state.vt.us or 802-595-0802
The Girl Scouts have organized this seminar in response to the EEE and West Nile Virus incidents of last summer as well as other devastating bugs.
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TIPS FOR BOOKS
Cocktails for a Cause
Friday, February 22
5:30-8:30 PM at the Brandon Inn
Local celebrities will be bar tending and waiting tables for the benefit of the
Brandon & Pittsford Libraries
Scrumptious eats provided by Brandon Inn
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SUPPER
Leaf, Ladle and Loaf Supper
February 23, 2013
5 to 7
Adults $10.00 Children 5 to 12 $5.00 Children under 5 no charge
Salad Fixings, Many Different Soups (23 last year), Different Breads with Brownies and Ice Cream to finish your meal.
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USED BOOKS WANTED
Members of area book clubs are putting on a fundraiser to benefit Brandon Free Public Library's Capital Campaign and part of the event includes a Giant Used Book Sale. We need the community's help! Donations of books in sale-able condition are now being accepted
There are many categories of books we will accept and a short list of items we cannot accept. The materials we cannot accept are: VHS tapes, Bibles, computer books which are more than two years old, magazines (and that means National Geographics also), encyclopedias, condensed stories (like Reader's Digest) or travel books older than 2008.
The Giant Used Book Sale will take place at a Library Gala at the Brandon Inn on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. For more information on donating books or the event, please contact Carol Fjeld at 802-236-4519 or by sending an email at: cekfjeld@gmail.com.
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Fresh Research and Action Items Winter tourism is certainly "heating up" in 2013 with reports of year over year increases in visitors during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, even breaking some attendance records at our state's ski resorts. On the national front, the U.S. Travel Association recently launched an advocacy and awareness campaign aimed at consumers, business leaders and policymakers. Called the "Travel Effect," it builds on the benefits travel brings to people's lives, careers and communities. Current research examines travel's effect on relationships and its power to create lasting memories for children and adults. Additional projects include measuring the bottom-line impact of business travel as well as the value that face-to-face meetings create for the public and private sectors. In the months ahead, please follow the Travel Effect campaign at www.traveleffect.com, to learn and further educate your legislators on the importance of our industry. As we approach one of winter's top three busiest travel periods, keep this info in mind and please utilize the resources listed below; as some inns, hotels and resorts reach occupancy during Presidents' Week, promote your lodging property by updating the Room Availability section of the Travel Planner. PS. It's not just snow... love is in the air too... don't forget to list your romantic events and packages on VermontVacation.com for Valentine's Day publicity. Warmly,
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VERMONT HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE
I want to invite all of you to a Volunteer Training for the Vermont Home Energy Challenge on February 19 at 5PM at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. You'll be receiving an email invitation in the next few days
for a dinner and workshop that gives you more details and allows you to RSVP. But I want to give you some information first that I think is important - and exciting - about the efforts underway in the state of Vermont. The Vermont Home Energy Challenge is a statewide effort to weatherize 3% of the homes THIS YEAR. It is an initiative launched by Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Community Action Network (VECAN) and is modeled after a challenge that NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad created two years ago in Rutland County. The Challenge is in response to the Vermont Legislature's mandate to weatherize 80,000 homes by 2020, thereby reducing our energy consumption by 25%. Some of you folks have had audits, some of you have had energy upgrades, and most - I hope all - have an interest and investment in helping Vermont reach this goal. As the coordinator for Rutland and Bennington counties, I am asking for your help. You'll have a chance to RSVP on the invitation that will follow. And I understand that many of you cannot attend. But I'll be reaching out to you throughout the year for advice and support. Thank you so much for your efforts. I look forward to helping all our communities reach their goals. Sincerely,
Maura Campbell Maura Campbell Community Initiatives Manager Rutland West Neighborhood Housing Service Inc. d/b/a/ NeighborWorks® of Western Vermont (802) 438-2303 x 214 mcampbell@nwwvt.org www.nwwvt.org www.heatsquad.org
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Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 267, Brandon, VT 05733
802-247-6401 ~ info@brandon.org ~ www.brandon.org
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