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LEAF PEOPLE THANKS
 Brandon's Leaf People Day was once again, a terrific event. While a little overcast above, down on the ground Brandon's Central Park was bright and cheerful as hundreds of people assembled fantastic outfits for their very own Leaf People! The Chamber enjoyed sharing the park with Brandon's other non-profit organizations: Brandon Lions Club, Brandon Republicans, the Harvest Program, and St. Mary's Church. Thanks to so many community members who cleaned closets and donated old clothes, hats, shoes, etc., and especially to our wonderful friends a
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t Nifty Thrifty who send us clothes all year! We also appreciate the Neshobe School SOAR kids for collecting children's clothes and hanging Leaf People throughout town a few weeks ago. The Chamber relied on the volunteer help of many people (too many people to mention here) to make the event a success and for making and hanging so many of the wonderful scarecrows hanging all over town. However, we would be remiss not to thank a few special people for helping with this event: Bart Lund for pre-assembling all the Leaf People frames and Sally Wood for her year-round dedication.
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MOONLIGHT MADNESS
BUSINESS MEMBERS:
Would you like to take part in Moonlight Madness? It will take place on Wednesday, December 4 and Thursday, December 19. Cost is only $50 to participate and be a part of the advertising. Deadline to register is October 30. We'd love to include you as part of the fun! Here is a link to the registration. Contact the Chamber if you have any questions. 
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GMAIL USERS
If you would like your Brandon Chamber & Community E-Newsletter to appear in your PRIMARY folder rather than Social or Promotions, drag it in and tell Google that is where you want all your email from us!
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NEXT CHAMBER MEETING
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will not have an open meeting in October. The Board will meet in a closed session. The next meeting open to the general membership and the public will be November 18. Contact the Chamber at 802-247-6401 or info@brandon.org for more information. |
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VERMONT HEALTH CONNECT
COMING SOON TO MOST OF YOU
Vermont Health Connect is available to help Vermonters make the transition to the Health Exchange. Here is some information from them. The Small Employer Estimator is a tool to help Vermont's small businesses 1) determine if they are eligible to offer health coverage through Vermont Health Connect and 2) compare the costs of providing coverage and not providing coverage. Small Employer Estimator: healthconnect.vermont.gov/smallemployerestimator
Vermont Health Connect videos: youtube.com/vthealthconnect  Needing to Talk to a Real Person? If you want to get beyond the computer, our Vermont-based Small Business Hotline is available for one-on-one conversations, as are Navigators in your community. Vermont Health Connect Toll-Free Hotline: 1-855-899-9600 Toll-Free Small Business Hotline: 1-855-499-9800
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Do you enjoy receiving the e-newsletters from the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce? Its easy to sign up your co-workers, friends, and family members who are not currently receiving it.
Just click here
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GEOLOGY ROCKS!
Omya's Middlebury Quarry Open House is Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - rain or shine. For a rock'n good time come see what Omya does and learn more about Vermont's geology and mining! Take a bus tour of the open-pit marble quarry or disembark and explore. View the large trucks and equipment on display, learn about rocks and minerals from experts and collect a souvenir! Suitable for all ages.
Omya's Middlebury Quarry access road (1975 Private Road) is located on the east side of Rt. 7, 2 miles south of Middlebury, VT or 1 mile north of the Rt. 125 & Rt. 7 intersection to East Middlebury. The turn (between Connor Homes & Foster Motors) will be prominently marked on the day of the event.
For more information call the Omya Community Feedback Line at 802-770-7644 or visit http://www.omyainvermont.net.
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GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TH E ARTS Congratulations to Brandon resident, artist, and friend Warren Kimble for being chosen for the 2013 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts by the Vermont Arts council. At a gala event held recently in the Brandon Town Hall, Warren was celebrated for his decades of art achievement and contrbitution. Warren has been a huge contributor to Brandon's art scene and is our #1 cheerleader! |
NIFTY THRIFTY LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS. DO YOU HAVE ABOUT 4 HOURS A MONTH?
If you can spare four hours a month Nifty Thrifty wants you!
The Brandon Thrift Shop (dba Nifty Thrifty) needs more Volunteers. Each Volunteer is asked to work one shift per month; either a 10 to 2 shift on Monday through Saturday, or a 3ish to 6 shift on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon. The work is easy and fun, the customers are interesting, and the merchandise is unique and always changing. To be part of this exclusive team of Volunteers who earn money to help our local kids pay for their post secondary education please call Barb Sprague at 770-2907. In advance; thank you so much for helping our town to fulfill the needs and interests of all of our citizens and visitors. |
UPCOMING CHURCH SUPPERS
GRACE CHURCH, FORESTDALE
Turkey Dinner
Oct. 19 at Grace Church
5 - 6:30 pm.
ST MARY'S HALL
Chicken and Biscuit Dinner
Oct. 26 at St.Marys Hall.
There will be 2 seatings: 5 & 6 pm
For reservations 345-8762 or 247-6351.
Walk Ins & Carry Outs.
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NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE
BRANDON TOWN HALL
Nosferatu (1922) Join us at the Town Hall on Saturday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. for the viewing of this amazing movie that was filmed in 1921 and released in 1922. Jeff Rapsis and his magical keyboard will accompany this incredible film. The event is sponsored by the Heritage Family Credit Union. Nosteratu is "an unauthorized production of Bram Stoker's work, Dracula, with enough preserved to recognize, but enough changed to be legal (names changed to protect the innocent?). Count Orlok's move to Bremen brings the plague traceable to his dealings with the realtor Thomas Hutter, and the Count's obsession with Hutter's wife, Ellen, the only one with the power to end the evil."
Free Will Offering. Come in costume . . . if you dare!!!!!! Dress warmly. We will have popcorn along with hot cider and hot cocoa to help keep you toasty warm.
Thank you all for a wonderful 2013 season. It is hard to believe that another season has come and gone at the Town Hall. If you would like to provide financial support for ongoing building renovations, donations in all denominations are welcome and make a difference. Remember that your donation is tax deductible!
With our October 2013 payment to the Town's revolving loan fund later this month we have paid off half of the $40,000 loan. It is quite remarkable that we could pay-down that amount in just one year's time. We could not have done that without your support!
What is Next?
The Friends have submitted a grant application to the State of Vermont, Department of Historic Preservation, requesting funding up to 50% (maximum $20,000) to completely rehabilitate the 10 windows on the main floor. These windows are original from 1861. The repairs will include replacing the missing rope and weight system that raises and lowers the windows, broken panes of glass, the caulking, as well as repairing muntins, sill, sash and jamb of each panel (there are 3 panels per window opening). The project will include scraping and painting all the windows and the trim around those ten windows. We have received two estimates, both in the range of $30,000.
We will receive notification in December 2013 if we are a successful recipient of the award. Should we not receive the 50% funding we will not be able to complete this project at this time.
How is the Roof?
The roof remains at the top of our priority list. We have had to repair leaks in the roof during the fall of 2012 and again this past summer. Later in October snow and ice dams will be installed over the west basement entryway to reduce the dimension of the winter precipitation that comes off the slate roof.
The slate roof is original to the building. Many of the metal hangers have rusted through causing individual pieces of slate to slip and water to enter the building. It is easy to see the damage it has caused by looking up at the lath and plaster ceiling.
There is no insulation in the attic (beyond bat and pigeon guano). When the roof renovations are done the guano will be removed and insulation installed. This should help keep the hall cooler in the summer. Quick estimates have the cost of stripping the slate, repairing timbers, adding a wood covering, rubber membrane and rehanging the slate with copper hangers at $300,000. Yes, it is a sizable amount of money, but with your assistance, grant acquisitions, and continued support from the Town of Brandon we know it can be accomplished. Look at how far we have come!
We cannot thank you enough for your support to make your Town Hall your Community Center once again.
We will see you in the spring, if not before! Don't forget Moonlight Madness on December 4 and 19 at the Town Hall. There are a few vendor spaces available. Contact Dennis Marden at 802.247.5420 or denniswmarden@gmail.com. |
BRANDON'S MEMORY TREE
One of Brandon's long-standing traditions is the presence of a lit Memory Tree in Central Park to remind us of our loved ones, no longer with us. The Tree helps brighten our darkest days. Bulbs in memory of loved ones cost $1.00 each and help keep the tree lit all season. The lighting will take place on Sunday, December 1 at 4 pm. Look for a coupon for purchase of Memory Tree Light Bulbs at the end of this newsletter or in upcoming issues of The Reporter, or stop in at Carr's Florist & Gifts or The Inside Scoop. For more information, contact the Chamber at 802-247-6401
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Compass Music & Arts Center
Reflections of Community
Reception Friday, 5-8pm
Photo by Caleb Kenna
Compass Music and Arts Foundation, along with the Brandon Reporter is proud to present these events as part of a month-long celebration of photography. Come to the Arts Center this Friday from 5-8pm for the Reflections of Community reception. The exhibit features photographs submitted by our local community members, as well as examples from local professional photographers. The exhibit runs through October 23rd.
 It's not too late to participate in a collage workshop led by Robert Black, local architect, artist and master teacher. There are two sessions left: one tonight from 6-8pm and one next Tuesday evening, also 6-8pm. Bring your old photos, magazine clippings, sticks, leaves, anything you want and discover how to bring all these together in a new order...a new art! Open to all ages! $20 for one session; $35 for two, plus $10 for supplies. Collage/photo by Robert Black
For more information click here or contact Maria at 802-247-3000 or maria@cmacvt.org.
Become a member of the Foundation and receive 10% off all events and programs put on by the Foundation.
Gatsby Gala at Compass Music and Arts Center
Friday, October 25, 7-10 p.m.
The Compass Music and Arts Foundation (CMAF) will be hosting its first BIG fundraiser at the Compass Music and Arts Center (CMAC). The Gatsby Gala will be held at the Center on Friday, October 25, from 7-10pm.
The event will feature Gene Childers and his Speakeasy Jazz Orchestra. Period dress and fun flappers are encouraged! The evening will include a dance demonstration/lesson, a buffet of hors d'oeuvres, and special "mocktails" - non-alcoholic drinks reminiscent of prohibition in the 1920s! Tickets for a champagne raffle will be sold at the event. Tickets are $35 per person and prepaid reservations are required.
Tickets can be purchased directly at www.cmafvt.org or at the Compass Music and Arts Center at 333 Jones Drive, Brandon. You may also call Maria at 802-247-3000. Credit Cards (MC/Visa) are accepted.
CMAF believes community, conversations, music, sharing and art belong together, in the same room! Through fundraising, the CMAF will be able to continue offerings in art and music to the community and especially those for whom the arts seem unreachable.
For more information contact Maria Ammatuna at maria@cmacvt.org or call 802-247-3000.
Compass Music and Arts Center is open seven days a week from 11-4pm and is located at 333 Jones Dr. Brandon VT, 05733. Visit www.cmacvt.org.
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Fall 2013 Chaffee Art Center Workshops & Upcoming Events
Felting A Flying PigSaturday, October 26th, 10am-4pm Instructor: Sue Carey. Tuition: $80.00 nonmembers, $75.00 members Participants will learn wet felting and needle felting techniques while creating a sculptural pig with wings. The finished product can be free standing, hung as an ornament, or used any other way you can imagine! All materials will be provided. Level: Beginner/Intermediate. Location: Chaffee Art Center, 16 South Main Street, Rutland, VT 05701 ScarfletteThursday, November 7th, 3:30-5:30pm Instructor: Celeste Walker. Tuition: $55.00 nonmember, $50.00 members In this fun workshop particpants will make this cross between a scarf and a necklace using novelty yarn. Perfect for the approaching season--surprisingly warm and exceedingly decorative. Materials are included. If you have your own materials that you wish incorborate into your own creation we welcome you to bring them. Age: 13+ Location: Chaffee Art Center, 16 South Main Street, Rutland Wampum WeavingThursday, November 14th, 3:30-5:30pm Instructor: Celeste Walker. Tuition: $45.00 nonmembers, $40.00 members Learn how to weave America's first currency! The skills learned will allow you to make larger projects such as a choker or belt on your own. Class includes enough materials to finish one wampum bracelet. Age: 13+ Location: Chaffee Art Center, 16 South Main Street, Rutland Hat TrickSaturday, November 9th, 12-4pm Instructor: Jennifer Usher of Make It Sew. Tuition: $20.00 nonmember, $15.00 members Embellish a favorite hat with funky decorations you can create! Please bring a hat (or 2) that you would like to add an accent to! We will create decorations with ribbon, yarn, feathers, beads, fabric, and imagination. Learn basic hand sewing skills, and take home an updated fun hat! All hats are welcome, from knit caps to cowboy hats! Other than your own hat, materials will be provided, but if you have anything you would like to bring or share that is welcome also. Location: 16 South Main Street, Rutland, VT Furniture Rehab Thursday, November 21st, 5-8pm & Friday, November 22nd, 5-7pm Instructor: Robin Taft. Tuition: $60.00 nonmembers, $55.00 members In this workshop participants will get the chance to "recover" a small piece of furniture using decorative "tree-free paper" imported from India, Thailand, and Nepal. Enough paper will be provided for you to decorate one small piece of furniture. All finishing materials will be included. Please bring a small piece of furniture and an empty jar to hold finishing material. If you wish to purchase decorative "tree-free paper" to do other projects at home please let us know upon registration. Upcoming Shows Photography Contest, October 25-November 16 The Chaffee invites you to dust off your camera and hit the streets! Our 6th Annual Photography Contest will feature images of the streets - the people or animals that inhabit them, traffic that frequents them, and asphalt that creates them. The theme is up for interpretation. Entries are due October 19th. Questions? Need a form? Contact Courtney at cperry@chaffeeartcenter.org Gingerbread House Contest, November 15-December 21 This annual exhibit is sure to be a delightful, sweet first taste of holiday spirit. We welcome individuals and groups of all ages to enter their one-of-a-kind gingerbread creations. For information about these shows and other Chaffee programs please visit our website at www.chaffeeartcenter.org or contact us at info@chaffeeartcenter.org or at (802) 775-0062. Please email us at info@chaffeeartcenter.org or call us at (802) 775-0356 to register for you class. For more information about our programs, events, and exhibits please visit our website at www.chaffeeartcenter.org or find us on facebook. Deadline for sign up is five days prior to scheduled workshop. Payment is due upon registration. Refunds will be given to those who cancel up to 5 days prior to workshop.
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BRANDON MUSIC UPCOMING EVENTS
16 Strings Perform at Brandon Music
Brandon Music is presenting a concert by 16 Strings, made up of the talented musicians, Colin McCaffrey on guitar and vocals, Jim Pitman on Dobro and Doug Reid on fiddle on Saturday, October 19 at 7:30pm. These three beloved Vermont sidemen deliver acoustic swing, folk, blues, bluegrass and old-time country music. Doug Reid is a highly versatile fiddler with an unmatched tone and a master of the double-stop. Jim Pitman plays the Dobro he purchased in the 1970's and Colin McCaffrey plays guitar and sings the classics from Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Haggard, Stanley Brothers, Bob Wills, as well as some new originals in the old style.
Confident, dynamic, and relaxed, this trio has a lot of fun together and promises an evening of great entertainment. "Timeless material mixed with accomplished and tasteful playing made their show a pleasure to watch!" - Michele Hodges. Tickets are $15; $30 includes dinner and the show. Reservations are recommended and can be made by contacting (802)465-4071 or info@brandon-music.net. Venue is BYOB. Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733. www.brandon-music.net
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Connor Garvey in Concert
Connor Garvey's music has been described as "acoustic funky-folk-rock for the good hearted". His songsare like placing folk-funk guitar & ukulele, soulful vocals, and paradoxical metaphors in an electric juicer - you've never tasted it before, but it's intriguing and delectable so you have to keep drinking. Hear him at Brandon Music on Thursday, October 24th at 7:30pm.
Connor Garvey became a troubadour in 2008 by way of an Amtrak train ride that took him across the country in a self-booked tour. Now many years later, Garvey is finding his place as a seasoned folk-rock singer-songwriter touring the U.S. in his station wagon playing to full crowds at many of the country's best acoustic venues.
Garvey has received many accolades, including 2012 Winner of the Wildflower Festival Performing Songwriter Competition in Richardson, Texas; 2011 Winner of Maine Songwriter's Association Annual Songwriting Competition; and 2012, 2011, & 2010 Rocky Mountain Folk's Festival Singer Songwriter Honorable Mention. "Garvey's sandy tenor, attention to rhythmic detail and winsome way with a melody bring to mind the music of Paul Simon in his Rhymin Simon days" writes music blog Direct Current.
Tickets are $15. A pre-concert dinner is also available for $15. Reservations are recommended. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 465-4071 or e-mail info@brandon-music.net for reservations or information. Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733. www.brandon-music.net
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LITTLE PRESSROOM
Middlebury
www.littlepressroom.com
'Tis the Season to talk Greeting Cards!
One of our most favorite services is helping our customers design and create their custom greeting cards to send out to family and friends.Whether it's a fun drawn or painted creation contributed by a younger family member or that well-posed group picture that adorns the front, we know how much time and effort you took to choose just the right images for that once-a-year colorful missive. Contact us today to get your special holiday card off the ground and mailbox ready!
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ServSafe® Food Managers Certification
Re-Certification or Re-Testing ~ Fall ServSafe® Sessions in Vermont
Held at Café Provence Culinary Theater, Brandon Library or as Noted
6th Edition Managers Book used all Sessions
Review book, attend full day class take Paper and Pencil Examination
Sessions above conveniently arranged, tailored and held at clients facility
Formalize a group; pick a date as tool box is filled and ready to travel.
Food Handlers Certificates for Support Associates
Four hour sessions for interested individuals or client groups
Session above conveniently scheduled at clients facility for group classes
Excellent training as pathway to completing future ServSafe® Certification
Fall Scheduled ServSafe® Sessions
October 11th Mount Abraham School, Bristol Vermont
October 21st Middlebury Coop, Middlebury Vermont
October 22nd Café Provence Cooking Theater or Library, Brandon VT
November 12th Café Provence Cooking Theater or Rosebelle's Inn
December 10th Café Provence Cooking Theater Brandon, VT.
Overnight rooms available for ServSafe® participants at Rosebelle's Victorian Inn browse www.rosebelles.com or call 802.247.0098
Information Regarding Food Safety Sessions
Call 802.247.0098 answered by Rosebelle's Inn and Training to Excel
Browse web site www.trainingtoexcel.com
Forward email to info@trainingtoexcel.com |
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NEW COOKING SHOW ON PEGTV Channel 15
PEGTV is pleased to announce a new cooking show to its channel 15 lineup. "Food & Fitness For Life" will debut this month offering recipes for a healthy diet and exercise and movement tips to stay fit. The cohosts are Beth Perera and Jen Coleman. Beth is a certified Food For Life instructor and Jen is a certified yoga instructor. During their inaugural broadcast they make a healthy and delicious black bean chili and for dessert a low-fat version of pumpkin brownies. You can find the recipes to their creations on our website www.pegtv.com under the "kitchen studio" button in the middle of our home page. You can also find their air date schedule on our website or watch it via Video on Demand.
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CHAMBER MEMBERS:
ARE YOU USING YOUR BIZ CARD YET? THERE ARE GREAT DISCOUNTS OUT THERE scroll down to the bottom of this email and check them out! NEW OPPORTUNITIES BEING ADDED ALL THE TIME
NEED A BIZ CARD? FOR YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES.
CONTACT THE CHAMBER AND TELL US HOW MANY YOU NEED!
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Starting Your Own Small Business Upcoming training sponsored by the VT Small Business Development Center: Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Location: Rutland Economic Development Corp., 112 Quality Lane, Rutland VT 05701 Time: 12:00p.m to 4:00p.m The three hour session will help future business owners determine the next steps toward starting and financing a new venture. The workshop offers an overview of business planning, including where to find market information, how to tackle projections and writing a business plan. The workshop is designed for people who are thinking about going into business and want accurate information about the procedures and government regulations involved to start a business in Vermont. The $99.00 registration fee includes a business planning workbook and access to five online workshops to help the prospective business owner get started. Registration can be done online at www.vtsbdc.org. For more information, contact VtSBDC in Rutland at 802-773-9147.
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THINKING AHEAD
MEMORY TREE LIGHTING & FESTIVITIES:
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
MOONLIGHT MADNESS in BRANDON:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
and
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19
BRANDON LIBRARY HOLIDAY AUCTION
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
FESTIVAL SINGERS CONCERT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
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BRANDON BIZ CARD CORNER
BIZ CARD LISTINGS - WE KEEP ADDING
The list is growing as is the number of cards in members' (including employees) hands. Here's the list to date.
It is super easy to add your offering to the list. Just give a call (802-247-6401) or send an email (info@brandon.org).
Not a Chamber member but want to get in on the Biz Card action? We have many Individual Members -- what a great way to support a local non-profit and get your Biz Card! Just click here for an application ($50 annual membership)
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MEMORY TREE BULBS
Donations are now being accepted for Memory Tree bulbs in the memory of loved ones. The cost of the bulbs is $1.00 each. In Memory Of:
______________________________________
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Your Name & Phone Number:
Name: _______________________________
Phone: _______________________________
Send checks and forms to:
Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC)
PO Box 267, Brandon VT 05733.
Please do not send cash in the mail.
Names with cash or check may also be dropped off at Carr's Florist & Gifts or The Inside Scoop.
Deadline is Friday, Nov. 29, 2013. Tree lighting with singing will take place on Sun., Dec. 1, 2013 at 3:30 pm in Central Park, downtown Brandon.
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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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