Convenience Stores

Save money and create a better shopping environment at your convenience store, general store, or mini-mart with energy-efficient equipment.

K-12 Schools

Improve learning environments and reduce costs by making energy efficiency upgrades at your school.

Lodging

Save money with energy efficiency, whether you run a quaint country bed & breakfast, full-service hotel, motel, or large resort.

Manufacturing

Reduce costs while increasing production efficiency by choosing energy-efficient equipment and optimizing existing equipment and processes.

Municipal & State Government

Green-up your town, city, and state buildings with energy efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.

Residential Rental Properties

Increase the appeal of your residential rental properties and save money with energy efficiency improvements.

Restaurants

Choose from a menu of energy-saving opportunities to improve your profit margin and increase your customer's comfort.

Retail Stores

Create a winning retail setting with energy-efficient equipment and strengthen your bottom line with cost savings.

Small Businesses

Switch to more energy-efficient equipment to lower energy use and boost your business' bottom line.

Other Businesses

Ways to save for all businesses.

Water & Wastewater Facilities

Improve your facility's operations and save money with energy-saving upgrades.

  From sun-up to sun-down (and a little rain in-between) on Tuesday, July 21, Brandon was a-glow with donors, volunteers, bidders and buyers at the 26th Great Brandon Auction.      After unloading our spiffy "Auction Storage Trailer" and organizing the donations that poured out from storage areas, barns, cars, and trucks, auctioneer Barb Watters sold just about everything we had from a one hour private plane ride to a neon Bud Lite bar sign!  With more than 200 bidders and hundreds of items to be sold, Barb wasted no time working the crowd and selling off almost all our goodies.

  Thanks so much to the team of volunteers, donors, bidders and buyers who made the auction a huge success. The grand total is still being added up but it looks as if the auction will realize a net profit of over $10,000. Proceeds from the auction support the many activities and programs of the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce including the Brandon Museum at the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace. We thank all the Chamber members who donated, the private citizens who have supported us with donations for so long and everyone who helped with the success including volunteers from Camp Betsy Cox and Camp Sangamon in Pittsford. There are way too many people who helped to name everyone but you know who you are. Special thanks to Calvin Loven, Naylor & Breen, Lions Club and 4H, Roger Paquette, Rodney & Karla and Corey Thompson. But most importantly, we couldn't do it without the team behind the scenes - Brian Coolidge, Mike Wilson and Auctioneer Barb Watters!

Thanks again, Bernie Carr- Executive Director

Our 50/50 winner took home $733.00         and maybe a couch!!

Something's brewing!                                A fine looking crowd. 

THE BRANDON TOWN BAND performs a series of concerts every summer. The concerts feature a variety of traditional band music, as well as Broadway and contemporary popular music. The Brandon Town Band consists of local adults, students and professional musicians.

In case of inclement weather, the concerts will be held in the Brandon Town Hall.

Central Park concert 6:30pm- August 17.

We are an all volunteer, multigenerational band, so dust off your instrument and come to our practices at Otter Valley's band room. Practices are Monday nights from 6-8pm. Call Sally

Hutchison at 247-4559 for more info. Our conductor is Rebecca Hall, a music major graduate from Castleton College. 

Are you a Vermont Student or Teacher? Show us your school ID during the month of August and receive your services at 50% off. It's easy to do too!

Call us at 802-465-8255, stop by at 32 Marble St in Brandon, or schedule at your convenience on line at brandonvillagespa.com.

 The following services are discount eligible:

• hair services (cuts, highlights, treatments)

• skin care (facials and body scrubs)

• nails (manicures, pedicures)

• waxing

• sunless tanning

   

  We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you look your best this school year.

   

  ~Heather, Jenn, Robyn & Erin

Aloha, 

   Otter Valley Union High School's science program in Brandon Vermont is working on a science trip to Oahu Hawaii in April 2016. The program the students will be attending is the Hawaiian Edventure Science Program, through The University of Hawaii, Hilo. The Hilo program provides excellent opportunities for students; include science related excursions to the National Volcanic Park, Marine Biology exploration, Regional Agriculture and the Astrological Observatories on top of Hawaii's tallest peak, 13,796-foot Mauna Kea.

   The students will also be exposed to the history and culture of the Hawaii Islands. This is a fantastic opportunity for the students in ways that reach past science. They are learning to commit time and energy to make this trip possible. They will learn the value of exploring other parts of the world and what it takes to travel to those places. They will begin to learn money management as they raise the funds needed for the trip. They are learning to work collaboratively on these fundraisers, in short this adventure is much more than a science trip.

   One of the many fundraisers will be the Otter Valley Science Otters Big Island Golf Tournament. We are looking for sponsors of this event, which takes place August 29^th at the Neshobe Golf Course. The cost is $100.00 to sponsor a hole. Hole sponsors receive their name on a 6"x 18" sign displayed at the tournament. The deadline for tournament signs is August 15^th. Checks should be made to OVUHS:

c/o Margaret Carrera-Bly

2997 Franklin St. Brandon VT 05733.

         With your help these students will be provided an opportunity that will stay with them for a lifetime. If you have any further question please contact me through my email or by phone.

 If you don't golf, you can still attend and support this great cause. Come for dinner and the silent auction- only $20.00/person

Aloha and Mahalo (thank you) Devon D. Fuller  802-247-3206 dfuller83@ymail.com 

             click here for the cool Big Island Golf Mixer poster with more information! 

"What EMMA Loves" is the second group exhibit for the Rutland area visual artists and opens on August 14 with an opening reception to be held on Friday, August 21 from 5-7pm.

"For ten artists with different personal loves, it really is the love of creating that motivates us", says Christine Holzschuh, one of the painters in the group. There is a photographer that has an eye for beauty in the seemingly mundane; a painter who expresses her love for animals in delicate carvings and paintings; some are drawn to the everyday occurrences; others portray the sights of travel; while conceptual artists create abstract images which reflect a particular point of view. Holzschuh goes on to say, "Although our work is varied, our love for creating unifies us. That is 'What EMMA Loves'."

Exhibiting members include free-spirited painter Mary Crowley; figurative painter Christine Holzschuh; ordinary-into-extraordinary photographer Lowell Snowdon Klock; Ann McFarren, an oil and watercolor landscape painter; painter of stories Betsy Moakley; New England painter Rae Newell; wood sculptor and multimedia artist Alice Sciore; painter of light and color Karen Seward; traveling painter Heather Shay; and Christine Townsend, a painter and sculptor of animals.

EMMA was formed in May of 2013 on the encouragement of California artist Leslie Saeta, who is a great leader in helping artists take the next step in their careers. The idea behind EMMA is for artist members to support and mentor each other creatively, educationally, technically and in marketing. The women meet monthly to share ideas about workshops, marketing techniques, educational resources, technical skills, and educate one another on what is happening in the arts, both locally and online.

The exhibit at Compass will run through November 1.

This exhibit also celebrates Vermont Arts 2015, in celebration of public funding for the arts.

The Compass Music and Arts Center is located in Park Village at 333 Jones Dr. Brandon VT, 05733 (Park Village used to be the Brandon Training School, located 1.5 miles north of downtown Brandon off Arnold District Rd.) . www.cmacvt.org

 The Piazzolla Project brings together the talents of four unique musicians to explore the diverse sounds of Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla's "Nuevo Tango". At Brandon Music on August 22 at 7:30pm, tango fans will recognize the famous milonga "Oblivion" and the haunting song "Los Pajaros Perdidos," among other favorites arranged and adapted for and by the Piazzolla Project musicians.

 Two husband and wife duos joined forces to establish the Piazzolla Project: Annemieke McLane, born and raised in the Netherlands where she completed her Master of Music, has a rich repertoire of piano solo, chamber music and art songs and her husband, accordionist Jeremiah McLane, a composer and musician of a mix of musical styles who has a Masters degree from the New England Conservatory; Sarah Cullins, a graduate of the New England Conservatory-Tufts University double-degree program, is a versatile soprano who regularly performs opera, oratorio and symphonic repertoire and her husband, Columbian guitarist Daniel Gaviria, who earned national acclaim in Columbia as a winner of several guitar and chamber music competitions and graduated from the Universidad del Rosario in Bogota.

 Astor Piazzolla is best known for being the father and inventor of Tango Nuevo - a revolutionary new genre in which jazz rhythms and classical music were infused into tango. Tango Nuevo, at first, was strongly rejected in his home country of Argentina, but eventually was appreciated and celebrated for the genius it was throughout the world.

 This event celebrates Vermont Arts 2015, in celebration of public funding for the arts.

Concert tickets are $20.  A pre-concert dinner is also available for $20.  Reservations are recommended for the show and required for dinner. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 247-4295 or e-mail info@brandon-music.net for reservations or for more information.  Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733 www.brandon-music.net | http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/explore-vermont-arts/vermont-arts-2015
 

John Funkhouser returns to Brandon Music with his trio, playing an energetic, accessible blend of modern jazz, funk, blues, 20th century classical, Indian classical, and European and American folk music. Although the band consists of the standard jazz trio instrumentation of piano, bass and drums, the sound of the band is anything but standard. In fact, the group's blend creates a funky, groove-oriented, fresh and original sound that stretches the limits of traditional jazz. The Trio performs at Brandon Music on August 29 at 7:30pm.

The band really is Musicians without Borders with influences as wide ranging as Woody Guthrie, Thelonious Monk, Frank Zappa, Frederic Chopin, Ravi Shankar, and Abdullah Ibrahim. The Trio "employs complex rhythms, deep soulful moments, rock and passion and sensitivity." (Bebop Spoken Here). "Each musician has technique to burn but they're also extremely musical. [They are] wildly inventive and great fun to watch and listen to." (Middletown Eye)

 A native of the Boston area, John Funkhouser earned degrees at Cornell University and the New England Conservatory. Besides leading his Trio, he is in demand as a pianist and bassist, having shared the stage with such luminaries as Grammy winners Joe Lovano, Steve Gadd, Abe Laboriel Sr., Mark Walker, and Max Weinberg, Grammy nominees Luciana Souza and Tierney Sutton, renowned pianist Geri Allen, South Indian percussion master Trichy Sankaran, piano savant Matt Savage, and Mark Harvey's Aardvark Jazz Orchestra.  He has appeared on Lifetime Television, ABC's "20/20," NBC's "Today Show," and NPR, and is currently an Associate Professor teaching piano, bass, ear training, and ensembles at Berklee.

Greg Loughman earned a Bachelor of Music in jazz studies at Capital University, where he studied electric and upright bass with Doug Richeson (bassist for a number of years with Tony Bennett), Jeff Ciampa, and Lou Fisher. Following graduation, he quickly rose to a prominent position as one of the top freelance jazz bassists in the Midwest. He has performed with musicians including Curtis Fuller, JoAnne Brackeen, Mark Murphy, Judi Silvano, Kenwood Dennard, Greg Abate, Ray Santisi, Mark Greel, Al Vega, Grammy-nominated pianist Phillip Aaberg, guitarist Mimi Fox, Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Carlos Malta, Patti Page, actor/singer James Naughton, and the Jimmy Dorsey Big Band, among many others.

Mike Connors studied jazz drumming at Berklee with jazz greats Joe Hunt and Alan Dawson. He has toured internationally with the avant-pop group Combustible Edison, the 1999 Lillith Fair, Lisa Loeb, The Andre Rice Sextet and several national Broadway tours including, Bye Bye Birdie and Anything Goes (the Lincoln Center version). Mike has also performed for/on television shows such as "Dateline NBC", "Regis and Katie Lee", "Felicity" and commercials for Cinemax, PBS, Microsoft, NPR and more. He has played on soundtracks for the films Inspector Gadget, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Gas Food Lodging, and Four Rooms.  He is on the faculty of Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the Rivers School.

Concert tickets are $20.  A pre-concert dinner is also available for $20.  Reservations are recommended for the show and required for dinner. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 247-4295 or e-mail info@brandon-music.net for reservations or for more information.  Brandon Music is located at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733 www.brandon-music.net
 

It seems every day you either read another news story, hear it on the radio or evening news another cyber event occurred and thousands, if not more, have been impacted. The recent hack of the Federal Government Office of Personnel Management, where 4 plus million records of current or former employees were stolen, has elevated the level of awareness of how insidious cyber theft has become. It involves every business and entity in society, from the federal government, financial institutions; such as JP Morgan, health companies; such as Anthem (Blue Cross/Blue Shield), national companies, such as Home Depot and Target, to small companies in Vermont.

Please click here for Paul's complete article on cyber protection.

2^nd Floor Office above Gourmet Provence

39A Center Street, Brandon, VT

O F F I C E FOR RENT

Includes room, free WI-FI, closet, waiting room, kitchenette, bathroom and great location. Interested? Contact:Jim at 247-9595 or Nancy at 558-1444 

You've probably seen events, classes and exhibits mentioned here for the Compass Music and Arts Center in Park Village, but do you know what else Compass has to offer?

The Compass Café is open daily from 10:00am - 5:00pm (with the exception of most Saturdays when they close at 2:30 due to concert events at Brandon Music) with daily specials, soups, salads, wraps, Donna's award-winning chili, delicious home-made desserts and more. Stop in for a bite while you explore the rest of Compass.

The Phonograph Rooms is a permanent exhibit at Compass. It offers fascinating insight into the history of recorded music in the home. The exhibit features vintage "talking machines" from 1890 to the 1970s, with the opportunity to listen to great recordings of the past - both classical and popular. A display of antique radios and TVs is also included. There is a small entrance fee to help with maintenance of the machines.

Compass is also the home of the international record company Divine Art Records. You can browse their 400+ CD titles and CDs by local musicians, as well as art and music books, general interest books both new and collectible, and a wide range of gift items at the Compass shops.

Looking for a studio to rent or office or retail space? Compass has rooms available to rent by the month or by the hour. There are currently several artists working out of Compass and by now you may have heard about the Compass Treasure Chest, a consignment shop located in the Compass building.

There is always something going on at

Compass- stop in and explore!

Compass Music and Arts Center

333 Jones Drive, Brandon, VT 05733

802-247-4295

www.cmacvt.org

NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS 2015

Senior Circuit- "Golden Age meets Computer Age"- computer lessons for senior citizens-     John Bryant & Linda Devereux  342-5632

Mae's Place diner- Erynn Doaner  25 Center St. 465-8468

Compass Treasure Chest consignment store- Compass Music Center Park Village 558-2663

Rutland County Solid Waste District

Brandon Thrift Shop-"Nifty Thrifty"- 4 Union St.

Sawmill Heights Campgrounds- Harriet & Tracy Wyman 247-5748

Laurie Bertrand-CPA, Tax accounting- 25 Union St.- 465-8362

Edward Jones- Brady Prentice, financial advisor 989-5464

Briggs Carriage Co. Hair Lounge- Lisa Phelps 465-8396

Own a business?? Join us and connect with other dynamic businesses in the Brandon area.
Just click here for an application and rates.