June 2016
Chamber Newsletter
Info and happenings in our town!
 

Presentation: Protect your business with long term care protection and business succession planning.
Wednesday, June 22nd in the Cliver meeting room at the Douglas Birthplace- 4 Grove street.  6:30pm

As business owners you need to be prepared for the time when you sell or transfer your business into other hands. Whether that is to be soon or in the future, having this knowledge in your pocket can help you shape your future plans and put you on the correct path for successful, legal and profitable succession of your business. Two of your fellow Chamber members will be offering advice and insight into these important matters.

Dan Boyce, local insurance agent for Bankers Life, will discuss the financial consequences of long-term care.  A sound insurance plan can play a major role in protecting not only your assets, but your independence as well. A variety of approaches exist, but the plan you make will depend on your goals, finances, and family.  Questions may be emailed to Dan prior to the
presentation at dan-boyce@bankers.com   All information shared will be treated confidentially.

Jeff Guevin is an elder law associate at Pratt Vreeland Kennelly Martin & White, Ltd., in Rutland. Though the firm's general practice means work with people on many different issues, the majority of his time is spent in the area of elder law, helping families understand how the law affects their plans for the future and dealing with business succession, special needs, Medicaid & long term care, probate, guardianships, and taxes.

Join us and learn more about these important issues. These will be fairly short presentations with an opportunity for your questions to be addressed.

If you know in advance that you will be there, please RSVP to info@brandon.org or call 247-6401

Compass Music and Arts Foundation Open House
Thursday June 23rd at the Compass Music and Arts Center, Park Village, Brandon

 
The Compass Music and Arts Foundation are holding an open house to show some of the work of the Foundation over the past three years. Members of the Foundation Board will be available to talk with Foundation friends, members and visitors about the work of the Foundation. Stephen Sutton will also be showing visitors around the greatly enhanced Phonograph Rooms and giving demonstrations on how some of these vintage recording machines operate.  Arthur Doty will be placing the Golden Spike in the model Otter Valley Railroad and running the trains around the tracks for all train enthusiasts to enjoy.  Laura King will be reading stories to children in the Children's room, complete with the help of puppets, and there will be free ice cream for all visitors courtesy of Ben and Jerry's.  The event is free and begins at 2pm closing at 8pm.  Visitors can also enjoy The Sky's the Limit pastel exhibit in the Main Hall, browse the Treasure Chest and Bagatelles stores, visit the Divine Art CD store, buy from the Farmer's Market and enjoy Mexican Food in the Heart and Soul café.
  
For more information please contact Edna Sutton Acting Executive Director, on 247-4285
or by e-mail at edna@brandon-music.net.
  
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 of Arnold District Rd.).

Great Brandon Auction-July 19th
Donations needed- contact us today!

 Please think of us as you clean out, perk up and sort out. We'll pick up good quality items and store them till the BIG day- July 19th!! You'll feel great and we'll continue to promote our great little village and help all our friends and neighbors!!    
We appreciate all the support that our community has provided with their donations over the years. Call and let us know what you have for us to pick up.
It is respectfully requested that donations NOT be: clothes, electronics/appliances, mattresses, metal desks, encyclopedias, entertainment centers, exercise equipment (unless it is an elliptical or powered treadmill), or items that are not in good condition (these items haven't sold over the years and it increases costs of the fundraiser for trash removal)
* Pick ups can be arranged by contacting Brian Coolidge at 345-8961 Bernie at 247-3744 or email info@brandon.org

Brandon Chamber Summer Concert Series
Music in the Park- new and improved!!
Nine Concerts- every Wednesday in July & August 2016 at 7:00pm

Brandon's Central Park will be the site of a free concert for our community. We have an eclectic line-up of bands on tap, and will be hosting food vendors. Come on out and relax with some quality music and comfort food with your friends and neighbors. So much fun for all! make this part of your summer routine.
 
The Michele Fay Band
Original and Americana music - a comfortable groove of folk, swing, and bluegrass
Wednesday, July 6th   
Brandon Town Band
Wednesday, July 13th
Red Hot Juba
Blisterin' Hot Countrified Jazz and Green Mountain Swing
Wednesday, July 20th
Snake Mountain Bluegrass
A Great Mix of Traditional and More Modern Bluegrass
Wednesday, July 27th
Brandon Town Band
Wednesday, August 3rd
Bob Stannard and Those Dangerous Bluesmen
Some of the Best Blues Vermont has to Offer
Wednesday, August 10th
Moose Crossing
Classy & Energetic mix of Classic and Contemporary Jazz
Wednesday, August 17th
Phinaes Gage
Vermont's pherocious pholkgospel grassicana band
Wednesday, August 24th
Tintype Gypsies
A volatile combination of music makers offering up American folk punk
Wednesday, August 31st
 

An Artful Journey continues as members of the Brandon Artists Guild and the community offer opportunities for you to create. This year instead of creating works of art for our art education fundraiser, we are offering art classes so others can experience the joy of creating. 

Donations will be made to 9 area schools. Sponsors are welcome.

3-D THINKING   Mr. B, Instructor
June 26, 2016 (Sunday), 1 - 3:30pm   $ 20
  
Need a break from drawing and painting? Are you interested in sculpture? construction? architecture? engineering? People who work in these fields solve all kinds of creative problems to make amazing 3-D structures. In our group participants will be given one of the worlds most common, everyday materials (cardboard!) and challenged to solve many creative problems of their own while transforming it into a unique and exciting 3-D object. Students will be offered plenty of space, supplies (including hot glue!), and instruction on how to create a stable 3-D structure, the rest will be up to them and their imagination. Come spend an afternoon building!
  
Children only. Ages 8 - 12. Class size: 15 maximum. Register at the BAG or phone in with a credit card.
  
Acrylic & Collage Class   Mary Fran Lloyd, Instructor
July 17, 2016 (Sunday), 1 - 3:30pm   $45
  
Enjoy a fun class! Wear your "painting clothes", a smile, and a heart full of creative excitement. Become a child with a new toy & enjoy! Everything else will be there for you to relax, create and just have fun.   
Mary Fran loves designing & brilliant colors! By "abstracting" realism, she focuses more on the design process. The colors just seem to come about! By adding collage, a whole new world opens up! With the tearing of paper, rough edges represent the imperfections of life that contribute to "normalcy", creating an element of surprise and freedom of expression. What is particularly important & of most interest to her is sharing the simple everyday life experiences and feelings about such things, through art. For questions contact Mary Fran at maryfranart@aol.com      Adults age 18 and over. Class size: 14 Maximum. Register at the BAG or phone in with a credit card.
 
More workshops are listed on the BAG web site!
  
All classes will be held at the Granary, 29 Union St., Brandon, VT   
Call the BAG at 802-247-4956
Visit the BAG at 7 Center St. Brandon, VT

NOTICE TO BRANDON VOTERS
CHANGE OF VENUE FOR VOTING
 
 The Board of Civil Authority of the Town of Brandon has moved the polling place from Neshobe School to the Brandon Town Hall, 1 Conant Square.
Elections (Australian ballot) will take place in the basement of the Brandon Town Hall, entered on the north (left facing) side of the building.
The Vermont Primary Election on August 9, 2016 and the General Election on November 8, 2016 will take place at the new location Brandon Town Hall, 1 Conant Square
 
Future Town Meetings (March) will occur upstairs in the Brandon Town Hall on Monday evenings, with Australian balloting in the basement on Tuesdays.

Town Hall- Brandon
 Your center for exciting entertainment and events in 2016! Take a peek at what's coming up this summer and fall and start to mark your calendar so you don't miss a thing!!
See the attached pdf listing and print it to refer to throughout the season. 

June
Wednesday, June 22, Backpack Theater..."Sleeping Beauty" and "Wild Things"...3:30 pm.
Adults...$3, Seniors, Students, Military...$2. The Backpack Theater from Sheldon, VT., consists of 20 young actors ages 6-17. The group has been doing performances for over 20 years and plays to audiences of all ages. Sponsored by, The Friends Of The Brandon Town Hall
 
Saturday, June 25, Silent Movie..."The Iron Horse" (1924)...7:00 pm. Free Will Donation. This movie, directed by a young John Ford, follows the building of the Transcontinental Railroad following the Civil War. This epic story weaves together several narratives and includes parts for everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill. Great western action sequences set new standards for cinema! Sponsored by, Nancy & Gary Meffe.
  
July
Saturday, July 2, Independence Day Open House at the Town Hall...10:00 am-3:00 pm. Watch the parade, enjoy a hot dog, snacks or a cool drink. Tour the facility and learn about the history of this National Historic site.
  
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, July 7-8-9 @ 7:30 pm and Saturday, July 9 & Sunday, July 10 @ 2:00 pm. The Vermont Theater Lab Presents the musical, "Sunset Boulevard" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, complete with set, costumes and full orchestra. Tickets...Adults, $25. Seniors, Students, Military, $20. This production will be a large community collaboration in memory of Bette Moffett. We are excited to see this incredible production on the stage of the Brandon Town Hall especially making this a fabulous dedication to one of Brandon's greatest stars. Join us as the Vermont Theater Lab tackle this gorgeous musical based on the acclaimed 1950's film starring Gloria Swanson! The musical is a large canvas of ensemble characters coming together to tell the story of fallen silent-film star Norma Desmond. Sponsors...Rowe Real Estate, Kathryn & Robert Clark
 

Swing Dancing Classes in Brandon
 
Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27

Join the popular swing dancing scene in Vermont! Swing dance instructor David Allan will teach beginner and intermediate level courses at Brandon Music, in association with the Compass Music and Arts Center.
 Classes will be held on Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27. The beginner class runs from 6:30-7:30pm, with the intermediate class from 8:00-9:00pm.
 The beginner class will learn six-count step patterns, proper posturing and lead and follow connections. It is recommended that participants repeat this class before moving on to the intermediate level. In the intermediate class, participants will review the basics and progress to more advanced six-count moves. Intermediate class participants will need to have taken the beginner class or have equivalent experience.
 David Allan learned to swing dance from the top dance instructors in the country while living in San Francisco in the 1990s. He runs Green Mountain Stomp Swing Dancing,teaching and organizing swing dances and has taught for eight years in communities and colleges throughout the Champlain Valley.
 No partner is necessary. $45 for one 4-week series; $75 per couple per series; $75 for an individual to take both series. Pre-registration is requested but not required. Contact 802-247-4295 or info@cmacvt.org to register or with questions.
  
Brandon Music is a sister venue to the Compass Music and Arts Center and is located across from the Neshobe Golf Course at 62 Country Club Rd. Brandon, VT 05733. www.cmacvt.org

View a fun piece filmed at our own Brandon Music by WCAX TV- click on the link below-

The Sky's the Limit': A Vermont Pastel Society exhibit at the Compass Music and Arts Center
 
The exhibit will run June 3 through July 29.

The Compass Music and Arts Center presents 'The Sky's the Limit', a juried exhibit of work by members of the Vermont Pastel Society (VPS). Two nationally respected pastel painters, Alan Flattmann and Karen Israel, juried the many entries from the VPS members, selecting 44 paintings for the exhibit. Christine Ivers, Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, will bring her discerning eye to the venue as the exhibition's judge, presenting awards to three winners and three honorable mentions. An opening reception with the awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 5 from 1-3pm. The exhibit will run June 3 through July 29.
 Capitalizing on the many meanings of the double entendre of 'The Sky's the Limit', the exhibit showcases the wide range of work from 26 of the 100 society member artists. Painting the New England landscape "en plein air" is one common theme, while others, like member and VPS Exhibitions Committee Co-Chair Matthew J. Peake's subject matter is bit different: "My fascination with movement has led me to paint the human figure in abstract ways from unusual perspectives, showing how movement assumes the nature of dance, and how the color and the orientation can immensely change the mood or meaning of a painting."
 For Joyce Kahn, painting "en plein air" is her passion. "All my senses become heightened when I work outside", she says. "The scents of early morning, the rapidly changing and expressive skies, the songs of the birds, and the ever-changing landscape due to time of day or season all feed my spirit and nurture my soul."
 The Vermont Pastel Society was established by a group of artists in 1999 to build and strengthen connections among pastel painters, to foster their artistic development, and to provide links to resources. To help reach those goals, the VPS sponsors an annual juried exhibition for its member artists.
 Awards were generously donated for the judge's selections by Zephyr Designs of Brattleboro, Otter Creek Frame Shop of Middlebury, and Phoenix Bookstore of Burlington.
 
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 of Arnold District Rd.).

 

 

 

Maple Jam at Brandon Music
 
The group returns to Brandon Music on June 25 at 7:30pm.

Maple Jam is Vermont's own a cappella jazz octet specializing in close-harmony vocal arrangements of sweet love songs and swinging big band favorites. No one in New England does it the way Maple Jam does, drawing inspiration from The Swingle Singers, the Real Group, Singers Unlimited, and Pink Martini, among others. They are partial to the lush vocal arrangements of Gene Puerling and recent work with Robin Fawcett has brought even more sparkle to this dynamic group on stage.
 Vermont Public Radio host Walter Parker notes, Maple Jam's "clever, often amusing, arrangements, sweet close harmony, and jazzy swing make for an irresistible blend.  It's a cappella singing in the finest tradition."
 Repertoire will include standards, instrumentals, Bossa Novas, flights of fancy to other countries and times, including some arrangements by their own Maarten van Ryckevorsel and Jose Schmidt. The octet is known for their renditions of songs like Cole Porter's 'Night and Day', Irving Mills' 'Straighten Up and Fly Right', and of course the popular' Moonlight in Vermont'.
 Members of Maple Jam are sopranos, Alexandra Tursi and Karen Chickering; altos, Vikki Day and Clara Cavitt; tenors, Maarten van Ryckevorsel and Jeff Prescott; and basses, Andy Warner and Jose Schmidt.
 Maple Jam began in 2004 with thirteen or fourteen interested singers from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus and a stack of music. The love of the genre was immediate and intense. Over the years, they have condensed their sound to produce the richest, purest Grade A Fancy harmonies possible. The group has delighted audiences at numerous venues around Vermont (and Quebec and Ontario!), as well as venturing across the river to St. Gaudens National Historic Site in New Hampshire.
 This event is a part of Vermont Arts 2016, celebrating 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

 Brandon Artists Guild summer show, "Solids and Surfaces"
Opening reception for Solids and Surfaces is Friday, July 1, 5 to 7pm, and will be on exhibit through August 30th.

The Brandon Artists Guild summer show, "Solids and Surfaces", celebrates the natural environment with a presentation of handcrafted furniture by Richard Haver and painted landscapes by Grace Mellow. In two and three-dimensions, these artists combine dynamic form with rich surfaces, each in their own way.
Richard's furniture makes the most of beautiful woods, imaginative layouts, and curves and angles. A merger of Nigerian satinwood burl with yellow heart and a touch of sapele make for a one-of-a-kind table. The use of veneers and solid woods allow for spectacular layouts: book-matches, reverse diamonds, and sunbursts are possible with veneer but would warp and split with solid lumber. Tired of right angles? You'll be hard pressed to find many here. Legs that sweep, aprons that arch, and tabletop edges that put you ahead of the curve abound.
Furniture like you've not seen before!

One of the newest members of the Brandon Artist Guild, Grace Mellow paints landscape and still life from observation. Grace has rediscovered the love of painting after a career of graphic design, and puts her whole heart and energy into this fresh work. Her paintings combine lively brushstrokes and rich color to depict scenes from the garden and forest. The result is an active painterly surface that celebrates the tangle of the natural environment with verve and exuberance.
Live at Brandon Music: Bow Thayer  
Brandon Music on July 9 at 7:30pm

Bow Thayer's Americana music features his tales, truths and fantasies about the human condition. He has gained a "reputation as a sublimely gifted artist" by pursuing a creative vision that seeks to lead Americana music into the future. Thayer has gained national recognition, with American Songwriter saying this "onetime Levon Helm compatriot is the best artist to come from New England in recent years." See Bow Thayer live at Brandon Music on July 9 at 7:30pm.
 Thayer made a name for himself in Boston with 7 League Boots, a rock/reggae band that shared the stage with the likes of Fugazi, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Pearl Jam. Then fifteen years ago he made a life-altering decision to leave the city for the Green Mountains of Vermont. It was here that he explored the Delta blues playing slide guitar for the original Elbow and began a relationship with the banjo-both in the bluegrass group, The Benders, and on his own-that continues to this day.
 Thayer's music is always evolving-from luscious backwoods folk rock to the progressive explorations of his last album, Eden. His newest record, Sundowser, is a return to a more gritty, earthy sound while still continuing the atmospheric sonic exploration that is the hallmark of his recent work. Sundowser was co-produced and engineered by three-time Grammy winner Justin Guip (Levon Helm) and features special guest performances by Marco Benevento and Tracy Bonham. Crafting the album on an instrument he created-the Bojotar-in a studio he built with his own hands, these songs feel as personal and organic as the rural Vermont environs he wrote and recorded them in. As No Depression puts it, "You want inventiveness... I offer Bow Thayer." The Bojotar is an amplified stringed instrument that incorporates elements of banjo, resonator guitar, and electric guitar which has been manufactured by the Eastwood/Airline Guitar Company.
 Thayer has performed with such music luminaries as Levon Helm, John Hiatt, Booker T, and Ringo Starr. He tours the world but is also known for throwing one heck of a party. Maybe you have heard of Tweed River Music Festival? Thayer and his band of brothers devote their lives to spreading music wherever they go and hope you have the chance to catch an earful.
 This event is a part of Vermont Arts 2016, celebrating 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

Brandon Music presents the Peter and Will Anderson Trio
Brandon Music on July 16 at 7:30pm

"Virtuosos on both clarinet and saxophone" (New York Times), Peter and Will Anderson are one of the most extraordinary set of brothers performing music today. They are known for their exciting arrangements of jazz classics and fresh original music. Since being recognized internationally as teenagers, the twins have attended New York's Julliard and have headlined at The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, New Orleans Jazz Festival, and Sarasota Florida Jazz Festival, among others.Along with guitarist Alex Wintz, the trio performs at Brandon Music on July 16 at 7:30pm.
 The New York Post says the Andersons perform "toe-tapping, heart-lifting jazz" and even the renowned Quincy Jones has praise for the brothers: "You dudes are the future! You all have made my soul smile, and you made a 78 year-old ex-be-bopper smile like a fox eatin' sauerkraut."
 Peter and Will's 2012 release, 'Correspondence'features Kenny Barron and was listed in Vanity Fair magazine alongside Miles Davis in "Four New Releases to Make You Love Jazz."  Most recently, Peter and Will were featured on JAZZIZ Magazine's Winter 2014 CD Soundtrack. Their recent release, 'Reed Reflections', was called by the WashingtonPost, "imaginatively unfolding in ways that consistently bring a fresh perspective to classic pop and jazz tunes." Their newest album, 'Déjà vu', features Albert "Tootie" Heath, and was called "a burner that reveals the band's cohesiveness and spirit" by Mike Joyce inJazzTimes. 
 The bothers have appeared with the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Wycliffe Gordon Septet. Their ensemble has performed in over 35 U.S. States, toured Japan, and were featured four times in NYC's famed "Highlights in Jazz" series, alongside legends Lou Donaldson, Paquito D'Rivera, and the Heath Brothers.  As guest clinicians, Peter and Will have visited Temple University, Xavier University, University of Central Oklahoma, Florida State University, Ohio State University, Michigan State University and others.
 This event is a part of Vermont Arts 2016, celebrating 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
My 2016 Woodstock Rug Collection 
 is Now Available at the
Judith Reilly Gallery
24 Conant Square (Rte. 7), Brandon

My latest designs for the Woodstock Rug Collection, hooked rugs
I design for Chandler 4 Corners, are now available at my Gallery
and in retail outlets nationwide.
Chandler 4 Corners is a family-owned home accessories company in Manchester, Vermont. The entire Woodstock Collection can be seen at chandler4corners.com. On the home page choose the "Shop Collections" Category, then select "Woodstock".
Here are three of over a dozen new rugs I designed this year...
In addition to the rugs my fiber artwork originals, prints, cards, and accessories can be purchased in my gallery. My artwork is also available at the Brandon Artists Guild in the center of town.
The July/August issue of Victoria Magazine, a women's lifestyle publication, is on the newsstand now and available in my Gallery. I'm featured in an article and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It's an honor to be in this beautiful magazine.
The Judith Reilly Gallery is now open for the season which continues until Christmas.
Our normally scheduledhoursare12-5 pm Fridays and Saturdays, but please call or email to visit other times. We're happy to welcome you whenever we can.
                                    802) 247-8421      Judith@JudithReilly.com      www.Judithreilly.com

Compass Treasure Chest
Open every day!!

We're delighted to announce the Compass Treasure Chest! Run by a group of local residents, the store is a unique co-op consignment shop. They sell and consign collectables, antiques, dishes, tools, furniture, jewelry, stamps, puzzles, books, toys, art items and much more! They will always be looking for more items and of course, always receiving new items, so stop in frequently to see what is new.

For more information or to inquire about consigning with them, contact Annie at 802-558-2663 or email compasstreasurechestconsign@gmail.com and follow them on Facebook.

Summer is here!
Celebrate the good life with Brandon's own award-winning beer and wine.

Foley Brothers Brewing and Neshobe River Winery's tasting barn is open Wednesday through Saturday 11 to 5. Tasting flights, growler fills, bottles, and a country setting await you. Bring your friends or make some new ones here!

Enjoy the beer that others drive hundreds of miles for.
And don't forget, you can rent our tasting barn for private parties and special events.
 Follow us on Facebook and don't miss our latest release.
 Now open Sundays 11-4:00 !!
 
 Foley Brothers Brewing
Neshobe River Winery
Inn At Neshobe River
79 Stone Mill Dam Rd.   247-8002  
oldmillbnb@yahoo.com







 
Neshobe Golf Club-course in superb condition!
Rated the #1 value in Vermont by the New England Golf Guide

Neshobe Golf Club has also been included in the Top 100 of the Best Public Golf Values in New England. Neshobe provides an enjoyable experience for both expert golfers and those with higher handicaps. Our par-72 Championship course affords beautiful mountain views in all directions. Come and see why players rave about the conditions and our 18 distinctive holes providing a variety of challenges to all facets of the game.

Neshobe Golf Club also features a full-service restaurant and bar. Guests may enjoy chef-prepared food and beverages on our covered porch overlooking six of our holes.
The large dining room can accommodate parties, meetings, weddings and golf outings for large groups.

The full service pro shop features the latest in apparel and equipment. Our PGA Professional and 2011 Vermont PGA Player of the Year, Rodney Bicknell, offers lessons either on-course or on our full-size range-all open to the public. Our staff truly goes "the extra mile" to make your Neshobe experience a memorable one Call for a tee time now. 
 
     http://neshobe.com/               802-247-3611      neshobegolf@comcast.net

Compass Music and Arts Center has more to offer!
There is always something going on at Compass- stop in and explore!!

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

 

The GRANARY at 29 Union Street, Brandon VT

This beautifully renovated, historic building contains 14 artist studios. The spacious studios have lots of natural light, great lighting, handicapped ramp and parking. The community includes milliner, jeweler, graphic designer, painters, sculptors, photographer and Brandon Artist Guild. The GRANARY is located in the village of Brandon, walking distance to shops, restaurants and galleries. Rents range from $325 - $485 per month ( all utilities included).

Please forward to anyone who may be looking for space in Brandon. I look forward to discussing the available options and showing you the spaces. 
Please contact me at sjerome@visuallearningsys.com or 247-3214 or 683-8209.

VILLAGE SPA- A PETITE WELLNESS STUDIO
June Specials at Village Spa 
  • $10 off Airbrush Tans
  • Pedicures for 2---$89
  • $20 off for New Color Clients--includes Shampoo, Cut and Styling
Village Spa
32 Marble St Brandon, VT Brandon Vermont, 05733
802-465-8255.
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New small business solar plan from SunCommon
Zero down - 2.99% financing

The sun is out and I've got good news to share...
 We are rolling out a new small business solar program that we are really excited about. Since SunCommon launched we've struggled with being able to help small business owners who are interested in solar. In large part that was driven by the need for good solar finance solutions. We've solved that, and now we can help businesses contribute to a healthy environment and safer world through solar. 
If you want to help your business or place of work go solar and save money you can get started here.
 As you know, SunCommon has thousands of small solar installations across Vermont, more than any other Vermont company. Now we want to use that expertise to help more small businesses, the heart of the Vermont economy, go solar. Our new, zero down - 2.99% financing will help do just that, saving businesses 10-30% on their electric bill and helping our environment. 
We will only be able to complete a limited number of these projects before the incentives drop next year. Please help your business or your friend's business sign up this year while we have this great new financing and incentives are strong!

Cheers!   James Moore-Co Founder     jmoore@suncommon.com

Want to quit smoking, but nothing works?
American Cancer Society Freshstart Program can help!!

Classes are free- Free nicotine gum, patches and lozenges.
Where: Brandon Stephen A. Douglas House
(Route 7, next to the Baptist Church at the corner of Routes 7 and 73 West)
When: Wednesdays July 6, 13 , 20 & 27th   5:00-6:00pm
Call 747-3768 to Register
Co-Sponsored by Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Brandon Recreational Dept.
 

  
43 Center Street- Highly visible on route 7, prime downtown Brandon retail space. 1,500 sq. ft. restored historical storefront with maple floors, high tin ceiling and windows over the Neshobe River. A couple of storage spaces and plenty of parking. Located next to Gourmet Provence Bakery.
Available immediately. Call Jim Leary @ 802-247-9595 or Nancy Leary @ 802-558-1444.

Volunteers needed- only a couple shifts still open, call if you can help.
The Brandon Museum at the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace

 The Brandon Museum has started another season. The museum is open from mid May and runs 7 days a week until mid October. The museum makes history and information available to locals and visitors alike.
 
If you have an interest in the town and its roots keep us in mind and why not donate a couple of hours per week. We have two daily shifts of 2.5 hours from 11:00am-4:00pm. If you don't like being alone and want company feel free to pair up and volunteer with a friend! Contact Museum Steward Dan Celik at 247-3888 to join the Brandon history team at the Brandon Museum for a fun summer season.
 
The museum keeps Brandon's history alive by sharing and promoting our town and surrounding areas with the many visitors. We have hundreds of visitors come through our door asking for directions, looking for a place to stay and eat and enjoying the museum! Our museum and community room is a special place and is a great local resource.
 

Brandon Planning Commission
New members needed- If you want to help plan the future of our town growth and have input on issues that affect business- volunteer on this important board!

The Brandon Planning Commission's mission requires public input, whether by meeting, letter, email, or other means. Planning Commission meetings are usually held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 PM at the Brandon Free Public Library. Adjustments to times, days, and location may change, after appropriate public notice. Check the latest minutes for details about upcoming meetings.
New members welcome!
 For more information, please contact the Brandon Town Office at 802-247-3635.
Planning Commission members also maintain an unofficial blog at planningbrandon.wordpress.com, to which members of the public are invited to contribute. Contact the Planning Commission if interested.

 
Check out Little Pressroom's latest newsletter!

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Computer-EZ

Newsletter  view here

Our mission is to provide the best in computer and network related products and support to the local region. Networking, security, point-of-sale systems, and everything that goes with it, is what we provide for you with over 15 years experience in the computer industry.

Website- http://computer-ez.net/     802.773.6065      sellvt@gmail.com
 
Get on board the successful Gateways
to Adventure promotion!
You can sponsor a page at any time,
for one full year, for only $25.00
Sponsor ALL eleven pages
for only $200.00  
 
 
 Click here for a printable PDF  Sponsorship form


Please Practice Polite Parking :)
Be aware of your fellow businesses and their needs.

We all have to be aware of parking by our employees in the downtown. Try to park off the main streets when possible, and if you park out front before other businesses open, try to move your vehicle after regular hours kick in.
 There's lots of off-street parking so take advantage of it when you can.
Remember we're here for hours working, but our customers are only popping in for a short time, so let's make it easy and convenient for them to shop and support all of our businesses.

Thanks for making it easier for all of our customers.
  

Vermont Association of Chamber Executives
Insurance program offerings for Chamber members.
  
Although the VACE health insurance program, that many of took advantage of for years, is no longer available, other products still offered through VACE include, Dental, Vision & Life packages.
More information on all of these products can be found at www.vaceinsurance.com
Or contact Holden Financial Services (802) 775-2503 
 
Meet our newest Chamber businesses!
Our latest addition to the Chamber family.

New 2 You Consignment Shop
Heather McDonough
47 Center St.
Brandon, VT 05733
802-247-9255
new2youconsignments88@gmail.com

DuBois & King Inc.  (Engineering Services)
Jon Ashley, PE
25 Union St.
Brandon, VT 05733
802-431-1422
jashley@dubois-king.com
www.dubois-king.com 
Welcome !!
2016 New Members- go to Brandon.org for more info on our newest members

NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS 2016
-Dubois & King-Jon Ashley-802-431-1422
-New 2 You Consignment Shop- Heather McDonough-247-9255
-Awesome Graphics-Michael & Tami Napolitano-773-6143
-Tom Ransom Plumbing & Heating-483-2934
-Margaret Donahue Fine Needlework- Peg Donahue-247-5953
-Good Earth Farm- Hannah Davidson- 310-8534
-Simple Systems of Vermont- Greg Smela- 458-0620
-Common Ground Restaurant & Pub-Erynn & Andy Doaner- 464-8010
-Upscale Resale-Leo and Penny Larocque, Jill and Tim Comes, Mary & Tim Shields- 324-0613
-The Little House-A Vacation Home- Kerrie Quinn & Russ McColman- 247-2770

Own a business?? Join us and connect with other dynamic businesses in the Brandon area and gain great exposure for you business!
Just click here for an application and rates.  
  
We also have many Individual Members -- what a great way to support a local non-profit and all the great things we do in our town. (Individual/couples memberships are only $50/year)


NEW INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS 2016- who will be our first in 2016?   Maybe you ??

Next Chamber Meeting
Monday, June 20th, 2016 at 6:30
 
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will meet at 6:30pm in the Cliver Room at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace. Chamber membership and the general public are invited to attend.
 
Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 267, Brandon, VT 05733
802-247-6401 ~  info@brandon.org   www.brandon.org

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.