* DIRECTIONS to Harris Place: [ Google Map ]

Take Exit 2 off of I91 to Brattleboro, Vt. Follow Route 9 into downtown. Go through the blinking red lights. Turn left into Public Parking immediately after the funeral home and before the traffic lights at the very bottom of the hill.  (On the corner of the parking lot is Silver Moon.) Drive to the far end of the parking lot and park there.
From this end, it is a short walk down the hill on Grove Street to Main Street. Walk directly across Main Street to Harris Place. (TD bank is on the corner of Main St. and Harris Place.)
If you have a float to unload, you can drive to Harris Place. Same directions as above. Drive thru the parking lot, down Grove Street, and across Main Street into Harris Place.

Parade Route Map ]]> http://www.brattleboro.net/parade-and-rally-march-30th/feed/ 0 http://www.brattleboro.net/fukushima-day-event-in-putney/ http://www.brattleboro.net/fukushima-day-event-in-putney/#comments Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:59:03 +0000 Daniel Hoviss http://www.brattleboro.net/?p=2503 Continue reading »]]> Hello to Safe and Green/ SAGE Alliance supporters in the Putney and Brattleboro area:

For those of you who want to help increase clean renewable energy in our state, please read this.

As a town energy coordinator I understand the challenges that schools and municipalities face in order to undertake a solar electric or solar hot water project. Schools and municipalities are not taxable entities, they cannot take advantage of the federal tax incentives and so rely on town or bond funding for projects and improvements.

As you may know, the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the investment tax credits will be extended through the end of the year under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was passed by Congress on January 1, 2013, and signed into law on January 2 by President Obama.

But this does not help the schools or municipalities (special customers) without some kind of third party investment scheme.

The Vermont Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program is currently closed as funds are no longer available for projects. Hopefully the program will re-open in mid-February.

Due to the increased demand for PV (solar electric) and the lack of funds, the DPS and the Clean Energy Development Fund are recommending changes to the program that would sharply decrease the incentive amounts available for “special customer” and commercial projects.

WHEN: Sunday, September 23, from1:00-2:00 pm

WHERE:  Governor Hunt Road in Vernon, Vermont

WHAT: Quaker Worship, Vermont Yankee’s Main Gate

This religious witness will go forward regardless of the weather. It is organized under the care of Burlington Meeting (VT)

We request that all who plan to participate in this worshipful witness gather at the Putney Friends Meetinghouse that morning at 11:00 am for a discussion of basic logistics and ground rules, and final discussion based on our previous dialogues with Chief Hebert of the Vernon Police Department and Patrick Ryan, Head of Security for the plant.  At that meeting you will also meet the Quaker elders, identified with arm bands, who will serve as monitors during the worship and aftermath.

We ask that no signs be carried; there will be one banner identifying us as under the care of Burlington Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. We also suggest that Friends may want to carry snacks or a sandwich and something to drink, as the plant is in a rural area with no stores or restaurants. Food can be bought prior to the 11 am meeting at the Putney Coop. There are portapotties including a wheelchair accessible one at the Vernon Town Beach about a quarter of a mile away from the gate. There will be a car available to shuttle those who need it.

Chief Hebert has offered to let us park at the Vernon Town Offices parking lot and along the road behind it.  There is no parking at the local school. Both are also within walking distance of the plant gate  We will also be able to have an appointed transport person to drive anyone with health needs from the parking area to the gate and back.  Directions to both Putney Meetinghouse and the plant in Vernon are attached to this letter.

At approximately 12:45 pm we will walk prayerfully in single file, in silence, from the parking area to a designated place at the beginning of the plant driveway and form a circle to continue our standing worship. Please bring a light-weight chair with you if you are unable to stand for the worship period, which will last somewhere between a half hour and one hour, and the booking time after, approximately 30 minutes.

We have had many questions about the issue of civil disobedience  The meeting for worship, which is the primary focus of this religious witness, is being held in a mutually agreed upon spot on the edge of the plant’s property, and participation in the worship will not incur arrest.  There are a few of us who feel we are called to leave the circle during worship, to duck under a rope and continue our worship further inside the plant grounds, about 15 – 20 feet from the first circle. We will form a smaller circle there and continue in worship. We ask that the initial circle continue to hold the worship, while some go inside the grounds.  We will then be asked to leave and if we do not, we will be charged with trespassing and be arrested. The police will walk with us to a small house next to the driveway where our paperwork will be completed, and we will then be released on our own recognizance and allowed to leave. We will not be handcuffed. We ask that the circle hold us in worship while we are being booked, until we come back and join you.  No one is under any pressure to either go inside or remain outside, nor do Friends need to decide that before we gather.

We would be grateful if Friends who are coming for this witness will let us know your approximate numbers and your home meeting or church at the email or phone number below.  We also urge you to carpool if possible.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Email: betsyandjane@gmavt.net

Phone: 802-434-7114

Emergency contact phone for that day only:

802-734-8449

Directions to Putney Friends Meetinghouse:  Take exit 4 off of I – 91.  Go north on Route 5 for about a mile.  The Meetinghouse will be on your left.

Directions from the Meetinghouse to Vernon Town Offices: From Putney Meetinghouse, take Route 5 South, through the downtown of Brattleboro, onto 142 South.  In Vernon, continue onto Governor Hunt Road.  The Town Offices are on the right. The time is about 25 minutes

* * * * * * * * * *

File attachments:

Print version Flotilla poster

Email version Flotilla poster

Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution 

Saturday September 8th  on the Connecticut River, Hinsdale NH

Join us by watercraft or along the shore in a creative “Flotilla” action

to protest the thermal & radioactive pollution of the Connecticut River

by Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor.

Where:  Main launch area: Prospect Street Boat Launch in Hinsdale, NH:

Land Rally: Fort Hill Rail Trail near the Prospect St. Boat Launch

Area map: http://goo.gl/maps/4CJpA

When:  Saturday September 8 (rain date Saturday September 15)

• 11:00 am – Noon: Boats arrive and launch
• 12:30 pm Land Rally
• Please launch early enough to join us by 1pm on the river

What :

• A flotilla of watercraft from kayaks to motor boats will launch & fill the Connecticut River, just East of Vermont Yankee.
• Land supporters will gather at two shady rock outcroppings on the Fort Hill Rail Trail, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the boat launch on Prospect St. From these points, supporters will look out over the flotilla, directly across from Vermont Yankee and be able to hear speakers & music. Bring your binoculars, signs and banners!
• There will be speakerson the water
  • David Deen, Connecticut River Steward, Connecticut River Watershed Council
  • Christian Parenti, acclaimed writer for The Nation
  • Deb Katz, Executive Director of Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), a member of SAGE Alliance.
• There will be music from Tom Neilson, Molly Scott, and One Journey
• There will be a symbolic “ice drop”,  to cool the river, highlighting the thermal pollution by VT Yankee and it’s effect on the river ecology.

Why:  Entergy Corporation’s Vermont Yankee Nuclear Reactor dumps millions of gallons of heated water, some of it at 105 degrees, into the Connecticut river on a daily basis. Fish like the Atlantic salmon and American shad are very vulnerable to warmed habitats; in Vernon VT, where the reactor discharges, the shad have decreased by 99% since the 1990′s. The effects of this heated plume extend up to 55 miles downriver to Holyoke MA. Entergy could avoid all this by exclusively using their cooling towers instead of the river for cooling the reactor. Join us in telling Energy to cool it.

Launch Details:

• Prospect Street Boat Launch in Hinsdale, NH: 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. (or from the Fort Hill Rail Trail just north of the Boat Launch) Note; there is a bridge to go under from this launch point. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and small boats will have no problem. Larger boats should launch elsewhere. Area map: http://goo.gl/maps/4CJpA
• Brattleboro: 
  • Brattleboro marina 28 Spring Tree Rd  Brattleboro, VT 05301 www.vermontmarina.com/ 2 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee
  • Vermont Canoe Touring Center 451 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT.: 2 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee
• Other locations: Please allow plenty of extra time for launch from these locations:
  • Old Ferry Road in Brattleboro, Map link: http://www.crjc.org/boating/13-Brattleboro.pdf  Also includes Hinsdale, Vernon
  • Chesterfield NH, Putney:Map link: http://www.crjc.org/boating/12-Putney.pdf  Putney is a 5 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee.

Canoe/kayak rental info:

• Vermont Canoe Touring Center  451 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT. 2 hour paddle to Vermont Yankee
• Barton s Cove in Gill MA has Kayaks and canoes for  $40/day.  (413) 863-9300.  Can reserve with a credit card.
• Amherst/Northampton area: Eastern Mt. Sports for $35/day & Adventure Outfitters for $30/day and canoes at $35/day.

Water Safety: All participants on the water are required to have proper flotation equipment (vests, cushions). All boats/rafts need to have sufficient flotation equipment for everyone on board their craft. Motorized boats must be cautious — we expect most of the folks will be in canoes and kayaks, and motor boats must be aware of creating wakes and distracting paddlers. No inner tubes, horseplay, weapons, alcohol or dogs (except service dogs) please. Even though this is not a civil disobedience action, all those in the flotilla (on water or land) are expected to follow the SAGE Alliance Nonviolent Code of Conflict.

Shore Supporters: Along the shore on the the Fort Hill Rail Trail (map coming). The trail is flat. There are two large openings to the side of the trial, a 10-15 minute walk from the boat launch. Bring large signs, banners, puppets (Fish, River, No Hot Water, No Radiation symbol, Close VY, ). Food and water will not be available, so bring your own. Binoculars will be a bonus! Cameras and video are always welcome.No weapons, alcohol or dogs (except service dogs) please. Even though this is not a civil disobedience action, all those in the flotilla (on water or land) are expected to follow the SAGE Alliance Nonviolent Code of Conflict.

Post-Flotilla Gathering: The Marina restaurant, just off Putney Road (Route 5), 28 Spring Tree Rd,  Brattleboro, VT 05301 www.vermontmarina.com/

Questions: please email contact@sagealliance.net

Poster credits: Canoe photo by Will Bennington from Red Clover Climate Justice. This group organized the Northeast Regional Convergence in Burlington VT in July 2012, which highlighted the resistance of the indigenous Innu communities to the mega-dams planned for Northern Quebec. Canoe image edited by Tom Wyatt. Vermont Yankee photo: Lauren Frohne

BRATTLEBORO – The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant has been reduced to 36 percent power since 1 p.m., after smoke was detected in the reactor building.

According to Vermont Yankee spokesman Rob Williams, there was an electrical failure in one of the two motor generator sets, which controls the reactor’s power by varying the flow of reactor cooling water.

Williams said the malfunction is not safety related and that the public is not in any danger.

“This is not related to plant safety,” Williams told the Reformer. “The plant will remain online at the reduced power output until the investigation of what happened is complete and proper repairs are made.”

On Sept. 30, 2011, the plant was forced to reduce its power output after one of its recirculation pumps had an electrical problem.

Williams said it’s unclear at this time if it’s the same pump or not.

 Saturday, April 14, 2012, Noon to 2:00 pm

Brattleboro Common, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301

[rain location: Brattleboro Union High School]

Unite to defend democracy!

VT Governor Peter Shumlin and Attorney General William Sorrell

will join US Senator Bernie Sanders at the April 14th rally in Brattleboro. Show your support of the State of Vermont’s resolve to stand up to the Entergy Corporation’s arrogance and intimidation! Join us at noon on the Brattleboro Common.

Read more about the rally here.

Keynote speaker:

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Special Musical Guest:

Fenibo, a 12-piece Afro-beat ensemble

The rally will…

• Acknowledge the state’s tireless work to replace Vermont Yankee with sustainable energy solutions and prevent further radioactive contamination of the soil, air, and water surrounding the reactor.

• Support Vermont’s resolve to stand up to the Entergy Corporation’s arrogance and intimidation.

• Recognize the Vermont Yankee’s impact on neighboring states and their people and elected officials’ help in closing Vermont Yankee.

• Demand that Entergy immediately shutter Vermont Yankee and begin a thorough, responsible decommissioning of the reactor and clean-up of the site.

Rally sponsors include: Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), Safe & Green Campaign, Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Nuclear Free Vermont, Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution (NEC), Beyond Nuclear, Greenpeace, The Enviro Show, SAGE Alliance, Vermont Toxics Action Center, the Sierra Club and Vermont Citizen Action Network.

Updates at: www.safeandgreencampaign.org www.Facebook/shutdownvermontyankee

While other news outlets are reporting “dozens of people arrested” and the Brattleboro Refraimer shows no news at all, the real numbers are: over 1000 people met on the Brattleboro commons, and marched to Vermont Yankee HQ on Old Ferry Road where there was music, and presentations from a diverse group including Bread and Puppet. Well over 2000 people were at the event, over 136 people were arrested and detained on the VY grounds.

The Brattleboro Police and the Windham County Sheriffs department were on hand to make arrests and are to be commended on a professional, calm and in many cases good humored approach to the demonstrators. Hats off to them all for such a good job! While processing did take longer (up to 7 hrs for some) due to the details of mass arrest and the intake a cataloging of personal possessions (Hint: next time bring only ID and Cell – not back packs) all in all the event went very smoothly.

Several people were released on-site due to age or other disabilities. Most were processed and transported to the Brattleboro Police HQ, and released. The court dates are in Aug 2013!

Other news links:

VT Digger

News 5

You tube

WWLP

“ AS I WENT DOWN BY THE RIVER TO PRAY….”

 FOLLOWING THE RIVER from SPRINGFIELD, MASS to VERMONT YANKEE, VERNON, VERMONT

2012 WALK FOR A NEW SPRING: REMEMBER FUKUSHIMA  March 16 – March 22, 2012

 The Connecticut River has been an historic route for many peoples over many centuries. And now it becomes the route of 2012 Walk For a New Spring: Remember Fukushima. We walk to Remember Fukushima, in the knowledge that nuclear energy is neither safe nor clean. Already the Connecticut River, the earth, and the people have suffered contamination from Vermont Yankee. The threat of any sort of accident at the aging nuclear reactor in Vernon, VT is all too real and the consequences would be unimaginably catastrophic.

On Friday, March 16th, 2012 Walk for New Spring: Remember Fukushima will meet up with Grafton Peace Pagoda Walk that has come up from New Jersey and New York. They will meet at AGAPE, in Hardwick, MA and then will journey to Springfield, walking as one body to gather in fellowship at Arise for Social Justice, Springfield.

The next morning on March 17^th, please join us at The River Front Park (W Columbus Ave and Memorial Bridge) for the initial ceremony of a week-long series of ceremonies along the Connecticut River.   After the Ceremony, we will walk to Chicopee for lunch, followed by a walk to Holyoke . There will be a second ceremony along the Connecticut River at the farm land of NUESTRAS RAICES (24 Jones Ferry Road, off  Route 5 near lower Westfield Road. At this point, from Springfield, Mass to Yankee Nuclear Plant in Vernon, Vermont, the Walk will “FOLLOW THE RIVER,” journeying along the route of the Connecticut River through Western Massachusetts to Vermont.

And therefore, each day,  the Walk will go “down  by the riverside” to offer prayers to the  spirit of the river – prayers for the healing of the waters, prayers  for healing Mother Earth, prayers for the awakening of  all of us for our human duty to shut down Vermont Yankee.

WE URGE EVERYONE,(AND PARTICULARLY WE URGE  WESTERN MASS FOLKS), TO JOIN US – March  16th – March 21.

JOIN FOR AN EVENING GATHERING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

                        March 16^th:  Worcester to Springfield

                        March 17^th: Springfield to Chicopee to Holyoke

                        March 18^th: Holyoke to Northampton

                        March 19^th: Northampton to Montague

                        March 20^TH: Montague to Northfield

                        March 21^st: Northfield to Vernon

JOIN FOR AN HOUR !      JOIN  FOR A DAY!      JOIN  FOR THE FULL ROUTE ALONG THE RIVER!

Join us as we walk together  in love and solidarity for a nuclear free future.

Join us so that together we can search and open the path  to help us realize the possibility

of a more just, sustainable and compassionate world,  built on respect for living beings and for the earth that sustains us.

Let’s become a  ground-swell of concerned residents. Let our walking together speak for itself.

By gathering together and walking as a community , we become “the walking prayer:”

“(the)   prayer for the suffering of the Japanese people and a plea to the people of New England

to recognize the grave dangers that nuclear energy poses to our lives, where we live, and all life on Mother Earth.”

The children of today and the children of the future call to us to take action.  We answer their call by walking with Walk for a New Spring, following the River, and offering prayers for healing at the River’s edge .

details to join the walk or support the walk when it comes to your community,

contact: Tim Bullock:413-485-8469; email:walk4newspring@gmail.com

WFNSP sponsored by New England Peace Pagoda, co-sponsors: AFSC Northampton, Arise for Social Change, Sprngfld;

Nuclear Free Future; House of Peace, Ipswich, MA; MassPeaceAction.