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Leda’s Kitchen Menu for 3/19, Featuring Saag Paneer

by LedaS | Food

Hello food lovers,

On the menu at Leda’s Kitchen this week:

SAAG PANEER (GF/Vegetarian) $28 for 24oz (2-3 servings)
“Off the charts scrumptious!” —Nettie L. A saag that goes above and beyond: small-batch house-made paneer combined with organic spinach, lots of onions, ginger, and garlic, and  finished with a hint of cream to elevate the soft, earthy flavors of the dish.​ Mild.

KALA MASALA CHICKEN CURRY (GF/DF) $28 for 24oz (2-3 servings)
The chicken curry that fed countless Dosa Kitchen customers for a decade. Free-range chicken in a base of tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, and a spice mix (kala masala) created for us in India. Medium-hot spice.

Are We Safe?

by RDavis | Activism

Most countries in the world that attack other countries expect some degree of retaliation on their own soil. But the United States has engaged on multiple fronts and has seemed to be safe from any major retaliatory attack. There was 9/11, but that was not in response to us starting a war.

Trump has been attacking countries all over the world and, when he does so, he puts U.S. military bases and their personnel into the line of fire, but our country has not been attacked. The question in my mind lately is whether or not Iran is going to be satisfied with killing a few American soldiers in response to the no-reason attack on their country.

3Squares & Healthcare Info Hours

by ESchwartz | Health

Do you have questions about the new SNAP (3Squares) requirements?
Have you been cut off SNAP or Medicaid or had benefits reduced?
Do you need help signing up for SNAP or Medicaid?
Do you need help paying for Medicare premiums or co-pays?

The Vermont Workers’ Center is holding open hours at the Brooks Memorial Library Community Meeting Room on March 13 from 2-4:30 PM to answer questions & help people navigate these programs. We’ll have information about Medicaid, Medicare, and the SNAP work requirements and exemptions, as well as a recently expanded program to help Medicare recipients afford premiums and co-pays. We can work with people on submitting applications and other paperwork.

Leda’s Kitchen Menu for 3/12: Unique Eats for Flavor Seekers

by LedaS | Food

Hello food lovers,

This week’s offerings are Mexican-inspired, with mostly new to the menu dishes.

CHICKEN MOLE COLORADITO (GF/DF) $30 (2-3 servings)
Oaxacan-style mole with a complex, slightly sweet, nutty, and subtly spiced flavor profile. The deep reddish brown sauce is made with more than 20 ingredients including ancho and guajillo chiles, tomatoes, chocolate, raisins, cinnamon, and sesame seeds.

PORK AND GREEN SALSA STEW (GF/DF) $26 (2-3 servings)
Pork and hominy long-cooked in chicken stock with a tomatillo green sauce.

Why War Now?

by RDavis | Activism

It just may be possible that the reason for this newest incursion into international law-breaking and senseless murder has more to do with Trump’s personal issues than any international political problem. Talks were in process with Iran and there surely was no imminent threat to the U.S. or Israel. So why start a war now?

Here is my analysis that may seem a stretch, but keep in mind that we are dealing with a president who is showing more severe signs of mental illness every day. When he bombed Venezuela and kidnapped Maduro and his wife the media was focusing more and more on the details of the Epstein case. It is clear that Trump most likely committed serious crimes during his friendship with Epstein. If any situation is capable of bringing down Trump it is his behavior in the Epstein world.

The Venezuela incursion forced the media to change focus. That lasted for awhile until more of the Epstein files were released and a New York Times reporter found out that files relating to Trump had mysteriously gone missing.

February 2026 Brattleboro Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

February was a dry and average temp month with no big warmups or rains.  Measured 1.22″ of moisture compared to the NOAA average of 3.11″.  For the water year that we are 5 months into, the total is 14.94″ compared to the normal of 19.10″.   Has stayed on the dry side thru fall and winter.

Snow for the month here was 10.9″ compared to my average of 16.1″ and for the season 48.2″.  February snow extremes from my records are 0.0″ in 2012 and 40.0″ in 2015.

Leda’s Kitchen (mostly Mexican) Menu for 2/26

by LedaS | Food

“Happiness is having one Leda’s meal in your belly and another waiting for you in the fridge!” —Tim W.

This coming week’s menu is mostly Mexican inspired:

Chicken Tinga (GF/DF): Chicken thighs simmered in a savory, smoky, and slightly spicy red sauce based on tomatoes, onions, garlic, lime, and chipotle chilies in adobo sauce. Accompaniments: lime wedges and optional sour cream $28 for 24oz container (2-3 servings)

Media Bias and Kidnapping

by RDavis | Activism

In our world of celebrity worship, you can garner mainstream media attention if you are famous or a close relative of a famous person. That means that ordinary people who are not considered newsworthy by the media can wallow in obscurity even if they suffer indignities that media attention could help relieve.

Case in point is the incessant media attention that the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of news celebrity Savannah Guthrie, is receiving. She was kidnapped on February 1 and, as of this writing, she is still missing. There are few clues to her disappearance, but the mainstream media and law enforcement have given her case an inordinate amount of attention.

The Olympic$

by RDavis | Living

The Olympics are a great escape from the crazy world we live in, if you can afford to watch them. Television cable bills are outrageous, but they are still showing the most popular events on major networks. The Olympics include lots of other events that are only available to watch if you pony up even more money than your cable bill and opt for the premium level of Peacock.

The modern-day Olympics always had a large financial element to it, but in 2026 it seems to me that the situation has reached a new level where the big media outlets hold the public hostage unless they dole out more and more money for viewing. There may be free ways to watch events that I am not aware of, especially with so many live stream options.

Beyond I Have a Dream

by Kurt Daims | Activism

People who cannot attend, start the discussion here. Tell us your favorite quote from Martin King (besides “I have a dream”) so your neighbors can discuss it Wednesday the 11th., 6:30 at the Brooks Library in Brattleboro

Four special guests will make remarks at the beginning of the event. Most of the allotted time, from 6:30 to 8:30, and maybe later, will be devoted to free discussion about the Martin Luther King who has never been celebrated in popular culture. Who gradually became influenced by Malcohm X.

BCS is planning this event to be a public discussion with the descriptive title “Beyond I Have A Dream” and with short presentations by Ethan Nasreddin-Longo, Reverend Arnold Thomas, Rv. Lise Sparrow, and Mary Gannon, honoring King and Black History Month and featuring Q&A and public discussion more than presentations.  The purpose will be to raise awareness of King’s radical evolution and of other militant anti-racist thought.  

Harris Hill Ski Jump Competition February 14-15, 2026

by Not Signed In | Recreation & Sports

Harris Hill Ski Jump will take center stage February 14 and 15 as 50+ athletes from the U.S. and Europe converge for one of North America’s most storied ski jumping competitions. This year’s event, the 104th competition at Harris Hill, features a rare convergence of international rivalries and up and coming Olympic-level talent.

The Winged Ski Trophy Showdown
Slovenia’s Urh Rošar returns to Harris Hill seeking a historic third victory in the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament on Sunday, a win that would permanently retire the iconic Winged Ski Trophy under long-standing rules at Harris Hill. Standing in his way is teammate and close friend Ozbej “OB” Kotnik (SLO), the 2023 champion, who is determined to keep the trophy in circulation. With the trophy retirement rule changing after 2026, this weekend could mark the final opportunity ever to retire the Winged Ski Trophy.

SNAP & Healthcare Open Hours on Friday

by ESchwartz | Health

Are you confused about the new SNAP requirements?
Do you need help signing up for SNAP or Medicaid?
Have you been cut off SNAP or Medicaid or had benefits reduced?
Do you need help paying for Medicare premiums or co-pays?

The Vermont Workers’ Center is holding open hours at the Brooks Memorial Library Community Room on Feb. 6 from 2-4:30 PM to help people understand and navigate these programs. We’ll have information about Medicaid, Medicare, and the SNAP work requirements and exemptions, and can work with people on submitting applications and other paperwork.

Join Me in Volunteering at Beloved Winter Shelter

by IsaacEF | Activism

Join me in volunteering at the Beloved Winter Shelter. If they don’t get enough night volunteers they’ll have to stay closed during some extreme temperatures.

The other day I was talking with Amanda Ellis-Thurber, a fellow selectboard member. She reminded me that she has been volunteering with the Beloved Community Winter Shelter up on Town Crier Drive, and encouraged me to do the same. So I reached out to shelter staff, and last weekend did my first shift there.