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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.

January 2026 Precipitation Report

by local | Nature

January has been a cold snowy month with 3.02 inches of precipitation measured compared to the NOAA normal of 3.39″. So far this water year, starting the first of October the moisture total is 13.72″ compared to the norm of 15.99″.  So the dryness of last year is continuing.

My snowfall total this month is 22.8″ compared to my average of 16.7″.  This goes back to the winter of 1993-94. The highest January snow total over that time is 37″ in 2011.   I also saw 6 mornings with temps below zero in January.  We did still manage to have a couple storms fall as rain or part rain.  My season snow total stands at 37.3″.

Civil War II?

by RDavis | Activism

Protests in this country are escalating, yet the illegal violence against citizens continues. The Trump sandbox mentality of having the big guns makes him feel that no laws apply to him, so he continues to trample on the rights of Americans as well as some people in other parts of the world.

Most of us are feeling helpless, but the question in my mind is whether or not people will move their protests closer to the level of a civil war. We are losing the democracy that many of us have believed in, and we are being mentally and physically tormented on a regular basis just for trying to stand up for the rights that have been guaranteed in the documents that are supposed to guide the people who run this country.

Brattleboro Selectboard Candidates

by cgrotke | Politics

The latest slate of candidates for Brattleboro Selectboard has been finalized.

For the 3 year seat, Amanda Ellis-Thurber, Ken Fay, and current Chair Elizabeth “Liz” McLoughlin are hoping they will get your vote for the single available seat.

Tarot, Divination & Intuitive Arts as Insight, Guidance and Inspiration by Patti Newton

by SilverMoon | Spiritual

In Mainstream media Tarot or Tools for divination are often depicted as creepy fortune Tellers, Ancient prophetic Seers or eccentric women looking into crystal balls. They are usually regarded as the bearers of ill fortune, futures that are clouded by scary predictions and ill-fated omens. It’s no wonder that same mindset that has presented this negative image has also persecuted those in real life who have been the herbalists, the healers, the midwives, and those who brought comfort to those who were struggling; the Wise ones, the Shamans, and the Sensitives.

Every culture down through the ages have utilized divination arts. This is because it was recognized that humans have a natural intuitive/intelligence that is akin to animals renowned for their own high intelligence and intuition including chimpanzees, elephants, and octopuses, which display advanced problem-solving, tool use, and self-awareness. Other notable, highly intelligent creatures include crows, which understand cause-and-effect, and dolphins, which possess complex emotional processing and self-recognition.

Deliberation – A Virtue of Town Meeting

by RobertOeser | Op/Ed

Recently, I stumbled upon some inadvertent endorsements for a Town Meeting style of governance I thought I would share. These are excerpts from several podcasts: The first is entitled “I Drove To The Worst Place In Vermont. This Is What I Saw” (Spoiler alert: it’s not that bad) https://bit.ly/4nzDwEn

In this clip, a question is raised about the values unique to Vermont. While acknowledging the rise in polarization in the country generally, the podcaster zeroes in on “old school Vermont,” where everyone at Town Meeting argues with each other, but then has lunch and talks about what unites them.

NXT Gallery Presents Home Land: New Paintings by Finn Campman

by hahrenholz | Arts

Next Stage Arts’ NXT Gallery will open a new exhibition, Home Land: Paintings by Finn Campman, with a public reception on Sunday, February 15, from 3–5 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney. The exhibition will remain on view through May 10.

In Home Land, Finn Campman explores painting as an act of orientation—both personal and geographic. His work reflects a deep attentiveness to place, memory, and presence, using the painted surface as a way to mark time and affirm connection. “My process is about the act of reaching out to make sure I know where I am,” Campman writes. “To check my coordinates, to mark a signpost for my memories—as if to say, ‘This is where I am now.’” The resulting paintings feel grounded and contemplative, tethered to the land and to the lived experience of being part of it.

Brattleboro Overnight Snow Removal Scheduled for Jan. 27

by Not Signed In | Town News

Snow and ice will be removed from streets and uncovered parking lots in Brattleboro tonight, Jan. 27, 2026, starting at 11 p.m.

The affected streets include: Main Street, Flat Street, Elm Street, Elliot Street, High Street, Grove Street, Harris Place, Walnut Street, Chapin Street, Oak Street, Church Street, School Street, Park Place, Canal Street, Western Avenue, Green Street, and South Main Street.

Central Street Sewer Repairs

by Not Signed In | Town News

On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Central Street will be closed between Washington Street and Highland Street while the Utilities Division makes repairs to a sewer service.  The work will take place in the area of 81 Central Street between 7:00am and 3:00pm.  Residents will have access to their homes from either side of this closure. 

Motorists should plan alternative routes during this time.

Leda’s Kitchen Menu for 1/29, Chicken Tikka Masala + More

by LedaS | Food

“That chicken curry was a knockout! We are so grateful for you.” –John U.

At Leda’s Kitchen, I draw on my adventures as a private chef, cookbook author, and co-owner of Dosa Kitchen Food Truck to offer weekly heat-and-eat meals designed to awaken your senses and fit seamlessly into your schedule. My menus feature curries, stews, nourishing soups and stews inspired by diverse food traditions. I cook with high-quality ingredients including free-range meats and focus on local and organic sourcing. You decide when to eat, as all dishes are designed to reheat beautifully, maintaining or even increasing their original deliciousness. On the menu for the coming week (order by January 27/pick up January 29:

Brattleboro Deadline for Petitions is Jan. 26 Regardless of Weather Conditions

by Not Signed In | Uncategorized

Petitions for Brattleboro Town Officers, Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board Members, and Town Meeting Members are due to the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.

Due to the anticipated storm, the Town Clerk’s Office may close for in-person services on Jan. 26. Should that occur, please place completed petitions or letters of intent in the drop box labeled “Town Business” in the Municipal Center parking lot by 5 p.m. on Monday.

Town of Brattleboro Winter Storm Travel Advisory/Closures

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is issuing a Travel Advisory due to anticipated hazardous winter
weather conditions and significant snowfall.
Effective: Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 12 p.m.
Through: Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7 p.m.

EXPECTED CONDITIONS
Snow accumulation of approximately 8–14 inches, with locally higher amounts
possible

My Vote To Lower Brattleboro’s Property Taxes

by IsaacEF | Op/Ed

At Thursday’s Brattleboro Selectboard meeting, I joined Amanda Thurber in voting against the proposed 27 million dollar budget because Brattleboro municipal taxes have far outpaced wage growth. At selectboard meetings, in the street, and Thursday at the Senior Center, I kept hearing, “Enough.”

We need to stick up for everyday folks who are working for a living, trying to save for the future, and wanting to give their children a better future.

Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda and Notes Jan 27, 2026

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom.  The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  Closed captioning will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town website by the end of the day. Please note that the Zoom credentials for this meeting have changed. They can be found inside the agenda and administrative report.