“Your Bagara Baingan is my favorite dish thus far. Perfection! Enjoyed it both hot and cold. I appreciate all the hours of time you spent creating this marvelous meal.” –Lou W.
This week at Leda’s Kitchen:
BAGARA BAINGAN (EGGPLANT IN TANGY PEANUT COCONUT SAUCE): Hyderabadi-style roasted eggplant cooked in a rich and tangy gravy made from peanuts, sesame seeds, and coconut. A festive dish.
Although Trump’s ratings are in the toilet, that does not necessarily translate into support for the Democrats. That is a political problem that the Democratic party needs to work on, among others. If they do not find a way to become more vocal and more powerful and make a case that they can run the country better than Trump then we will end up with Trump III and that will be the final blow that kills our republic, its constitution and the rule of law.
The Democratic party is not doing well in terms of favorability. Most polls that I have found show unfavorability above 55%. That is alarming. The question to be answered is who will people vote for if they don’t like either party. Will they stay home in large numbers from the mid-term and next presidential election?
PUTNEY — Vermont Suitcase Company will screen its feature film debut, New Clothes, at Next Stage Arts in Putney on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, New Clothes reimagines the classic fable through the lens of the Vermont touring theater troupe’s fast-paced, inventive style. The film follows two struggling swindlers who scheme their way into a royal palace, hoping to trick the Emperor and his court out of the very clothes on their backs.
June 8 Meatloaf w/Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Peas & Carrots
Chocolate Chip Cookie
The Budget Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 6:00pm in the Brooks Memorial Library, Room B.
PUTNEY — The acclaimed 2024 documentary Far Out: Life On & After the Commune, directed and edited by Charles Light, will screen at Next Stage Arts on Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
The screening will take place at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. Tickets are $10 general admission and are available at nextstagearts.org.
A Q&A with director Charles Light, commune resident Verandah Porche, and composer and performer Patty Carpenter will follow the screening.
PUTNEY — Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts continue the 23rd season of Twilight on the Tavern Lawn with an evening of exploratory folk, free improvisation, and ambient soundscapes featuring High and Loathsome on Sunday, June 14, at 6 p.m. on the Putney Tavern lawn, 133 Main Street.
The concert is free and open to the public. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. In the event of rain, the performance will move indoors to Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill. Food will be available on site. RSVPs are encouraged at nextstagearts.org.
High and Loathsome is a quartet that drifts fluidly between song and improvisation, balancing structure with atmosphere and spontaneity with intention. Drawing on decades of experience as musicians, composers, and sonic explorers, the group creates music that feels both grounded and searching.
The contractor has added an additional night shift across all evening work zones and will be working overnight Friday night into Saturday morning beginning next week on June 12, 2026.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS:
Vermont Route 9: (Night Work)
Flaggers will control alternating traffic patterns in all intersections and through single-lane closures on Vermont Route 9 between the Interstate 91 Exit 2 interchange and the Edmund Heights intersection in West Brattleboro. Monday night through Saturday morning, work zones will be active from 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. No street-side parking will be available in these areas of VT 9 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday night through Saturday morning.
Sandglass Theater opens its New Visions Summer Series with The City That Slept, an imaginative puppetry performance by Tom Tuke, on June 5 and 6 at 7pm. The production blends shadow puppetry, lantern puppets, and large-scale marionettes with sound recordings collected in New York City’s Union Square. The performance also features an original technique developed by Tuke: floating shadow puppets that glide across a pool of moving water, creating luminous images of motion and reflection.
Originally from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Tuke studied at the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts Program and has performed with Bread and Puppet Theater.
AGENDA
Call to Order
Review and Approve Minutes of previous meeting.
Review of Cases/Public Hearings to be reviewed under the Brattleboro Land Use Regulations as warned on October 12, 2015.
2026-57 Amarya Pendlebury; Residential Neighborhood 5400 District; appeal of a zoning violation: Zoning Administrator’s determination that current rooster is not the same, grandfathered, rooster as was present last fall at 26 Fort Dummer Heights; Tax Map Parcel #110428.000
The Town of Brattleboro would like to notify residents, commuters, and local businesses of ongoing traffic congestion and delays associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation Route 9 paving project.
Although construction activities are currently taking place during overnight hours, temporary roadway configurations and traffic pattern changes remaining in place during daytime hours have created significant traffic slowdowns and backups along portions of the Route 9 corridor.
The Town has received multiple reports regarding daytime traffic operations, including congestion at intersections, extended vehicle queues, and delays traveling through affected areas. Town staff are actively communicating with Vermont Agency of Transportation representatives and project contractors regarding these concerns and are working collaboratively to improve daytime traffic flow and minimize disruptions to the public.
I have struggled with this subject because I just want to scream that every search on the internet leads me to believe that Data Centers will pollute both our air and water in Vermont.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom. Prior to the regular meeting at 5:30pm, the Board will convene and is expected to move directly into executive session to discuss labor relations agreements with employees and contracts. 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.
A fascinating look at a new way for folks to connect – Brattleboro entrepreneur DARREN MARK has developed humNET, a new app that links people through good vibrations – literally – and which aims to create a world-wide web of empathy….. Darren also gives a lovely tribute to Parker Huber.
May has been a wet month with wide temperature swings. Measured 4.57 inches of rain compared to the NOAA normal of 3.64 inches. May has been the first month this year with above average precip. Measurable rain on 14 of 31 days. Year to date my total is 15.36″ compared to the normal of 17.61″ or 87% of the average.
I don’t keep temperature records but there have been days well above 90° and the last day of May (yesterday) wearing a jacket with a little heat turned on. The month of June is normally the second wettest month of the year with an average of 4.52″. Shall see. All numbers are from my location in the S.E. corner of Brattleboro and do vary place to place.
Pursuant to title 32, Vermont Statutes Annotated, section 4111(g), “A person who feels aggrieved by the action of the Listers and desires to be heard by them, shall, on or before the day of the grievance meeting, file with them his or her objections in writing and may appear at such grievance meeting in person or by his or her agents or attorneys. Upon the hearing of such grievance the parties thereto may submit such documentary or sworn evidence as shall be pertinent thereto.”
The Town of Brattleboro Abstract Grand List will be lodged May 28, 2026. This same day, change of assessment notices will be mailed. The Brattleboro Listers will hold grievance hearings starting Thursday June 11, 2026 at 10am at the Municipal Building at 230 Main St in the Hanna Cosman room. Applications for a hearing are available at the Assessor’s Office or online at www.Brattleboro.gov on the Assessor’s page.
It’s finally happening! After months of initial planning, the Brattleboro Historical Society Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce our latest project – bringing this town’s history out of storage and into the land of the light, with a museum. As you may know, BHS has developed exhibits and displays in numerous locations over the years and even in Montpelier at the Vermont Historical Society. This new project continues that tradition – but all in one place – Brattleboro’s own Municipal Center hallways!
The museum will bring to light the impressive history that surrounds us here in Brattleboro. Lighted display cases and panels will be installed on existing walls and available floor space. Halls will be filled with both changing displays, permanent displays; electronic and interactive exhibits and just plain curiosities. The three floors will incorporate Brattleboro’s fascinating prehistory through to the changing society of today and everything in between. And, you will be able to enjoy the exhibits anytime the Municipal Center is open. The museum will be so unique as to be a destination for tourists and a place for Brattleboro locals to stop in and enjoy anytime.
The Brattleboro Tree Committee will meet on Thursday, June 4th, 2026 in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.
The Brattleboro Charter Revision Commission will meet on Thursday, June 4th, 2026 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS:
Vermont Route 9: (Night Work)
Flaggers will control alternating traffic patterns in all intersections and through single-lane closures on Vermont Route 9 beginning at the Edmund Heights intersection in West Brattleboro and progressing east to the Interstate 91 Exit 2 interchange. Work zones will be active from 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday night through Friday morning. No street-side parking will be available in these areas of VT 9 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The Town of Brattleboro has received and accepted the resignation of Brooks Memorial Library Director Julie Perrin. Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Friday, May 29, 2026, as the Town makes plans to resume the search for the next library director.
“The Town will be heading in a different direction, and we intend to resume our efforts immediately,” said Brattleboro Town Manager John Potter. “We’re committed to
identifying a strong candidate and grateful for the dedication of library staff and the community’s patience during this transition in leadership.”
