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Brattleboro Unofficial Election Results March 2026

by Not Signed In | Politics

Please see attached for Brattleboro’s Unofficial Town Meeting Day election results. These are the results from the ballot tallies, not including write-in votes, The projected winners are in bold.

WSESD results will be released from their central office once they have the results in from all voting towns.

Note that these are numbers that were crunched after a VERY long day. I will reiterate that they are UNOFFICIAL.

Thanks to the amazing poll workers and the American Legion who made today possible! We had a lot of voters coming through the doors – 28% for Town Meeting Day (similar to last year). The day was smooth and safe!

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.

Vermont Timbre Hosts Open Mic with Special Guest Peter Siegel

by hahrenholz | Music

Vermont Timbre—Amelia Struthers and Mike Mrowicki—invite the community to an evening of music, poetry, and storytelling at their Open Mic on Sunday, March 29 at Next Stage Arts in Putney. Doors open at 6:15 PM, and the show begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is a $10 suggested donation, and RSVPs are encouraged at nextstagearts.org.

The night will feature a special performance by Peter Siegel of The Gaslight Tinkers, alongside open slots for local musicians, poets, and performers. Sets will run 10–15 minutes, depending on sign-ups, offering a supportive stage for sharing original work or favorite pieces.

Support for Amanda Ellis Thurber

by Not Signed In | Op/Ed

I support Amanda Ellis Thurber for the 3 year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard. She’s been a farmer for years, was a founding member of the Brattleboro Area Farmers Market and she has been working with numerous regional organizations on issues revolving around sustainability of the farming economy and community.  Amanda is pleasant and respectful to every community member. More important she has an open mind, is willing to ask questions and work to solve problems. 

When former Town Manager Peter Elwell wrote a letter to the editor he expressed concerns about fiscal mismanagement. For Peter who was always measured and reasoned during his tenure in that position to raise the alarm to that level  should cause one to look carefully. He steadfastly guided Brattleboro and managed the town’s finances well. Upon his departure Peter left the Town of Brattleboro in decent financial standing.

Vermont Air National Guard & F-35 Jets On Their Way to War!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

Pentagon announcement: Vermont Air National Guard and F-35 strike fighter jets are on their way to WAR. Please note that F-35 strike fighter jets are dual capable to carry nuclear bombs.

In other news, the Lunar Eclipse will occur early tomorrow morning, and then we will have the full moon in Virgo opposite Sun in Pisces. Virgo can be a cold calculated sign, great for precision missiles.

Pass the vomit bag.

iBrattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interviews

by cgrotke | Politics

Interview questions were sent to all candidates for Brattleboro Selectboard; for the first time, not everyone bothered to return answers (there is still time).  

Here are the links to candidate interviews in one handy spot of those who chose to participate so far:

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.

When Is Later?

by fidel | Op/Ed

In her Reformer commentary, “I won’t be silenced,” Elizabeth McLoughlin claims to be committed to the Town’s “stability, safety, and fiscal health” and, so, wishes another three-year term on the Selectboard. When it comes to stability and fiscal health, Ms. McLoughlin has been a forceful member of a board that delivered an 11.4% Town property tax increase last year and is presenting a 6.3% increase for next year. Even so, we ran a deficit in FY24, and there may have been a deficit also in FY25—we don’t know on the last because the formal audit which is normally available in the fall won’t be completed until May or June.

Brattleboro Structure Fire – 448 Halladay Brook Road

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

On Feb. 26 at 2156 hours, the Brattleboro Fire Department was dispatched to 448 Halladay Brook Road for a reported chimney fire with extension into the residence. Because of the residence’s location outside the hydrant district, additional units were dispatched immediately from mutual aid partners. While responding, Brattleboro Dispatch received a second call advising that fire could be seen from the residence’s roof. Responding crews upgraded the alarm assignment to a “second alarm,” bringing in additional mutual aid fire department companies.

The first arriving companies from Station #2 (West Brattleboro) found moderate fire on the second floor, venting through the roof line. Firefighters (LT. Fellows, FF Martin, and FF Bulla) made an aggressive attack on the fire by advancing a 1 ¾-inch hose line to the second floor of the residence, ultimately knocking down much of the fire. Additional incoming crews relieved the initial crew and extinguished the fire completely.

Twilight Music Brings a Songwriters’ Circle—and a Headliner—to Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Putney’s Twilight Music series continues its tradition of intimate, listening-room concerts with a standout Singer/Songwriter Showcase on Friday, March 20, at Next Stage Arts. The evening opens with a special in-the-round set from Early Risers, Jake Klar, and Lizzy Mandell, before culminating in Andrea von Kampen’s debut performance at the venue.

Doors open at 6:45 pm, with music beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for the livestream, available at nextstagearts.org.

The opening set brings three distinct voices together in a collaborative circle. Early Risers—known for their close harmonies and roots-rich arrangements featuring banjo, mandolin, piano, guitar, and shruti box—reunited in 2015 after solo careers and quickly found national traction. Their debut album, Making Life Sweet, topped the Folk DJ Charts, with multiple tracks landing in the top ten.

We Deserve Better

by fidel | Politics

Selectboard Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin made some grossly false charges against former Town Manager Peter Elwell in her piece in the Reformer on February 17. Why? Could it be because he had the temerity to express concerns about her impacts on town finances and on the atmosphere of town politics? McLoughlin’s disproportionate and misleading response seems to prove his point.

McLoughlin says Elwell favors defunding the police. He doesn’t. She says, correctly, that at one point the police department was down to 13 officers but fails to acknowledge that, in his capacity as town manager, Elwell hired Norma Hardy, the police chief who rebuilt the department and who developed and implemented the Downtown Safety Action Plan that McLoughlin supported. She implies that he seeks to create a new Community Safety Department with over $100,000 a year for an executive director. Not so.

Brattleboro DRB March 18 Agenda

by bbannon@brattleboro.org | Town Plan

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.
2026-16                Town of Brattleboro; Urban Center  District; request for Site Plan Approval to improve sidewalk, front plaza, landscaping and create new seating areas at 224 Main Street; Tax Map Parcel #275219.000

iBrattleboro Selectboard Candidate Interview – Ken Fay

by cgrotke | Politics
Ken Fay

Ken Fay is running for a three year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Introduce yourself. Who are you and what would you say are your qualifications for the job?

I’m Ken Fay running for the 3-year term on the selectboard. I believe that my qualifications for the position can be divided into two sections – what I have done professionally throughout my adult life as well as my life experiences. As a CPA with an MBA who has worked in finance and accounting and as a finance director for nonprofits as well as for an Alaskan municipality, I have hands on experience with municipal government. The towns in Alaska while smaller in size than Brattleboro had many of the same fiscal challenges – including that of doing more with less. Since graduating college in 1983, I have had 49 life events – 29 moves and 20 changes in employment. Having no children and never been married has allowed me that flexibility.