My mother always told me about how her father died in a car accident when she was 11. At Thanksgiving all the children sat around the table, and then suddenly realized the Turkey
was their pet goose, and they all broke out in tears.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Main Room to hold a Budget Listening Session. Please note that there will be no Zoom component to this meeting. Directly after the conclusion of the Listening Session, the Board is expected to enter into executive session to discuss relations with employees, contracts, and public safety.
It’s the November 2025 dashboard summary. We continue semi-regular COVID-19 dashboard numbers from the Vermont Department of Health, and MA counties that surround Brattleboro, as long as they continue providing them. New Hampshire has shut down their reporting. Scroll down the new comments for the latest.
Nighttime single-lane closures controlled by flaggers will be present as needed from Monday night through Saturday morning, 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Work is finishing up on Vermont Route 9 (Western Avenue and High Street), U.S. Route 5 (Main and Canal Street), and Vermont Route 30 (Linden Street). Motorists should watch for wet paint.
October 1, 2025 may go down in history as the date that the United States form of government officially collapsed. As I write this, we are almost six weeks into the government shutdown. People are already beginning to suffer and things will only get worse if this does not end soon.
The Republicans (Trump) are saying that there is nothing to negotiate. House Speaker Mike Johnson has shut down the House and he shows no sign of being eager to do anything to help the American people. The Democrats are holding fast until the Republicans are willing to talk about health insurance and Medicaid cuts.
In observance of Veterans’ Day, all Brattleboro Town Offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, with the exception of emergency services.
Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Tuesday, November 11. All other violations will be enforced.
Brooks Memorial Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
The Brattleboro Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 6:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom.
The Brattleboro Finance Committee will meet on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room (230 Main Street, Room 211).
Last week’s Brattleboro Town newsletter has updates on safety measures, the forthcoming budget listening session, parking info, tips for managing fall leaves, info about ski/skate/snowboard equipment sale coming up this weekend. And opportunities to join a board or committee. See such Town updates on the web: https://brattleboro.gov/blog
It was a lot of numbers at the first regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard for November. The first pass at a proposed FY27 budget gave us the number 4.4%, which is the amount property taxes might increase. It might go up more, though, warned the public.
There was a presentation about cost savings for the new solid waste plan. Those cost savings have a cost, however. PAYT bags are back and will be more expensive, plus the town will add staff and equipment to the DPW to pick up compost.
The board heard a monthly finance report and got a quarterly update and EMS Policy Billing review by the fire department.
Also, Brattleboro has a new annual circus festival underway. Get in touch with NECCA for more info!
The Town of Brattleboro Department of Public Works will be closing Williston Street on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to complete necessary repairs to a failed stormwater structure.
During this time, Williston Street will be closed to through traffic. Access for residents will be limited as follows:
I am a retired 68 year old with Medicare and BCBS plan G supplemental insurance. Was on Medicare.gov yesterday checking out the supplemental plan and my Plan D prices. Ended up calling BCBS for the correct price and of course it came in the mail today. Relatively good news, the plan only goes up about $22 per month which is better than expected. $257 compared to this years $235 a month.
While on Medicare.gov looked at my profile and saw that I have paid less than half of the required deductible everyone who turned 65 after 2020 is required to pay. Believe what has been paid is from an eye exam earlier this year. I have been to a primary care provider twice and have had blood drawn twice. Have not received a single bill from BMH this year and the first visit was in early June. With the hospital running out of money wondering if many are not being billed. My insurance combination is quite good, paying most costs, but I think the deductible should have been billed. What is your experience?
Your Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee would like to alert you to the Selectboard’s second (and last planned) “listening session” to hear from the public as they begin the budget season for FY27. (The Town Manager’s budget message can be found, pp 42-60 in the packet for the Board’s 4 November meeting.)
The “listening session” at Brooks Memorial Library will begin at 6:15 pm on Wednesday 12 November.
I am guessing the government shutdown will continue all day on Wednesday Nov. 5, 2025. The problem is that news sources say some people will not get food stamps SNAP program benefits until Nov. 7th, and they will only get half their usual amount.
Hmmm, that means some children will be whining and some babies will be crying and some adults will have reached their personal frustration limit. This is not a good time for a big ol’ full moon, but we have no control over our solar system.
Next Stage Arts is proud to present AfterTalk: A Play by Chard deNiord, a poetic theater work that brings a 7,000-year-old Sumerian love story to life through poetry, music, movement, and visual art.
Dates & Times:
Saturday, Nov 22 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 2:00 PM
As winter approaches, a new community-led initiative aims to ensure that there are open doors to anyone who needs a warm and welcoming overnight shelter. You are invited to a free Soup Supper on Thursday, November 6, from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Beloved Community Church, 18 Town Crier Drive, Brattleboro.
The supper will offer a chance to hear from Steering Committee members about the project and what support is still needed from the community.
Initial setup costs for the shelter are funded by the State of Vermont’s Extreme Cold Weather Shelter Program (ECWSP). The ECWSP grant will also cover staffing and operating costs for 20 of the coldest nights this winter. However, the Beloved Shelter, named for its host site at Beloved Community Church, aims to remain open every night from December 1 to March 30. Additional funding and community support will be critical to meeting this goal.
Hello food lovers,
This week’s menu features my most requested dish: saag paneer, along with a classic chicken curry and Mexican pork tinga. 10% off your first order with the code ibrat. Orders due Tuesday, November 4 at 7PM for pickup Thursday, November 6. Questions? Message me at ledaskitchen@gmail.com or 802-246-7592.
SAAG PANEER (GF, Vegetarian)
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.
$28 for 24oz container (2-3 servings)
Here is the link to the court ruling regarding SNAP food stamps benefits October 31, 2025.
Nov. 3 BBQ Meatballs
Cabbage
Peas
Pudding
I believe in this part of Vermont the drought is winding down. Over the past 2 months my numbers are within 0.44″ of the averages. For October my total is 5.10 inches of rain compared to the NOAA average of 4.77″. Across Windham County the monthly totals range from a low of 4.09″ to 6.73″ from the 13 CoCoRaHS observers with full data. October is the wettest month of the year followed by June from the averages.
For the year to date with 2 months to go the total is 41.06″ compared to the norm of 39.71″. More than an inch above on a dry year. I think if you go back in time 40 years or so the yearly normal was only about 40″. Every 10 years the NOAA normals or 30 year averages move up by 10 years and have been increasing.
The Brattleboro Selectboard has some typically hot-button issues on their next agenda – the solid waste contract, the FY27 budget, the quarterly fire department report, and EMS billings and collections.
You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
