Isaac

by IsaacEF | Politics, Town News

On Wednesday, Isaac Evans-Frantz submitted to the Brattleboro Town Clerk 120 petition signatures to appear on the ballot for Brattleboro Selectboard. That is 4 times the amount needed by law to get on the ballot. By the end of the day the town clerk had confirmed that Isaac will in fact appear on the ballot for a one-year position. The election is March 4 at the American Legion.

“Brattleboro faces major nationwide challenges – an opioid crisis, a housing shortage, a growing gap between the wealthiest and poorest people, and a climate emergency,” Isaac said. “Brattleboro needs a new leader who will help make our town safe, affordable, and welcoming for all.”

Selectboard Meeting Notes Redux- Board Approves 12% Property Tax Increase; Won’t Tax Cats

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard approved their revised FY26 budget with a 12% property tax increase without further changes, ignoring a great deal of feedback from the Finance Committee and members of the public that there were other items to consider and concerns that root problems were being put off for future years.

The board agreed that no cuts to staff will be considered. Staff positions in Brattleboro are seemingly guaranteed forever.

The board also asked that the community be more respectful when taking about municipal affairs, and laughed at Liz’s serious suggestion to tax cats.

Brattleboro Site Visit 1.25.2025 and Public Hearing 1.29.2025

by bbannon@brattleboro.org | Town Plan

2025-2                  Windham Windsor Housing Trust for the Ursula Dalem Life Estate; Residential Neighborhood 5400 District; request for Traditional Neighborhood Planned Unit Development Preliminary Approval and Site Plan and Conditional Use Approval for a Traditional Neighborhood PUD with 70 housing units. The development will be built in 3 phases: Rental phase 1, Homeownership phase 1, and Rental phase 2.

Public Discussion Will Explore Ideas to Help Mark America’s 250th Birthday in 2026 – Brattleboro Style!

by WWAC | History

Brattleboro, Vermont, 6 January 2025: Events are being planned all across the nation to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026. This ‘semiquincentennial’ calls for more than just a bigger fireworks display; it offers an opportunity to creatively engage and express ideas about our country’s past and future and what it means to be an American in the world today.

How Vermont and specifically the Brattleboro-area ‘shows up’ and shares these ideas with the rest of the nation during this 250th anniversary will be the subject of a public meeting to be held on January 16, 2025 at the American Legion Hall, 32 Linden Street (just next to the Municipal Center), in Brattleboro, Vermont, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm with light refreshments served. Representatives from various town organizations, including Brooks Memorial Library, Vermont Independent Media (VIM), Windham World Affairs Council (WWAC) and Brattleboro Union High School will share details on what’s happening so far statewide and nationally, and elicit public input. The forum will be taped and subsequently made available on BCTV.

Jim Giddings on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

JIM GIDDINGS talks about early days of the local art scene, co-creating a world-class gallery, dealing with fire and flooding. He also talks about discovering art and how painting connects him to mystery…..And, a magical experience in Notre Dame.… AND this Saturday January 11th at 5pm, help Jim & Petey celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts !

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes January 7, 2025

by cgrotke | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will be taking another look at the FY26 budget at the first regular meeting of 2025. They made some cuts to services at their last meeting and will review the impact of their decisions thus far. Will they do more?

The board will hold a second reading of changes to the ordinance governing the Downtown Improvement District. If everyone likes it, it will be approved as well.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – January 3, 2025

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

Daily shoulder closures on the new bridge deck for westbound New Hampshire/Vermont Route 119 are scheduled to continue next week as weather allows.

Local traffic accessing Mountain Road and/or Norm’s Marina in New Hampshire may experience short delays next week. Both locations will be open to traffic at all times, however, travelers should be aware of possible lane shifts around work zones.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro RTM Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Brooks Memorial Library, Mezzanine Room.

The Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room.

The Charter Revision Commission will meet on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.

New Music for the New Year – OH NO

by cgrotke | Music
OH NO cover

Greetings! I thought I’d share a new local musical project with you – my new solo EP called “OH NO” is now available.

It’s not for all ears, of course, but if you like quirky, funky, dance-y music, protest funk, and satirical commentary on the present times this just might be what you are looking for to lift your day.  Or 18 minutes of it, at least. 

Finance Committee Resolution

by fidel | Town News

The Finance Committee of Representative Town Meeting approved the following resolution at its 18 December meeting:

The Finance Committee is concerned that the Selectboard was unwilling to consider staff cuts during its December 17 discussion for reducing the FY26 budget, relying instead on cuts to services and deferrals to FY27. The Finance Committee calls upon the Selectboard to instruct the Town Manager to present to the Selectboard a list of potential staff cuts to consider for FY26 at its next meeting. We recognize that the concept of staff cuts is painful, but we believe that considering it is an essential part of the responsible management of the Town.

No Hope For Homeless Support

by RDavis | Politics

Advocates and social service agencies that support homeless people are preparing for funding battles over the next four years that they know they are very likely to lose. With Republicans in control of the federal government, we can expect to see cuts to programs and a general stigmatization of homeless people as mentally ill substance abusers who should be herded into programs that should help them.

It is a false construct. Most people have come to realize that when Republicans say that homeless people need to seek out mental health support first, that the power brokers really don’t care what happens to them. The power brokers know that there are never enough people or programs to support homeless people with mental health and substance abuse issues.

Can President-to-Be Donald Trump Get Away With Maintaining Blind Eye To Genocide In Gaza? 

by jay janson | Op/Ed

We’ve had Holocaust Denial. Now we have the phenomenon of Genocide Denial in spite of the plethora of photographs and videos of the obliterated cites of the Gaza Strip, of the deliberate demolition of neighbourhoods, cultural sites, and essential facilities” in violation of international law. 

President-elect Donald Trump has been impressive in his statements and comments since his overwhelming election. He speaks with authority and determination in his voice promising to resolve the nations problems and take the high road morally on all issues.

All the more perplexing is Trump’s maintaining silence at best, and at worse contradicting reality regarding the genocide in Gaza by saying the judges of the International Court of Justice must be sanctioned for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his minister of defense.