Brattleboro Selectboard Votes For Miniature Property Tax

by cgrotke | Rumors

Noticing that the greatest amount of development in Brattleboro in the last year were miniature properties, the Brattleboro Selectboard has decide to shift the tax burden from the voters of town to the inhabitants of the miniature properties. Voting along party lines, the measure was approved at their most recent meeting.

“We hereby resolve that property taxes will henceforth be paid only on miniature properties within the Town limits,” read the Clerk before the unanimous vote.

Who’s Reality?

by RDavis | Living

You never know where or when you might have a life-altering experience. Accidents and circumstances beyond your control may push you in certain directions. Then there are the more subtle events that seem to have an impact that lingers and force you to reassess your life.

I was on a tour of an animal refuge center in Costa Rica. There were 12 people in our guide-lead group. The age range of the group was from toddlers to my wife and me. We were clearly the oldest people in the group, but that fact did not seem significant.

Brattleboro Committee Vacancies

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is looking for citizens to serve on the following committees and boards:

ADA Committee
Conservation Commission
Design Review Board (Alternate)
Development Review Board (Alternate)
Energy Committee – 1 year term

Town of Brattleboro Honors Chief Norma Hardy, Appoints Chief Evans and Assistant Chief Petlock

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

The Town of Brattleboro today marked the retirement of Police Chief Norma Hardy, whose remarkable four and a half years of leadership transformed the Brattleboro Police Department and leaves an enduring legacy of community-centered policing. Chief Hardy officially stepped down on March 30, 2026, after more than 30 years in law enforcement, a career defined by compassion, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the people she served. Hardy’s retirement coincided with the swearing in of Brattleboro’s next Police Chief, Jeremy Evans, whose career with the department began in 1998, and the new Assistant Police Chief, Adam Petlock.

Under Chief Hardy’s leadership, the Brattleboro Police Department pursued an ambitious and forward-thinking agenda to make the community safer and more connected. Her hallmark initiative, the Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team (BRAT), placed additional unarmed officers on regular foot patrol throughout downtown, based at the newly built police substation at the Transportation Center. In its first year alone, the unit responded to more than 530 incidents, and business owners credited the increased visibility with revitalizing the downtown experience for residents and visitors.

Reminder – Brattleboro District 9 Forum

by fidel | Politics

Residents of District 9 will continue their discussion of Town matters in advance of Town Meeting (which is Saturday 11 April) in another of our periodic get-togethers. The District 9 forum will occur at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 31 March in the Community Room of the Brooks Memorial Library (3rd floor). For more information, contact Robert Oeser (robt.oeser@gmail.com) or David Levenbach (fideladelphia@gmail.com; 413.559.1533).

New Menu Items at Leda’s Kitchen this week

by LedaS | Food

Hello Food Lovers,

This week’s menu includes two new dishes:

Mexican Chicken in Tomatillo Sauce: Free-range chicken cooked in a tangy, just slightly spicy tomatillo sauce that can be enjoyed dairy free or with a finish of sour cream.

Creamy Mushroom and Chickpea Curry: Roasting mushrooms brings out the most of their savory nature, and cashews make this a creamy curry. Vegan or vegetarian options.

Statement from Shela Linton on Jacob P. Zorn v. Shela M. Linton

by Not Signed In | Activism

This week, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Jacob P. Zorn v. Shela M. Linton that the officer who injured me during a peaceful protest is shielded from accountability under qualified immunity.

This ruling is not just about one officer who harmed me—violating my Fourth Amendment rights through the use of excessive force while I was exercising my First Amendment right to peacefully protest. It is about a system that perpetuates harm, and then protects itself.

What the Supreme Court’s decision affirms is that qualified immunity continues to function as a shield for misconduct. It sends a message that even when harm is clear, even when there is evidence, even when people within the system recognize something went wrong, accountability can still be denied.

This is not an isolated incident. This is systemic.

Traffic Advisory – No Kings March in Downtown Brattleboro on Saturday

by Not Signed In | Town News

Travelers to Brattleboro should be advised that on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., an organization plans to conduct a march in the downtown area.

The march will begin at the Preston Lot and continue north along Main Street before looping around and concluding at the Preston Lot. Event organizers are anticipating approximately 3,000 participants.

You Want No Kings? Change the Tax Laws!

by Cris Ericson | Op/Ed

NO KINGS? Then STOP MAKING KINGS! It’s our tax laws that need to be changed!

You pay taxes to the IRS and then the US Congress votes to give your hard earned tax dollars to their choice of corporations as “subsidies”. Your money is going to the choice of corporations selected by the US Congress, not to all of them, just to some of them. About 400 corporations receive the most of your tax dollars, millions or billions each. Not all corporations receive SUBSIDIES. The corporations selected by a vote of the U.S. Congress to receive subsidies are making a fortune by using your hard earned tax dollars to create products they sell internationally, but they keep all the profits for themselves and don’t give you a share. STOP MAKING KINGS!

Tiny Theater Celebrates National Poetry Month with Four-Weekend Poetry Reading Series

by tinytheater | Arts

Tiny Theater will celebrate National Poetry Month this April with an expansive four-weekend series of poetry readings honoring the rich diversity of poetic traditions across history and cultures. The FREE program will feature performances and readings spanning major poetic movements—from classical traditions to contemporary spoken word—along with special guest appearances and themed events.

Each weekend in April, hosted by ByWay Books & More,  Tiny Theater will host gatherings that highlight influential poetry periods and genres including Renaissance and Metaphysical poetry, Romantic and Victorian poetry, Faith and Devotional poetry, Modern and Postmodern poetry, and Contemporary forms such as spoken word, performance poetry, slam, and hip hop poetry.

SNAP & Healthcare Info Hours

by ESchwartz | Health

The Vermont Workers’ Center is hosting drop-in hours at the Brooks Memorial Library Community Meeting Room on Friday, March 27 from 2:00-4:30 PM to help people understand and navigate changes to SNAP, Medicaid and Medicare. There will be information about the new SNAP work requirements and exemptions, and on the rights of individuals currently on or applying for these programs. People who were recently denied SNAP benefits are encouraged to stop in to find out whether they still qualify and how to re-enroll. There will also be information about a recently expanded program to help Medicare recipients afford premiums and co-pays. Workers’ Center members can work with people on submitting applications and other paperwork.

Brattleboro DRB April 15 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.
2026-22                 Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center for Earth Bridge Community Land Trust; Rural District; request for Site Plan approval to upgrade overflow parking area with grass paver bays with gravel travel lane with new access; construct new patio; improve walkways; plant new gardens; install trail kiosk, minor lighting, and trail signage at 1221 Bonnyvale Road; Tax Map Parcel #100248.000

Brattleboro-Putney U.S. 5 Paving Project Construction Update 3/25/2026

by Not Signed In | Town News

Construction is scheduled to resume on U.S. Route 5 from Brattleboro to Putney on Monday, April 6th during daytime hours.

Crews will begin to mobilize anticipating their start of work on the U.S. 5 portion of the project from north of the Interstate 91 overpass (just south of the intersection with Bennet Drive) and progressing north to Putney. Restricted shoulders and single-lane closures with alternating traffic patterns controlled by flaggers will be in place as needed.

Interfaith Youth Group Seeks to Raise Another $3800 for Service Trip in April

by Nanci Leitch | Education

The Brattleboro Area Interfaith Youth Group has only a month before they depart on a weeklong service and learning trip to South Carolina during April spring break and they are still $3800 away from their fundraising goal. The group will learn about the history of Charleston and its connection to issues of systemic poverty, inadequate housing and racism while building their own skills of leadership and agency.

To date the group has raised money through initiatives such as a spaghetti supper, a chili supper, and a concert and presentations each week to businesses and churches.  The group has many newcomers in it as well as young people raised locally. In order to take all the interested youth, regardless of their ability to pay, they need help from the community. If you would like to contribute any amount, please visit the Youth Group’s GoFundMe page at this link:   https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-brattleboro-youths-charleston-service-trip

Town of Brattleboro Hosting Rabies Clinic on Sunday, March 29

by Not Signed In | Pets

The Brattleboro Police Department’s Animal Control Officer will be holding a Rabies Clinic on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Central Fire Station. Registration is not required for this event.

Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Brattleboro Fire Central Station, 103 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301

Brattleboro Dog and Wolf-hybrid Licenses Due

by Not Signed In | Pets

Annual Brattleboro dog and wolf-hybrid licenses are available for the 2026 licensing period. Dog owners who applied through the online portal or who provided us with an email address were emailed a renewal notice in January. Anyone for whom we do not have an email address should have received a reminder notice by mail with instructions for renewing by mail or for claiming the record in the online portal through the Brattleboro.gov website. To renew an existing dog license, log into the portal, or return your payment and renewal notice with updated rabies vaccine information by April 1, 2026.

Noticed Around Brattleboro – Spring 2026

by cgrotke | Town News

Time for another “Noticed…” – it’s the place where you can write just  sentence or two about something you’ve seen around town that caught your eye. Such as:

The ice fishing huts have been removed from Retreat meadows ; the benches used for skating have seemingly sunk in a bit and will be extricated when things free up, I’m guessing.
Not so much noticed, but remembered – work on Putney Road will happen once the weather stabilizes.

District 3/9 Forum

by fidel | Politics

Residents of District 9 will continue their discussion of Town matters in advance of Town Meeting (which is Saturday 11 April) in another of our periodic get-togethers. The District 9 forum will occur at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 31 March in the Community Room of the Brooks Memorial Library (3rd floor). At the suggestion of one of the participants at the last forum, we invite suggestions as to matters that should be scheduled for the agenda. Send your preferred topics to convenors Robert Oeser (robt.oeser@gmail.com) or David Levenbach (fideladelphia@gmail.com; 413.559.1533).