Caribbean Vibes and New Orleans Soul Head to Putney for Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

Putney, VT — The Bandwagon Summer Series rolls into the Putney Inn Field on Saturday, August 16 at 6:00 PM, bringing with it a wave of island rhythms and joyful melodies for a midsummer night to remember. Headlining the evening is Charlie & The Tropicales, the 1960s-style Caribbean lounge band led by New Orleans trombone maestro Charlie Halloran. Opening the show is the ever-soulful Heather Pierson Trio, offering a vibrant blend of jazz, folk, and blues.

Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the gate, and kids under 12 get in free. Food will be provided by Smokin’ Bowls, and a dedicated kids’ play area ensures the whole family can enjoy the night.

Heat Advisory Issued for Brattleboro: Dangerous Temperatures Expected July 16 from 12 PM to 8 PM

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

Brattleboro, VT – The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the Brattleboro area today, Wednesday, July 16, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Heat index values are forecasted to reach between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, posing a serious risk of heat-related illness.

Residents are urged to take precautions to protect themselves and others, especially vulnerable populations such as older adults, young children, and individuals without access to cooling or hydration.

Windham Region Cultural Plan Workshops Announced

by Not Signed In | The Region

The towns of Brattleboro, Rockingham, and Wilmington are pleased to announce upcoming workshops focused on the implementation of the draft Windham Region Cultural Plan. This interactive session invites community members, artists, cultural organizations, and stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the future of arts and culture in the region by developing concrete steps for the plan’s realization.

The Windham Region Cultural Plan, developed with support from the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development and assistance from the Windham Regional Commission, aims to acknowledge and harness the creative sector as a key driver of the local economy and a fundamental part of the region’s identity.

StompBoxTrio Brings Soulful Roots Music to Twilight on the Tavern Lawn Series in Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY — Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project continue their beloved summer tradition with the 22nd Twilight on the Tavern Lawn concert series, presenting StompBoxTrio on Sunday, August 10 at 6:00 PM. The concert will take place on the Putney Tavern lawn in downtown Putney—bring a lawn chair or blanket for a relaxing evening of roots-infused rhythms under the open sky. In case of rain, the show will move indoors to Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill.

The Twilight on the Tavern Lawn series has become a hallmark of summer in Windham County, offering a diverse lineup of bluegrass, Americana, world, swing, and pop music every other Sunday through August 24. Now in its 22nd year, the free concert series is supported by Next Stage Arts, the Town of Putney, Rod’s, and a host of local businesses and organizations. Food will be available on site, and while the concerts are free, donations are welcome to help sustain the series.

Brattleboro Selectboard  Special Meeting – Tri-Park

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom.

The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required passcode. Please note that the Zoom credentials have changed as of this meeting. 

You Might Need A Cat

by cgrotke | Pets

You might not be thinking about it, but maybe a cat would make life more interesting.  For a limited time, you can go get yourself a 6 month + old cat at the Windham Humane Society for free! (Kittens half price!). Here’s their official message:

“We’re excited to announce our “Real Housecats of Windham County” July promotion!

From July 15-July 31, our goal is to place at least 25 cats and kittens in loving homes, so we’re offering the following adoption discounts:

Brattleboro Property Taxes and Utility Bills Due August 15, 2025

by Not Signed In | Town News

The first installment of the 2025 Brattleboro Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes will be due by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2025. Payments made after August 15, 2025, will have an additional 1% interest added to the unpaid balance.

The Town of Brattleboro utility bills are also due by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2025. Payments made after August 15, 2025, will have an additional 1% interest, as well as an 8% penalty added to the unpaid balance.

Banjo Brilliance in Bellows Falls: Tony Trischka’s “EarlJam”

by hahrenholz | Music

As summer rolls on in Southern Vermont, so does the Bandwagon Summer Series, bringing family-friendly outdoor performances to ballfields, farms, and parks across Putney, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. On Saturday, August 9 at 6:00 PM, the series hits a high note with a very special show: Tony Trischka’s EarlJam, a heartfelt musical tribute to bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, at Robertson Paper Company Field in Bellows Falls.

Opening the evening are The Stockwell Brothers, beloved local favorites known for their rich vocal harmonies and contemporary folk/bluegrass blend.

Future Speculation

by RDavis | Activism

I would rather hope for good results from protests against the Trump administration, but my fear is that the reality we may face could be deadly for too many people. Speculating on the future is usually a fruitless activity, much like trying to predict an election. But the times we live in demand that we try to prepare for what may come as the world of Trump transforms this country and the rest of the world.

There are a number of areas where we can expect major change. Local and world economies are preparing for unprecedented disruptions. The U.S. is becoming more of an isolationist nation. Trump thinks that he is making America stronger by operating in the bully mode when it comes to trade and tariffs.

Town Charter Revision Commission & Open Town Meeting

by RobertOeser | Town News

The next Charter Revision Commission [1] will meet Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and also on Zoom (the agenda [2] contains the Zoom link) Meetings are also being planned for August.

As you may be aware the Charter Revision Commission is recommending that the Brattleboro form of government be changed from Representative Town Meeting (RTM) to Open Town Meeting (OTM). A survey, the results of which are available online with percentages [3] show a preference for OTM [173 to 84].

At its June 4, 2025 meeting, the Commission voted 6-0 to approve a motion “that the Commission is committed to developing a plan to replace Representative Town Meeting with a system that would include an Open Town Meeting.”

What Would Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch & Becca Balint Do If A Vermont Farm Worker Was Sent To Alligator Alcatraz?

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

In this new YouTube video today, July 12, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFfACyu4BWY
Florida Congress Members visited Alligator Alcatraz and were allowed only partial access, (but denied full entry and full examination of the facility), but did see that 32 men are put in each cage with barely walking space between bunk beds, there are 3 toilets per cage and drinking water comes from the top of the toilet, so that if 3 men are sitting on the toilets then no one else can get a drink of water, 2 out of 3 toilets at any time can be overflowing with feces on the floor, and the temperatures inside are 83 degrees F and higher, and the meals don’t meet nutritional requirements of human beings, etc. One Florida Congressperson said that there was someone screaming that they were a U.S. Citizen.

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
– The Board welcomed two new student representatives for the 25-26 school year.
– Universal Pre K contracts were approved for the upcoming school year.
– A summary will be requested from Legal Counsel of work and cases litigated, settled or considered for litigation or currently awaiting resolution involving WSESD/SU in the past three years.
– In light of the approval of bill H.454 by the Senate and House of Representatives on June 16, 2025, the WSESD board voted to remain within a Supervisory Union within a larger governance region to the extent practical to the new redistricting task force.

Brattleboro VTrans Paving Project Construction Update 7/11/2025

by Not Signed In | Town News

Nighttime single-lane closures will be in place Monday, July 14th through Friday morning from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Work will begin on Vermont Route 142 (Vernon Street) and continue on U.S. Route 5 (Canal Street) toward the Exit 1 Interstate 91 interchange. Flaggers will be present to direct one-way alternating traffic through the work zone. Motorcycles should watch for grooved and uneven surfaces.

PARKING IMPACTS:

Street side parking will be unavailable on Canal Street from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday night through Friday morning. Please see the infographic below for locations on parking restrictions and alternative lots available. For more information regarding rates and hours visit https://brattleboro.gov/parking.

Brattleboro Committee Meeting Agendas

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 7:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room and over Zoom.

The Charter Revision Commission will meet on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room and over Zoom.

Church Street Closure

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Utilities Division will be continuing work replacing a sewer line on Church Street on Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15.  Church Street will be closed from 6:00am to 5:00pm for this replacement.  There will be no parking on Church Street during this time and motorists should plan alternative routes .  

Justin Taylor on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Other

“Life is always simpler with a torch in your hand” says JUSTIN TAYLOR, master craftsman, welder, designer, Airstream customizer and snow board champ. Now co-owner of Iron and Oak on Arch St. with his wife Kaila Cumings, they create beautiful magic with metal, wood and fire.

Brattleboro Press Release – Overgrown Vegetation

by Not Signed In | Town News

Please be advised. Property owners are responsible for trimming and maintaining vegetation on their property if it may interfere with the public right of way. Overgrown vegetation creates an unsafe situation for pedestrians who may have to walk in the roadway to get by. It also impacts the sight distance for vehicular traffic. Please inspect and trim your vegetation accordingly. The town ordinance reads as follows:

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Bridge Over Troubled Island, Charter Changes

by cgrotke | Town News
brattleboro selectboard july 8 2025

The Brattleboro Selectboard learned what the Brattleboro Charter Commission has been working on regarding the form of town governance and other possible changes to the Charter. The Commission has put over two years of work into this and the Chair seemed quite interested in being able to edit whatever they present, such as the form of town government, when it comes before the board again in September.

The next big discussion was about the old Hinsdale bridges. Hinsdale sent some semi-unanticipated reps to read Brattleboro the riot act. They seemed to take special glee in pointing out just how terrible Brattleboro’s problems are, and wanted to know if the town would agree that the bridges should be destroyed or sold.  A split vote at the end of the discussion means Brattleboro does not surrender in the battle