Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – 2025 State Legislative Session – Mid-Session Update

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Rm. 212) and over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  ASL interpreters will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town Website Brattleboro.gov/Selectboard by the end of today.

Brattleboro Town Report Available

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Town Report is ready and available for pick up at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street). Town Reports can also be picked up at the Town Clerk’s Office and the Town Manager’s Office at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street). Town Reports will also be available to RTM members at the March 12, 2025 Informational Meeting.

The Games of Boris Spassky – Part II

by IM Holland Mills | Recreation & Sports

Spassky became the Tenth World Champion in 1969, overcoming Tigran Petrosian in a tightly-contested match.   Here the Challenger becomes Champion by exploiting minor missteps to achieve a material advantage which is then converted into a winning attack.

Brattleboro Representative Town Meeting Informational Forum

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a pre-Town Meeting informational forum Wednesday, March 12 at Academy School beginning at 7 p.m. Representative Town Meeting articles will be discussed, including the budget.

At 5:45 p.m., prior to the informational forum, Town Meeting members for each district will be available to meet with constituents to offer residents an opportunity to share their views and discuss articles to be voted on at the annual meeting. Also at that time, all three districts have the opportunity to elect their District Chair for the year.

All three districts are currently full, and there will be no need to hold a caucus in any district to appoint Town Meeting Representatives.

A Primer on Medicaid

by cdoug | Other

Medicaid was signed into law in 1965 with the passing of Title XIX by then President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the Social Security Act. Subsequently CHIP(Children’s Health Insurance Program) was created in 1997 to provide health insurance and preventive care for uninsured children. The program is jointly run by the state and federal government.

Medicaid provides medical assistance to eligible individuals and families with low incomes or other factors such as disabilities. Each state has it’s own eligibility standards. A person may be eligible for Medicaid in one state and not eligible in another. Each state also sets its own coverage of services and payment rates. A few services covered by Medicaid include: inpatient/outpatient hospital services, labs and x-rays, nursing facilities and physician services.

States are able to contract directly with providers or through an HMO(health maintenance organization) in order to arrange payment of eligible services. If you are in Vermont, this is Green Mountain Care.

Brattleboro Election Night Email Report – Unofficial Results

by Not Signed In | Politics

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

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

Mike Block Trio: A Fusion of American Roots, Classical, and Contemporary Music at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

The Mike Block Trio will perform live at Next Stage Arts on Saturday, April 5, at 7:30 pm, bringing their unique blend of American roots music and contemporary international influences to the stage. The trio, led by the pioneering cello player, singer, and composer Mike Block, will feature the virtuosic talents of Joe K. Walsh on mandolin/vocals and Zachariah Hickman on bass/vocals. The performance will take place at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney, with tickets available in advance for $20, $25 at the door, or $10 for the livestream.

Nani Brings Her Powerful Ladino Music to Putney for a One-Night-Only Performance

by hahrenholz | Music

Nani, the world’s first millennial Ladino songwriter, will bring her distinctive fusion of Flamenco drama, world music, and the endangered Ladino language to Putney for an unforgettable concert at Next Stage Arts on Friday, March 28 at 7:30 pm.

With a ship’s-horn powerful voice and an irresistible stage presence, Nani defends and revitalizes Ladino, the ancient language of the Sephardic Jews, which she learned from her Moroccan grandmother in hiding. Her music, which blends the sounds of the marketplace with socially poignant lyrics, celebrates migration, gender, and female empowerment. Nani’s unique soundscape captures the essence of the Mediterranean through raw, flamenco-like vocals, mariachi guitar, choral trombone, and a rich combination of piano and percussion.

Ines Zeller Bass on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

“I am constantly creating, that’s what keeps me alive and happy”, says Ines Zeller Bass. Tune in to hear stories of how her artistic imagination and talents help manifest the special magic that makes SANDGLASS THEATER so well-known and well-loved.

Federal Election Commission Ruling March 3, 2025 Allows Vermont Bullies To Exclude Some Candidates From Debates and Forums!

by Cris Ericson | Politics

We do not have free and fair elections in Vermont because some candidates, even though their names are on the official election ballot and even though they fulfilled the legal requirements and submitted just as many petition signatures as all of the other candidates, are excluded from candidate debates and forums.

The public is deceived, we do not have free and fair elections when voices are suppressed and political issues of importance to voters are not heard.

Selectboard Candidate Interview – Tim Wessel

by cgrotke | Politics
tim wessel 2025

Tim Wessel is running (again) for a one year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

….

You again?  (just kidding)

I’m baaaack lol.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and why are you running for a one year seat?

The people of Brattleboro have elected me to the Brattleboro Selectboard 4 times. I served on the board for a total of six years, from 2017 until March of 2023. During those years I worked hard to be a voice of moderation, of fiscally conservative values, and I became a well-known supporter of both our Fire and Police departments. I’ve lived and worked at my own video production business in Brattleboro since 2007. I live downtown with my wife and young son, and my older son has returned to Brattleboro as well. I am deeply invested in my community. I love Brattleboro.

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes Feb 25, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
● The Board debriefed two important Summits held in the past two weeks, 2/12/25 with the three School Boards and 2/24/25 with local legislators.
● The Board accepted, with regret, the resignation of Christopher Brewer, Dean of Students at BUHS.
● Three policies (D1, F16, F28) were presented to the Board for a first reading.
● The Board entered Executive Session under 1VSA §313 (a)(1)(A) Contracts.

Selectboard Candidate Interview – Cristina ShayOnye

by cgrotke | Politics
Cristina ShayOnye

Cristina ShayOnye is running for a one year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

……

Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and why are you running for a one year seat?

I live right outside of Downtown Brattleboro with my two young children and Partner.  We both work and struggle to make ends meet but are dedicated to providing affordable essential services to our community.  My partner is an auto mechanic and I provide childcare, work as an assistant slate roof repairman, and mason’s helper.  I also co-run The Vermont Village School which is a multi-generational village of families and individuals that come together to meet one another’s needs and learn together.  On March 17th we will be starting a Civics Class at Brooks Memorial Library every Monday morning from 10-11am for the Spring season.  All ages are welcome to come and learn how to “citizen”.  

Most importantly, I am a Town Government nerd.  I see how important the decisions made by our Selectboard are to all those who live, work, or visit Brattleboro.  I was raised in a big city and am inspired by how accessible our local government is here in this small town.  I chose to run for a 1 year seat because I support Oscar Heller and did not run against him.. AND because I do not feel represented by the two incumbents running to extend their term on the board.