Town of Brattleboro Names Julie Perrin Next Director of Brooks Memorial Library

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro is pleased to announce the appointment of Brooks Memorial Library’s next Director, Julie Perrin. Perrin, who has spent the past nine years leading the Jaffrey Public Library in Jaffrey, NH, brings extensive experience in library program development, grant writing, and operations management. She will begin on May 11, 2026.

“We’re excited to have someone with Julie’s clear passion and original thought to pick up the thread and help write the next chapter at Brooks Memorial Library,” said Brattleboro Town Manager John Potter. “She’s an experienced leader with a proven track record that includes efficient management, capital fundraising, and facility project management, which is especially important as Brooks undergoes renovations over the next year.”

Road Closure Notice – Guilford Street Extension

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro, VT – The Department of Public Works will be conducting road repairs from a previous culvert installation on Guilford Street Extension on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

As a result, Guilford Street Extension will be fully closed to all traffic between house numbers #773 and #821 from 8:30 a.m. until no later than 1 p.m. The road may reopen earlier if work is completed ahead of schedule.

Brattleboro Spring Water Main Flushing Schedule

by Not Signed In | Town News

Utilities Division crews will start Spring Flushing of the Town water mains on Friday, April 17 and continue through Friday, May 1.  Occasional daytime flushing will continue through May 8.

Customers are asked to check the flushing schedule closely as flushing may cause water discoloration, low water pressure and in some areas, and intervals of no water.  Users who experience a short period of discolored water or air in the water lines after flushing is complete should run the cold water for a few minutes to clear the lines.

South Main Drug Bust?

by cgrotke | Police & Fire

Got a message from a reader that the law enforcement activity on South Main today is NOT immigration-related, despite some people seeing some masked officers.  Typically the police issue a press release after things are over, but people are understandably nervous.  If we get the press release, we’ll put it up.

2025 Brattleboro Water Quality Report

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Town of Brattleboro Water Department’s annual Consumer Confidence Report / Water Quality Report for 2025 is now available. This report can be viewed online at https://brattleboro.gov/water-supply.  Printed copies are available at the Department of Public Works, Tri-Park CO-OP Office, Town Clerk’s Office and at the I-91 Welcome Center in Guilford. 

Sing Sing Thanksgiving: A Legendary Concert Behind Prison Walls

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

Next Stage Arts invites the community to a powerful evening of music, history, and film with a special screening of Sing Sing Thanksgiving on Saturday, May 9 at 7:00 PM. This event is the second in a three-film series presented by acclaimed regional filmmaker Alan Dater.

Produced in 1973, Sing Sing Thanksgiving documents a remarkable live performance at New York’s Sing Sing Prison featuring legendary artists B.B. King, Joan Baez, and others. Filmed at a time when few such events were captured on camera, the concert stands as a moving testament to the power of music to transcend walls and connect people across divides. King himself later described the performance as one of the greatest of his career, while the New York Daily News called it one of the most extraordinary moments in live entertainment.

What’s Cooking at Leda’s Kitchen This Week

by LedaS | Food

Hello Food Lovers,

Here are some highlights of this week’s menu. Order by Tuesday, pick up Thursday (or Friday/Saturday by special arrangement). Go to ledaskitchen.com for the full menu and pricing.

Chicken Korma: One of the more well-known Indian dishes, free-range chicken in a rich and creamy cashew yogurt sauce anointed with ghee and a host of savory spices.

Brattleboro Survives Open Town Meeting

by cgrotke | Politics

Brattleboro survived Open Town Meeting. 

It looked a lot like a Representative Town meeting, but there were small differences.  Attendees were called “Voters” rather than “Representatives.”  There was no separate seating for the un-elected. People who just moved to town could participate.

The similarities were numerous. A bit of confusion about Roberts Rules? Check. Exciting explorations down rabbit holes of amendments to amendments. Check. Lasting nearly 10 hours? Check.

The Madness of King Donald

by RDavis | Activism

There should be no doubt in most people’s minds that the President of the United States is severely mentally ill. Other world leaders have described him as unhinged, or worse, based on his erratic behavior and lack of any sense of ethics or morality.

Some politicians are talking about using section 4 of the 25th amendment to remove Trump from office. It is a flawed amendment because it requires politicians close to the president to determine that he is unfit for office. It says, “Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”

Victoria Redel in Conversation with Robin MacArthur at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Books

PUTNEY, VT — Next Stage Arts presents an evening of literary conversation with acclaimed author Victoria Redel, joined by award-winning writer Robin MacArthur, on Friday, May 8 at 7:30 PM at Next Stage Arts in Putney.

The event will center on Redel’s highly anticipated new novel, I Am You, a sweeping and intimate story set in 1600s Amsterdam. Drawing on historical inspiration, the novel follows the intertwined lives of Gerta Pieters, a young girl raised as a boy in service to a Dutch household, and Maria van Oosterwijck, a painter forging her path in the Dutch Golden Age. Through their stories, Redel explores questions of love, identity, gender, and the constraints placed on women throughout history.

Burn Ban in Effect – Town of Brattleboro

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

Due to current weather conditions and an elevated risk of wildfires, a burn ban is now in effect for the Town of Brattleboro until further notice.

Relative humidity is expected to remain low, with no measurable precipitation in the forecast for the coming days. These conditions create a high wildfire risk, where even a small spark could ignite a fast-moving, dangerous fire.

Brattleboro Town Meeting Dependent Care Reimbursement Forms

by Not Signed In | Politics

Dependent Care reimbursement forms for the Brattleboro Town Meeting will be available at the meeting on April 11 at Brattleboro Union High School gymnasium, near the Clerk’s table. Funds are limited and not guaranteed for everyone who makes a request. This is managed in partnership with United Way.

Arlene Distler on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

April is Poetry Month ! Check out store windows in Brattleboro for “Poems Around Town” which is just one of ARLENE DISTLER’s many projects. She also co-founded “The Women’s Film Festival,” the Town Tree Board, and “Write Action”, among lots of other great assets to our town. A poet, journalist and artist, Arlene’s creativity and hard work are an inspiration for us all and have helped this community thrive.

Windham Southeast School District Board Seeks Brattleboro Applicants to Fill Vacant Seat

by Not Signed In | Education

[Brattleboro, Vermont] — Windham Southeast School District Board announces that a seat on the Board has recently been vacated. The Board is seeking Brattleboro residents who may be interested in serving the remainder of the term.

School Board members play a vital role in shaping the direction of schools in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford and Putney, including setting policy, guiding budget planning, affirming and growing Social Justice systems, examining procedures that support student and staff growth, and ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education. This is an opportunity for a committed community member to contribute directly to the governance of WSESD.

What’s Cooking at Leda’s Kitchen This Week

by LedaS | Food

Hello Food Lovers,

This week’s menu includes two rich and luscious Indian dishes, dal to go with, and a tart, sweet, and savory grounding Mexican beef stew for the start of spring:

Kerala-Style Fennel Coconut Chicken Curry: A dish I learned at the traditional fishing village of Marari Beach in Kerala, India. Free-range chicken with a dozen spices, lots of ginger and garlic, and a coconut oil-rich gravy.