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).

Guilford Street Closure March 24, 2026

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro, VT – The Department of Public Works will be conducting an emergency repair to a failed culvert on Guilford Street on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

As a result, Guilford Street will be completely closed to all traffic between house numbers #773 and #821 between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM. The road may reopen earlier if work is completed ahead of schedule.

Residents and motorists traveling beyond house #773 will not have access through Brattleboro and will need to detour through Guilford to reach their destinations.

Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto: Kora & Accordion in a Luminous, Cross-Cultural Dialogue

by hahrenholz | Music

Friday, April 24 | 7:30 PM | Next Stage Arts, Putney, VT

Experience the transcendent music of Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto, two masterful musicians bringing their acclaimed project Djiyo—meaning “water”—to Next Stage Arts. With the kora and diatonic accordion at the center, the duo creates a luminous dialogue that flows like a river across cultures, blending Manding and Occitan traditions into a sound both meditative and deeply human.

After nearly three years of touring and over 100 concerts worldwide, Cissoko and Brotto reunite for an intimate performance full of grace, warmth, and emotional depth. Their music is at once contemplative and quietly ecstatic, inviting listeners on a spiritual journey that clears the mind and awakens the senses. Hailed as “a gem from start to finish” by Songlines UK, Djiyo exemplifies the beauty of musical conversation and cross-cultural collaboration.

Brattleboro Water Main Break on Main Street

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is currently responding to a water main break on Main Street between High Street and Grove Street.

Crews are on-site assessing the situation and beginning necessary repairs. As a result of this break, residents and businesses in the immediate area may experience:
• Temporary loss of water service
• Reduced water pressure
• Discolored water

Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – March 24, 2026

by Not Signed In | Town News

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6:15pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212) and over Zoom.  Prior to the regular meeting at 5:15pm, the Board will convene and is expected to move directly into executive session to discuss contracts and labor relations agreements with employees. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  Closed captioning will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members. The backup materials for this meeting will be available on the town website by the end of the day.

How Can Landlords Who Pay For Heat Afford To Continue To Rent?

by Cris Ericson | Business

If a landlord has a legally binding Tennant agreement where the landlord pays for a reasonable amount of heat in an apartment or rented house or duplex, and if the landlord can not afford to pay for home heating fuel anymore because of the high prices, then what?

I was researching the lowest priced multi-family homes in Vermont, there’s one for $99K in Brattleboro and other low priced homes in Springfield and Rutland.   I was trying to convince my 41 year old niece in California, with her seven year old daughter, who recently got divorced, to move to Vermont.  I showed her ads for Teachers wanted, she has her Masters degree in special education from a University in Massachusetts.  She has no blood relatives in California, other than her own daughter.  She has relatives in Vermont, including her cousins, and Aunt in Rutland who was a Teacher for many years.    I showed her online information about how Teachers in Vermont can apply for a Grant for a downpayment for a house.  I told her about the housing shortage, and how she could buy a multi-family house and  rent rooms to teaching assistants or other lower income hard working Vermonters, in order to meet all the costs of owning a home.

Never Forget

by RDavis | Activism

I can hear the cries of six million souls pleading to the living to make sure what happened to them never happens again. Yet, our world today is facing a threat too similar to the one that was faced when Hitler and his team of murderers tried to wipe out an entire race of people and dominate the world.

Maybe people who think they understand history do not know what it meant when the Jews who survived the Holocaust told the world that they must be vigilant and never let a tyrant wantonly kill people while removing any possibility of peace.

Trump is a modern day version of Hitler, Mussolini and all of the mentally deranged generals in history who have preceded them.

Celebrate Latin American Culture with Veronica Robles Quartet at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Step into a vibrant world of music, dance, and tradition as the Veronica Robles Quartet brings its electrifying performance to Next Stage Arts in Putney on Sunday, April 19. Doors open at 1:15 PM with the show beginning at 2:00 PM.

Veronica Robles, a celebrated female mariachi singer, musician, and Latin American folkloric dancer and choreographer, has become a cultural icon in Boston’s Latino community. Known for her powerful voice and dynamic performances, she weaves together music, dance, and storytelling to celebrate Latin American heritage and the beauty of cultural diversity.

Helen O’Donnell on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Creative

As one of our premiere local gardeners, HELEN O’DONNELL talks about the heart and soul of growing plants and making gardens, and the influence of working at Hidcote Manor and Great Dixter Garden in England, and Hayward Gardens here in Westminster West. With her husband, sister and their families they own and operate The Bunker Farm in E. Dummerston. Helen is also a painter and printmaker.
Enjoy Helen’s wonderful stories of connecting to the land.

Important Dates and Details for Brattleboro’s Open Town Meeting

by Not Signed In | Politics

During Town Meeting Day, held on March 3, 2026, Brattleboro voters discontinued Representative Town Meeting. Representative Town Meeting, which had been originally scheduled for March 21, has been canceled, and Open Town Meeting will replace it on April 11.

At Open Town Meeting, all registered voters who are present can discuss, debate, amend, and vote on the town budget and on other binding and non-binding items. Below are some helpful dates and documents to review prior to the meeting.

An All-Star Klezmer Evening at Next Stage Arts

by hahrenholz | Music

Two of the most exciting ensembles in contemporary klezmer and Yiddish music come together for a rare double bill at Next Stage Arts on Friday, April 17. Doors open at 6:45 PM; the show begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for livestream access via nextstagearts.org.

Jake Shulman-Ment & Abigale Reisman: Two Strings

Violinists Jake Shulman-Ment and Abigale Reisman are redefining the klezmer string band tradition. Their collaboration, Two Strings, combines breathtaking virtuosity, a deep connection to Yiddish and Eastern European musical traditions, and fearless improvisation. Joined by longtime collaborators Pete Rushefsky on tsimbl and Raffi Boden on cello, Jake and Abigale present a mix of original compositions, newly set early 20th-century radical Yiddish poetry, and rediscovered works from forgotten manuscripts. Their music—haunting, ecstatic, and deeply alive—blurs the line between past and present, sounding at home in a concert hall, a wedding canopy, or a lively tavern.