The Future of Library Services in the Community: Proposed Budget Reductions Impact Library Services

Dear Library User: As many of you heard or read last week, because of the Town-wide vote rejecting the Representative Town Meeting approved budget, the Selectboard has directed the Interim Town Manager and staff to provide impacts of various budget reduction scenarios affecting each Town department. The Library Board of Trustees will consider the impacts of these historic budget reductions at a meeting on Tuesday, April 29, 5:30 PM, in the Library’s meeting room on the 2nd floor. The meeting is open to the public.The Selectboard will meet at 6:30 PM in the Municipal Center’s Selectboard meeting room to consider the impacts. If you are interested in the outcome for the future of library services to the Brattleboro community, you should plan to attend these meetings.


Brattleboro Farmers’ Market Welcomes Spring, 40th Year! Maypole Dancing May 3rd

The Brattleboro Farmers’ Market opens for the season Saturday, May 3rd!

Come kick off our 40th year and celebrate our expansion and site security with us! Andy Davis hosts the traditional Maypole dance from 11 to 1, a springtime rite for young and old dancers alike. Children are welcome to participate in this fun, guided dance with ribbons around the Maypole.


Maple ‘N Mud Festival

Here’s a good way to get your farmers’ market fix, in this season between the winter and summer Brattleboro farmers’ markets: the Maple ‘N Mud Festival, 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, at the River Garden, 157 Main Street, Brattleboro.

This is a community event, free and open to the public. Vendors and exhibitors include the following:

  • The grades of maple syrup are being renamed to provide the general public with a little more clarity on what each grade is best suited. The new names are based on their color so come SEE, and then taste the differences thanks to Hidden Springs Maple!
  • Bascom Family Farms will be providing a rich history of maple sugaring in the area with artifacts from the late 1890′s and early 1900′s.  [MORE]

I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project Update: Week of May 4

I-91
Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge in the Fall of 2015.

Weather permitting, night work will be conducted Sunday night, May 4th through Friday Night, May 9th.

Route 30
The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.


Brattleboro Selectboard Special Budget Rejection Meeting – Deciphering The Vote, and No New Bond

The Brattleboro Selectboard held a meeting Tuesday evening with a single issue on the agenda – the rejection of the FY15 budget by voters at the recent special referendum. The board disagreed with one another and with those attending over the precise meaning of the vote and, therefore, what to do about it. Some heard a cry for drastic action while others heard a request to simply reign in the facility renovations.

One thing, however, seemed quite clear to everyone: there will be no new $9 million bond for the Police and Fire facility project in the fiscal 2015 budget.


I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project: Upper Dummerston Road Closure Monday

UPPER DUMMERSTON CLOSURE: Upper Dummerston Road will be closed starting at 7:00 AM Monday, April 28, 2014 for a period of up to five days. The closure date and start time will be confirmed to stakeholders a minimum of 72 hours in advance after the team is able to confirm forecasted weather conditions are acceptable for work to proceed. Once the closure begins, no through traffic will be permitted on Upper Dummerston Road through the I-91 right-of-way. Concrete demolition activities will occur around the clock and will produce elevated noise levels.


Normal Teen, or Terrorist?

What kind of teen do these behaviors describe to you?

“Parents might see sudden personality changes in their children at home—becoming confrontational. Religious leaders might notice unexpected clashes over ideological differences. Teachers might hear a student expressing an interest in traveling to a conflict zone overseas. Or friends might notice a new interest in watching or sharing violent material.”

A normal teenager?


Brattleboro Town Clerk’s Office Closed Wednesday

The Brattleboro Town Clerk’s office will be closed Wednesday, April 23. Staff will be attending training seminars.

Annette L. Cappy
Brattleboro Town Clerk
230 Main Street, Suite 108
Brattleboro. VT 05301

acappy@brattleboro.org
ph 802-251-8129
fax 802-257-2312


Rt 30 Reopens

Good Morning:

The section of VT Rt 30 that intersects with I-91 is now open to traffic.

Cindy Cook
Public Relations Officer
Brattleboro Bridge Replacement Project


Brattleboro Budget Rejected

Brattleboro voters rejected the proposed budget Tuesday.

478 voted in favor, but 771 voted against, sending the Brattleboro Selectboard back to work on another version.

1249 people participated by voting. 554 of those were by absentee ballot. Results are for the entire town; votes were not counted by district.


The Bondville Boys at the River Garden, Friday Night

As a reminder, southern Vermont’s best-loved bluegrass group, the Bondville Boys (“some of them are from Bondville, and some of them are boys”) will rock the River Garden this Friday night, the 18th, from 7 to 10:30, presented by Strolling of the Heifers. Tickets $10 at the door, $30 family cap. 

As a preview, here’s a video of one of their recent appearances:


Strolling of the Heifers presents Maple ‘n Mud Fest at the River Garden

In another sign of spring, Strolling of the Heifers will host its Maple ‘n Mud Fest on Saturday April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, downtown Brattleboro.

The festival celebrates the changing of the seasons with an array of participating farmers and maple product producers. This community event is free and open to the public at the new home of the Strolling of the Heifers.

The official grades of maple syrup are being renamed in Vermont to provide the general public with a little more clarity on what each grade is best suited. Visitors can see, and then taste the differences at an exhibit presented by Hidden Springs Maple.