The Region

News from towns around the Brattleboro area

Upper West River to be Studied this Summer

by Not Signed In | West River Valley

The water quality of the upper West River and some of its tributaries is getting closely examined this summer. Fitzgerald Environmental Associates has been hired through the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a Stream Geomorphic Assessment (SGA), which is a way of assessing, understanding, and evaluating the condition of the river system.

According to Marie Caduto, Vermont DEC Watershed Planner for the southeastern portion of Vermont which includes the West River and its tributaries, “this project has been in the works for several years.  The local communities are concerned that the recreational use of Townshend Lake and the West River has been impacted by all the sediment moving down the river since Tropical Storm Irene.  What we are looking to study is where this sediment is coming from and to find on-the-ground projects that can be done to help stabilize the erosion.”

Road Construction Projects in the West River Valley

by cgrotke | West River Valley

Travelers in the West River Valley might be both pleased and dismayed to know that there will be Route 30 paving and other road projects going on soon. Expect some delays and alternative routes in the near future.

The big plan is to re-surface VT Rt. 30 in Brattleboro, Dummerston and Newfane. You may have seen people out taking measurements last year.:

“Project Location: Beginning on VT Route 30 in the Town of Brattleboro, at mile marker 0.326 (just north of the intersection of VT-30 and Cedar St.) and extending north for 9.948 miles and ending at mile marker 1.597 in Newfane (just past the intersection of VT-30 and Hemlock Hill Rd).

Guilford Pre-Town Tonight Has Room for All

by DonInGuilford | Guilford

Contrary to earlier info, Guilford Pre-Town Meeting (tonight, Thursday, 7:00 pm) will be able to accommodate up to 500 participants. BCTV, which is managing the Zoom (and also providing live coverage on the station) has changed their zoom setting to ensure that everyone can zoom in. Info on joining by zoom, by phone, or watching on BCTV on cable or live-stream, or watching on YouTube — all that info is on the Town website guilford vt.net

Community Center in Guilford Announces Matching Challenge

by Broad Brook Community Center | Guilford

Broad Brook Community Center (BBCC) in Guilford has announced a winter fund drive to support the major phase of renovations this spring. Thanks to a matching gift challenge, all donations received by January 31, 2021, will be doubled.

The BBCC purchased the 1896 building from Broad Brook Grange three years ago, began raising funds for a complete renovation, and completed the first phase of work in 2018. The improvements particularly addressed accessibility and safety, and included a new entry ramp, ADA-compliant restrooms, and a fire escape.

Massachusetts Air National Guard Over Southern Vermont

by cgrotke | The Region
map of airspace

Wondering about the  planes buzzing southern Vermont? We asked the VT Air National Guard about it and they weren’t sure where the planes were from at first. After a bit more research, they told us the planes were F-15’s from Massachusetts, and directed us to a page about what they are doing:

SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

Chugs Temporary Military Operations Area (MOA), Windham, VT

Windham Region Broadband Project Information and Survey

by Not Signed In | The Region

The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) and its partners, ValleyNet and Rural Innovation Strategies Inc. (RISI) were awarded a Broadband Innovation Grant (BIG) from the state’s Department of Public Service in late December 2019. The resulting Windham Region Broadband Project was informed by the hard work of many town broadband committees and other volunteer efforts, as well as education and outreach organized by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.

WRC understands the importance of high-quality, high-speed and reliable internet access to our communities for many reasons – connecting students with teachers and online education resources, connecting patients with medical providers, connecting rural businesses with clients and employers with employees, as well as for entertainment and news. Broadband can provide that level of service to Windham Region communities that are currently unserved and underserved.

Guilford Pre-Town Meeting Feb. 13

by DonInGuilford | Guilford

Broad Brook Grange will hold its annual Pre-Town Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 7:00 pm at the Broad Brook Community Center.

This is the only opportunity for voters to hear details of the articles which will be presented at Town Meeting, and to meet and discuss issues with the selectboard in advance of Town Meeting.

Run for Town Office in Guilford

by Not Signed In | Guilford

The Guilford Board of Civil Authority reminds all Guilford legal residents that you are both eligible and encouraged to run for a Town position, via the Australian Ballot at Town Meeting. Here’s the catch: To be on the ballot, you have just 2 weeks to file a petition. It’s not too hard: Go to the Town Office (Mon-Thurs) and sign up. Get a petition for the office you’d like to seek, and get 18 signatures of registered voters, turn it in by the close of the day on Monday, Jan. 27, and you’re a candidate!

Here are the offices which will be elected on the ballot: Town Clerk, 3-year term; Treasurer, 3 years; Selectboard: One 3-year term, one 2-year, and the remaining year on an unexpired term; Lister, 3-year; Auditor, 3-year, and Town agent, 1-year.

Putney Bridge Deck Replacement Public Meeting

by Not Signed In | Putney

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Putney Fire Station, 21 Carl Snyder Drive, Putney. The purpose is to discuss a project that will replace the deck of the US Route 5 bridge in Putney Center at the intersection of Kimball Hill Road. Construction will start in Spring 2020.

The existing structure is a single span cast-in-place deck on rolled beams constructed in 1954. The bridge is owned and maintained by the State of Vermont. VTrans bridge inspectors have observed areas of heavy saturation, cracking, and evidence of significant concrete deterioration. VTrans engineers determined that the most cost effective and viable approach to address deterioration of the aging bridge deck is to replace it.

Celebrate Heirloom Apples at Scott Farm Orchard: 17th Annual Heirloom Apple Days— Now Two Days!

by PamK | Dummerston

Due to the popularity of this annual harvest event, Scott Farm in Dummerston, VT, has extended Heirloom Apple Day, now in its 17th year, to two days on Sunday, October 13 and Monday, October 14 from 9-4pm!

Apple lovers of all ages are invited to come to Heirloom Apple Days and visit the 571-acre historic farm and orchard to experience some of the 130 varieties of heirloom apples grown there—fresh, baked and squeezed!

In addition to the popular heirloom apple talks and tastings, dry stone wall tours by The Stone Trust, and food vendors; new activities are in store for families such as make-your-own caramel apples and a scavenger hunt.

Putney’s New Jetport for the Elite

by cgrotke | Putney
putney planes ad

Don’t you just love ‘personalized’ ads? I came across this one today and it made me laugh. It’s for reduced-price private personal planes in [location] and that location is Putney, VT.

Just look at the gorgeous plane parked in [Putney]. It certainly looks like [Putney] to all of us who live around here, right?

Guilford Welcome Center Construction Update

by Not Signed In | Guilford

We are nearly halfway through VTrans’ project to resurface the Guilford Welcome Center parking lot! This seven-week effort includes repaving of entrance and exit ramps. While the car parking area is paved, visitors have been using the truck/bus parking area. Trucks, buses, and RVs are parking at alternate sites for the duration of the project.

Windham School Board Fights Back on Act 46 School Merger

by Lise | West River Valley
Windham Elementary School, Windham, VT

Although most towns across the state voted — in some cases reluctantly — to accept the forced merger of their schools as mandated under Act 46, the town of Windham did not. The Windham School Board continues to fight the merger of their elementary school into the new West River Education District, which they see as unconstitutional seizure of town property and against the best interests of their students.

On May 11, the Windham School Board took the unusual step of writing to all its neighbors in the new merged district to ask that they vote No on the latest school merger articles up for vote. The other towns in the West River district are Newfane, Townshend, Brookline, and Jamaica — all have agreed to merge their schools and have approved the merged budget.

Friends of the Moore Free Library Community Tag Sale

by Not Signed In | West River Valley

The Friends of the Moore Free Library are reserving spaces now for theirCommunity Tag Sale to take place on the Newfane Common on Saturday, June29, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

To reserve a space, please contact Julie at 802-365-7278 or julielavorgna@gmail.com or pick up a reservation form at the Library, 23 West Street, Newfane. The Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Thursday from 2:00 to 7:00 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Newfane Town Meeting – Property Tax Late Charges Reduced

by cgrotke | West River Valley

I attended my first “real” Town Meeting today. It was the Newfane, VT Town Meeting, held at Williamsville Hall. Previously, I’ve been both a representative and a constituent in Brattleboro’s Representative Town Meeting system. This is the first time I could attend, or not, without needing to be elected  first.

Williamsville Hall is right down the road, so I took advantage of the sunny day and walked. Along the way a neighbor caught up with me and we arrived together, went inside and found seats.

Dummerston Community Center’s Annual Pampered Chef Fundraiser

by Dummerston Community Center | Dummerston

Dummerston Community Center’s Annual Pampered Chef event will be held Saturday, March2, from 12:55 to 2:55. Kim Martin will host the show with new Spring products, recipes, demonstrations of many cooking needs, also hands-on-cooking and tasting of spices, sauces and rubs. There will be a special drawing at 1:00 p.m. and drawings throughout the show.