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Brattleboro Selectboard Special Meeting – Dettman Drive

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 3:30pm in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street, Room 212). The public may also participate in the meeting over Zoom. The attached agenda contains information on how to access the meeting remotely, including the required “passcode.”  Either ASL interpreters or closed captioning will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.


Opinions Decry Atrocities By One Side While Encouraging Them On The Other. How Helpful Is That?

At first I thought I would refrain from debate sparked by the atrocities of Oct. 7. I felt appalled that, from the safety of Vermont, warmed-over “party-line” polemics are being thrown around, which is of no benefit to Palestinians or Israelis whose survival is at risk.

But finally, driven by the increasing normalization of antisemitism and acceptance of Hamas as “freedom fighters” (even by some politically active Jews), I had to speak out.


Selectboard Meeting Notes: The Last UDAG

selectboard jan 2 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard were, until Tuesday night, the last keepers in the United States of something called an Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) Program grant. Before them was $2.3 million that has matured, and the board voted to transfer all of it away from UDAG into the Town’s Revolving Loan Fund.

The board was also pleased with their progress on a number of issues, and happy to hear the monthly fire department report.


Goodenough Road Closure

On Wednesday, January 3, the Highway Division will be replacing a failed culvert on Goodenough Road.  The closure will be near 342 Goodenough Road.  Residents and Emergency Services can access 42 – 342 Goodenough Road via Hinesburg Road and 446 – 528 via Akley Road.  Please plan accordingly and avoid the area if possible. 


Israel Hamas War Strategy

The Israel Hamas war has pushed both sides into unchartered territory. Most of what is happening violates not only rules of engagement but basic humanitarian principles. Israel has more firepower and they are using it in what appears to be a chaotic and indiscriminate way. In other words, if Israel has a battle plan it is hard to see what it is. To the rest of the world it looks like they are simply acting out of vengeance and killing as many Palestinians as possible.

I believe that Hamas could possibly be executing a well thought out battle plan that could have long-range implications for the Middle East while Israel seems to be developing plans on a day to day basis. Here is what I think Hamas could be doing.


Brattleboro Selectboard Agenda and Notes – January 2, 2024

The Brattleboro Selectboard kicks off the new year with another error. The paving project was under-estimated by 3211 tons of asphalt. Oops, and $32,000.

The Fire Department will read their monthly report – for November of last year, the board will revisit their retreat and goal-setting, and the Town Manager will request a transfer of over $2 million to the Revolving Loan Fund.  You can attempt to bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation if the Chair deems you worthy.


Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge – Dec 28, 2023

The contractor has begun to advance structural steel across Pier 2 to the temporary shoring towers. This work will continue into next week. De-watering at Pier 1 site has begun. Once a dry excavation can be maintained, the contractor will begin to install the 80 foot rebar cages in the 9 pier piles. This could begin as early as tomorrow and be completed in time for a concrete placement for the piles as early as next week. The footing formwork and re-bar installation should begin next week as well. This operation can be conducted in tandem with the pile work.


Brattleboro Committee Warnings

The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 4:15pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).

The RTM Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 6:00pm in the Hanna Cosman Meeting Room at the Municipal Center (230 Main Street).


Brattleboro Planning Commission Meeting: January 8, 2024

6:15 – 6:45 Neighborhood Center Zoning District
Discussion of Neighborhood Center Zoning District and land uses in light of request from Bohler Engineering to amend Section 224.E.6 pertaining to the location of vehicular service bay doors.

6:45– 7:25 Historic Overlay District
Review of a comparison of the pathways and regulatory powers provided for in statute for historic preservation. Begin to consider the positives and negatives of each as applied to our existing historic areas.


The U.S. Congress “House Oversight Committee Is Investigating President Biden, But Who Is Investigating Them?

Who on the “House Oversight Committee”, in the United States Congress, is going to oversee the “money laundering” of most of the members of U.S.Congress? NO ONE!!!

(1) MARIJUANA, CANNABIS – KEEPING IT ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW IS A VIOLATION OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE, Old Testament Holy Bible, Genesis 1, verse 29; so why are some members of U.S. Congress taking campaign donations from the government taxpayer funded private-for-profit PRISON corporations’ political action committees? Why is it “money laundering”? Our federal tax dollars pay for federal prisons and private-for-profit prisons, and they pay part of their profits to political action committees which put money into the re-election campaign accounts of elected officials who promise to keep marijuana cannabis illegal under federal laws.


Noticed Around Brattleboro – Winter 2023-2024 Edition

Time again for Noticed, where you add little things you notice. Did you see a bird? How’s the rose bush? What’s that new thing over there?  That sort of stuff.

For me, I’ve noticed that it doesn’t really seem like winter very much. It’s warm, foggy, rainy and we haven’t seen snow in quite a while. Also:

No ice on Retreat Meadows.
No ice huts on the ice at Retreat Meadows.


BCTV Schedules – Week of 12/25/23

Monday, December 25, 2023

6:00 am Couch Potatoe Productions – Sweetback Sisters Country Christmas Spectacular Sing-Along

7:55 am Ezlerh’s Random Videos – Shirley Squires’ Touch of Heaven

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

9:00 am Energy Week with George Harvey – Energy Week #552 – 12/14/2023


Susan Avery on “Here We Are”

What would you do if you found out your children suffer from addiction? Listen to this show, and hear one woman’s story on how and where she found resources, comfort and courage……and the wisdom to keep love alive and available for her family. Susan’s mission is to help others with similar stories.