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November Precipitation 2024

by local | Nature

Dryness has abated somewhat with 2 larger storms in the past 10 days.  Precipitation for the month measured 3.01″  compared to the normal of 3.53″.  The second storm included snow for many including here with 4.3″ and more at higher elevations.  My November snow average going back to 1993-94 is 2.8″.  There have been 5 years with 10 or more inches in November over that time period.

For the calendar year my total stands at 41.68 inches compared to the norm of 43.24″.  One month to go.  All numbers are from my location in the SE corner of Brattleboro.

Are You A Vermonter Who Winters In Florida? Here’s The Carpet Bagger Special!

by CrisEricson2016 | Politics

Are you a Vermonter who winters in Florida? Wanna have some fun? Remember many years ago in 2000 when Hillary Clinton was a carpet bagger from Arkansas to New York, and she ran for office in NY and won? Are you a Democrat who lost the Nov. 5th, 2024 election in Vermont and you’ve been thinking of hiding your head in the sand? How about Florida?

It’s Enough To Make You Sick

by RDavis | Health

Vermonters who purchase their own health insurance whether they are young or old got some really bad news recently. The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) approved increases in the small group market for Blue Cross and MVP that border on outrageous. The GMCB is charged with the task of assuring the solvency of insurance companies so the consumers’ needs for affordable insurance do not enter the mix very much.

Blue Cross asked for a 24% increase and ended up with a 22.8% increase which translates to an average annual increase of 19.8%. MVP asked for an 11.5% increase and the board gave them 11.1% which is a 14.2% increase over last year. The board does have a time when the public can comment before the increases are finalized, but when people tell them they can’t afford another double digit increase they show little sympathy and hide behind statements that the cost of health care is rising too fast.

Everyone is taking a hit, but seniors may have a harder time than others because a lot of us are living on fixed incomes and have to live within a budget range. This kind of increase blows any budgeting out of the water. I have a Vermont Medigap Blue Plan D Medicare supplemental policy with Blue Cross of Vermont that cost me $191 a month last year. I was notified it will cost me $234 in 2025. It will cost me an extra $516 next year for the privilege of buying a Medigap policy. The cost of Medicare Part B is also slated for an increase.

Bafflingly Blind

by AnneODyne | Questions & Answers

I remember as a young kid observing the arrangement where a lawyer would defend as a matter of their profession the most dangerous or deranged suspects. I thought about the ethical dilemmas that must have been involved. In my young mind it had to be complicated. What if the advocate intuited their client’s guilt?

Now as an adult I’m reading about special prosecutors being prosecuted just for doing their jobs.  How does this make sense?  Given the venal behavior of the Supreme Court, and the professed intentions of the Attorney General nominee, and near unlimited powers of immunity granted a priori to an executive officer, can we even call what we have now a system of Justice?

Brattleboro Winter Storm Advisory for Thanksgiving

by Not Signed In | Town News

Brattleboro Emergency Services is watching the Thanksgiving weather forecast and preparing for the first winter storm of the season. The storm is forecast to start on the morning of Thursday, November 28, before daybreak and last throughout the day. We anticipate that downtown snow accumulations will be less than three inches, with up to eight inches in higher elevations.

The snow is expected to be wet and heavy, which could cause downed trees and limbs, along with wires in the travel ways. Brattleboro Public Works crews are prepared for the storm and will be working throughout the day to keep roads, downtown sidewalks, and Town facilities open.

Construction Update Brattleboro-Hinsdale Bridge Nov 27, 2024

by Not Signed In | Hinsdale

Motorists are advised to watch for the new traffic pattern to be implemented next week.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

The new bridge for New Hampshire/Vermont Route 119 is scheduled to open next week by the end of the day on Thursday, December 5th. Message boards throughout the area will indicate when traffic on the new bridge is active. All traffic wishing to access NH/VT 119 will need to turn onto Vermont Route 142 and access the new bridge at the new signalized intersection. Pedestrians should continue to use existing accommodations on the old bridges.

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board Meting Minutes Nov 20, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

Public Comment – Martha Noyse of Brattleboro and Jody Normandeau of Dummerston spoke on the current budget process.

Administrative Report – Mark spoke of the upcoming school break. While there will be no school for students next week, Monday and Tuesday will be in-service days with school based professional development as well as meeting and planning time for staff.

Kate Trzaskos on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

Notice how Downtown Events just keep getting better & better? And now Plaid Friday and then Market on Main for 3 weekends in December. We have KATE TRZASKOS and her mighty team at Downtown Brattleboro Alliance to thank ! Check out this show for Kate’s creative ideas, and hear stories of how she got here, how she does it all, and her very cool side hustle – curating vintage clothes just for you!

Brattleboro Selectboard Meeting – Agenda and Notes Dec 2, 2024

by cgrotke | Town News

Should Brattleboro end Representative Town Meeting? The Brattleboro Selectboard will decide if this question is allowed to be put to voters at their next regular meeting.

They will make changes to ordinances relating to parking, the downtown improvement district, and vacant buildings and will also hear the annual pleas from the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and BDCC.  You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.

Burn Ban in Brattleboro Extended to Dec. 2

by Not Signed In | Police & Fire

The Brattleboro Fire Department is extending the ban on debris burning within Brattleboro for an additional week. Burn permits will not be issued in Town during this time.

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation first issued a statewide burn ban on Oct. 28, which was in effect through Nov. 11. Due to persistent drought, the ban was extended in Bennington, Rutland, Windham and Windsor Counties through Nov. 25.

Brattleboro Planning Commission Meeting: December 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

by planning | Town Plan

Guest: Dan Tyler, Public Works Director
• Discuss water and sewer mapping to understand constraints.
• Review and approve, if ready, proposed changes to the Land Use Regulations to bring areas with water and sewer into compliance with State statute.
• Discuss options for requiring sewer service area extensions/expansions to be supported by the Town Plan and applicable planning bylaws. Potentially approve one option to recommend to DPW and Selectboard.

Windham Southeast School District Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

Martha Noyes, Brattleboro Resident, asked that the committee to keep in mind the public and engage them as you work through this process. Ms. Noyes encouraged finding ways to offer meeting times to allow the public to be involved considering location to make it more accessible to all. Also Ms. Noyes asked for the budget information be presented in a user friendly format for the public consumption. She feels that all of these efforts could assist in the adoption of the budget when presented at the Annual Meeting