Brattleboro begins new dirt road monitoring system
BRATTLEBORO - As we enter the spring season, be aware that dirt and gravel roads in Brattleboro may become muddy due to the thawing of winter snow and ice. The Department of Public Works will be monitoring these roads and providing status updates through roadside signage, which will be placed at the end of gravel roads throughout town.
The roadside signage will display a QR Code, which you can scan using the camera app on your smartphone to access a direct link to the online map. The roadside signage and online map will be color-coded. The colors will indicate the following:
– Green: Passable by all vehicles. Expect seasonal conditions.
– Yellow: Four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicles recommended. Some rutting and muddy conditions.
– Orange: Four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicles advised. Local traffic only. Expect heavy rutting and deep mud.
– Red: Closed to through traffic. Emergency vehicles and residents with proper vehicles only. Some areas are not passable.
Road conditions will also be reported via an online map that you can view by visiting bit.ly/708-roads. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Department of Public Works at 802-254-4255 or email Peter Lynch at [email protected].
VTrans: Expect traffic delays on Route 142
BRATTLEBORO - The Vermont Agency of Transportion (VTrans) says motorists on Vermont Route 142 (Vernon Street) should be aware that construction activities associated with the new Brattleboro-Hinsdale bridge are ongoing along VT 142 approximately 1,000 feet south of the current intersection with New Hampshire Route 119.
Construction vehicles will continue entering and exiting the construction site and minor flagging and delays may be encountered in this area.
Traffic control plans for June 2023 include a scheduled closure of VT 142 for 90 days. The location of the closure will be north of the intersection of Royal Road and continue to 28 Vernon St., with access to both being maintained for the duration.
VTrans also reports the Vermont bridge abutment continues to progress with backfill and embankment operations scheduled through the end of March. Construction on the mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall on the north side of the abutment will then begin.
Pile driving operations are complete at Pier 3, but VTrans said work will continue at Piers 2 and 1 - the piers closest to the Vermont side of the Connecticut River. Intermittent pounding of diesel pile hammers is anticipated through the summer of 2023 with Saturday work anticipated. The contractor is allowed to work Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. unrestricted.
Brattleboro Great Books Group to meet
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Great Books Group will meet to discuss Alexander Pushkin's novel-in-verse Eugene Onegin on Monday, April 3, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the mezzanine History Room of Brooks Memorial Library on Main Street.
The novel is approximately 200 pages (a three- to four-hour read). Any English translation will do; since it is out of copyright, it is now available online as a PDF file. It is a story of tragic love and the struggle between the head and the heart. Recently banned and burned in Ukraine, it was originally published in the 1820s.
Rec. Dept. hosts free Easter Egg Hunt
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department presents its annual free Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8, on the lower softball field at Living Memorial Park. In case of mud/rain, the alternate location will be inside the Nelson Withington Skating Facility.
Each egg hunt will start promptly at the times listed below. There will be six stuffed-animal prizes in each age group. Each child needs to have a basket or container to collect the eggs: 9:30 a.m., ages 4 and under; and 9:45 a.m., ages 5 and older. For more information, call the Rec. Dept. at 802-254-5808.
Food waste reduction challenge begins in April
BRATTLEBORO - The Windham Solid Waste Management District is celebrating Earth Month by joining with the Vermont Department of Conservation to promote a three-week food waste reduction challenge.
Food waste is often preventable, and wasting less food saves money and is a climate solution. Starting April 3, they'll provide tri-weekly emails and weekly virtual meet-ups with tips on how to assess what food you're wasting and how to prevent waste in the first place. To sign up or learn more, email Alyssa Eiklor at [email protected].
Putney Farmers' Market seeks vendors
PUTNEY - The Putney Farmers' Market is seeking vendors of all types for the 2023 summer season, Sundays, May 14 through Oct. 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The market is across from the Putney Food Co-op and next to the Putney Community Gardens. Visit their website for the 2023 vendor application at putneyfarmersmarket.org or contact the market manager at [email protected].
Applications sought for Crosby-Gannett Fund
BRATTLEBORO - Funding is now available for Vermont organizations in the Brattleboro area through the Crosby-Gannett Fund grant program. The purpose of the fund is to support endeavors that contribute to the betterment and vitality of the Brattleboro area.
According to the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF), which administers the Crosby-Gannett Fund, the giving strategy for the fund has evolved and, beginning in 2023, will award a grant to one applicant annually.
The grant term will be active for three years, and the grantee will receive $7,500 per year, totaling $22,500 over the three-year period. VCF says the goal of the new model “is to provide reliable capacity-building support to creative ideas that will enable meaningful improvement in the Brattleboro area.”
The fund will prioritize small community-based organizations or specific projects within larger organizations. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25. Visit vermontcf.org/crosby-gannett to learn more and apply.
Crowell Scholarships available for Newfane, Brookline students
NEWFANE - The Moore Free Library is offering a total of $12,000 in scholarships, generously funded by the family of the late Robert L. Crowell. These awards are open to all residents of Newfane, South Newfane, and Brookline who are graduating high school seniors at any high school or who are GED recipients.
The scholarship committee will consider academics, personal growth, and community service. Applications, which are available at the library, should include a brief autobiography, including plans for continued study and the name of the school to which you have been accepted; a high school transcript; and at least two letters of reference.
Completed applications must be received by May 12. For more information, contact the library at [email protected].