Vermonters who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy groceries won’t go hungry during the federal shutdown, thanks to $50 million in emergency funds recently set aside by the state, and folks who qualify for heating assistance will be able to keep their homes warm, said Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Windham 7, and chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee, during a press conference on Wednesday morning.
The Westminster Fire Department responded to a first-alarm fire at a two-story home located on Kurn Hattin Road on Tuesday evening. In a press release, the fire department indicated that upon their arrival, firefighters entered a basement filled with heavy smoke, and a hose line was deployed. Concurrently, a primary search was initiated on the first floor. Fire was visible on the left side under conditions of zero visibility, and the crew swiftly extinguished the flames. Additional units arrived, and teams conducted searches on all levels of the building. Although the residents had evacuated, firefighters successfully rescued two cats. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the family was assessed by EMS. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by electrical issues.
In response to complaints from residents regarding the end of leaf pickup due to budget limitations, Select Board members Amanda Ellis-Thurber and Oscar Heller are taking initiative. They have arranged a community leaf collection for Saturday, Nov. 1, with plans for a second pickup in the future. Ellis-Thurber mentioned that Heller, the board’s vice chairman, initiated the project. “We are assembling a group of volunteers with trucks to collect the leaves and transport them to the Windham Solid Waste District on Nov. 1,” Ellis-Thurber stated in a Thursday interview. Volunteers are to gather at the Brattleboro Union High School parking lot at 8 a.m. on Nov. 1. They can register on the “Leaf Brigade” page on Heller’s website at: oscarheller.com/leaf-brigade. Residents may sign up for their leaves to be collected in bags. Assistance is needed for both pickup and truck sharing. Ellis-Thurber emphasized that this initiative does not utilize town financial resources, as the Department of Public Works and Brattleboro’s waste hauler Casella are not participating. She suggested that the project could be enjoyable enough to become a regular occurrence, potentially saving the town money. She and Heller are proactive individuals, she noted.Town Manager John Potter previously said the discontinuation of fall leaf collection was “part of a whole slew of service reductions.”
Brattleboro’s Public Works Department is continuing its paving project on Greenleaf Street. The work, which is being done between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and is expected to finish by October 31st. The town has also recently completed work on several other roads.
The town of Marlboro, a neighboring town to Brattleboro, is considering a potential school closure as a result of a significant drop in enrollment. The move is part of a larger trend in smaller Vermont towns facing decreasing student populations. A meeting to discuss the matter has been scheduled for later this week.
WTSA SPORTS FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 30th 2025.
THE BLUE JAYS BEAT THE DODGERS LAST NIGHT 6 -1, TORONTO LEADS THE SERIES 3 -2, GAME 6 IS ON FRIDAY (HALLOWEEN NIGHT) AT 8PM
THE CELTICS DEFEATED THE CAVALIERS YESTERDAY 125 – 105. THE CELTICS HAVE THE NIGHT OFF AND ARE BACK ON THE COURT IN P PENNSYLVANIA ON FRIDAY AGAINST THE 76ERS, TIP OFF AT 7PM.
THE BRUINS ARE BACK ON THE ICE TONIGHT AGAINST THE SABRES, PUCK DROPS AT 7:00PM.
IN THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, ITS THE 2-5 RAVENS IN MIAMI AGAINST THE 2 – 6 DOLPHINS, KICK OFF AT 8PM