Snowflakes, They shimmer, They shine,  Oh so tiny, Oh so many, Thousands and thousands, Cover the ground, Swirling and twirling, Dancing in the sky, Blanketing the ground frosty white, It looks like some magical land, Powdered sugar falling, Marshmallow clouds, But no this is earth, As beautiful as can be, Outside in nature, Is…

  Whether you’re a scroller of Instagram or TikTok or whether you’re watching the talking heads on mainstream media, it’s all just flickering shadows on the wall. The Allegory of Plato’s Cave is as real now as it ever was. As long as you keep your mind and your soul chained to the wall, you…

  Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6  p.m.—POULTNEY—Artist Richard (Dick) Weis will reflect upon his personal journey, discovering some of the secrets of color found in the works of the masters, that continue to be of importance to him.  His presentation at Stone Valley Arts, 145 E. Main St., in Poultney, will use images and details…

  Sunday, Nov.19 at 4 p.m.—RUTLAND—Fred Lemmons and Cynthia Huard will offer a clarinet and piano recital in the Grace Church Sanctuary, 8 Court St., Rutland. Fred Lemmons, a Chattanooga native, served 21 years with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band in Washington, D.C. He performed at the White House for five U.S. presidents and…

  Friday-Sunday, Nov. 17-19—LUDLOW—Mark your calendars for the 2023 Okemo Ski and Snowboard Swap. The annual Okemo swap benefits Okemo Mountain School and is the place to gear up for the winter with new and used gear at great prices. This sale will have everything needed to get out on the hill this season: skis, snowboards,…

Saturday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.—KILLINGTON—The Loaded Turkey Rail Jam is a popular event that marks the beginning of the season of park competitions at Killington’s Woodward Mountain Parks. This traditional competition promises a display of talent and skills as participants vie for top honors. With the main highlight being the presentation of a frozen…

Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.—CASTLETON— Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton’s Wind Symphony presents their fall concert at Casella Theater, 45 Alumni Drive on the Castleton Campus. The theme of the program is “Riots and Revolutions” and features music inspired by and written for protests and revolutions around the world. The VTSU Castleton Wind Symphony is conducted by…

   ECFiber, Vermont’s first communications union district, has obtained a BB rating for its 2023 Series A bonds from S&P Global, the nation’s preeminent credit rating agency.  “This is a historic moment,” said Stan Williams, ECFiber’s municipal finance advisor and widely regarded as the architect of Vermont’s Communications Union District (CUD) model. “For the first…

  Dear Editor, It is time for our legislative body to make a full commitment to truly funding meaningful treatment to Vermont’s epidemic of substance use disorder in the creation of appropriate treatment facilities.  I applaud the recent meeting at the Rutland Paramount Theatre with lawmakers, the governor and local law enforcement. I was buoyed…

  By Jessica Brown  Editor’s note: Jessica Brown is an assistant professor of law and director of the Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School in Sharon. Earlier, she was a public defender for 24 years in New Hampshire and Vermont, in both the state and federal legal systems.  Vermont thinks of…

  Dear Editor, On Nov. 2, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a bill to amend title 18, U.S. code, to “prevent the bulk sales of ammunition, promote recordkeeping and reporting about ammunition, end ammunition straw purchasing and require a background check before the transfer of ammunition by certain Federal Firearms licensees…

  Dear Editor, There are signs calling for lawmakers to show strong leadership to support law enforcement efforts across our state. You just have to listen to what was said at the Nov. 2 Rutland City Town Hall Public Safety meeting and at the Rutland City Board of Alderman Meeting on Nov. 6. Then take…

  Dear Editor, At the end of September, I talked to my daughter’s pediatrician about getting a current Covid vaccination for my 12-year-old daughter. The office told me (which I know to be true, having heard this from Health Commissioner Mark Levine through many news outlets) that the state has prioritized doling out vaccinations to…

  By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison County Independent, a sister publication of the Mountain Times.  Vermont Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), were joined by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in sending a letter to President Biden expressing their serious…

  Undergraduates, high school students will assist in research that will guide U.S. decisions amid climate change Vermont State University announced Nov. 9 that Associate Professor Ross Lieblappen will lead students in a ground-breaking study about microbes in the Arctic through a nearly $3.3 million contract from a collection of federal funding sources, including the…