Careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. I’m sure that’s a phrase you’re familiar with. This week, agreeable Venus shifts signs from where she’s strong, stable and secure to where she’s adaptable, curious and more easily influenced. Sure, the social mood may become lighter and more fluid, but are you actually…

Dear Editor, At my local school board (of which I am a member) budget meeting last week, a community member asked, “What keeps you (individual board members) awake at night?” At that moment, I wasn’t able to find the courage to be candid. The weight of what I wanted to say, my sincere answer, felt…

Dear Editor, Last week, on March 29, Vermont senior U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was grilling Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on the illegal union-busting activities used by that corporation.  In order to embarrass our senior senator, Schultz shot back that Vermont has a paltry minimum wage of only $13.18/hour. Starbucks, his company, pays more. We…

Dear Editor, There has been a great deal of misinformation circulating around about the Affordable Heat Act. I would encourage anyone who is interested in gaining an accurate understanding of the bill to go online and look up the text of the bill itself. It is readily accessible, and, though long, is written in language…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison County Independent, a sister publication to the Mountain Times.  In a legislative session in which the state faces several so-called crises — the lack of affordable housing and affordable childcare, labor shortages, long-term care, climate change, mental health, substance abuse,…

By Laurie Cox Editor’s note:   Cox is a retired school counselor and longtime Ripton Selectboard member. Besides occasional writing she pursues art, gardening, hiking with her dog, and is always striving to build stronger communities. “Can anybody live in Vermont?” asked the two young boys who had been visiting us for a couple of…

Recently during a late evening floor session, our committee had the unenviable task of explaining the 258-page budget that touches virtually everything the state does. All 12 committee members took turns explaining their sections, which took over two hours. So, when it was my turn, I started off with: “Madam Speaker, we often start each…

The Vermont Senate, last week, advanced legislation (S.25) that restricts PFAS and other toxic chemicals from cosmetic and menstrual products, and bans PFAS from textiles and artificial turf athletic fields. The vote passed unanimously on April 5 and has headed to the House. “Thank you to the Senate for the overwhelming support for advancing S.25…

On Monday, April 10, state treasurer Mike Pieciak stood with state and local leaders in Rutland to announce a substantial expansion of the “10% in Vermont” local investment program. The program authorizes the treasurer to invest up to 10% of the state’s average daily cash balance for economic development in Vermont.   The state’s average daily…

EPA announces $62.2 million for Vermont drinking water infrastructure upgrades On April 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $62,283,000 for Vermont to fund essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Thanks to the $6 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is increasing the investments…

By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger In her first trip to Vermont since her husband assumed the presidency in January 2021, first lady Jill Biden visited Beta Technologies in Burlington on Wednesday, April 5, where she and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona touted the White House’s efforts to fund workforce development and technical education. As she walked…

By Katy Savage Killington Search and Rescue (KSAR) wants its equipment back after it was deemed unusable and not up to standard by new Fire Chief Chris Lahart.  KSAR leaders formally requested its climbing equipment, helmets, toboggan and other items in an April 6 email to Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth.  The request came after several…

$10,000 goal to receive a 2:1 matching grant through DHCD’s Better Places program Rutland residents will soon be able to enjoy Reimagine Depot Park thanks to a recently launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is a initiative by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Better Places program and led by Come Alive Outside. “Access to community…

By Liz DiMarco Weinmann  Over the past three years Vermont has thrived as a national example of doing the right things for our most vulnerable populations, and it’s our state’s nonprofits that deserve much of the credit.  Combating such perils as food insecurity, inadequate shelter, domestic violence, and other threats many Vermonters experience on a…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger CHESTER — Local residents, affirmed by a state Natural Resources Board decision, say three quarries run by a pair of Connecticut brothers are operating illegally. Through photos and videos, the citizens have shown sediment polluting a nearby stream, rock fragments blasted onto a roadway and railroad tracks, and noisy hydraulic hammering. Those residents…