A sold-out crowd filled the barn at The Mountain Top Inn & Resort March 3 for the annual gala titled  A Dam Good Time, hosted by the Chittenden Dammers snowmobile club. A gourmet buffet dinner was enjoyed by all while live music by talented local musician Ryan Fuller played throughout the evening.  The beauty of…

Dear Editor, Today, more than ever, our children are struggling with their mental health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but the issue needs to be recognized all year long. We simply can’t ignore the problem any longer. Between mass shootings, the pandemic, and social media our children are suffering. Covid-19 alone has increased rates…

Dear Editor, Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers that were going to help with Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society’s “Drive Up & Poke!” Rabies Clinic. We couldn’t win a fight with Mother Nature, so we’ve postponed the clinic to April 1, 12:30-2 p.m., WUHS Parking Lot. $13 per vaccination.  Drive ups are…

Dear Editor, When Vermont faces an acute crisis – floods, pandemics, national security events – our first thought is often: “Call out the Guard.” With a phone call from the governor, the women and men of the Vermont National Guard drop everything to help our beloved state in its time of greatest need. From Tropical…

Dear Editor, On Feb. 7, Vermont State University President Parwinder Grewal announced a new decision to transition to an all-digital, university-wide “library” and repurpose the existing library spaces on each campus. The Middlebury chapter of the Association of American University Professors (AAUP) strongly opposes the closing of any of the VTSU libraries.   “Libraries are…

By Sen. Chris Bray Editor's note: Christopher Bray of New Haven, represents Addison County in the state senate. He is the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, serves on the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Joint Energy Committee, Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, and Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction Committee. Vermonters are…

By Jim Furnish and Zack Porter Editor’s note: Jim Furnish served as the U.S. forest service deputy chief from 1999 to 2002. Zack Porter is co-founder and executive director of Standing Trees, a nonprofit working to protect and restore New England’s public lands. An old saying goes, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and…

Gov. Phil Scott tapped a maple tree at the Connor Maple Farm in St. Albans March 3 to recognize the beginning of the new maple season.  The governor was joined by Mike and Joanne Connor and their family, Sen. Peter Welch, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts and a large contingent of area children, all…

By John Flowers/Addison County Independent Editor’s note: Bill Heffernan is a brother-in-law to reporter John Flowers. Faced with widespread concerns about potential costs to fossil-fuel dealers and consumers, the authors of the proposed Affordable Heat Act have decided to pump the brakes on the design and approval timetable for the bill. But they still aim…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Vermont House and Senate budget writers have hammered out a deal to extend emergency housing in motels for people experiencing homelessness through June 30 — but not for all.  After May 31, only people fleeing domestic violence, families with children, those aged 60 and over, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and certain households that…

By Kate O’Farrell/VTDigger Vermont’s Covid-19 community levels remained “low” this past week, the state Dept. of Health reported Wednesday, March 1, rounding out the month of February with consistently low community levels.  The number of cases, hospital admissions and people in Vermont hospitals for Covid have remained relatively flat in recent weeks as XBB became the dominant strain…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson The Windsor County District now encompasses 25 towns, and the county is the largest in Vermont (977 square miles). As a result, one of the biggest challenges for a state senator is attending as many Town Meetings as possible. I treasure Vermont’s Town Meeting tradition and its form of direct democracy.…

By Rep. Jim Harrison Over the past two weeks, the House and Senate Appropriation Committees held public hearings on the FY24 budget, which begins on July 1, 2023. A quick tally on the various asks on Friday afternoon, March 3, came up with over $700 million in new spending, which is well beyond what might…

Over 100 Vermont businesses from diverse industries completed the 2023 annual economic survey in January regarding the outlook of Vermont’s small- to medium-sized businesses. Of the business owners who responded, 80% have fewer than 25 employees.  The survey, presented by Davis and Hodgdon CPAs and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, revealed that there is more…

Staff report Incumbents Cathy Solsaa and Kevin Kiefaber were reelected to the Rutland City School Board of Commissioners  on Town Meeting Day along with newcomers Ryan Carney and Heather Hauke.  Mary McDonald fell short of getting a seat.  Solsaa was the top vote-getter with 1,478 votes, followed by Ryan Carney with 1,446 votes and Heather…