By Angelo Lynn When it comes to parents being unsure of whether they should give their children the vaccine to prevent contracting Covid-19, we get it. Parents are naturally protective; we are mama or papa bears protecting our cubs. It’s an instinct that lasts long into adulthood. But we also understand the scientific process, and…

Dear Editor, I wish to agree with Rebecca Holcombe’s views about religious schools taking public money on the basis of “nondiscrimination” for a religious school, while those schools not only discriminate, as the Grace School in the article does in a heinous manner, denying gay people’s humanity as they do, but have traditionally been allowed to do…

Dear Editor, The Vermont State Auditor’s report, which tells us that the cost to taxpayers for supporting the Vermont dairy industry during the period 2010-2019 has been very high but stops short of saying largely ineffective, has already stimulated the predictable responses from the industry’s apologists: that “agriculture isn’t an optional industry, but rather a…

Dear Editor, Many people don’t realize that global weather patterns can actually have a bearing on their health. I consider it part of my responsibility as a medical professional to explain these challenges to my patients, especially as the weather starts to get unseasonably warm. During physicals, I remind patients of all ages to check…

Dear Editor, You’ve probably heard a lot about the personal actions we can all take to help mitigate the effects of the climate crisis. Bike to work more. Stop eating meat. Turn off your lights. Sound familiar?  I may be jaded, but in my experience, individual actions alone, however gratifying, will be insufficient to get…

By Lisa Loomis The Vermont Press Association wishes to thank Gov. Phil Scott for his veto of S.107 and siding with greater transparency for all Vermonters while also allowing for more time on this important issue. His veto letter is very clear and thoughtful as to why the bill as passed needs more consideration. The governor makes…

This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. I-89 Hartford – Sharon A resurfacing project continues. Nighttime milling operations will require lane reductions on I-89 northbound and southbound from the VT/NH border…

May 29-30—SPRINGFIELD— Springfield Humane Society is hosting its annual Memorial Day weekend tag sale.  Every spring and fall it has a large fundraiser to raise money for animal care.  Annually, the humane society takes in approximately 600 animals - not only cats and dogs, but also rabbits, turtles, frogs, snakes, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, ferrets,…

May 29 —FAIR HAVEN — Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church at 10 Washington St. in Fair Haven will have an outdoor yard sale/flea market on Saturday, May 29 at 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.  in the parking lot of the church to benefit the church foundation and brick repair fund.  The church will have flea…

RUTLAND—The U.S. Forest Service is urging the public to be extremely careful with all types of outdoor fires as temperatures rise and we continue to see drying trends throughout New England. The agency is hoping to educate local and visiting campers about fire safety as the Memorial Day holiday approaches. Increased visitation, lack of precipitation…

Tuesday, May 25 at 4 p.m.—VIRTUAL—Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Secretary Julie Moore invites the public to join her on May 25 from 4-5 p.m. for a virtual conversation about climate change in Vermont. Secretary Moore will talk about the work of the Vermont Climate Council and provide an update on the upcoming Climate Action…

May 25-June 1 — VIRTUAL — “The Upstanders” is unsettling and uplifting, causing us all to examine our behavior, inspiring us to do better, be better, and stand up against victimization and cyberbullying. On May 25 to June 1, the Ottauquechee Health Foundation in partnership with the Woodstock Union High School, will hold a special screening of “The Upstanders” to open up a…

Bears are exiting their winter dens, so it’s the perfect time for Protect Our Wildlife to share their new bear report, “Vermont Black Bears and How to Effectively Manage Conflict.” The report is the product of a five-month-long project launched by an Environmental Sciences student at the University of Vermont and was overseen by Protect…

May 26-27 — VIRTUAL — The Summit on the Future of Vermont on May 26-27 will bring Vermonters together virtually to consider The Vermont Proposition – a set of bold and transformational ideas for the state’s economy, environment and people by mid-century. The summit is produced by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD). For 30 years…

VIRTUAL — The Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites people to take part in a new statewide community mapping project to improve state maps of where wetlands occur. People can submit observations of the wetland species they find by using the free iNaturalist website or phone app and upload these observations to the iNaturalist…