By Leo Pond The Supreme Court case titled Roe v. Wade was decided on Jan. 22, 1973, the primary holding in summary was that a person may choose to have an abortion until a fetus becomes viable, based on the right to privacy contained in the “due process” clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Viability means…

Dear Editor, A huge thank you does not cover how grateful I am as a Pittsford community member.  On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Pittsford Community came together to create a safe, fun, amazing drive-through Trunk or Treat!  The amount of smiles (under their masks) and thank yous from the children and adults was wonderful. Without…

Dear Editor, Trader Don’s is closing down and moving itself, with his family companies lock, stock and barrel to a foreign destination within a fortnight after the Nov. 3 presidential election. Saving money, and the pursuit of law and justice, far from American courts, the Trader’s tumble has caused early trading on Wall Street to…

Dear Editor, Friends of Veterans would like to thank all our donors, sponsors and players who made our annual golf fundraiser at the Baker Hill Golf Club a tremendous success. This fundraiser along with the many grants we receive will allow us the opportunity to make this challenging year the fourth consecutive year of providing…

Dear  Editor, I’m sure Senators Bernie Sanders and Pat Leahy say they care about animal welfare. But if this were true, they would support federal funding for cultured-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultured meat is grown from cells, without slaughtering animals. As things currently stand, we slaughter over a trillion aquatic and land…

Dear Editor, The definition of “Old School" is usually used approvingly to refer to someone or something that is old-fashioned or “traditional.” What are old school values? Old school values attract parents. They stand for discipline, respect for authority, academic achievement for its own sake, scholarship, goodness and common decency.  This is what has been…

By Tom Evslin Editor’s note: Tom Evslin is an entrepreneur, author and former Douglas administration official and was the former chair and co-founder of NG Advantage, which brings natural gas to energy-intensive enterprises not located on a gas pipeline. Both sides are ready to cry foul. President Donald Trump has infamously refused to say whether he’ll…

During the pandemic, Vermont has ensured every child has access to free meals daily As a result of Covid-19 and waivers granted at the federal level, for the first time ever, all Vermont schools are currently providing universal school meals to their students and will through the end of the 2020/21 school year. Universal meals…

  As life continues in the shadow of the pandemic, Vermonters should be talking about how to feel comfortable and stay safe before seeing friends and family. The Vermont Dept. of Health has posted  four tips to help have the “Covid Talk” – a conversation to negotiate boundaries and establish expectations ahead of holiday gatherings.…

The University of Vermont Medical Center and Vaccine Testing Center at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine have been selected to take part in a Phase 3 trial for a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and manufactured by AstraZeneca. Governor Phil Scott announced the plans at the regular press conference, Tuesday, Oct.…

By Curt Peterson As first responders, including firemen, search and rescue and police, begin moving into Killington’s new Public Safety Building, the Select Board is sorting through final bills and funding. At a special meeting on Oct. 27 Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth told selectmen project costs have exceeded the expectation by more than $400,000 for…

Dept. of Justice funding will expand reach in rural communities Senator Patrick Leahy announced on Oct. 30 Vermont’s DREAM program will receive a three-year, $1.25 million grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support peer mentoring for elementary-aged youths in rural communities whose lives have been affected by the opioid epidemic. This is the…

No out-of-state travel; spectators limited for indoor events; social events discouraged Due to rising Covid-19 case counts throughout the Northeast, and the decisions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire officials to suspend ice rink activities due to numerous outbreaks, the state of Vermont has announced updated policies to reduce risk. Vermont-based youth and adult recreational sports…

By Curt Peterson Sherry Sousa’s “Superintendent’s Report” was scheduled for five minutes on the Windsor Central Supervisory Union board meeting agenda, but the ensuing discussion helped put the meeting into overtime – totaling three hours. Maintaining a high level of learning while coping with masks, social distancing, hybrid and remote learning, frequent testing and a…

City of Rutland Fire Dept. addresses repairs needed Many people have heard that the “10 of 9” whistle has sounded a little off the last week or so. Many more have taken to Facebook to find out what’s going on, the City of Rutland Fire Department posted on Facebook Nov. 1. The Department explained‚"We have…