Illustration by Maxx Steinmetz Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring controversial cartoons, reports, polemics, and jokes, was attacked by terrorists Jan. 7, 2015, presumably in response to a number of controversial cartoons it published of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. In total 12 people were killed in the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo. After…

By Governor Peter Shumlin It’s an incredible honor to continue serving as governor for another two years. Vermont is an amazing state which holds a certain promise that has led so many like me to live, work and raise a family here. But our state faces present and future challenges that have left many feeling…

Dear Editor, As I sit here in the old Bill’s Country Story writing this, I look back on the past year and couldn’t be more pleased with all that we’ve accomplished: we moved the Chamber offices and converted Bill’s Country Store to a Welcome Center. We increased visits to the Welcome Center from 4,500 to…

Dear Editor, On Jan. 8, I participated in a sit in at the Vermont Statehouse. I participated in this sit in because co-pays and deductibles have made it impossible for me to get adequate care to relieve my chronic pain. We have a law, Act 48, that requires our state government to create a healthcare…

Dear Editor, On Sunday, Jan. 11, I heard the wonderful news that JD the missing dog that was out in the cold for the past 11 days and has survived and been found. This story struck a personal chord with me as I am approaching the three year anniversary of when I lost my own dog…

Dear Editor, While skinning through the woods last week I pondered the objection to nearby glading in the National Forest expressed in a letter to the Mountain Times last week (Jan. 8 edition). Though I appreciate the offended individual’s expertise, I side with the volunteers working with Federal employees for the benefit of the many. Our forests are…

Dear Editor, Pittsford families and community members discussed the Lothrop School budget at the school board meeting on Jan. 8 where two options were presented. The first is a number of cuts to the programs at Lothrop in order to decrease the budget over $100,000, which would result in a 3 cent increase in the…

Thursday - Sunday Looking for a little winter activity to do with your whole family? Bear Trax Adventure Tours offers Family Exploration Snowshoe Tours at Killington Resort. These tours are designed for families with young children that might be new to snowshoeing. Take a one-hour tour Thursday through Saturday starting at 4 p.m. or Sunday…

Sunday, Jan. 18 Okemo Mountain Resort will host a mind-bending landscape of light set to music with its first-ever “Let It Glow” laser light show spectacular at 7 p.m. Guests will feel immersed in a laser canopy of light and sound as colorful beams bounce off the snow on Bull Run in front of The…

By Stephen Seitz KILLINGTON – Next year’s town budget should be ready by the next time Killington selectmen meet, Town Manager Seth Webb told the board at the regular meeting on Jan. 6. “At the end of the year (2014), we had just over $6.68 million in debt,” he said. “That’s composed of things that…

Demonstrators demand legislators move forward with nation’s first universal healthcare law Dozens of universal healthcare supporters held a sit-in at the Vermont statehouse on the evening of Jan. 8, following a colorful rally drawing hundreds. Numerous times members of the demonstrating group interrupted Governor Shumlin as he delivered his annual State of the State address.…

By Dom Cioffi While I’ve spent a good deal of my adult life mulling over the nuances of politics. I’ve never been political in action. Sure, I’ve voted in every election since I was eligible and made it a point to understand the important topics, but I’ve never been one to attend a rally, march…

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Rebecca Holcombe, the secretary of the Agency of Education, presented two scenarios to lawmakers on Friday. School A has 300 students and a long list of science classes and several science teachers, including a few Advanced Placement classes, while School B has 80 students with teacher offering a few classes…

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Senator Bernie Sanders welcomed President Barack Obama’s announcement that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will cut mortgage-insurance premiums as part of an effort to expand opportunities for first-time homebuyers. Annual fees the agency charges to guarantee mortgages will be cut by 0.5 percentage points from the current rate of 1.35 percent.…

By Dave Hoffenberg This weekend you have two opportunities to hear some great music at Slopeside Bar & Grille at Mountain Green, East Mountain Road in Killington. Kevin Howard makes his Killington debut, playing at Slopeside Friday and Saturday night at 9 p.m. Not only has he never played here, but he’s never been here,…