By Rep. Pattie McCoy Editor's note: Rep. Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) represents Poultney and Ira in the Vermont House where she serves as House minority leader. I want to talk to you about three numbers: 4,000, 60,000 and 221 million. Four thousand is the number of military retiree families in Vermont who are fully taxed on…

Dear Editor, With Covid-19 and a harsh winter as a backdrop, I’m writing to provide two bright spots that speak to the positive nature of this community. One is a blood drive fully booked more than a month in advance, the other a fundraiser for the Community Cupboard that has already inspired dozens of donations…

By Governor Phil Scott Editor’s note: Gov. Scott delivered the following remarks as part of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition (VHCC) Legislative Week kick-off, Wednesday, Feb. 9: It is good to be with you to talk about some of the most important issues facing our state, like housing, supporting rural Vermont and protecting our…

Dear Editor, Now that I have announced my candidacy for lieutenant governor as a Republican for our great and beautiful state of Vermont, I have many questions for the current leadership of our Legislature. We need to learn from those missteps from this session and the past. We need to do a better job for…

By Rep. Jim Harrison Last week saw the first veto of the session by Governor Phil Scott. The legislation was H.157, which creates a new registry for home contractors. Given some of the bills headed his way, this may not be the only veto this session. And with Republicans only holding 46 seats in the…

Dear Editor, Changing our Vermont Constitution is no small matter. The last time chapter 1 of our constitution was amended was in 1786. The stated purpose of Pop. 5 is to ensure that every Vermonter is afforded personal reproductive liberty, in the article itself it uses the words, “The right to personal reproductive autonomy.” There…

By Katy Savage Anthony Cosentino lay in a hospital with a pump connecting his leg to his heart to keep him alive. His muscle mass was gone and 90% of his heart had stopped functioning, but he remembers telling his doctors, “I’m going to ski again.” Killington has been his go-to ski place since he…

By Nadie VanZandt Gardeners in cold climates have learned to extend the growing season by building greenhouses. As early as 30 A. D., reports of greenhouses appeared in the writings of the famous Pliny the Elder, Roman savant and scientific authority of his time. Pliny described specularia as garden beds fitted with wheels that were…

A popular advertising campaign suggests the country runs on coffee. However, a more accurate assessment may suggest the nation runs on digital devices. From smartphones to laptops to tablets to desktop computers, there isn’t a day that goes by that the average person doesn’t rely on a computerized device in some shape or form. Statista…

Sweet potatoes are a beloved side dish come the holiday season, as they make for the perfect complement to turkey and roasts. Despite the popularity of sweet potatoes, some misconceptions about them have prevailed. The terms “sweet potato” and “yam” often are used interchangeably, but they actually are two different plants. Sweet potatoes, according to…

Feb. 19-27 — BRATTLEBORO — Presented by the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and Retreat Farm, the Artful Ice Shanties outdoor exhibit is a place-based celebration of artistic talent, creative ingenuity, and the rich history of ice fishing at the Retreat Meadows. The Artful Ice Shanties exhibit will be displayed in and around Farmhouse Square…

Saturday, Feb. 19 — RUTLAND — The Vermont State Fair’s 3rd annual snowmobile festival will be held at the Vermont State Fairgrounds at 175 South Main St. [Route 7] in Rutland on Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In 2021, we had over 120 vintage and newer models on display. This year with…

Feb. 18-21 — Join birdwatchers around the world for the Great Backyard Bird Count. You can count on any or all of the four days for little as 15 minutes, or as long as you want. This is a great activity for families (and shut-ins)! Count birds in your backyard or your favorite nearby location.…

Are you ready for Mardi Gras? Acclaimed New Orleans vocalist and trombone player Glen David Andrews is touring the Northeast with his high energy band and is coming to a few venues in our area: Lost and Found in Albany, New York on Fri. Feb. 18, The Red Fox in Bondville, Vermont on Sat. Feb.19,…

Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 9 a.m.—VIRTUAL—Recovery Vermont invites you to join in for Recovery Day, an annual advocacy celebration to honor the power of substance use disorder and addiction recovery. Recovery Day will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom. Recovery Day is for everyone — from recovery…