Discover More from This Author: Polly

Vote ‘no’ on Prop. 5

January 26, 2022
Dear Editor, The Vermont Medical Society states that “no abortion providers in Vermont perform elective abortions in the third trimester.” However, their claim seems terribly disingenuous considering that prop 5 sets no time limits, but allows for unrestricted, unregulated abortion for any reason right up to the moment of birth. If they feel so strongly…

Enjoying togetherness on the ride up

January 26, 2022
By Merisa Sherman We shuffle though the lift line, our neckies pulled up over our noses in the crowd. I look over one shoulder, then the other, to see if we have moved up any relative to the strangers on either side of us. I work my skis forward, just a bit, unable to break…

Nominate a tree hero

January 26, 2022
Do you know an individual or community group that has demonstrated a strong commitment to conserving, restoring or celebrating Vermont’s forests and trees? If so, consider nominating them for a 2022 Vermont Tree Steward Award. The awards are presented annually by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (VT UCF) to promote the importance of…

State adopts rules for new Americans’ licensure in professional fields

January 26, 2022
Sec. of State Jim Condos announced Jan. 19 that the Office of Professional Regulation’s (OPR) has adopted foreign credentialing rules, which create a pathway for foreign-trained individuals to become licensed in their field in Vermont. The new rules became effective Nov. 19 and come in response to an identified barrier to licensure faced by many…

Ludlow rotary delivers emergency aid to Kentucky tornado victims

January 26, 2022
On a recent weekend with threatening storms and frigid temperatures, Ludlow Rotarian Kim Benson Lampert and her husband, Jon headed south to Elizabethtown, Kentucky to deliver a truck and trailer loaded with goods for storm-ravaged Kentuckians who had lost everything. Lampert said, “I am overwhelmed by the support of our club and community members as…

GMP requests base rate increase

January 26, 2022
If approved, 2.34% increase becomes effective Sept. 30, 2023 Green Mountain Power (GMP) filed is seeking a 2.34% increase in base rates starting Oct. 1, 2022. If approved by the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC), the new rates would be in effect until Sept. 30, 2023. “This allows us to invest in our people and…

Chris Ettori named regional director of Vermont Adult Learning’s Rutland Office

January 26, 2022
Chris Ettori has been named regional director of Vermont Adult Learning’s Rutland office. He previously worked as assistant director at CCV for over twelve years as well as a faculty member teaching classes in foundational math, computer applications, customer service, and effective workplace communications. Ettori is very active in the Rutland community, having served on…

Golden opportunity

January 26, 2022
By Rep. Jim Harrison Last Tuesday, Jan. 18, Governor Phil Scott began the week with his annual budget address to the Legislature. In that speech, he called on lawmakers to work with his administration to pass a budget that was transformational by strategically using the federal funds from last year’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).…

Prolific Brandon volunteer is in need of a kidney donor

January 26, 2022
By Angelo Lynn Mei Mei Brown, one of Brandon’s best known and prolific volunteers needs a kidney, but the message she wants to convey is to broaden the awareness of the process around organ transplants and the vital importance it has to those in need. “It’s very touching and humbling” to be in the position…

Holocaust Remembrance Day marked with screening, Q&A with filmmaker of ‘Petit Rat’

January 26, 2022
Watch on demand from Jan. 20-27, Q&A with the filmmaker held on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7:45 p.m. via Zoom “‘Petit Rat' is a portrait of three women facing their lost dreams,” explained director Wagman. Catch the film (screening on demand from Jan. 20-27) by visiting go.middlebury.edu/petitrat. On Thursday, Jan. 27, Middlebury College’s Film and…

Selecting an easier-to-train dog breed

January 26, 2022
Training is one of the most effective ways to keep companion animals safe and secure. When prospective pet owners begin looking for a new dog, one of the first thoughts that may come to mind is trainability and whether certain breeds are more readily trainable than others. The pet food manufacturers at Honest Kitchen indicate…

Sifting through seed catalogs

January 26, 2022
By Andrea Knepper Nothing brightens a dreary winter afternoon like a crisp, colorful seed catalog arriving in the mailbox. The anticipation of sunshine to come and daydreams of a bountiful harvest are welcome during these seasonally short days. I have been caught up in the excitement and found myself with enough seed packets in my…

Comforting chicken soup

January 26, 2022
As weather chills, that dip in temperature is often accompanied by cold and flu season. Many people are anxious to avoid feeling under the weather this time of year, and to help ward off many illnesses, one may only need to look to the kitchen stove. Chicken soups and other soup recipes long have been…

NatureRx, the nature prescription

January 26, 2022
A community health wellness program Let’s talk about the beautiful parks and trails and the abundance of nature-related activities in Rutland and surrounding counties. Then, let’s talk about how outdoor activity can be a prescription for your health. Put them together and you get a movement called NatureRx. Community Health has partnered with Come Alive…

Good bag and a clear night

January 26, 2022
By Gary Salmon You know that there is a big difference between waiting for spring and embracing winter. One involves a warm fire, a good book/Netflix, hot chocolate, and windows to the world both inside and out — a certain degree of passivity if you will. However, with miles of trails, or not, and thousands…