By Senator Dick McCormack The present policy of the state, per court order, is to allow physically present visitation between foster children and their natural parents, despite the COVID epidemic. I support a change in policy to require applicable families to honor the Governor’s isolation protocol, allowing for exceptions. My thinking is as follows: The…

Dear Editor, The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global shift in how we function as a society. From quarantine orders, to face masks, to social distancing, we are all getting used to the “new normal.” However, there are two sectors, quietly working in the background, almost invisible to the public, but which are the basis…

Dear Editor, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month across the country. This unprecedented time for all Vermonters brings out the best in us all and also can elevate the risk for child abuse, domestic violence and increased substance abuse. Stress is a factor we as Vermonters are doing and can do a lot to decrease…

Dear Editor, With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, we are already reducing our carbon footprint during the pandemic by curtailing travel. But we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. A recent article in the respected journal Nature argues that animal agriculture is…

By Jim Condos, Vermont Secretary of State The current public health crisis has been a serious test for us all, and it’s also testing our democracy and how we respond in a crisis. Just last week the Supreme Court voted 5-4, along ideological lines, to reject an extension of absentee ballot return deadlines for Wisconsin…

By Faith Gong I’ve seen several articles lately in which mental health professionals explain the emotions that humankind is experiencing right now — when the worldwide death toll from the COVID-19 virus continues to rise and the social distancing guidelines under which we have been placed stretch out indefinitely — as grief. Collective grief. If…

Vermont’s Congressional delegation (Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch) announced Thursday, April 9, that the state’s 11 federally qualified health centers received a total of $8.7 million for COVID-19 relief. This federal funding was provided to community health centers as a result of the CARES Act, the federal stimulus enacted last…

RUTLAND—In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship application deadline has been extended to May 1, 2020 so more qualified candidates can still apply. In its fourth year, this scholarship is possible thanks to the generosity of Rutland area physicians, retired physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. The scholarship is intended…

As the U.S. COVID-19 health crisis continues, many businesses, organizations, and schools adapt to utilizing temporary telework arrangements. Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns video conference app users of recent “Zoom-Bombing” where hijackers infiltrate the Zoom session. Zoom’s founder and CEO Eric Yuan said in a blog post Wednesday, April 1, that the company went from…

Come Alive Outside has created a new 5x5 Challenge for people to complete five  healthy outdoor activities a week for five weeks while we are all social distancing! Participants can download an activity guide and tracking sheet at comealiveoutside.com/5x5. The challenge encourages everyone to get active outside, grow something edible, learn with their hands in…

By Merisa Sherman My internal alarm clock woke up a little bit extra that morning and I could feel the change in the air even from inside our house. Instead of pulling the blankets back around me, I quietly snuck out of bed and down the stairs. The curtains were down in the main room,…

Tradeoffs when taking care of business by Dom Cioffi I told my son at the start of mass quarantine that this was not going to be a vacation, that we — individually and as a family — would be getting things accomplished throughout the duration of our home confinement, no matter how long it lasted.…

By Kevin Theissen The American Public Education Foundation recently found that Vermont schools are woefully short in helping prepare students to be financially literate. With a grade of “D,” many students are not learning to handle their finances smartly, avoid debt, better understand the economy and learn to make good decisions about their life and…

The Outside Story By Olivia Box One spring-like afternoon this winter, I was skiing near Middlebury, Vermont. The trail followed Otter Creek, weaving through cedar patches, hemlock groves, and past the occasional hardwood. It was one of those days where you can shed a few layers and still break a sweat when the sun spills…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out in the wake of the Easter rituals, under the light of a Capricorn Moon. This week, I decided to keep it simple and look at the aspects that will be in play for the next seven days. This approach paid off…