By Emerson Lynn What passes for economic development in Vermont is largely ineffective and not suited for the 21st century, according to Peter Stromgren and Bill Schubart who co-wrote a recent op-ed that was widely circulated. They are correct in the sense that what we have – the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development…

By Lawrence Zupan “A, my name is Alice, and I come from Arlington, Vermont, and we sell... abortions.” The above variation on the children’s innocent alphabetical song game might well become reality if a bill currently under consideration by the State House Human Services Committee is actually passed into law. This ghoulish, grisly, and garish…

By Vermont Humane Federation On Christmas Day a Pittsford family dog was shot and killed by a man when he mistook the dog for a coyote. The man claims that he thought the coyote was chasing a deer. Neither party has yet to be cited for a legal violation by the state police. Eastern Coyotes…

Dear Editor, The real travesty to the news like that of recent similar instances that Green Mountain College will be closing due to economic problems is that meanwhile billions upon billions of federal taxpayer money goes to funding a bloated military budget for endless phony wars to generate endless military/industrial corporation profits. America is more…

Dear Editor, To our wonderful community at large: It’s been over nine years since I was hired to run the Rutland Youth Theatre as its leader. It has been an amazingly successful ride for all those years of making magic together and one I have done with love! At this time, however, I have decided…

By Kevin Theissen Tax Cuts and Jobs Act The nature and shape of the nation’s tax system inevitably influences the everyday decisions made by individuals and businesses alike. After the implementation of one of the most comprehensive reforms in over a generation, it is essential to review certain financial and investment strategies. For millions of…

By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul Had a unicorn pranced across the trail in front of me, I wouldn’t have been surprised. It was one of those sparkly winter days, when snow drapes fir trees and glints across the landscape. I was at the top of Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch, and an undercast made…

By Marguerite Jill Dye We switch back and forth between reality and fantasy, but it’s often confusing as to which is which. When we’ve reached our five-minute news limit on Trump’s turmoil and utter chaos, we leave CNN’s political pundits and MSNBC commentators. We’ve found a way to preserve our sanity by turning on Netflix…

By Dom Cioffi Testosterone is an interesting thing. The hormone, found in all humans, plays an important role in the body. In men, it’s thought to regulate sex drive (libido), bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm. It also has a profound effect on an individual’s mood.…

Photo courtesy tropidelic.com Tropidelic

Feb. 8-10—WHITE RIVER JUNCTION— Every February for the past two years, JAG Productions has invited African-American theatre artists to spend a week in White River Junction, to further the development of a new play or solo performance. Over the course of the one-week residency, three to five projects receive an intensive workshop, constructive feedback, and…

Saturday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.—BRANDON— Brandon Music welcomes for the first time Melissa D and Friends on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter Melissa D began her singing career as a painfully shy 6 year old in a southern Vermont church where, in those moments, quietness fell away and revealed a genuinely beautiful voice that…

Thursday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m.—RUTLAND— Harry Potter Book Night is coming to Phoenix Books Rutland! On Thursday, Feb. 7, join the fifth annual Harry Potter Book Night celebrated throughout the world, and Phoenix Books will host an unforgettable night themed around Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The fun kicks off at 6 p.m. On Harry Potter Book Night, share the wonder of J.K. Rowling’s unforgettable stories and, most…

Friday & Saturday, Feb. 8-9—9 p.m.— Kevin Miller’s band Smashed is set to take to the stages at the Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9 at 9 p.m. This is set to be a performance unlike any other, so grab your drinks and hold on tight. Kevin Miller is known for his former…

Saturday, Feb. 9, 3 p.m.— WOODSTOCK— The Middlebury New Filmmakers Fest Vermont Tour will play the Billings Farm & Museum on Saturday, Feb. 9. As part of the Woodstock Vermont Film Series, “All the Wild Horses” will screen at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., with the film’s director, Ivo Marloh, attending and participating in a Q&A following each screening with Jay…