Dear Editor, When Donald Trump was in office, he and Mitch McConnell made three lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court. McConnell went so far as to defy Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying wish — that the next president appoint her replacement — by packing the Court with Amy Coney Barrett just eight days before the 2020…

By Kevin Theissen Inflation is all over the news and affects all of us. This includes older Americans that rely on their Social Security benefits. It’s important to know how Social Security keeps up with inflation and how the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is calculated. Social Security is a source of predictable, inflation-adjusted lifetime income available…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is looking for volunteers to join them for fun-filled weekends to get the camps ready for the 2022 season. This year, the GMCC Kehoe workcation weekend will be May 14-15 and the GMCC Buck Lake workcation weekend will be May 21-22. “We look forward to workcation weekend all winter…

State police responded to what was believed to be an explosive device in a basement in West Rutland on May 8. Police said a citizen on Franklin Street had been cleaning out a residence basement and discovered the device. After investigation, police said the item was likely a World War II-era Japanese hand grenade. The…

Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC by state health departments. As stated by the CDC, “There is no way of knowing exactly how many people get Lyme disease. A recently released estimate based on insurance records suggests that each year approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for…

Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. — WOODSTOCK— Sustainability and self-reliance are not just buzz words at Billings Farm & Museum. This season’s Billings Backyard Series offers a diverse lineup of workshops for adults interested in gaining new skills for sustainable living. From techniques in thrifty and smart cooking, to innovative ways to dye yarn,…

By Curt Peterson Tim Johnson, a Select Board member of 20 years in Barnard, lost his seat to former town lister Richard Lancaster at Barnard’s Town Meeting. Johnson initially accepted the outcome as “democratic and fair.” He told the Mountain Times, “My loss was due to very low attendance.” About 60 voters were present —…

By Victoria Gaither Olympic mogul skier Hannah Soar is on a high after spending a week in Washington, D.C., visiting the president and first lady. Soar, along with 600 fellow Olympians and Paralympians from the Tokyo 2020 Summer and Beijing 2022 Winter games, traveled to Washington, D.C., and was welcomed by President Joe Biden and…

By Brooke Geery Editor’s note: This is the seventh part of a series called “Chasing Vertical” where we chat with the skier or rider who wins the monthly vertical feet challenge at Killington Resort. Vertical feet are tallied on the Killington Resort app and a real time leaderboard is accessible to all. When the lifts…

Two teams from Windsor High School took top honors at the first annual Greenway Institute Sustainable Engineering Challenge on May 6. The event was hosted and supported by Norwich Technologies, a solar company based out of White River Junction. Fern Day, Sydney Perry, and Madison Lawyer of Windsor High School claimed the prize for best…

The May 3 luncheon meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) featured Dr. Linda Thomson speaking to Rotarians and guests. Her topic was “Changing old mumpsimus to new sumpsimus,” or, hanging on to old beliefs even in light of new scientific research. She was referring to the scientifically proven positive effects of medically overseen hypnotism.…

By Dom Cioffi In the city where I grew up, Sears, Montgomery Wards, Grant's, and Ames department stores dominated the playing field in terms of retail options. These four “everything stores” covered most household needs, from clothing to lawn mowers to sporting equipment. But as the years passed, they all slowly disappeared. Some of this…

Vermonters turned in almost 3.5 tons of unused, unwanted and expired medication on the 22nd nationwide prescription drug take-back day Saturday, April 30. The total of 6,950.1 pounds collected eclipsed every previous prescription drug take-back day except for the event held in spring 2021. “The continued success of this program is a testament to how…

The Chaffee Art Center is excited to announce that it will be creating pollinator gardens of native plants behind the mansion on the grounds near the Carriage House. The gardens will be an education resource for students of all ages for school tours, residents and visitors to the area. They will create a beautiful location…

By Merisa Sherman In Japan, citizens of all kinds take pilgrimages to bless aspects of their lives. Business will travel to remote temples to have a monk bless their financial futures; old women will come, panting with each step, so they may have a blessing for their grandchildren; and the young come without knowledge, looking…