By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org A revised revenue forecast for fiscal year 2016 puts the state back in the black. State economists say the general fund tax receipts will grow by 3 percent in the coming year, or by $40 million. At the beginning of 2015, revenues were down by $18 million. The revised forecast, presented…

Dear Editor, Concrete and asphalt do not constitute progress. Progress is having the vision to reserve fertile and open land for any number of agricultural purposes. Progress is assisting former vibrant downtowns to become healthy again by focusing economic activity and workers and customers in these already existing downtown centers. Think Randolph and Bethel. Progress…

Dear Editor, I would like to reply to Richard Kropp’s letter to the editor from June 17. Mr. Kropp suggests our town is not using the options tax money to reduce taxes as Rutland Town does and questions the golf course debt, as well as the repair and maintenance of assets such as the pool…

By Frankie L. Trull Blind mice are famous in nursery rhymes—and maybe soon, in scientific laboratories. A team of Swiss scientists recently restored sight in blind lab mice by injecting new, light-sensing cells into their eyes. They’re working to develop a cure for acquired blindness in people. Today, millions of mice are bred for medical…

By Deb Markowitz, Secretary of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources When Vermonters see a problem, we work to fix it. That is why earlier this year Vermont signed onto two historic climate agreements which will strengthen our state’s resolve to combat carbon pollution and transition to a new clean energy economy. In April, Governor Shumlin…

Dear Editor, My letter to the editor in the July 16-22 edition was a simple question of transparency. I asked why the auditor’s report showed (on page 9) a $815,491 debt from Irene. Nowhere did I mention this money was due to an outside entity. In Selectboard Chair Patty McGrath’s response last week (the July…

Dear Editor, On June 2, 2015, Governor Shumlin signed into law Act 46 of 2015. This landmark education legislation calls on school boards and administrators to lead changes in their districts and supervisory unions that will result in greater opportunities for students, increased efficiency in delivering services, and more sustainable governance structures. Act 46 provides…

Submitted J.P. MURPHY Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. — FAIR HAVEN — Irish band J.P. Murphy will be performing in the Fair Haven Park on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. as part of the summer music festival. With a tremendous energy, J.P. Murphy will engage the audience in many of their songs. The group performs…

Submitted ALISSA JOHANNSEN RUBIN Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. — SHREWSBURY — Alissa Johannsen Rubin, New York Times Paris Bureau chief and Spring Lake Ranch trustee, will be speaking at the Shrewsbury Meeting House on Thursday, Aug. 6, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Rubin, who joined the New York Times in 2007, will explore the question of…

Courtesy of Okemo Mountain Resort Hops in the Hills guests enjoy samples of their favorite brews in complimentary festival glasses. Aug. 7-9 — LUDLOW — Okemo Mountain Resort will host its annual Hops in the Hills Beer and Wine Festival, a Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten summer event, Aug. 7 through 9. Jackson Gore will be…

Submitted MASTER CANTOR MELANIE COOPERMAN Friday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. — WOODSTOCK — The musical focus this summer continues at Congregation Shir Shalom in Woodstock with of a full weekend of music and song led by Cantor Melanie Cooperman, a rising star within Reform Judaism. A native of Minneapolis, Cooperman earned both her bachelor’s and master’s…

By Maxx Steinmetz Demonstrations of arts of all kinds will be on display at Chaffee’s Art in the Park, Aug. 8-9. Aug 8-9 — RUTLAND — The Chaffee Art Center is pleased to present its 54th Annual Art in the Park fine art & craft festivals for 2015 being held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9…

Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. — ROCHESTER — Don’t miss the only Rochester contra dance of the of the summer! The dance will be held at Pierce Hall on Friday, Aug. 7,  from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Music will be provided by The Turning Stile, featuring Joanne Garton (fiddle) and Aaron Marcus (piano, concertina, banjo, foot…

Sunday, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. — ORWELL — Time for another hike into history at the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell. Stephen Zeoli is back to lead another of his popular hikes on Sunday, Aug. 9, starting at 2 p.m. Zeoli will point out archaeological remains from this significant Revolutionary War fortification and tell you…

Friday, Aug. 7 — Granville, N.Y. — The Slate Valley Museum welcomes families with youth in grades K-12 to unleash their inner artist and create their own chalk drawings in a friendly art competition. During the week of Aug. 1-7, youth are invited to make chalk art on their sidewalks or driveways, take photos of their work,…