Dear Editor, When I talk to people who know I’m running for Rutland Town’s House seat (Rutland-4) in the Vermont Legislature, their initial responses are largely the same. “That’s great news,” they say. Then a pause. “But why run now? There’s the coronavirus pandemic, the economic fallout, the social justice issues. Nothing will be easy.”…

Dear Editor, As I pen this letter directed to the citizens of Rutland Town, the Legislature is still in session, working well past our normal adjournment date. For many weeks now, we have been working remotely from our homes. Due to the pandemic, “Zoom” and conference calls are a reality for all of your elected…

By Eric Booth and Paul Gambill Look at a particular artwork with others and personal opinions and positions arise; join in making an artwork with others and connections bloom. The state of our union is jumbled, tense with differing opinions and opposed positions—our strengths disoriented, our consciousness of unacceptable systemic oppressions rising. But the power…

By Sen. Bernie Sanders Editor’s note: The following is Sen. Sanders prepared remarks June 25, ahead of the Senate’s consideration of a proposed $740.5 billion military budget authorization. Sanders’ amendment to the National Defense Authorization. Mr. President, if there was ever a moment in American history when we needed to fundamentally alter our national priorities,…

Dear Editor, I was really peeved to see this proposal “…to eliminate the ‘slip lane’ at the intersection of West Hill Road and replace the intersection with a roundabout,”  rehashed in the Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) “Killington Road Master Plan” as reported last week. Creating a “roundabout” or “rotary” has been proposed before with…

Dear Editor, I was one of the many Killington employees abruptly laid off. I have fallen behind on my rent, electric what little money I’ve had goes towards food. I feel as if the walls are closing in. My family lives in Killington...My husband and I have both been out of work due to the…

Dear Editor, Here’s to a big “thank you!” to all the officers. Not only have you been on the front lines with Covid-19, but now rallies want to dismantle you. Black Lives Do Matter. Police Lives Matter. Our own liberty and justice matters, too. Our nation aspires to liberty and justice for all; that comes…

Dear Editor, Many of us who rent property in town are not opposed to a registration or permit process, including certification to the rules. There are 930 properties listed on the stort-term rental (STR) sites and over 300 more rentals which are not. Nearly 50% of the town budget is subsidized by rentals, through the…

Dear Editor, In last week’s Mountain Times, there was an article titled “Killington residents file petition against short-term rental regulations.” To be very clear, we, the Concerned Killington Taxpayers Association, that filed the petition on behalf of the voters, are not against short-term rental regulations. We are against “this version” of the short-term rental regulations…

By Cathy Resmer The demand for local news has never been greater, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) acknowledged to newspaper publishers at the start of a June 4 Zoom call organized by the Vermont Press Association. “But the market model — in order to fund it — has never been weaker. It’s just an unbelievable…

Dear Editor, The 2020 Lt. governor’s race is wide open. It presents an important opportunity to turn the tide for struggling Vermonters. Voters have a clear choice in the Aug. 11 primary election. Meg Hansen is the only Republican Lt. Governor candidate who can defeat the Progressive/Democrat nominee in November. Hansen has a medical degree,…

Dear Editor, This is the first time I have written a letter to a paper. There were three items in the June 3-9 edition of the Mountain Times that compelled me to write. 1) This goes first as it is the one I know the most about not because it is the most important. To…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: This was written as an open letter to the member of the Vermont General Assembly, June 10. As you build a plan to spend the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) monies that were allocated to Vermont, we hope you will use some basic guidelines in your decision making. Vermonters are struggling. These…

Find new ways to make your summer count By Secretary Anson Tebbetts As the weather gets warmer, Vermonters are comforted by the simple pleasures of summer, among them, fun with friends at Vermont country fairs and festivals. My own family has enjoyed fairs all over the state year after year. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has caused this summer’s…

By Angelo Lynn In this unique moment in the national debate over racial justice, particularly as it is being portrayed through acts of police brutality, we are all asked to do the hard work of looking within, to examine our own wells of systemic racism and flush them out. It’s a tall task and not…