By Jan Demers What happens when you are 1 percent over the eligibility limit? You need help and help is so close but the edge of the cliff is crumbling underneath you. She had come to our office 10 years ago and needed help paying for fuel. Year after year the cold of winter brought…

By Dick McCormack When the Legislature convenes in January, there will be an effort to amend the Vermont Constitution to alter the 1777 language prohibiting slavery, the first prohibition of slavery in North America. I think doing this is a bad idea.  As I understand it, supporters of amending object to the anti-slavery language because…

By Melissa Martin Santa Claus (a.k.a, St. Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa) is a Christmas figure celebrated for flying around the globe on Dec. 25 to give gifts to children. And the holly-jolly guy carries around a list of names with two columns: one labeled “good” and one labeled “bad.” “Santa Claus…

By Angelo Lynn Vermont’s congressional delegation lined up in support of a compromise $867 billion Farm Bill passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House and Senate earlier this week. The House approved the bill 386-47; the Senate approved it 87-13. The strong bipartisan support, analysts said, was spurred in part by pressure from farmers battered by…

By Euphemia Anderson Vermont is known for its picturesque pastures, endless seas of white pines, and its historically tight-knit communities. Being the sixth smallest state in the country geographically, with the second smallest population, it has maintained its open spaces without infringement for most of its existence. But there is something that is slowly killing…

By Erin Forbes The holiday season has arrived and brings not only celebrations, presents, and decorations but also concerns for pet safety. There are many dangers to be aware of as you begin to celebrate this year. These includes specific types of plants, certain foods, and even decorations. Chocolate is in great abundance during many…

By Cameron Russell I met Christine Hallquist for the first time on Feb. 10, 2018, just over nine months ago. I grew up in Vermont, graduated from UVM, and left the state for a while after college. After returning home, I was involved with political work in Vermont during the 2014 and 2016 cycles. Most…

By Angelo Lynn A generation or so ago, the American Dream was writ large in our cultural DNA. Symbolically, the dream came to mean owning an adequate house, having a family, a car and a job to pay for it all. In the 1950s-60s-70s, that seemed to be possible for a majority of Americans. The…

By Darius Seidle and Mark Jacobs Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The biggest cause of lung cancer is smoking, followed by radon and radiation exposure, and environmental pollution. Usually the symptoms of lung cancer don’t appear until the disease is already at an advanced, non-curable stage. Patients…

By Rob Roper On Oct. 23, Moody’s, the investors' credit service, downgraded Vermont’s bond rating from AAA to Aa1. This has significant implications for the state’s ability to borrow money and the cost of doing so. The reasons Moody’s cited for the downgrade were “low growth prospects from an aging population,” and “debt and unfunded…

By Angelo Lynn The new backcountry hut recently built at Chittenden Brook campground on the east side of Brandon Gap is more than a story about a few hikers and backcountry skiers wanting a comfortable shelter in which to camp. It’s a story about a new kind of tourism that could boost the area’s economy.…

By Angelo Lynn Not since President Richard Nixon has the United States faces the prospect of indicting a sitting president, and not since Nixon has a sitting president been implicated in a felony crime. In Trump’s case, this first felony allegation relates to failing to record the payoffs to two women with whom he had…

By Angelo Lynn Give Ethan Sonneborn, Bristol’s 14-year-old candidate for governor in the Democratic primary, a lot of credit. He entered the campaign because he thought it was important — crucial, even — to get involved and participate in the country’s democratic process. If individuals — each one of us — don’t care enough to…

By Secretary of State Jim Condos The Aug. 14 Vermont Primary Election is just two weeks away. While there has been some indication of lower voter turnout, I hope that as Vermonters, we can make sure that’s not the case in our state. Voting is the foundation of our democracy. When you go to the…

By Angelo Lynn Here’s a challenge for Vermont residents: Find an area dedicated to public use that needs cleaning up and work out a way to get it done. Why do it? Three reasons: First, it’s not that hard. Second, it’s rewarding. Third, it’ll make life in the neighborhood more pleasant and special. We mention this…