By Jeffrey Reel Editor’s note: Jeffrey Reel is a resident of Hartland. Critical thinking has been described as an ability to question; to acknowledge and test previously held assumptions; to examine, interpret, evaluate, reason and reflect; to make informed judgments and decisions; and to clarify, articulate and justify positions … thinking carefully about a subject or idea, without allowing feelings or opinions, exclusively, to affect us.…

  Dear Editor,  August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Itching is a very common problem in pets and  can drastically affect their quality of life. Itchy pets are one of the top reasons that people  seek medical care for their beloved furry family member.   There are a myriad of reasons that a pet can…

    Dear Editor, Blue Cross’s Vermont Health Connect premiums have risen by over 90 percent during the last nine years.  This year Blue Cross and MVP are asking for double digit increases.  Is this sustainable? In reviewing a book calling for a total overhaul of the U.S. health insurance system, MIT’s Peter Dizikes noted…

  By Tom Rogers Editors note: Tom Rogers, of Stowe, works for The Nature Conservancy in Vermont.  Vermont’s increasingly destructive flooding disasters are happening because our rivers are doing exactly what we have spent more than 200 years intentionally designing them to do — rush water off the land as quickly as possible.  As the…

  Dear Editor After two and a half years of investigation, it has been confirmed that Donald Trump, the former  president of the United States, has been indicted. This development comes as a relief to many  who have witnessed the consequences of his actions over the course of his term in office and the  consequences…

  Dear Editor, Let me start by saying that the only “facts” I have on the recent issues with Killington Fire & Rescue are from what I’ve read in the Mountain Times, so what has been reported is all that I “know.” From what I’ve read, a number of department members, most if not all…

  Dear Editor, Discussion has ensued on two provisions following the Plymouth Select Board’s decision in May 2023 to amend elements of the Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordnance currently in place.  These changes were intended to make the regulations more reasonable and to encourage better compliance.   Please vote yes to support the amended Short-Term Rental…

  By Thomas Greene Editor’s note: This commentary is by Thomas Christopher Greene, a novelist, founder of Vermont College of Fine Arts, and currently the owner of Hugo’s Bar and Grill in Montpelier.  Governor Scott: I write this as a fan of yours. I’m a progressive Democrat, yet I have voted for you. I admired…

  Dear Editor, The pandemic stimulus provided by the federal government and The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have injected close to $6.7 trillion into the U.S. economy over a three-year period. This is on top of the annual budget spending by the federal government. Wow! Adjusting for inflation, this exceeds what this country spent in…

  Dear Editor, Another Florida headline passed by the screens of millions last week, making waves with captions like “a big step backwards” and “new teaching standards say that African Americans benefited from slavery.”  These standards have changed the narrative of slavery into an incorrect message that undermines the brutality of the time. They not…

The bloated Pentagon budget passed again By U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders Editor’s note: On Wednesday, July 26, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate explaining why he was voting ‘no’ on the $886 billion defense budget. The Senate voted 86-11 in support of the bill the next day. Sanders’ remarks,…

  By Dr. Dan Barkhuff Editor’s note: Dr.  Dan Barkfull is an emergency department physician at UVM Medical Center. After years of Covid, I’d gotten used to the respiratory complaints. At the height of it, it felt like every patient I saw in the UVM emergency department was there for shortness of breath and fatigue.…

  Dear Editor, As we once again start prioritizing repairs to major infrastructure damaged by severe flooding, pumping water out of our basements and begin searching our state, town and personal budgets for the needed funds, there is a question we need to ask ourselves. Are we ready to finally treat the climate crisis as…

  Dear Editor, Editor’s note: This letter was originally sent to Vermont’s two U.S. senators: Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders. I am moved to write to you since I am a Quaker. I have a request for both of you. I hope that you can get some help in the Senate to introduce the idea…

  Dear Editor, It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce the passing of my best friend, Buddy on July 10, 2023. If you ever skied out of the Rock Star parking lot at Killington, you probably saw Buddy on his bus and cruising the lot looking for treats (thanks "Everyday Lori").…