By John W. Casella Editor’s note: John W. Casella is the chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems Inc. From time to time, the good people of DUMP — Don’t Undermine Memphremagog’s Purity — gather in a room, wring their hands, and manufacture another round of hyperventilated boilerplate letters to the editor.   While…

  Dear Editor, It was probably inevitable in this partisan age that even a good-faith initiative to replace a nondescript state flag with a new design that more vividly captures a state’s history would — in the words of The New York Times — “prompt furious backlash that shows how politically risky such a change…

  Dear Editor,  We have all experienced nuisance animals such as hearing about skunks under porches, raccoons in the attic, foxes killing chickens, fisher preying on cats, coyotes attacking dogs and livestock, and volumes could be written about beaver complaints.  But, have you ever wondered why?  Why do these animals cause us trouble instead of…

  By Steven Berbeco Editor’s note: Steven Berbeco is the director of United Way of Northwest Vermont’s Mental Health Initiative, a collective impact project launched in early 2022. He lives in Winooski with his family and serves on the Winooski School Board.  Youth mental health has been a priority of our state government and many…

  Dear Editor, While Social Security was never intended to be the only source of retirement income, it is a core part of Americans’ retirement security and often the only long-term, inflation-proof source of income for many Americans. In fact, 38% of Vermont residents age 65 and older rely on the program for at least…

  Dear Editor, Illegally made fentanyl has had a devastating impact on local communities across the state. Drug prevention and education remain crucial to reducing overdose deaths and preventing addiction. Regardless of age, anyone can learn about the risks and speak about them.  Grandparents can help their grandkids by speaking about fentanyl and other drugs.…

  Dear Editor, Even before the pandemic Americans were starting to fall away from connecting with their neighbors. According to the Pew Research Center, social events among neighbors were starting to become relatively rare. “Among Americans who know at least some of their neighbors, a majority (58%) say they never meet them for parties or…

  Dear Editor, In 2019, after an extensive state inspection, Killington Elementary School was faced with the looming reality of a deteriorating Kids’ Kingdom in need of replacement. In the spring of 2021, Parents and Educators Aligned for Killington Students (PEAKS), the parent organization at Killington Elementary School (KES), began the endeavor of raising funds…

  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…