Dear Editor, The Killington Search and Rescue Team and the KSAR Foundation would like to thank the greater Killington community for their support during this year’s fundraising drive. Between The Blast Off Party and the town of Killington’s July 4th celebration, we raised over $6,500 for the KSAR Foundation. We also received donations from businesses…

Dear Editor, This week, President Biden will pardon two turkeys at the White House, a symbolic gesture of mercy. Yet, over 224 million turkeys endure a far grimmer fate every year in the U.S. These gentle birds are raised in overcrowded sheds thick with toxic fumes, their beaks and toes clipped to prevent stress-related aggression.…

Dear Editor, The recreational trapping season in Vermont begins on the fourth Saturday of October each year and lasts through March 31st. For some animals, like otters and beavers, this season lasts for five long months. There are no limits on the number of animals a trapper may kill or on the number of traps…

Dear Editor, A Latin teacher from junior high school once told me that the word “trivia” comes from roots, meaning three roads. The idea was that people would come together where roads meet to exchange small pieces of information — trivia. Here in Vermont, we certainly swap news on street corners, and I’ve had my…

Dear Editor, Thank you to the Windsor District voters for electing us to represent you in the Vermont State Senate. We are honored to serve and appreciate your vote of confidence. We are grateful to our many volunteers who helped make this victory possible. Thank you for hosting our lawn signs, writing letters to the editor, canvassing…

Dear Editor, In October, I announced my campaign to be Vermont’s next Speaker of the House. Today, after an election that eliminated the House supermajority, I want to acknowledge the challenges we face, share why I’m stepping forward and outline my vision for how the Legislature can shift priorities and address Vermonters’ most urgent needs.…

Dear Editor, We hope all campaign signs will disappear after Nov. 5. We also hope they will NOT end up in a landfill. Most, if not all, of the signs are plastic, which means they can’t be recycled. However, they can be reused or re-purposed. Think roofing or siding material, killing invasives in your garden,…

Dear Editor, The first thing to understand about tariffs, that no voters were ever told on the campaign trail, is that the producers in the sending country (China, for instance) do not pay for the tariff. The U.S.-based companies that receive the goods (the U.S.) must pay the tariff. Why is this? First, a nation…

Dear Editor, There is a problem with our food systems. The recent E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has led to illness, hospitalization, and even death. The CDC, FDA, and other health agencies are investigating, with fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties as the suspected sources of contamination. This incident isn’t…

Dear Editor, (In response to Matthew Cecere’s commentary, “The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact could give Vermont voters more impact”). I’m amazed to see an educator come out in favor of such a ridiculous concept, and to also be in favor of abolishing the Electoral College. No, the Electoral College is not perfect. But, it is…

Dear Editor,  There is no simple solution to the challenges that Vermonters face. There needs to be a delicate balance between what, on the surface, seems like appealing short-term solutions to the cost of living for all Vermonters versus the vision for long-term planning that creates financial stability and growth into the future.  Do not…

Dear Editor, In an October 23 letter to the Mountain Times, Steve Berry wrote, “John Kerry stated at a World Economic Forum panel, ‘Our First Amendment stands as a major block (to getting things done).’”  You may wonder why Mr. Berry uses such odd syntax, placing part of the quote in parentheses. Maybe it’s because…

Dear Editor, I’m Andrea Murray, and I am running for State Senate in Windsor District because we must make Vermont more affordable. I’m a farmer in Weathersfield, a businesswoman, and a mom struggling too - with a soaring cost of living, high property taxes, and feeling career politicians are not hearing us. It’s now time…

Dear Editor, There’s a reason you see lots of signs for Alison Clarkson, Becca White, and Joe Major now: They are the cream of the crop running for the Vermont State Senate, and Windsor County voters recognize these stellar candidates. These 3 share a deep understanding of our communities’ needs and have records as public servants showing…

Dear Editor, As we enter the last weeks of this election cycle, it is important to recognize the characteristics that are most critical in a candidate — integrity, honesty, transparency, and a genuine desire to be sensitive to and to understand the needs of the people of Vermont. There can be no ulterior or self-serving…