Dear Editor, So, I heard on Fox News that President Biden may be banning meat to combat global warming. Then I remembered that Colorado Democrat Governor Jared Polis had issued a similar proclamation last month. My first reaction was, what kind of cockamamie idea will the Democrats cook up next. But then I read the…

Dear Editor, The Vermont Legislature is currently considering whether or not to tax the forgiven loan I received under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that offered my business, Sugarsnap Catering, the relief that kept us afloat over the last year.  I was aware as early as February 2020 that Covid-19 would impact my business. I…

Dear Editor, One of my favorite Vermont sayings, “You can’t get there from here,” applies to the double standard our state has when it comes to our policy on criminal justice reforms. Our progressive state, known for social reforms, known for breaking barriers, is far ahead of other states, I don’t doubt the truth of that.…

Dear Editor, Last night’s Oscar for best documentary went to Netflix’s trailblazing documentary, "My Octopus Teacher." The documentary chronicles a complex relationship between a man and the world’s most bizarre animal — an octopus. It further testifies to our highly conflicted relationship with non-human animals and the natural world. Most of us treasure our “pets”…

Dear Editor, America is the technology titan of the planet. America is the productivity engineer of the nations. America is the humanitarian giant of the globe. America is the policeman of the world. If so, why then is India burning its people to ashes night and day to remove the human fallout of our leadership…

Dear Editor, It has come to my attention that the Green Mountain state has become greatly incognizant of the issues of the U.S./Mexico border wall in regard to its environmental instability. Our local newspapers have failed to recognize the immense issues of the border wall even though they coincide with the ideals and values of…

Dear Editor, Imagine, for a few moments, Vermont’s future 50 years from now. What do our communities look like? How is our food grown? How happy are we in the places where we live, work, and play? How central are public health concerns, equity, and justice in our legislation and decision-making processes? And what are…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: The following is an open letter to the Vermont Legislature from 30 business associations in response to PPP taxability. We, the undersigned organizations, representing cumulatively more than 9,500 employers with more than 200,000 employees implore you to conform with the federal treatment of forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the…

Dear Editor, With Earth Day coming on April 22, we have reduced our carbon footprint by curtailing travel and our thermostat. We recycle. But we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. Yes, that. A recent article in The Guardian argues that animal agriculture is a major…

Dear Editor, We have just reached 412 parts per million, the highest level of CO2 in the atmosphere in 3 million years. According to the World Economic Forum, our threshold for dangerous global warming may be as soon as 2027-2042. The Pew Research American Trend Surveys show that 65% of us think the government is doing…

Dear Editor, Brandon Congregational Church announces the forthcoming retirement of The Reverend William L. Bartholomew, pastor and beloved friend. Serving the church and the community for over six years, Reverend Bartholomew made his plans known to the congregation in February of this year, writing “Our worship of God in word and music has lifted our…

Dear Editor, Our world has changed Like never before and it’s so sad Every day because our lives have changed So much in life today and so many families suffering Like never before and this killer virus is here to stay And we where all caught and unaware and it’s sadness In the air and…

Dear Editor, Republicans across the country are acting insulted by accusations that they are deliberately trying to reduce the number of people who vote, for political reasons. No, no, they claim, their nationwide push to make it harder to vote is merely a noble attempt to combat voting fraud. When confronted with evidence that their efforts…

Dear Editor, My name is Jesse Webber, I am the New England assistant team leader for The Fallen Outdoors. The Fallen Outdoors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the sole focus of getting veterans and service members into the great outdoors. We do this through coordinating and facilitating hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and camping trips…

Dear Editor, I’ve been watching the work of the Legislature closely this year as a business owner concerned with the economic toll the pandemic has taken on our state. The majority of the Legislature’s work this year has revolved around the pandemic and offering economic relief to Vermonters. There is real and justified concern in…