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…

Dear Editor, As faith leaders from diverse theological backgrounds and denominations, we represent a variety of beliefs and viewpoints on complicated, moral issues. We write as one religious community, and we write to stand with Vermont’s women. We come together in support of women’s reproductive liberty and a woman’s right to choose. At the heart…

Dear Editor, Have you or someone you know experienced hearing loss? Did an audiologist recommend that you get hearing aids? Were you shocked to discover that hearing aids cost from $2,000 to $6,000? Were you surprised to find out that your health insurance plan, if you had one, didn’t cover hearing aids? Did you struggle to…

Dear Editor, Wow! Yesterday was a beautiful Monday, 65 degrees and nothing but sunny skies. Being downtown it was terrific to see so many people out and about. Couples of all ages walking along holding hands, parents pushing strollers, restaurants with their tables full outside, people walking their dogs and a couple of musicians with…

Dear Editor, There is nothing that marks out America as a dead democracy more than our treatment of citizens in need of loans to meet basic human needs. The financial industry has had its knees on the necks of the orphans of our luxury society since the 1970s, when the industry purposefully and gleefully unraveled…

Dear Editor, “The evidence is clear,” stated Mary Newman, head of school at The Sharon Academy (TSA). “Starting the school day later makes a big difference to high school students.” For years, educators have known that starting the school day later helps teenage students’ sleep patterns, mental health, and academic achievement, explained Newman. “There is…

Dear Editor, False prophets are not just a fixture of ancient times. In April of 2020, experts predicted that as many as 60,000 people might die from Covid-19 in this country. People reacted in disbelief. In a nation with such great technology, a fervent commitment to rule of law, churches inspiring neighborly behavior, and schools,…