Dear Editor, I, “Champlain” Mike-Michel Messier have been a taxpayer/ratepayer and an active participant in Rutland Real Estate and Community for 40 years. I attended Rutland Elementary, MSJ, UVM (BS), St. Michael’s (MSA); CCV and Castleton. I have the intellect, skills, ability, desire, temperament, and work experience to be the next Rutland City Assessor. I…

Dear Editor, Since late January, there have been 22 avalanche deaths in America across 16 incidents in nine states, including a death in New Hampshire. It’s been one of the most deadly periods in recorded history. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see people get killed doing something they love. It makes these deaths very hard…

Dear Editor, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the William Thomas family of Rutland Town. Bill Thomas was a long time servant of the town who wore many hats over the years. His hard work on the Select Board and his dedication on the School Board will be remembered. When Thomas Dairy closed…

Dear Editor, For the past few years oligarchs on the right and anarchists on the left have turned father against mother, brother against sister, child against parent, neighbor against neighbor, and Christian against Christ. Seems that now 57% of Republicans consider Democrats “enemies” rather than “political opposition,” and 41% of Democrats consider Republicans “enemies” rather…

Dear Editor, Rutland County Court Diversion and Restorative Justice Center (dba Rutland County Restorative Justice Center) is celebrating 40 years of service! Since 1981, we have been continuously evolving to better serve our community by fostering partnerships, expanding programs, and actively pursuing best practices in restorative justice. Our mission is to engage community members in…

Dear Editor, OneCare, Vermont’s “Accountable Care Organization” (ACO), operates the “All Payer” (AP) system that Vermont adopted a few years ago.  It is frequently in the news these days, but even people who are heavily involved in health care issues don’t fully understand what it is, how it works, and why it supposedly benefits the…

Dear Editor, In late December, long after the election, columnist Don Keelan proposed the currently vacant Southern Vermont College as the site of the Trump presidential library.  My first reaction was laughter, which is probably why Keelan felt the need to assure readers it was a serious suggestion.  “Vermont,” he wrote, “starting with the governor,…

Dear Editor, On Feb. 6  I got my Covid-19 vaccine. Individual feelings about vaccination vary, and side effects may differ, but the event itself was low-key and smooth, with lots of supportive staff. I walked into the CVPS-Leahy entrance of the new outpatient building at Rutland Regional feeling ready to meet the unknown. Inside the…

Dear Editor, It is with tremendous gratitude that I write this letter to the residents of the town of Killington. It has been my great pleasure and honor to serve as your School Board member for the last 15 years. I joined the Board before my son entered the Killington Elementary preschool and he will…

Dear Editor, As you may know, I am running for Rutland City Assessor on Town Meeting Day, March  2. I am not into political endorsements. I will run on my proven experience in Real Estate mortgage financing, my experience doing title searches and RE closing settlements and my experience as a banker. My work in…

Dear Editor, Kids are one of our resources. Just like the farmers and farming and farms, Rutland is abundant in natural resources but our children are in trouble. The data collected prior to Covid showed that over 40% of Rutland children believe nobody cares about them. It gets worse from there. The 2017 Vermont Youth Risk…

Dear Editor, The Castleton University Alumni Association Board of Directors, who represent over 18,000 living alumni members, oppose any name change from Castleton University to Vermont State University. The historical significance of Castleton’s name cannot be overstated. Castleton was founded in 1787 four years before Vermont became the 14th state in the Union. Castleton University,…

Dear Editor, I felt it was vitally important to let Rutland City residents know where I stand on this issue. For background, while I attended Mt. Saint Joseph Academy, my mother and three siblings attended Rutland High School. From the beginning, I have been disturbed by how this issue has been handled — particularly in…

Dear Editor, Serving as a school board member can be a thankless undertaking. The hours take you away from your family. The issues sometimes can put you at odds with your friends and neighbors. Financial reward? Forget about it. Despite what may sound like an unappealing package, residents of our community step forward each year…

Dear Editor, America has become a trashy nation. We are embroiled in trashy politics. We have trashy law enforcement and trashy criminal justice, where the rich and white get better treatment. Our education systems have become trashy, lacking in civics education and focused as they are on low-bar academics. Religion has become trashy because it…