Dear Editor, With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, we are already reducing our carbon footprint during the pandemic by curtailing travel. But we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. A recent article in the respected journal Nature argues that animal agriculture is…

Dear Editor, We are in an intense fight to defeat the Coronavirus; to reduce passing it around and deaths.  If we really want to beat it, then we have to work together.  So here is my concern. First, a tiny list of some of what I believe the medical community considers part of essential health…

Dear Editor, Listen, people!  Vermonters have what it takes! We don’t run from problems, we run TO them. For generations we have prepared for this. Our tendency is to be courteous and law-abiding. We give each other space, naturally (and by the same token we don’t like to be pushed). We embody “Yankee ingenuity” —…

Dear Editor, The time is now for our Black River community. We are ready to make a big move. You have been hearing from us for three years now, in some form, about our mission to open an independent school in Ludlow, to serve any area student, tuition-free. A school whose independent status will allow…

Dear Editor, Everyone is having to deal with disruptions to their daily lives in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Many of us are out of work, or adjusting to working from home. Families of school-aged children especially are going through major changes right now. Parents are having to be teachers as well as moms and…

Dear Editor, On behalf of the Killington Active Seniors, I would like to thank the many people who have reached out to offer help and support to us in these unusual times. I would particularly like to acknowledge the Killington Locals Group on Facebook who contacted me early on. I remember thinking that we should…

Dear Editor, Unless activists stop the plan, thousands of acres of Green Mountain National Forest near Killington and Mount Snow will be logged. “They are coming hard with the chainsaws to Green Mountain National Forest,” said Chris Matera, a civil engineer and founder of Massachusetts Forest Watch, a citizens group formed to protect New England public…

Dear Editor, While Vermont communities were watching for signs the federal government would help them weather the current public health issues, 130 federal legislators had their sights set on something else. These members of Congress had the audacity to jointly petition the House Armed Services Committee, just four days after the White House declared a…

Local businesses that benefit from events and the recreational opportunities here in central Vermont, are a big part of the Mountain Times. Our pages are typically chock-full of photos and news related to the ongoings throughout our region — many of which happen at Killington, Pico and Okemo Mountains this time of year. However, due to…

Dear Editor, I’m trying to make sense of the recent VPR-Vermont PBS 2020 poll done in conjunction with Castleton University.  I’m not having much luck. A strong majority, 74%, favored raising the minimum wage. A majority, 56%, favored the family leave bill even if it meant a tax increase. But, the poll said, if the election were held today…

Dear editor, Today I received a thin envelope from Census 2020 in my mailbox. It instructed me to respond by internet. It took me all of three minutes (I do live alone). This is the first time the Decennial (10-year) Census has been able to take responses by internet. It can be done the next…

March 16, 2020 Dear Friends and Neighbors of OHF, The Coronavirus COVID-19 situation is changing daily. Many of you are preparing to stay home with your children due to the recent school closures and/or are trying to navigate the ability to continue to work while adhering to social distancing. We are right here with you.…

NOTICE FROM THE SELECTBOARD RE: COVID-19 March 10, 2020 The Town of Mendon Selectboard is monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, Mendon is reviewing information from the Vermont Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Emergency Management (VEM). Effective March 16, 2020, the Town of Mendon…

NOTICE FROM THE SELECTBOARD RE: COVID-19 March 16, 2020 The Town of Chittenden Select Board is monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, Chittenden is reviewing information from the Vermont Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Emergency Management (VEM). Effective March 16, 2020, the Town of…

TOWN OFFICE NOTICE The Rochester Town Office will be closed to the public due to efforts to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (CORVID-19) The office staff will be working regular hours to help with phone calls, emails and other concerns you may have. Please call ahead for dog licenses, marriage licenses or Birth and…