Dear Editor: Here are the eight best reasons for barbecuing veggie burgers and veggie hot dogs at this year’s Independence Day gatherings, rather than ground-up animal body parts: Focusing on traffic and fireworks safety, rather than food safety. Giving your eyes a break from reading food warning labels. Not sweating cancer-causing compounds if barbecue temperature…

Dear Editor, Two years ago, I wrote an op-ed that opened: “The Legislature can work with local communities to improve education, or it can push them around.” This is the fundamental choice that the governor and lawmakers continued to wrestle with this session. In 2015, the debate was over school district consolidation. This year, the…

Dear Editor, On behalf of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU) I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to some of the organizations that have offered support to our students and families throughout the 2016-2017 school year. Casella Waste Management has continually offered unwavering support to students and families particularly with the Community Clean Up…

Dear Editor, I am a father, husband, and small business owner, and my work is as a healthcare provider. Since going into business for myself in 2001, I have lived either without health insurance, or with uncertainty about insurance availability and affordability. My kids grew up enjoying team sports, skiing/riding, and biking, as so many…

Dear Editor, The staff, clients and board of Black River Good Neighbor Services offer their sincere thanks to the donors, customers and volunteers who made our semi-annual rummage sale a great success. We held the sale on May 19-21 at Fletcher Farm on Route 103 in Ludlow. Whether customers wanted clothes, furniture, household goods, books,…

Dear Editor, Our government is elected to support and further the well being and prosperity of its citizens. A high quality education system is essential for prosperity. Vermonters believe strongly that local control/decision making results in the highest quality schools, ones that provide the best education for its students and the future prosperity of its…

Dear Editor, Thank you to all who helped make the celebration of my birthday/retirement party the most special of special occasions. The Tweety Cake, the cupcakes, the wonderful gifts, cards, emails and calls from Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Florida, Newport were mind boggling. The surprise party at the Foundry of co-workers, old friends, family and…

Dear Editor, I write as the executive director of the Community of Vermont Elders (COVE), an organization that represents older Vermonters’ interests on the state level and has done so for more than three decades.  Given the economic realities of today, many older Vermonters struggle to live lives with dignity and respect in which their…

Dear Editor, Many thanks to the parade committee of the 53rd Loyalty Day parade: Sam Gorruso, Gerry Garrow, Dick Blongy, Bruce Baccei, Mark and Jean Prouty, Bill Flory, Don Choiniere, Jim Mills, Sharon Corey, Bonnie Burke, Suzanne Houston, Shella Mills, Tony and Donna Manfredi, Ron Senecal, Marie Fallon, Howard & Hurley Cavacas, Donnaleen Farewell and…

Dear Editor, Are you, too, fighting mad about Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord? Then let’s fight back three times a day by adopting an eco-friendly plant-based diet. Yes, our diet is pivotal. A 2010 United Nations report blames animal agriculture for 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, 38 percent of land…

Dear Editor, President Trump’s call to abandon the Paris Climate Agreement, slash federal funding for clean air and water, and reduce protections for threatened and endangered species have made national headlines and created grim reading for those who care about protecting the health of our people and our environment. But, as is often the case,…

Dear Editor, Thank you to the farmers who grew the food we served for our first Vermont Farmers Food Center Incubator Kitchen dining event held the weekend of May 20-21. Thank you also for the hard work of our volunteer kitchen crew who are helping the VFFC incubator kitchen promote the consumption of local food…

Dear Editor, The fiscal year 2018 federal budget proposed by the Trump administration would be devastating for the 48 million Americans who face hunger. In Vermont, this would have serious implications on the food security of the 1 in 4 people in our state who turn to the Vermont Foodbank for assistance each year. The…

Dear Editor, The Vermont State Labor Council AFL CIO unequivocally supports the Vermont National Education Association (NEA) in their struggle to protect collective bargaining rights. While Governor Scott’s administration has put forward a radical “plan” to save taxpayers a projected $26 million, this plan appears to be a cousin to Trump’s skinny budget proposal, half-baked…

Dear Editor, The sun broke through on our world around 6 a.m., April 16. A glorious day had dawned upon a continuing Killington celebration. On behalf of the Ecumenical Planning Committee for the Easter Sunrise Service last month, I want to express our sincerest gratitude for all the support for this annual event at the…