Discover More from This Category: Letters

Extend the right to a free press to Vt. student journalists

March 27, 2017
By Robbie Maher In the midst of the Trump administration, the rights of a free press are questioned daily in tweets and from the podium in the White House briefing room. Concern about First Amendment rights is nothing new inside the less-than-democratic halls of public high schools. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled multiple times…

Reflections on Trailblazers, the elementary school ski program

March 27, 2017
Dear Editor, Hi, Jonas here from KES, and I love Trailblazers. I only moved up here this year, and one of my favorite things about this new school is Trailblazers. And no, it’s not just because we get out of school early. It’s riding Killington with my friends, having fun, riding all of the mountain…

Affordable Care Act needs expansion, not repeal

March 27, 2017
Dear Editor, Last week, the Republicans in Washington revealed their plans for replacing the Affordable Care Act. Unsurprisingly, their plan would hurt poor and working-class people and women while creating billions of dollars of new tax giveaways to corporations and the wealthy. Simply defending the Affordable Care Act (popularly known as “Obamacare”) is not enough.…

An Irish welcome for Middle Eastern refugees

March 27, 2017
Dear Editor, In light of the so-called travel ban being effective the day before St. Patrick’s Day, I offer a perspective on the executive order: “Céad míle fáilte,” Irish for “a hundred thousand welcomes.” Irish immigrants who left home in the 19th century to find work and build a life in America were allowed to…

Windsor state senator challenged on education

March 27, 2017
Dear Editor, In his recent commentary in the Mountain Times, “Something to Write Home About,” Windsor County state senator Dick McCormack opines about “respecting the education fund.” He claims that he would never  raid the education fund for other purposes, due to his strong support for Act 60. Contrary to his present-day promise, McCormack fully supported…

Town meetings aren’t what they used to be

March 27, 2017
Dear Editor, Much has changed as I attended the town and school informational meetings for my 47th year as a resident of Killington. In the olden days years ago hundreds of residents took the day off to review the reports and future of our town. I can remember Oren Bates who owned a lot of…

ARC Rutland Area thanks Elks for Valentine’s Day dance

March 22, 2017
Dear editor, ARC Rutland Area, an organization that works with citizens with developmental disabilities and their families, wants to thank the Rutland Lodge of Elks #345 for sponsoring a Valentine barbecue and dance for approximately 95 members, family and friends of ARC Rutland Area on Sunday, Feb. 19. We would like to give special thanks…

First Annual Killington Irish Festival a success

March 22, 2017
Dear editor, If you were to ask a dozen people who attended the first annual Killington Irish Festival to sum up their experience at the event I would bet the stock reply would be, “It was Grand.” But of course, I’m a little biased. Under the direction of Tracy O’Dwyer Buckley (who did her mother…

Open letter to VPIRG on wind

March 8, 2017
Dear VPIRG, You asked for comments on the wind sound rules you would like to see in place. Since this is such an important issue to all Vermonters and your website wouldn’t receive comments, I had to seek other avenues to comment. These are statements you made to which I couldn’t help but respond. “Wind…

Smoke-free outdoor air

March 8, 2017
Dear Editor, As evidence of the dangers of secondhand smoke continues to rise, many communities have passed tobacco-free laws that cover outdoor areas such as parks, recreational facilities, beaches, outdoor workplaces, and public events such as county fairs and farmers’ markets. Locally, Rutland City passed a ban on all tobacco products in Rutland City parks…

Windsor state senator challenged on education

March 8, 2017
Dear Editor, In his recent commentary in The Mountain Times, “Something to Write Home About,” Windsor County state senator Dick McCormack opines about “respecting the education fund.” He claims that he would never  raid the education fund for other purposes, due to his strong support for Act 60. Contrary to his present-day promise, McCormack fully supported…

Strong working families mean a strong Vermont

March 8, 2017
Dear Editor, As a state legislator, my first responsibility is to stand up for a Vermont that works for all of us. I’m continually looking at what we can do to strengthen Vermont’s economy for future generations. I’m proud to be a lead sponsor of legislation that would create a family and medical leave insurance…

Vote to keep the Australian ballot

March 1, 2017
Dear Editor, In 2011, Killington made a historic decision. Citizens agreed that all who are registered to vote in Killington should be allowed to cast a ballot to decide town issues. The ballot is technically called an “Australian ballot.” Most people just call this voting. Killington Town Meeting Article 7 would restrict voting on town…

Vote no on article 7

March 1, 2017
Dear editor, I noted in the recent Killington town report that Article 7 involved a move to return to the town meeting floor vote for public questions. I guess I’m a little confused about why we would want to take a step back to a system that disenfranchised so many of our neighbors. Over the…

Keep the 1 percent local option sales tax

March 1, 2017
Top three reasons to consider Dear Editor, I am​ writing in support of the 1 percent local option sales tax, a tax I did not initially support years ago when first proposed, but one that I now find necessary and worthwhile. I am generally in favor of reduced taxes sent to Washington or Montpelier due…