Dear Editor, With state and national elections looming, marijuana legalization has taken somewhat of a back seat to the issues of war, terrorism, the shaky economy (Vermont’s and the country’s), huge deficits (ditto), the Brexit, the Zika virus, opiate addiction … the list goes on. The citizens of Maine and Massachusetts are dealing with contentious…

Dear Editor, I’d like to invite the public on a real tour of Kingdom Community Wind in Lowell, Vt. This educational tour is not the pretend walk Mr. Lindholm references in his letter to the editor, published in the Aug. 17-23 edition. These tours take place each summer from June through August and are open…

Dear Editor, Born and raised in Castleton, I have had the privilege of being involved in many different initiatives throughout the state. This past year—right after graduating college—I participated in the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization Competition and worked at the American Legion Auxiliary Green Mountain Girls State as well as the Governor’s Institute on the…

Dear editor, Folks, it’s high time for Green Mountain Power (GMP) to host a walking tour, with news reporters, top state officials, ecology scientists and politicians, all walking on foot along the entire four-mile wind turbine array of 21, 459-foot tall turbines that they own on Lowell Mountain. I was up there recently, and Vermonters…

Dear Editor, Bruce Lisman knows how Vermont works and it begins with more taxes. Even the carbon tax idea will put more home heating oil customers into the mix. It is a terrible idea. Now we learn that the Vermont General Fund will drop another $28 million this year. They even want to take more…

Dear Editor, Two independent newspapers, The Indianapolis Star and USA Today, have published a major investigation related to USA Gymnastics regarding the failure of USA Gymnastics to report the suspicion of child sexual abuse by many different coaches over many years. Their failure to follow the law and report any suspicion of child abuse by…

Dear Editor, In response to the Rutland Herald’s article of Aug. 4, 2016, “Killington police chief still not level III trained”: this is a “tempest in a teapot. I, for one, have advocated and lobbied for an increased public safety budget in Killington to increase the police presence in town due to the frequent break-ins…

Dear Editor, This riddle is about our town finances. Article  3 from the March 2015 Town Meeting stated: “Shall the voters approve total general fund expenditures for the 18-month budget beginning January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 of $6,282,554 of which $243,550 shall be applied from the 2014 general fund balance, $3,732,950 shall be…

Dear Editor, Bruce Lisman knows how Vermont works and it begins with more taxes. Even the carbon tax idea will put more home heating oil customers into the mix. It is a terrible idea. Now we learn that the Vermont General Fund will drop another $28 million this year. They even want to take more…

Dear Editor, Vermonters of all political persuasions want to see our state move forward. But many Vermonters have felt like they’ve been left behind, and rightly so. So many are grappling with the growing crisis of affordability our state is facing. And the majority in Montpelier has responded by throwing more taxes and fees at…

Dear Editor, Even though it is currently summer, winter sports are still always on my mind. This is why I was very happy to read in The Mountain Times this past week that the VCRD held a public forum regarding sustainable business practices and Vermont’s “climate change economy.” As somebody who loves the snow and…

Dear Editor, As a financial official, I could list many reasons for choosing Bruce Lisman for Vermont governor over Phil Scott, in the Aug. 9 primary. Lisman has extensive financial experience and management skills which are needed in the governor’s office. The next governor will have a huge task in repairing our state government as…

Dear Editor, When I spoke face to face with Bruce Lisman and suggested that Vermont needed to go on offense, so to speak, to expand our economy, instead of taking incremental defensive measures, I saw that he was really listening. In fact, growth of new businesses was never far from his thoughts in our lengthy…

Dear Editor, The Vermont Inn and Bed & Breakfast Association brought to my attention on July 19 a consideration from the Vermont Department of Health that would compartmentalize lodging accommodations by size (the number of guest rooms) when it comes to the application of the department’s recently revised health and safety regulations. I do not…

Dear Editor, As a former legislator, I would like to help you get to know Kesha Ram, a candidate for lieutenant governor in the upcoming primary. Kesha Ram was my seat mate in the House of Representatives, and though far younger than I, 26 years old at the time, she was already an experienced legislator…