Dear Editor, To the legislators, first, thank you all for your willingness to serve your constituents and all Vermonters. You are appreciated by most of us. But please remember, you serve both the special wants and needs of your constitution, and, of all Vermonters, whose needs sometimes differ. Foster the balance. The bill-drafting process is…

By Laura Wilkinson The light is slowly returning and the final days of 2018 are upon us. The festivities of December will be replaced by the quiet starkness of January. As much as I enjoy the rituals of the season, I welcome the opportunity to mirror the dormancy of the outer world with introspection. For…

As rural economies go in the nation, so goes Vermont By David Moats Economic stagnation in Vermont is not new. For decades, it has defied the efforts of political leaders, Republican and Democrat, to solve it. What’s new is a growing awareness that the problem is a widespread condition, animating protests from Paris to London,…

Dear Editor, To the legislators, first, thank you all for your willingness to serve your constituents and all Vermonters. You are appreciated by most of us. But please remember, you serve both the special wants and needs of your constitution, and, of all Vermonters, whose needs sometimes differ. Foster the balance. The bill-drafting process is…

Dear Editor, The Vermont Veterans’ Home wants to thank those who participated in this year’s National Wreaths Across America Day at the Vermont Veterans’ Home. Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission to remember, honor and teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over…

Dear Editor, Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging would like to thank the many individuals and organizations throughout our service area, who, in recent months, have generously coordinated and contributed to a range of charitable initiatives benefiting the clients of SVCOA. In November, Rutland Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1122, the Salvation Army of Rutland, Elks…

By Laura Wilkinson The light is slowly returning and the final days of 2018 are upon us. The festivities of December will be replaced by the quiet starkness of January. As much as I enjoy the rituals of the season, I welcome the opportunity to mirror the dormancy of the outer world with introspection. For…

By Jan Demers What happens when you are 1 percent over the eligibility limit? You need help and help is so close but the edge of the cliff is crumbling underneath you. She had come to our office 10 years ago and needed help paying for fuel. Year after year the cold of winter brought…

By Dick McCormack When the Legislature convenes in January, there will be an effort to amend the Vermont Constitution to alter the 1777 language prohibiting slavery, the first prohibition of slavery in North America. I think doing this is a bad idea.  As I understand it, supporters of amending object to the anti-slavery language because…

Dear Editor, The committee for the new public safety building along with representatives from each department and the design team met again after receiving the drawings which were presented in the Mountain Times. The main discussion was to assess the drawings which were according to our previous discussions. At this meeting we looked for ways…

Dear Editor, My heart is breaking for the child who felt so alone in our community that the only answer they could come to was violence. We need to wrap that child, and every child, in love. We need to do better. As grateful as I am for the advocacy (mostly by our youth) that…

Dear Editor, Throughout the course of this year I have had the opportunity to meet many first-responders in the fire service, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and emergency management through the governor’s Capitol for a Day initiative. I continue to be humbled and awed by your service and commitment to you communities. As 2018 ends,…

Dear Editor, Things are getting better. Dec 11 is the time when the sun starts to set later. A second of time a day at the start and by noon March 20 (the equinox, when the Sun crosses the equator and day and night are equally long at the equinox) when we gain 4 minutes…

Dear Editor, On Saturday, Nov. 17, the Pittsford Recreation Department sponsored the annual holiday craft sale in the Lothrop Gym and downstairs in the cafeteria. The Recreation Department would like to recognize Kelly Connaughton, the craft fair coordinator. Thank you very much for all your hard work you put into the Craft Fair events the…

By Melissa Martin Santa Claus (a.k.a, St. Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa) is a Christmas figure celebrated for flying around the globe on Dec. 25 to give gifts to children. And the holly-jolly guy carries around a list of names with two columns: one labeled “good” and one labeled “bad.” “Santa Claus…