By Angelo S. Lynn In Rutland, the struggles that town and city have gone through in its reckoning to become a refugee resettlement site provide important lessons other Vermont communities seeking similar refugee status should consider. For starters, Vermont residents should know the national refugee resettlement program is operated under an arm of the U.S.…

By Emerson Lynn If we had to come up with the lyrics to summarize Republican Scott Milne’s campaign against incumbent Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, they would be contained in the late 1960s song by Peggy Lee, “Is That All There Is.” The song is a soulful lament drawn from a long-ago writer who, staring at…

By Lee H. Hamilton I’ve been a Democrat all my life. But that doesn’t mean I favor a weak Republican Party. Indeed, just the opposite. Before my Democratic friends drum me out of the party, let me explain why. Our nation is stronger and our representative democracy healthier when we have two strong parties. A…

Dear Editor, This summer we celebrated The Fresh Air Fund’s 140th summer of serving children from New York City’s low-income communities. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to our extraordinary Fresh Air volunteers, hosts and supporters in Central Vermont for their dedication and commitment. Fresh Air host families open their…

Dear Editor, Sue Minter recently said that she will “support Vermont families and businesses” as governor. However, her record suggests otherwise. In 2009, Minter voted for the disastrous budget bill. In the middle of the Great Recession, the bill raised income taxes on Vermonters by $26 million, used one-time funds to plug recurring budget holes…

Dear Editor, When election day arrives in November, I will be casting my vote for Vermont State Senate for Korrine Rodrigue. I’ve had the pleasure to get to know Rodrigue well over the last several years through her leadership in Project VISION, and I can think of no one more competent to serve Rutland County…

By Doug Hoffer Voters receive a lot of information during campaigns and it’s important to check the facts. For example, Lt. Governor Scott recently said “We’ve lost nearly 2,500 workers per year since 2010” (Aug. 31, Burlington Free Press). This is true, but misleading. Workers are part of the labor force, which consists of those…

Dear Editor, Congratulations are in order for Ken Nolan, the newly-appointed general manager for Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA), the umbrella organization for 12 small-town water and light departments. Mr. Nolan is the former chief operating officer at Burlington Electric Department (BED), majority owner and operator of the McNeil station, Vermont’s largest biomass-fueled power…

Dear Editor, It has come to my attention that it is the will of the Rutland City Recreation & Parks Department to impose yet more restrictions on the annual Punk in the Park concert due primarily to the style of music being “grating” to a supposed majority of the residents surrounding the park. I am…

By Roger Allbee The Vermont dairy industry is again reeling from low commodity prices, caused by overproduction, a glut of imports, challenges in our export markets, and poor economic growth. The stark reality is that the current pricing mechanism for non-organic milk, in place since the 1930s, and other constraints results in an unfavorable longer…

Dear Editor, I’m writing in support of Korrine Rodrigue for Senate.  As a longtime member of Project VISION, I’ve witnessed Rodrigue’s dedication and hard work as we tackled the variety of issues that affect the greater-Rutland area – and towns across America. Looking back four years to a time when crime was growing and desperation…