S.213 helps proactively protect our communities before the next flood By Kathy Urffer Editor’s note: Kathy Urffer, of Brattleboro, is the river steward for Connecticut River Conservancy in Vermont. As river steward for Connecticut River Conservancy, I can’t stop thinking about rivers. Since the 2011 Tropical Storm Irene, as an organization we have been racing…

  Dear Editor, Last week’s elections recorded a historic turnout.   I would like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules and heading to the polls to cast your votes. With your active participation, the results confirmed that 40% of the community share my views.  I would also like to congratulate…

  Dear Editor, Wildlife rehabbers in Vermont use their own money, need education and to pass an exam to become licensed. But they are severely restricted by the Fish & Wildlife Dept. and board on what animals they can see and scrupulouslymonitored for any violation. Nearly all wild animals in Vermont are off-limits to assist,…

  Dear Editor, With its reputation as a blue state since 1965, and despite four generations of liberal progressives, has Vermont resurrected its alternate self as a hotbed of Republican values? In the primaries on Town Meeting Day, March 4, held in Vermont towns by decree of their original 18th Century charters, a Republican candidate…

  Dear Editor, Nick Santoro in his Jan. 3 “Try to Imagine Gaza” letter to the MT editor is asking us, Americans, to imagine the horror that “is happening at this very moment somewhere in Palestine/Israel.” It is hard to imagine, and most of us probably can’t. Unfortunately, people of Ukraine can, as they have…

  Dear Editor, It may be time for the changing views of Vermonters towards wildlife to be addressed, but bill S.258 will not accomplish it. Currently and historically the 14 members of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board have been appointed by the governor with input from the Legislature. One seat represents each county. Under…

  Dear Editor, Editor’s note: This letter was written for the entire Mountain Views Supervisory Union School communities of Representing Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading and Woodstock. Thank you for the amazing record turn-out at this week’s elections. We are grateful for the strong vote of support for the annual school budget. To see…

  Dear Editor, Yesterday, March 9, 2024, a small flock of robins arrived here in the Rutland valley, four pairs to be exact. The ground was soggy but bare and they set about scanning the earth for food.  This morning, the robins are scampering anxiously about, nonplussed by the thick coating of slushy snow. A…

  Dear Editor, Downtown Rutland has been in the news recently concerning the metered parking situation and now the two departures at the Rutland Downtown Partnership. As a long time retail manager, most recently spending 25 years as the Retail Director at Okemo, I tend to look at things as an astute retailer would look.…

By Don Tinney Editor’s note: Don Tinney is a longtime high school English teacher who serves as the elected president of the 13,000-member Vermont-NEA. The Vermont-National Education Association is the union of Vermont educators. My fellow 13,000 members and I know that last night’s rejection of nearly a third of all school budgets isn’t a…

Dear Editor, In the field of auditing companies, nonprofits and government entities, auditors determine whether an entity can continue to operate. Auditor concerns are if an entity has lost a significant customer, cannot secure financing, or lost a major supplier or key personnel. Vermont state government has gotten itself to a place where, due to…

Dear Editor, A tribute to Torpedoman Henry Breault is planned for March 15 at 9:30 a.m. to honor the 100th anniversary of Submariner Breault receiving the Medal of Honor, a declared Vermont resident to which the state of Vermont received credit. Representative Michael Morgan of Grand Isle-Chittenden District is initiating a Legislative resolution to honor Torpedoman…

Dear Editor, Vermont House of Representatives recently passed H.132, a vastly amended homeless bill of rights legislation (compared to the bill as originally introduced), which is now in the hands of the state Senate. Afterwards, I had written to state Representative Tom Stevens, chair of the House General and Housing Committee, which had recently passed…

Dear Editor, School District administration have reviewed the paid advertisement written by former School Board Director Jim Haff running in the Feb.  28 edition of the Mountain Times. The article includes a chart describing certain services proposed by Johnson Controls Inc (JCI) to the School District for improvements to the School District’s buildings. The assertions…

  Editor’s Note: This commentary is by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vt .Natural Resources Council, and the Vt. Association of Planning and Development Agencies. Climate change poses a significant threat to Vermont’s natural resources, economy, and way of life. From extreme weather events to loss of biodiversity, the impacts are already evident. Simultaneously,…