By Steve Costello I’ve long believed that one of Rutland’s greatest problems is a tendency toward overly negative self criticism, so when I heard about McNeil and Reedy’s contest celebrating its 60th anniversary, I was thrilled. The contest is simple: List 60 things you love about Rutland. Thanks to McNeil and Reedy for the idea,…

Dear Editor, As we approach election time just weeks from now, please know that when you vote for a select person you’re actually voting for somebody whose main job it is to set a budget for our town that takes care of existing infrastructure, roads, public safety (fire/police), schools and recreation. It is not the…

Dear Editor, In a recent letter to friends, family and neighbors I addressed a question many have asked: where do I stand on the legalization of marijuana? I’ve spoken to many of you about this topic. I’ve heard your thoughts and concerns and I am convinced now, more than ever, that should a bill that…

Dear Editor, On Jan. 26 the VCRD hosted “Killington 2020: Setting Priorities for the Future” a follow up to the 2008 VCRD Community Visit, in which we as a community came together to set our priorities to achieve economic development and make our town a better place for everyone. Our latest meeting served to reflect on…

Dear editor, The following is one man’s opinion, mine. The issues that were of most importance discussed last night were: 1) affordable housing, 2) the new firehouse, 3) the pool, 4) hiking and biking trails, and the rest were bringing up the rear. Let’s take the most talked about, affordable housing. Who needs it? Do…

By Lee H. Hamilton When the history of this year’s presidential campaign is written, one of its more remarkable features will be that candidates of both parties felt it necessary to talk about income inequality. Surely that makes this a watershed moment. The issue is hardly new. As historian and writer Jill Lepore pointed out…

Dear Editor, I just came back from the weekend in Killington. It could’ve been perfect skiing vacation; however it was ruined by the Killington traffic police. On Saturday we were leaving the parking lot, and I was driving in a long line of cars on the Killington Road going down toward Route 4. About a half…

Dear Editor, It’s that time of year again. It’s voting time. And I, Jim Haff, have put my name back on the ballot for another year. Just as last year, I’m just letting you know (a little earlier this year) that I am running. I will be using The Mountain Times newspaper in these next…

By Arn Pearson On Jan. 21, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) rolled out another edition of its “Rich States, Poor States” publication, an annual “study” funded by the Koch network. The publication annually slaps a fresh coat of paint on the flawed fiscal and economic austerity policies favored by the group and its corporate…

By Julia Purdy Writer-investigative journalist Upton Sinclair authored “The Jungle,” a fictionalized exposé of the toxic, unregulated underbelly of the Chicago meat-packing industry. That and other revelations of corruption in the early 20th century led directly to the Pure Food and Drug Act and the first code of ethics for journalists. An admitted socialist, Sinclair—like…

Bernie Sanders emailed this artifact to his supporters Jan. 13, 2016, explaining that Hillary Clinton autographed the photo, taken on a flight to a health care forum at Dartmouth University on Dec. 7, 1993, along with a note saying, “To Bernie Sanders, with thanks for your commitment to real health care access for all Americans…

By Gov. Peter Shumlin On Christmas Day, I burned brush on my farm in Putney—in a t-shirt. My experience was not unlike that of many Vermonters as we all lived through Vermont’s most tropical Christmas in memory, capping off the world’s warmest year on record. Climate change is here, and it is affecting the Vermont…

Dear Editor, Happy New Year from Pentangle Arts. I’ve completed my first year as the organization’s executive director and find every day as interesting and challenging (in a good way) since the day I started. Over the year I’ve met so many talented singers, dancers, and artists from the Upper Valley and beyond. I’ve had…

Dear Editor. The “silly season” for the mass media is supposed to be a short period of time, “usually late summer when the media focuses on trivial or frivolous matters for lack of major news stories,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. This presidential election cycle the silly season started early and has yet to subside.…

By Stephen Seitz Town meeting is right around the corner, and the period to run for local office has begun. While there are still some towns like Reading and Bridgewater which conduct business by electing officers from the floor, most elect their officers by the ballot box. Besides selectmen, voters will pick school board members,…