Dear Editor, It is easy to understand why Vermont has attracted so many retirees over the last 30 years or so—it is truly a beautiful place to live, and property compared to many places in New England was reasonable and taxes were low. But now Vermont is at a crossroads: we have the second oldest…

Dear Editor, Once again, it’s time for New Year’s resolutions, particularly those to improve our diet and exercise routine. Although gun violence and traffic accidents remain the leading causes of death among young people, the most dangerous weapon for the rest of us is still our fork. Well over a million of us are killed…

Dear Editor, In response to Eli Harrington’s letter, “Vermont leaders approach cannabis with healthy skepticism and caution, not naivete,” which appeared in the Dec. 31-Jan 6 edition of The Mountain Times, I note that Mr. Harrington is the founder of Vermontijuana (Vermont + Tijuana?), which you describe as “a hub for information and resources related…

Dear Editor, The WSYB Christmas Fund has been a Christmas tradition for families in the Rutland area for 44 years. For many, it wouldn’t be Christmas without sharing their good fortune and giving a donation to the Christmas Fund. Since that first Christmas, the Christmas Fund has raised well over a million dollars from small…

By Brian Dubie It was my honor to serve as Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor for eight years. While I was in office, I was invited to tour the site of a proposed industrial wind turbine complex in Ira, Vt. My tour guide was a commercial pilot. He explained his concerns about the project’s impact on Southern Vermont…

Dear Editor, I’m a ninth generation Vermonter so while I might be proud, I think history has shown that we’re very capable of governing ourselves, even when our approach is different from those of other states. In response to the op-ed by Julia Purdy “Vermont ‘exceptionalism’ is naïve,” I ask: Was it naive to help…

By Lee J. Kahrs This Christmas may feel a bit off, edgier than Yuletides past. It’s not just the unseasonably warm December we’ve been having, or the lack of snow. Oh, it’s the climate, all right, but there is more than one. Yes, Virginia, it may be climate change in the environmental sense, but there…

By Lee H. Hamilton You know who I feel sorry for? Today’s politicians. You’ll laugh at this, but hear me out. This is a very tough time to be a politician—whether running for office or trying to lead while holding office. The people who have undertaken to represent us face circumstances that make campaigning and…

Dear Editor, In 2007, the Killington Growth Initiative (KGI), a community group composed of business leaders, local government and residents, identified key challenges before the town, including a depressed economy, decline in cultural activities, lack of sustainable year-round economy, poor communication, and a strained relationship between Killington Resort and community members. KGI worked with the…

Dear Editor, One of the biggest frauds being perpetrated on this country is the attempt by our national leaders and some misguided individuals right here in our own state of “what’s yours is mine” Vermont, is none other than climate change. The climate has changed continually since God rested on the seventh day, after the…

Dear Editor, On Oct.16, 2012, the first homemade meals were made for “Feed the Freezer” and started a project that is now three years old and feeding thousands of people in Rutland County. Feed the Freezer volunteers cook and provide nutritious homemade meals (such as casseroles) that are frozen, then distributed to food shelf participants…

By Steve Costello With war, terrorism and violence topping the news pages and newscasts on an almost daily basis, social media and ordinary conversation of late has been rife with disillusionment. For anyone discouraged by national and world affairs, one need look no further than the recently completed Gift-of-Life Marathon for a homegrown antidote. Tuesday’s…

Dear Editor, It is with a heavy heart I report to you that the Southwest Freedom Riders will be dissolving at the end of 2015. It’s been a long, strange, wonderful journey through the last 15 years. We have done our best to help as many people as possible, and really make a difference—locally, state-…

Dear Editor, Santa would like to thank the elves at Boss Office Works for helping to get all my letters out to the community children this year. I couldn’t have done it without you! Sincerely, Santa Claus

Dear Editor, This week world leaders and 200 scientists have decided on a plan to address climate change, the largest problem humankind has ever had to deal with. We Vermonters also are addressing the same social dilemma. It is simple: either we rest on our laurels and just wait to see what the world will…