Dear Editor, While living in Wolcott, I had the pleasure of having John Rogers, who is now running for lieutenant governor, serve as my state senator. During this time, I corresponded with him on numerous occasions regarding legislation. Although we may not have always seen eye-to-eye on every issue, John Rodgers always made the time,…

Dear Editor, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) announced its endorsement of Mike Pieciak for state treasurer of Vermont, Sept. 5. During his tenure as state treasurer, Pieciak has been an effective leader on issues aligned with Vermont Conservation Voters’ mission, championing policies that safeguard our environment and support our communities. Through its endorsements, VCV aims to…

Dear Editor, Animals suffer from pain, just like people do, and it can come in many forms: surgical pain, arthritis, cancer, and dental pain are just a few. Acute pain is obvious — for instance your dog got hit by a car or your horse has a bruised foot and is limping — and it…

Dear Editor, In David Moats’ opinion piece “True generational change in view” published in the Sept. 4-10 edition, he completely misses an important part of the equation: Generation Jones (born 1954-1965, between Boom & X). Gen Jones has become a widely-embraced concept/term as this, among many websites, clearly show: GenJones.net.  There have been articles about Gen…

By Ann Manwaring Editor’s note: Ann Manwaring of Wilmington, a former Democratic state representative who served from 2007-2017. For six of the 10 years I was in the Legislature, representing the towns of Wilmington, Whitingham and Halifax, I was on the Appropriations Committee. We spent a good deal of our time in that committee listening…

By Ivy Enoch Editor’s note: Ivy Enoch is SNAP policy and training lead for Hunger Free Vermont. As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Food Stamps Act, now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) nationally and 3SquaresVT here in Vermont, it is crucial to recognize the profound impact this landmark legislation has had…

Dear Editor, As Vermont’s population ages and in many places declines, we’re seeing the impact in all aspects of our daily lives — whether it’s housing, education or health care. What’s the core problem in Vermont’s health care system? At its most simple, the number of people paying for care through commercial insurance is going…

Dear Editor, In its first six months legalized sports betting brought $3.5 million dollars in tax revenue to the state of Vermont. Except that Vermonters and visitors bet more than $100 million in that time period and the casinos paid out less than 90%. So $10 million left our economy and we got a $3.5 million return,…

Dear Editor, What was at first a peaceful and unassuming summer has now jolted Vermonters with another wave of midyear inundations. Many communities just beginning to get back on their feet from last year’s flooding have been forced back to square one. In the wake of these unfortunate circumstances, we are reminded that Vermont’s forests…

Do all of these generational shifts matter? By David Moats Editor’s note: David Moats, an author and journalist who lives in Salisbury, is a regular columnist for VTDigger. He is editorial page editor emeritus of the Rutland Herald, where he won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials on Vermont’s civil union law.…

Editor’s note: This commentary was written collaboratively by Vermont Natural Resources Council, Conservation Law Foundation, Connecticut River Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and Lake Champlain Committee.  This commentary was written in response to concerns from Vermont community members, our own observations as landowners, and road crews cleaning up post-flooding damage. What we have heard and witnessed…

Dear Editor, Labor Day often brings to mind long weekends, barbecues, and the close of summer. But it’s also an opportunity to make compassionate choices. Each day, over 23 million land animals and 150 million sea animals are killed in the U.S. for food.  The worldwide numbers are even more staggering. Choosing to eat animals,…

Dear Editor, I am delighted to share some wonderful news with the Rutland community. The Winter Farmers’ Market is officially returning to Farmers’ Hall at the Vermont Farmers’ Food Center, starting Nov. 2!  Once the Summer Farmers’ Market at Depot Park wraps up at the end of October, we are excited to invite everyone to…

Dear Editor, Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech showed she is capable of being firm in her convictions when it comes to ensuring “safety, dignity, and justice” for rising American generations. However, she came off as much less firm about ensuring “hope,” “joy,” and “love” for Muslim women and children living in Gaza. She said, “I will…

By Karen Horn Editor’s note: This commentary is by Karen Horn of Moretown, where she serves on the planning commission. She retired as director of advocacy for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns in 2023. As for so many others, our property taxes went up by 26% this year, an appalling and unsustainable amount.…