By Steven J. Sinclair The localvore movement in Vermont is strong, whether for vegetables, meat, craft beer, or goods and services. I am here to promote the same approach in the purchase and burning of firewood. Why is this important? Transported firewood is a major vehicle of invasive pests such as the emerald ash borer…

By Thomas A. Kennedy While the job market has been gaining strength in recent months, there's one group of Americans who are still struggling to find work: veterans. According to the March report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), unemployment among post-9/11 veterans was 6.5 percent that month—a full point higher than the population…

Growth of renewable energy is slow By Guy Page In an April 13 Associated Press story, a prominent renewable-energy advocate said Vermont’s wind power industry is “just taking a little hibernation here as federal policy gets the tax credits right.” While Vermont waits for Congress to act, now is a good time to examine the…

Dear Editor, The session has entered its final weeks and as we consider (and sometimes reconsider) bills that directly impact you and your lives. Therefore, I and many of my colleagues, have redoubled our efforts to remain vigilant. I am committed to ensuring that your voice for a more affordable Vermont remains heard — a Vermont…

Dear Editor, What an amazing day the spaghetti dinner was. We had approximately 300 people there. I would love to thank those businesses and people that went above and beyond for me and more importantly for my son Matthew Lorman — first and foremost the Loyal Order of Moose (Moose Club) who hosted the event.…

Dear Editor, The state legislature is presently considering a funding bill that contains onerous provisions detrimental to us all. The bill H.489 sections 8 through 10 propose to give the Department of Taxes the authority to collect delinquent tax debts by garnishing wages and attaching property without a court hearing. This runs counter to due…

By Emerson Lynn There are few things less understood and less intuitive than the EB-5 program that continues to add the growth essential to the prosperity of Jay Peak and the surrounding environs of Franklin and Orleans counties, as well as projects in Addison County and throughout rural Vermont. It’s given Vermont the expansion we…

By Jack Hoffman Thousands of Vermonters work at jobs that don’t pay enough to meet their families’ basic needs. That leaves Vermont taxpayers paying tens of millions of dollars to pick up the slack left by employers who pay so little that hard working men and women have to turn to public assistance. So, before…

Dear Editor, On May 6, we recognize our school nurses by celebrating National School Nurse Day as a way to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. This year’s theme is: School Nurses: Caring for Others. Caring for Ourselves. Parents should be able to send their children to…

Dear Editor, On April 2, 2015 at 11 p.m., after a five hour drive, I was pulled over for “speeding” in Rutland. I wasn’t the only victim. There seemed to be at least two other out of state vehicles getting tickets by other officers. So, the Vermont State Police have nothing better to do than…

Dear Editor, After several decades in business and more than 20 years in retail bookselling, it’s fair to say I have never been more surprised than I have been by the City of Rutland. I’ve been familiar with Rutland for years, having married in Middletown Springs more than two decades ago. As an independent bookstore…

By Governor Peter Shumlin It’s no secret that the economic recovery across America has been felt most by those with higher incomes. For working families in America, the recovery has been slow to take root. And for those fighting to get into the middle class, the recovery has been almost nonexistent, with many still struggling.…

Dear Editor, This is the story of my experience with Vermont Health Connect. I retired in the beginning of 2014. At that time our family was covered under my husband’s policy through his employer. My husband died in March of that year and the coverage ended. I had the option of being covered as a…

By Rob Roper It is safe to say that all or at least most of us believe that Vermont is a very special place, and we all want to do what’s necessary to preserve and pass on this unique treasure that both draws and keeps us here–majestic mountains, pristine waters, and wild, open spaces. The…

Editor’s note: The Mountain Times receives many questions from readers every week about Killington Resort and Pico Mountain operations. In order to best answer some of the most common questions we will pose them directly to Mike Solimano, president and general manager for Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, who has agreed to respond in an…