Discover More from This Category: Opinions
Rotarians thank Ludlow community for support in 2023
January 3, 2024
Dear Editor, The Ludlow Area Rotary Club thanks the residents and businesses of the greater Ludlow area for their support in 2023. Our club is a part of Rotary International which is one of the largest service organizations in the world. The mission of Rotary is to “provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance…
Setting the record straight on independent schools
January 3, 2024
Submitted By Reps. Seth Bongartz (D-Manchester), Scott Beck (R–St. Johnsbury, Michelle Bos-Lun (D–Westminster), Bobby Felice-Rubio (D–Barnet), Robin Chestnut-Tangerman (D–Middletown Springs) and Mike Rice (D–Dorset) A recent commentary by Reps. Rebecca Holcombe of Norwich, Erin Brady of Williston and Monique Priestley of Bradford, while making a few fair points about the rising cost of education,…
A glib take on a tired classic
December 28, 2023
Dear Editor, While real estate prices are absurd — and home-buying and renting are an impossibility for many — laying blame for homelessness at the feet of people of means who move here from elsewhere is a trite and glib iteration of a Vermont Old Guard classic: “It wasn’t a problem until these people…
Lessons learned through indoor rock climbing
December 28, 2023
Dear Editor, Don’t look down, just breathe, I told myself. Breathe. Just admit you’re scared and breathe. Slowly try to make just one simple move. Just move one foot. One hand. Breathe. Another foot, another hand. Breathe. You’re going to be OK. If you can climb a flight of stairs you can begin to…
Slow down, get outside
December 28, 2023
By John Gonter Editor’s note: John Gonter teaches cooking, foraging, fishing and hunter safety. He volunteers as an instructor with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. In Vermont, we are blessed with opportunities outside. Direct experience with our mountains, lakes, rivers, fields and forests are restorative, develop our outdoor skills and reduce our stress. Our modern lives,…
It’s time to change how and why we name things after people
December 20, 2023
By Lucie Lehmann Editor’s Note: Lucie Lehmann of South Burlington is a former state director for now-retired U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland. She is a member of the board of the Green Mountain Audubon Society. Just in time for the gift giving season comes word of yet another honor bestowed on retired…
More nursing seats are coming to Vermont State University
December 20, 2023
By Sarah Billings-Berg, VTSU dean of nursing and health sciences Ready for some good news about nursing in Vermont? I bet you are. I know, reports haven’t always focused on the good news. As recently as last year, news reports focused on nurses retiring, how we don’t have personnel or facilities to educate new…
School safety has eroded
December 20, 2023
Dear Editor, As concerned parents, my husband and I have recently removed a child from a local school for his safety as the bullying, harassment and constant safety issues have risen and are not being dealt with. Schools are supposed to be safe places for our children to gain an education. As parents we…
The reality about hunting and trapping
December 20, 2023
Dear Editor, A recent commentary by an anti-hunting activist took their standard track in denying the value of the sporting community to wildlife stewardship in Vermont. It is intriguing that this handful of activists has the hubris to claim that they speak for the general public. They don’t. They speak for themselves. If they spoke…
Sticker shock!
December 20, 2023
Understanding the Dec. 1 property tax letter By Kathleen James Editor’s note: Rep. Kathleen James, D-Manchester, serves as assistant majority leader in the Vermont House. On the last day of November, the annual “Dec. 1 Letter” was published by the Vermont Department of Taxes. This year’s letter landed with a bang, as Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio…
Thanks for your support of ESBR
December 13, 2023
Dear Editor, It is with deep gratitude that the Ludlow Expeditionary School announces another successful fundraiser to help support the school. For its Giving Tuesday 2023 Campaign, ESBR once again had several anonymous (“Angel”) donors offer a Matching Fund Challenge of up to $7,000 to be doubled. Thanks to the support of many wonderful…
Leave Santa vegan cookies
December 13, 2023
Dear Editor, Greetings from the North Pole! As the holidays approach, I wanted to share some exciting changes happening in Christmas preparations this year. In the spirit of embracing sustainability, I am delighted to announce that our beloved reindeer will be retiring to a beautiful sanctuary. They have served tirelessly, guiding my sleigh through…
No one wants to see a bear in their kitchen
December 13, 2023
Dear Editor, Down in Montpelier, groups are actively trying to persuade legislators to ban the use of dogs to hunt bears. They either don’t realize or don’t care, that their goal would make us all much less safe. Everybody loves to see bears. These amazing creatures are fun to watch in the wild. But…
Who’s to blame for rising education spending?
December 13, 2023
By Rep. Erin Brady, Rep. Rebecca Holcombe and Rep. Monique Priestley Editor’s note: Rep. Erin Brady, of Williston, is an active public school teacher; Rep. Rebecca Holcombe of Windsor-Orange 2, is the former Vermont Secretary of Education; and Rep. Monique Priestley, of Orange-2, is the tri-partisan Rural Caucus clerk. Governor Scott recently described an…
Justice for Palestinians and security for Israel
December 6, 2023
By Sen. Bernie Sanders There have been five wars in the last 15 years between Israel and Hamas. How do we end the current one and prevent a sixth from happening, sooner or later? How do we balance our desire to stop the fighting with the need to address the roots of the conflict?…