By John W. Casella Editor’s note: John W. Casella is the chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems Inc. From time to time, the good people of DUMP — Don’t Undermine Memphremagog’s Purity — gather in a room, wring their hands, and manufacture another round of hyperventilated boilerplate letters to the editor.   While…

  Dear Editor, It was probably inevitable in this partisan age that even a good-faith initiative to replace a nondescript state flag with a new design that more vividly captures a state’s history would — in the words of The New York Times — “prompt furious backlash that shows how politically risky such a change…

  By E. Thomas Sullivan & Stephen C. Terry Editor’s note: E. Thomas Sullivan is resident emeritus and professor of law and political science at University of Vermont where he writes and teaches in constitutional law and history. He is also a former Provost, Dean of the Law School, and Professor of Law at the…

  By Guy Payne Editor’s note: Guy Payne is the executive director of SEON - Sustainable Energy Outreach Network. In Vermont’s rugged terrain, a novel career path is emerging, blending craftsmanship with sustainability. The state’s housing demand and industry’s need for skilled hands are fueling the call for carpenters. But beyond carpentry, lies a more…

  Dear Editor,  We have all experienced nuisance animals such as hearing about skunks under porches, raccoons in the attic, foxes killing chickens, fisher preying on cats, coyotes attacking dogs and livestock, and volumes could be written about beaver complaints.  But, have you ever wondered why?  Why do these animals cause us trouble instead of…

  By Ali Jalili Editor’s note: Ali Jalili, Burlington, is a retired Foreign Service officer who served with the State Department all over the world, primarily as an economic officer.  Vermont needs more people, especially young people and families who want to make Vermont a permanent home where they will work and contribute to a…

  By Steven Berbeco Editor’s note: Steven Berbeco is the director of United Way of Northwest Vermont’s Mental Health Initiative, a collective impact project launched in early 2022. He lives in Winooski with his family and serves on the Winooski School Board.  Youth mental health has been a priority of our state government and many…

  Dear Editor, While Social Security was never intended to be the only source of retirement income, it is a core part of Americans’ retirement security and often the only long-term, inflation-proof source of income for many Americans. In fact, 38% of Vermont residents age 65 and older rely on the program for at least…

  Dear Editor, Illegally made fentanyl has had a devastating impact on local communities across the state. Drug prevention and education remain crucial to reducing overdose deaths and preventing addiction. Regardless of age, anyone can learn about the risks and speak about them.  Grandparents can help their grandkids by speaking about fentanyl and other drugs.…

  By Ken Cadow Editor’s note: Ken Cadow of Norwich is co-principal of Oxbow High School in Bradford, a board member of Green Mountain Economic Development Corp., and author of a book, “Gather,” that’s coming out in October. When I tell people from away that I work in a school with around 400 kids, grades…

  Dear Editor, Even before the pandemic Americans were starting to fall away from connecting with their neighbors. According to the Pew Research Center, social events among neighbors were starting to become relatively rare. “Among Americans who know at least some of their neighbors, a majority (58%) say they never meet them for parties or…

  Dear Editor, In 2019, after an extensive state inspection, Killington Elementary School was faced with the looming reality of a deteriorating Kids’ Kingdom in need of replacement. In the spring of 2021, Parents and Educators Aligned for Killington Students (PEAKS), the parent organization at Killington Elementary School (KES), began the endeavor of raising funds…

   Editor’s note: The following is a joint statement from the leaders of Vermont’s local United Ways, which each contribute funding to Vermont 211.   State officials repeatedly urged Vermonters to call 211 to report damages and get connected to resources in the days and weeks following July’s catastrophic flooding. Ten days before the disaster,…

  By Jeffrey Reel Editor’s note: Jeffrey Reel is a resident of Hartland. Critical thinking has been described as an ability to question; to acknowledge and test previously held assumptions; to examine, interpret, evaluate, reason and reflect; to make informed judgments and decisions; and to clarify, articulate and justify positions … thinking carefully about a subject or idea, without allowing feelings or opinions, exclusively, to affect us.…

  Dear Editor,  August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Itching is a very common problem in pets and  can drastically affect their quality of life. Itchy pets are one of the top reasons that people  seek medical care for their beloved furry family member.   There are a myriad of reasons that a pet can…