Discover More from This Category: Opinions

Clean heat: Looking forward, thinking smart

March 8, 2023
By Sen. Chris Bray Editor's note: Christopher Bray of New Haven, represents Addison County in the state senate. He is the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, serves on the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Joint Energy Committee, Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, and Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction Committee. Vermonters are…

Pull the plug on Telephone Gap

March 8, 2023
By Jim Furnish and Zack Porter Editor’s note: Jim Furnish served as the U.S. forest service deputy chief from 1999 to 2002. Zack Porter is co-founder and executive director of Standing Trees, a nonprofit working to protect and restore New England’s public lands. An old saying goes, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and…

Please vote ‘yes’ on TIF plan

March 7, 2023
Dear Editor, While I am not a full time resident and cannot vote, I have been a property owner/stakeholder in Killington for 30 years. On March 7 we have an opportunity to take a critically important step forward. The economic reality is that without growth, stagnation and degration set in. We have all lived through…

Concerned about TIF

March 5, 2023
Dear Editor, I've owned property in Killington for 15+ years, and I want Killington to be successful for a long time to come. I need to say that every growing community that I've lived in and worked with over the past 20 years struggles to cover the cost of new services associated with growth/development with…

Article 5: A relatively low risk to the town

March 2, 2023
Dear Editor, On March 7, the voters of Killington will be asked to authorize up to $47 million in funding for the Killington Forward initiative. These funds will support construction of a pipeline to develop a municipal water system that will provide water to the proposed Six Peaks Village and, with additional future funding, properties…

Legislators deserve publicly funded health care coverage; so do all Vermonters

March 1, 2023
Dear Editor, The Vermont Senate is discussing a bill, S.39, that would make state legislators eligible for the state employees' benefit plan at no cost to the legislators. It would also provide legislators with childcare reimbursement and pay for out-of-session work that is not currently compensated.   The bill’s goal is to make serving in the legislature…

Vote yes to support Castleton Community Seniors

March 1, 2023
Dear Editor,  The Castleton Community Seniors extend a sincere thank you to the voters of Castleton, Fair Haven and Hubbardton for their continued support of our senior and disabled transportation program, senior meal site, health and fitness activities and numerous other educational and recreational programs and services for the community.   This past year, our…

Teachers support mandatory finance course

March 1, 2023
Dear Editor,  We are Vermont educators who teach high school personal finance, and we are united in support of legislation that would guarantee a full-semester, standalone personal finance course as a graduation requirement for all Vermont students. Why is it so important to the future of our young students? Research by Next Gen Personal Finance…

Support TIF March 7

March 1, 2023
Dear Editor,  As principal of Killington Elementary School serving children from ages 3 and 4 in prekindergarten through grade 6, I am writing in support of a “yes” vote for Article 5 on the town of Kilington’s ballot on March 7.  Support for the TIF is critical to moving forward with safety upgrades and community…

Is Six Peaks Village a necessary evil?

March 1, 2023
Why Article 5 is the best deal for the town and its residents By Polly Mikula The need for clean reliable water in Killington (and everywhere) is well understood and agreed upon by nearly everyone. The need for a village at the base of Snowshed and Ramshead is not. Whether it’s preserving a long-standing routine…

VSU’s library decision: many unforced errors

March 1, 2023
By Liz DiMarco Weinmann Editor’s note: Liz DiMarco Weinmann, MBA, is principal and owner of Liz DiMarco Weinmann Consulting, L3C, based in Rutland, serving charitable and educational institutions: lizdimarcoweinmann.com.  Pop quiz:  The story behind the Vermont State University administration’s decision to eliminate all but a few select print materials from its libraries, in favor of…

Local officials eager to partner to build more housing

February 21, 2023
By Ted Brady Editor’s note: Ted Brady is the executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns   Vermont’s 247 cities and towns are on the front lines of Vermont’s housing crisis – responding to a record number of emergency calls at hotels filled with the housing insecure, re-evaluating their zoning laws to…

Vermont state lawmakers ought to wait on latest data before moving forward with prohibition

February 21, 2023
By Lindsey Stroud Editor’s note: Lindsey Stroud is director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Consumer Center. Another legislative session and another bill has been introduced that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and vapor products in Vermont. This isn’t the first time the Vermont Legislature has attempted to restrict adult access to tobacco and…

Understanding how government works will empower Vermonters   

February 21, 2023
By Sarah Copeland Hanzas Editor’s note: Sarah Copeland Hanzas was elected secretary of state in 2022 after 18 years as a state legislator. She lives in Bradford with her family. As I begin my first term as Vermont’s 39th secretary of state, I am keenly aware of my role as chief elections officer for the…

Vote ‘yes’ for Article 5 TIF and support Killington’s future

February 21, 2023
Dear Editor, I am writing to express my support for the Article 5 TIF and the development of the Six Peaks Village in Killington. As a longtime visitor to the Killington area, now a permanent resident of the town and Resort employee, I feel that Killington is long overdue for improvements to our infrastructure. What…