Dear Editor, We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those that very kindly and generously contributed money to help with the recent animal and neglect situations which VVSA Humane Society had been addressing these last couple of months. Donations were used to provide veterinary care, medical treatment, food and neutering some of the neglected…

Dear Editor, H 584 was just introduced in the Legislature. As Vermont high school students who worked closely on creating and developing this bill, we hope it will move swiftly through the Legislature and be passed into law. As schools across the country debate over teaching about race in the classroom, there couldn’t be a…

Dear Editor, The American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter (AAPVT) supports the direction that the Agency of Education is moving in adapting contact tracing and surveillance testing practices. The proposed model will only be successful with easy access to and adequate availability of rapid tests for all students, educators and school staff.  Keeping children safe is…

Dear Editor, I have attended and spoken at two recent Killington Select Board meetings, the public TIF hearing of Jan. 4 and the next meeting of Jan. 10. After attending both, I must begin to question whether the people of Killington are being provided a complete and accurate representation of discussions, questions and answers. At…

By Ben Smith Editor's note: Ben Smith is an emergency physician and medical director of the emergency department at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. American health care is in crisis. On NPR (“On Point,” Nov. 29) an ICU nurse recently said that anyone would leave the field if they were paid the same wage…

By Andrew Campanella If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a parent, or have friends or neighbors who are. Baby Boomer, Gen X, or Millennial— the K-12 school scene has changed so much since we were kids. Understanding these changes can help moms and dads guide their children to greater learning, success, and happiness. So,…

Dear Editor, Now that the Rutland City School Board has reinstated the Raider name, it is time to move on for our community. A few people, not living in our great city of Rutland started this process, coupled with some members of the board, and even a now former humanities teacher at the high school.…

Vaccination mandates and 'test to attend' programs needed now By Jim Haff Editor’s note: Jim Haff is the Killington representative in the Windsor Central School District and Killington Select Board member. This commentary was written as an open letter to Vermont’s elected leaders on Jan. 10. You are not protecting our children. Over the holidays…

By Anne Donahue Editor's note: Anne B. Donahue is a House representative for the Washington-1 district (Northfield, Berlin). The importance of conscience protection for health care workers, most often in the context of permitting hospital staff to request to be excused from participation in abortions, has broad public support and is endorsed by the Vermont…

Dear Editor, Please consider this an open letter to Vermont voters. What are the valid selection criteria we should be using to screen Congressional applicants? During the 1970s orchestras across the United States became concerned that members weren’t chosen by ability, but handpicked by the conductors. They designed an interesting, novel and effective solution to…

By Angelo Lynn It is to be hoped Jan. 6, 2021 will be a date that long resonates in our nation’s history. That historians will accurately assess the roots of the deadly insurrection on the nation’s Capitol, determine those responsible for assembling the crowd and encouraging them to storm Congress in what turned out to…

By Corey Parent Do you think the most wide-sweeping change to the Vermont Legislature should be rushed through in the first 72 hours of the legislative session? I don’t. Let me back up. Over the few years, we’ve heard about the importance of protecting our democracy—across the nation, and right here in Vermont—from forces that…

Dear Editor, We, the older Vermonters (including voters and taxpayers), must make it clear to younger Vermonters that our most crucial task and the most urgent job is to fix the broken two-party political system. Why, you ask? Only younger Vermonters can achieve the political transformation in the shortest amount of time to break up…

Dear Editor, It has taken post-World War II America a long time to figure out that police, firefighters and the military are not the only heroes in our society. It is true that country music singers, rappers, movie stars and billionaires have been getting more and more traction in recent decades. Outstanding individual pay-it-forward-type citizens…

Dear Editor, All indications are that, with the new omicron variant, we are in for another surge in Covid hospitalizations. After more than a year and half into the pandemic, our health care workers are exhausted and our hospital facilities stretched. At the same time, those who do not wish to take the vaccine and…