Dear Editor, I am reaching out to urge Vermont state representatives to reconsider the prioritization of teachers in the Vermont vaccination rollout plan. In an editorial from the NYTimes’ David Leonhardt, he outlines how and why educators must be made a priority if we actually want to reopen schools while protecting our educators, who are putting their…

By Pattie McCoy How often does an education reform bill pass on a voice vote in the Vermont Legislature? From experience, I can tell you it is about as rare as the same type of legislation passing unanimously. That is, very rare indeed. Yet, when the Vermont Legislature contemplated a statewide commission to determine the…

By Angelo Lynn This year on Town Meeting Day, 23 towns voted on whether to allow the retail sale of cannabis. They were: Barton, Bennington, Berlin, Brandon, Brattleboro, Brownington, Burlington, Danby, Danville, Duxbury, Lyndon, Middlebury, Montpelier, Newport City, Pawlet, Pownal, Randolph, Richmond, Salisbury, Strafford, Waitsfield, Waterbury and Winooski. (Voting finished after publication deadline, visit mountaintimes.info…

Dear Editor, When Woodstock Area Relief Fund Covid-19 (WARF) was formed the last spring, we never imagined this type of extended hardship. So we’re grateful for several recent generous donations that mean funds are still available. WARF provides grants of up to $1,000 to residents of the Windsor County Supervisory Union. We’re aware that many…

Dear Editor, I would like to take the time to thank all our customers for 40 years of loyalty, support, and most of all their friendship. Thank you for sharing your stories and laughter. These memories we will forever hold in our hearts and we will cherish them always.  Sincerely, Ron and Toni Ciccone, Rutland

Dear Editor, Tom Vilsack’s nomination as secretary of agriculture does not belong within Joe Biden’s progressive agenda. Vilsack has served as governor of Iowa, secretary of agriculture under President Obama, and chief lobbyist for the dairy industry. His candidacy is opposed by a vast coalition of small and minority farmers, as well as consumer, labor,…

Dear Editor, I, “Champlain” Mike-Michel Messier have been a taxpayer/ratepayer and an active participant in Rutland Real Estate and Community for 40 years. I attended Rutland Elementary, MSJ, UVM (BS), St. Michael’s (MSA); CCV and Castleton. I have the intellect, skills, ability, desire, temperament, and work experience to be the next Rutland City Assessor. I…

Dear Editor, Since late January, there have been 22 avalanche deaths in America across 16 incidents in nine states, including a death in New Hampshire. It’s been one of the most deadly periods in recorded history. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see people get killed doing something they love. It makes these deaths very hard…

By Jenn Swain Burton Snowboards was born in a barn in southern Vermont over 40 years ago, and we proudly remain a Vermont-based business. The climate crisis is a direct threat to the sport we love, the mountain lifestyle that we and our community lead, and our long-term business success. In today’s world we are…

By William J. Mathis It is particularly noteworthy (and problematic) that Vermont, with a low gross state product, allocates a high proportion of its wealth to education.  Yet, regardless of how and who is doing the measuring, we can take pride in consistently scoring in the top 10 in educational quality. Realizing the need for…

By Julia Purdy If anyone doubts the existence of domestic terrorism, stoked by murderous, insane hatred and abetted by weekend wargames and pseudomilitary fantasies, it was on full display at the nation’s Capitol Jan. 6. The irony is that these insurrectionists claimed to be defending democracy while they in fact were bent on demolishing it,…

By Bill Bender, president of Solaflect Energy It is time for the Scott administration and Vermont electric utility regulators — the Public Service Department (PSD), the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)) to watch the Super Bowl, or more specifically, the ads. The world is changing, but Vermont’s regulators and…

Dear Editor, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the William Thomas family of Rutland Town. Bill Thomas was a long time servant of the town who wore many hats over the years. His hard work on the Select Board and his dedication on the School Board will be remembered. When Thomas Dairy closed…

Dear Editor, For the past few years oligarchs on the right and anarchists on the left have turned father against mother, brother against sister, child against parent, neighbor against neighbor, and Christian against Christ. Seems that now 57% of Republicans consider Democrats “enemies” rather than “political opposition,” and 41% of Democrats consider Republicans “enemies” rather…

Dear Editor, Rutland County Court Diversion and Restorative Justice Center (dba Rutland County Restorative Justice Center) is celebrating 40 years of service! Since 1981, we have been continuously evolving to better serve our community by fostering partnerships, expanding programs, and actively pursuing best practices in restorative justice. Our mission is to engage community members in…