Dear Editor, I want to sincerely thank the Killington Rescue Team and the fifth floor “Red Team” emergency crew from Rutland Regional for saving my life on July 25. EMT Kristina, Colin McCreight, MD, Andrew DeNicco, MD, Julie Foster, MD and Taylor Stugart (owner of the Clear). I’m sincerely for help and kindness. Everyone did…

Dear Editor, Mere words cannot explain the depth of gratitude Sheila and I have for the friends and community members. A community we have been lucky enough to be a part of for over 40 years. Since the diagnosis, many have offered to help. Some financially, some with visits and/or food and even, “i’ll watch your…

By Angelo Lynn The tectonic plates of this presidential election are shifting so quickly it’s hard to keep up. With President Biden announcing Sunday, July 21, he was stepping aside and throwing his support to Vice President Kamala Harris, there was a moment of anticipation that Democrats would see a scramble between top contenders for…

Dear Editor, A new peer reviewed paper, “Best Management Practices for Furbearer Trapping Derived from Poor and Misleading Science,” was recently published and debunks Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s  attempt to convince the public that “Best Management Practices” for trapping result in more humane trapping practices. They don’t. In 2022 there was a bill to ban leghold traps—a straight-forward bill that…

By Frank Knaack and Falko Schilling Editor’s note: This commentary is by Frank Knaack, executive director of the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont, and Falko Schilling, advocacy director of the ACLU of Vermont. Homelessness in Vermont is at its highest level on record, as more people struggle to afford sky high-rents and housing costs. According…

Dear Editor, I don’t know where the idea of open primaries came from or the history of how they began in Vermont. I was originally from Connecticut and when you registered to vote you had to declare your party affiliation. Only if you were registered in a political party, could you take part in that…

By Bill Schubart Like a good novel, our lives have a narrative arc, during which we are actively participating in and relevant to our world. We are born, rise slowly into sensual consciousness and gradually process what we see and feel. Our juvenile perceptions gradually become knowledge, and, if all goes well, that knowledge binds…

By Representative Pattie McCoy Editor’s note: McCoy, from Poultney, is the House Minority Leader. She has been a Republican house rep since 2015 serving Rutland-1. What’s the worst thing to do when you are stuck in a hole? Continuing to dig. And what is the worst thing to do in an affordability crisis? Make things…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: This letter is in response to Don Tinney’s commentary in the July 3 edition. Tinney is the president of Vermont-National Education Association (NEA), the union of 13,000 Vermont educators.  Tinney’s “hit piece” on Governor Scott is nothing new for the Vermont-NEA, although I’m surprised by the shrillness of the tone. Perhaps he realizes how…

Dear Editor, Many cruel and unethical practices occur in Vermont’s fields and forests during hunting and trapping seasons, but you’ll never hear about them from Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Thankfully, watchdog groups like Protect Our Wildlife shed light on the most egregious, cruel and wanton acts of violence against wild animals in Vermont. One such act…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the owner and publisher of the Addison Independent in Middlebury, a sister publication to the Mountain Times.  Lightning flashed outside my office window as weather forecasters were predicting two or more inches of rain, which got me reflecting on the $80 million to $90 million of federal…

Dear Editor, There has been no shortage of notable quotes from Montpelier recently, and not many of them charitable. Reading that our governor referred to lawmakers as “a bit arrogant” in overriding his vetoes at a press conference brings to mind several historical quotes and sayings. What immediately came to mind were “Let he who…

Dear Editor, Many people underestimate the impact that mental illness can have on an individual or family. It can be difficult to admit that you have a mental health problem in your life. Secondly, it can be just as difficult in getting the people you know to understand your situation without making any kinds of…

By Doug Hoffer, Vermont State Auditor The 2024 legislative session started and finished the same way — with universal concern about significant looming educational tax increases. Original estimates indicated average property tax bills could rise 18.5% for the upcoming year. In the end, using one-time stop-gap funding that defers the financial reckoning to future years,…

Dear Editor, The Vermont Legislature has passed a 13.8% increase in Vermonters’ property tax to fund our public education system. Now that we are paying more, what educational outcomes are we getting for our money? According to Forbes Magazine, Feb. 7, 2024: “Which states have the highest standardized test scores,” Vermont ranks 10th in the nation…