Dear Editor, I recently drank my last glass of Thomas Dairy milk.  It was sad to hear this local business with a long history in Rutland Town was closing.  In addition, the pandemic and outbreaks of Covid-19 at faraway food processing plants in the Midwest have highlighted the critical importance of a strong and vibrant…

Dear Editor, My wife and I live in West Virginia have traveled and skied at Killington for 30 years since we retired have made a trip in the fall and between four to five trips in the winter. With the Vermont restrictions we canceled our trip and went to the smoky mountains in Tennessee for…

By James Duff Lyall In an unprecedented year, perhaps it’s only natural that we have an unprecedented election—the first in our lifetimes to occur during a global pandemic, and one in which an astounding number of votes will be cast after being mailed to voters. While many of us are used to staying up late…

Dear Editor, I am running as a bipartisan candidate for Rutland Town’s House seat, inviting ALL residents to build a bold new legislative agenda for our town. If elected, I will represent everyone in our town —all Republicans, Independents, and Democrats —constantly communicate and continually seek input. We are one town. Covid-19 requires a decisive…

Dear Editor, I believe Michael Shank is exactly the kind of leader we need right now. At a time when it feels like the fabric of our society is being torn apart, almost every politician I see is busy talking about whose fault it is. Shank is busy working on how to bring people together…

Dear Editor, I breathed a sigh of relief when Governor Scott allowed the new statewide use of force legislation to become law, rather than vetoing it. Why?  Over the past 10 years, 17 people have been killed by Vermont police.  And upon review by the Attorney General’s office, all have been deemed “justified.” Under the…

Dear Editor, We are writing to support Scott Milne for Lieutenant Governor. Not only does Milne show that he has the knowledge of what our state needs, but he has proven what it takes to be a determined and focused Lieutenant Governor. We have known Milne for several years and he listens, he really listens…

By Alison Notte As chair of the Rutland City Public Schools Board of Commissioners, my safety and family’s well-being has been threatened due to my role in facilitating discussion around changing the racist Raider mascot. It is hard to ignore the pattern (in Vermont and nationally) of threats against elected officials and/or people speaking up for…

Dear Editor, Donald Trump and the Republican Senate majority have long conspired to tilt the balance of power toward the pockets of billionaires. Now they’re stacking the Supreme Court with another hard-right, corporate-friendly ringer who will inflict even more damage on ordinary Americans. Throughout her confirmation hearings, Amy Coney Barrett claimed she was not “on…

Dear Editor, Senator Cheryl Hooker of Rutland County has our vote and support. As our State Senator, Cheryl Hooker has championed the needs of all citizens of Rutland County. Should you contact Senator Hooker with a need or issue, she promptly responds with accurate information and assistance. As educators in Rutland County for two decades,…

Dear Editor, While serving as a member of the Otter Valley Unified Union School Board, I attended a workshop about how to strengthen and sustain public engagement. I chuckled when I heard the phrase “crickets and pitchforks,” referring to the two typical reactions elected officials receive from the public: silence and outrage. I was excited…

Dear Editor, Think your vote for the Legislature doesn’t matter? You might want to consider the new “red tag” rule that prevents hundreds of Vermonters from filling up their heating oil tanks AND shames them in front of anyone with an internet connection. Read on if you value your dignity and privacy. H571/Act 76, the…

There are strict limits on what “poll watchers” can do As Election Day nears, President Trump has increasingly threatened to instigate voter intimidation. First, he has insinuated that he will deploy law enforcement officers to root out election-related crimes at the polls or call up the National Guard. (Spoiler alert: voter fraud is vanishingly rare).…

Dear Editor, Fellow residents of Bennington and the surrounding area. Calls and emails have been coming into the Vermont Veterans’ Home requesting information on the 2020 Wreaths Across America activities at the Home. As we all know, Covid-19 has temporarily changed the way we work, teach, and gather together; at least for now. On Dec.…

Dear Editor, Unsure how to vote in November?   Here’s a short guide to deciding if Donald Trump is your guy. If your strongest concern as a worker is what Trump says he will do for you, he’s your guy. If your concern is with what he has actually done for workers, Trump should not…