Dear Editor, In the midst of a global pandemic and national unrest, there is still care and compassion for humankind. It is important to recognize the outpouring of help in the local Killington community that epitomizes the level of care needed for one another during these times. Bryan Gudelis and the staff of the Garlic…

Dear Editor, Congratulations class of 2020!  What an extraordinary time this is. We know that every graduation from pre-school to advanced degrees is a benchmark in the life of a student filled with personal memories, but yours is one that will be remembered by the population at large. You are part of a global collective…

Dear Editor, Donald Trump petulantly stalks out of pressers and haughtily betrays our allies and nemeses alike. In effect, he takes his marbles and goes home. Fine! We’ll just keep on playing. But in fact, there is a silver lining. And that is: the betrayed and disenfranchised are flexing their muscle with a new vigor.…

By Alon Ben-Meir The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in broad daylight came amid a high point in the continuing rampage of the coronavirus throughout the country, killing over 100,000 and infecting nearly 2 million while more than 45 million have lost their jobs. The death of Floyd is no longer seen…

By Angelo Lynn Donald Trump is a failed president. Americans are facing the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression of the 30s, the worst pandemic since the Spanish Flu of 1918, and the worst civil unrest and protests since the riots of the late 1960s. It is no coincidence that these three calamities have…

By Lee H. Hamilton Not long ago I was asked by several students for my thoughts on the outstanding characteristics of good politicians. What follows is my response: Good politicians are patriots, who are committed to strive for a more perfect union. They understand that they cannot accomplish much by themselves. There are scores of…

Dear Editor, The obscene public execution of George Floyd on Monday night May 25th by Minneapolis police has brought about righteous indignation and protests not only in Minnesota but across the country as the American public has finally had enough of the continuous system of non-accountablity and protection from serious prosecution afforded to brutal thugs…

To the editor, We are writing this letter as an enthusiastic endorsement of Meg Hansen for lieutenant governor of Vermont. We have known Meg Hansen for several years and are  impressed with her knowledge of the concerns facing all Vermonters. Hansen is a tenacious researcher, a gifted speaker, writer and a honest and compassionate woman.  She will…

Dear Editor, Do you feel like you’re living in some type of strange dream? Us, too. Or maybe the nice weather and a few business openings have you feeling like things might someday get back to normal? We hear you. Either way, we want you to know that WARF (Woodstock Area Relief Fund) is here…

Dear editor, In reading the article entitled “Police investigate harassment of black family with out-of-state plate in Hartford”, which appeared in the May 20-26 issue, I had an alternative interpretation of the motivation.  The car was pulled over and the driver “advised that he was not wanted in Vermont and told to leave” and this…

By Gov. Phil Scott Editor’s note: What follows is a transcript of Gov. Phil Scott remarks on racism in the wake of George Floyd’s death by police last Monday and subsequent protests over the weekend in Vermont and nationwide. These remarks opened the regular, three-times-per week press conference usually dedicated to the state’s Covid-19 response…

By Jonathan Spiro, interim president of Castleton University Like many Vermonters, I have not driven to work in six weeks. But yesterday I had to go to the office (which in my case is Castleton University) to attend to some essential business for the state. As I drove down Main Street in Castleton, I passed…

Dear Editor, There was good news from Covid-19 for this past Memorial Day weekend and beyond. We didn’t get stuck in traffic jams. And, the meat shortage kept us safe from our outdoor grills. Folks who grill hamburgers and hot dogs face a nasty choice. The U.S. Meat and Poultry Hotline advises grilling at high…

Dear Editor, Forget “government takeovers” of health care. It was taken over long ago by insurance companies and other commercial interests. Now it’s just a money pit. Insurance premiums are tied to how much insurers have to pay out to doctors and hospitals. The fees doctors and hospitals charge include money to compensate for the enormous…

Dear Editor, The Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented public health and economic challenges for the people of Vermont. Vermonters have lost their lives, many have lost access to healthcare services, one in four are now unemployed, and too many families are struggling with hunger and food shortage. The true extent of this devastation will only…