By Meg Hansen Public health and the economy are two sides of the same coin. Yet, as the number of COVID-19 cases escalates and an economic implosion looms, crisis managers feel compelled to pick either heads or tails. President Trump, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick are eager to reopen…

By John Flowers, Addison Independent After 35 years in reporting, I thought I’d been through a lot as a journalist: Martial law in the Philippines; a couple of natural disasters — the big ice storm and rampant flooding in Addison County — in 1996; a double-murder/suicide; a visit by the Dalai Lama; local soldiers deploying…

Local businesses that benefit from events and the recreational opportunities here in central Vermont, are a big part of the Mountain Times. Our pages are typically chock-full of photos and news related to the ongoings throughout our region — many of which happen at Killington, Pico and Okemo Mountains this time of year. However, due to…

Dear Editor, I’m trying to make sense of the recent VPR-Vermont PBS 2020 poll done in conjunction with Castleton University.  I’m not having much luck. A strong majority, 74%, favored raising the minimum wage. A majority, 56%, favored the family leave bill even if it meant a tax increase. But, the poll said, if the election were held today…

Dear editor, Today I received a thin envelope from Census 2020 in my mailbox. It instructed me to respond by internet. It took me all of three minutes (I do live alone). This is the first time the Decennial (10-year) Census has been able to take responses by internet. It can be done the next…

By Marc Sherman We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe. Whether you believe the threat is real and upon us or you think it’s a hoax, the reality is people are suffering very real illness and very personal challenges. For my business, Stowe Mercantile, we have closed following the governor’s proclamation for food service businesses. We unfortunately…

By Art Woolf We are in the first weeks of what will probably be the fastest and largest employment decline in Vermont’s history. The economy will be in much worse shape than I imagined just a week ago. Today there are 314,000 jobs in Vermont. By May, we will have lost 28,000 of them. That’s more than 8%…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson We are all adjusting to our new COVID-19 normal. The Legislature has just finished its first week of working remotely on Vermont’s response to this crisis. In each committee we are addressing different ways to respond to the anxieties and uncertainties we are all facing. This crisis is affecting almost every…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon President Kennedy’s words, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country,” never rang more true than in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We must all make sacrifices and help out where we can. The spread of the…

March 16, 2020 Dear Friends and Neighbors of OHF, The Coronavirus COVID-19 situation is changing daily. Many of you are preparing to stay home with your children due to the recent school closures and/or are trying to navigate the ability to continue to work while adhering to social distancing. We are right here with you.…

NOTICE FROM THE SELECTBOARD RE: COVID-19 March 10, 2020 The Town of Mendon Selectboard is monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, Mendon is reviewing information from the Vermont Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Emergency Management (VEM). Effective March 16, 2020, the Town of Mendon…

NOTICE FROM THE SELECTBOARD RE: COVID-19 March 16, 2020 The Town of Chittenden Select Board is monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, Chittenden is reviewing information from the Vermont Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Emergency Management (VEM). Effective March 16, 2020, the Town of…

TOWN OFFICE NOTICE The Rochester Town Office will be closed to the public due to efforts to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (CORVID-19) The office staff will be working regular hours to help with phone calls, emails and other concerns you may have. Please call ahead for dog licenses, marriage licenses or Birth and…

NOTICE FROM THE SELECTBOARD RE: COVID-19 March 16, 2020 The Town of Killington Selectboard is monitoring the development of the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, Killington is reviewing information from the Vermont Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Emergency Management (VEM). Effective March 17, 2020, the Town of Killington…

Dear Community – Many of you have reached out to advise and support Rutland Regional in communicating important information about our COVID-19 preparations and response. We are actively working on expanding our community outreach and communication activities. As part of this effort, I want to share with you measures that Rutland Regional is taking to…