Dear Editor, On New Year’s Day, I was able to watch the “Mr. Chris and Friends” series on Vermont Public Television and boy, did his show lift my spirits. I already have tickets for his performance in Rutland on Saturday, Jan. 19 at noon. I hope my grandchildren can go but if they cannot, I…

By Lee H. Hamilton Here’s a basic truth about people who make decisions on public policy: they rarely have all the facts they want. Over the years, I’ve sat in countless meetings in which, after we’d reached a sticking point, someone said in exasperation, “Well, what are the facts?” We’d all look around the room…

By Sen. Jeff Flake Editor’s note: As this country enters a new decade and tries to put the first two tumultuous decades of this new century behind us, Americans face a peril unknown in the country’s 220 year history: a president who would willingly trade our democratic form of government for that of an autocracy,…

Dear Editor, Vermont’s forest-based economy generates roughly $3.8 billion annually. This figure varies from year to year. A little less than half of that revenue is associated with the timber and maple industry. More than half is generated by forest-based recreation. Vermont currently incentivizes the timber side of the equation while doing very little for…

Dear Editor, As I write this, a block of Senators and Congresspeople are preparing to deny that the Constitution of the United States is on fire. It is a fire set by the President and fanned by their own actions; actions they commit solely out of fear that they might lose their jobs and have…

Editor’s Note: Ed James wrote the following 20 years ago for the Addison County Independent, a sister paper to the Mountain Times. It seems as appropriate today as then. Dear Editor, The first day of winter — Dec.  22 — and already winter had been here since the first of November with grey, rainy days…

By Paul Costello The temptation with bad news, like that of the closing of Green Mountain College, is to sit on one’s hands, paralyzed by structural change beyond immediate local control. The alternative is to come together, line up strategies and do what is in your power to move your community forward. That is just…

Dear Editor, I realize there has been a flurry of communications regarding the state of the Woodstock Union Middle and High School. Having just attended the last tour, I feel compelled to add my voice to the conversation, as a parent, tax payer, and former school board member. It is my understanding that there will…

Dear Editor, Thank you for the prompt response by Killington Volunteer Fire/ Rescue and Regional Ambulance when Howie fell and lost consciousness. Their response time was amazing, their care and concern comforting. On a day when the snow just didn’t seem to stop it became clear to me that the most important places to keep…

Dear Editor, After 10 years out of the limelight, one of Killington’s greatest just might be preparing for the most epic return to the main stage this country has ever seen. You’ve heard whispers in the pubs, you’ve read rumors on social media, and maybe you’ve even caught what you thought was a glimpse of…

By David Van Deusen As president of the 10,000 member Vermont AFL-CIO (and as a former organizer with the Sierra Club), it was with keen interest that I read the recommendations of the Transportation and Climate Initiative.  This group, representing 12 Northeast states, is seeking to take steps to increase the price of fuel over…

Editor’s note: This was submitted by the Windsor Central Supervisory Union and may not represent the opinion of all school board members. After two years of studying the best and highest value means of addressing the facility deficiencies of the 60 plus year-old middle and high school facility, the WCSU (Windsor Central Supervisory Union) board…

Dear Editor, On behalf of the Homeless Prevention Center, we would like to thank the many community members who made our dinner, dance, silent auction and 20th Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 2 at the Franklin Conference Center in Rutland, such a great success. With the help of 15 sponsors, 70 individuals and businesses that donated…

Dear Editor, On March 9, 1954, Republican Vermont Sen. Ralph Flanders stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate to condemn fellow Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy on his claims that there were communists in the state department. The Flanders speech was an immediate sensation, as Flanders’ courage to speak up against a member of his…

By Angelo Lynn In recent impeachment hearings, during which House Democrats called on three judicial scholars for their constitutional interpretation of what acts would be grounds for impeachment, the evidence was overwhelming that President Trump’s attempted bribery of Ukraine’s president met the standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” According to numerous reporters present, the testimony…