All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: State should not burden state workers with retirement shortfall
I urge our state government NOT to support the current proposal that would put the burden of the retirement shortfall on our teachers and state employees. The current teachers and state employees should be not responsible for the mismanagement of the retirement fund by prior state administrations. Asking teachers/state employees to delay retirement for less […]
To the editor: Gut check finds we are what we eat
Facts: Up to 287 chemicals have been found in the umbilical cord of newborns; the rate of autoimmune diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancers have increased along with the increase in the use of glyphosate; even non-GMO crops such as wheat, oats, barley and potatoes, are sprayed with glyphosate before harvesting; the Maximum Residue Level of […]
Op-ed: Bock on legislative progress in Montpelier
By state Rep. Tom Bock Windsor-3-1 Nothing about the 2021-2022 legislative session in Montpelier has been business as usual. It began as no other like it, in total virtual mode with legislators “Zooming in” from 150 locales across Vermont. Despite these challenges, we are making progress on critical goals. Our focus continues to be on […]
Op-ed: Sunshine Week celebrates open government — even in a pandemic
By Jim Condos Vermont Secretary of State “Work Like There Are 625,000 Vermonters Looking Over Our Shoulders” Covid-19 has strained so many of our institutions over the last year. As our Vermont government agencies work to support our state through this crisis, we must always work to maintain the public’s right to know. Fortunately, in […]
To the editor: Chester Planning Commission outlines its work on updating bylaws
Due to some recent confusion surrounding the Chester Planning Commission’s work on rewriting the town’s Unified Development Bylaws, or UDBs, the Commission feels that it’s important to provide clarity and insight to that process. The UDBs are being rewritten so as to be closely aligned with the existing Town Plan and Chester Village Master Plan […]
Sen. Clarkson: Pandemic Zooming has made Montpelier more accessible
By Sen. Alison Clarkson Town Meeting week certainly was different this year. While I missed the in-person visits, delicious food and touring around Windsor District, our virtual Zoom Town Informational Meetings enabled me to stop in to 10 gatherings. Without having to drive half an hour or 45 minutes between meetings, I was afforded the […]
To the editor: For his 80th, Paul Ippolito shares his 80 favorite songs
For the past 52 years, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of singing and playing guitar with groups of all ages from young children to senior citizens in Chester, Springfield, Ludlow and surrounding communities. In March I will be 80 years young, so I put together a list of my 80 favorite songs which I’d […]
To the editor: Vote for Chase for Chester Select Board
We are supporting Heather Chase in her campaign for re-election as one of three candidates for a three-year position on the Chester Select Board. Having served on the Select Board for six years, Heather has demonstrated good leadership in maintaining and improving Chester as a comfortable and livable place for us to live, work and […]
To the editor: Hoser would bring unique abilities to Chester Select Board
Having personally been in need of emergency services in the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to have had the very competent services of physician assistant Will Hoser on a number of occasions. I received not just effective medical care from him, but also the comfort and reassurance of his caring manner. The warmth and […]
To the editor: Vote for Hoser for Chester Select Board
Dedication and commitment to one’s community are the hallmarks of a good public servant, and that is why I am delighted to write a letter in support of Will Hoser for a one-year term on Chester’s Select Board. I have known Will for 16 years and know that he is someone who really cares about […]
Op-ed: VPR/Vermont PBS — The Vermont media conglomerate
By Matt Krauss The largest non-profit media organization in Vermont history –made up of Vermont Public Radio and the Vermont Public Broadcasting System — will soon have 117 employees, an annual budget $18 million and $91 million in assets. Seven Days has around 43 employees; VtDigger around 22. How many at your local newspaper? Its […]
To the editor: Chase has proven track record on Chester Select Board
The first time met Heather Chase, I was a new state representative. She approached me (at the Post Office to be exact) to discuss an issue she felt was important to Chester. Over the course of my six years in the legislature, I often heard from Heather on issues that touched on the well-being and […]
To the editor: Chester greenhouse project thanks supporters
Chester Community Greenhouse & Gardens is sincerely grateful to the Town of Chester Select Board for its Feb. 3, 2021 letter supporting our proposed community greenhouse project. What began as just an idea discussed by a few avid gardeners at the beginning of the pandemic, has taken root to become a full-fledged non-profit organization in […]
To the editor: On 100th anniversary, remember Vermont was slow to accept women’s suffrage
Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of Vermont’s ratification of the 19thAmendment granting women the right to vote, coming almost six months following its adoption and after women had voted in November 1920. Contrary to its history of progressive change, Vermont lagged behind the nation on women’s suffrage. Legislators resisted the reform for […]
Opinion: State bill would require civics education for high school graduation
By Sen. Dick McCormack Windsor District It requires real effort to focus on anything but Covid-19 and the transfer of power, but life and its lesser concerns go on. A tri-partisan group of senators, including local colleagues Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Mark MacDonald and all three Rutland County senators, are co-sponsoring S.17, a bill I’ve […]
Opinion: Historic day in Montpelier and Washington, D.C.
By Sen. Alison Clarkson Windsor District Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark: One, unusually quiet, orderly, historic but subdued; The other noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our […]
To the editor: Al and Karnie DeCell thank all for wonderful good wishes in 2020
We wish to send a sincere thank you to our children Greg, Judy and Verlene, our extended family and our many friends, neighbors and acquaintances who helped us celebrate our two special birthdays and our anniversary during 2020. We enjoyed and appreciated the many great cards, calls, parade of tooting horns, Facebook messages and memories. […]
To the editor: Chester-Andover Family Center thanks all for Food Shelf donations More than 100 households fed through public, private efforts
What does it take to provide over 100 households with supplemental food during the holiday season? For the Chester-Andover Family Center Food Shelf, it takes a community effort. Throughout the pandemic, since early March and leading up to the holiday season, the Family Center has been the recipient of many donations. A week has not […]
To the editor: Local ‘Nutcracker’ an especially special event this year
I saw some good news this weekend: My wife, Ashley Hensel-Browning, directed the “The Nutcracker” for The Dance Factory, like she does every year. I saw the Arabian dancers, the Candy Canes, the Waltz of the Flowers – things we expect in December, right? But to see them come alive in Covid-19 times, against the […]
To the editor: Windsor senators thank voters for their support
To the People of the Windsor County Senate District: Thank you for re-electing us as your state Senators. Your trust is an honor and a challenge to be worthy. We’re grateful to the many people who’ve worked to re-elect us, and we thank our various opponents for a civil contest in these uncivil times. We […]
