All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
Commentary: NEA funds help the arts reach rural communities
By Charma Bonanno ©2017-Telegraph Publishing LLC Congressman Peter Welch is due a lot of credit. While his peers in other states are also holding town hall meetings, Rep. Welch has gone the extra mile of pulling together small groups in a variety of fields to discuss how Vermonters would be affected by the sweeping cuts […]
Editorial: Good grief, Gov. Scott!
© 2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC Local representatives and select boards hoping to get Route 11 between Londonderry and Chester repaired for years must have felt a bit like Charlie Brown. Autumn after autumn, in the Peanuts comic strip, he tried to kick a football held by his nemesis, Lucy. And no matter how solemnly she […]
To the editor: School gardens connect kids with good food
At this time of year, the anticipation begins to build toward the last day of school and many teachers find that working in the school garden, or simply growing plants in the classroom, is a welcome hands-on activity that successfully engages students with their curriculum. Most schools in the region have some sort of school […]
Commentary: Vermont’s ethics crisis
By Bill Schubart The Vermont legislature is at an impasse trying to decide whether to establish and adequately fund a statewide ethics commission that has real enforcement capability. There’s been considerable favorable testimony by Vermonters, ethicists and Secretary of State Jim Condos, who has been a relentless champion of government transparency, inclusion and establishing such […]
To the editor: Local rules for local schools
Earl Butz – Richard Nixon’s Secretary of Agriculture – was famous for telling farmers to “get big or get out.” His tenure set off a frenzy of consolidation in agriculture pushing small farmers off their land and turning neighbors against each other in an everyone-for-themselves scramble for more acreage. Farming began its perilous decline from […]
To the editor: Wild for Pollinators program benefits Vermont environment
Vermont has more than 275 species of bees, three of which have recently been added to the threatened and endangered species list. Across the world, and in our own backyards, many pollinator populations are being threatened by pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change, parasites and disease problems, and more. Wild for Pollinators is a new […]
To the editor: BRGNS thanks Okemo, volunteers and skiers for food drive
The clients, employees and volunteers at Black River Good Neighbor Services in Ludlow sincerely thank Okemo, its employees and especially its skiers for a highly successful food drive on March 19. Each spring and each fall, Okemo holds its Cares and Shares food drive to benefit Black River Good Neighbors in the true spirit of […]
To the editor: Four towns vote May 2 on GM unified school district, board candidates
On Tuesday, March 21, the Vermont State Board of Education approved the formation of the Green Mountain Unified School District. Residents from Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish and Chester will serve as school directors for the new district. On Tuesday, May 2, 2017, each town school district will be voting by by Australian ballot on the formation […]
To the editor: Thanks to area firefighters for saving house
To the volunteer firefighters of Proctorsville, Cavendish, Ludlow, Springfield, Chester, Reading, Weston, Mount Holly, Ascutney, Walpole and Weathersfield who rallied to our home in the early hours of Feb. 15 to fight our house fire, we are eternally grateful. Through your efforts you were able to control the inferno and save our house. While there […]
To the editor: Sen. Clarkson updates legislative progress
The Vermont legislature is in the throes of “crossover’ – that two-week period when bills being considered by the House or the Senate must pass from one body to the other if they are to be enacted into law this year. This marks the half-way point in our legislative session. All of us worked hard […]
To the editor: Time to move on after Chester board passed UDBs
I would like to compliment the Chester Select Board for showing strong leadership at the Wednesday March 15 meeting. I was not thinking ahead so I was surprised by the chairman’s not allowing comments about the UDBs. Once that was stated it made perfect sense that that process was over and we were on to […]
To the editor: Challenge authority, not each other’s integrity
I would like the opportunity to address comments made to me regarding my previous letter and also respond to Frank Seawright’s letter, which I guess was a indirect response to mine even though he didn’t answer my criticism. I also would like to clarify my take on things here in Windham. I challenged Frank, not […]
To the editor: Windham board chair Seawright responds to critical letter
As chair of the Select Board of the Town of Windham, I was recently vilified in a letter sent to various Vermont news outlets. Besides the peculiar accusation that I am “classless,” the letter criticizes a challenge at this year’s Town Meeting to another sitting Select Board member, who was up for re-election. Although the […]
To the editor: Feds urged to restart tool for FAFSA applicants
The U.S. Department of Education and IRS have announced that they have shut down the income retrieval tool that simplifies the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. is urging the Education Department and IRS to act quickly so that students and families do not have to manually enter […]
Commentary: Middlebury mob, education and free speech
This commentary originally aired on VT Public Radio By Bill Schubart Many young people are, by nature’s design, rash and impulsive and in loco parentis educators must often deal with the fallout from their students’ lack of experience. Real-life consequences and good mentoring, mature them over time or they become infantilized adults. The recent protest that turned […]
Op-ed: Vermont governments must let the sunshine in
By Jim Condos Vermont Secretary of State An open government makes for a better government. This is Sunshine Week and it is being celebrated all across the nation. In reality, it should be celebrated every week – not just this week – in Vermont and every other state. Here at the Secretary of State’s Office, […]
To the editor: Windham board chief disappoints in reaction to Scott win
I am writing this letter to express my disappointment in the head of our Windham Select Board, and the anti-wind group Friends of Windham. They continue to demonize and wage a smear campaign against any citizen of Windham whom they deem to be not stepping in line with their self interests. The most recent example […]
To the editor: Thank you for passing GMUHS budget
I want to thank all of you who approved our operating budget for the coming school year. For those who did not vote for the budget, I promise to do all I can so that our school earns your trust and confidence. Green Mountain Union High School students bring so much to our community. Besides […]
To the editor: Hall wants to move Grafton forward
I’m Noralee Hall (that’s my dog Bess next to me) and this March 7th, town meeting day, I would appreciate your vote. I’m running for a 3-year Selectboard term. Here’s my brief back story: I live in town full-time, own my home, and I’ve worked in Grafton over the past 37 years. At the Grafton […]
To the editor: Bonds are being used like a credit card
I’ll vote for the school bond and the fire truck bond, but I do not support the paving and mower bonds. Let’s say I bought a $30,000 truck and took a loan for the full amount but paid only interest for the first three years. At the end of the third year, I would still […]
