All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: Re-elect Tom Bock to Chester Select Board
I enthusiastically endorse Tom Bock for re-election to the Chester Select Board. In my nine years of service as recording secretary for both the Select Board and the Planning Commission I have witnessed firsthand Tom’s thoughtful devotion to the well-being of the people of Chester in consideration of the issues presented to each board. During […]
To the editor: Write-in candidate seeks Grafton residents’ votes
My name is Matt Siano and I am asking for your write in vote on March 1st for the two year open seat on the Grafton Select Board. My wife Anita and I have been voting residents since 1980 and have gratefully given our son Anthony the opportunity to live, attend school and grow here […]
To the editor: Jonynas deserves another term on Chester Select Board
Having known Arne Jonynas for nearly 20 years, it’s quite easy for me to endorse him in his bid for re-election to the Chester Select Board. I know Arne to be a good, honest, hard-working businessperson, an involved citizen of our town, a solid, caring parent to his children and a thoughtful, pragmatic selectman who […]
To the editor: Chester needs new leadership with vision
Chester needs new leadership. The current focus of our town governance is on managing the tax rate – that is, the annual town budget divided by the cumulative assessed valuation of all the properties in the town. This puts the focus on nickel-and-diming the services the town provides while ignoring the far more important factor, […]
To the editor: A change in Chester for more opportunities
Did you know that the Town of Chester is in the center of the fastest fiber optic cable network in the United States? VTel is currently converting our entire network to state-of-the-art fiber-optic to deliver blazing gigabit-per-second Internet speeds to every home in its south-central Vermont service area of 14 rural Vermont villages. This is […]
To the editor: Jr. Iron Chef teams update; cafeteria gets pay online system
Both of Green Mountain High School’s Jr. Iron Chef Vt. teams have been working hard to create and perfect their recipes to be submitted for approval by Feb. 15 to enter the March 19 competition. A big thank you to the coaches for giving the teams so much of their time and support. I will […]
To the editor: In Montpelier, marijuana, budgets on the agenda
The first month of the 2016 legislative session included Gov. Peter Shumlin’s last State of the State and budget address. The Senate had the difficult job of deciding whether to suspend a colleague who faces criminal charges. I voted against suspension out of respect for the presumption of innocence and for the separation of powers […]
To the editor: What does the public get for giving tax exemption?
© 2016 Telegraph Publishing, LLC With regard to the Chester Rod & Gun Club’s request for property tax exempt status, I’d like to know that the facility will be open for public use if exemption is granted. That was always my understanding of how the town benefits from not collecting property tax on that sizable […]
Commentary: Vt. Attorney General overreaches in prosecuting anti-wind activist
By Deborah T. Bucknam Esq. Vermont’s Attorney General has filed a complaint against Annette Smith, the activist who helps Vermonters opposed to industrial wind navigate the administrative jungle that best describes the Public Service Board proceedings. I have represented folks opposed to industrial wind at the Public Service Board, and the hearings are overrun by […]
To the editor: Time for a change on Grafton Select Board
In the last two years, I have attended the majority of Grafton Select Board and Planning Commission meetings. I have repeatedly observed behavior and treatment of people at these meetings like nothing I have seen in town, since Noreen and I moved here in 1973. I have seen heated and emotional debate in town in […]
To the editor: Nature Museum speaker on cougars drew large, enthusiastic crowd
A big thank you to Sue Morse for leading a fascinating talk sponsored by the Nature Museum on the cougars return to the East on Jan. 20. This was our largest audience on record ever so thank you to everyone who came out! It was standing room only in the NewsBank Conference Center in Chester […]
Where are all the candidates?
By Shawn Cunningham © 2016 Telegraph Publishing LLC Many years ago a police officer in a large, East Coast city gave me some house-hunting advice. He said that if you are looking at buying a house, walk down the street in that neighborhood and ask passersby how to get in touch with the Neighborhood Watch […]
To the editor: Montpelier should support Working Lands Enterprise program
We are writing in support of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund. The Brattleboro Area Farmer’s Market has been operating for more than 40 years. Until recently, we had been threatened by the possibility of losing our marketing location – which consists of three rented adjacent sites – to sale and/or development. We knew that if […]
Commentary: An open letter to Vermont legislators
By Bill Schubart Bill@Schubart.com As the new legislative session ramps up, I’d like to offer some thoughts. Don’t micromanage complex issues. We already have too many laws and administrative statutes, many poorly drafted, ambiguous or conflicting. Some actually confound good behavior. Our problems can’t be enacted away. They’re substantial and demand clarity of vision, courage […]
To the editor: CAES kids get to taste new vegetables, new dishes
Each month, as part of our Farm to School Program, Chester-Andover Elementary School offers a taste test of a featured vegetable. For instance, January is for parsnips, which we integrate into our menu as well as offer as a taste test. We set up a table during lunch and present the item in a healthy […]
To the editor: Neighborhood Connections thanks Thrifty Attic for support
Neighborhood Connections thanks the Thrifty Attic for its recent donation. This grant is intended for Neighborhood Connections’ Senior Wellness program and will enable us to provide senior citizens in our community with a range of services including case management, health education, social support programs and other interventions designed to assist individuals to remain independent and […]
To the editor: BRGN thanks all who helped with charitable efforts
The staff and clients of Black River Good Neighbors would like to thank all of those who donated goods, money or time to help this year’s holiday food distribution. The process begins early in the year, but gears up in earnest with the annual Stuff-a-Bus in Ludlow, followed by the Okemo Cares and Shares food […]
To the editor: You can help Collaborative combat addiction
The Collaborative is in the middle of its annual 2015 fundraising appeal. We appreciate our donors so much. They are the reason we are able to host substance free events for young people, educate the community about harmful substances and support working families through our Extended Day Program. Our programs combine education with active alternatives […]
Letter to the editor: New Green Mountain Party seeks supporters
The Green Mountain Party has formed a state committee and is looking to open town caucuses to be a minor political party in Vermont. Your one vote does a lot and sometimes we as citizens need to do more. Many in Vermont are frustrated with our non-responsive, self-serving Montpelier government. We are frustrated with likes of Monsanto trying […]
To the editor: Food and Nutritional Services thrives at GMUHS
I would like to begin by announcing the addition to our staff of Sous Chef Josh Adams. Josh began working this summer in our successful Summer Meals Program. He now works daily as lead person in our kitchen preparing not only food for our breakfast program but for lunch as well. He has been training for the position […]
