All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: Pearce for state treasurer
Our state treasurer, Beth Pearce, was enormously helpful to our communities in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, especially the actions she took to help our towns through the cash flow burden we faced to repair our municipal infrastructures so badly damaged that day. I represent two of the towns that suffered the highest financial […]
To the editor: Wilton for state treasurer
Many of the letters in support of candidates come from the candidate asking the author of the letter to write it. I can assure that this letter of support does not have that as its origination or motivation. As the chair of the finance committee of the Rutland Board of Aldermen for three years, I […]
Single payer: A common sense approach to health care
By Leigh Dakin Nationally, health care has emerged as a central issue in this election. Rightly so, with nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance and the cost of insurance and health care growing much faster than our incomes. The United States spends far more on health care than any other country: on average $8,000 […]
To the editor: TARPS thanks all for a great Fall Festival
The Animal Rescue and Protection Society had a successful time at this year’s Chester Rotary Club’s Fall Festival on the Green and would like to express our appreciation. Thank you to everyone who visited to our booth. We are happy to report that quite a few of our cats found new, loving homes plus we raised a lot […]
To the Editor: Why money for China?
Vermont Law School has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. State Department to support a three-year project designed to improve environmental and public health in China. The project’s goal is help legal advocates, citizen groups, NGOs and government agencies to act individually and together within Yunnan Province to create a model for advancing […]
To the Editor: Donovan for Attorney General
For the first time in 14 years, Vermonters have a choice in the race for Attorney General. I support T.J. Donovan because he has campaigned on the twin imperatives of defending the laws of the state of Vermont and setting an ambitious agenda for the office that will help Vermonters – and particularly working middle- […]
To the Editor: Symington backs Sorrell for AG
In the race for Attorney General, T.J. Donovan has stated that Bill Sorrell should have steered legislators away from passing bold progressive legislation that might draw lawsuits. As a former Speaker of the House, I want to speak up for Bill Sorrell, and for Vermont’s right to push the envelope in defense of our values. […]
To the Editor: Democrats should have endorsed Sorrell
Dear Editor, We are appalled that the Democratic State Committee failed to endorse the Democratic candidate Bill Sorrell. Sorrell has served Vermont admirably for 15 years as our Attorney General and is a bona-fide Democrat. The party’s grounds for not endorsing Sorrell were that he did not call them on the phone to request that […]
A Tale of Two Towns: Chester PA & Chester VT
By Sandy Stiassni While I have childhood memories of Chester, VT as an exceptionally fine place to live, set apart from banal Big-Box retail communities that have come to comprise so much of small town and suburban life in America, I’ve known another Chester, in a different locale and with a different character. As a […]
Letter to the Editor: Thank you Chester for your support
Dear Chesterites, My business, Swiss Precision Remodeling, came to an immediate stand-still after I got diagnosed with Cancer in January. Now, 6 months and a big operation, followed by intensive chemo and radiation treatments later, I must thank you again, in public, for your support. My wife and I are deeply in your debt. Numerous […]
To the editor: The Rev. H. Paul Brannock-Wanter to retire
At its annual retreat in May, the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church leadership accepted the resignation and retirement of the Rev. H. Paul Brannock-Wanter, who has served the congregation for just over 10 years. In May of 2010, Father Paul’s anniversary of 25 years of ordained ministry was celebrated under the tent on the church lawn. […]
An unforgettable childhood in 1960s Chester
By Sandy Stiassni Like many New York Times readers, I read Abby Goodnough’s arresting article about the Dollar General plan to colonize Chester. It brought back treasured early youth snapshots. My grandparents were Chester residents. They become naturalized in the1940s, having emigrated as holocaust survivors from war-occupied Brno, now in Czech Republic. My grandfather, a […]
CVPS must repay ratepayers $21 million
By Leigh Dakin The repayment of the $21 million loan to CVPS from ratepayers has emerged as a hot issue in the closing days of this legislative session. Early on, I joined as a co-sponsor of the House bill to require this repayment. For me, this is a simple question of fairness and fulfilling a […]
To the Editor: An open letter to the Development Review Board
The process that began – for me at least – on July 25, 2011 with a hearing on subdividing the Zachary’s Pizza House property to build a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General is coming to a head. You, the members of Chester’s Development Review Board, will soon announce the results of your deliberations on the issue. Those […]
To the Editor: Mental Health Bill Welcomed
My perspective concerning mental health matters comes, firstly, as a family member of persons who fell into the public mental health system. It is also informed by my own experiences within the mental health system as well. In my view, when someone is experiencing a crisis of one fashion or another, including acute episodes of […]
Commentary: Vaccines can help keep rising health-care costs down
By Leigh Dakin Many issues that come before the State House require balancing personal freedoms against the public good. In areas that involve health, the public good includes who will pay the cost of medical treatment. Currently, the state and federal governments are the payers of last resort, but the current system is unsustainable. An […]
To the Editor: Constituents support cellphone ban
I recently distributed an informal poll, prepared by state Sen. William Doyle, to my constituents in Andover, Baltimore and Chester to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts on various issues of statewide importance. An overwhelming majority of the Doyle Poll respondents in my district agreed that drivers should be prohibited from using cellphones […]
