Op-Ed: Who will speak outside the language shelter?
Aware that clarity and honesty don’t guarantee popularity, real leaders focus on what they want to convey. They tell it like it is, formulating straightforward, declarative language that conveys their thoughts and plans for action.
LETTER: Sharing books to stay engaged, stay informed
I am heartbroken as I write this post. I hope that you have a strong friendship/family group to support you through this difficult time if you are as heartbroken as I am. We are slowly losing our fundamental rights as U.S. citizens.
A rare winter flicker of red and yellow
While many of our region’s colorful birds fly south for the cold months, resident woodpeckers offer a reliable contrast to this season’s monochrome palette.
OPINION: Vermont benefits when we strengthen our commitment to child care
Across political lines and communities, Vermonters agree: young families should be able to afford to live and work here. The good news is, our investments in child care are moving us toward this shared vision.
LETTER: Helping unhoused folks in Central Vermont
A month ago, there was a post on Front Porch Forum from Stefanie Pinard looking for specific items to help unhoused people in central Vermont. Kit Walker contacted me to see if we could organize a collection drive to help.
Sweeney: Housing proposal could pull vacancy rate back from the brink
Right now, there is quite a to-do over a proposed project at the site of the former Stanley and Wasson Halls at the state complex. The developer DEW Construction has proposed a project that seems large by Waterbury’s standards, but could very well pull the town’s housing vacancy rate back from the brink.
Sen. Sanders invites students to virtual town hall
As much as I’d like to, I simply cannot visit every school every year. So, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., I am going to be hosting a virtual student town hall, open to all Vermont high school students.
Op-Ed: Let’s build more housing together with union labor
Every day, tens of thousands of Vermonters head to work with the pride of knowing their union jobs support their families and their communities.
LETTER: Neighbors discuss democracy
We had a small group at our community meeting Thursday night, but had a great conversation!
Op-Ed: Supreme Court hears challenge to Fish & Wildlife’s compliance with new rules for hounding coyotes, trapping
Why should grassroots nonprofit organizations have to sue the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife to make it comply with legislative mandates?
LETTER: Indivisible groups to hold MLK Day rally in Waitsfield
Indivisible Mad River Valley, Indivisible Calais, and Indivisible Montpelier will hold a Martin Luther King Day Call to Defend Democracy on Monday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. in Waitsfield along the Mad River Green.
Rep. Wood: Assessing impacts from shifting federal policies
The 2026 session has started off at full tilt! In this report, I will concentrate on efforts to stay abreast of the ever-changing shifting sands at the federal level and what efforts we are making to address some of those issues.
LETTER: Harwood School Board chair invites Gov. Scott to board meeting
Harwood School Board Chair Ashley Woods invites Gov. Phil Scott to attend a school board meeting. ‘We would welcome the opportunity for you to hear directly from our community and to share your perspective on education affordability and policy.’
Op-Ed: On taxes and the Baby Boom legacy
Growing up, we Boomers (born 1945-1964) were steeped in the idealism of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and the minimalist hippie ethic. But Watergate, Vietnam, and assassinations would turn idealists into cynical, self-serving uber-consumers.
LETTER: Waterbury Rotary Club needs you!
Waterbury Rotary Club is behind many projects, efforts and events in the Waterbury-Duxbury-Moretown community and it’s seeking new members.
LETTER: Harwood proves schools can end seclusion and reduce restraint
Praise for Harwood Union Unified School District is overdue. For three years in a row, the district has reduced its use of physical restraints and eliminated seclusion, demonstrating that this progress is not temporary, but sustained.
Hommage à Grand-mère Elise et à sa salade verte
Born in 1901, Grammie Couture lived over 101 years. She was the family matriarch, the friend we all turned to when our lives tipped over.
Commentary: Lessons from the MAGA universe
During the past two years, I have offered opinions on a variety of topics such as the impact of the DOGE reductions, the misuse of “alternative facts,” the rise of Christian nationalism, the Supreme Court decisions on the Voting Rights Act, campaign financing and the establishment of a “unitary executive,” threats to our Bill of Rights, the harmful impact of aging presidents, the importance of speaking out and exercising one’s free speech, and calling out racism, antisemitism and misogyny.
Noonan: 2025 CVMC health care highlights
The close of a year is a time of reflection. For 57 years, Central Vermont Medical Center has stood as a trusted partner in health care, serving generations of families with compassion and commitment. That history is a source of pride—and a reminder of the responsibility we carry to ensure access to high-quality care for everyone in our region.
Leichliter: Beyond local control, rising health care costs are driving school budgets
As Vermonters enter another difficult school budget season, it is important to ground our conversations in the realities of being a small, rural state. Vermont’s scale shapes nearly every public service, including education.