Our democracy is at a crossroads
This Independence Day was an opportunity to reflect on the resiliency of our country, and of our democracy. There has been no shortage of challenges over the last year and a half. …Frankly, I am concerned for our nation. We stand at a crossroads, and the decisions we make now will ripple throughout time.
Matt Krauss: Truth to power regarding U.S. senators in private clubs
Vermont women were denied membership in the exclusive and private Ethan Allen Club until 1990.
LETTER: New parents suggest plan to fund playground upgrades
To The HUUSD School Board: We are writing to you today to address the funding of the playgrounds at the elementary schools in our district.
Waterbury Select Board begins diversity, equity, inclusion training
On Monday, June 21, all five members of the Waterbury Select Board, along with the town clerk and municipal manager met with Mary Gannon, Ed D., of Strategies for Growing Just & Diverse Organizations to undertake a training session concerning diversity, equity and inclusion.
LETTER: An open letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy on For the People Act
Dear Senator Leahy, as Vermonters, we are privileged to have a Congressional team that has never backed down when push comes to shove.
John Kerrigan: Harwood School Board blows golden opportunity
At their June 23 meeting, the Harwood Union School Board voted 6 to 5 to drop their investigation into the firing of Harwood Boys Varsity Ice Hockey Coach Jacob Grout.
Youth warn lawmakers, Gov. Scott of impending ‘humanitarian crisis’
The following two letters were submitted by the same group of signers, one directed to state lawmakers and the other addressed to Gov. Phil Scott regarding the motel program that’s housed homeless Vermonters through the COVID-19 pandemic that is set to end today, July 1.
Juneteenth reflection: Much work remains for ‘We the people’ to apply to all
Waterbury resident Maroni Minter, a founder with the Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition and campaign director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, shares the remarks he gave at the Juneteenth celebration at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
Public input sought on 2022 election map update
The 2020 Census numbers for Vermont indicate that our little state grew by about 20,000 people over the past decade, or an increase of 2.8%.
LETTER: Administrators confronting the school board was ‘the spectacle of the year’
An open letter to the Harwood Unified Union School Board: On May 12, you were part of the spectacle of the year, one in which the administrative team of the consolidated school district was paraded before you en masse to coax you into reversing your earlier decision, one that you made in response to the request of more than 1,300 petitioners, to look into the abrupt firing of Moretown's first son, Harwood Boys Hockey Coach Jacob Grout.
Why it’s important to kids to celebrate Pride Month
Did you know that one in six Gen Z adults identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community?
Rep. Stevens: Bill addressing rental housing issues still in progress
It’s hard to write an update when we have just finished the session endgame. Bills were flying around in the ether (it is Zoom after all), going back and forth between the House and Senate, and many of the bills our committee had been working on remained in flux until the very end.
LETTER: Girl Scouts plant, dedicate a tree to those lost in pandemic
This week, the local Waterbury Girl Scout Troop 30228 planted a remembrance tree at the Waterbury town offices to honor the Vermonters who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kerrigan responds to ‘Let the administrators do their job’
I read with interest Dan Sullivan’s Op-Ed concerning the latest action taken by the Harwood Unified Union School District School Board on the Jacob Grout incident. The call for an independent investigation is appropriate.
Sullivan: Let the administrators do their job
As a district resident who has coached hundreds of children and a father of four students, I feel compelled to comment about the Harwood Unified Union School Board’s recent discussions and actions regarding the former Harwood Boys Hockey coach. The board has set a poor and expensive precedent by voting to investigate a matter of employment termination.
Time Lost: A Vermont music video
Harwood Union High School 2019 graduates Dan Greenleaf and Jesse McDougall live in Waterbury Center where they spent this past semester keeping up with their college studies remotely. Together they put together a music video postcard to their hometown from their hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic winter.
New Vermont law bans ‘forever’ toxic chemicals
Recently the House passed S.20, an act relating to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other chemicals of concern in consumer products.
Happy birthday to … Waterbury Roundabout!
It was one year ago today that WaterburyRoundabout.org went live and the phone rang with a call from Seven Days reporter and Waterbury Center resident Kevin McCallum asking what this was all about.
Hackett: Celebrating at-home childcare providers
As a home-based childcare provider for 13 years, and a Vermont Early Childhood Network leader for 12 years, I am extremely fortunate to have a wonderful group of childcare providers participating in the Waterbury Area Network. I would like to take a moment to celebrate these heroes and recognize their commitment to children and families.
Friend, colleague, athlete, coach: Haslam’s influence will live on
We lost Taggert Haslam last week. I knew Taggert as an athlete, assistant coach (and later my head coach in Track & Field) and I also knew him as a colleague.