OPINION: Why I am voting NO on the school bond
Not only were students and teachers not involved in the process in any meaningful way, but there are far too many community members who have not felt heard, valued, or respected. This is a once-in-a-generation decision that deserves significantly more community involvement to get things right.
LETTER: Bond is a ‘step in the right direction’
I grew up in Vermont and have made my home in Waterbury for the last 10 years. I’m a parent to children at both Brookside Primary School and Crossett Brook Middle School, and married to an educator in the district.
OPINION: Let's talk about our schools
I serve as chair of the HUUSD School Board. I am also a parent of two current Harwood students and one recent graduate, and I spent much of last year subbing in several of our elementary and middle schools. I’d like to share a snapshot of what is happening in our district that might be different from others you have seen recently in social media.
Former school board member responds to Kerrigan on school bond
As a Harwood parent, former school board member, and partner of a current school board member, I would like to respond to John Kerrigan’s Oct. 28th letter. The Harwood he describes is a cruel caricature, and in no way reflects my family's experience.
LETTER: ‘Build our schools up’
I know there is a lot of conflicting information and many different views out there, so I want to explain why I am supporting the Harwood bond as a parent of two elementary students, community member, and teacher.
LETTER: Vote YES to fund needed high school repairs
With regard to the HUUSD Bond, the question is whether to vote YES or NO. There have been many arguments urging voters one way or the other. Harwood desperately needs repairs and voting NO doesn’t change the facts.
OPINION: It’s time to die - Vote NO on the bond
I would love it if the present students and my former colleagues had brand new state-of-the-art science labs. It would be nice to see a brand-new modern track facility at Harwood. Yes, Harwood needs renovations. Our students would greatly benefit. But now is not the time.
LETTER: Reasons to support the school construction bond
This is an incredibly difficult financial time for many people in our district, but given how our education funding works, voting no on the Harwood Unified Union School District bond could make it more financially challenging for taxpayers over time. Here are the top reasons I have supported this bond from the beginning.
LETTER: Ben & Jerry’s staff swap pumpkins, pints for record food shelf donations
Spooky Season is much less scary with friends like Ben & Jerry’s! The annual pumpkin giveaway benefitting Waterbury Area Food Shelf was once again a smashing success!
LETTER: Supporting a new Harwood gym and the school bond
My name is Tommy Young and I am a resident of Duxbury, a teacher at Waitsfield Elementary School, and the varsity girls basketball coach for Harwood Union High School. I have two children, one a Harwood graduate, and the other is currently a junior.
OPINION: Keep pets safe during trapping season, Oct. 23 - March 31
Stowe — Trapping season starts on the fourth Saturday of October each year in Vermont and runs through March 31. Each trapping season, dogs, cats, and other non-targeted animals, including protected species, are injured or killed in traps.
LETTER: Fly the banner and display the Declaration of Inclusion
Dear Waterbury Select Board,
As a resident of the wider community and a member of the Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition (WAARC), I am writing to urge you to fly the “Waterbury Stands With Black Lives Matter” banner. Flying the banner in the past has been an important example of moral leadership by your group, and therefore the town of Waterbury, from which others who live in the area, as well as countless visitors, have benefitted.
LETTER: Grant keeps Brookside kids biking, scootering into fall
Brookside Primary School students are enjoying our extended summer weather by biking and scootering during PE this past week and next week.
COMMENTARY: Is the Vermont Legislature cheating Vermont citizens?
Federal judges ruled the traditional one-town-one-vote principle unconstitutional and in 1965, the Vermont House of Representatives voted to reapportion itself. The representative of Stannard literally cried claiming their small community would never again have a representative.
OPINION: In support of amending Vermont’s constitution to protect ‘personal reproductive liberty’
These remarks were delivered at the Oct. 2 Rally for Reproductive Freedom in Montpelier. Vermont lawmakers in January take up legislation named Proposition 5 which would amend the Vermont Constitution to protect abortion rights. It still needs to pass the House and Senate and go to a statewide vote in November 2022.
COMMENTARY: Children, elders, and our most vulnerable are everything
Gov. Phil Scott, his administration, and many Vermont politicians are failing this moral test. Badly.
LETTER: Fire chief emphasizes crucial no-parking zones
To the community. I would like to remind people to not park in front of our fire stations. Even if there is no incident at that very time, we don't know when there will be.
Condos: A voting registration reminder
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos issued the following statement on Sept. 28 encouraging Vermonters to register to vote, or to update their voter registration information, for National Voter Registration Day, a non-partisan civic holiday celebrating democracy held annually on the fourth Tuesday in September.
Moving from fossil fuels to renewables is key to stopping climate change
A recent piece by anti-renewable energy crusader Annette Smith asks, “Is Electrifying Everything a Climate Solution?” For those of us concerned about the changing climate’s increasing number of floods, wildfires, hurricanes and record-breaking temperatures the answer is YES!
LETTER: Passing the torch at The Children’s Room
Dear friends, I'm writing to let you know that I'm moving down from the role of The Children's Room coordinator. It has truly been an honor to get to know so many fellow parents with young children in the area.