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.
Op-Ed: The Waterworks, the Worcesters, and the science we’ve been missing
When I first adopted the Hunger Mountain Trail for the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation in the mid-1990s, the entire trailhead might see three cars on a holiday weekend. Today, in peak season, we regularly see 100+ vehicles cycling through in a single Saturday or Sunday, far beyond what this narrow hillside road and fragile watershed were ever designed to accommodate.
Molly Gray: Standing with Afghan allies & Vermont’s future
Afghan allies are our neighbors, friends, and colleagues. At the Alliance, the majority of staff and board members are Afghan allies themselves—thoughtful, courageous, emerging leaders raised in an Afghanistan backed by the U.S. They understand, as deeply as we do, the hope and possibility that come with a free and democratic society.
LETTER: Efforts of many make River of Light shine
A huge shout-out to everyone who made the 16th annual River of Light Lantern Parade such a joyful success!
Atty. Gen. Clark: I’ve been battling the Trump administration for 11 months. Here’s what’s next.
Having sued the Trump Administration 36 times in 11 months, I am reflecting on the wild ride of 2025 – and preparing for what’s next.
LETTER: More than $11K raised for Community Harvest of Central Vermont
To the Community: We’re thrilled to share the results of last week’s fundraising initiative coordinated by 5th Quarter Butcher + Provisions and The Local: Wine & Beer.
Rep. Satcowitz: Governor’s order exceeds authority
On Sept. 17, Gov. Phil Scott issued Executive Order 06-25, Promoting Housing Construction and Rehabilitation. It has prompted much concern among local environmental groups, legislators, and private citizens.
LETTER: Fire department association supports training, outreach, wellness, safety, and more
We hope we can count on your support so that the Waterbury Firefighters Association can continue to fund programs to support the training, education, wellness, safety, and retention of members, as well as provide the best level of service to our community.
COMMENTARY: Stowe Mountain Rescue urges skiers to resist TikTok temptations
There’s a more dangerous trend happening now, where TikTok videos of whooping skiers in knee-deep powder are luring inexperienced skiers and riders into Stowe’s backcountry at a time of year when the snowpack is unreliable.
Zuckerman: Vermonters can’t afford a 12% tax increase; real solutions needed now
Vermonters are staring down a staggering 12% property tax hike in 2026—that’s simply unacceptable. It’s a looming crisis that will squeeze working families, small businesses, and residents on fixed incomes, threatening the stability and affordability of our communities.
Sen. Sanders: This is where authoritarianism leads
Authoritarianism is not just the loss of democracy, freedom of expression, or civil liberties. It can also mean horrific wars and massive loss of life. When we defend democracy, we are fighting not only for our personal freedoms but to prevent autocratic leaders from dragging us into bloody and unnecessary wars.
LETTER: Keeping score on Sanders, Welch votes on federal bills affecting owl species
Hats off to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who supported efforts to nix a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to kill as many as 500,000 barred owls in California, Oregon, and Washington, in a vain attempt to reduce competition with the rarer Northern spotted owls.
Commentary: Is President Trump antisemitic, racist, and misogynistic? Do people actually care?
America has seen its share of presidents who have displayed racist, antisemitic and misogynistic actions, behaviors and language. Some presidents have been more reserved with their values and opinions, and used coded language and “dog whistling” to let the nation know what they believed, and how they would like to be remembered.