Chris Viens: Transition requires steadiness
I am running for Select Board because I believe serving our town is a responsibility. Waterbury is at an important moment, and steady, experienced leadership matters.
COMMENTARY: Harwood’s FY27 budget incentive to spend
Having spent some time trying to understand the Frankenstein school budget and funding system that Vermont’s Legislature has crafted (which makes following the facts nearly impossible), I will attempt to reason through some issues.
OPINION: Stop the runaway school budget train
Unless you want to open your property tax bill for the coming year and find yourself shocked and dismayed, please read this.
COMMENTARY: Slow down for mountain lions
A campaign is underway to bring mountain lions to Vermont, led by the nonprofit Mighty Earth. As the state agency that would be responsible for these cats if Mighty Earth succeeds, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking mountain lion advocates to slow down.
Revisiting career center facility planning with care, transparency, and students in mind
Over the past several months, the Central Vermont Career Center Facilities Work Group has been meeting to revisit a question our community has wrestled with for years: What kind of facility does CVCC need to serve students well now and into the future?
Michael Frank: Waterbury write-in for Harwood School Board
My name is Michael Frank, and I am writing to announce my write-in candidacy to represent Waterbury on the Harwood School Board.
Sandy Sabin: Looking to address practical, everyday concerns
I’m running for a one-year seat on the Waterbury Select Board because the challenges we face aren’t abstract or political – they’re practical, everyday concerns.
Rep. Stevens: Focusing on Vermont amidst ‘turmoil and chaos’ emanating from Washington, D.C.
As we close out the first month of the second session of the 2025-26 biennium, we are headlong into dealing with what will be a very difficult financial year in the General Assembly.
Martha Staskus: Stability, experience, and a tenure of local service
I am Martha Staskus and I am running for a one-year Waterbury Select Board seat. I will bring stability, experience, and a long tenure in service to our local government.
Champlain Valley Union High School 50th reunion
The Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 1976 is planning its 50th Reunion. Save the date for August 15 at Champlain College in Burlington.
Don Schneider: Write-in Select Board candidate
Given the current challenges that are facing our town, I have decided to run as a write-in candidate for the 3-year Waterbury Select Board term, which will be voted on at Town Meeting.
Why Vermont’s child care investment is paying off
New statewide data show that Vermont’s historic child care law and investment that recognizes child care as essential infrastructure is already paying off.
Treasurer Pieciak: How we can save Vermonters thousands on prescription drugs
Vermonters are counting on us to be bold in addressing today’s challenges. Rising property taxes, scarce housing, and skyrocketing health care costs all demand urgency, courage, and shared resolve from leaders in Vermont.
Town Meeting Day: Explaining Waterbury’s Randall Meadow flood resiliency bond vote
On Town Meeting Day, there will be an Australian ballot article pertaining to a $4.3 million bond vote for the Randall Meadow project. Because this project has several moving parts, we wanted to provide a clear explanation of the project and the need for the bond vote.
Letter: Protect Waterbury Reservoir – Your voice counts
The Friends of Waterbury Reservoir is a community organization with a mission to protect and improve the Waterbury Reservoir experience for the majority of users and wildlife. We have joined many other Vermont lake groups and petitioned the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to modify the regulations regarding wakesports.
Op-Ed: Searching for resistance and hope in 2026
Every day, I admire patriotic Americans who give us hope by demonstrating against the radical Trump dictatorship.
Opinion: Harwood’s proposed school budget is too high
Our school board posted on Front Porch Forum that the proposed increase in the "per pupil" expense this year will be 4.8%. Actually, school board financial documents show that the overall school budget increase will be 5.4%. Why didn't the board just tell us that?
Op-Ed: Vermont’s child care future relies on early childhood educators
When early childhood educators are qualified, supported, and fairly compensated, children thrive, parents can work and build stability, and communities grow stronger.
OPINION: Harwood FY27 School Budget: A little context
The discussion begins on the proposed school budget, described in the budget warning (and a recent FPF post) as a per-pupil expenditure increase of 4.8%. I'll have more to say on the per-pupil cost in the future, but for now, let's just clarify that the actual school budget requested is a 5.44% increase.
LETTER: Waterbury Select Board Vice Chair Kane Sweeney shares resignation
Waterbury Select Board Vice Chair Kane Sweeney shares his board resignation news with the community. “I love this town and this community… I will continue to be very loud about working people and affordability.”