LETTER: School Board prepares Q/A documents on budget and consolidation
As the Harwood Unified Union School District School Board prepares for the 2026-27 school year, two major topics on its agenda are the next school budget and the possibility of school consolidation. There are now FAQ documents on the school budget and on consolidation on the HUUSD Budget webpage.
Green Mountain Performing Arts: Seeking community support for a sustainable future
Green Mountain Performing Arts is facing an immediate funding shortfall as we prepare for the 2026-27 season. We are seeking $60,000 in community support to close this gap, enter the new fiscal year on stable footing, and continue providing the classes, performances, scholarships, and community programming that families have come to rely on.
LETTER: Women launch ‘giving circle’ to boost Washington County nonprofits
A powerful new philanthropic initiative is coming to Central Vermont with the official launch of 100 Women Who Care Washington County. Founded by Susan Colgan, Mary Edith Leichliter, Jane Macan, and myself, Suzanne Johnson, this giving circle unites women across the county to make a massive, immediate impact on local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations through collective giving.
Op-Ed: It’s not ‘outsourcing.’ It’s democracy and the rule of law.
Complaints about unelected officials and allegations of unconstitutional delegations of legislative authority never, it seems to me, accompany praise for the decisions these folks make.
Madeleine Kunin: ‘The lieutenant governor’s office is not ceremonial’
When I was elected Vermont's Lieutenant Governor in 1978, I became only the second woman to hold the office. I later served as Vermont's first woman governor, Deputy U.S. Secretary of Education, and U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland. I want to remind Vermonters why the office of lieutenant governor matters.
LETTER: Appreciation for vigil honoring recent ICE victims
As a member of the greater Waterbury community, I want to thank Camel’s Hump Indivisible for creating the July 29 Vigil for the Lives Lost to ICE, prompted by the most recent deaths of two men: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, on July 7, and Johan Sebastián Duran Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13.
Amid strong turnout, Waterbury Arts Fest launches Discover Waterbury
Perfect summer weather, strong community participation, and a growing regional audience helped make the 2026 Waterbury Arts Fest one of the most successful in the event's 25-year history. It also ushered in a new era for Discover Waterbury.
OPINION: It’s time to stop outsourcing responsibility
In recent years, the Vermont Legislature has increasingly relied on a governance model in which it establishes broad statutory requirements while delegating substantial policy design and implementation authority to appointed (non-elected) boards, commissions and councils.
Rep. Stevens: Ryan McLaren leads by listening
To the Community: I have watched Ryan McLaren grow up through his work in public service, and I have seen him become the kind of leader who connects with people where they are.
LETTER: Excited for Amanda Janoo’s campaign for governor
To the community - I have been excited about Amanda Janoo’s campaign for Vermont Governor since the day she announced!
Op-Ed: Next Green Mt. Care Board chair should stay the course
Vermont’s healthcare system is undergoing a seismic transition engineered by legislators and regulators. The objectives are to significantly lower costs, preserve our rural hospitals, and improve the quality of care.
Sen. Cummings: New insurance rating system will be bad for many Vermonters
The average Vermonter doesn’t pay much attention to the ins and outs of insurance rate setting, nor should they. However, Gov. Phil Scott’s recent proposal to move to an age-based rating system for health insurance will make an already painful situation worse for most Vermonters.
LETTER: Final days for Sunflower Salon
With a very heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to close my boutique and relocate my salon services to a small space in my home.
Op-Ed: Vermont is not for sale
Vermont may be in trouble, but not for the reasons argued by the pro-development forces. Our uniquely beautiful state with its abundant natural resources and beauty, and our great citizenry, should never be on the market.
John Hollar: Supporting Ryan McLaren for lieutenant governor
When I served as Montpelier mayor, I worked to improve daily life for our residents: keeping our community affordable, investing in infrastructure and housing, and making local government work for the people it serves. I know firsthand how hard that work is and how much it matters who is doing it. That's why I'm supporting Ryan McLaren for lieutenant governor.
Howard Dean: Supporting Molly Gray in lieutenant governor primary
I’m proud to support my friend Molly Gray for lieutenant governor. Molly supports universal primary care — a practical next step that builds on what we know works.
Saluting Vermont Green FC women: ‘Ode to the women sleeping on the bus’
While the World Cup and all its melodramas have been raging on, our family has been cheering on the Vermont Green Women FC team.
LETTER: Supporting Sen. Welch’s call to prioritize human rights in U.S. support to Israel
Accountability is a foundational pillar of government that ensures political leaders are fulfilling their duties honorably and legally. As a 14-year-old student from Waterbury, Vermont, observing the political actions of the world today, the thing that frightens me the most is the lack of accountability being taken by the federal government.
LETTER: Candidates offer ‘continuity and fresh perspective’ for assistant judge roles
I am writing to endorse Leah Murphy Jones and Caleb Curry for the two Washington County Assistant Judge positions. Together, this pair brings experience, integrity, and common sense - and represents a valuable balance of continuity and fresh perspective.
LETTER: Supporting Leah Murphy Jones and Caleb Curry for assistant judge seats
I am writing to express my support for Leah Murphy Jones and Caleb Curry for the two Washington County Assistant Judge positions on the Aug. 11 Democratic primary ballot.