WOLCOTT — Ah, rural Vermont. Not just the picture postcard but the everyday place where people live their lives. It may never be quite the same once Act 181 provisions cause the Act 250 hammer to fall. And we do not have long to wait. If your property appears on the[Read More…]
Another Opinion
PFAS, H.238, What Next?
BURLINGTON — A concerned legislator asked recently, “What can we do to prevent the invasion of toxins before they harm us?” Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were developed by Dupont and 3M, beginning in the 1940s. EPA did not exist until December 1970. PFAS were still under the radar[Read More…]
Mask-Free School Attendance
VERMONT — Since 2020, those wishing to attend schools in-person have had to confront a range of face mask requirements. A group of dedicated Vermonters who are concerned about the negative effects of masks in schools has crafted a bill to prohibit educational institutions from requiring any student, staff or[Read More…]
Access to Government Records, Information More Important Than Ever
MONTPELIER — As the days are getting longer and snow is melting it is fitting that this is Sunshine Week, an annual celebration of government records and information as the cornerstone of government accountability and transparency. A government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as President[Read More…]
Federal Funding Cuts have Local Impact on Agriculture and Food Access
HARDWICK — The impact of federal funding cuts can already be seen across the country, including Vermont, in many different sectors. With the most recent round of cuts, we are beginning to see firsthand the impacts on the agricultural sector. In addition to gutting specific programs, federal cuts also affect[Read More…]
Phil Scott’s Two Big Money-Saving Ideas: Unshelter the Homeless, Take Food from the Mouths of Schoolkids
EAST MONTPELIER – The contest for “Stupidest Veto in the History of Phil Scott Vetoes” is a richly competitive one, with numerous contenders for the honors among the [checks notes] 52 vetoes he has unleashed upon Vermont’s normally placid and communitarian political life.* But the next one he threatens to[Read More…]
Federal Funding Freeze Jeopardizes the Northeast Kingdom
NORTHEAST KINGDOM – The Trump administration’s newly-announced Federal funding freeze on grants and loans has sparked deep concern across Vermont, particularly for Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) and the rural communities it serves in Essex, Caledonia and Orleans counties. The freeze halts tens of billions of dollars in federal funding,[Read More…]
Through Long Winter: A Note from CAE
HARDWICK – Here in the Northeast Kingdom, this winter reminded many of us what winter used to be like with abundant snow and many days of below-zero temperatures. Despite these conditions winter is a busy time of year for the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) and the local food[Read More…]
My Sincerest Apologies
To the Greatest Generation who are still living (all in my family have passed), my sincerest apologies that America’s leadership is failing to uphold the freedoms and power-sharing required in our U.S. Constitution through three co-equal branches of government. Our model of governance inspired the world, as did the bravery of our[Read More…]
Questions on Southworth’s Vote Tied to Party
STANNARD – One of the first major pieces of legislation the House and Senate are presented each year is the budget adjustment. The state fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, so this is a mid-year correction. Every year, the House Appropriations Committee and the Joint Fiscal Office[Read More…]
Support Universal School Meals in Our Local Schools
MONTPELIER – Many of you have probably been hearing a lot about the Governor’s new five-school district restructuring proposal aimed to reduce the cost of education. Many constituents have reached out to me to express their concerns about its impact on small rural schools and local voice. As a member[Read More…]
Hardwick Trails Makes Good Use of Winter Wonderland
EAST HARDWICK – What a fabulous cross-country ski season! The Hardwick Trails winter sports crew have been busy. The dedicated volunteer trail groomers have worked hard to keep up with this year’s abundant snowfall; a host of ski instructors and Saturday morning cabin-tenders have helped outfit folks and guided them[Read More…]
