After the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, the president told them to “Stand down, and stand by”. Those rioters, including the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters were all later tried and convicted of criminal actions in courts of law by their peers,[Read More…]
Another Opinion
Emergency management director search begins
To the editor: I’ve served as the Plainfield Emergency Management Director for quite a few years, including a break, working with six select boards starting back in 2015 under Rob Bridges. I told the select board a few months ago that I will resign on May 1, before my 80th[Read More…]
Watershed neighbors share recovery
HARDWICK – Hardwick ends 2025 still engaged in recovery, preparedness and adaptation work that does not pause between emergencies. While flooding has been the most visible and damaging hazard in recent years, the town’s response has necessarily extended beyond flood events alone. As a service, employment and community hub for[Read More…]
Imagining a new community forest
HARDWICK – Hardwick has a unique opportunity to turn over 300 acres on Buffalo Mountain into a community forest. We should take it. This summer, 329 acres on Buffalo Mountain were listed for sale. This includes the summit and the northeast side of the mountain; practically everything you see from[Read More…]
Water fountain built in memory of William S. Hill
HARDWICK – I wonder if anyone would like to know the truth about the Hardwick Water Fountain. Other than a niece of mine, not a soul has contacted me to discuss [it]. I did go to the town office to speak to Opie about this as my niece had contacted[Read More…]
On sale now: American moral leadership
GREENSBORO – Almost 250 years ago Jefferson wrote that we “are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights” and that “government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed.” America has not always been a “shining City on a Hill,” but from Valley Forge to the Edmund[Read More…]
What the flood buyout program really does
HARDWICK – In recent months, many residents have asked how Hardwick’s flood buyout program works and what it means for the town’s finances and long-term flood resilience. As the community continues recovering from repeated disasters, it is important to clear up several common misconceptions and explain why this program remains[Read More…]
Fundraiser for our times: Gazette offers hand-crafted comfort chickens
HARDWICK – It seems like everyone is fundraising these days. Politicians, parties, charitable causes . . . they all have their hands out. But one fundraiser is making an offer that stands out from the crowd. Starting on Giving Tuesday, the next 10 people to give $500 or more to The[Read More…]
Vermonters can’t afford a 12% tax increase
HINESBURG – 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. Lawmakers now face a clear and unavoidable choice. They[Read More…]
This is where authoritarianism leads
WASHINGTON – 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[Read More…]
2025’s words of the year reflect a year of digital disillusionment
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Which terms best represent 2025? Every year, editors for publications ranging from the Oxford English Dictionary to the Macquarie Dictionary of Australian English select a “word of the year.” Sometimes these terms are thematically related, particularly in the wake of world-altering events. “Pandemic,” “lockdown” and “coronavirus,” for[Read More…]
Senate, House Republicans respond to tax letter
MONTPELIER – Today, December 1, the Vermont Tax Department released its annual forecast on the 2026 property tax implications of Vermont’s PreK–12 education system, projecting a sharp rise in Education Property Taxes. According to the report, the statewide average property tax increase is projected to be 11.9%. School districts are expected[Read More…]
