MONTPELIER – Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, the House Education Committee chair, on Thursday introduced the first concrete proposal presented this legislative session to consolidate Vermont’s dozens of school districts. The proposal would merge the state’s 119 districts and the 52 entities that govern them into 27 supervisory districts, each with[Read More…]
Latest News
“The pit” may soon be sold
NEWPORT – The federally-appointed person charged with overseeing properties at the center of an investor fraud scandal that rocked Vermont appears to be winding down his work after nearly a decade on the job. Michael Goldberg wrote in a recent court filing that he expected soon to sell off the last receivership[Read More…]
Vermont is overhauling Act 250. It’s getting complicated.
VERMONT – Since its passage in 1970, Act 250 has worked more or less the same way. Broadly speaking, projects triggered review under the law based on how big they were, rather than where they were located, whether that was in the middle of town or on a country road.[Read More…]
Pleased to learn Fliegelman running
To the editor: I was so pleased to learn from Larry Fliegelman that he’s running for one of the two open one-year seats on the Hardwick Select Board. I’ve worked with Larry these past few years, through several Hardwick Area Neighbor to Neighbor initiatives. We’ve also worked together shoulder-to-shoulder with the[Read More…]
The school funding problem is unequal funding
To the editor: Imagine. I hire five employees and tell all of them the same thing: You need a reliable, responsible vehicle to do your job. I’ll pay for it. The Five-School Model: I give three employees enough money to buy brand-new cars with safety features and options. I give[Read More…]
Act 250 is the wrong tool for implementing Act 181
To the editor: What will rural Vermont be like after implementing the new Act 250 requirements? On December 31, Act 250 permits will be required for any development, including single-family homes, in areas that meet certain criteria. These include habitat connectors, headwater streams and other areas that meet the act’s[Read More…]
Woodsmoke by Julie Atwood
War, war and more war
Like many others, I watched the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympics on my television over the weekend. I was moved by the calls for peace and the sheer talent and beauty created by the countless dancers, artists, technicians and more. The combination of stunning visuals, with messages of[Read More…]
For the record
Last week’s story, “Voters to weigh in on town forest acquisition,” should have referred to the “Davis” family in the third paragraph and indicated voters will weigh in on contributing $25,000 to the project from the floor, not by Australian ballot, in Article 7, which says, “Shall the Town contribute[Read More…]
Reminders of some of the happiest days
EAST MONTPELIER – I’m writing this during the afternoon of February 2. The sun is flooding the yard, raising the temperature to a dizzying 23 degrees, the snow lies deep in the woods, and there’s never been a bluer sky. Twenty-five years ago I wouldn’t be here; I’d be outside[Read More…]
Frigid February
SHELBURNE – With ice on our roads and ICE in the streets, it feels frighteningly frigid this February. One needs a warm up while the other requires a cool down. Dr. Dan Siegel, Founder of the Mindsight Institute, loves alliteration and describes the stress response as “fight, flight or freeze.”[Read More…]
Contemplation and action balance each other
EAST MONTPELIER – One of the ways I deal with my anxiety about the state of our country and world is to stay busy. It serves as both a distraction and a way of feeling I am doing something positive, especially if my busyness has the purpose of helping others.[Read More…]
