All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: Bellows Falls Trump, DOGE protest attracts more than 485
Saturday, April 19 was an amazing day in Bellows Falls with over 485 people lining the streets protesting the actions of President Donald J. Trump. Despite the rain, protesters came from Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Chester, Springfield, Brattleboro, Westminster and Claremont, N.H. The man from Claremont came dressed in a kilt and carried the […]
Op-ed: Do Vermonters want radical change in education?
By Jack Hoffman Now that the state House of Representatives has passed an education reform plan, it will be easy to get bogged down in the minutiae that differentiate it from Gov. Phil Scott’s “Education Transformation Proposal.” But before Vermonters get lost in the weeds debating these proposals, they might want to ask themselves if […]
To the editor: The impacts of Trump tariffs are hitting Vermont
For anyone who thinks that what is happening in Washington isn’t having a profound effect on life in Vermont, think again. It began with neighbors being fired from USAID and has evolved into destabilizing commerce with Vermont’s biggest trade partner, Canada. In addition, President Trump’s irresponsible rhetoric about Canada is having a profoundly negative impact […]
Bill Schubart: Where are our once vibrant towns?
By Bill Schubart What are the cohesive elements in Vermont’s 247 towns and cities? What sustains their human connection, commerce, and community? Though born in New York City, I grew up in Morrisville from the age of 3. It was a small bustling town. On weekends, the daytime streets were filled with shoppers and timely […]
Commentary: A little fascist cosplay right here in Vermont
By John Walters Vermont Political Observer Thank God Becca White was there. I’m so sorry Becca White was there, because she had to witness… I’d call it a farce, which it is, but it may well be a harbinger of the post-democratic America that Donald Trump wants to create. A post-democratic America which would be […]
To the editor: S66 is a bill that is just noise, nuisance
Is S66 really needed? Just a few things Sen. Alison Clarkson fails to mention about S66 (To the editor: Clarkson updates legislative work at the halfway mark The Chester Telegraph, March 31.) Currently, there are laws that govern public nuisance in creating loud noises. Maybe instead of creating more laws about loud noises, our public […]
To the editor: Senior Solutions thanks Chester for its support, commitment to those aging
Thank you to the generous residents of Chester. Yet again, you have shown your support for Senior Solutions. I am the executive director for Senior Solutions, and it is heartwarming to see Chester’s commitment to our aging neighbors and family members. For over 50 years, Senior Solutions has been a trusted partner in providing guidance, […]
To the editor: Clarkson updates legislative work at the halfway mark
Both chambers in the Vermont Legislature are working their way through the large number of bills which ‘made’ the ‘cross-over’ deadline. Cross-over is a deadline we set each year which roughly marks the halfway point of our Legislative Session. It forces us to finish the work in our House and Senate committees on the bills […]
To the editor: Anti-trans rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible
The U.S. has serious issues of economic struggle, hunger and climate-driven disasters. Yet if you look at conservative media, you think that the country is facing an existential threat from an army of transgender and non-binary individuals. Republican officials are pushing bills to deny trans rights and even criminalize someone for identifying as transgender. So […]
To the editor: Come to Chester Housing Commission Open House; enter to win a sleigh ride!
Having had my first cup of coffee, I headed out to the barn to do Thursday morning’s chores. The first three days of last week had been busy: Town Meeting on Monday night, a Select Board meeting Wednesday night and, at the polls on Tuesday, I did hand out information about the Chester Housing Commission’s […]
To the editor: When Canadians hid American diplomats from Iran
Jan. 27th marked the 45th anniversary of the escape from Iran of six American diplomats during the Iran Hostage Crisis. The six Americans had eluded capture by the Iranian students who had overrun the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Fifty Americans were taken hostage. Canadian diplomats hid the six Americans for 79 days inside their embassy […]
To the editor: Vermont showed the world it stands with Ukraine
The last weekend videos about our brave little state standing with Ukraine were seen around the world. A heartfelt thanks from me and my compatriots to all Vermonters who have expressed their support for my native country after the shocking decision of the United States to side with Russia on the U.N. Security Council resolution […]
To the editor: GM Board incumbent Perlah seeks write-in votes
To the Residents of Chester, I am announcing my run as a write-in candidate for a three-year term as a representative from Chester to the Board of Directors of the Green Mountain Unified School District. I have been a member of the Green Mountain Unified School District Board of Directors for the past six years. […]
To the editor: Ignoring the poor, enriching the rich
I am ashamed of our president. On the one hand, he is trying to eliminate the United States Agency for International Development and reduce the help America gives to the world’s poor. On the other hand, he has proposed America lead in developing Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” for the enjoyment of […]
To the editor: Public invited to address legislators’ Rural Caucus
This is not a typical legislative session because: the massive effort to improve the education system is dominating everything (no decisions have been made yet) and, the federal government’s changing funding policies are sowing uncertainty and making decision-making very difficult as we go into the budget process. That said, there is plenty of good work […]
To the editor: We don’t need a King Donald
Elon Musk and his 20-something year-old code writers are having a field day dismantling their favorite bogeyman, the Deep State, otherwise known as the Civil Service. Several million federal workers were bullied into accepting a questionable “deferred resignation” or face being summarily fired. Musketeers now have access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, which disperses […]
Op-ed: Clark sues to block Trump actions
By Charity Clark Vermont Attorney General In the chaos of President Trump’s first three weeks in office, I sued on behalf of Vermont to block unconstitutional or illegal actions. President Trump’s executive orders and early actions reflect his campaign promises and dark view of the state of the union. Unfortunately, at least three of these […]
Op-ed: Be brave little state, defend public education
By John Castle Gov. Phil Scott has provided his shock and aw-shucks proposal for rescuing taxpayers and claiming to improve education along the way. Finding renewed hubris with the “red wave” of new Republicans in the State House and Democrats running scared, Gov. Scott is seizing the opportunity with a misguided overhaul of our public […]
To the editor: Share Heat fundraiser for Family Center an encouraging community event
It was encouraging to participate in the Share Heat fundraiser at Vermont Vines last Saturday, where dozens of people came together to raise money for the Chester-Andover Family Center. As the press release in The Chester Telegraph explained, the money will be available to local residents who have trouble paying their heating bills. It was […]
To the editor: A teacher’s view: Vermont legislature needs to ban cellphones from schools
I am a science teacher at Green Mountain UHS in Chester. I urge you to support the Phone- and Social Media-Free Schools bill in the legislature (H.54 and S.21). When I first heard of such a bill, I thought it was over the top. But, I read the testimony from last session, reflected on my […]
