All Entries in the "Commentary" Category

Sen. Clarkson: Pandemic Zooming has made Montpelier more accessible
By Sen. Alison Clarkson Town Meeting week certainly was different this year. While I missed the in-person visits, delicious food and touring around Windsor District, our virtual Zoom Town Informational Meetings enabled me to stop in to 10 gatherings. Without having to drive half an hour or 45 minutes between meetings, I was afforded the […]

To the editor: For his 80th, Paul Ippolito shares his 80 favorite songs
For the past 52 years, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of singing and playing guitar with groups of all ages from young children to senior citizens in Chester, Springfield, Ludlow and surrounding communities. In March I will be 80 years young, so I put together a list of my 80 favorite songs which I’d […]

To the editor: Vote for Chase for Chester Select Board
We are supporting Heather Chase in her campaign for re-election as one of three candidates for a three-year position on the Chester Select Board. Having served on the Select Board for six years, Heather has demonstrated good leadership in maintaining and improving Chester as a comfortable and livable place for us to live, work and […]

To the editor: Hoser would bring unique abilities to Chester Select Board
Having personally been in need of emergency services in the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to have had the very competent services of physician assistant Will Hoser on a number of occasions. I received not just effective medical care from him, but also the comfort and reassurance of his caring manner. The warmth and […]

To the editor: Vote for Hoser for Chester Select Board
Dedication and commitment to one’s community are the hallmarks of a good public servant, and that is why I am delighted to write a letter in support of Will Hoser for a one-year term on Chester’s Select Board. I have known Will for 16 years and know that he is someone who really cares about […]

Op-ed: VPR/Vermont PBS — The Vermont media conglomerate
By Matt Krauss The largest non-profit media organization in Vermont history –made up of Vermont Public Radio and the Vermont Public Broadcasting System — will soon have 117 employees, an annual budget $18 million and $91 million in assets. Seven Days has around 43 employees; VtDigger around 22. How many at your local newspaper? Its […]

To the editor: Chase has proven track record on Chester Select Board
The first time met Heather Chase, I was a new state representative. She approached me (at the Post Office to be exact) to discuss an issue she felt was important to Chester. Over the course of my six years in the legislature, I often heard from Heather on issues that touched on the well-being and […]

To the editor: Chester greenhouse project thanks supporters
Chester Community Greenhouse & Gardens is sincerely grateful to the Town of Chester Select Board for its Feb. 3, 2021 letter supporting our proposed community greenhouse project. What began as just an idea discussed by a few avid gardeners at the beginning of the pandemic, has taken root to become a full-fledged non-profit organization in […]

To the editor: On 100th anniversary, remember Vermont was slow to accept women’s suffrage
Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of Vermont’s ratification of the 19thAmendment granting women the right to vote, coming almost six months following its adoption and after women had voted in November 1920. Contrary to its history of progressive change, Vermont lagged behind the nation on women’s suffrage. Legislators resisted the reform for […]

Opinion: State bill would require civics education for high school graduation
By Sen. Dick McCormack Windsor District It requires real effort to focus on anything but Covid-19 and the transfer of power, but life and its lesser concerns go on. A tri-partisan group of senators, including local colleagues Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Mark MacDonald and all three Rutland County senators, are co-sponsoring S.17, a bill I’ve […]

Opinion: Historic day in Montpelier and Washington, D.C.
By Sen. Alison Clarkson Windsor District Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark: One, unusually quiet, orderly, historic but subdued; The other noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our […]

To the editor: Al and Karnie DeCell thank all for wonderful good wishes in 2020
We wish to send a sincere thank you to our children Greg, Judy and Verlene, our extended family and our many friends, neighbors and acquaintances who helped us celebrate our two special birthdays and our anniversary during 2020. We enjoyed and appreciated the many great cards, calls, parade of tooting horns, Facebook messages and memories. […]

To the editor: Chester-Andover Family Center thanks all for Food Shelf donations More than 100 households fed through public, private efforts
What does it take to provide over 100 households with supplemental food during the holiday season? For the Chester-Andover Family Center Food Shelf, it takes a community effort. Throughout the pandemic, since early March and leading up to the holiday season, the Family Center has been the recipient of many donations. A week has not […]

To the editor: Local ‘Nutcracker’ an especially special event this year
I saw some good news this weekend: My wife, Ashley Hensel-Browning, directed the “The Nutcracker” for The Dance Factory, like she does every year. I saw the Arabian dancers, the Candy Canes, the Waltz of the Flowers – things we expect in December, right? But to see them come alive in Covid-19 times, against the […]

To the editor: Windsor senators thank voters for their support
To the People of the Windsor County Senate District: Thank you for re-electing us as your state Senators. Your trust is an honor and a challenge to be worthy. We’re grateful to the many people who’ve worked to re-elect us, and we thank our various opponents for a civil contest in these uncivil times. We […]

Op-ed: Town Clerks are heroes of Election Day
By Jim Condos Vermont Secretary of State As Vermonters we should be proud. The November General Election saw Vermonters voting in record numbers, exercising our civic duty both safely and securely during circumstances that are anything but ordinary. Much of the conversation nationally is focused on the results of the election. I think it’s equally […]

To the editor: Senate candidate Stern thanks supporters
I want to thank those of you who voted for me in my race for state Senate. This was a difficult year to challenge incumbents, what with the Covid-19 factor making it difficult to campaign properly. Also there are now far too many people voting for people who keep pushing for a higher cost of […]

To the editor: Rep. Tom Bock thanks voters
for re-election
I would like to thank the voters of Andover, Chester, Baltimore and North Springfield for re-electing me to a third term to be your State Representative in Montpelier. A sincere thank you for all your support. Also, I am extremely grateful to my dedicated team who helped make this victory possible. A special thanks goes […]

To the editor: Chester-Andover Family Center thanks Chlebogiannises for pet food donation
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, the Chester-Andover Family Center has continued to provide supplemental, nourishing food for Food Shelf recipients and financial assistance to families struggling to make ends meet. This has been made possible through the generous donations of our community and beyond. Katsiroubas Produce, now famously known in Chester […]

To the editor: I will be voting for Tom Bock
Election Day is coming soon, and I will be voting for Tom Bock for our state representative for Windsor 3-1. I have known Tom both personally and professionally for many years and have always found him to be a personable, hard-working individual. He will always take the time to discuss any issues with people of […]