All Entries in the "Letters to the Editor" Category
To the editor: Vermont Senate, government take actions to protect its residents
Saturday, Feb. 7 marked a full year of Woodstock area residents, non-residents and visitors, meeting daily, noon to 1 p.m., at Tribou Park in Woodstock to peacefully protest the assaults on our country’s democracy by our current federal administration. Undaunted by foul weather, this tenacious group, with their creative signs and determined spirits, stand up […]
To the editor: Rep. Charlton should stand with constituents
Rep. Tom Charlton on Friday evening held a meeting with his constituents at Chester Town Hall. His first order of business was to explain his vote against a resolution critical of ICE actions in U.S. cities. Despite his soft-spoken demeanor, Rep. Charlton’s words quickly became unsettling. He repeatedly attempted to conjure a false equivalence between […]
To the editor: Are Charlton’s loyalties with Constitution or Trump administration?
I attended state Rep. Tom Charlton’s pubic forum on Friday, Feb. 6. I was dismayed when he attempted to equate protesters armed with phone cameras and whistles to the physical assaults, property damage, kidnapping and murder by ICE agents. The thousands of protesters across the country have shown remarkable restraint in the face of horrendous […]
To the editor: Charlton’s vote sorely disappointing
I’ve never had the opportunity to chat with state Rep. Tom Charlton, but my impressions from afar have been pretty positive. That said, I’m very disappointed in my state representative right now. Just as I was thinking that more people are seeing the true colors of the Trump administration and about how to bridge our […]
To the editor: An open letter to Sheriff Palmer
To Sheriff Ryan Palmer: We write to you in our capacity as the elected representatives and senators of Windsor County during a moment of significant challenge for both the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department and the broader community it serves. Let it be clear from the outset that we respect the principle of due process and […]
To the editor: Charlton misses an opportunity to condemn government violence against citizens
On Jan. 29, Rep. Tom Charlton voted no to the Vermont’s state legislature’s expression of approval for Gov. Scott’s statement regarding ICE’s actions in Minnesota. His explanation was that the governor “missed an opportunity to call for de-escalation on all sides.” (The full text of the resolution can be read here.) This explanation is in […]
To the editor: Scott speaks against ICE, but has nominated ‘ICE enabler’ for Supreme Court
While Gov. Phil Scott recently stated that Trump’s immigration crackdown may be “a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens, ” he has nominated an ICE-enabler to a lifetime appointment to Vermont’s highest court, the Vermont Supreme Court. As we mourn the murders of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and the thousands of victims of […]
To the editor: Politicians should pay the price for Good, Pretti’s deaths at the ballot box
On Jan. 13, amid widespread killings of demonstrators in Iran, President Trump posted on Truth Social “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.” However, Trump justified the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, falsely claiming she “willfully and viciously” […]
To the editor: Area residents protest U.S. action against Venezuela
On Saturday afternoon, Jan. 17, more than 50 residents of Chester, Ludlow, Bellows Falls, Rockingham, Grafton and other neighbors braved the snowstorm to participate in the worldwide Global Day of Action: No War for Oil. We protested the Trump regime’s illegal military attack against Venezuela and threats of violence against Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Iran and […]
To the editor: Vermont religious leaders call for justice for Renee Good
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8 RANDOLPH The Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ raises our prophetic voice to speak out against the escalation […]
To the editor: Chester Christmas Committee thanks community for holiday participation
The newly formed Christmas in Chester Committee would like to extend our heartfelt and sincere gratitude to everyone who helped bring the holiday spirit to Chester this season. From generous donations of time and money to encouragement, creativity, and participation, this celebration truly reflected the strength of our community. We thank the local businesses who […]
To the editor: How and what to donate to the Thrift Shop at CAFC
As we welcome the start of a new year, many of us feel the familiar pull to organize, refresh our homes and clear space for what’s next. The Chester-Andover Family Center, located at 908 VT-103 in Chester, is deeply grateful that you think of the Thrift Shop when deciding where your gently used items should […]
To the editor: Family Center thanks all who helped make Empty Bowl Dinner a success
On behalf of the Chester-Andover Family Center, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Empty Bowls event in early November possible. To all our attendees, sponsors, donors, and volunteers: your generosity, time, food, auction items, gift baskets and presence are what bring this event to life year after […]
To the editor: Thanks to the ‘village,’ another successful Senior Dinner is served
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but truth be known, it also takes a small town to prepare and serve a wonderful holiday meal to a group of Chester and Andover senior citizens. Many hands make light work, for sure. Thank you to the fantastic folks that made that dinner possible. […]
To the editor: Citizens must regain control of democracy
Democracy is not a self-driving car and we, as citizens, must not sit in the back seat bracing for a wreck. The majority of Americans oppose cruel policies and violent arrests of hard working immigrants and efforts to deny those most vulnerable access to healthcare, housing and food support. The majority of Americans are repulsed […]
To the editor: An Athens couple shows the world how to care for neighbors
Many initiatives, both small and large, individual and collective, ramped up across the state and the country to combat the sudden hunger crisis caused by the loss of SNAP benefits at the start of November. Here in Athens, Krista Gay and her husband Christian Rogerson, started their own Free Food Pantry at the bottom of […]
To the editor: Londonderry Rescue holds annual banquet to honor community, volunteers
The Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad was held Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Landgrove Inn. There were 60 members and family attending. Hilary Dahlstrom presented the LVRS Community Award to Neighborhood Connections. It was graciously received by Executive Director Thom Simmons. Jeff DiStasio had the privilege to present the William Cobb Sr. Award to Doug Friant […]
To the editor: Education and healthcare crises are inextricably linked
We encourage all school workers, community members, parents and students to share their thoughts around school district consolidation with the Redistricting Task Force, assigned to create the new district maps per Education Reform Act 73. The Task Force recently held four public hearings that gave the opportunity to provide feedback on the creation of three […]
To the editor: A provocateur comes to Chester
On Saturday, Oct. 18, at the GOP counter-rally to Chester’s No Kings protest in Chester, Hank Poitras stood in front of about 60 people and did what he always does: sold himself. If you don’t know him, Poitras runs a brand called Planet Hank out of Brattleboro — part podcast, part “news” channel, part traveling […]
To the editor: Stand up for the Land of the Free
Our national anthem ends with a question: “Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Are we still the land of the free when the president can deploy federal troops to states that do not want them under the phony pretext that […]