GUEST OPINION By Paul Costello Carbon tax. Cap and Trade. Carbon Markets.  Depending on our point of view, these concepts might make us nervous about raising the cost of living when we are already struggling to pay our bills. Or we may feel passionately about the necessity of pricing carbon for the future of our climate and our economy. Or both. And a lot of people find it all so confusing that they just tune out. Rather than choose sides, we need to agree to think together as Vermonters. We need to consider the science around climate change, and work out how we can systematically advance our economy, preserve affordability, incite and inspire the creativity of entrepreneurs whil…

My name is Florence Smith; many know me as Flo. I truly want to serve our Berlin community on the local Select Board. I will persevere in all respects through my combined experience and steadfast willingness to help. I work for the State of Vermont and have for close to 16 years. Prior to the State, I worked a total of 19 years in a combination of administrative, office management positions plus one role as Vice-President on the executive leadership team of a company. My first full-time employment was with the National Life Insurance Company. In addition, I worked four years for the Vermont State Housing Authority and Northstar Fireworks, respectively. So, my combined years of full-time e…

Dear Editor Are you concerned about what lies ahead with retail marijuana stores ready to roll out in Vermont? Should you be? Marijuana is safe that’s why they legalized it, right? It was legalized through twists and turns at the State House and sudden party-line votes. Though physician and law enforcement groups were opposed and the Governor’s Marijuana Commission’s study report wasn’t even out, the voting was pushed through. Is this a safe vetting process? There wasn’t time for any public opinion. Maybe this time there should be.  Numerous well respected health groups - AMA, NAMI, NIH, March of Dimes, and others that will quickly provide evidence that today’s marijuana is 10-30 times…

Dear Readers, Please allow me to introduce a good friend and fellow English teacher and writer. Her words here express the spirit of Valentine’s Day better than I ever could. I hope that they might inspire you to do something special, something spectacular for the one you love, in this special season of love. G. E. Shuman My Engagement Story By Amber Fecher One moment. One sequence of moments. It wasn’t until the morning after that I was able to identify any of the emotions going through me. Love. That’s the emotion I felt strongest at that moment. I felt love. I felt loved. So much so that I felt frozen to my seat. The world seemed to stop. Time stood still. And I felt ove…

To the Editor, Have you ever been downtown and seen State Street with no cars on it? We have a beautiful and quaint downtown that tourists from all over this country and the world readily relay to us as they order a cup of tea or a glass of wine or have their computer looked at. Now imagine that many of our residents had a way to get downtown without driving and all of the cars driven by tourists and other visitors in our downtown are tucked away in a single structure, not taking away from the image of our beautiful city. This is a dream that I have… cars are not beautiful, cars should be hidden. I was disheartened today when I read another article saying the that current appeal by…

The Travel Channel has named Montpelier one of the 50 “Most Charming Small Towns in America.” The Travel Channel citing the thriving arts and music scene, rich history, natural beauty, fine restaurants, and access to outdoor recreational opportunities. The popular travel and leisure channel selected one town from each of the 50 states for its “50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America” list. Montpelier was chosen from Vermont. The Travel Channel wrote, “It’s the smallest state capital in the U.S., but Montpelier, Vermont, has a thriving arts and music scene, and it’s rich in history and natural beauty. It’s also home to the New England Culinary Institute, so visitors come for its…

By Vermont Governor Phil Scott and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu Last month, we introduced a bi-state family and medical leave insurance program – the Twin State Paid Family Leave plan – that would build a public-private partnership to provide access to paid family and medical leave for all residents of the Granite and Green Mountain states. As the Governors of two New England states, where affordability and quality-of-life are top priorities, we strive to be innovative and fulfill the expectations of the people who have elected us. For these reasons we worked together on a program that balances the value of paid family leave, with our citizens’ ability to pay. Too many str…

Now on Netflix A Sea of Plastic: **1/2 I don’t think like a mainstream environmentalist. I view humanity’s responsibility to the planet very much like my responsibility to the apartment complex where I live. My cats scratch the carpet, they vomit on the carpet, and they even rub their butts across it sometimes. I do not feel like I’m a bad tenant. Stuff happens. I do not smoke. But if I did, I would shamelessly smoke inside my apartment until the walls were yellow. I would not feel like I’m a bad tenant. Smoke happens. I’m here to live my life and be happy, not tip toe around like I have something to feel guilty about. But if I discovered that the stuff I was bringing into…