Editorial

Peace and goodwill; easier said than done?

“Every year at this time, an important phrase marks the season: peace on Earth and goodwill towards men. It’s so common we sometimes forget about what it really means - that we strive for a world without war, a society where we respect and help our neighbors, a place where we protect and uplift...

Vermont says “yes” to personal autonomy

Tuesday was a historic day at the Vermont Statehouse. With all the pomp and circumstance befitting a milestone event, a number of state officials formalized Proposition 2 and Proposition 5 as amendments to the state’s constitution (see Lauren Harkawik’s report in this week’s edition).
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There can be no community without affordable housing

A couple of weeks ago we published a story titled “Housing headaches hit home.” That article by Lauren Harkawik chronicled just how difficult it is for people to find affordable housing here in the valley. That is a problem for working people and for employers looking to fill open positions. In...

Support small businesses this Saturday, and every day

#ShopSmall is the social media tag for Small Business Saturday, taking place this weekend on November 26. It represents one of a series of post-Thanksgiving days designed to generate revenue for businesses and charities.
Of course there’s Black Friday, the original holiday weekend...

The negligence lawsuits should be neglected

To the Editor,
After reading the two articles about “negligence lawsuits” in last week’s Deerfield Valley News, the only thought I could muster was “WTF.”
First, anyone with half a brain seeing a “DANGER - KEEP OUT” sign will heed that warning. In this case, that warning was ignored...

Can a middle ground exist?

Phil Scott’s office released a commentary by the governor earlier this week. The opinion piece was Scott’s reflection on last week’s election. In it, he called for more prosperity for all of Vermont and a bipartisan approach to the upcoming legislative session, which will begin in early January...

Be wary of misinformation, seek different perspectives

The country is heading into the final days of the midterm elections and, as we’ve seen over the past decade, the political divides continue to widen. While political disagreements in this country date back to Tories and Whigs and the founding of the United States, the chasms have only grown wider...

Language of Prop 5 convoluted, dehumanizing

To the Editor,
Prop 5, Article 22 on Vermonters’ 2022 ballot, reads, “That an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course and shall not be denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling State interest...

Vermont is not immune to big business, corporations

A couple of corporate deals announced recently are reminders that big business still has its eyes on little old southern Vermont. As we reported a week ago, Hydro Quebec plans to buy the hydro generating facilities on the Connecticut and Deerfield rivers from Great River Hydro. That includes...

Affordable housing has potential in Wilmington

A recent meeting about housing in Wilmington shared some interesting numbers that may have come as a surprise to many. As we reported a week ago, a subcommittee is looking to revise Wilmington’s zoning bylaws to modernize the process to build or upgrade housing units, especially affordable...