Editorial

Forced Act 46 marriage heading to a divorce?

Is Vermont on the verge of seeing the first unraveling of an Act 46 merger? Maybe. Or maybe not. That depends on what happens in the wake of last week’s Southern Valleys School District meeting.
As we reported a week ago, board members discussed the potential for dissolving the merger...

One of life’s little lessons

If those who think about economic development are to be believed, there is a problem with many young people coming out of high school not being prepared to meet the needs of potential employers. They say many grads lack basic communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, like looking someone...

A time to come together

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”...

Shining a bright light

“You cannot defeat darkness by running from it, nor can you conquer your inner demons by hiding them from the world. In order to defeat the darkness, you must bring it into the light.”
Author Seth Adam Smith
“Rip Van Winkle and the Pumpkin Lantern” Recently, we have reported on...

Change is common for this time of year

There is change in the air. Days are growing shorter, nights are getting cooler, and believe it not, some leaves have already started to drop from their branches.
This can only mean that the end of summer is near. It also means that back-to-school time is just around the corner. Of...

College shows foresight with proactive merger

The recent announcement that Marlboro College has signed a letter of intent to merge with the University of Bridgeport was welcome news, albeit a bit surprising. Welcome, because it means that the college has found a path forward to help it survive and, hopefully, grow in future years.
...

With change comes uncertainty

Last week’s announcement that Peak Resorts, the parent company of Mount Snow, will be purchased by Vail Resorts seemed to take many by surprise. For those who don’t pay attention to the business side of the ski industry, Vail is the world’s largest ski company, by a wide mile. With the Peaks...

Shopping local is key to success for businesses

Becoming successful in any kind of business venture is difficult. Businesses come and go all the time, both here in the valley and in the broader world. There are so many ups and downs faced by businesses large and small, from staffing and payroll to marketing and budgeting and everything else....

Land deal looks to be good deal for the community

It was noted author and humorist Mark Twain who said, “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” We think there’s an apt lesson in that simple saying, one not lost on a local community.
Dover officials last week signed a purchase and sale agreement for a 50-acre tract of land in West...

Independence Day a time for a simple celebration

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness...