How to Treat the Vance Family
[Re “Incoming: Vice President JD Vance Plans Vermont Ski Excursion,” February 24, online]: One of the things we do here in Vermont is speak out. But another thing is hospitality. We rely on our visitors; we try to give them a good time. We are happy when they come, happy when they leave.
I hope that Vermonters opposed to the current administration — most of us, perhaps — do not use this as an opportunity to be strident. A civil protest that is clever enough to have to explain it gently to the kids would be more than enough. Let’s not conform to some poor trope of our state. The owner of the Pitcher Inn is absolutely correct. Theirs is a business, and they need clients. They cannot like or dislike their visitors. Let’s remember to support them.
The best reward for Vermont is to have the Vance family go away with fine memories of their trip, of Vermont. Let’s let them be a family on a nice weekend.
Rob Bast
Hinesburg
History Lesson
Thanks so much for your insightful historic analysis in [“Reform Redux: Gov. Phil Scott’s Proposed Education Overhaul Resembles Past Plans to Address Long-Standing Challenges,” February 19]. It’s rare to have historic context provided in the coverage of an issue, resulting in piecemeal and superficial discussion. In this story, education reporter Alison Novak went back not only to former Vermont governor Phil Hoff but also to the early 19th century! Well done.
John Franco
Burlington
Try Plattsburgh
[Re From the Publisher: “Getting There From Here,” February 19]: Check out Allegiant Air in Plattsburgh, N.Y. It only offers nonstop flights to areas south! And it’s a lovely little airport.
Sarah Hooker
Marshfield
A ‘Thrilling’ Season
Joe Sexton’s “Year of the Dogs” [January 29] is just another dose of adrenaline that the University of Vermont’s men’s soccer has administered to every backer of its side and followers of all Vermont state soccer. The home regular season matches had us all on the edge of our seats! Hosting and decisively dispatching well-known college soccer teams, our side was dominant! After the initial tournament road wins and watching on TV the potential upcoming opponents, it was obvious that the ranking of our gold and green was askew! They never gave up. Never!
The game in Cary, N.C., was incredible! Those Vermonters who typically stay within the borders of New England were there in force; we knew we belonged! So, the parade and Sexton’s stories within the story have helped us relive our thrilling season and understand the player and mentoring chemistry that coaches Rob Dow, Brad Cole and staff created! Thanks for the memories!
Hank Bechtel
Burlington
Keep Covering Trump
I greatly appreciate Seven Days‘ coverage of national political news, such as Rachel Hellman’s excellent articles on Vermont organizations reacting to the Trump administration’s cruel and unwise decision to pause all federal loans and grants [“Vermont Orgs Announce Layoffs, Cutbacks After Funding Freeze,” January 31, online; “Vermont Officials Still Wary After Trump Cancels Funding Freeze,” January 30, online; “Vermont Delegation Blasts Trump’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Federal Funding Freeze,” January 28, online].
In the past few weeks, President Donald Trump has conducted a lawless presidency, committing acts that put our nation, democracy and way of life in danger. Among the worst are the illegal firing of the inspectors general who keep an eye on government agency spending; the illegal firing of FBI personnel who investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on our Capitol; and giving his billionaire crony Elon Musk and his tech-bro underlings access to the U.S. Department of the Treasury payment system, which includes your Social Security earnings and benefits, your tax refunds, and your bank accounts into which federal funds are deposited.
We must resist this attempt to overthrow our government and destroy the laws that make it possible for a civil society to function. Please ask our three federal representatives — U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders — to do everything in their power to resist Trump’s immoral and unconstitutional power grab. The more our representatives understand that we support their opposition to Trump’s tyranny, the more forcefully they will speak and act.
Charles Fergus
Lyndon
‘Tax the Rich’ for Schools
This year we are seeing a new attempt by some legislators and the governor to “reallocate” resources away from community schools [“Details Emerge on School Funding Plan — but Big Questions Remain,” February 3, online]. Vermonters should reject these attempts outright.
We know from years of proposals by conservative lawmakers that school consolidation doesn’t work. It guts communities, leaves buildings vacant and offers minimal savings.
With a bulletproof supermajority in 2023, Democrats had the power to lead boldly and create a fairer, more sensible tax system. They didn’t. Instead, they told working-class Vermonters, already frustrated with the status quo, to accept a 14 percent tax hike during these difficult times.
In response, voters delivered a damning rejection of our broken tax system in 2024. Democratic leadership has responded by working with Republicans to “reform” education to contain political fallout — not to strengthen schools. As a result, Republicans now hold key leadership positions on legislative committees, while Democrats, fearful of further losses, shy away from bold action.
Meanwhile, the Vermont Progressive Party is offering a real alternative: Let’s fund our schools through a progressive income tax instead of a regressive, flat property tax. While the wealthy few continue to get richer, kids’ music and arts programs are being phased out, and students are being bussed 45 minutes away just to attend school. That’s wrong. Tax the rich, fully fund our schools and move away from an education system propped up by an outdated property tax model.
The new proposed education plan is a threat to communities everywhere; we need to push back and demand something better.
Nick Brown
Burlington
Brown is cochair of the Burlington Progressive Party and a coordinating committee member for the statewide Vermont Progressive Party.
Correction
Last week’s food story headlined “Bobcat Café & Brewery in Bristol Has Sold to a Pair of Brothers” had incorrect ages for the Ruggiero brothers. Jon is 48, and Christopher is 45.
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This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2025.
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