Brenda Siegel makes no secret of the fact that she struggles financially. So three years ago, when we attended the Women's Convention in Detroit, it was no shock when she laid out her budget for that weekend clearly to me. It was minimal but enough to squeak by, especially since her room and some of the meals were sponsored.
Walking to the convention together one windy day, we passed by a man sleeping on the sidewalk. He was covered in grime, nothing below him but the cold concrete.
Brenda stopped, pulled out the little bit of cash she had set aside for food money that day, leaned down to him and said, “Sir, I'm going to put some money in your hand.” He woke up enough to accept and share gratitude as she did so.
This is just one of many examples of her selflessness. In addition to being a good human when no one is looking, Brenda is a passionate and impactful advocate to our Legislature for those struggling with the opioid-use disorder, an epidemic that has hit our state exceptionally hard. Proven through social-justice actions, her life is devoted to bringing equanimity to all. She touches lives through her willingness to share resources even as she had very little.
I often hear comments from cynical folks complaining that politicians are dishonest, self-serving hypocrites who don't really care about public service or the social contract. To these folks, and anyone else wondering whom to support in the Democratic primary for a Windham-4 seat in the Vermont House of Representatives,
Voting has begun for the August primary, and I'm supporting David Zuckerman for governor. For more than two decades, I have been actively involved in the local food movement. I have worked with farmers, local businesses, tourist organizations, and marketing teams to create connections that build our rural economy...
There's a story told about the late Tim Corcoran, town clerk of Bennington and so-called “mayor” of that town. I don't know if it is true, but maybe a reader will know. He's described as a champion of absentee voting in Vermont and said to have wanted to expand that opportunity because people would come into the office and suggest they would vote for him or for others but they were people that normally would not come to the polls.
The Baker Street Readers are now offering episodes of their Sherlock Holmes podcast for free on podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Podcast Addict. After shutdown orders prevented the Readers from performing their monthly live shows, they quickly pivoted to sharing their readings as podcast episodes. To make up lost ticket sales, they asked audience members to become patrons for $5 to $8 a month on patreon.com. Each episode features James Gelter as Holmes, Tony Grobe as Watson, and...
There are only two contested House races in Windham County on the Aug. 11 primary ballot, and the Windham County Democratic Committee gathered the candidates running in the Windham 3 and 4 districts online last week for a pair of virtual forums. The forums, moderated by Windham County Democratic Chair John Hagen, both lasted about 75 minutes and featured several questions from the online audience. The state's 45-day window of early voting is underway. Vermont voters may request a ballot...
Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan has sanctioned Marlboro College's transfer of assets to Emerson College in Boston. The Attorney General's Office (AGO) also okayed the sale of the campus to Democracy Builders Fund (DBF), which intends to launch a new school, Degrees of Freedom (DOF), which is designing a low-residency college program with an anticipated opening in 2021. After the state approval was issued July 20, both transactions are expected to take place this week, according to Marlboro College President...
The Windham-3 district, which encompasses Athens, Brookline, Grafton, Rockingham, Windham, and a sliver of North Westminster, has three candidates running for its two seats. Incumbent Carolyn Partridge, D-Windham, is running for her 12th term in the House. Kelley Tully of Rockingham, who was appointed in April to fill the seat vacated in February by Matt Trieber, D-Rockingham, is running for her first full two-year term. Leslie Goldman of Rockingham is making her first run for public office. Tully said she...
I enthusiastically support Brenda Siegel for lieutenant governor in our upcoming primary. As fellow activists, Brenda and I have worked side by side on the economic-justice issues of livable wages and paid family and medical leave for working Vermonters, on advancing the cause of universal health care as a basic right, on justice for immigrants and asylum seekers, and on bold climate action. Brenda has been an outspoken voice for racial justice, for reform of our criminal justice system, and...
I am a 2010 graduate of Marlboro College. I am happy to say Vermont was my home for four years, but I'm more thankful that Marlboro, Vt. changed the way I will live the rest of my life, not only as a citizen but as an academic and businessperson. When I heard that Marlboro was being absorbed into Emerson College, I was disheartened. Boston does not possess half of the genuine academic spirit Marlboro beams with. Education is not something...
Mike Mrowicki, running for re-election to Vermont's General Assembly, representing Windham-4, is integral to the strength of the Putney community, where he lives. He shows up at community events to share stories, hear constituents' concerns, and to voice his opinions about the important issues of our time. He engages in discussions in a thoughtful, open-minded way and is always willing to hear all sides of an issue. He brings people together. He has worked tirelessly for his constituents and his...
My years at Marlboro College were the most important of my life. The college was a place that accepted people who were different and who felt that they didn't belong at other schools. So long as you were a student who loved books and were passionate about learning, there was a place for you there. Professors engaged with us students as equals, listened to our ideas, and became like aunts and uncles to us. I learned how to think independently...
I endorse John Hagen for high bailiff. John is a former West Point instructor who is highly educated, articulate, and engaging, and who has a great sense of humor. He served over 28 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. As a fellow veteran, I appreciate his service to our country. John and I began our work together some years ago at Brattleboro American Legion Post 5, working to make the local American Legion more...
The Windham-4 district, which encompasses Dummerston, Putney, and Westminster, has the most crowded slate of candidates for its two seats. Incumbent Mike Mrowicki, D-Putney, is seeking his seventh term. With the seat held by Nadir Hashim, D-Dummerston, open after his decision not to run for a second term, four candidates entered the Democratic primary - Michelle Bos-Lun of Westminter, Robert Depino of Westminster, Mathew Ingram of Putney, and David Ramos of Putney. All the candidates except for DiPino participated in...
Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG) recently announced the cancellation of its annual Labor Day Weekend Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, the two-concert event includes a Saturday evening organ program, and a Sunday afternoon lawn concert at the Organ Barn in Guilford, featuring the Guilford Festival Orchestra. In making the announcement, FOMAG president Jenifer Ambler noted in a news release that this is the first time the event has been cancelled in its 55-year history. “The organ program,
The Vermont Board of Libraries has unanimously approved new names for two natural features located in Rockingham. The first, Cold Springs, is a pond in the village of Bellows Falls. The second was, Guild Brook, in the village of Cambridgeport. The board is the department charged with naming geographic place names such as streams, mountains, and ponds. According to its website, the board requires a petition signed by at least 25 people or from an administrative department of the state.