“It was really, really sad to cancel this event.” (“The Occom Pond Party is over,” Feb. 9)
As sad as many of us are that “Hanover’s Occom Pond Party is over for good,” feeling sad is a luxury we cannot afford. The death knell of this fun, family-friendly event is a wake-up alarm to Upper Valley residents that 40-50 degree days in February are no longer unusual, and cold, snowy activities aren’t something we can take for granted. See also “Winter warmed over,” Feb. 12.
If you’re like me and enjoy the beauty of a crisp, cold, clear day with sparkling snow — whether snowshoeing, skiing, skating, sledding or building snowmen — our warmer winters are deeply disturbing. Yes, I’m really sad, but I’m also mad as hell because we know why it’s happening and yet still haven’t passed legislation to address the root cause of why things are warming up: too much CO2 in the atmosphere.
In the work I do with the Vermont chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), we call or talk to staff in the offices of Rep. Welch, Sen. Leahy and Sen. Sanders, and they often tell us they don’t get that many calls about the warming climate. Based on what I hear from other CCL leaders, this response is surprisingly common around the country. That’s a problem! If we’re going to protect snowy Vermont winters, citizens need to turn up the heat on our politicians.
Our national leaders have it on their “to-do” lists, but they haven’t done anything yet because the people making money off fossil fuels talk to them a lot more than the rest of us.
The situation is far from hopeless. Economists tell us putting a price on carbon is the quickest way to drop CO2 and shift business and individual behavior. Giving the proceeds in a cash-back dividend to consumers ensures low- and middle-income households aren’t hurt, and the environment will benefit as we all make more energy-efficient choices.
Many of us feel sad, but that doesn’t help. We need to call our legislators and demand action from our government.
Suzannah Ciernia
White River Junction
I have known Mary Krueger for most of the 15 years I have lived in Vermont. We have raised our children in Springfield, Vt., together, and I have always appreciated her commitment to our town. I am so thrilled to see her running as a candidate for Springfield School Board.
Mary has so much to offer our town, but what stands out to me the most is her dedication to our schools and our larger community. She and her family patronize Springfield businesses, participate in community improvement efforts and are active supporters of our schools. Because of this, she is acutely aware and involved in conversations about helping our schools evolve and become more inclusive and safe. As a parent of a Springfield student, she is also invested in improving our school outcomes, reputation and internal climate.
Mary also brings a wealth of professional knowledge and experience that will benefit our school. Her work as an attorney for New Hampshire Legal Assistance has given her experience helping low-income residents with issues like housing, income maintenance, youth law, health law and safety. Families in our community are facing many of these same issues. Through her work, she is also acutely aware of the issues facing women and minorities in our area and is actively involved in supporting these populations. I am confident she possesses both the empathy and the mediation skills to help our community grow and make our schools more welcoming and positive places for students and families.
I urge you to support Mary Krueger in the Springfield School Board election. As an educator and a fellow Springfield parent, I know Mary possesses the knowledge, skills and the heart to be a positive instrument for change in our schools. Please vote for Mary Krueger and help our town and schools continue to move toward a brighter future.
Deborah Velto
Springfield, Vt.
The Vermont Legislature just passed S.30, an important piece of legislation that will ban guns in hospitals across all of Vermont and strengthen background checks of folks buying guns, effectively closing what is known as the “Charleston Loophole.”
I urge Gov. Scott to sign S.30 into law. You can help!
I was a founding member of GunSense Vermont and am still a strong supporter. The Charleston Loophole, which led to the massacre of nine people in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, needs to end here in Vermont.
A year after the Charleston shooting, I met three of the founders of Gun Sense South Carolina on the steps of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church where the tragedy took place. We prayed and took some photos with banners of both organizations so they could use those photos in future public relations efforts they were planning in South Carolina. They felt as I did that showing solidarity in the effort to pass strong background check legislation is critical.
But today as I write this, people are obtaining guns because that loophole still exists here in Vermont, allowing some who don’t pass background checks to obtain guns before a check is provided. That should stop.
I was on the steps of the Capitol in Montpelier a few years ago when Gov. Scott signed the most far-reaching gun legislation in over 100 years. I was grateful for the Governor’s actions on that day in support of rational gun legislation, but much work remains.
What can you do?
The Vermont Legislature has wisely passed S.30. Would you join with other caring Vermonters and urge the Governor to quickly sign this legislation into law?
It’s easy to reach Gov. Scott’s office either by phone at 802-828-3333 or by email at https://governor.vermont.gov/contact.
Thank him for his past support of rational gun legislation and say: “Governor, please sign S.30 NOW and make sure guns are no longer permitted in our hospitals and close the Charleston Loophole here in Vermont.”
Also, Vermonters, please don’t forget to thank your local representatives for their wise support of S.30, and in advance I thank you for yours.
Paul Regan
Woodstock