Hail to McKibben

Your deeply researched article [“Star Power,” November 26] nailed both Bill McKibben’s character and his influence. He is whip-smart and humble, which makes him such a successful journalist, teacher and climate activist. His new book, Here Comes the Sun, is the first good news we have heard concerning the climate crisis in a long time. I heartily endorse this book, a highly readable and optimistic message sorely needed at this time.

Ten years ago, I began attending the Sunday Night Group (now the Sunday Night Environmental Group), Bill’s legacy at Middlebury College, as a member of the Addison County community. I am very impressed by how this group of students work together in a nonhierarchical manner to carry out campaigns for climate justice. During my time with them, SNEG students successfully completed a seven-year effort to convince the college board of trustees to phase out fossil fuel companies from the college’s endowment. Current campaigns include making portable solar achievable in Vermont and working to replace the college’s aging biomass heating plant with geothermal energy. Not every campaign has been successful, but the learning that goes into being an activist is a worthwhile endeavor that has lasting effects.  

What Bill McKibben, professor Jon Isham and their students set into motion 20 years ago is still a vibrant, inspirational movement that goes far beyond the campus where it began.

A Couple of Solutions

[Re “Redistricting Task Force Recommends Phased Approach to Ed Reform,” November 20, online]: Two of the biggest drivers of our state’s education costs are pensions and health insurance, and we can significantly lower the costs of both by changing them. Let’s transition from a defined pension benefit system to a 401k-like plan, as almost every other major employer has now. Most 401ks have employer contributions of 4 percent. Rutland City schools contribute 10 percent, plus 8 percent from the state. Make the change and realize a 14 percent payroll savings — for Rutland — and at least 4 percent elsewhere.

As for health insurance, ditch community rating and Obamacare, open up the market for choice, and allow people to buy a plan that suits them. For school employees, contribute a set amount, determined by the state, to an HSA-type account to purchase a plan. Significant savings will be realized. The state could also set up a catastrophic plan — say $30,000 deductible — for all Vermonters that is funded by broad-based taxes as a catchall. That will keep the regular plans offered much more affordable.

‘Professional Recognition Matters’

Thank you for Alison Novak’s excellent recent article highlighting Vermont’s bold investment in childcare and the progress we’re seeing statewide [“Growing Gains,” November 19]. I have immense gratitude for Let’s Grow Kids and the advocacy efforts of our field and for the lawmakers who passed Act 76. 

As someone working on the ground every day, I would like to offer a perspective on the Early Childhood Education Profession Bill. I serve as the executive director of Northshire Day School in Manchester Center, where we employ 35 educators and staff and serve more than 90 young children. I helped develop workforce recommendations in the bill and support licensure wholeheartedly.

Mixed feelings about change are completely understandable. But this bill is intentionally designed as a gradual, well-supported system change aimed primarily at the future workforce. For today’s educators, it offers substantial support, multiple flexible pathways and a long runway for implementation.

Professional recognition matters. Early childhood is the most critical period of human development, and positive outcomes for children are directly linked to the qualifications of the adults who teach and care for them. Licensure strengthens recruitment and retention, clarifies roles and expectations, and keeps children safer by ensuring accountability at both the program and individual level.

With more than $125 million in public investment for childcare and continued advocacy for future investments, accountability is coming. This bill ensures that licensure is designed by early childhood educators, reflects our career pathways and supports us in doing this important work.

‘Contradictory’ Article

Although I generally enjoy Seven Days’ journalism, I found that the recent article by Alison Novak on the ongoing war of words between our governor and education secretary and the School District Redistricting Task Force missed the mark substantially [“Different School of Thought: A Group Tasked With Redrawing School District Maps Has Suggested an Alternative Scenario, Rankling the Scott Administration,” November 26]. The article ultimately was an exercise in “he said, she said,” with contradictory statements presented from both sides without any evidence or data provided by the reporter to challenge either side’s assertions.

Of particular concern were the statements about the proposal for increasing use of Cooperative Education Service Areas. Saunders stated this idea would only increase costs and administrative bloat. Meanwhile, the task force asserts the opposite — that they would increase efficiency. Who are we to believe?

This is where the role of the journalist comes in. I would have expected Novak to look into the task force’s and Saunders’ claims and provide evidence or data that could help the reader determine who is closer to the truth. Crucially, as the task force notes, this is not an abstract policy question; the model has already been implemented in Vermont. It should be a simple matter of examining whether or not its implementation has resulted in cost savings.

It’s the role of the fourth estate to critically examine the statements of public officials and those in power and contextualize with outside information. Sadly, that was not present, and I am left swimming in a sea of contradictory statements.

‘Heavy’ News

I used to work very closely with Jim Lockridge and Big Heavy World back in the day, when we shared communal office space. It seems a lifetime ago. I am grateful to Jim, to BHW and to Seven Days for posting this news, sad as it is [“Big Heavy World to Close Headquarters in December,” November 22, online].

I live in China now, but I still keep my finger on the pulse of the place I called home.

How Can We Help?

Thank you for covering all the stories that matter to us and keeping us so well informed! I am writing to ask how we, as Vermont citizens, might assist this mother and son who were detained in Texas [“Winooski Second Grader in ICE Detention in Texas,” December 1, online]. Do we donate to Migrant Justice? Do we write a letter? What? I feel just writing a letter to say “Shame on you, Texas” is not enough. I just can’t imagine what it would be like to be detained as a second grader! Much less as the mother of that child. 

Our country is in the dire mess we deserve right now, and I think it’s up to those of us who may hold any sway whatsoever to try to make things better.

Perfect Wings

Just wanted to say I loved Melissa Pasanen’s article on the Stone Soup wings [“Spread Those Wings: Stone Soup’s Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Wings Owe a Debt to Another Legendary Burlington Restaurant,” December 3]. I, too, love those wings, and the piece did them the justice they deserve.

Thanks for writing something so uplifting and nice about something beautiful, meaningful and small. I’m still smiling now, thinking about those wings and the people who brought them to my plate. 

Five Spice Forever

My go-to was a massaman chicken-potato curry. Fans of the former Five Spice Café might try to find their old favorites at https://fivespace.cafe. Many pages. Stone Soup co-owner Tim Elliott should have no concerns about using a recipe.  

Ode to Vermont Schools

Phil and Jill do lead us downhill

Toward weeping and gnashing of teeth,

As they push the governor’s poison pill

Designed to cause public schools grief.


So I plead with you, my reps in Montpelier,

To resist your leadership’s call

And listen to your constituents’ appeal for

A plan that makes sense for all.


Talk with your colleagues who served on the task force;

Listen to your local school boards;

We voters are asking to expand the tax source,

Not to disrupt our schools with partisan discord.


Call on Vermonters experienced and wise:

Educators, economists, parents and students.

Ask them to come up with a plan to revise

A system streamlined, equitable and prudent.

Land Grab

A few years ago, I was in Ascutney talking with the fire department. I arrived early and had some time to spare, so I stopped at a small park near the interstate. While wandering, I noticed a small outdoor pavilion with an interpretive sign and paused to read it. It told the tragic story of Romaine Tenney, well described in your article “Tragic Tale” [November 26] and more movingly shared in the short film by Travis Van Alstyne, which recently won the Vermont Historical Society’s 2025 Richard O. Hathaway Award.

I applaud the VHS and Seven Days for bringing this story to a broader audience, and I encourage everyone to spend the less than 10 minutes it takes to watch Travis’ powerful presentation of this sadly tragic outcome. The film can be viewed for free at loveofthelandfilm.com. You might end up sad, but you won’t regret watching.

Resistance on the Southern Front

Thank you, Seven Days, for reporting on Vermonters’ resistance to the various crimes of the Trump administration [“Stepping Up,” December 3]. Let’s hope that other large Vermont news outlets will take note and start to take resistance seriously and cover it.

I hope that you do a follow-up. Your reporters got as far south as Woodstock. Down in Windham County, there is a flurry of resistance actions and organizing to protect the Constitution and the nation. 

The People’s Resistance Marching Band now enlivens and strengthens our mass rallies and marches. The 100-plus-strong Good Trouble Street Choir has been doing the same, as well as performing for fundraisers. Groups here are actively organizing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement criminality, drawing attention to the still-ongoing American-supported genocidal actions of Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.

Let’s let all Vermonters know that they are being seen and heard as we all work together to save our Republic.

Time to Close McNeil

[Re “Report IDs Options to Reduce McNeil Emissions,” November 28, online]: The recent report commissioned by the Burlington Electric Department failed to mention another way to reduce emissions from McNeil Generating Station, Vermont’s largest single stationary source of greenhouse gases, and that is to close the 40-year-old plant, eliminating all of its emissions.

BED does need to keep McNeil operational until June 2028, because of its legal commitment to ISO New England, the regional entity that manages the production and distribution of electricity in the six states. Closing McNeil in 2028 provides a three-year transition period for Burlington to plan for a future without McNeil and would align with the Burlington mayor’s 2024 campaign climate pledge “to develop a responsible transition plan to close the McNeil plant” — a pledge she has unfortunately sidelined. The city council needs to take a closer look in its own backyard, down in the Intervale, and realize the travesty being committed if it allows the long-term operation of McNeil.

This article appears in Dec 10-16 2025.

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