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Marlboro clarifies quote in recent news coverage
Editor the Reformer:
We, the undersigned, who teach in the Marlboro MBA program, would like to correct an error in a recent article ("Founder of Marlboro’s sustainability program to leave," July 3).
This article misquotes Associate Dean Sean Conley as saying "Though Meima put his personal stamp on the program, Meima was not teaching." The facts were that he wasn’t teaching at the time of the article because the Foundations course was not scheduled for this term.
Throughout his tenure as director, Ralph Meima has been a valued member of the faculty as well as an administrator. Ralph actively taught two courses, both of which he also co-designed: Foundations of Sustainable Business -- from 2009 through 2011, and Exploring Sustainability in 2008/2009.
We wish Meima well in his future endeavors. We also understand that change is happening and we look forward to the continued vibrancy of the MBA program.
Beverly Winterscheid, Will Keyser, Bill Baue, Roman Sodortsov, Valerie Voorheis, Pat Daniel, Peter Crowell, Betsy Schmidt, Marianne Tyrrell, Tracy Sloan, John Ehrenfeld and Lori Hanau,
Brattleboro, July 26
Editor’s note: We stand by the content of the article.
Shooting coverage overkill
(pardon the pun)
Editor of the Reformer:
Could the media please give us a break with
So, let’s replace the vacuous hand-wringing over the Aurora tragedy with constructive personal steps to lessen the greater tragedies facing us every day.
Brent Regan,
Brattleboro, July 26
Senior Solutions moving?
Editor of the Reformer:
Senior Solutions, formerly the Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont, has long had a local office in the Brattleboro Senior Center. Senior citizens gather weekdays at the Center for activities and meals, and can meet easily and privately with Senior Solutions staff. Some arrive via public transportation directly from and back home. Others park their vehicles in the Senior Lot. Some cannot walk easily or far.
Someone has decided to move this Senior Solutions office to the Brattleboro Municipal Center, up and across Main Street, then up a steep hill, effective Aug. 8.
Is this a senior solution?
Howard Fairman,
Vernon, July 24
Triathlon effort
to raise money, awareness
Editor of the Reformer:
It is triathlon time again. To help raise money and promote awareness for the Townshend Community Food Shelf (TCFS), I am going to compete in the Lake Dunmore Triathlon on Aug. 5, 2012. To be more precise, as opposed to "compete," I hope to "complete" the triathlon.
As you know, the TCFS continues to operate as an all volunteer community organization providing food and other essentials to our less fortunate neighbors in the West River Valley. TCFS proudly remains the largest food shelf in the region (and likely the state) without paid staff -- your support goes entirely into buying the food and supplies that are helping many get by during difficult times. Our neighbors are greeted by generous people in the community who stock the shelves and who distribute food and other items to those in need. As hard as it is to realize that some of our neighbors are hurting, it is extremely uplifting to see people leave with bags full of items that they will put to very good use.
As I told you last year, as a physician in the community, I usually try to do some counseling regarding diet for my patients. I was a little surprised and even embarrassed to find that when I went down to the food shelf to help that some of the patients who I had been counseling were actually using the TCFS as a resource for food. I have become more sensitive to try to make sure that when I counsel patients that they actually have access to food.
I would like to give a "shout out" to the dedicated volunteers who are keeping this valuable resource available to our community. Also, I would like to recognize the Townshend Congregational Church for being a place where people can come to get this incredible help. In my 15 years of living here in this wonderful community, I truly feel that this is one of the best and most important things that this community has done.
I realize that many of you who are reading this letter have donated to this organization and many others over the past years. I hope that you will again be able to contribute something to the food shelf. In addition, TCFS is always looking for volunteers to help. This is terrific community service for anyone! Please feel free to contact Mike Attley, 365-4531, who is the current scheduler for Monday night volunteers. Please send any donations to TCFS, P.O. Box 542, Townshend, VT 05353. Thank you again for your generosity.
All the best for a great summer,
Moss Linder,
Townshend, July 4
Support
for Sorrell
Editor of the Reformer:
I’m supporting Bill Sorrell for attorney general in the Aug. 28 primary, and I hope you will too. It’s possible to quarrel with parts of Sorrell’s long record, but by and large he has done an able job, especially in defending Vermont law from corporate challenge. I don’t fault Sorrell for Judge Murtha’s decision in the Vermont Yankee case.
Murtha’s reasoning has left many scratching their heads, and there’s good reason to believe it will be overturned by the court of appeals. Sorrell knows that case inside out. What’s more, he has long experience dealing with Entergy. He’s taken their measure.
Contrast this with Sorrell’s challenger, T.J. Donovan. In public statements Donovan has implied that he doesn’t believe in the constitutionality of Vermont’s case, and perhaps doesn’t believe that states have a right to push the legal envelope. This is troubling. Vermont stands in opposition to many policies taken by the federal government. We need an attorney general who believes in our right to push for change.
More troubling, Donovan has repeatedly talked about "working with" companies like Entergy. It shouldn’t be news to anyone in Vermont that that’s been tried! Agreements have been crafted and signed, only to be breached the moment Entergy found them inconvenient. We can’t afford an attorney general this naive.
Most troubling of all is Donovan’s implication that Sorrell failed to work with the legislature to craft the Yankee and campaign finance laws. Simply untrue, and a serious candidate should know that. To my certain knowledge Donovan has been informed of his error, yet continues to repeat the implication.
So because the incumbent has done a good job, and because his opponent has raised substantial doubts about himself in my mind, I’m voting for Bill Sorrell. I also want to thank him for the work he’s put in on the Yankee case, and wish him the best of luck on appeal.
Jessie Haas,
Westminster, July 25
