We each have a role to play on this new stage that's being formed.

People throughout the U.S. have opened their hearts to their neighbors through volunteering and other support during the last few weeks, leading to numerous inspiring accounts of compassion and generosity.

That spirit will be needed more than ever, as three Vermont communities will be facing some significant challenges ahead, if proposed changes in higher education take place in the coming days.

A theme throughout this time of isolation has been appreciation of the simple things, which are heavily juxtaposed with the challenges we face, but nonetheless important.

As the country continues to tackle the ongoing health crisis, one word has been front and center for those efforts: coordination. At the heart of that term is common action moving toward good results, and a number of state leaders said Monday they're hitting a plateau amid the outbreak, as social distancing continues to pay off. New York and Vermont are among them.

It's fascinating that a time of such profound change in the world is also happening at a time of annual change for the earth.