Chester board names papers of record despite chair’s complaints
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Select Board agenda for March 18 promised a low-key meeting with mostly routine appointments, liquor license and entertainment permit approvals and review and adoption of some policies. The most contentious item – given recent dustups over school board appointments – seemed to be whether to […]
GMUSD board re-organizes with several new members
By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC The effects of the recent Town Meeting Day elections and filling of its two vacancies are looking like a sea change in the operation of the Green Mountain Unified School District board if last Thursday’s meeting is any indication. The new directors — Michael Ripley of Cavendish replacing […]
First hearing in MacGinnis v Chester perplexes judge
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC WOODSTOCK For most of the status conference in the lawsuit that Kirk and Michelle MacGinnis have brought against the Town of Chester, Superior Court Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady struggled to understand what the plaintiffs wanted and whether the type of action they brought was the right one. Kirk […]
Chester’s Chase announces run for Democratic nomination for state Senate’s Windsor District
Heather Chase, a business owner who has served on the Chester Select Board and in the Vermont House of Representatives, announces her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the Vermont Senate from the Windsor District on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Despite the cold temperatures and blowing slow, more than 40 people turned out on […]
Chester board adopts policy on public records requests
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The first Select Board meeting after the town’s annual meeting is usually a light one and last Wednesday’s Chester Select Board confab was even lighter than its agenda promised. Sharon Baker was expected to present a request to use the Chester Green for a Vermont Food Festival […]
Whisper, internet campaigns fail as Jonynas, Roper, Fierman, Bailey win their Chester races
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC With an unusually large number of contested races and two instances of controversial election shenanigans, Chester’s results for Select Board and school board campaigns have been highly anticipated. In the end, Democrats had a blowout night with all of their candidates victorious and most by substantial margins. […]
Latest News
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GMUSD Board special meeting agenda on March 26
The Green Mountain Unified School District Board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. -
Chester board names papers of record despite chair’s complaints
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Select Board agenda for March -
Rep. Burrows announces run for Clarkson’s Senate seat
State Rep. Elizabeth Burrows has announced her candidacy to be the next sate senator from -
First hearing in MacGinnis v Chester perplexes judge
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC WOODSTOCK For most of the status conference -
Chester’s Chase announces run for Democratic nomination for state Senate’s Windsor District Jonathan Gleason of Ludlow seeks Republican nomination
Heather Chase, a business owner who has served on the Chester Select Board and -
Chester Select Board agenda for March 18
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday March -
Chester board adopts policy on public records requests
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The first Select Board meeting after the -
GMUSD Board agenda for March 19
The Green Mountain Unified School District Board will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. - More News
Community & Arts Life
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Spaghetti fundraiser April 2 to send CAES kids to Keewaydin Enviro Camp
The community is invited to a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to send 5th and 6th graders -
Alumni Association hosts community taco night in Andover March 27
The Chester High School-Green Mountain Union HS Alumni Association is gearing up for a festive -
Bears are waking up: Take down bird feeders Secure other sources of food to prevent bear conflicts
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is receiving reports of bears coming out of their -
No Kings! Day protest in Chester March 28
Join your community on Saturday, March 28 for a third No Kings! Day, a nationwide -
Vt. Poet Laureate Bianca Stone returns to Chester March 21
Vermont Poet Laureate Bianca Stone returns to Chester Town Hall at 1 p.m. on Saturday, -
Springfield High Theater Department presents ‘Treasure Island’ March 20-22
Springfield High School Theater Department presents Treasure Island by Ken Ludwig adapted from the novel -
‘It’s All About the Bluebird!’ March 19 in Derry
Veterinarian Dr. Ron Svec will present a family-friendly program titled “It’s All About the Bluebird!” -
Education leaders to participate in public forum at Hartford High on March 23
Community members are invited to attend a public education forum from 6 to 8 p.m. - More in Community & Arts Life
Business & Personal Finance
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Grace Cottage wins ‘Best Place to Work’ for fourth consecutive year
For the fourth consecutive year, Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital, 185 Grafton Road in -
Vital Communities announces appointment of interim executive director
Vital Communities announces the appointment of Ellen Hender as interim executive director, effective April 11. -
Grace Cottage’s online auction starts Feb. 13 Annual fundraiser to help fund primary care clinic
Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital’s Cabin Fever Online Auction is a perfect way to -
Chester resident among new board members of Weston Theater
Weston Theater Company announces the appointment of Heather Chase of Chester, Brent Johnson of Landgrove - More in Business & Personal Finance
Commentary
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From the editor: Handcuffing a free press
“I appreciate the effort that goes into the journalism. The part that I object to -
To the editor: Senior Solutions’ Foxy Fund helps seniors to keep caring for their pets at home
As the Nutrition and Wellness Coordinator at Senior Solutions, which provides services throughout Windsor and -
Op-ed: Patriots for freedom of the press
By Tim Roper The rule of law has kept our country safe from despots for -
To the editor: The Telegraph is doing just fine
I heard that there was talk at a recent Chester Select Board meeting about problems - More Commentaries
Education News & High School Sports
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GMUSD Board special meeting agenda on March 26
The Green Mountain Unified School District Board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. -
GMUSD board re-organizes with several new members Board chooses two new Chester representatives
By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC The effects of the recent Town Meeting Day -
Springfield Garden Club accepting scholarship applications Deadline for submission is May 1
Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship. Eligible students include graduating seniors -
Cavendish Elementary enrollment open now
Parents living in the town of Cavendish are invited to contact Donna Hamilton at Cavendish - More in Education
Obituaries
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Jerry Friant, 94, of Shelburne, formerly of Landgrove
Ray J. (Jerry) Friant, of Shelburne, suddenly and unexpectedly entered eternity on Jan. 30, 2026, -
Kendall ‘Ken’ Crocker, 79, of Chester, Springfield and Florida
Kendall “Ken” B. Crocker Jr. set sail on his final voyage at home in Sebastian, -
Candlelight vigil for Phin Tillman of Grafton to be held at 5 p.m. today, Jan. 17
Phineas “Phin” Harvey Alexander Tillman of Grafton passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, -
Ellen M. McCullough, 80, of Chester
Ellen Marian McCullough (Levinson), of Chester, passed away at the age of 80 at Albany - More Obituaries
Other Recent Articles
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Three public hearings on deer, moose in March
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold public hearings on deer and moose management for 2026 on March 16, 18 and 19. The hearings will include the results of Vermont’s 2025 deer seasons and prospects for deer hunting next fall, as well as an opportunity for people […]
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Artist Barre Pinske creates ‘Rising Tide’ performance space inside Chester studio
Barre Pinske moved to Chester nearly 20 years ago and is still finding ways to surprise people. Best known for his wooden bears, he has built one of the more unlikely creative résumés in New England. His latest project is Pinske’s Rising Tide, a dedicated performance space inside his 50 First Ave. studio, which is […]
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Magic Mountain Chili Cook-Off raises over $1K for Ski Patrol, Outing Club
The Magic Mountain Ski Area community turned out in force for the second annual Magic Mountain Outing Club Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, March 7. The lively afternoon event raised more than $1,000 to support the mountain’s Outing Club and the Ski Patrol. Held at the Black Line Tavern, the event featured 11 chili entries from […]
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GMP offers help with your electric bill March 19
Representatives from Green Mountain Power will be at Neighborhood Connections, 5700 VT-100 in Londonderry, for 10-minute appointments between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 19. You can sign up for the Budget Billing Program to keep your monthly electric costs the same each month; it is available to all customers. You can also […]
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Chester Townscape taking tree, shrub orders until April 9
Chester Townscape, the all-volunteer non-profit organization that helps keep Chester blooming, is holding its Annual Tree & Shrub Sale to raise funds for its beautification projects. This event offers good-sized, proven trees and shrubs at below-retail nursery prices. This year’s selections are: Snow Showers Weeping Cherry Tree Dwarf Buttonbush Easy as Pie Bush Cherry Reminiscent […]
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To the editor: Gleason announces candidacy for Vermont Senate for Windsor
Hello Chester! I appreciate your time and attention to our political process. For too long we have watched our community buckle under the rising costs of living and the annual battle for a fair and balanced budget to educate our children. We deserve better. I’m Jonathan Gleason and I’m proud to announce my candidacy for […]
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To the editor: The humanitarian costs of war
In his 1796 Farewell Address, President George Washington counseled Americans to pursue peace and commerce while limiting political entanglements – especially “permanent alliances” with foreign nations. Until 1917, our elected representatives attempted to abide by this advice. President Woodrow Wilson broke with the long-held restraint Washington urged by committing our nation to World War I, […]
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Henry Homeyer: How to propagate your garden with seeds, cuttings and dividing
By Henry Homeyer ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC It seems to me that the prices of many things have gone up significantly in recent times. One way to combat that, as a gardener, is to start plants by seed instead of buying plants that someone else as started, watered and mothered for months. Many gardeners enjoy […]
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Children’s art program at Derry Library March 14
South Londonderry Free Library, 15 Old School Road, invites children of all ages (and grownups too!) to an art workshop with Casey Junker Bailey at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14. The workshop is free of charge and appropriate for all ages. Come learn about the life and art of African American painter Horace Pippin […]
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GM Drama presents ‘Cinderella, the Musical’ March 20 & 21
© 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Green Mountain High School Drama Department will present the Youth Edition of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Friday March 20 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday March 21 at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Admission is by donation. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella was […]
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To the editor: Clarkson on education reform bills’ progress; announces retirement after 22 years
Our Town Meeting break is almost over. The Vermont legislature returns to work today, Tuesday, March 10. It will be an intense week as every policy committee needs to vote out any bills by the end of the week for them to have a prayer of making it to the finish line. It is ‘cross […]
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Two short films about supporting birds March 13 in Proctorsville
Cavendish Fletcher Community Library and the Cavendish Community Conservation Association will host Building for Birds and Puffling Patrol, two short films about supporting birds, at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 13 at the library, 573 Main St. in Proctorsville. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Birds play vital ecological roles in […]
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‘Jamaica Sings: Songs for Protest and Resistance’ March 15
Voices will rise in harmony at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 15 as community members gather at the historic Jamaica Town Hall, 3735 VT-30, for “Jamaica Sings: Songs for Protest and Resistance.” This spirited community sing-a-long is sponsored by Jamaica for Democracy, a non-partisan community group committed to upholding constitutional principles, civil liberties and respectful […]
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History talk highlights Cavendish’s Hannah Lovell and women in the Revolution
T Revolutionary War would not have been won without contributions from women. Often overlooked in history books, which tend to focus on battles and men, they were responsible for organizing boycotts, acting as quartermasters in camps, nursing, manning cannons, spying and much more. Cavendish Historical Society will present a talk at 1 p.m. on Saturday, […]
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24 Hours of Stratton charity event March 14, 15
The Stratton Community Foundation presents the 14th Annual fundraising 24 Hours of Stratton beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, at Stratton Mountain Resort, 5 Village Lodge Road in Stratton Mountain. Participants of all ages and abilities are invited to ski or snowboard under lighted trails through sunrise, enjoy live […]
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To the editor: Seeking school board seat to support strong, equitable, accessible education
On March 5, I officially applied by email to serve on the Green Mountain Union School District Board seat left vacant by Casey Leahy’s resignation. I am seeking this opportunity because I believe that supporting a strong, equitable, and accessible public education system is one of the most important responsibilities a community holds. School boards […]
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