Archive for 2025

To the editor: Better investment choices would have boosted Cyprus Mineral Fund
On Sept. 10, 2025, you reported on the Select Board discussions regarding the potential uses for the Cyprus Mineral Fund. It is clear that it will be up to the Select Board to decide what the best use of the funds will be. I would like to point out however, that the historical stewardship of […]

Celebrate nature, art and language at Whiting Library Oct. 4 with local author Jonathan Otto
The Whiting Library, 117 Main St. in Chester, will welcome local author and illustrator Jonathan Otto for a free family event at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. It is best-suited for children ages 6 years and older and their caregivers. A former Chester resident, Otto will read from his illustrated children’s book Child of […]

Springfield Community Band seeks musicians for Holiday Concert
The Springfield Community Band is looking for new players for its Annual Holiday Concert that is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19. All players are welcome. Rehearsals are held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday, beginning Oct. 7, at Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road in Springfield. If you are interested in joining, send an […]

Invasives Part 2: Non-chemical and chemical ways to eliminate non-native invasive plants
By Will Danforth ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC There are ways to eliminate non-native invasive plants from your landscape. The method you choose should be right for the plant, for your particular environment and for you. Non-chemical approaches With over 100,000 man-made chemicals in the environment, most with untested and unintended consequences, it’s best to avoid […]

Chester Select Board agenda for Oct. 1
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 1 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St. To join the meeting click here. Below is the board’s agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes from the Select board Meeting dated September 17, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Coin Drop […]

To the editor: The truth that Truth Social denies
On July 7, Jibia Tusifu, age 10, died in the Congo because the richest country in world history withheld a $2 mosquito net. Trump’s cancellation of USAID funds prevented her destitute family from replacing their torn net and Jibia contracted malaria. Due to U.S. aid cuts, the local health clinic had no medicine to control […]

Chester board talks Class 4 roads, economic development and flags Bill Dakin retires after 40 years as Town Moderator
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC In a relatively short meeting last Wednesday, the Chester Select Board covered a lot of territory including looking at forming an economic development commission and further refining the language of a policy on the maintenance and use of Class 4 roads. Economic Development Commission Town Manager Julie […]

SRDC, Regional Commission seek economic development projects for grant consideration
Once again, Springfield Regional Development Corp. is partnering with the Mt. Ascutney Regional Commission and area towns to develop the list of Priority Projects for state and federal fund eligibility. The Priority Project process is going on in each region in the state and the final product is provided to the Agency of Commerce & […]

Op-ed: Laughing at the Scopes Monkey Trial
By Madeline Bodin ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC In 1925, 100 years ago this year, John Thomas Scopes lost his trial in Dayton, Tenn., a case that tested a new state law that made it illegal to teach evolution in public schools. Scopes lost the legal case, but the hearts and minds of most of the […]

Drought-stricken Vermont now under a burn ban
Starting at noon today, Monday, Sept. 22, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has issued an order for all Town Forest Fire Wardens to cease issuing burning permits. The order will remain in effect until it is revoked. The order may be revoked on a statewide basis or on a county-by-county basis, depending […]

Grace Cottage to host two flu vaccine clinics Non-perishable food to be collected for Townshend Shelf
Grace Cottage Family Health, 185 Grafton Road in Townshend, will host flu vaccine clinics from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 8. Pre-registration is recommended (call 802-365-4331); walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. You are not required to be a patient at Grace Cottage. At the same time, Grace […]

Springfield Area Parent Child Center launches online auction to support children’s mental health
Springfield Area Parent Child Center announces the launch of its Online Auction Fundraiser, which runs through Wednesday, Oct. 1. Community members and supporters are invited to browse, bid and win items in support of SAPCC’s mission of building bridges of support for young children, families and caregivers throughout 18 towns in southeastern Vermont. The online […]

Invasives Part 1: Eliminating invasive plants is a good start to reclaiming biodiversity in Vermont
By Will Danforth ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Do you care about the natural world in Vermont? Then let’s tackle foreign invasive plants. Invasive, non-native plants are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity — the vtinvasives.org site says, “Monitoring for and treating invasive terrestrial plants is one of the most important things you can do […]

Chester planners consider bylaw change to allow LED sign for GM, but zoning glitch may preclude it
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing On Monday evening, Chester’s Planning Commission got down to work on an issue that’s been on its radar for a while. That being “electric message display” signs or EMDs. The idea of such a sign for Green Mountain Union High School has been raised at past planning meetings […]

College News
The following students have been named to the Champlain College Online Dean’s List for achieving a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in the summer 2025 semester. Taylor Bowers of Springfield and Willem Bargfrede of Chester. The following students have been named to the summer 2025 President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University in […]

Free Health & Wellness Fair, BBQ lunch in Derry Sept. 19
Neighborhood Connections is sponsoring a Health & Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19 at its offices in the Mountain Marketplace, 5700 VT Route 100 in Londonderry. More than 25 exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the benefits and services that are offered in the community. A free BBQ […]

Chester quilter Linda Diak awarded grant from Vermont Arts Council
The Vermont Arts Council recently announced the 26 recipients of its most competitive grant program, the Creation Grant, which awards Vermont artists up to $5,000 to be used for developing new work. Linda Diak, an award-winning quilter from Chester, was selected to receive a fiscal year 2026 Creation Grant to support the creation of art […]

Whiting Library’s Annual Book Sale Sept. 20 & 21 Coincides with Chester Festival on the Green
Whiting Library’s Annual Book Sale will take place on the library lawn, 117 Main St. in Chester, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. It will occur in collaboration with the Chester Festival on the Green. The Book Sale comprises donated […]

New medical transportation service comes to Springfield and surrounds
TransCare VT is now serving Springfield and the surrounding communities with safe, reliable and compassionate non-emergency medical transportation. Founded by longtime firefighter and emergency services professional Bill Toner, the company is built on decades of dedication to public service and nearly 10 years of experience in non-emergency medical transportation. Toner’s career began in 1989 as […]

To the editor: Let Vermont politics remain civil
The recent murder of Charlie Kirk is a stark and tragic reminder of just how fragile our democracy and our civil society can be when disagreements cross the line into violence. Let me be clear: I fundamentally reject much of the rhetoric Kirk stood for. His words often carried racism, homophobia, and misogyny views that […]