Archive for 2026
Chester 8th grader takes a turn as a legislative page in Montpelier
Chester resident Shepherd Finch, an 8th grader and legislative page, leads the Pledge of Allegiance for lawmakers on his first day as a page prior to the legislative day beginning in Montpelier. Video provided by the Nick Caporaso family. ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Eighth-grade Chester resident Shepherd Finch is getting an insider’s look at the […]
To the editor: At GMUSD board meeting, students inspire in defense of their educators
I am writing this letter as an individual, as a parent, and as a member of this community — not in my capacity as a member of the Green Mountain Unified School District board. The views expressed here are my own. On Monday evening, the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District held a […]
Scott to visit Springfield for Governor’s Luncheon April 21 Reservations must be made by April 17
Gov. Phil Scott will be attending the annual Governor’s Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at the River Valley Technical Center Cafe, 307 South St. in Springfield. Hosted by the Springfield Rotary Club and the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Governor’s Luncheon is a longstanding local tradition that brings […]
‘Dinner with Friends’ opens Springfield Players’ 2026 season April 25
The Springfield Community Players, Vermont’s oldest continuously operating community theater group, opens its 106th season on Saturday, April 25 with Donald Margulies’ acclaimed dramatic comedy, Dinner with Friends, at the SCP Studio, 165 South St. in Springfield. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play examines middle-adult friendships and the ways in which dynamics change when partnerships dissolve: as Beth […]
‘Discovering New England Stone Walls’ draws large crowd
Kevin Gardner, of Hopkinton, N.H., spoke to a crowd of 140 people at the Nolin-Murray Center in Springfield on Tuesday, April 7. While simultaneously constructing a miniature stone wall, he discussed how and why New England’s stone walls were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time and their significance to the famous New […]
GMUSD board agenda for April 16
The Green Mountain Unified School District Board will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday April 16 at the Green Mountain High School 716 Route 103 south in Chester. Below is the board’s agenda: I. Call to Order 6:00 PM a. Roll Call – Confirming a Quorum II. Approval of Agenda a. Additions […]
Pause to revise Act 181 likely Chester residents weigh in at Planning Commission meeting
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC At last week’s Chester Planning Commission meeting focused on Act 181, Land Use Review Board member Alex Weinhagen said his group would like more time to work on getting new rules — which make major changes to Act 250 — right. Then, in an interview with The […]
Pomfret Select Board chair announces run for Windsor District Senate seat
Benjamin Brickner, chair of the Pomfret Select Board and a practicing attorney whose work includes regulatory and policy matters, has announced his candidacy for Vermont Senate in the Windsor District. He announced his candidacy on Monday at the Pomfret Town Hall, where he was to deliver remarks outlining his priorities for the district’s 25 towns, […]
Sotomayor quilt raffle to benefit Chester Dems
The Chester Town Democratic Committee is offering a chance to win a beautiful one-of-a-kind art quilt of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, created by award winning Chester quilt artist Linda Diak. Diak created this portrait of Justice Sotomayor using only cotton fabric and thread. The quilt measures 35 inches wide by 28 inches high and is signed […]
Part 2: Disability Rights: Housing, healthcare and mobility challenge Vermonters
By Anne Henshaw ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Thanks to the efforts of the Vermont Coalition of Disability Rights, the Vermont Legislature voted on a House resolution declaring Feb. 11, 2026, Disability Advocacy Day. Families, self-advocates, service providers and legislators gathered at the Vermont Statehouse under a shared call to action: disability policy is every policy. […]
Play Every Town concert in Peru to also benefit Neighborhood Connections
Renowned pianist David Feurzeig will perform his 96th Vermont concert at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17 at the Peru Church, 292 Main St. in Peru. He will be joined by local performers Amy Chamberlain, Anne D’Olivo and Wendy Galbraith as part of his Play Every Town project: a free concert in each of Vermont’s […]
Get ready for Green Up Day with a free ‘Culvert Crawlers’ workshop April 22 in Proctorsville
Culverts are designed to convey stormwater runoff but can easily become clogged with fallen leaves, vegetation and debris, which can lead to flooding. On Green Up Day. Saturday, May 2, residents are encouraged to take the time to check culverts, ditches and drains — while out picking up trash — to make sure that they […]
To the editor: Rural Caucus members urge repeal of Tier 3, Road Rule in Act 181
Due to the widespread concern about the potential impacts of Act 181 (the reform of Act 250) I will be holding a discussion/Q&A at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 at the New American Grill, 5700 Vermont Rte 100, in Londonderry. Please join us. What is Act 181? And what are people concerned about? Act […]
To the editor: Act 181 road rule disincentivizes sound planning
As someone who has taught Environmental Economics over the course of 27 years at three colleges, and as a past administrator of a regional planning commission, I must strenuously oppose Act 181 in its current form. While I embrace the need for environmental stewardship and proper planning, I also have serious concerns about the “road […]
Chester Select Board special meeting, regular meeting agendas for April 15
The Chester Select Board will hold two meetings on Wednesday April 15. The first, a special meeting with two executive sessions with legal counsel, will be held at 5 p.m. The second, regular meeting, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings will be at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and remotely via Zoom. Below […]
Construction crew breaks water main in Chester
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC A construction crew working on Chester’s sewer project on First Avenue at Route 103 broke a water main Thursday, causing water to pour out of the trench, over the roadway and into a field, where it drained off. Moments after the break, Jeff Holden, Chester’s Water and […]
Henry Homeyer: Spring brings two columns each month and new ideas for your garden
By Henry Homeyer ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC This was supposed to be my very last gardening column, but (spoiler alert) it is not. I started writing a gardening column in 1998 and wrote weekly for 25 years. Then, in late 2023, I dropped down to once a month. I liked the extra time and freedom […]
Chester Select Board OKs funds to assess three properties for housing; July 4th event on Green
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Wednesday’s Chester Select Board meeting again had an agenda filled with non-controversial, routine tasks for the board with documents to sign, appointments to make and approvals to grant. The board looked at a request from the town’s Housing Commission for $11,300 from the housing reserve fund […]
Green Up Day returns Saturday, May 2 Claim a road! Sign up by April 15 in Cavendish for free T-shirt
Green Up Day has been held each spring since 1970. The event is still going strong 56 years later, with tens of thousands of volunteers collecting hundreds of tons of trash annually from roadsides and waterways. This year, Green Up Day is Saturday, May 2. Cavendish volunteers can sign up now and claim roads in […]
More than 20 Vermont organizations host Changemakers Summit on April 11
A broad coalition of Vermont nonprofit organizations representing public health, food security, social justice, environmental and other interests is hosting the 2026 Vermont Changemakers Summit from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. The free, all-day event will take place at Harwood Union Middle & High School, 458 Vermont Rte 100 in Moretown. […]