Archive for 2026
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 Street 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. […]
Part 1: Disability Rights: From institution toward independence
By Anne Henshaw ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC For much of American history, people with disabilities were seen as “others;” as problems to be managed. Disabled people were denied access to public schools, barred from employment, denied voting rights, subjected to eugenics laws, sterilized without consent and segregated banished from public life. They were not only […]
Free ‘Stop the Bleed’ training in Springfield
Accidents can happen anywhere – at home, in the yard, on the road or just out running errands. Bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death after injury. Come learn the simple skills needed to potentially save a life. Stop the Bleed, a free training event, will take place at the Black River Innovation Campus, […]
Grace Cottage’s Claire Bemis, RN, honored by Windham Aging
Claire Bemis, RN, Grace Cottage’s Community Health Team Care coordinator, was recently recognized by Windham Aging with the 2026 Elizabeth Rowell Thompson Leadership Award. The award stated, “Claire Bemis demonstrates exceptional leadership in improving the lives of older adults in Windham County through her decade of service. Through home visits, care coordination, education, and advocacy, […]
Judge in 4 year-old murder case aims to pick up pace
Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC More than six years after truck driver Roberto Fonseca-Rivera was shot and killed on Rt. 103 in Rockingham and more than four years after Jozsef Piri was charged with 2nd degree murder in the crime, the justice system continues to grind slowly toward a trial, which lawyers on […]
Chester Townscape offers hanging baskets Orders due by Wednesday, April 22 for May 9 pickup
Chester Townscape is once again taking orders for beautiful hanging flower baskets. They are available in a choice of hot or cool colors that are especially selected for reliability and beauty and the ability to thrive in sunny or shady locations. Click here to download the order form. The baskets make a perfect Mother’s Day […]
To the editor: Chase promises grit, clear-eyed vision as she seeks Windsor Senate seat
In case you haven’t already heard, I am officially running for the Vermont Senate to represent Windsor County. I launched my campaign on the Chester Green in mid-March, surrounded by supporters and loved ones. I’ve spent my life serving others: as a nurse, a successful business owner, a member of the Chester Select Board and […]
CAFC receives $3,000 grant from Vail-Okemo Funds to support Recipe Kits for Food Shelf patrons
Chester-Andover Family Center was recently awarded a $3,000 EpicPromise cash grant from Vail-Okemo. Funds will be used to support the CAFC Food Shelf Recipe Kit Initiative. Volunteers work with the Food Shelf manager to determine what produce and shelf-stable foods will be in abundance each month and develop and test main dish recipes using the […]
24 Hours of Stratton breaks record to support Community Foundation Nearly 900 participants mark largest event in its history
The 24 Hours of Stratton brings together people from across the region for an unforgettable weekend of endurance, camaraderie and philanthropy. Participants skied through the night under the lights, all in support of programs addressing hunger, basic needs, health and education for children in southern Vermont. Team Ravenwood took top fundraising honors (raising more than […]
GM board to consider ‘reduction in force’ ahead of next budget vote
UPDATE April 1: Last night the GMUSD board voted to issue a reduction in force for its employees ahead of the re-vote of the district budget later this spring. We will have more on this story in the coming days. By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Thursday evening, the Green Mountain Unified […]
Signs of the times: Chester Green hosts third No Kings rally
Elvis did not leave the Green during the two-hour protest. All photos by Shawn Cunningham unless otherwise noted. By Cynthia Prairie ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC While some of the signs carried angry messages, most of those carrying them did not. Instead, they offered up smiles and humor as they spoke of serious subjects that drew […]