Featured Articles

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. […]

Chester votes down 1% Local Option Tax; Frank Kelley steps up as Town Moderator

By Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The proposed 1 percent Local Option Tax on meals, rooms and consumed alcoholic beverages that would have brought an estimated $60,000 annually into the Chester Housing Commission’s Housing Reserve Fund went down in defeat on Monday night by a vote of 59 to 76. In […]

Q&A: Ucci challenging incumbent Jonynas for three-year Select Board seat

The Chester Select Board is made up of five members voted at large — three are three-year terms, which are elected on a staggered, and two are one-year terms, which are, of course, voted on every year. This year, incumbent Arne Jonynas, who holds a three-year term, is being challenged by Jerry Ucci. You’ll find […]

Q&A: Spaulding, Roper, Mancuso and Fierman compete for two Select Board seats

The Chester Select Board is made up of five members voted at large — three are three-year terms, which are elected on a staggered, and two are one-year terms, which are, of course, voted on every year. Those two one-year seats are currently held by Tim Roper, who is seeking reelection and Ariana Knapp, who […]

Q&A: Miles & Bailey face off for an unexpired term on the Green Mountain district board

From left, Randy Miles and Jesse Bailey The Green Mountain Unified School District Board has 11 members; six of whom represent Chester, the largest town by population within the school district. In addition to Chester, there are three representatives from Cavendish and one each from Baltimore and Andover. Two Chester residents are vying for one […]

  • Other Recent Articles

  • To the editor: Understanding coercive behavior, abusive tactics and the misuse of personal images

    To the editor: Understanding coercive behavior, abusive tactics and the misuse of personal images

    Recent “politics” in our small town have revealed how easily a person’s photos can be used as tools of humiliation and control when someone chooses to weaponize them. From a psychological and ethical perspective, this is not “politics” or “drama.” It mirrors a pattern that are well-known in the study of family violence, coercive control, […]

  • To the editor: Chester Dems do not comment on private conduct of candidates

    To the editor: Chester Dems do not comment on private conduct of candidates

    Information regarding personal conduct of Jesse Bailey, candidate for the Green Mountain Unified School District Board has come to the attention of the Chester Town Democratic Committee. The position of the CTDC is not to engage in public comment regarding the  personal, private behavior of candidates. This is now in the hands of the Chester voters. […]

  • To the editor: Poitras and Keller weren't attacking a candidate, they were attacking his wife

    To the editor: Poitras and Keller weren’t attacking a candidate, they were attacking his wife

    On Thursday, Hank Poitras and John Keller publicly circulated a video of themselves viewing subscription-based sexual content involving Jesse Bailey and his wife. The content in question involves legal, consensual activity between adults. The content Poitras and Keller shared without consent exists behind a paid platform called OnlyFans, which requires contractual agreement and payment to access […]

  • To the editor: I'm running to help Chester return to prosperity

    To the editor: I’m running to help Chester return to prosperity

    My name is Steve Mancuso. I’m a semi-retired local tradesman living on a farm I built on the Springfield side of Chester. I have a long history serving my community in emergency services and now would like to serve you in another capacity. I am running for a one-year seat on the Chester Select Board. […]

  • What's on Chester's March 2 and March 3 ballots

    What’s on Chester’s March 2 and March 3 ballots

    By Shawn Cunningham and Cynthia Prairie © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Tuesday, March 3 Australian ballot will contain more than just the contested races for Chester’s Select Board and for Chester seats on the Green Mountain School District Board. And on Monday, March 2, the Town Meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. will offer […]

  • To the editor: Roper seeks your vote on March 3

    To the editor: Roper seeks your vote on March 3

    I am seeking my third one-year term on the Chester Select Board because I care deeply about this town. That motivates me to think carefully about how the actions of today’s town government will impact the quality of life in the days and the decades to come. I’m not always vocal when sitting behind the […]

  • To the editor: Benelli for school board

    To the editor: Benelli for school board

    Alan and I grew up in Chester and our families have been Vermont residents for generations. We have observed all the changes in Chester and been involved with many of them. I have been a teacher in this town for over 30 years. Our children and grandchildren attended our schools. We have what you would […]

  • To the editor: Supporting teachers among reasons why I'm running for GMUSD board

    To the editor: Supporting teachers among reasons why I’m running for GMUSD board

    Let me get straight to the point. I’m running for a spot on the Green Mountain Unified School District school board for a number of reasons, chief among them these: 1. Education shouldn’t be politicized. Yet, all around the country, school boards have become puppets to political ideologies. We need directors devoid of any interest in […]

  • League of Women Voters lecture series on voting rights continues March 11

    League of Women Voters lecture series on voting rights continues March 11

    The League of Women Voters of Vermont, in partnership with Kellogg-Hubbard Library, presents the next installment of its 2025-2026 lecture series on Voting Rights and Access to the Ballot at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11. Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas will discuss two bills now before Congress: the SAVE Act and the John […]

  • To the editor: Vote for Bailey for GMUSD board

    To the editor: Vote for Bailey for GMUSD board

    Dear Chester Voters, I’m writing to support Jesse Bailey for the one-year unexpired term on the Green Mountain Union School District board. I’ve known Jesse for several years, and have always admired his clear thinking and his willingness to express his beliefs clearly and openly. He understands both the importance of keeping politics out of […]

  • Q&A: Ucci, Hance & Benelli vie for two three-year seats on the GMUSD board

    Q&A: Ucci, Hance & Benelli vie for two three-year seats on the GMUSD board

    The Green Mountain Unified School District Board has 11 members; six of whom represent Chester, the largest town by population within the school district. In addition to Chester, there are three representatives from Cavendish and one each from Baltimore and Andover. Three Chester residents are vying for two three-year terms. Those candidates are Patricia “Penny” […]

  • Chase away winter blues with seed starting

    Chase away winter blues with seed starting

    While waiting for yet another snowstorm to grace the garden plots with a layer of snow, the Chester Community Greenhouse & Gardens folks say that starting to plan your garden is the best way to chase away the winter blues. The seed catalogs have long since arrived in the mail, and you have likely picked […]

  • Derry Rescue offers First Responder course March 7-9

    Derry Rescue offers First Responder course March 7-9

    If you are interested in helping out in your community, now is your chance. The  Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad is holding a Vermont Emergency First Responder course at the LVRS squad building, 6068 Vermont Route 100 in Londonderry, beginning Saturday, March 7. To be eligible for this VEFR certification course you must be at least […]

  • 'How To Raise Edible Fruits and Berries' March 2 in South Londonderry

    ‘How To Raise Edible Fruits and Berries’ March 2 in South Londonderry

    The Green Mountain Gardeners invites the public to attend a discussion on raising fruits and berries in the home landscape at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 2 at Rugg Valley Greenhouse, 968 Haven Hill Road, South Londonderry. The program will be led by Mark Wright, owner of Rugg Valley Landscaping. Attendees are asked to bring […]

  • Ludlow Rotary Club readies for 100th anniversary

    Ludlow Rotary Club readies for 100th anniversary

    When the Ludlow Rotary Club was chartered by Rotary International on Jan. 27, 1927, with 25 members. Since then, LRC has grown to become a major contributor to the Okemo Valley area, the nation and international groups. To prepare for the 100th anniversary, the club is gathering information on its history, membership and many activities. […]

  • Learn about enslaved Revolutionary War soldiers Feb. 28

    Learn about enslaved Revolutionary War soldiers Feb. 28

    It is estimated that between 5,000 and 8,000 African Americans fought against the British, including Peter Tumbo and Prince Robinson, who settled in Cavendish following the war. However, far more (estimates of 20,000) were Loyalists. Cavendish Historical Society, in conjunction with Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, 573 Main St. in Proctorsville, will hold a talk at […]

  • All Recent Articles