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Restaurant openings point to business revival in Chester

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC As the days turn colder it seems the business climate in Chester is heating up with around a dozen businesses opening, moving, expanding or changing hands in industries as disparate as restaurants and livestock farming, home decor and childcare. And with all that, a number of prominent […]

Estimates for PCB fix at GM high school top $20 million

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC While officials at Green Mountain Union High School have reduced the amount of airborne PCBs to acceptable levels with air filtering, the long-term solution – as spelled out at last Thursday’s Green Mountain Unified School District board meeting will be more than $20 million and there’s no […]

Family Center Food Shelf fills the gaps amid an uneasy economy, SNAP cuts, federal shutdown

By Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC On a recent afternoon in late October, the buzz in the grocery store grew louder as more shoppers arrived. The aisles soon were packed with people — an easy occurrence in the small store. It was becoming a more typical day at the Food Shelf at the Chester-Andover […]

Blue rally, red rally on the Chester Green

By Shawn Cunningham and Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC On a picture perfect October Saturday, two polarized political factions shared Chester’s Green – at different times – to hold peaceful rallies with very different vibes and vastly different numbers in attendance. The Green was already crowded by the 10:30 a.m. start time for Chester’s […]

Londonderry residents continue debate over future of Williams Dam

By Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC For years, Londonderry residents have been arguing over the dam at the West River at Route 11, which for some is a much needed fire pond as well bucolic spot. The state, town government and other residents, however, see it as a festering problem that is best addressed […]

Tempest in a coffee cup? Area micro-roasters face harsh brew of tariffs, other price increases

By Lorien Strange ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC You may have noticed that your bag of fresh roasted coffee has been taking a bigger chunk out of your wallet lately. Or you may just be wondering just when those tariff-induced price hikes are going to kick in. The good news is that four local coffee micro-roasters […]

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  • Ludlow Rotary hosts another successful Chili Cook-Off

    Ludlow Rotary hosts another successful Chili Cook-Off

    Ludlow Rotary Club’s 34th Annual Chili Cook-Off was a major success. The weather was perfect, hundreds of “taste testers” were treated to a large variety of chilis and the many chili chefs were pleased with the response to their unique brands of “real” chili. Additionally, the Ludlow Rotary gained resources to continue sponsoring local projects. […]

  • Bring a mouse, watch 'Bills Lumber,' benefit raptor rescue on Oct. 25 in Newfane

    Bring a mouse, watch ‘Bills Lumber,’ benefit raptor rescue on Oct. 25 in Newfane

    A free benefit screening of Bills Lumber will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Williamsville Hall, 35 Dover Road in Newfane. Theresa Maggio’s documentary recounts the history and last days of the beloved antique sawmill in Wardsboro that was owned and operated by the Bills family. Earlier this year it played […]

  • Travis Van Alstyne accepting the Hathaway Award at the History Center in Barre last week. Photo provided

    Chester native Travis Van Alstyne wins 2025 Hathaway History Award

    By Shawn Cunningham ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Chester native and filmmaker Travis Van Alstyne was awarded the 2025 Richard O. Hathaway Award by the Vermont Historical Society for his animated short film Love of the Land. According to a VHS press release the award was presented to Van Alstyne at the Society’s annual meeting on […]

  • Invasives Part 3: How to tackle those colorful invasive shrubs that still need to go

    Invasives Part 3: How to tackle those colorful invasive shrubs that still need to go

    By Will Danforth ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Ffor the last in our three-part series on invasives, let’s focus on specific shrubs that turn color after our native trees and shrubs, making them easy to find. For more photos of invasives, click the Vermont invasives website. So let’s take care of our home turf! Plants pull […]

  • Whiting Library to host free astronomy and telescope how-to sessions Oct. 23 & 25

    Whiting Library to host free astronomy and telescope how-to sessions Oct. 23 & 25

    Whiting Library and members of the Southern Vermont Astronomy Group invite community members to a free two-part mini-series on the basics of astronomy and telescopes. The programs will be offered at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at Whiting Library, 117 Main St. in Chester. On Thursday, Oct. 23, SoVerA members […]

  • Springfield Rotary’s 71st annual Penny Sale set for Oct. 25

    Springfield Rotary’s 71st annual Penny Sale set for Oct. 25

    The 71st Annual Springfield Rotary Club Penny Sale returns at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. There are three prize series – red, white and blue – and each series boasts at least 100 prizes. Each $1 series ticket is a chance to […]

  • Nordic Harmoni to hold benefit concert for Neighbors Pantry Oct. 24

    Nordic Harmoni to hold benefit concert for Neighbors Pantry Oct. 24

    Nordic Harmoni invites everyone to a concert at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct.  24 at the Second Congregational Church, 2051 N. Main St. in Londonderry. Most of the profits from the free-will offering will be donated to The Neighbors Pantry in Londonderry. A recent memo from The Neighbors Pantry outlined that the non-profit food shelf, […]

  • Winter weather observer training Oct. 24 in Londonderry

    Winter weather observer training Oct. 24 in Londonderry

    In the spring, a dozen Mountain Town residents received training to become part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network. Since then, they have faithfully reported on the area’s rainfall (or lack thereof), assisting meteorologists, the National Weather Service, broadcasters and others. Another training session, focusing on snowfall, snowfall water content and snowpack, […]

  • Windsor GOP elects Spaulding of Chester as chair; Saturday event on Green features four speakers

    Windsor GOP elects Spaulding of Chester as chair; Saturday event on Green features four speakers

    The Windsor County GOP elected Chester resident Roy Spaulding its chairman during its reorganizational meeting, held on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Windsor Welcome Center. According to a press release, it was a standing room only crowd, and also in attendance were Vermont Republican Party chair Paul Dame as well as Rachel Burgin, regional director […]

  • Free Pop-Up Health Screenings in Derry Oct. 21

    Free Pop-Up Health Screenings in Derry Oct. 21

    Neighborhood Connections, in the Mountain Marketplace at 5700 VT Route 100 in Londonderry, is hosting NorthStar Health’s Delores Barbeau Mobile Van from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Stop by for a free basic health screening and learn about community resources, such as housing, dental, vision and other support services. Healthcare professionals […]

  • Last chance to buy raffle tickets to help restore two Rockingham historic murals

    Last chance to buy raffle tickets to help restore two Rockingham historic murals

    Time is running out to purchase raffle tickets for the Rockingham Historic Preservation Commission’s fundraiser to support the restoration of two historic murals with deep local roots. The fundraiser features a stunning handmade lap quilt titled “Burgoyne Surrounded” that was pieced by Karen Engdahl of Springfield, quilted by Linda Diak of Chester and donated by […]

  • Free showing of award-winning documentary 'Artist & Astronaut' Oct. 19 in Londonderry

    Free showing of award-winning documentary ‘Artist & Astronaut’ Oct. 19 in Londonderry

    The Tri-Mountain Area Lions Club is sponsoring a free viewing of the film The Artist & the Astronaut at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Neighborhood Connections in the Mountain Marketplace, 5700 Vermont Route 100, Londonderry. The event is open to the public but seating is limited. Call Neighborhood Connections at 802-824-4343 to reserve […]

  • To the editor: Stand up for the Land of the Free

    To the editor: Stand up for the Land of the Free

    Our national anthem ends with a question: “Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Are we still the land of the free when the president can deploy federal troops to states that do not want them under the phony pretext that […]

  • Big Woods Voices in concert Oct. 19 in Chester

    Big Woods Voices in concert Oct. 19 in Chester

    First Universalist Parish of Chester, 211 North St. in the Stone Village, presents Big Woods Voices in concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19. From heart-stopping to foot-stomping, prayerful to fun-filled, dissonant to dulcet, Big Woods Voices brings the spirit of southern Vermont to life through rich a cappella harmonies and soulful interpretations. Big […]

  • VINS 'Magnificent Migration' program Oct. 15 in Proctorsville

    VINS ‘Magnificent Migration’ program Oct. 15 in Proctorsville

    Vermont Institute of Natural Science will present Magnificent Migration, a free, family-friendly bird-demonstration event at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, 573 Main St. in Proctorsville. The talk is sponsored by the library and the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association. We all know why birds fly south for the […]

  • Make glowing Spooky Lanterns at Derry Library Oct. 18

    Make glowing Spooky Lanterns at Derry Library Oct. 18

    Goblins of all ages are invited to make glowing Spooky Lanterns with art teacher Casey Junker Bailey at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the South Londonderry Free Library, 15 Old School Road. The program is free. Each family will receive a copy of The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything […]

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