Author Archive for Cynthia Prairie
Cynthia Prairie has been a newspaper editor more than 30 years. She has worked at such publications as the Raleigh Times, the Baltimore News American, the Buffalo Courier Express, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Patuxent Publishing chain of community newspapers in Maryland. She and her family moved to Chester, Vermont in 2004.
Gov. Scott mandates public mask-wearing
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Citing the surge of Covid-19 cases around the country, Gov. Phil Scott on Friday, July 24, mandated that everyone in a public place in which physical distancing is not possible must wear a mask or cloth face covering. The order takes effect on Saturday, Aug. 1. State officials […]
Derry Select Board orders mask wearing Board chair: Gov. Scott put small town leaders in 'untenable situation'
By Cynthia Prairie and Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Select Board of the town of Londonderry voted in a special meeting on Wednesday, July 15, to mandate that the public and employees wear masks or other face coverings in local businesses. The board was prompted to take the action, said board chair George […]
18 Derry residents test positive for Covid-19; Town Office closed; softball tourney in Chester draws maskless crowds
By Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC At least 18 people in Londonderry have tested positive for Covid-19 at a rapid testing facility in Manchester, town Emergency Management Director Kevin Beattie said on late Monday afternoon. He added that the state is contacting those people and telling them to get retested. And […]
GM grads to parade through town on Friday Residents encouraged to turn out to cheer on GM seniors
Chester, Andover, Cavendish and Baltimore residents are being encouraged to assemble along the Green and Main Street in Chester by 11:30 a.m. Friday morning to cheer on Green Mountain High’s seniors as they participate in a parade on their way to graduation ceremonies that will begin at 1 p.m. at the school. The parade, organized […]
Editorial: Why Black Lives Matter
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC You say “All Lives Matter?” Let me be clear that Black Lives Matter now because they have never mattered. They haven’t mattered to the majority of white Americans and white America holds all the cards and all the privileges. As a nation, we have enslaved black lives to […]
To the editor: Chester/GM Alumni Association cancels parade
Unfortunately we have decided to cancel this years Chester High/Green Mountain Union High Alumni Parade, which was scheduled for Saturday, June 6. Due to various circumstances related to the coronavirus shutdown, we can’t plan a future date at this time. We are hoping to have an alumni event of some type this fall but it’s […]
Celebrate World Press Freedom Day NY Times: Support news outlets like The Chester Telegraph
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Today, Sunday, May 3, is UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day, dedicated to raising public awareness of the vital importance of an independent press. To mark the occasion, The New York Times created a database of news sources, which you can access here, and is encouraging people to find […]
Andover Select Board agenda for April 27
The Select Board for the town of Andover will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27. Join via Zoom by clicking here and adding the meeting ID: Meeting ID: 983-4663-7102; Password: 789350 or call in at 1-929-436-2866. Below is its agenda, 1. Call Select Board meeting to order. 2. Act on Agenda. 3. Act […]
Weston Playhouse cancels summer season Intends to bring back three major productions in 2021
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Weston Playhouse has canceled for the foreseeable future its summer theater season as well as all special events and concerts planned for the playhouse in downtown Weston and the nearby Walker Farm. Susanna Gellert, the executive artistic director of the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, announced Thursday that […]
Northern counties continue to take brunt of Covid-19 cases
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Since The Telegraph last reported the number of Covid-19 infections in the state of Vermont on Tuesday, almost 100 more cases have been reported, taking that number from 293 to 389 today, Friday, April 3. The total number of tests for the virus statewide is 5,228, indicating that […]
The women behind the masks Three businesswomen sew kindness into every face mask
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing Three businesswomen have turned their sewing expertise into an act of kindness by creating washable, reusable face masks for friends, family and medical personnel throughout the region to help slow Covid-19 infections in Vermont. They are part of a force of individuals who have stepped up to fill a […]
Neighborly Advice: Maintain health, sanity and safety in the time of Covid-19
Our readers stepped up with suggestions to help each other manage our lives, maintain a modicum of normalcy, boost our morale, help our children and at times exceed our own expectations during the Covid-19 shutdowns. Thanks to all who shared their tips and photos. Maintain your health & sanity Amanda Stearns, Andover: Shopping is a […]
Telegraph guide to finding the stories you need on COVID-19
©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Telegraph is making it easier for you to find articles that you need on the COVID-19 crisis. These include older stories that are still important to refer to such as mandated shutdowns as well as cancellations and even restaurants that offer take-out. Here’s how to navigate to what you […]
Vermont announces first 2 deaths from Covid-19
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Gov. Phil Scott called an emergency press conference in Montpelier this evening with Vermont Health Secretary Mark Levine to announce that the state has experienced its first two deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, the state has said that 22 people have tested positive for the virus, which […]
Businesses feel strain, adapt to Covid-19
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Throughout our Southern Vermont communities, many retail and tourist-dependent businesses began planning several weeks ago for the annual mudseason slowdown. At that time, word was just beginning to spread about the coronavirus that was wreaking havoc in China, and just barely touching Italy . Now that Covid-19 is […]
Free Range to offer free to-go family dinners Donations of produce, money sought to bolster effort
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Jason Tostrup, chef and owner of the Free Range restaurant in Chester, and Andover resident Chris Meyer are teaming up to ensure that Chester and Andover families — especially those with school children — are provided with some dinners over the next eight weeks of the Covid-19 crisis. […]
Event cancellations and changes
The Chester Telegraph is compiling a list of events that have been cancelled or changed in some way due to concern over contagious Covid-19 virus. We’ll update the list as information comes in so check back daily. If you have an event to cancel or change, please send the information to info@chestertelegraph.org and we’ll publish […]
Holden, Dakin win Chester Select Board seats Wade, Alexander eke out wins in close GM school board race
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC It was inevitable that Chester voters on Tuesday would elect new members to its most important boards: The Select Board and the board of directors of the Green Mountain Unified School District which saw the only contested seats of the day. But the number of new members was […]
Chester OKs spending articles at Town Meeting Large 2019 Highway Dept. deficit blamed on weather
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC About 100 Chesterites filled the old wooden benches in the refurbished Town Hall Monday to vote on — and pass almost unanimously — 22 Articles, most to allocate funds for town equipment and non-profit organizations that serve residents. The first two of the 24 total articles will be […]
Editorial: Vote ‘yes’ on the GM budget, then demand better
The $14 million Green Mountain Unified School District budget, which will go before the voters on Tuesday March 3, isn’t perfect. One glaring error is that the school board failed to fight harder to include the long promised foreign language program for the district’s elementary schools, but still managed to be 9 percent over last […]
