Author Archive for The Chester Telegraph
Mary Elizabeth Nutting Bigelow, 88, of Landgrove
Mary Elizabeth Nutting Bigelow passed away Dec. 8, 2025, in Landgrove, Vermont. May was a beloved figure in the mountain towns of southern Vermont, known for her gregarious, fun-loving, and nurturing personality. She was born in Lebanon, Penn., on Feb. 20, 1937, to Marion Heminway and Harry Otis Nutting II. Her early childhood in Lebanon […]
Op-ed: I’ve been battling the Trump administration for 11 months; Here’s what’s next
By Charity Clark Attorney General State of Vermont Having sued the Trump administration 36 times in 11 months, I am reflecting on the wild ride of 2025 – and preparing for what’s next. President Trump began his second term with a flurry of executive orders. The first executive orders – some of which were almost […]
Op-ed: Reclaiming the spirit of Christmas
By Maya Wright Each December, America lights up – not with reverence, but with neon sales, frantic shopping, and countdowns to the next shipment from Amazon. For Generation Z especially, Christmas has increasingly drifted into a glittering spectacle of trends, wish lists, and content creation. The nativity story, the breathtaking moment when eternity stepped into […]
To the editor: Citizens must regain control of democracy
Democracy is not a self-driving car and we, as citizens, must not sit in the back seat bracing for a wreck. The majority of Americans oppose cruel policies and violent arrests of hard working immigrants and efforts to deny those most vulnerable access to healthcare, housing and food support. The majority of Americans are repulsed […]
To the editor: An Athens couple shows the world how to care for neighbors
Many initiatives, both small and large, individual and collective, ramped up across the state and the country to combat the sudden hunger crisis caused by the loss of SNAP benefits at the start of November. Here in Athens, Krista Gay and her husband Christian Rogerson, started their own Free Food Pantry at the bottom of […]
Chester Select Board agenda for Dec. 3
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St. To join the meeting click here. Below is the board’s agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes from the Selectboard Meeting dated Nov. 17, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Discussion regarding Local […]
To the editor: Londonderry Rescue holds annual banquet to honor community, volunteers
The Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad was held Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Landgrove Inn. There were 60 members and family attending. Hilary Dahlstrom presented the LVRS Community Award to Neighborhood Connections. It was graciously received by Executive Director Thom Simmons. Jeff DiStasio had the privilege to present the William Cobb Sr. Award to Doug Friant […]
Op-ed: Thanksgiving and to have and have not
By Bill Schubart ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC My family’s always favored Thanksgiving over the celestial holidays like Christmas and Easter that feed a bloom of consumption. At Thanksgiving, families and friends simply gather to express gratitude, share food, and tell stories. It’s an earthbound holiday. There are exceptions. France’s Bernard Arnault (estimated net worth: $184B) […]
GM Middle School Honor Roll for 1st Quarter
Green Mountain Union Middle School has reinstated the Honor Roll. For the first quarter, awardees must have received all A’s to qualify. its first quarter that the middle school has brought back the honor roll. For this period each student must have achieved straight A’s. The school has also instituted a Student of the Month […]
John Adler, 64, of Chester
John Adler, 64, of Chester, passed away unexpectedly at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Mass., on Nov. 15, 2025. Born in Perth Amboy, N.J., on Jan. 12, 1961, John was raised in Berwick, Maine, and graduated from Noble High School. He went on to receive an Associate’s Degree in Forestry from Paul Smith’s College. John […]
Andover Select Board agenda for Nov. 24
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Nov. 24 at the Town Office 953 Weston-Andover Road. Below is the board’s agenda. 1. Call Meeting to Order. 2. Act on Agenda. 3. Act on Minutes of November 10th meeting. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes per visitor, 10 […]
It’s Gnome-hunting season in Chester!
Can you find all the gnomes hidden around Chester? From Saturday, Nov. 29 until Monday, Dec. 22, you’ll have the opportunity to find 12 gnomes and be entered to win a gift of $100, provided by The Chester Telegraph. This event is sponsored by the new Christmas in Chester Committee. The gnomes will be in […]
Chester Select Board agenda for Nov. 19
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St. To join the meeting click here. Below is the board’s agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes from the Selectboard Meeting dated Nov. 5, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Review Discontinuance/Reclassification of […]
Op-ed: In defense of our sixth graders Moving them to the middle school will only cause problems
By Lisa D. Sanders Being a 6th grader is hard. Bodies and brains are changing rapidly and at different rates in different kiddos. Children are trying to figure out who they are. A hug or harsh word from a parent still matters, but perhaps for the first time, less than a fist bump or dis […]
Chester Select Board agenda for Nov. 5
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St. To join the meeting click here. Below is the board’s agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes from the Select Board Meeting dated Oct. 1, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. SEVCA – […]
As federal funds for food benefits shut off, state officials scramble for stopgap measures
By Theo Wells-Spackman ©2025 VTDigger.org The Vermont Department for Children and Families said Wednesday it was directed by the federal government earlier this month to pause food stamp distribution for November due to the continued shutdown in Washington, D.C. State officials said Thursday that they’re rushing to deliver stopgaps for food and heating assistance. The U.S. […]
To the editor: Education and healthcare crises are inextricably linked
We encourage all school workers, community members, parents and students to share their thoughts around school district consolidation with the Redistricting Task Force, assigned to create the new district maps per Education Reform Act 73. The Task Force recently held four public hearings that gave the opportunity to provide feedback on the creation of three […]
Op-ed: A truly scary story
By Madeline Bodin ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC When I was in sixth grade, our teacher gathered us to tell us a scary story on the school day closest to Halloween. He said that he had been a night security guard at a mansion in town. This spooky house had a mausoleum in the basement. Late […]
Isabel MacCauley, 97, of Chester
Isabel (Fielder-Miller) MacCauley, 97, passed away Oct. 14, 2025, at the Gill Odd Fellows Home after a short illness. Born on Aug. 25, 1928, in Danby, VT. She was the sixth of 10 children born to Robert and Ruby (Russett) Fielder. Her marriage to Douglas MacCauley moved her to various towns in New York. Upon his […]
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 […]
