Author Archive for The Chester Telegraph
Green Mountain School District board special meeting agenda for March 31
The board of the Green Mountain Unified School District will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday March 31 at the Green Mountain High School, 716 Route 103 south in Chester and remotely via Zoom Below is the board’s agenda I. Call to Order a. Roll Call – Confirming a Quorum II. Tonight’s […]
To the editor: The reluctant activists
Watching the evening news with my mom in the 1960s, we saw the daily body count from Vietnam — mostly young, working-class men, drafted and placed in harm’s way to fight a war without clear objectives; too young to legally buy a beer, but old enough to die in the jungle half a world away. […]
To the editor: Thanks to Weston firefighters for dousing a real dumpster fire
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department who jumped to action the night of March 18 to put out a fire in a dumpster at the Wilder Memorial Library construction site in Weston. Thanks to their swift and professional action, we are happy to share that all is […]
GMUSD Board special meeting agenda on March 26
The Green Mountain Unified School District Board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday March 26 at Green Mountain High School, 716 Route 103 and remotely via Zoom. Below is the board’s agenda: I. Call to Order 6 p.m. a. Roll Call – Confirming a Quorum II. Tonight’s Agenda a. Additions and/or deletions […]
To the editor: Senior Solutions’ Foxy Fund helps seniors to keep caring for their pets at home
As the Nutrition and Wellness Coordinator at Senior Solutions, which provides services throughout Windsor and Windham counties, I regularly see how deeply pets are woven into the daily lives of the older adults we serve. For many, a pet offers companionship, routine, comfort, and a sense of purpose — supports that often grow more important […]
Op-ed: Patriots for freedom of the press
By Tim Roper The rule of law has kept our country safe from despots for almost 240 years. Our Constitution, ratified by the states in 1788, was missing a Bill of Rights — an absence that kept several founders from signing. James Madison introduced one the following year, and 10 amendments were ratified in December […]
To the editor: The Telegraph is doing just fine
I heard that there was talk at a recent Chester Select Board meeting about problems the board was having with The Chester Telegraph, which is one of two news outlets of record for the town. Then I heard the same criticism at the beginning of Thursday’s school board meeting. A few people seem to think […]
No Kings! Day protest in Chester March 28
Join your community on Saturday, March 28 for a third No Kings! Day, a nationwide day of protest. Residents of Chester and neighboring towns will gather in solidarity on the Chester Village Green from 10 a.m. to noon to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like. The Trump administration and […]
Chester Select Board agenda for March 18
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday March 18 at Town Hall, 556 Elm Street and remotely via Zoom. Belwo is the board’s agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes of March 4, 2026 Select board Meeting 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Sharon Baker; Permission to Use Green […]
To the editor: Gleason announces candidacy for Vermont Senate for Windsor
Hello Chester! I appreciate your time and attention to our political process. For too long we have watched our community buckle under the rising costs of living and the annual battle for a fair and balanced budget to educate our children. We deserve better. I’m Jonathan Gleason and I’m proud to announce my candidacy for […]
To the editor: The humanitarian costs of war
In his 1796 Farewell Address, President George Washington counseled Americans to pursue peace and commerce while limiting political entanglements – especially “permanent alliances” with foreign nations. Until 1917, our elected representatives attempted to abide by this advice. President Woodrow Wilson broke with the long-held restraint Washington urged by committing our nation to World War I, […]
GMUSD Board agenda for March 19
The Green Mountain Unified School District Board will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday March 17 at the Green Mountain High School Library, 716 Rt. 103 South and remotely via Zoom. Below is the board’s agenda: I. Call to Order 6 p.m. a. Roll Call – Confirming a Quorum II. Approval of […]
To the editor: Clarkson on education reform bills’ progress; announces retirement after 22 years
Our Town Meeting break is almost over. The Vermont legislature returns to work today, Tuesday, March 10. It will be an intense week as every policy committee needs to vote out any bills by the end of the week for them to have a prayer of making it to the finish line. It is ‘cross […]
To the editor: Seeking school board seat to support strong, equitable, accessible education
On March 5, I officially applied by email to serve on the Green Mountain Union School District Board seat left vacant by Casey Leahy’s resignation. I am seeking this opportunity because I believe that supporting a strong, equitable, and accessible public education system is one of the most important responsibilities a community holds. School boards […]
Chester Select Board agenda for March 4
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday March 4, 2026 at Town Hall, 556 Elm Street and via Zoom. Below is its agenda 1. Reorganization of the Board 2. Approval of Minutes of February 18, 2026 Select board Meeting and February 18, 2026 Special Select board Meeting 3. […]
College News
Bobby Stevenish III of Stratton has been named to the Dean’s List of St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., for the fall 2025 semester. Stevenish, who attended the Stratton Mountain School, is a member of the Class of 2026 and is majoring in political science. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must […]
To the editor: Chester school board hopefuls claim to be nonpolitical; don’t believe them
When I vote in Cavendish tomorrow, I’ll have several things in mind regarding the school budget and the school board. I cannot cast a vote for Chester’s representatives to the GMUSD school board, yet Chester votes have an outsized impact on the schools and towns in our district. In turn, your decisions impact the social […]
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, […]
Jerry Friant, 94, of Shelburne, formerly of Landgrove
Ray J. (Jerry) Friant, of Shelburne, suddenly and unexpectedly entered eternity on Jan. 30, 2026, just two weeks short of his 95th birthday. He leaves behind his wife of over 70 years, Emmy Lu (Reich), daughters Pamela Friant Foley (John) of Warren, N.J., Wendy Friant of Charlotte, Vt., son Douglas Friant, of South Londonderry, Vt., […]
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. […]