Author Archive for The Chester Telegraph
College News
Grace Tyrrell of Cavendish received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the 75th Commencement of Stonehill College, in Easton, Mass., on Sunday, May 17. Grayson Frazer of Springfield has earned a degree in Exercise Science from Trine University in Angola, Ind. The following full-time undergraduate students have earned placement on the spring 2026 President’s List […]
To the editor: We must make Vermont survivable for our youth, families
I am a proud mom of four — and all of my children have left Vermont to pursue careers and opportunities that aren’t available here at home. My kids are doing exactly what they should be doing — exploring the world and finding what works for them. But my kids are hardly alone — this […]
Grafton man sentenced to six years in jail on drug, firearm charges
©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Terry Russ, 43, of Grafton, was sentenced on Wednesday, May 27, in U.S. District Court in Rutland to 72 months’ in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking […]
Op-ed: When leaders listen to their constituents
By Nicholas Boke ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Where are the leaders who listen? The Educational Forum held in the Springfield High auditorium held on Monday, May 11, focused on Vermont’s current effort to reform statewide education. It involved state legislators, local educators and Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders. The forum was “designed to provide […]
Vandal spray paints anti-Israel sentiments on Cavendish business Police report incident to Atty Gen as 'possible hate crime'
© 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Someone vandalized a Cavendish business with graffiti expressing support for Palestinians and disdain for Israel early this morning, according to the Vermont State Police. A little before 2 a.m. on Wednesday, someone using purple spray paint wrote “Free Palestine” and an obscenity toward Israel on the front windows of DG […]
Chester Select Board and Sewer Commissioners agendas for May 20
The Chester Select Board and the Sewer Commissioners will meet one after the other on Wednesday, May 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meetings will take place at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and on Zoom, which you can access by clicking here. Below are the agendas. SELECT BOARD 1. Approval of Minutes of […]
West River Farmers Market opens May 23 40 vendors to fill Williams Park in Londonderry
The West River Farmers Market will make its 2026 season debut from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. This vibrant market, one of the oldest and largest in the state with more than 40 vendors, is located at the Williams Park at the junction of Route 11 and Route 100 in Londonderry. […]
Windsor man sentenced to 4+ years as felon with firearms
A 31-year-old Windsor County man has been sentenced to 53 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms. On Friday, May 8, Kyle Pickett, 31, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss in Burlington. According to court records, on Nov. 25, […]
Food Shelf at Family Center closed this week
The Chester Andover Family Center Food Shelf, 908 VT-103 in Chester, will be closed this week due to insulation work in the building. The Food Shelf is usually open from 1 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, but must close on Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15 […]
Forum on education transformation bill set for May 11 at Springfield H.S.
Community members are invited to attend an upcoming educational forum focused on Vermont’s current education transformation legislation, H 955. The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11 at the Springfield High School Auditorium, 303 South St. in Springfield. The forum is designed to provide clear, up-to-date information on the […]
College News
Grace Tyrrell of Cavendish, a member of Stonehill College’s Class of 2026, was recently inducted into Lambda Epsilon Sigma, the honor society at the Easton, Mass., college. The organization recognizes outstanding juniors and seniors who have demonstrated an excitement for learning and sharing their knowledge. Also, Tyrrell was recently honored with a certificate of achievement […]
Chester Select Board agenda for May 6
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and remotely via Zoom. Below is its agenda. 1. Approval of Minutes of April 15, 2026 Select Board Meeting 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Green Mountain Power Upgrades; Tim Jones 5. […]
To the editor: Brickner says he’ll fight for housing affordability, a reformed Act 181
I am running for Vermont Senate in the Windsor District. When my wife and I put down roots in Windsor County, we were looking for something that has become hard to find: a place to raise a family and belong to a real community. We found it here. For seven years I’ve served my neighbors, […]
Op-ed: Keep our schools to keep our town
By Carl Henshaw ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC At a recent Chester Planning Commission meeting, Kellen Appleton and Allison Hopkins from the Mount Ascutney Regional Commission shared a statistic that stopped me cold. Chester’s average age is rising one year for every two that pass. At that pace, within 30 years, our average resident will be […]
GMUSD budget re-vote informational meeting May 5
The Green Mountain Union School District will hold a informational meeting regarding the District’s school budget ahead of a May 12 re-vote at 6 p.m. on May 5, 2026 at Green Mountain Union High School, 716 Route 103 south in Chester and remotely via Zoom. Below is the board’s agenda: I. Call to Order II. […]
June Swomley, 92, of Connecticut and Chester
June Kutchera Swomley, of Bloomfield, Conn., died on Monday, April 13, at the age of 92. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, James “Jim” Swomley, in 2021. They both received wonderful care from the staff at Caleb Hitchcock, Duncaster’s Memory Care Unit, for a number of years. June was born in Bismarck, N.D., daughter […]
Andover Select Board agenda for April 27
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27 at the Andover 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 April 13th meeting. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes per visitor, […]
From the editor: Speaker Krowinski has an epiphany
By Cynthia Prairie ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC If you were having trouble putting your finger on that one thing that bugs you about the Whiz Kids on the Winooski (aka the Vermont legislature) you only have to read the recent apologia of House Speaker Jill Krowinski concerning the ill-considered Act 181. But first, let’s recap […]
To the editor: GM schools face a disturbing trend of non-acceptance
The GMUSD superintendent suggests that the school board consider a “flag policy” and further suggests that the policy includes limiting classroom materials that do not relate directly to school curricula. At the most recent school board meeting a Chester resident suggested that classrooms should be inspected to see if they include LGBTQ+ or Black Lives […]
Part 3: Disability Rights: Building a Vermont for everyone
By Anne Henshaw ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC If housing, healthcare, and transportation determine whether disabled Vermonters can live in community, public education determines whether they were ever fully a part of their community to begin with. For many disabled children, school is their first public community. It is the first place where systems affirm their […]