Author Archive for The Chester Telegraph
Op-ed: Protect voting by rejecting the SAVE Act
By Sue Racanelli President League of Women Voters of Vermont On April 10, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, H.R.22, passed the U.S. House and is on its way to the Senate. The League of Women Voters of Vermont opposes the SAVE Act because it would require all Vermont citizens registering to vote or updating […]
College News
Jonathan Griffin of West Townshend, a senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., was hired before graduation as a administrative innkeeper at Windham Hill Inn in West Townshend. Griffin also was among over 590 Bob Jones University students named to the spring 2025 President’s List, which recognizes […]
Land use board to hold public session May 22 on Act 250 and critical natural resource areas
The Vermont Land Use Review Board is hosting a public engagement session to gather input on planned expansions of the Act 250 permit program aimed at ensuring better protection of critical natural resource areas. The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 and welcomes both in-person and remote participation. […]
Shawn Augustine Merrick, 74, formerly of Chester
Shawn Augustine Merrick died on March 3, 2025, following a long illness. He was born to Augustine and Genevieve (Bartley) Merrick on May 13, 1950, in Bellows Falls and attended school in Chester. Shawn served in the 101st Airborne (Airmobile) U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was wounded the day after his 19th birthday […]
SoVera to host talk by noted Dartmouth scientist May 15
Southern Vermont Astronomy Group is sponsoring a talk by Dartmouth physics and astronomy professor Dr. Robyn Millan at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 at Horowitz Performing Arts Hall on the campus of the Vermont Academy, 10 Long Walk, in Saxtons River. Millan will be discussing, “Remotely Sensing Earth’s Magnetosphere Using Energetic Particles.” According to […]
To the editor: Did Bill Schubart have a change of heart?
Bill Schubart is a lifelong progressive Democrat. (Chester Telegraph, April 21, 2025, Op-ed: Where are our once vibrant towns?) In 2011m he was a keynote speaker at an education conference I attended, sponsored by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and the Vermont Superintendents Association. This was held at the South Burlington High School. […]
Andover Select Board agenda for May 12
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday May 12 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 March 24th meeting. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes per […]
To the editor: Former Vermont lawmakers say education reform bill weakens system
More than 50 years ago, Vermont recognized the hardship faced by homeowners whose property taxes were rising faster than their ability to pay them. Since then, state fiscal policy has moved, in fits and starts, toward a system where school taxes are based on Vermonters’ income, the best measure of their ability to pay. We, […]
May Day protest attracts 250+, some counter protesters
On Thursday afternoon, May 1, the Chester Green was — as it had been a month ago — lined with anti-Trump demonstrators carrying signs, waving at drivers and listening to speakers who, for this May Day celebration, emphasized the importance of workers and unions in building the American middle class. May Day is an international […]
To the editor: GM middle schoolers do their part on Green Up Day
On Friday, May 2, close to 80 7th and 8th graders of Green Mountain Middle School participated in Vermont Green Up Day. Students spent a few hours on Green Mountain Turnpike and Popple Dungeon Road collecting discarded litter. Students collected hundreds of bottles and cans as well as plastic containers, car parts, a dozen tires […]
Chester Select Board agenda for May 7
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday May 7, 2025 at Town Hall and via Zoom. To join the meeting go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81988842129 Below is the board’s agenda. 1. Approval of Minutes from the Selectboard Meeting dated April 16, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Review/Recommendation […]
To the editor: Bellows Falls Trump, DOGE protest attracts more than 485
Saturday, April 19 was an amazing day in Bellows Falls with over 485 people lining the streets protesting the actions of President Donald J. Trump. Despite the rain, protesters came from Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Chester, Springfield, Brattleboro, Westminster and Claremont, N.H. The man from Claremont came dressed in a kilt and carried the […]
Richard ‘Dick’ Adams, 84, of Landgrove
Richard Holbrook Adams, “Dick” to his family and friends, died unexpectedly March 31, 2025 at the age of 84. He was born June 15, 1940 in Stamford, Conn., the son of Robert Morton Adams and Mercedes Cullinan. Dick grew up in New Canaan, the second of four children. He graduated from Westminster School and Williams […]
Op-ed: Do Vermonters want radical change in education?
By Jack Hoffman Now that the state House of Representatives has passed an education reform plan, it will be easy to get bogged down in the minutiae that differentiate it from Gov. Phil Scott’s “Education Transformation Proposal.” But before Vermonters get lost in the weeds debating these proposals, they might want to ask themselves if […]
To the editor: The impacts of Trump tariffs are hitting Vermont
For anyone who thinks that what is happening in Washington isn’t having a profound effect on life in Vermont, think again. It began with neighbors being fired from USAID and has evolved into destabilizing commerce with Vermont’s biggest trade partner, Canada. In addition, President Trump’s irresponsible rhetoric about Canada is having a profoundly negative impact […]
Bill Schubart: Where are our once vibrant towns?
By Bill Schubart What are the cohesive elements in Vermont’s 247 towns and cities? What sustains their human connection, commerce, and community? Though born in New York City, I grew up in Morrisville from the age of 3. It was a small bustling town. On weekends, the daytime streets were filled with shoppers and timely […]
Celebration of Life for William Shelton Ballou set for May 24
The Celebration of Life for William Shelton Ballou, 85, a former Chester resident who died on March 4 at his home in Brazil, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 at Zion Episcopal Church, 5167 Main St. in Manchester. A private, family-only graveside burial service at Wallingford Cemetery will follow the Celebration […]
Ludlow resident, a fugitive from Brazil, arrested on federal firearms charges
By Mike Donoghue Vermont News First BURLINGTON An international fugitive, who is wanted on a child rape charge in Brazil and has lived in the United States unlawfully for more than four years, has been arrested in Windsor County on federal firearms charges after a series of gun incidents, officials said this week. Gabriel Lopes […]
Nora E. ‘Bonnie’ Watters, 85, of Chester
Nora E. Watters, known as “Bonnie,” aged 85, of Chester passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025. Born on December 7, 1939, in Franklin, N.J., to Francis Patrick Edwards and Lorena Jennings Edwards. She was a wife, mother, and dollmaker, mover, shaker, connector and creator, offering her unique essence into all the lives she touched, […]
James ‘Jack-Jimmy-Jim’ Daniels, 66, of Springfield
James “Jack-Jimmy-Jim” Daniels of Springfield passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Dartmouth Hitchock Medical Center following a hard-fought battle with cancer. Jim was born on Nov. 4, 1958, to Melville and Joan Daniels of Chester. He was the cherished youngest sibling to sisters Joyce, Irene and Audrey. The girls, who had lost […]
