All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: We don’t need a King Donald
Elon Musk and his 20-something year-old code writers are having a field day dismantling their favorite bogeyman, the Deep State, otherwise known as the Civil Service. Several million federal workers were bullied into accepting a questionable “deferred resignation” or face being summarily fired. Musketeers now have access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, which disperses […]
Op-ed: Clark sues to block Trump actions
By Charity Clark Vermont Attorney General In the chaos of President Trump’s first three weeks in office, I sued on behalf of Vermont to block unconstitutional or illegal actions. President Trump’s executive orders and early actions reflect his campaign promises and dark view of the state of the union. Unfortunately, at least three of these […]
Op-ed: Be brave little state, defend public education
By John Castle Gov. Phil Scott has provided his shock and aw-shucks proposal for rescuing taxpayers and claiming to improve education along the way. Finding renewed hubris with the “red wave” of new Republicans in the State House and Democrats running scared, Gov. Scott is seizing the opportunity with a misguided overhaul of our public […]
To the editor: Share Heat fundraiser for Family Center an encouraging community event
It was encouraging to participate in the Share Heat fundraiser at Vermont Vines last Saturday, where dozens of people came together to raise money for the Chester-Andover Family Center. As the press release in The Chester Telegraph explained, the money will be available to local residents who have trouble paying their heating bills. It was […]
To the editor: A teacher’s view: Vermont legislature needs to ban cellphones from schools
I am a science teacher at Green Mountain UHS in Chester. I urge you to support the Phone- and Social Media-Free Schools bill in the legislature (H.54 and S.21). When I first heard of such a bill, I thought it was over the top. But, I read the testimony from last session, reflected on my […]
To the editor: Cavendish Streetscapes’ flower boxes vandalized
What is wrong with this picture to the right? There is only one flower box instead of three along the Depot Street bridge in Proctorsville. The missing boxes were smashed and tossed into the frozen river and looking over the railing, you can see the evidence of this crime. With generous support from the community, […]
Op-ed: The education fund, taxes and tax rates
By Layne Millington Superintendent, Two Rivers Supervisory Union As we look at the coming school year, it is crucial to understand the impact of last year’s legislated changes to education funding that lead to budget failures across the state. This was the first time that most Vermonters experienced such an unprecedented increase in taxes, and […]
Op-ed: Who funds local candidates?
By Madeline Bodin The candidates we elected to the state legislature are getting down to business in Montpelier, but it’s not too soon to learn from the last election. While the next two-year state election cycle has already officially begun, we can expect campaign signs to pop up on lawns again in about 18 months. […]
To the editor: Rep. Morrow: Trump tariffs to impact local home-building, food costs
This week, Gov. Phil Scott presented his budget proposal for the next fiscal year and we heard more details on his education system overhaul plan. In addition, there was much discussion around the impacts of President Trump’s policies on Vermonters – both the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China and his freezing (and possibly eliminating) […]
To the editor: Chester zoning law still allows extraction too close for comfort
We were glad to see the article in The Chester Telegraph reporting on Chester’s rezoning issues. (Chester board OKs rural zoning changes, Jan. 7, 2025) While much of the talk was centered on setbacks, extraction with a 100-foot setback remains in the newly named Rural-3, which is approximately 60% of Chester. From speaking with friends […]
To the editor: Chester Democratic Committee played no part in recent dust up
The Chester Telegraph’s editorial about local Democrats “kicking up dust over a MAGA event” was surprising to members of the Chester Democratic Committee. (Dems kick up some dust over a MAGA event, Jan. 10, 2025) The editorial mentions “a local Democratic social media site.” The Chester Democratic Committee, however, has no social media site of […]
Op-ed: The Vermont House Ethics report is out and there’s nothing to see here, really
By John Walters ©2025 Vermont Political Observer Last week, the Vermont House Ethics Panel issued its annual report — and provided its annual reminder that the Legislature’s ethics process is meant to serve its members, not the public interest. The entire report occupies less than half a page of copy. Three paragraphs, 11 lines, 123 […]
To the editor: Ludlow-Mount Holly community urged to attend special school board meeting
Dear Ludlow-Mount Holly Community, We are reaching out to invite you to a special meeting of the Ludlow-Mount Holly school board at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the Mount Holly Elementary School. The meeting will be held in person and will also be accessible by the following Zoom link: https://trsu.zoom.us/j/86535498062 Due to the […]
To the editor: Rep. Morrow pushes to end state Social Security tax, student cellphones in schools
The first week of the legislative session included swearing in us newbies, the governor’s inaugural address and the assignment of committees. Most of our time as state representatives is spent in our committees taking testimony and discussing policy. I have been assigned the Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee, which considers matters relating to energy, utilities, […]
Editorial: Dems kick up some dust over a MAGA event
By Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Words matter and so do the reactions to those words. And because of both of those, we have a bit of a dust-up over what exactly is happening at the beloved and historic Fullerton Inn in Chester. Has it gone “full MAGA” as one local Democrat is suggesting? […]
Column: Music on a frigid night warms the soul
By Luna Burkland ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC On this freezing Sunday night, just three days before Christmas, tucked away in the Peru Congregational Church, concert-goers young and old experienced the joyful sounds of Ida Mae Specker, Emily Burkland, Faith Wood and Mowgli Giannitti. The four, informally known as Ida Mae and Friends when they perform […]
To the editor: Vermont education funding needs repair
As a parent of two children attending Compass School, an independent school in Westminster, I am writing to share my story with the hope of raising awareness, advocating for systemic change, and securing funding for children from low-income families. I firmly believe that every child should have access to funding that follows them to the […]
Op-ed: It’s time to move Chester’s revised zoning bylaws forward
By Tim Roper The Chester Select Board finds itself in an unfortunate state of disagreement with regard to moving the work of our Planning Commission forward. During the Sept. 18 and Oct. 16 public hearing to adopt proposed changes to the zoning bylaws, the Select Board heard objections from a few households regarding implementing a […]
To the editor: Rep.-elect Morrow on projected property tax hike
The Vermont Tax Commissioner has released his annual estimate of what our average statewide property tax will be next year, based on expected revenues, expected property values, the budgets school boards are proposing to local voters, and other currently existing costs in the education fund. The letter projects a 5.9% property tax increase. While it […]
To the editor: Chester development would create many problems for full-time residents
My concerns are the zoning law changes to smaller lots in Chester. The new revision of zoning laws for acre reduction to lots for development off Putnam Hill Road in Chester on an 8+ acre lot for new homes has been approved by Chester planning and zoning. Despite objection by surrounding homeowners. My understanding on […]
