All Entries in the "Latest News" Category
Blue rally, red rally on the Chester Green Festive No Kings protest draws close to 600; more subdued GOP event follows with 80
By Shawn Cunningham and Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC On a picture perfect October Saturday, two polarized political factions shared Chester’s Green – at different times – to hold peaceful rallies with very different vibes and vastly different numbers in attendance. The Green was already crowded by the 10:30 a.m. start time for Chester’s […]
Londonderry residents continue debate over future of Williams Dam
By Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC For years, Londonderry residents have been arguing over the dam at the West River at Route 11, which for some is a much needed fire pond as well bucolic spot. The state, town government and other residents, however, see it as a festering problem that is best addressed […]
Tempest in a coffee cup? Area micro-roasters face harsh brew of tariffs, other price increases Earlier price hike, bulk buying spares customers for now
By Lorien Strange ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC You may have noticed that your bag of fresh roasted coffee has been taking a bigger chunk out of your wallet lately. Or you may just be wondering just when those tariff-induced price hikes are going to kick in. The good news is that four local coffee micro-roasters […]
Windsor GOP elects Spaulding of Chester as chair; Saturday event on Green features four speakers
The Windsor County GOP elected Chester resident Roy Spaulding its chairman during its reorganizational meeting, held on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Windsor Welcome Center. According to a press release, it was a standing room only crowd, and also in attendance were Vermont Republican Party chair Paul Dame as well as Rachel Burgin, regional director […]
Chester solons get Class 4 earful
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC As the Chester Select Board wordsmithed a final version of its policy on the maintenance and use of Class 4 highways at its Oct. 1 meeting, two landowners addressed objections – not to the policy in general – but to how it impacts their properties specifically. Board […]
E-Court rejects Julian Quarries appeal of ‘stop work’ order
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC On Sept. 30, Environmental Court Judge Joseph S. McLean sided with Vermont’s Land Use Review Board — and by extension a number of Chester residents — by rejecting Julian Materials’ appeal of the board’s “stop work” order at its three Gassetts Quarries. The LURB posted its stop […]
Andover Select Board agenda for Oct. 13
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Oct. 13 at the Town Office, 953 Weston-Andover Road. The board’s agenda is below. 1. Call Meeting to Order. 2. Act on Agenda. 3. Act on Minutes of September 22 nd & 29th meetings. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes […]
Chester Dems sponsor No Kings Day Oct. 18
On Saturday, Oct. 18 residents of Chester and neighboring towns will gather together for No Kings Day, a nationwide day of protest. Join us on the Chester Village Green from 10:30 a.m. to noon as across our nation Americans take action to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like. The billionaires […]
Act 181 is coming: How will it affect your property? Details of this Act 250 reform are being defined as law is rolled out
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC In 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 181 that makes a number of changes to the state’s laws on land use with special attention to encouraging new housing in downtowns. But there may also be changes to the way rural land is treated and landowners should pay […]
Springfield Microtransit pilot program delayed
Southeast Vermont Transit, also known as SEVT and the MOOver, is delaying the start date of its Springfield Microtransit pilot. Originally scheduled for early September, the project’s main funding grant agreement and a Notice to Proceed to spend grant funds has not been executed. The three-year $282,000 grant was awarded in July, but the grant […]
Is Chester’s long-delayed sidewalk project in the Depot finally a go?
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Children in second grade at Chester-Andover Elementary today had not been born when the Town received an $800,000 grant to build a sidewalk from Bargefrede Road at the lower portion of Depot Street to Town Hall. But after an eight-year delay that doubled the project’s cost, the […]
N.H. man sentenced to more than 6 years in prison for southern Vermont robbery spree
Christopher Boisvert of Swanzey, N.H., was sentenced on Tuesday, Sept. 30 by Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 74 months in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty in June to one count of robbing the TD Bank in Bellows Falls. He also stipulated to a second […]
Chester Select Board agenda for Oct. 1
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 1 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 September 17, 2025 2. Citizen’s Comments 3. Old Business 4. Coin Drop […]
Chester board talks Class 4 roads, economic development and flags Bill Dakin retires after 40 years as Town Moderator
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC In a relatively short meeting last Wednesday, the Chester Select Board covered a lot of territory including looking at forming an economic development commission and further refining the language of a policy on the maintenance and use of Class 4 roads. Economic Development Commission Town Manager Julie […]
Drought-stricken Vermont now under a burn ban
Starting at noon today, Monday, Sept. 22, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has issued an order for all Town Forest Fire Wardens to cease issuing burning permits. The order will remain in effect until it is revoked. The order may be revoked on a statewide basis or on a county-by-county basis, depending […]
Chester planners consider bylaw change to allow LED sign for GM, but zoning glitch may preclude it
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing On Monday evening, Chester’s Planning Commission got down to work on an issue that’s been on its radar for a while. That being “electric message display” signs or EMDs. The idea of such a sign for Green Mountain Union High School has been raised at past planning meetings […]
Chester Select Board agenda for Sept. 17
The Chester Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and via Zoom. To join the meeting go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81988842129 Below is its agenda 1. Approval of minutes from the Select Board meeting dated Sept. 3, 2025 and Special Select Board meeting dated […]
Chester GOP holds reorganization caucus Sept. 16 Other town GOP caucuses also set for late September
Registered voters of Chester are welcome to join the Chester Republican Committee in holding its Republican Town Re-Organization Caucus and Meeting, at 6 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 16 at the Fullerton Inn Meeting Room, 40 The Common, in Chester. The committee is electing seven officers/delegates and seven alternates to represent Chester, the largest Republican town committee […]
Andover Dems to hold reorganizing caucus
The Andover Democratic Committee is holding a reorganization caucus at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Andover Town Hall, 953 Weston-Andover Road. In Vermont, political parties must reorganize in September of every odd-numbered year. Parties organize by electing members at town caucuses, then sending representatives to county committees. County committees then send representatives […]
Chester board talks optional sales tax, Class 4 roads and 40-year-old money
By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Wednesday’s Select Board meeting agenda was heavy with discussion and pretty light on action items. And for long-time Chester board watchers it was like old times with multiple comments from former members Derek Suursoo and Bill Lindsay. Three agenda items came in for substantial discussion: a 1 […]
