All Entries in the "Letters to the Editor" Category
To the editor: Politicians should pay the price for Good, Pretti’s deaths at the ballot box
On Jan. 13, amid widespread killings of demonstrators in Iran, President Trump posted on Truth Social “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.” However, Trump justified the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, falsely claiming she “willfully and viciously” […]
To the editor: Area residents protest U.S. action against Venezuela
On Saturday afternoon, Jan. 17, more than 50 residents of Chester, Ludlow, Bellows Falls, Rockingham, Grafton and other neighbors braved the snowstorm to participate in the worldwide Global Day of Action: No War for Oil. We protested the Trump regime’s illegal military attack against Venezuela and threats of violence against Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Iran and […]
To the editor: Vermont religious leaders call for justice for Renee Good
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8 RANDOLPH The Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ raises our prophetic voice to speak out against the escalation […]
To the editor: Chester Christmas Committee thanks community for holiday participation
The newly formed Christmas in Chester Committee would like to extend our heartfelt and sincere gratitude to everyone who helped bring the holiday spirit to Chester this season. From generous donations of time and money to encouragement, creativity, and participation, this celebration truly reflected the strength of our community. We thank the local businesses who […]
To the editor: How and what to donate to the Thrift Shop at CAFC
As we welcome the start of a new year, many of us feel the familiar pull to organize, refresh our homes and clear space for what’s next. The Chester-Andover Family Center, located at 908 VT-103 in Chester, is deeply grateful that you think of the Thrift Shop when deciding where your gently used items should […]
To the editor: Family Center thanks all who helped make Empty Bowl Dinner a success
On behalf of the Chester-Andover Family Center, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Empty Bowls event in early November possible. To all our attendees, sponsors, donors, and volunteers: your generosity, time, food, auction items, gift baskets and presence are what bring this event to life year after […]
To the editor: Thanks to the ‘village,’ another successful Senior Dinner is served
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but truth be known, it also takes a small town to prepare and serve a wonderful holiday meal to a group of Chester and Andover senior citizens. Many hands make light work, for sure. Thank you to the fantastic folks that made that dinner possible. […]
To the editor: Citizens must regain control of democracy
Democracy is not a self-driving car and we, as citizens, must not sit in the back seat bracing for a wreck. The majority of Americans oppose cruel policies and violent arrests of hard working immigrants and efforts to deny those most vulnerable access to healthcare, housing and food support. The majority of Americans are repulsed […]
To the editor: An Athens couple shows the world how to care for neighbors
Many initiatives, both small and large, individual and collective, ramped up across the state and the country to combat the sudden hunger crisis caused by the loss of SNAP benefits at the start of November. Here in Athens, Krista Gay and her husband Christian Rogerson, started their own Free Food Pantry at the bottom of […]
To the editor: Londonderry Rescue holds annual banquet to honor community, volunteers
The Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad was held Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Landgrove Inn. There were 60 members and family attending. Hilary Dahlstrom presented the LVRS Community Award to Neighborhood Connections. It was graciously received by Executive Director Thom Simmons. Jeff DiStasio had the privilege to present the William Cobb Sr. Award to Doug Friant […]
To the editor: Education and healthcare crises are inextricably linked
We encourage all school workers, community members, parents and students to share their thoughts around school district consolidation with the Redistricting Task Force, assigned to create the new district maps per Education Reform Act 73. The Task Force recently held four public hearings that gave the opportunity to provide feedback on the creation of three […]
To the editor: A provocateur comes to Chester
On Saturday, Oct. 18, at the GOP counter-rally to Chester’s No Kings protest in Chester, Hank Poitras stood in front of about 60 people and did what he always does: sold himself. If you don’t know him, Poitras runs a brand called Planet Hank out of Brattleboro — part podcast, part “news” channel, part traveling […]
To the editor: Stand up for the Land of the Free
Our national anthem ends with a question: “Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Are we still the land of the free when the president can deploy federal troops to states that do not want them under the phony pretext that […]
To the editor: Pennells announce closing of Smokeshire Design, but sales and party first!
Dear friends, family and customers of Smokeshire Design, Eight years ago, on Thanksgiving weekend, Smokeshire Design opened its doors. Simon Pearce glass, Hugh Pennell furniture, Andrew Pearce bowls and many beautiful home goods, jewelry and gift items became the background for our adventure into the world of retail. Hugh and I have met so many […]
To the editor: Better investment choices would have boosted Cyprus Mineral Fund
On Sept. 10, 2025, you reported on the Select Board discussions regarding the potential uses for the Cyprus Mineral Fund. It is clear that it will be up to the Select Board to decide what the best use of the funds will be. I would like to point out however, that the historical stewardship of […]
To the editor: The truth that Truth Social denies
On July 7, Jibia Tusifu, age 10, died in the Congo because the richest country in world history withheld a $2 mosquito net. Trump’s cancellation of USAID funds prevented her destitute family from replacing their torn net and Jibia contracted malaria. Due to U.S. aid cuts, the local health clinic had no medicine to control […]
To the editor: Let Vermont politics remain civil
The recent murder of Charlie Kirk is a stark and tragic reminder of just how fragile our democracy and our civil society can be when disagreements cross the line into violence. Let me be clear: I fundamentally reject much of the rhetoric Kirk stood for. His words often carried racism, homophobia, and misogyny views that […]
To the editor: Secretary of State lying about election security
In a recent radio interview, our Secretary of State, Sara Copland Hanzas, painted a dishonestly rosy picture of Vermont’s current elections system. She responded to the host’s question about potential “ballot stuffing” by saying, “We have very detailed election procedures that our town and city clerks follow to a T, which means that whether they’re […]
To the editor: Solar proposal a sign of Chester’s, state’s progress
Solar technology has become a frequent target in the Trump era culture wars with most of the attacks including misinformation or disinformation. A recent comment in response to a Telegraph story about a proposed solar facility in Chester was no exception. An individual inferred that solar power is not needed in Vermont because our forests […]
To the editor: Londonderry Rescue warns that high temperatures are a continuing threat
With a month to six weeks more of potentially dangerous heat until fall, here is a brief discussion of heat illness and treatment. Heat illness can be a serious medical situation resulting from the body’s inability to cope with a high heat load. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two of the most common illnesses […]