All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: Vote Stern for governor, for schools
According to the chief education bureaucrat in Montpelier — Gov. Phil Scott — in 1997, there were 104,000 students in Vermont’s preK-12 schools. Today, Vermont has 75,000 students. That number is predicted to fall to 69,000 in the next five years and, by 2030, fall again to 65,000. 1997 was the year that ACT 60, […]
To the editor: Rep. Pajala announces run
I am proud and excited to announce that I will be running for state representative as an Independent this November. It has been an honor to work on behalf of Jamaica, Londonderry, Stratton, Weston and Winhall for the last six months and I hope that the community will entrust me with that responsibility in the […]
To the editor: Andover families decry spotty GM bus service as ‘unacceptable’
We, the parents and taxpayers of Bus #4 (the “Andover” school bus) want to make all of you aware of a disservice being done to the families who live in Andover, the outer edge of Chester, and Londonderry. Since mid-April there has been only sporadic school bus service to Andover, Londonderry, Potash Brook Road and […]
To the editor: GM Interact Club grateful for help to fund Nicaragua trip
Nine members of the Chester Rotary Interact Club at Green Mountain Union High School spent the 2018 February break in Nicaragua engaged in service work. The participants included Magali Stowell-Alemán, Sierra Kehoe, Sadie Wood, Noelle Gignoux, Mary Churchill, Pearl Myers, Zoe Svec, Erik Heitsmith, all of GMUHS, and Hannah Fleming, a Chester resident enrolled at […]
To the editor: Chester Snowmobile Club thanks landowners for trail access
The Chester Snowmobile Club maintains more than 60 miles of VAST snowmobile trails running through Chester and the surrounding towns. We love the town of Chester and, as a way to support the community annually, we make financial contributions to many local organizations. During the last meeting of the season, we recently voted to make […]
To the editor: Vote yes on the GMUSD budget
Dear Community Members: Thank you to everyone who participated in the effort to refine the 2018-2019 Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) budget. The board voted almost unanimously to put forth this budget to the legal voters, and feels that it is reflective of community goals for our students. In summary, this proposed budget totals […]
Bill Schubart: ‘Vermont Life’s’ heedless death
By Bill Schubart This commentary first aired on VPR I grew up reading Vermont Life in the fifties and continued reading it until shortly after the turn of the century. It always had a prominent place in our home, moving quarterly from the coffee table to the bathroom magazine rack – where its continued perusal […]
To the editor: Gordon Scholarship thanks all who helped with fund-raiser
It was a fantastic Cinco De Mayo night at the Chester American Legion, and the Heath Gordon Scholarship Fund has a ton of people to thank for their 5th annual fundraiser. The fund was able to add thousands to their bank account Saturday night and excited about putting it to good use. All proceeds will […]
To the editor: BR school group gets 501c3 status Seeks more community input for new independent school
The Ludlow-based Black River Independent School Committee recently became recognized as an official tax-exempt organization, gaining 501c3 status through the IRS. The group is currently in the process of completing the application to submit to the Vermont Board of Education to establish Black River Academy, an independent school serving grades 7-12 in Ludlow and Mount […]
To the editor: Housing Trust aids homeowners with repairs
At the Chester Select Board meeting on May 2, AmeriCorps service member Daphne Okumus presented information about Windham & Windsor Housing Trust’s Green Mountain Home Repair program. “The Green Mountain Home Repair program provides low cost loans and construction management to residents in Windham and Windsor counties,” Okumus told the board. “These loans have a […]
Commentary: Rep. Bock highlights notable bills
By Rep. Tom Bock We’re into the last two weeks of the 2018 legislative session in Montpelier, always a chaotic time. Pressure is building to get bills through the before adjournment. The House and Senate need to reconcile differences on bills affecting funding for education and clean water as well as many other issues. Following […]
To the editor: Chester family needs medical help for soon-to-be-born baby
My name is Scott Boucher and my wife is Stacey Sanderson. She is a Chester native, and I am a longtime transplant from Burlington. Our oldest daughter Anya is a second grader at CAES, and we are proud of our town. Chester is a wonderful, safe and close-knit community, and we have seen the residents […]
To the editor: CTES Petition organizers thank communities
To the communities of Cavendish, Chester, Andover, Baltimore, Ludlow and Mt. Holly: We want to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for supporting our petition to reinstate the position of Cavendish Town Elementary School principal as full-time and permanent. We had received 401 signatures including residents of all the towns that make up the Two […]
To the editor: GM Iron Chefs serve winning recipe at State House
We are pleased and proud to announce that one of our winning teams of this year’s Jr. Iron Chef competition was invited to the Vermont State House to witness the reading of a Jr Iron Chef Vt resolution, to be recognized by their representatives in the House chamber and then to cook their award-winning recipes […]
To the editor: GM students pioneer French exchange program
This year, nine students and two faculty members of Green Mountain Union High School pioneered an exchange program with Lycée St. Joseph La Pommeraye, a high school in France. The 2018 St. Joseph La Pommeraye Exchange Program was an opportunity for GM students to better understand French culture and gain fluency in French language through […]
To the editor: Family Center thanks businesses for help during prom outfit sale
On April 4, 2018, area teens and parents converged on the Chester-Andover Family Center for prom shopping. Shoppers tried on multiple dresses from our selection of over 200 long and short gowns. Once the perfect dress was found, the girls selected accessories to match. Guys also had a large selection of suits and tuxedos to […]
To the editor: Principal Ferenc invites parents to Proficiency Based Education meeting
Dear Green Mountain Parents, Students and Guardians, I am writing this letter to invite you to an informational presentation on Proficiency Based Education, to be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in the Green Mountain Union High School’s Library Learning Commons. We will open the meeting in the LLC with a brief overview […]
Commentary: Get to know Grace Cottage
By Rep. Kelly Pajala The legislature meets Tuesday through Friday, so Mondays are often the one weekday during sessions when legislators have the opportunity to spend time back in their home districts. Last Monday, in the midst of my brain being consumed by the battle over gun control and school safety, I literally went out […]
To the editor: Make your voice heard
Chester and Andover residents, I invite you to participate in a brief, four question research survey about Community and Youth in Chester and Andover, Vermont. I am an Andover resident, an early childhood educator and graduate student at Goddard College. The survey should take 3 to 5 minutes and will be up online until April […]
To the editor: Watershed Alliance thanks communities for support
The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance wants to sincerely thank the following communities and their citizens for supporting our efforts to monitor the waterways of our area: Brattleboro, Brookline, Dummerston, Jamaica, Londonderry, Newfane, Putney, Townshend and Wardsboro. Your support of our organization demonstrates your desire and commitment for our stream to be checked regularly throughout the […]
