All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: Thanks to all for making the Annual Senior Christmas Dinner a success
I would like to thank everyone who helped with the annual Chester Senior Christmas Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Chester-Andover Elementary School. Thanks to you, this free event was again a great success. It is truly a labor of love and shows in the smiles and laughter of all the workers and […]
To the editor: Two injured Proctorsville firefighters need community support
On Saturday Nov. 2, two members of the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department were injured, though not in the line of service. According to the fire department, “PFD received a tone for a man that was hit by a tree during logging operations. Ludlow Ambulance Service and PFD responded to find it was our 1st Lt. […]
Why Vermont needs a federal farm bill
By Ted Brady and Bob Paquin This fall, Congress has an important opportunity to create jobs and grow the economy by passing a long-term, comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill. The Vermont congressional delegation — Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch — are working hard to pass the Farm Bill […]
Festivals, foliage and a fond farewell from former Message editor Gary Band
From the editor: Former Message editor Gary Band asked The Chester Telegraph to run this column, knowing that he might not get the opportunity to say farewell to the many people who have touched his life since he first came into the area almost two years ago. We believe everyone deserves a voice, and we […]
To the editor: Thanks to all for a great Fall Festival in Chester
Everyone in the community helped make the 39th Fall Festival a great success! Sunny, warm weather with lots of blue sky allowed the crowd to enjoy the fine crafts displayed on the Green, to watch craftspeople demonstrating their skills, including an opportunity to try out Susan Leader’s potting wheel, and to sample a variety of […]
To the editor: New England congressional delegation opposes changes to clean air funding
All 20 of New England’s representatives in the U.S. House sent a letter to Gina McCarthy, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, expressing their concern that proposed funding changes to clean air programs would have a negative impact on the region. In June, the EPA announced changes to the way the agency plans to distribute […]
To the editor: Motion to terminate Rockingham Library director uncalled for
To the Board of Trustees of the Rockingham Free Public Library, I object to the recent motion to terminate our library director, Célina Houlné. Earlier in the year I heard that Houlné’s job performance was in question and I was shocked. Then, I found out about the claims that were being leveled against her. I’ve […]
To the editor: Does Dollar General fit in with Chester?
Have you been wondering and following why Chester has been targeted to allow a small box Dollar General store to be built across from the Country Girl Diner on our Main Street? As many of our good friends know, Bonnie and I have party status in the Act 250 hearing and the appeal process now […]
To the editor: The global economy affects Chester
This has been quite the story: The sleepy hamlet of Chester takes on globalism locally, the proverbial David & Goliath economic analogy. On one hand, it should be applauded that folks are protective of their township and its collective economic outlook. I wonder how we would fare if every small town across America expressed such […]
To the editor: A Dollar General for Chester?
Imagine a store next to the former Zachary Pizza restaurant but three times as large. Imagine a store that is a large rectangle, more than 9,000 square feet with the only natural light coming in the doorway. Imagine a parking lot in front and to the side. Imagine an attempt to have it look like […]
To the editor: Thank you GMUHS community
Thank you for supporting the Class of 2013 at its graduation ceremony on June 21, 2013. The Green Mountain Union High School campus was beautifully prepared and the ceremony went very well. Speeches by the valedictorian, Jess Ralston, and the salutatorian, Katie McNally, were heartfelt and delivered with passion. The graduation was well-attended and the […]
To the editor: Addiction recovery is possible
Lives will be saved by last week’s drug arrests by our public safety officers, and the community should be grateful for this intervention. Addiction is a progressive, life-threatening, often fatal disease. However, treatment is available. There is no cure, but long-lasting recovery is possible for all addicts. Many people first come to understand that they suffer from addiction when a major arrest occurs, as easy access to the addictive drug is interrupted. Symptoms of acute […]
To the editor: Good Neighbors thanks all who gave during food drive
The staff, volunteers and clients of the Black River Good Neighbor Services’ food shelf extend their thanks to all who participated in the U.S. Post Office’s 2013 Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive – the largest one-day food drive in the nation and probably in the world. Mail carriers for each of the towns and […]
To the editor: With a lot of volunteer help, Music in Meadow turns 11, raising $28,000 for Komen
When my husband and I moved to Chester in March 2001 on a very snowy day it was impossible to really appreciate the meadow we had acquired. By the middle of April, we were able to walk the property. As we were coming back to the house I mentioned to him what a great place […]
To the editor: VT lawmakers should not pass physician assisted suicide
Editor’s note: Here’s a link to the latest story on this issue from VTDigger.com. Passing S77, physician assisted suicide (misnamed “Patient Choice”) and calling suicide a legal medical treatment takes away patient choice from far many more Vermonters than it gives to those few who want to require others to bless and participate in the […]
Telegraph Poll: The Astronomical Observatory for Chester?
B ackground: The Southern Vermont Astronomy Group, also known as SoVerA, proposed to donate an observatory building and telescope to Chester for use by the public. SoVerA would maintain and staff the observatory while the town would put in-kind services and $7,000 toward installation. In the end, the Select Board determined that it could not […]
To the editor: Solar farm aesthetics leave much to be desired
Regarding the solar farm — those of us in Chester need to better understand the benefits the town would accrue from this. Would the financial benefits be shared with the taxpayers? Another concern is the aesthetic look of solar farms. It’s like those wind farms that do not fit with the character of Vermont. If […]
Rep. Dakin seeks your input on end of life, GMOs, early education and child-care issues
Clearly, End of Life Care legislation — where terminally ill patients with less than six months to live can request a prescription for drugs that they can self-administer to end their lives — will be a major issue in the State House in the final eight weeks of the session. I’d like your opinion: Do […]
To the Editor: Vote yes for kids
The Green Mountain Union High School Board respectfully requests your support of the FY 2013-14 budget on Town Meeting Day. The budget proposal to be voted on Town Meeting Day represents a decrease in the amount to be raised by taxes of 1.73%, largely due to revenues that will offset increased expenditures. Our estimated education […]
Time to vote
The Norman Rockwell image is that Vermont governments are supremely open and Vermonters ensure that openness through hearty civic participation through institutions like Monday’s annual Town Meeting and Tuesday’s Election Day. That belief is reinforced each March by national media reports that tell of the quaintness and fervor of Vermont’s Town Meeting day. So, it’s […]
