All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the Editor: Democrats should have endorsed Sorrell
Dear Editor, We are appalled that the Democratic State Committee failed to endorse the Democratic candidate Bill Sorrell. Sorrell has served Vermont admirably for 15 years as our Attorney General and is a bona-fide Democrat. The party’s grounds for not endorsing Sorrell were that he did not call them on the phone to request that […]
A Tale of Two Towns: Chester PA & Chester VT
By Sandy Stiassni While I have childhood memories of Chester, VT as an exceptionally fine place to live, set apart from banal Big-Box retail communities that have come to comprise so much of small town and suburban life in America, I’ve known another Chester, in a different locale and with a different character. As a […]
Letter to the Editor: Thank you Chester for your support
Dear Chesterites, My business, Swiss Precision Remodeling, came to an immediate stand-still after I got diagnosed with Cancer in January. Now, 6 months and a big operation, followed by intensive chemo and radiation treatments later, I must thank you again, in public, for your support. My wife and I are deeply in your debt. Numerous […]
To the editor: The Rev. H. Paul Brannock-Wanter to retire
At its annual retreat in May, the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church leadership accepted the resignation and retirement of the Rev. H. Paul Brannock-Wanter, who has served the congregation for just over 10 years. In May of 2010, Father Paul’s anniversary of 25 years of ordained ministry was celebrated under the tent on the church lawn. […]
An unforgettable childhood in 1960s Chester
By Sandy Stiassni Like many New York Times readers, I read Abby Goodnough’s arresting article about the Dollar General plan to colonize Chester. It brought back treasured early youth snapshots. My grandparents were Chester residents. They become naturalized in the1940s, having emigrated as holocaust survivors from war-occupied Brno, now in Czech Republic. My grandfather, a […]
CVPS must repay ratepayers $21 million
By Leigh Dakin The repayment of the $21 million loan to CVPS from ratepayers has emerged as a hot issue in the closing days of this legislative session. Early on, I joined as a co-sponsor of the House bill to require this repayment. For me, this is a simple question of fairness and fulfilling a […]
To the Editor: An open letter to the Development Review Board
The process that began – for me at least – on July 25, 2011 with a hearing on subdividing the Zachary’s Pizza House property to build a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General is coming to a head. You, the members of Chester’s Development Review Board, will soon announce the results of your deliberations on the issue. Those […]
To the Editor: Mental Health Bill Welcomed
My perspective concerning mental health matters comes, firstly, as a family member of persons who fell into the public mental health system. It is also informed by my own experiences within the mental health system as well. In my view, when someone is experiencing a crisis of one fashion or another, including acute episodes of […]
Commentary: Vaccines can help keep rising health-care costs down
By Leigh Dakin Many issues that come before the State House require balancing personal freedoms against the public good. In areas that involve health, the public good includes who will pay the cost of medical treatment. Currently, the state and federal governments are the payers of last resort, but the current system is unsustainable. An […]
To the Editor: Constituents support cellphone ban
I recently distributed an informal poll, prepared by state Sen. William Doyle, to my constituents in Andover, Baltimore and Chester to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts on various issues of statewide importance. An overwhelming majority of the Doyle Poll respondents in my district agreed that drivers should be prohibited from using cellphones […]
Happy Birthday ChesterVermont.org!
By Shawn Cunningham One year ago – a snowier Feb. 16th than today – Cynthia Prairie and I set up our computer in the meeting room behind Bret and Nancy Rugg’s office at the Fullerton Inn. Deb Shelby, our web developer, arrived and, while we arranged some chairs, she configured the projector for our show. […]
VIEWPOINT: Would a Mercantile Suffice?
By Shawn Cunningham We’ve been hearing many valid arguments for and against a Dollar General locating in Chester. One of the arguments for a national discount chain is that there is a need for such a store in town; that a number of our residents can’t or don’t wish to drive to Springfield or New […]
