All Entries in the "Featured" Category
Planning board makes a few changes to Chester zoning regs
By Cynthia Prairie There were few but nonetheless vocal members of the public at Monday evening’s Planning Commission 90-minute hearing to garner feedback on its proposals that, when approved, will create Chester’s first Unified Development Bylaws. Those bylaws revise and combine zoning regulations, subdivision regulations and flood hazard standards. Following Monday’s meeting, the five-member commission […]
Route 11 followups: Cleanup underway at gas tanker accident site; fire probe continues
9 .m. Wednesday, May 21: Gasoline from the accident has begun to reach the Williams River. Chester Fire and Police departments and the Springfield Fire department were on the scene putting down booms, as was homeowner Joel Brookes. The Agency of Natural Resources has been called to the scene. Read the update here. By Shawn […]
Developers outline new plan for Chester town solar farm
By Shawn Cunningham A new plan for the Chester town solar farm was unveiled Monday morning, as the Chester Select Board and about 10 residents gathered at the Jeffrey well site on Route 103 North to look at plans for the 500 mega kilowatt solar farm that will be built there – possibly as […]
An Epic prom 2014 for Green Mountain students
The theme for this year’s Green Mountain Union High School prom was Rustic Romance, and while everyone in attendance on Saturday night at the Epic restaurant at Okemo Mountain certainly dressed for a romantic mood, nary a one of the 70 or so students in attendance donned much that could be described as rustic. […]
A Photo Gallery: Crews work to right tractor-trailer in turnover
All photos by Shawn Cunningham. On the Cover: Damage is evident after the tractor-trailer was righted Friday evening. Here’s the link to the full story. We’ve updated the gallery with photos of crews righting the tractor-trailer Friday evening. Click a photo to launch gallery.
BREAKING: Tanker truck overturns at Route 11; eyewitness hears BOOM, sees sliding truck
UPDATE: 5:27 p.m. Click here for the photo gallery of the day’s events. UPDATE: 12:15 p.m. One school bus will be diverted from route. See bottom of story; UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.; UPDATE: 10:08 a.m.; UPDATE: 9:40 a.m. By Shawn Cunningham These are early reports meant to inform and help residents and drivers navigate throughout […]
Inmate transitional house proposed; water rates still up in air
By Shawn Cunningham Among several long time discussions – including water rates and the solar farm – Chester’s Select Board heard about a plan to place a transitional housing facility for up to three inmates in a house that is yet to be selected in Chester. Wendi Germain of the Springfield Justice Center appeared […]
An Analysis: Part 4: Chester’s proposed bylaws need further changes, enforcement
This is the last in a series of articles about the proposed Unified Development Bylaws, which revise and combine zoning regulations, subdivision regulations and flood hazard standards. Proposed changes will affect many landowners. At 7 p.m. Monday, May 19, the Chester Planning Commission will meet at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St., to hear […]
1822 Field Farm house in Chester destroyed in ‘suspicious’ early morning blaze
By Shawn Cunningham At 4:30 Monday morning, Chester firefighters responded to a house fire at the corner of Blue Hill Road and Route 11 west in Chester. The fire destroyed the brick and shingle-siding Field Farm, built in 1822 and owned by Ferren and Leah Bratton. Leah Bratton had been the director […]
Development Bylaws Part 3: Low noise limits, smaller signs among changes
This is the third in a series of articles on Chester’s proposed development bylaws, which include new zoning, subdivision and flood hazard mitigation regulations. To read the proposed bylaws click here and to see the town-wide zoning map click here. Read the first two articles in this series: Proposed Zoning Districts and Proposed Uses. By […]
GM Honor Society inducts 10 new members
The Flamstead Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 10 new members in a ceremony and celebration on Thursday, April 24 at Green Mountain Union High School in Chester. The 93-year-old National Honor Society, with chapters in all 50 states, honors students who have “demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character,” […]
Part 2 of proposed zoning changes: New land uses, DRB discretion
This is the second in a series of articles on Chester’s new development bylaws which include new zoning, subdivision and flood hazard mitigation regulations. To read the bylaws click here and to see the proposed town-wide zoning map click here. See last week’s Chester Telegraph for more details on new and changed zoning districts. For […]
15-year-old Maci Prescott vaults into gymnastics championships
By Greg Hart Sports editor Gymnastics takes skill, strength and flexibility. But to take it to the next level and be successful in competition, one also needs focus and determination. At age 15, Chester’s Maci Prescott has the whole package and is headed to Bradenton, Fla., for the USA Gymnastics 2014 Level 9 […]
Falling concrete caused temporary closure to I-91 in Rockingham
Photos and story by Shawn Cunningham ROCKINGHAM State Police and Rockingham volunteer firefighters responded to a report of concrete falling from the I-91 North bridge over Route 103 South around 3 p.m. Friday, according to VTrans spokesman Wayne Gammell. Firefighters on the scene reported that a passing motorist had noticed the shards of concrete […]
Two Londonderry parks seek volunteers for building projects
Flood Brook School Two parks in Londonderry will soon be needing help in building playgrounds. Both the Flood Brook School and Pingree Park have projects in the wings. The Flood Brook School Community Playground Build will be taking place Thursday through Sunday, May 15 through May 18 at the school. The organization says it […]
Chester board backs grant application for wet suits; continues to mull fairgrounds proposal
By Shawn Cunningham Answers were scarce as the Chester Select Board, during last Wednesday’s meeting, continued to discuss several topics including how to pay for water rescue gear, whether to move forward with a proposed festival venue and what to do about water and sewer rates. The last question was take off the agenda […]
Proposed zoning changes in Chester: Part I, Districts added, altered, eliminated
At 7 p.m. Monday May 19, the Chester Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St., to receive comments on the latest draft of the Unified Development Bylaws, which combines the rules for zoning, subdivision and flood hazard mitigation and has been in the works for about four years. In […]
Illegal burning sets Williams Road brush fire
By Shawn Cunningham The Chester Fire Department and eight other departments responded to a brush fire on Williams Road early Sunday afternoon. The fire, which covered approximately 2 acres, began when an illegal burn got out of control. “The conditions are very dry at this time of year,” said Chester Fire Chief Matt […]
Construction of Chester town solar farm expected to begin by fall
By Cynthia Prairie Construction of a 500-kilowatt solar farm on Chester town land should begin by this fall, according Luke Shullenberger of Green Lantern Capital of Waterbury, the developer of the project, with completion in eight to 10 weeks from start. The project, slated for a 5-acre Jeffrey Well parcel at Route 103 North and […]
Chester’s proposed development bylaws available for viewing here
The Chester Planning Commission will hold a public meeting on Monday, May 19, 2014 to take comments on the proposed Unified Development Bylaws it has been working on for more than a year. The bylaws are a combination of three documents that currently govern land use in Chester – the Zoning Regulations, the Flood Hazard […]
