All Entries in the "Featured" Category
Select Board sets tax rate, talks asphalt sidewalks
By Karen Zuppinger At a busy July 3rd meeting, the Chester Select Board set this year’s tax rates, approved a $10,000 contract to create a new town government website, held a required public comment meeting on the replacement of repair and of sidewalks and approved applying for a loan to design upgrades to the drinking […]
Recent storms raising e. coli levels in area rivers
The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance began its annual water quality testing on Wednesday, June 19th, with Wednesday, July 3 as its second river sampling day. Throughout the summer season, volunteers from SeVWA take water samples from specific spots in the Williams, Saxtons, West and Rock rivers and the North Branch and Whetstone brooks, testing for […]
Mary Bittner: making strides to fight leukemia
By Karen Zuppinger Mary Bittner is looking for a fight. Running along the Green Mountain Turnpike, the Chester resident is in training, preparing to battle a grueling half marathon in the fall on the hilly streets of San Francisco. But her fight isn’t with the streets of San Francisco. It’s with leukemia, a blood cancer […]
Pinnacle playset OK’d despite Suursoo’s fiscal objections
By Karen Zuppinger Expecting a pro forma go-ahead for an already-approved toddler playground project at the Pinnacle Recreation Area, Matt McCarthy and Julie Hance found themselves in a protracted tug of war with Select Board member Derek Suursoo at the June 19 Chester Select Board meeting. The project, when first presented to the board, was […]
A fresh start, a new name for the WAAWWE market
By Cynthia Prairie It’s 10 days to relaunch and the four women around the picnic table are excited. Not only does it seem that the summer has finally taken hold in Southern Vermont, but their surroundings are in disarray, a happy dishevelment of reconstruction, rebuilding, renewal. Across the parking lot, the bright and […]
Under perfect skies, 41 graduate from GMUHS
ON THE COVER: Ann-Marie Toussaint gets a kiss from her nephew during graduation ceremonies. The 41 members of the Green Mountain Union High School Class of 2013 graduated under perfect skies on Friday evening, June 21 on the grounds of the school. In attendance were family and friends of the graduates as well as members […]
Brianna Luman: getting a kick out of martial arts
By Greg Hart Sports editor Twelve year old Chester resident Brianna Luman is headed to Ireland in August for the World Martial Arts Games. The Green Mountain Middle schooler has been training hard and fundraising for the competition in Dublin where she will compete with athletes from more than 60 countries. Martial arts requires discipline […]
CAES arts & literary e-zine, Zeenalini, now in its 4th year
On the cover: Students work on the magazine; one student’s offering and the latest Zeenalini cover. By Wendy Svec Zeenalini, the arts and literary online magazine of Chester-Andover Elementary School, now in its fourth year, has published the works of more than 50 local students in its latest edition. Any student, ages 5 to 12, […]
Judge sends Dollar General OK back to DRB for clarifications
UPDATE: Chester to convene DRB hearing to get clarifications. See the 2nd section below for the press release. By Cynthia Prairie The judge reviewing the Chester Development Review Board’s April 2012 approval of a Dollar General store for Main Street has remanded the decision back to the DRB for a number clarifications. In effect, the […]
Solar firm changes fence, number of panels for Trebo Road project
After making specific changes to its initial plans, Solar Renewable Energy Development LLC has presented a Memorandum of Understanding to the Chester Select Board in hopes of quick approval of the certificate of public good so that it could move ahead with its solar farm installation at Trebo Road off Route 103 North. The certificate […]
Noise levels, lot sizes continue to vex zoning reg process
By Karen Zuppinger The Chester Select Board continued its public review of the proposed Unified Development Bylaws (combining zoning, subdivision and flood prevention regulations) at its Wednesday, June 5th meeting. Although Article 4: Development Review Procedures was on the agenda, the board also chose to revisit the issues of minimum lots sizes and noise standards. […]
A sinking ship rises to the top at Alumni Day Parade
Chester’s annual Alumni Day Parade kicked off on Saturday morning under threatening skies that dissipated as the musicians, floats and vehicles kicked off and headed down Main Street. This year’s theme was The Movies, and the classes did not disappoint. First Place went to the Class of 1984 1983 for its sinking and floating rendition […]
A day to remember those who died in service
Chester observed Memorial Day on the traditional “Decoration Day” of May 30th with a parade, prayers, gun salutes, speeches, wreath layings and other ceremonies. The day was warm and sunny as bands from Chester-Andover Elementary and Green Mountain Union High schools played and marched from the North Street Cemetery to the Brook Side Cemetery and […]
Alumni roll into town for weekend of golf, parties, parade and more
By Karen Zuppinger The Chester High School/Green Mountain Union High School Alumni Association kicks of its annual alumni weekend celebration on the morning of Friday June 7 with a golf tournament at Tater Hill Golf Club on Popple Dungeon Road. “This is one of our most popular events,” says association President Karl Lauren. “We often […]
New Two Rivers SU readies to move to Fletcher Farm House
By Cynthia Prairie The new Two Rivers Supervisory Union will begin operating this summer out of buildings at Fletcher Farm, 611 Vt. Route 103 in Ludlow. The new consolidated school union will be taking over the two-story, 3,360-square-foot Fletcher Farm House, which was renovated in 2007, and 800-square-feet of space in the Roost, one of […]
GMUHS Prom Pix! Send in yours
Green Mountain Union High School’s 2013 Prom was held at the Roundhouse at Jackson Gore in Ludlow last Saturday night. The theme was The Great Gatsby, and the room was suitably decorated. The elegance of the prom was certainly reflected in the dresses, gowns, suits and tuxedos of the young men and young women in […]
Volunteers ready Grateful Garden for planting
On Saturday, May 18, a number of families came together to clean up the Grateful Garden beds, on the Chester-Andover Elementary School campus, transforming them from weed-infested to ready-to-plant beds. Along the way, says Grateful Garden founder Carrie King, the volunteers met beetles, toads, old potatoes, rocks, worms and favorite perennials like asparagus, lemon balm, […]
It’s farmers market season, and there’s plenty to choose from
Although the Chester Farmers Market remains closed for the 2nd year in a row, within a short drive, area residents still have a lot to choose from when it comes to fresh produce, organically grown plants, farm-raised meats, homemade foods and fine handicrafts. The Bellows Falls Farmers Market opened its season on Friday, May 10, […]
Abandoned property, noise regulations of concern in proposed development regs
By Karen Zuppinger The Chester Select Board tackled details within Article 3 (General Use Standards) of the proposed Chester Unified Development Bylaws during its regular board meeting last Wednesday, seeking clarification on a number of sections. Select board member Arne Jonynas asked if Section 3.6 on Damaged Structures and their disposal applied to abandoned properties or […]
Chester detective injured at fire scene
By Shawn Cunningham Chester Police Det. Matt Wilson was injured Sunday, May 5 when the concussion from the exploding tire on a burning loader knocked him to the ground. The Chester Fire Department and Chester Ambulance Service were called out around 5 p.m. for an equipment fire at Rhoman-Wai Farm on Green Mountain Turnpike. According […]
