All Entries in the "Latest News" Category
Rural Caucus hears update on Act 181 changes
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Vermont Legislature’s Rural Caucus — which recently sent a letter to House Speaker Jill Krowinski urging the repeal of portions of Act 181 — heard an update this morning from Rep. Rob North on the status of that move. North, of Ferrisburg, sits on the House […]
Windham Commission to host public meetings on draft Regional Plan update
The Windham Regional Commission will be hosting in-person and remote public meetings to present a draft of the Windham Regional Plan update. WRC helps 27 towns in southeast Vermont to provide effective local governance and address regional issues. The Regional Plan provides guidance on the future for the region and is used for WRC’s work […]
Chester GOP to hold ‘Turn Vermont Red’ candidate event
On Saturday, May 2, the Chester Town Republican Committee will hold a “Turn Vermont Red” event at Terra Italian Steakhouse*, 8 VT Rte 100 in Ludlow. You’ll hear from conservative voices as well as candidates for U.S. House, Windsor County Senate and House of Representatives and Windsor County sheriff, as well as from some in […]
GMUSD budget re-vote informational meeting May 5
The Green Mountain Union School District will hold a informational meeting regarding the District’s school budget ahead of a May 12 re-vote at 6 p.m. on May 5, 2026 at Green Mountain Union High School, 716 Route 103 south in Chester and remotely via Zoom. Below is the board’s agenda: I. Call to Order II. […]
Judge clears way for Piri murder trial early next year Five week trial expected, complicating scheduling
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC A Windham County Superior Court judge has denied a defense motion to dismiss second-degree murder charges against Jozsef Piri, paving the way for a five week long trial sometime early in 2027. Piri is accused of shooting and killing Roberto Fonseca-Rivera – a Boston truck driver – […]
Chester Fire & EMS receive VFW commendations Manchester Post recognizes first responders to mark its 80th anniversary
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC On April 9, Steve Leach — a representative of the Harned-Fowler VFW Post 6471 of Manchester — visited Chester’s Public Safety Building to present the fire and ambulance departments with VFW Community Service certificates. Leach said that April 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of Post 6471’s National […]
Andover Select Board agenda for April 27
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27 at the Andover Town Office, 953 Weston-Andover Road. Below is the board’s agenda: 1. Call Meeting to Order. 2. Act on Agenda. 3. Act on Minutes of April 13th meeting. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes per visitor, […]
GM board sends same budget back for May 12 re-vote
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC After a rough start to its Thursday, April 16 meeting, the Green Mountain Unified School District board gelled and decided unanimously to again put forward the budget that went down to defeat at Town Meeting Day, to set the re-vote date for May 12, then brainstormed ways […]
Chester board OKs federal grant application, solar field purchase
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC In one of the most unusual agendas in recent memory, the Chester Select Board held two meetings last Wednesday with three executive sessions and a legal tutorial on the roles of the board and town manager in Vermont statutes from town attorney Jim Carroll. While the remainder […]
Act 250 board suspends work on ‘road rule,’ Tier 3 regs ahead of likely repeal
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Earlier today, Alex Weinhagen of the Vermont’s Land Use Review Board told The Telegraph, “We are suspending work on the Tier 3 and the Road Construction Jurisdiction provisions of Act 181 given the Legislature’s likely repeal of these two elements of the law.” Then this afternoon, the […]
Chester 8th grader takes a turn as a legislative page in Montpelier
Chester resident Shepherd Finch, an 8th grader and legislative page, leads the Pledge of Allegiance for lawmakers on his first day as a page prior to the legislative day beginning in Montpelier. Video provided by the Nick Caporaso family. ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Eighth-grade Chester resident Shepherd Finch is getting an insider’s look at the […]
Pause to revise Act 181 likely Chester residents weigh in at Planning Commission meeting
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC At last week’s Chester Planning Commission meeting focused on Act 181, Land Use Review Board member Alex Weinhagen said his group would like more time to work on getting new rules — which make major changes to Act 250 — right. Then, in an interview with The […]
Pomfret Select Board chair announces run for Windsor District Senate seat
Benjamin Brickner, chair of the Pomfret Select Board and a practicing attorney whose work includes regulatory and policy matters, has announced his candidacy for Vermont Senate in the Windsor District. He announced his candidacy on Monday at the Pomfret Town Hall, where he was to deliver remarks outlining his priorities for the district’s 25 towns, […]
Sotomayor quilt raffle to benefit Chester Dems
The Chester Town Democratic Committee is offering a chance to win a beautiful one-of-a-kind art quilt of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, created by award winning Chester quilt artist Linda Diak. Diak created this portrait of Justice Sotomayor using only cotton fabric and thread. The quilt measures 35 inches wide by 28 inches high and is signed […]
Chester Select Board special meeting, regular meeting agendas for April 15
The Chester Select Board will hold two meetings on Wednesday April 15. The first, a special meeting with two executive sessions with legal counsel, will be held at 5 p.m. The second, regular meeting, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings will be at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and remotely via Zoom. Below […]
Construction crew breaks water main in Chester
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC A construction crew working on Chester’s sewer project on First Avenue at Route 103 broke a water main Thursday, causing water to pour out of the trench, over the roadway and into a field, where it drained off. Moments after the break, Jeff Holden, Chester’s Water and […]
Chester Select Board OKs funds to assess three properties for housing; July 4th event on Green
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Wednesday’s Chester Select Board meeting again had an agenda filled with non-controversial, routine tasks for the board with documents to sign, appointments to make and approvals to grant. The board looked at a request from the town’s Housing Commission for $11,300 from the housing reserve fund […]
Judge in 4 year-old murder case aims to pick up pace
Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC More than six years after truck driver Roberto Fonseca-Rivera was shot and killed on Rt. 103 in Rockingham and more than four years after Jozsef Piri was charged with 2nd degree murder in the crime, the justice system continues to grind slowly toward a trial, which lawyers on […]
GM board to consider ‘reduction in force’ ahead of next budget vote
UPDATE April 1: Last night the GMUSD board voted to issue a reduction in force for its employees ahead of the re-vote of the district budget later this spring. We will have more on this story in the coming days. By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Thursday evening, the Green Mountain Unified […]
Signs of the times: Chester Green hosts third No Kings rally
Elvis did not leave the Green during the two-hour protest. All photos by Shawn Cunningham unless otherwise noted. By Cynthia Prairie ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC While some of the signs carried angry messages, most of those carrying them did not. Instead, they offered up smiles and humor as they spoke of serious subjects that drew […]