Featured Articles

Chester board to re-approve budget after spreadsheet glitch

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC A programming glitch in Chester government Excel spreadsheets detailing the proposed 2025-26 operating budget is forcing the Select Board to revote that proposed budget this morning. The new budget will be slightly higher  — about $50,000 — than the one that the board earlier approved to send […]

9% jump in GM District school budget proposed; elementary school restructuring plans firmed up

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Monday night’s special meeting of the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District had just two agenda items. The main reason for the meeting was to review the 2025-26 budget proposal ahead of the board’s regular meeting on Thursday, since the board needs to approve a […]

With legislature under way, Gov. Scott sets tone and Education Commission seeks path forward

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC With its interim report submitted and the holidays in the rear view mirror, the commission tasked with looking at the future of Vermont’s education system was getting down to looking at the work ahead on Jan. 6. Then, Gov. Phil Scott and the Democratic majority leaders in […]

Cavendish residents to vote on $2.45 million operational budget

By Lorien Strange ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Echoes of last year’s changes to Town Meeting ran through the Monday, Jan. 13 Cavendish Select Board meeting as the board approved the FY 26 budget, moved the date of the Town Informational Meeting, and discussed the future of the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer positions. Like many […]

Chester board OKs rural zoning changes; talks 2025 budget, water meter upgrades

By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC An amendment to Chester’s rural zoning regulations that’s been under consideration since July, with several hearings where it was criticized by residents and Select Board members alike, was finally adopted after  one of its most controversial proposals was dropped. The 4 to 1 vote approving the at […]

One select board meeting, 3 contentious issues and a glitch

By Shawn Cunningham © 2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Select Board had its hands full at its Wednesday, Dec. 18 meeting as it again took on controversial changes to rural zoning but put off a vote, handed down a determination in a long-standing Class 4 roads dispute and learned that sometimes delaying a decision […]

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  • To the editor: Rep. Morrow pushes to end state Social Security tax, student cellphones in schools

    To the editor: Rep. Morrow pushes to end state Social Security tax, student cellphones in schools

    The first week of the legislative session included swearing in us newbies, the governor’s inaugural address and the assignment of committees. Most of our time as state representatives is spent in our committees taking testimony and discussing policy. I have been assigned the Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee, which considers matters relating to energy, utilities, […]

  • Editorial: Dems kick up some dust over a MAGA event

    Editorial: Dems kick up some dust over a MAGA event

    By Cynthia Prairie ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Words matter and so do the reactions to those words. And because of both of those, we have a bit of a dust-up over what exactly is happening at the beloved and historic Fullerton Inn in Chester. Has it gone “full MAGA” as one local Democrat is suggesting? […]

  • Police search Baltimore home where stolen truck was found; arrest owner

    Police search Baltimore home where stolen truck was found; arrest owner

    By Shawn Cunningham © 2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Officers from several area, state and federal departments searched a Baltimore home at around 2:30 today, Wednesday, Jan. 8, looking for tools missing from a truck stolen more than a week ago in Chester. In addition to recovering about two thirds of the tools, they found a […]

  • College News

    College News

    Elias Stowell Aleman of Cavendish has been named to the President’s List for the fall 2024 semester at Keene’s State College in Keene, N.H.  To make the President’s List, a student must earn a 3.75 GPA or higher and have completed 12 graded credits, have no failing grades nor grades of Incomplete. Jed Lober of […]

  • GMUSD Board meeting agenda for Jan. 16

    GMUSD Board meeting agenda for Jan. 16

    The Board of Directors of the Green Mountain Unified School District will hold its regular meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16 in the Green Mountain High School Library/Media Center, 716 Route 103 South and via Zoom. To access via Zoom, click here. Below is its agenda. I. CALL TO ORDER: A. […]

  • 21-year-old from Massachusetts gets 85 months on fentanyl, cocaine charges

    21-year-old from Massachusetts gets 85 months on fentanyl, cocaine charges

    ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC A 21-year-old Holyoke, Mass., man has been sentenced to more than seven years — 85 months — in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking […]

  • Andover Snowriders to hold fundraising pasta dinner, silent auction Jan. 11

    Andover Snowriders to hold fundraising pasta dinner, silent auction Jan. 11

    Andover Snowriders is holding its 12th Annual Pasta Dinner and silent auction from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Andover Town Hall, 953 Weston-Andover Road. The entire evening is open to the public. Dinner includes penne, ziti or spaghetti with marinara, vodka or meat sauce (a gluten-free option is available); tossed […]

  • Chester Water Commissioners, Select Board agendas for Jan. 2

    Chester Water Commissioners, Select Board agendas for Jan. 2

    The Chester Water/Sewer Commissioners’ meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2 at  Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and via Zoom, followed by the Select Board meeting. Click here to access the meeting via Zoom. Below is are their agendas. WATER/SEWER COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING AGENDA 1. Citizen’s Comments 2. Water Meter Purchase 3. Water/Sewer […]

  • TRSU board agenda for Jan. 2

    TRSU board agenda for Jan. 2

    The Two Rivers Supervisory Union board will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Cavendish Town Elementary School, 573 Main St. in Proctorsville and via Zoom. To join the meeting, go to https://trsu.zoom.us/j/82752233377 Below is the board’s agenda. I. Call to Order A. Roll Call II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: III. […]

  • Green Mountain Gardeners caps off award-winning year of service, joy for local communities

    Green Mountain Gardeners caps off award-winning year of service, joy for local communities

    The Green Mountain Gardeners capped off another successful year with the tradition of making uniquely decorated tabletop trees that, along with cookies from the Weston Women’s Club and the Wantastiquet Rotary elves, bring holiday cheer to the homebound. In addition to collecting food for the food pantry, the GMG donated $300 to Neighbors Pantry of […]

  • Cady Brook trail open for snowmobile traffic after restoration project

    Cady Brook trail open for snowmobile traffic after restoration project

    Despite five years of storms, shutdowns and scheduling setbacks, there is finally a new trail crossing over Cady Brook in Hartland. The 2-mile Cady Brook trail connects Hartland to Windsor and is used by a range of individuals and groups. Identified by the Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District as a priority project in 2018, the […]

  • GMUSD board meeting agenda for Jan. 13

    GMUSD board meeting agenda for Jan. 13

    The Board of Directors of the Green Mountain Unified School District will hold a special meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 in the Green Mountain High School Library/Media Center, 716 Route 103 South and via Zoom. To access via Zoom, click here. I. CALL TO ORDER: A. Roll call II. APPROVAL […]

  • West River Valley premiere of 'Bills Lumber' Jan. 4

    West River Valley premiere of ‘Bills Lumber’ Jan. 4

    The public is invited to a free showing of Bills Lumber, a documentary about the last days of the Bills family’s beloved antique sawmill. This premiere in the West River Valley will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 at the Williamsville Hall, 35 Dover Road in Newfane. The building is handicapped accessible. […]

  • Chester Townscape honors Barbara Westine with memorial bench

    Chester Townscape honors Barbara Westine with memorial bench

    Hundreds of people in Chester remember the remarkable Barbara Westine, whose enthusiasm, energy and positive spirit encouraged and supported so many worthwhile causes. Westine, who died in April of 2024, was one of the founding members of Chester Townscape and provided dedicated personal and professional support. Chester Townscape sought to create a lasting memorial to […]

  • Column: Music on a frigid night warms the soul

    Column: Music on a frigid night warms the soul

    By Luna Burkland ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC On this freezing Sunday night, just three days before Christmas, tucked away in the Peru Congregational Church, concert-goers young and old experienced the joyful sounds of Ida Mae Specker, Emily Burkland, Faith Wood and Mowgli Giannitti. The four, informally known as Ida Mae and Friends when they perform […]

  • Springfield meets the challenge, gets a new bench

    Springfield meets the challenge, gets a new bench

    As a reward for Springfield residents collecting 1,000 pounds of thin film plastics,  the Trex Co. based in Virginia provided the Springfield Rotary Club with its ninth outdoor bench, which has been placed at the Green on Main at 77 Main St. The Rotary Club entered the Trex Thin Film Plastics Challenge in February of […]

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