Author Archive for The Chester Telegraph
To the editor: Education reform bill a cause for concern
As a teacher and mother, it looks to me like the state’s education reform bills with larger class sizes and larger districts will lower teacher and community control. However, my largest concern about the possible legislation is that I’m unsure what the tax savings will actually be since there are so many unaccounted for costs […]
College News
Jaedyn Thomes of Ludlow was named the recipient of The William Rosenfeld Chapbook Prize in Creative Writing for Fiction at Hamilton College’s annual Class & Charter Day, held on May 13 at the Clinton, N.Y., school. Established in 1950, the event combines the traditional Class Day celebrating the end of classes with a commemoration of […]
Op-ed: AG Clark stands strong to safeguard our democracy and Constitution
By Nick Boke It’s been quite a while since many of us have felt so positive. We — the very active members of the Chester Town Democratic Committee and others — have been busy ever since Donald Trump took office. Trump’s inauguration got the half-dozen stalwarts who showed up for monthly CTDC meetings to jump […]
To the editor: Housing, education and a tentative meeting in Grafton
Hello Neighbors, The Vermont General Assembly is still in session as of the writing of this note, which is Sunday, May 25. The complexity of the bills under consideration and the work needed to find consensus have kept us in Montpelier longer than usual to get the work done. I am hopeful that this will […]
No Kings protest set for June 14 in Chester
From 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 14, join the Chester Town Democratic Committee on the Chester Green to echo Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel’s question about the new Constitution in 1787, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” “A Republic,” Franklin replied, “if you can keep it.” […]
John ‘Jack’ Snyder, 87, of Andover
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the unexpected passing of John (Jack) Henry Snyder of Andover Vermont on May 31, 2025. Jack passed at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 87. Jack was born in 1937 to Robert and Elizabeth (McLaughlin) Snyder in Brooklyn, New York. When Jack was young, […]
To the editor: School officials fail to see central importance of Flood Brook School to community
Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter to the Taconic & Green School Board and the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union. Dear Members of the Taconic & Green School Board and BRSU, I’m writing as a parent of two students at Flood Brook School, a community member and a third-generation graduate of Flood Brook to express […]
Andover Select Board agenda for June 9
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday June 9, 2025 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 May 27th meeting. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes per […]
To the editor: Why did the GMUSD board reject Benelli?
Editor’s note: This is an open letter to the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District. Dear Members of the GMUSD Board, Let me begin by apologizing for my brief outburst as I left the GMUSD meeting last Wednesday. I don’t remember what I said, but to have commented at all was inappropriate. And […]
College News
Grayson Frazer of Springfield, an Exercise Science major, was named to the President’s List for the spring 2025 term at Trine University in Angola, Ind. To earn President’s List honors, Trine University students must complete a minimum of 12 hours and have a grade point average of 3.750-4.000. Ashley Newton of Cavendish was named to […]
Edwin Grout, 92, formerly of S. Londonderry and Newfane
Edwin L. Grout, 92, a former resident of South Londonderry, passed away peacefully following a long battle with dementia on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington following a brief illness. Born on Nov. 3, 1932, on Newfane Hill in Newfane, Edwin was the son of the late Leo and Aldene […]
Services for Bonnie Watters set for July 26 at Chester Episcopal
A Celebration of Life for Nora E. “Bonnie” Watters will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 313 Main St. in Chester. Bonnie, a long time Chester resident, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025. She was 85. Bonnie was a noted dollmaker who licensed her […]
College News
Jonathan Griffin of West Townshend was among over 600 students who graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., on Friday, May 9. Griffin graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Business Administration. Griffin also won the Scholastic Bowl Team Award. BJU societies compete against one another in the Scholastic Bowl, a contest designed to test […]
Op-ed: TRSU-teacher contract talks, mediation fail Union, school board heading to fact-finding.
By Brett Mastrangelo Lead Contract Negotiator Two Rivers Southeast Education Association Take a moment and think of a teacher who has had a positive impact on you or your child at Green Mountain Middle/High School and Chester Andover, Cavendish, Ludlow or Mount Holly elementary schools. Consider the role this teacher played in your child’s development […]
Op-ed: Speaking of domestic violence
By Madeline Bodin ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC I’ve been talking to neighbors and friends about domestic violence more the usual over the last few weeks. Maybe you have also. Of all the comments I’ve heard and seen, the ones that have caught my eye are the ones saying that we shouldn’t be talking about this, […]
Op-ed: Domestic violence should not be condoned
By Marilyn Mahusky ©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC Driving home from the Green Mountain Unified School District Board meeting Thursday night felt a bit like it did after the verdict was announced in the O.J. Simpson trial in which O.J. was accused of murdering his wife. Prior to her murder, Simpson had pled no contest to […]
Andover Select Board agenda for May 27 (Note Tuesday meeting)
The Andover Select Board will hold a special meeting due to the Memorial Day Holiday at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 27, 2025 at the 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 May 12th meeting. 4. Public […]
Stuart G. MacDonald, 90, formerly of Weston
Stuart Graeme MacDonald (“Stu”), was born in Manhattan on Dec. 15, 1934, to Frances (Townsend) and Howard MacDonald. He spent his early years in Rye, N.Y., before the family moved to Weston when Stu was 11. There, he and his sisters attended the Weston Grammar School. Stu went on to attend Phillips Academy and later […]
To the editor: Silence is not the choice Chester’s Select Board and school board should have made
In a town meeting, you don’t expect silence to be the loudest thing in the room. Yet at our most recent Chester Select Board meeting, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. At this meeting, our Select Board’s duty was to review candidates and provide their endorsement of a candidate, to then be considered […]
To the editor: AG Clark, Vermont lawyers ignoring the U.S. Constitution
This is a letter of response on the subject of Vermont Attorney General Clark and more than 300 Vermont lawyers who gathered in Burlington earlier this month to rally and protest against the Trump administration. Why are Clark and more than 300 Vermont lawyers blaming the Trump administration for the ongoing lawless choices and irresponsible […]
