Proctorsville’s Bob Glidden retires after 33 years as fire chief
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The year was 1970. Richard Nixon was in the second year of his first term, gasoline averaged 36¢ per gallon, the minimum wage was $1.60 and Bob Glidden was starting his career as a volunteer firefighter in Proctorsville. He was 12. Next week, he will retire from […]
Policy governance wheels still spinning at GM board
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Study groups mandated by Act 170 will shortly be ramping up to produce proposed school merger agreements by the law’s September 2027 deadline. Those will be voted on at Town Meetings in March 2028. Meanwhile, the Green Mountain Unified School District Board spent a fair amount […]
Green Mountain graduates 47 as thunderstorms avoid Chester
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The possibility of rain passed by mid-afternoon Friday and the sun was shining through high clouds as 44 members of the Class of 2026 marched out to Pomp and Circumstance and took their seats set up on the lawn of the high school. A little over an […]
News Analysis: Transforming Vermont’s education system, again
UPDATE: H955 was signed into law by Gov. Scott on June 18. It is now called Act 170. By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC As this article is being written, H. 955 is still just a bill. Before it can begin “transforming Vermont’s education system,” it must be checked and double checked for typos […]
GMUSD board wrestles with bullying and governance
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last Thursday’s Green Mountain Unified School District Board meeting took up the second half of the behemoth agenda that the board started the week before. Before beginning the meeting, board chair Lisa Sanders of Cavendish asked that only one person speak at a time, with no side […]
GMUSD board hears of bullying, threats to inclusion at high school
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC While new GMUSD board chair Lisa Sanders played catch-up on a backlog of work by splitting the agenda and scheduling an additional meeting for May, the board got an earful from the public and continued its combative internal dynamic at its May 21 confab. The board will […]
Latest News
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Proctorsville’s Bob Glidden retires after 33 years as fire chief Glidden has served as a firefighter for 56 years
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The year was 1970. Richard Nixon was -
Ludlow Rotary gets grant for Okemo Valley Technical Rescue
Ludlow Rotary Club recently received a Global Grant of $62,922 to fund Okemo Valley Technical -
Policy governance wheels still spinning at GM board Act 170 merger talks begin by Oct. 15
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Study groups mandated by Act 170 -
Windsor Dems host forums for Democratic candidates for sheriff, Senate and governor
The Windsor County Democrats will be holding public candidate forums for the Democratic contenders for -
Chester boards meet to kick off Town Plan revisions Planners want public input early and often
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC With work on a new Town Plan -
Green Mountain graduates 47 as thunderstorms avoid Chester Photo gallery of an evening to remember
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The possibility of rain passed by mid-afternoon -
Chester Economic Development Commission agenda for June 24
The Chester Economic Development Commission will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday -
Chester Dems to meet June 25 to nominate JPs
The Chester Town Democratic Committee will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25 - More News
Community & Arts Life
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Townscape blooms a beautiful welcome to Chester
When flowers suddenly appear all over Chester, it means that Chester Townscape volunteers have been -
LAHS kicks off summer events with program, exhibit on maple sugaring
The Londonderry Arts and Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting at 5:30 p.m. on -
SAPCC’s Annual Duck Run returns June 27
The Springfield Area Parent Child Center is holding its annual Running of the Rubber Ducks -
Rainbow-Palooza Pride & VegFest June 27
The most colorful event of the year is back. Rainbow-Palooza Pride & VegFest takes place -
Springfield band to perform movie classics
The Springfield Community Band presents its movie-themed concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30 -
Springfield Garden Club to host Liberty Tree Dedication
The Springfield Garden Club invites the public to the dedication of a Liberty Tree at -
Henry Homeyer: Cages, kneelers and mulch: Let’s turn our attention to the vegetable garden
By Henry Homeyer ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC By now, most of us have planted our -
Springfield celebrates ‘Make Music Vermont’ with free concert and open mic June 21
Music lovers of all ages are invited to gather at The Commons, 50 Summer Hill - More in Community & Arts Life
Business & Personal Finance
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Bennington distillery wins at spirits competition
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has announced its winners for 2026. Bennington’s Village Garage -
Mountain Valley Health Center celebrates 50 years on June 20
To honor five decades of providing dedicated health care services to Londonderry and surrounding towns, -
Wunderle highlights Chester beautification efforts in Boston presentation
On May 1, at the Boston Society of Landscape Architecture Fieldday 2026 at Harvard University -
Sage Jewelry takes root in new Chester location
By Cynthia Prairie ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Michele Colby has finally found the storefront she - More in Business & Personal Finance
Commentary
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Commentary: An African American’s American Dream
By James Michael Brodie ©2026 Telegraph Publishing The United States is 250 years old this -
To the editor: Join a tax revolt, write in Cris Ericson on Progressive primary ballot
The Progressive Party Primary Election Ballot has no candidate for representative to U.S. Congress. In -
To the editor: It’s time to transform or trash the Democratic Party
Despite its imperfections and frustrations, the two-party system has worked in the United States for -
To the editor: Vermont’s citizen legislature, a place where most citizens cannot afford to serve
To the relief of many, the Vermont Legislature has adjourned. Once again, school reform consumed - More Commentaries
Education News & High School Sports
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Policy governance wheels still spinning at GM board Act 170 merger talks begin by Oct. 15
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC Study groups mandated by Act 170 -
Green Mountain graduates 47 as thunderstorms avoid Chester Photo gallery of an evening to remember
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The possibility of rain passed by mid-afternoon -
Two graduate from Expeditionary School
The Expeditionary School at Black River celebrated the graduation of the class of 2026 on -
Ludlow Rotary announces scholarship awardees
This year, the Ludlow Rotary Club is awarding $14,000 in scholarships, including the Martin Nitka - More in Education
Obituaries
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Joan ‘Joni’ Wacker, 79, of Chester
Joan Sarah “Joni” Wacker (née Bell), 79, of Chester, passed away peacefully on May 31, -
June Swomley, 92, of Connecticut and Chester
June Kutchera Swomley, of Bloomfield, Conn., died on Monday, April 13, at the age of -
Jerry Friant, 94, of Shelburne, formerly of Landgrove
Ray J. (Jerry) Friant, of Shelburne, suddenly and unexpectedly entered eternity on Jan. 30, 2026, -
Kendall ‘Ken’ Crocker, 79, of Chester, Springfield and Florida
Kendall “Ken” B. Crocker Jr. set sail on his final voyage at home in Sebastian, - More Obituaries
Other Recent Articles
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Springfield Garden Club receives 4 first-place awards from Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont
The Springfield Garden Club won four first-pace awards and three merit awards at this years 90th Annual Meeting of the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont at the Saint Albans Museum in early June. Attending were four SGC members: President Adrienne Faulhauber; Therese Burton, FGCV Central District co-director; SGC Awards Committee Chair Karen Vatne and Marita […]
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Free art workshops for adults June 22 & 29 in Derry
Art teacher Casey Junker Bailey will share the joy of creative bookmaking at two free workshops to be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 22 and Monday, June 29. Participants will work with beautiful papers to make a collection of small interactive books in unusual formats. Accordion books, star books, zip-zap books and matchbox […]
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Andover Select Board agenda for June 22
The Andover Select Board will hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday June 22 at the Town Hall 953 Weston-Andover Road. Below is the boards agenda: 1. Call Meeting to Order. 2. Act on Agenda. 3. Act on Minutes of June 8 meeting. 4. Public Comment (Time allowance: Five minutes per visitor, 10 […]
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REVISED: Chester Select Board/Water Commissioners meeting agenda for June 17
The Chester Select Board will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17 prior to the Water Commissioners meeting at 6:30 p.m., which will then be followed by a special Select Board meeting. The meetings will be held at Town Hall, 556 Elm St., and on Zoom by clicking here. Below are […]
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Caribbean Night fundraiser for Neighborhood Connections June 26
Neighborhood Connections is holding a fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday June 26 at Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind, 92 Vermont Route 11 (Main Street) in Chester. The evening will feature a spread of food catered by Sugar Bob’s, island-themed cocktails and entertainment by the renowned Blue Flames Steel Band. The Blue Flames transport […]
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Springfield Community Band presents ‘Disney’ concert June 23
The Springfield Community Band presents its Disney concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 at The Hartness House, 109 Front St. in Springfield. Under the direction of Nick Pelton, its focus will be the wide range of familiar music first introduced in Disney productions, including Mary Poppins, The Lion King, Aladdin and several other […]
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Search for the ghosts of Cavendish June 20
The Cavendish Historical Society will host the Cavendish Village Ghost Walk at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. Meet at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, 1958 Main St. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight. No, Mr. Hickernell isn’t buried in the basement, but what’s up with all the strange things that happen at this […]
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Cavendish sets sewer rates, addresses Greven Field work and tax grievance process
By Lorien Strange ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC This month’s Cavendish Select Board meeting was short and sweet — in sharp contrast to last month, when a discussion about a possible ordinance to increase ATVs’ access to town roads had the Select Board’s meeting room packed to the door. Most of the attendees seemed to support […]
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College News
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, located in Worcester, Mass., celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026 during its 157th Commencement exercises. The following students earned their bachelor’s degree: Everett Mosher of Chester, who majored in Civil Engineering, and Kimberly Cummings of Chester, who majored in Computer Science. Devon Sinclair of Springfield graduated from Millersville University of […]
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GM outlines $3 million PCB remediation this summer
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC It was June 2023 when the Green Mountain Unified School District board heard that its high school was contaminated with Polychlorinated Biphenyls or PCBs. “Unfortunately, this will dominate our conversation for the foreseeable future, ” Facilities Director Todd Parah said at that time. Fast forward to a […]
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GM grad receives Massachusetts regional Excellence in Teaching Award
On May 6, Angelae Wunderle of Chester was awarded a 2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award as an Outstanding Educator in the Hampshire Regional School District in Massachusetts. Sponsored by The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, the award recognizes exceptional public and parochial school teachers in […]
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Flag Day talk on Betsy Ross June 14 in Cavendish
Because there is not any evidence of a “first” flag, the claim that Betsy Ross made the first American flag is a moot point. However, was her contribution to the flag the five-pointed star? In celebration of Flag Day, the Cavendish Historical Society will hold a talk on Ross at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June […]
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Rockingham Meeting House now open for the season
The Rockingham Meeting House, a National Historic Landmark located at 11 Meeting House Road in Bellows Falls, opened for the 2026 visitor season over Memorial Day weekend. Based on docent availability, the Meeting House will be open for guided tours seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Halloween. A meeting house […]
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‘Tracking and the Art of Seeing’ June 13 in Cavendish
The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association presents the latest installment in its Walk and Talk series at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 13. Meet at the Hardy Hill trailhead on Susannah Johnson Lane in Cavendish and join naturalist and wildlife tracker Rose Richter for a walk into the landscape of the tracker. Begin to look […]
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GM school bus runs into ditch, jostling students on route to Cavendish
By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC A Green Mountain School District bus driver, heading north from Chester, pulled over to settle down some rambunctious students just after 3 this Friday afternoon but ended up in the ditch on Route 103 in the Proctorsville Gulf, jostling the passengers as he came to a stop. […]
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Henry Homeyer: June ushers in blooming season
By Henry Homeyer ©2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC I’ve heard it said that June is the most common month for weddings. I’m not sure why, but my theory is that June, despite black flies and noxious ticks, is a great month to be outside for wedding receptions. Roses are in bloom, as are peonies, irises and […]
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