RSSArchive for November, 2014

J&L shelves Armory expansion plan; 2nd snafu, VTrans objection arise

J&L shelves Armory expansion plan; 2nd snafu, VTrans objection arise

By Shawn Cunningham ©Telegraph Publishing LLC — 2014 Peter and Nathalie Klepp, owners of J&L Metrology, continue to work at securing the permits needed to move their business to the former Chester Army Reserve Center on Route 11 west. But as soon as one problem was set aside, two more arose at a meeting of […]

CAES spaghetti supper raises more than $1,400 for biennial Keewaydin trip

CAES spaghetti supper raises more than $1,400 for biennial Keewaydin trip

More than 200 people were served a homemade spaghetti dinner at Chester-Andover Elementary School last Thursday night to raise funds for the biennial Keewaydin trip for fifth and sixth graders. SEE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW. Diners had to wait to tuck into their meals when, about 20 minutes into the service, a fire alarm went off […]

Chester board addresses school funding, police resources, Popple Dungeon Road

Chester board addresses school funding, police resources, Popple Dungeon Road

By Shawn Cunningham ©Telegraph Publishing LLC — 2014 At its Nov. 19 meeting, the Chester Select Board continued to review  a proposed town budget and received updates on a number of projects including the solar farm to be built on town land behind the Jeffrey Barn, the long delayed Popple Dungeon Road project and improvements […]

Chester sign regs to be addressed Monday: Public, business input sought

Chester sign regs to be addressed Monday: Public, business input sought

The Chester Planning Commission, which recently revised zoning regulations into new Unified Development Bylaws, will take up a revision of the town’s sign ordinances at its Monday, Dec. 1 meeting. (Read sign regulations at right.) The ordinance was left as is in the bylaws, since revising it was deemed too complex and several members questioned  […]

Schedule for Chester’s Overture to Christmas

Monday Dec. 1 4 to 5 p.m. – Gingerbread House Making Workshop for children in grade K through 2. Fullerton Inn, 40 the Common Tuesday, Dec. 2 4 to 5 p.m. – Gingerbread House Making Workshop for children in grade 3 through 6. Fullerton Inn, 40 the Common Saturday, Dec. 6 8 to 10 a.m. […]

Grafton Select Board agenda for Monday, Dec. 1, 2014

The Grafton Select Board will next meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1 at the Grafton Elementary School, 58 School St. Below is its agenda. Public Comment Adopt Agenda Minutes: 11/17/2014 & Special Meeting 11/14/2014 Warrants: Payroll and Accounts Payable Library Tax Increase Request (Deb Toomey) Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SEVEDS) Fund Request Highway […]

To the editor: Civil discourse makes for a brighter future for Chester

The night prior to the vote on an amendment to Chester’s Unified Development Bylaws, a public meeting  was held at Town Hall for voicing views and asking questions on the matter. For me, it was a valuable experience. It became clear that there were many on both sides who had Chester’s – not outside corporate […]

New offices for Komen Vermont-New Hampshire

Komen Vermont-New Hampshire has relocated its offices to 1009 Depot St., above Women and Children’s Services of Southern Vermont, in Manchester Depot. “The new location is a great fit for us,” said Terry Farkas, Komen VT-NH’s executive director. The office of Women and Children’s Services of Southern Vermont houses a pediatrician, Dr. Donna Miller, and […]

Vermont college scholarships booklet available

WINOOSKI Vermont Student Assistance Corp. has released its annual Scholarships for Vermonters, a compendium of more than 140 programs for eligible students looking to finance college. This year’s application process features simplified essay and recommendation requirements for most scholarships and is available online now at www.vsac.org. Printed booklets will be distributed to all Vermont high […]

To the editor: Heartfelt thanks to all who supported Lindsey, family

To the editor: Heartfelt thanks to all who supported Lindsey, family

Our family has so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. It seems like the perfect time to express our gratitude to all who have helped us along our journey. We have many people and organizations to thank for their support over the last nine months of Lindsey’s bone marrow operation and recovery. The Chester […]

Warm your winter with a gingered pear skillet cake

Warm your winter with a gingered pear skillet cake

By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com The good news and bad. First, cardamom is not cheap. It is the third most expensive spice behind vanilla beans and saffron. But a little goes a long way. Substitute cinnamon for this member of the ginger family if desired. This cake is moist, almost bread-pudding-like, and extremely flavorful. The edges […]

Appeal of Environmental Court OK of Dollar General goes before VT Supreme Court

Appeal of Environmental Court OK of Dollar General goes before VT Supreme Court

By Cynthia Prairie ©2014 – Telegraph Publishing LLC MONTPELIER Chester’s Dollar General opponents took their fight to the Vermont Supreme Court Tuesday, a venue that — by its very nature as the court of final decision — awards more technical wins based on nuances of law than KOs delivered by an attorney’s one-two punch. Thirty […]

Chester voters keep new auto uses in Residential-Commercial zones

Chester voters keep new auto uses in Residential-Commercial zones

By Shawn Cunningham ©2014 – Telegraph Publishing LLC A 3-to-1 majority of Chester voters who turned out to cast ballots at town hall on Tuesday voted against leaving a 40-year-old prohibition on automotive uses in the town’s new zoning bylaws. The 160 to 460 vote was colored by a number of issues including a proposed […]

Annual Apple Blossom Cotillion seeks student participants

High school senior girls in the Springfield Hospital and Springfield Medical Care Systems communities are invited to participate in the 59th annual Apple Blossom Cotillion, which will take place May 1 and 2, 2015. One will be chosen to join the select group of Apple Blossom Queens. This special community event has become both a […]

To the editor: Rep. Dakin outlines priorities, asks for voter input

To the editor: Rep. Dakin outlines priorities, asks for voter input

Thank you very much, voters, for re-electing me to the Vermont state legislature from Windsor District 3-1.  I am honored to represent the citizens of Andover, Baltimore, Chester and North Springfield, particularly in this period of economic challenge for all of us. As I return to the State House in January 2015, my focus will […]

Chester Select Board agenda for Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014

The Chester Select Board will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St. Below is its agenda. 1. Budget Review: General Fund, Water & Sewer 2. Approve minutes from the Oct. 5, 2014 Select Board meeting 3. Citizen Comments 4. VAST Request: Use of Town Property 5. Old Business […]

Orange pumpkin pie for the holiday table

Orange pumpkin pie for the holiday table

By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com I  probably should call this a cheesecake but that might turn some off. Although cheesecake is not one of my favorite desserts, I bow to this extraordinarily decadent pie. The pumpkin helps to offset that special tang that cream cheese gives, replacing it with that slightly sour hint of lemon and […]

An explainer: Clearing up some confusion surrounding Chester's referendum

An explainer: Clearing up some confusion surrounding Chester’s referendum

By Shawn Cunningham ©2014 — Telegraph Publishing LLC On Tuesday Nov. 18, Chester voters will have the opportunity to cast a ballot – Yes or No – on a zoning issue. Over the past few weeks, there have been many posters, letters to the editor, Facebook posts, a petition and even a mailing from the […]

Chester Select Board raises sewer rates, green-lights design of water system upgrade

Chester Select Board raises sewer rates, green-lights design of water system upgrade

By Shawn Cunningham © 2014 – Telegraph Publishing LLC In a busy Nov. 5 meeting run by vice chair Derek Suursoo, the Chester Select Board raised sewer rates effective immediately for its 600 users, gave a nod toward hiring Golden Cross for a winter ambulance restructuring and OK’d a $155,000 contract to design a $4.6 […]

New zoning bylaws complicate Chester armory development

New zoning bylaws complicate Chester armory development

By Shawn Cunningham © 2014 – Telegraph Publishing LLC An application for a conditional use permit to convert the former Army Reserve armory on Route 11 west for light manufacturing met with a friendly reception from Chester’s Development Review Board on Monday night. But a snafu in the new Unified Development Bylaws made the process […]