Author Archive for Cynthia Prairie
Cynthia Prairie has been a newspaper editor more than 40 years. Cynthia has worked at such publications as the Raleigh Times, the Baltimore News American, the Buffalo Courier Express, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Patuxent Publishing chain of community newspapers in Maryland, and has won numerous state awards for her reporting. As an editor, she has overseen her staffs to win many awards for indepth coverage. She and her family moved to Chester, Vermont in 2004.
Burn ban again extended as dry weather persists
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC The ban on debris burning extended through today, Monday, Nov. 18 for Windsor, Windham, Rutland and Bennington counties has been extended for an additional week, until 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25. Towns from Windham east to the Connecticut River are ranked “Very High” for fire danger, according to […]
Analysis: Southern Windsor and the emerging Republican Party
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC While there was never any doubt that incumbent Democratic Sens. Alison Clarkson and Becca White and anointed Democratic candidate Joe Major would win election for the three seats for the Windsor District, the nascent Chester Republican Committee has made a formidable premier foray into politics while the Ludlow […]
Many voters favor mail-in ballots, early voting amid brisk turnout at the polls
By Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Turnout was brisk on this warm and breezy Election Day, in which Americans were choosing a new president and Vermonters were deciding on their gubernatorial and State House seats. Mail-in ballots at times rivaled or surpassed in-person voting in many of our south-central Vermont towns. […]
From the editor: 10 thoughts on elections and voting
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Most of you may have already voted by mail or in early voting, but I wait til Election Day. Going to the polls is an experience I have cherished since I turned 18. In all the years since, in all the cities I have lived in and for […]
A Q&A with Charlton and Chase, candidates for Vermont House for Windsor-Windham District
©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Heather Chase, the Democratic incumbent, and Thomas Charlton, a Republican newcomer to politics, are running against each other for a two-year term in the Vermont House of Representatives representing the cross-county Windsor-Windham District consisting of the towns of Athens, Chester, Grafton and Windham. Voting will take place on 9 a.m. to […]
Weston’s Wilder Library gets $650,000 grant for addition, upgrades to entire site
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Wilder Memorial Library in Weston has received a federal grant of $650,000 to support renovations to the 200-year-old brick structure and add 1,300 square feet of space in a new addition. The monies were awarded by the Vermont Department of Libraries, which was responsible for awarding $16.4 […]
West River Farmers Market closes out 2024 season on Saturday
©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC This Saturday, Oct. 12, is the final day of the West River Farmers Market in Londonderry for the 2024 season. Don’t miss a beautiful fall foliage weekend and the last chance to purchase holiday gifts from some of your favorite craftspeople while picking up farm grown veggies, meats and flowers, grabbing […]
Guide to the 2024 Chester Festival on the Green More music, fascinating performers throughout downtown
© 2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Festival on the Green is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It’s a weekend filled with music, great arts and crafts, good food and friends set in the charming Vermont town of Chester. Editor’s Note: Please return often to check for updates to music, events and vendors. The […]
Worldwide CrowdStrike update failure hits local hospitals, health-care providers
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC An attempt by international computer-security firm CrowdStrike to update Windows security software that took down computers and mobile devices around the world on Friday, July 19, including at airports and banks across the United States, also affected some area hospitals and medical personal, forcing them to alter their […]
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Spauldings at the GOP convo; Ameden elected to Derry Select Board; entire Planning Commission resigns; Windsor Republican candidates flock to school board meeting
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC James Ameden Jr. handily won Saturday’s election to the Londonderry Select Board, beating Steve Twitchell, 120 to 64 votes. Ameden, who ran on a platform that included empowering young people to take leadership roles and had a strong showing with political yard signs, will now fill the unexpired […]
Green Mountain Care Board to hold Healthcare Community Meeting in Springfield on July 16
©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC On Tuesday, July 16, the Green Mountain Care Board is holding one of 14 public meetings concerning options for hospital transformation and health system revitalization. This Healthcare Community Meeting for Springfield Hospital will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Springfield Town Library, 43 Main St. in Springfield and focus […]
Chester Democrats to hold Senate primary candidate forum July 16
©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Five candidates running for the Democratic nomination for three Windsor County state Senate seats with be participating in a forum for Democratic Primary candidates organized by the Chester Democratic Committee. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16 at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St. […]
Green thumbs unite to spruce up Chester-Andover Family Center
©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester-Andover Family Center, 908 VT-103, got a refresh on Tuesday with an updated landscaping and new plantings thanks to the efforts of Chester Townscape, Terrigenous Landscape Architecture as well as Family Center volunteers. The groups worked for about three hours under the morning sunshine to replant the front beds and […]
Meditrina in Chester gets $110,000 in loans for wine bar, restaurant
©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Meditrina, a 14-year-old wine, cheese and beer shop owned by Justin and Amy Anderson and located at 295 Main St. in Chester, has been approved for two loans worth $110,000 for its long-planned expansion for a wine bar and restaurant called The Meditrina Wine Bar. Earlier this week, the Springfield Regional […]
GM School District board agenda for June 20
The Board of Directors of the Green Mountain Unified School District will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 20 at Green Mountain High School Library/Media Center, 716 Route 103 south and via Zoom. To join the meeting via Zoom, click here. Below is the board’s agenda. I. CALL TO ORDER: A. Roll […]
Morrow runs to replace Pajala in state House Crowded field for Windsor Senate primaries; Chase gets a GOP challenger
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Chris Morrow of Weston, the former owner of Northshire Bookstore and a new member of the Weston Select Board, has announced that he is running to replace Kelly Pajala, an Independent, as state representative for the Windham-Windsor-Bennington district, which is made up of Andover, Londonderry, Weston and Winhall. […]
Editorial: Transparency, lots of public input make for a good zoning plan
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Planning commissions in rural Vermont have tough jobs. They must balance the needs of residents with the state’s goals and regulations as well as current town plans, growth potential and visions for the future. And then they must endure the barbs of angry landowners — many of them […]
Nick Kekic, Chester glass artist, chosen for annual Smithsonian Craft Show D.C. show highlights finest North American crafts people
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC Chester glass blower Nick Kekic of Kekic Glass will make his first appearance with the Smithsonian’s 42nd annual Craft Show called ‘Creating Joy,’ to be held May 1 through 5 in Washington, D.C. He is one of 11 glass artists to exhibit among 120 in media such as […]
New name, mascot for GM? Not yet, but Principal Broadley is developing a plan
By Cynthia Prairie © 2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC John Broadley wanted to give the school mascot/name issue some breathing room before bringing it back up again. In December, shortly after the name “Chieftains” was voted down 6 to 3 by a vote of the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District, Broadley, the new […]
Chester voters approve $3.975 million for budget; $39,811 for social programs Ballot voting til 7 p.m. today; officers to be elected
By Cynthia Prairie ©2024 Telegraph Publishing LLC The 60 or so Chester voters attending Monday night’s Town Meeting in person approved, with a few objections, to raising $3.975 million in taxes to fund the town budget, a budget that Town Manager Julie Hance said is “what it takes to maintain the services that we now […]
