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.
The gorilla in our midst? Thanks to state work, the granite 'Gassetts Gorilla' is born
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC New Hampshire lost its iconic Old Man in the Mountain to gravity in 2003, but four years ago, Vermont apparently gained the Gassetts Gorilla. The Gassetts Gorilla is more accessible than the Old Man was. The Old Man towered above us, looked away from us and seemed pleased […]
Forum for Windsor-Windham District House candidates set for Oct. 20 in Grafton
A forum between Republican Eva Ryan and Democrat Heather Chase, who are running to represent the Windsor-Windham District in the Vermont House of Representatives, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Grafton School, 58 School St. in Grafton, and via Zoom. The new Vermont House Windsor-Windham District encompasses […]
Editorial: Regulate unhosted short-term rentals
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Telegraph spent months looking into the housing crisis in the central tier of southern Vermont, trying to understand where it stands now and, if necessary, what can be done about it. Today’s article, Hollowed Community?, which you can read here, pinpoints several factors into the causes […]
Hollowed Community? Residents ring alarm over growth of unhosted short-term rentals
By Cara Philbin and Cynthia Prairie © 2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Housing in the rural central tier of southern Vermont always has been dependent upon single-family homes. While Chester – with a population of 3,005 – has two purpose-built, townhouse-style apartment complexes, they are rare in most villages. Instead, residents in this east-west corridor have […]
State House candidates Ryan, Chase touch on variety of issues during Windham forum
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC More than 40 people turned out on a stormy Tuesday night — in person and on Zoom — to hear the first candidate forum for a seat in the Vermont State House from the new Windsor-Windham District of Athens, Chester, Grafton and Windham. Democrat Heather Chase and Republican […]
Guide to the 2022 Chester Festival on the Green
© 2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC The 47th Chester Festival on the Green remains a weekend filled with music, great arts and crafts, good food and friends set in the charming Vermont town of Chester. This year’s event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18 on […]
Andover bridge reconstruction to close road
Aug. 22 to Nov. 4
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Construction crews are expected to begin assembling on site this week to begin the process of taking down and replacing Andover Bridge No. 9, over Trout Brook, just southeast of the switchback on the Weston-Andover Road. The road is expected to be closed starting on Monday, Aug. 22, […]
‘Chester Inn’ chargers donated to Fullerton, Historical Society Former owners' son presents engraved plates
Photos and text by Cynthia Prairie © 2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Warren Mackensen and his wife Patricia visited Chester on Tuesday from their home in Hampton, N.H., to lunch with old friends and serve two plates, but ones not bearing food. The historic copper plates were part of a set of 60 chargers that Mackensen’s […]
Public records search of Merrill files turns up no complaints related to alleged behavior
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Following a Public Records Act request by The Chester Telegraph for access to all documents — including personnel files — related to any complaint or concern filed against former Green Mountain teacher Norm Merrill, the Two Rivers Supervisory Union has replied that a hand search of paper files […]
Morrow pulls out of Windsor Senate race Remaining contenders are from northern part of county
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Just one week after formally announcing his run for the Vermont Senate to represent the Windsor District, Chris Morrow of Weston, former owner of Northshire Books in Manchester, has pulled out of the race. Because of Windsor County’s population — the 4th largest in Vermont with 57,753 residents […]
A day filled with parade, pizza and pride
©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC A perfect spring Saturday, June 4, drew out smiling folks carrying rainbow flags and wearing rainbow clothing to the Chester Green to show support for LBGTQ rights and celebrate Pride Month with a parade and children’s storybook readings at the Pizza Stone. Restaurant owner Darlene Doane and her enthusiastic staff, with […]
Five more Whiting Library Trustees resign Management of library in question without enough Trustees
UPDATE: 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, June 1: Hance says that town attorney Jim Carroll believes that there is no reason for the library to be shut down and that there is authority in statute to ensure any bills and paychecks get paid. By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Five more Trustees of the Whiting Library […]
The Right Stuffed: Smitty’s honored by Everyone Eats
Photos and Text by Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Click on any photo to launch the gallery. Chris Meyer of Chester Helping Hands and Trish Paradis of the Springfield Family Center last week presented Garrison Smith, owner of Smitty’s Chester Market, and in-house chef Bonny Hudson with plaques honoring their work on behalf of […]
Weston Library hosts Drag Queen Story Hour to much enjoyment
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Weston’s Wilder Memorial Library had no qualms about holding a Drag Queen Story Hour on Saturday, attracting around 50 kids and adults, including several Wilder board members. The drag queens — Katniss Everqueer and Emoji Nightmare — arrived around 1:30, batting wickedly long eyelashes, their makeup contoured […]
GM middle school teacher arrested on federal charges of creating child pornography
By Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Norm Merrill, a longtime 8th grade teacher and Middle School coordinator at Green Mountain High School, was taken into custody today, Thursday, May 19, by Chester Police on federal charges of “producing child sexual abuse material.” The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont announced […]
Derry voters seek answers as they consider future of Williams Dam Vote to be held on Saturday during Town Meeting
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC LONDONDERRY To a number of speakers at last Wednesday’s informational meeting on the future of the 1883 Williams Dam on the West River in Londonderry, the dam and the pond it creates at Route 11 and Route 100 north are a scenic, bucolic setting that attracts birds and […]
Sunflower cookies for Arman Heritage Deli steps up to boost Springfield club's effort to bring family of Ukrainian exchange student to Vermont
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Michele Wilcox of Heritage Deli in Chester loves to bake and she also loves to find a cause she can support. Wilcox’s current cause combines the two. She’s baking hundreds of cookies to sell to help bring the family of a Ukraine exchange student to the United States. […]
Chester bookstore owner hospitalized after
head-on collision
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC Ludlow resident and Chester bookstore owner Vicki Thornton was seriously injured late Saturday afternoon when her northbound car was hit head-on on Route 103 by a southbound car that smacked into guardrail, bounced off and veered into her lane. Thornton was heading home after closing up shop early […]
Fire destroys Windham family’s mobile home; search is on for a new one
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC A 21-year-old Windham woman and her 1-year-old daughter lost their home to an electrical fire on Saturday, Feb. 5. Now the woman’s mother, who owns the Windham property but lives nearby, is hoping to help her daughter and granddaughter establish a new home in the same spot. In […]
Driver injured in head-on crash that stops 103 traffic for more than two hours
By Cynthia Prairie ©2022 Telegraph Publishing LLC A30-year-old White River Junction man was injured shortly before 9 a.m. Monday morning when his northbound 2000 Chevrolet Blazer crossed the center line on Route 103 in Cavendish, hitting a Ford van head-on that was heading south and pushing it back about 50 yards upon impact, police have said. […]
