All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
Rep. Tom Bock: Cares Act, ARPA funds give historic aid to Vermont
By Rep. Tom Bock Because of Covid-19, an unprecedented spending at the federal level, a vast infusion of federal dollars came to Vermont, leading to unprecedented levels of revenue for our state. In the spring of 2020, Vermont received $1.25 billion from the Cares Act and in the spring of 2021 we received $1.052 billion […]
To the editor: Roper’s letter incorrect, misleading
In his Aug. 17, 2021 letter to the editor Tim Roper stated the following: “Imagine you’re someone who wants a permit to use your property in some way that’s different from how it’s used now. That could be opening a business, or building a new shed, barn, garage, or accessory dwelling unit. Or maybe you […]
To the editor: Greenhouse project thanks Chester residents for feedback
I would like to thank the people of Chester who came to the public forum at the July 21 Select Board meeting to support, give opinions, and find out more about the Chester Community Greenhouse & Gardens. Everyone overwhelmingly voiced their support of the project as a whole. It was the third public informative presentation, […]
To the editor: In zoning laws, do words confuse or clarify?
Does adding more words to Chester’s Development Bylaws bring onerous regulation to our citizens and business owners? No, it doesn’t. But how can that be? If the document is longer, doesn’t it include more regulations? I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. Since there are no pictures […]
To the editor: Do more words make Chester’s proposed zoning bylaw stricter?
You may have heard at the Chester Planning Commission meetings that the length of the document means there is no more regulations than before. The current bylaw is 142 pages and the proposed bylaw is 245 pages in a smaller font. The difference is about 100 pages. Let’s look at a use in the current […]
To the editor: Whole new festival this year in Chester
Get ready for a whole new festival this year! For more than 40 years, the annual Chester Fall Festival — now called The Chester Festival on the Green — has been held as a hallmark kickoff to the beginning of fall foliage season here in Chester, where hundreds of people converge on our historic Green […]
To the editor: Restrict recreational trapping
Wildlife advocates recently presented four petitions at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board meeting, including a petition to restrict recreational trapping. Despite the fact that the petitions were submitted to Fish & Wildlife in February, the petitioners were contacted only one week prior to the June board meeting and were told that we had to […]
To the editor: Vermont’s shifting population means public input on redistricting more crucial
The 2020 Census numbers for Vermont indicate that our little state grew by about 20,000 people over the past decade, or +2.8 percent. We also know that within Vermont our overall population has been migrating toward the northwest region of the state (Chittenden, Franklin and Lamoille counties), and away from the south and east. Moreover, […]
To the editor: Whiting Library reopens fully after pandemic year
Whiting Library is once again open to the public without an appointment. I would like to express my appreciation to library Director Deirdre Doran, Youth Services Librarian Carrie King and Assistant Librarian Will Wilcox, who have done extraordinary work navigating a very difficult year while developing and implementing innovative ways to keep our library relevant […]
To the editor: Take a Mountain Garden Walk
In New England, the winters are long and spring seems impossibly late and muddy. Although the summers are all too short, our gardeners create extraordinary landscapes to revel in nature’s wonderful colors and textures while they can. After winters of white and steel blue gray, the brilliant yellows of the earliest daffodils pop us out […]
Editorial: Keeping an eye on the public’s business
By Cynthia Prairie ©2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC One of the most important missions of any newspaper is to be a check on government officials and agencies, including those with the state and towns and school systems, any place that has control over taxpayer funds. From its launch almost 10 years ago, The Chester Telegraph has […]
Op-ed: Vermont’s legislative session falls
far short of the Democrats’ hype
By Sen. Randy Brock Imagine waking up one morning and seeing crumbs all over the floor, dirty dishes in the sink and the house full of flies because someone left the back door open. Which problem should you deal with first? None of the above — because the smoke and flames should have alerted you […]
Sen. McCormack: Climate change & infrastructure were two imperatives in Montpelier
By Sen. Richard McCormack Here’s a few highlights from the 2021 legislative session in Montpelier. Senators serve on two standing committees. My morning committee is the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, and my afternoon committee is the Senate Committee on Institutions. The Environment: The big environmental issue, indeed the overarching existential issue of […]
Essay: What Memorial Day means to me
Editor’s note: The following essay by Miles Glidden was chosen as the best Memorial Day essay byhis peers from among all the Memorial Day essays that his class wrote. In non-Covid times, he would have read the essay during Memorial Day ceremonies held by the Chester American Legion on the Green in Chester. By Miles […]
Sen. Clarkson: What we learned this session High speed internet is essential; federal dollars will benefit all Vermonters
By Sen. Alison Clarkson The Vermont legislature adjourned Friday afternoon, May 21. We all agree that it was an historic session. It was the first legislative session to be conducted completely remotely during an international pandemic. And, despite our productivity, we all long to be back in the Statehouse doing the people’s business in person. […]
To the editor: Plastics recycling proves to be a boondoggle
I am writing to discuss the failures of recycling and why we can no longer rely on it to reverse the effects of the climate crisis. As the fossil fuel industry diminishes slightly each year, Big Oil now has its eye on something else: plastic. The issue with this is that it can take up […]
Op-ed: On science, liberty and nonsense
By Sen. Dick McCormack The Vermont legislature has only a few actual scientists and constitutional scholars. But the discussion of public health, including the matter of Covid vaccinations, is a scientific discussion. And some folks invoke questions of liberty in response. Strange duty for citizen legislators. But neither are we all farmers, ski area operators […]
To the editor: Flood Brook School thanks Stratton Foundation, Manchester Food Cupboard
Stratton Foundation and Manchester Food Cupboard are supporting students at Flood Brook School, and Flood Brook School would like to thank both. The Stratton Foundation has donated a variety of snacks to our students and the Manchester Food Cupboard has for for and delivered these snacks. The Flood Brook School is a K-8, 300-capacity school […]
To the editor: Flood Brook School students, staff embrace the art of tea
At Flood Brook School a Tea Party is nothing short of transformational. “I feel the tea moving to the ends of my fingers and toes,” says a student, sipping a freshly steeped chamomile. “My circulation must be good.” At a time when nearly all children spend their school days nose-to-screen, the Flood Brook School has […]
To the editor: Criminal justice reform should apply to all Vermonters
One of my favorite Vermont sayings — “You can’t get there from here” — applies to the double standard our state has when it comes to our policy on criminal justice reforms. Our progressive state, known for social reforms, known for breaking barriers, is far ahead of other states. I don’t doubt the truth of […]
