All Entries in the "Commentary" Category

To the editor: Spater Scholarship announces closing
Dear Community Friends, Family and Sponsors, We have reflected on all we have collectively accomplished over the past 19 years. It’s amazing to think that we have awarded well over $140,000 to deserving Green Mountain Union High School students during this time. We have had high standards for our awards, and we sought the bright […]

Editorial: The public wins out at GMUSD board
By Cynthia Prairie ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Democracy is a rough ‘n’ tumble and startling beautiful occurrence. And it is rare to witness it being wrenched back from darkness. But last Thursday night, the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District did just that and handed a resounding victory to you, the public, when […]

To the editor: Home occupation and home business
As the recording secretary for the Chester Planning Commission, my job requires me to pay careful attention to what is said at the meetings, so that I can summarize the discussion in writing. The meetings are taped, and I can replay something as much as I need to. Frequently, as I work with the recording […]

To the editor: Lowell Lake supporters against overnight stays
To: Sens. Alice Nitka, Dick McCormack and Alison Clarkson and Reps. Kelly Pajala and Tom Bock, On May 30, 2019 the Town of Londonderry Conservation Commission in cooperation with Lowell Lake Concerned Citizens held a public information meeting to discuss Vermont Forest, Parks and Recreation’s proposal to develop Lowell Lake State Park. Nearly 100 people […]

Op-ed: Before we build new prisons, let’s fix system that fills them
By Bill Schubart H. 543, a funding bill to study options for building new prisons in Vermont, has both drawn ire and nonsense from those who are supposed to act on it — the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions. The ire was against the ACLU, which has long made criminal justice and mass incarceration […]

To the editor: Chester Tax Grievance Day
To Real Estate Taxpayers in Chester: On May 15, 2019 the Listers of the Town of Chester issued its “NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS” posted at the Town Hall letting the public know that grievance hearings will be held Friday, May 31, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Chester […]

To the editor: Community meeting on state plan for Lowell Lake to be held May 30
In response public concern over a proposed plan by Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation to develop Lowell Lake State Park, the Londonderry Conservation Commission, in cooperation with Lowell Lake Concerned Citizens, will be holding a community meeting to discuss details of the plan. The meeting will take place at at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday May […]

Sen. Nitka: Montpelier wrestles with clean transportation appropriations
By Sen. Alice Nitka The budget for the VT Agency of Transportation was presented in the Senate this past week and includes everything from evidentiary blood samples to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to paving to electric charging stations to a study of “vehicle feebates.” I was startled to find out they are rebates for persons […]

To the editor: BRAM thanks businesses, corporations for 2019 contributions
The Black River Academy Museum Board of Directors and Trustees would like to thank the following corporate and business members for their 2019 contributions. With their assistance, we are working to continue the operation of this museum as a successful and viable contribution to Ludlow. This imposing three-story historical building is located at 14 High […]

To the editor: Stratton Mtn. School thanks partners in SMS Gives Back
Thank you to everyone who helped us make Stratton Mountain School’s annual day of giving, SMS Gives Back, a success! Our 167 volunteers put in a cumulative 585 hours of service at 20 organizations throughout the region. Thank you to the following organizations who partnered with us: Bromley Manor Dorset Equine Rescue Equinox Terrace Flood […]

Rep. Bock: Five bills to build economy, families
By Rep. Tom Bock As we get closer to the end of the 2019 session in Montpelier, pressure is building to get bills through the legislature. The goal of the House and Senate veto-proof Democrat majority, (which includes me), is to get their five top priority bills through the legislative process and onto the governor’s […]

Rep. Pajala on lead in water, minimum wage hike
By Rep. Kelly Pajala As we approach the end of the session it may seem like committee work is winding down, but for the Human Services Committee it looks like we may not get every bill of interest to the House floor before the budget passes both chambers. This week alone we are dealing with […]

To the editor: Chester Snowmobile Club thanks landowners for generosity
Dear Landowners, The Chester Snowmobile Club would like to take this opportunity to thank not only the landowners in Chester but to all the landowners throughout Vermont who generously allow the snowmobile clubs to build and maintain a trail system on their properties, allowing many to enjoy winter in a special way. Thank you for […]

To the editor: Preserve Lowell Lake for all
“RESPECT, PROTECT AND ENJOY” — words from the website for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Words matter. Lowell Lake State Park’s Long Range Plan matters. This quiet system of woods, lake, swamps, fens and trails found near Londonderry has been an undeveloped park since 1977. The park is an extraordinary teacher of our connectiveness […]

To the editor: Derry Rescue thanks all for supporting Annual Benefit
The Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad wishes to thank our friends and neighbors for their generosity in purchasing raffle tickets to support our Annual Benefit. We would also like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to our local businesses and special friends for their donations of the raffle prizes that helped to make the […]

To the editor: Thanks for generous support to fund Keewaydin trip
Chester-Andover Elementary School 5th and 6th graders have been going to the Keewaydin Environmental Education Center since 1973 — 46 years! The next lucky group of students will be heading to KEEC for a week in the spring of 2020. They will be hiking, canoeing, presenting skits and enjoying campfires on the shores of Lake […]

To the editor: Update, thanks from Sam Lloyd Jr.
Hello friends, We write today’s update from a welcome period of calm and hope. Weston is 4 months old and doing awesome, Vanessa is a rock and I am home. Pretty damn tired, but starting a new regimen of targeted therapy drug treatment that bring some optimism after a challenging past six weeks. We wanted […]
Editorial: If you want changes in the school system, drop Facebook, attend board meetings
By Cynthia Prairie ©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC Since the fall of 2015, The Chester Telegraph has reported extensively on the Two Rivers Supervisory Union, the Act 46 merger plans and votes, the school budgets, new school districts, etc., publishing more than 95 articles about the system in less than four years. These have been highly […]

Sen. Clarkson: Constitutional issues in Montpelier
By Sen. Alison Clarkson It is not easy to amend the Vermont Constitution. It is a multi-year process, requiring review and approval in two consecutive legislative biennia and a vote by Vermonters at the end. Our constitution traces back to 1777, when it was written in Windsor at the Old Constitution House, for what was […]

Op-ed: Sen. Nitka on supporting fishing in Vermont
By Sen. Alice Nitka It’s that time of year when I start looking for the hatchery stocking truck delivering fish to the Black River along Route 131 in Cavendish and Weathersfield. It’s great to see the volunteers helping put the fish into the river and then all the people fishing there over the next couple […]