All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
EDITORIAL: Involvement is the next step in fixing GMUSD budget
By Cynthia Prairie ©2018 Telegraph Publishing LLC The voters of the towns of Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish and Chester have spoken, voting down the new Green Mountain Unified School District’s first ever budget, amounting to $12.5 million. The outcome was far from inevitable. While there were strong objections to the proposal, many teachers and parents as […]
To the editor: Board chair urges ‘Yes’ vote on new GMUSD budget
The Green Mountain Unified School District became operational in September 2017. In short order, the board, represented by the towns of Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish and Chester, elected officers, organized committees, and began work on the budget. The budget proved challenging. We had anticipated substantial savings as a result of consolidation under Act 46. Because of […]
To the editor: Green Mountain Party seeks pay equity study
The Green Mountain Party has requested that T.J. Donovan, our state’s attorney, investigate the pay inequity between the sexes. We have requested the number of investigations done on pay discrimination for the last 10 years. We have asked for his plans to investigate the pay inequity we have been hearing about, where women are paid […]
Editorial: Vote ‘No’ on GMUSD budget: It’s not ‘for the kids’
By Cynthia Prairie ©2018 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Telegraph urges the voters of Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish and Chester to vote NO on Tuesday, March 6 on the proposed $12.5 million school budget for the new Green Mountain Unified School District. The GMUSD school board needs time to retool its budget to offer the added […]
Telegraph Poll: Should public school teachers in Vermont be armed in school?
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To the editor: Chester Brochure Committee seeks listings, photos
Over the last three years, the Chester Brochure has become the premier marketing tool for Chester businesses and services. The addition of an online presence at Meet Chester Vermont and on Facebook has significantly expanded our reach and the effectiveness of this effort. Work is now under way on the 2018 brochure including: Contacting local […]
Sen. Clarkson: Firearms, minimum wage hike among issues in state Senate
By Sen. Alison Clarkson The arrest of a Poultney teenager who was allegedly planning a mass school shooting at the Fair Haven high school should be a game changer in Vermont. We can no longer justify inaction on enacting common sense firearm safety measures. Yes, Vermont is a safe state, but we now know that […]
To the editor: In debate on mass killings, AR-15 restrictions must be addressed
Efforts by students to ban the weapon used to slaughter 17 of their friends and teachers on Feb. 14 in Florida have been rebuffed by lawmakers. None of the politicians with whom they met, including the president, supported making the sale of AR-15s illegal, even though it has been the weapon of choice in five […]
To the editor: Siano-Goodwin seeking seat on Grafton Select Board
I am writing to let you know that I, Cathy Siano-Goodwin, am running for the three-year seat on the Grafton Select Board. As most of you know, I am a long-time resident of Grafton, living with my husband Kirk Goodwin here atop Parker Hill Road. I have seen and experienced many changes in Grafton and […]
To the editor: AR-15s, similar weapons should be illegal
Another school shooting with 17 dead at a Florida high school. How many will it take before our legislators and president do something other than offer sanctimonious condolences? No other country in the world makes lethal weapons, like the AR-15, so easily available, and no other country has nearly as many school shootings as we […]
To the editor: Tom Bock’s update from Montpelier
Much has happened in Montpelier since my initial note to you starting with Gov. Scott’s annual State of the Budget Address. For the second year in a row, his proposed budget does not increase a single tax or fee. The governor’s General Fund Budget for 2019 exceeds this year’s amount by only $82 million, (a […]
To the editor: Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad thanks all who donated for successful raffle fund-raiser
The Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad thanks our friends and neighbors for their generosity in purchasing raffle tickets to support our annual benefit. LVRS raises funds each year to continue to provide free ambulance and rescue services to the tri-mountain towns of Andover, Bondville, Landgrove, Londonderry, Peru, South Londonderry, Stratton, Weston, Windham and Winhall. The funds […]
Rep. Tom Bock: Early action on marijuana, more pressing issues await
This is the first of my periodic notes on happenings in the Vermont Statehouse during the 2018 legislative session. As a representative to the Vermont House for Windsor 3-1, I want to keep all of you abreast of the issues discussed and bills proposed and give you a sense of Vermont’s legislative process including how […]
To the editor: Vote ‘Yes’ on Ludlow-Mt. Holly merger to keep option open
A favorite author, Glennon Doyle Melton, writes about crisis and how it can actually provide opportunity. She says: “The Greek root of CRISIS is TO SIFT. It’s what crises do – shake us until we hold only what matters most.” I believe Act 46 has created a crisis for the towns of Mount Holly and […]
To the editor: Lots happening with the CAES and GMUHS meal program
We are pleased to announce the introduction of Nutrislice – our all new Digital Menu program that allows everyone to access our menus and – for that matter – most breakfast and lunch menus in our district. The app can be downloaded to any device, phone, laptop, ipad and so on. The best part is […]
To the editor: Free and reduced meals program helps our students, our schools
Let me encourage everyone who has children in our schools to apply to participate in the free or reduced meals program anytime during the school year. In addition to ensuring that all our students get nutritious meals to keep them fueled up to learn, a lot of state and federal funding for our schools is […]
Op-ed: As new unified school district gets under way, board needs to listen closely to parents, families and teachers
Editor’s note: Chester resident Sue Willis wrote this open letter to the new Green Mountain Unified School District Board. By Sue Willis ©2018 Telegraph Publishing LLC After sitting through the meeting of the Green Mountain Unified School District Board last Tuesday evening, I was compelled to write a letter to all members regarding some of […]
To the editor: An open letter to AOT Secretary Flynn from Londonderry Rescue
To Secretary Joe Flynn Vermont Agency of Transportation We are sending this letter of thanks and appreciation to VTrans for the temporary paving on Route 11 between Londonderry and Chester. The expansion of the project from 2 miles, as planned and advertised, to 8 or 9 miles has been a great help. The difference it […]
To the editor: Secretary of State supports net neutrality
Open and unfettered access to information is critical to a functioning democracy. The Federal Communications Commission’s decision to upend net neutrality is a major blow to our democratic ideals of open information access and free speech, allowing corporations to restrict what information Americans are able to access, and how they’re able to access it. This […]
To the editor: An open letter to the residents of Chester
The Steering Committee would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to participate and help create the Village Center Master Plan for Chester. It has been a tremendously rewarding experience for all of us. The Chester Select Board was very thoughtful in nominating a diverse group of engaged citizens with different perspectives and backgrounds. […]
