All Entries in the "Letters to the Editor" Category
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
To the editor: Spring brings Sunshine Acres’ 19th season
Spring is here at last, and bulbs and perennials – planted by Chester Townscape volunteers – are beginning to bloom at public locations around town. Soon to follow, when the danger of frost has passed, will be the annuals in bridge boxes and planters that make Chester such an attractive and joy-filled town for visitors, […]
To the editor: Vt. Women’s Caucus stands with Asian-Americans against hate
We, of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, are writing to express both our sadness and anger at the recent acts of hatred and violence in Georgia against Asian Americans which resulted in the killing of eight people including six Asian American women. The latest violence toward the Asian community, and these women in particular, is fueled […]
To the editor: School staffs wear red to support Keith Hill for GM principal Public asked to attend April 15 GM board meeting
Green Mountain and Cavendish Town Elementary school faculty and staff today wore red in solidarity and support of the recommendation by both the search committee and Two Rivers Supervisory Union Superintendent Lauren Fierman that Keith Hill be appointed principal of Green Mountain Union High School. The board’s rejection of the recommendation has caused confusion and […]
To the editor: State should not burden state workers with retirement shortfall
I urge our state government NOT to support the current proposal that would put the burden of the retirement shortfall on our teachers and state employees. The current teachers and state employees should be not responsible for the mismanagement of the retirement fund by prior state administrations. Asking teachers/state employees to delay retirement for less […]
To the editor: Gut check finds we are what we eat
Facts: Up to 287 chemicals have been found in the umbilical cord of newborns; the rate of autoimmune diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancers have increased along with the increase in the use of glyphosate; even non-GMO crops such as wheat, oats, barley and potatoes, are sprayed with glyphosate before harvesting; the Maximum Residue Level of […]
To the editor: Chester Planning Commission outlines its work on updating bylaws
Due to some recent confusion surrounding the Chester Planning Commission’s work on rewriting the town’s Unified Development Bylaws, or UDBs, the Commission feels that it’s important to provide clarity and insight to that process. The UDBs are being rewritten so as to be closely aligned with the existing Town Plan and Chester Village Master Plan […]
To the editor: For his 80th, Paul Ippolito shares his 80 favorite songs
For the past 52 years, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of singing and playing guitar with groups of all ages from young children to senior citizens in Chester, Springfield, Ludlow and surrounding communities. In March I will be 80 years young, so I put together a list of my 80 favorite songs which I’d […]
To the editor: Vote for Chase for Chester Select Board
We are supporting Heather Chase in her campaign for re-election as one of three candidates for a three-year position on the Chester Select Board. Having served on the Select Board for six years, Heather has demonstrated good leadership in maintaining and improving Chester as a comfortable and livable place for us to live, work and […]
To the editor: Hoser would bring unique abilities to Chester Select Board
Having personally been in need of emergency services in the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to have had the very competent services of physician assistant Will Hoser on a number of occasions. I received not just effective medical care from him, but also the comfort and reassurance of his caring manner. The warmth and […]
To the editor: Vote for Hoser for Chester Select Board
Dedication and commitment to one’s community are the hallmarks of a good public servant, and that is why I am delighted to write a letter in support of Will Hoser for a one-year term on Chester’s Select Board. I have known Will for 16 years and know that he is someone who really cares about […]
