All Entries in the "Commentary" Category
To the editor: ESBR grateful for fall 2023 community expeditions
The Expeditionary School at Black River is grateful to share that this school year has been quite an exciting community exploration thus far. As the school year was set to begin, the focus was determined to delve into all the workings of the community. This included visiting and/or speaking with various departments within Ludlow government, […]
Op-ed: Coming to grips with racism at school
By Madeline Bodin If you have ever seen me, then you almost certainly have seen me in a sweatshirt with the Chieftain head on it. During the 10 years that my two children attended Green Mountain Union High School and Middle School, I owned three GM hoodies, two green and one gray. I wore them […]
To the editor: Public hearing Oct. 16 on updated Chester zoning
In February of 2022, the Town of Chester was awarded a Bylaw Modernization Grant from the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development. Over the past 18 months, the Planning Commission has been working to modernize the six “Chester Center” zoning districts and will hold a public hearing on the culmination of their work at […]
To the editor: B.R.A.T. Mud Puppy crews aided in flood recovery
Just days after the devastating floods blew through many of the communities of the Black River watershed in mid-July, the all-volunteer Black River Action Team rallied the troops. B.R.A.T. Director Kelly Stettner credits the outstanding efforts of two local ladies who reached out to see how they could help: Melissa Rockhill and Laurie Marechaux. Many […]
Op-ed: Vermont is more diverse than depicted
Editor’s note: The public is invited to write and send in op-ed’s on a variety of topics that directly affect our communities. Mail them to cprairie@chestertelegraph.org. By Sara Stowell ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC Recently The Chester Telegraph published an op-ed titled Vermont officially perpetuates its whiteness by Phayvanh Leukhamhan. The author critiques recent promotional videos […]
Editorial: Misinformation 1; Transparency 0
By Cynthia Prairie ©2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC No one likes to be called out in a public meeting. And for that to happen to a newspaper, it can be more than a little disconcerting. Journalists tend to not to like to be the center of attention. We write about the news, we don’t make it. […]
To the editor: Chester Select Board overstepped authority on STR moratorium
Response to the Select Board meeting on 9/06/23/concerning the 6-month moratorium on new unhosted short-term rentals on any existing or a new property purchase not-registered before Oct. 1, 2023. This is an overstep of power and a threat to our personal property rights. Instead of waiting for necessary facts needed to make a decision, they […]
To the editor: BRAT Thanks Ludlow Rotary for capacity-building grant
Thanks to a generous grant from the Ludlow Rotary Club and Rotary District 7870, the all-volunteer Black River Action Team has been able to do some serious capacity building. Part of the grant has been used to replace an aging computer system (much gratitude to Matt Sydorowich of Syd’s Compufix); the rest of the grant […]
Opinion: Vermont officially perpetuates its whiteness
By Phayvanh Luekhamhan I keep coming back to the question I frequently hear asked: “Why is Vermont so white?” It’s often accompanied by head scratching or a shoulder shrug, as if the phenomenon of our whiteness is inherent as part of our DNA, a natural law, and not something that can be reasonably explained. Vermont […]
To the editor: 5 towns’ emergency services thank all for Pingree benefit; $25,000 raised
Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Londonderry, South Londonderry, Weston and Peru fire departments would like to thank everyone who came out to the 5-Town First Responders Flood Relief Concert at Pingree Park on Monday, Aug. 14. Thanks to you, $25,000 was raised for these towns’ emergency services. Special thanks to Saints and Liars, Pete […]
To the editor: FEMA, SBA helped in time of need
Iwant to express my sincerest thanks for the those individuals with FEMA and the Small Business Administration, who are supporting those of us affected by the recent floods. A couple of weeks ago, when I met with FEMA and SBA staff in Ludlow and Rutland, I experienced them to be exceedingly responsive, engaged and helpful […]
To the editor: Chase part of state legislators caucus to celebrate Good Friday Agreement
I am proud to announce that I am representing Vermont in Ireland during the end of August 2023 as a member of a group of American state legislators from across the United States who are participating in the American Irish State Legislators Caucus to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The Good […]
To the editor: Londonderry thanks all who answered call for help
Now that recovery is under way, it’s time to thank the volunteers, businesses and organizations who helped Londonderry and the tri-mountain towns through the disasters and emergencies following the July flooding. Response from FEMA, the Red Cross, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp. was fast and […]
To the editor: Aug. 14 concert at Pingree Park to benefit first responders
We at Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad and the local fire departments encourage everyone to attend the 5-Town Flood Relief Benefit Concert at Pingree Park in Londonderry on Monday, Aug. 14. Proceeds will benefit our first responders: the Londonderry, S. Londonderry, Peru and Weston fire departments; Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad and Londonderry Technical Rescue. It is […]
To the editor: Rain — July 10th and 11th, 2023
The air was very humid and 80 to 90 for days. And we all know that Mother Nature works in very mysterious ways. It rained and rained and rained and rained. And then it rained some more. And then the floodgates opened up and it began to pour! Stratton, Killington, Okemo, and places way up […]
To the editor: Derry Rescue Squad answers 647 calls in year
In the year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad responded to 647 calls: Andover – 6, Jamaica – 1, Landgrove – 24, Londonderry – 219, South Londonderry – 87, Peru –66, Town of Stratton – 35, Weston – 60, Windham – 25 and Winhall- 88. There were also 36 […]
To the editor: State working hard to help storm recovery efforts
As we have all experienced, our state has certainly seen challenging times during this month, with massive flooding in Vermont causing significant losses and hardship for many residents and business owners in our communities. It is heartbreaking to see our friends and neighbors dealing once again with the catastrophic events resulting from changing weather patterns […]
To the editor: Springfield Hospital thanks Claremont Savings Bank Foundation
Springfield Hospital is thankful for the grant received from the Claremont Savings Bank Foundation. This grant will support our Cardiopulmonary Department with the purchase of a new piece of equipment that is regularly used for the care of our patients with respiratory issues. “Many thanks go to the Claremont Savings Bank Foundation for their generosity to numerous […]
To the editor: BRAT thanks Claremont Bank Foundation
With humble thanks, the Black River Action Team gratefully accepts a check for $850 from the Claremont Savings Bank Foundation grant program. The money will go directly toward the purchase of equipment for several projects this year, including special heavy vinyl tarps used to manage invasive Phragmites in Plymouth; a new pop-up canopy with sides […]
To the editor: Chase on first session as state rep
To the residents of Chester, Grafton, Windham and Athens: It’s late May and I have finished my first session as your representative in the Vermont House of Representatives. I have thoroughly enjoyed representing you in Montpelier. I served on the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, which addresses legislation relating to workforce development and training programs, […]
