All Entries in the "Featured" Category
Chester Planning Commission takes a step toward consensus
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC While it may have been the most constructive meeting of the Chester Planning Commission since Feb. 17, the word “quagmire” best described the Monday night meeting right up to the final minutes when its members — less Barre Pinske who exited abruptly apparently upset at the direction […]
Chester board reaffirms paper of record decision, adds The Commons as well Members call Press Association's claims 'condescending,' 'bullying'
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Select Board reaffirmed its March 18 decision to name The Chester Telegraph the town’s paper of record last Wednesday, but also decided to add a printed paper – The Commons – for its required legal notices. The choice reflected the board’s displeasure with the way […]
After reorganization fracas, planning panel looks forward
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Two weeks after a contentious reorganization meeting, which saw the chair elected by a coin flip and the nomination of a vice chair as “a joke,” the Chester Planning Commission was back together on Monday night but seeming more restrained in front of a guest – Jason […]
Keith Hill accepts 1-year contract as GM principal
By Cynthia Prairie ©2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Keith Hill has accepted the position of principal of Green Mountain High School, informing Superintendent Lauren Fierman of his decision on the morning of Monday, April 19. The past two weeks have been a roller coaster ride for Hill, the school system and much of the community since […]
After heated votes, GM board looks at what’s next
By Shawn Cunningham and Cynthia Prairie ©2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Thursday’s meeting of the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District left few members — if any — feeling unbloodied from the voting process and the public’s reaction. During the meeting some members complained of receiving threats for voting ‘no’ to approving a one […]
A single vote changes and GM board appoints Keith Hill principal
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC In an often contentious and confusing meeting on Thursday night, the Green Mountain Unified School District Board looked at a bleak prospect and voted 5-4 to rescind its recent vote to reject its superintendent’s recommendation for a new high school principal. With four members continuing to stand […]
Weekly Covid Update: State of emergency extended; vaxx registration begins for 16 & up
©2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Even as Vermont has reached a significant milestone — more than half of all Vermonters 16 and up have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine — Gov. Phil Scott is extending Vermont’s state of emergency for another month, as he and his team continue to manage the pandemic […]
Six GM board members say what went into principal voting decisions
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC The actual deliberations that went into the Green Mountain Unified School District board’s decision not to offer GM teacher Keith Hill a one-year contract as principal will remain shrouded by the executive session where they took place. But The Telegraph asked board members to share their personal […]
Chester board gets feedback on paper of record choice
By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC Before calling its meeting to order on the evening of Wednesday, April 7, the Chester Select Board held a forum to hear public comments on its decision to name The Chester Telegraph as the town’s paper of record for legally required public notices for the coming year. For […]
Chester board passes on reversing course on Mosher land
By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC At its March 17 meeting, the Chester Select Board heard from project managers who will consolidate the Thompson and Jewett bridges along Route 103 North into one bridge. Before getting deeply into the design phases of the project, they wanted to see if Chester would change course and […]
Weekly Covid Update: High case counts continue among younger Vermonters
© 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Although many numbers started to trend downward this week, high Covid-19 case counts and outbreaks are likely to continue in the very near future in younger populations, i.e.: those not vaccinated, according to Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine. Driving the high numbers are the variants in the picture — […]
GM board rejects principal recommendation 4-3
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC By a vote of 4-3 with one abstention, the board of the Green Mountain Unified School District late Tuesday night rejected the recommendation of Two Rivers Superintendent Lauren Fierman to name Keith Hill the next principal of Green Mountain High School. Hill, a social studies teacher in […]
Fractious Chester Planning Commission elects chair on a coin flip
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Planning Commission met on Monday night for the first time since the town’s Select Board removed one member and appointed two more. What that appeared to create was two factions with differing views of zoning and the tie-breaking vote in the hands of a newcomer […]
New dimensions in Chester zoning proposal
March 17: Huge changes possible in Chester’s proposed new bylaws March 24: Proposed zoning bylaws raise questions of uses, costs By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Allowed uses — such as single family home, restaurant, retail shop or light industry to name just a few — are not the only way of crafting […]
Photo gallery: Great Cavendish Easter egg hunt
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC There wasn’t a cloud in the sky on Saturday morning as the Cavendish Recreation Department held its annual Easter Egg Hunt. But while the sunshine was bright, the freezing temperatures and gusty winds made the event a chilly one at Greven Field. After all 37 children were […]
Covid Weekly Update: Record breaking spike reason for concern
©2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC A record-breaking spike with over 1,257 positive Covid-19 cases this week has Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine saying that although there is reason for optimism in the near future, “when it comes to the present, frankly I am very concerned.” The spike is largely concentrated in younger age groups with […]
School community meets, questions GM principal candidates
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC Each of the two finalists for the GM principal post were scheduled to meet with the public on Tuesday night to talk about their experience and qualifications and to answer questions about how they would handle running the high school. The candidates are Gwen Hagenbarth of Killington […]
Vet, furry patients settle into roomy new Chester digs
By Jasmin Gomez ©2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Rockingham Veterinarian Clinic has found a new and more spacious home in a rehabbed pizza restaurant on Main Street in Chester, which it settled into in early March. When you arrive at the clinic, you are met with a large parking lot featuring designated parking spots for […]
Propane leak forces dental clinic in Chester to evacuate
By Shawn Cunningham © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC A large propane leak at the Chester Dental Clinic just west of downtown this morning brought out firefighters from Chester and Proctorsville on a busy day of high wind-related calls. Upon arrival, Chester Fire Chief Matt Wilson said, his crew used gas meters to detect a high […]
GM boys take historic hoops title in tense overtime win
By Christian Avard © 2021 Telegraph Publishing LLC BARRE The Green Mountain Union High School boys’ varsity basketball team made school history on Sunday. In their very first appearance in a state championship, the No. 1-seeded Chieftains fought a gritty and hard-earned overtime victory over six-seed Williamstown at the legendary Barre Auditorium, 52-51. They earned […]
