All Entries in the "Featured" Category
During Covid-19 crisis, market-delis struggle with changing consumer demands
By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing While grocery stores such as the Londonderry Village Market and Lisai’s Chester Market continue to do steady business during the Covid-19 stay home orders, many of the smaller markets that offer not only specialty foods but meals as well have seen their sales take a dive as they work […]
Scott extends ‘stay home’ order, hints at opening businesses
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Saying that Vermonters are saving lives by staying home, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday that he is extending to May 15 the state of emergency including the Stay Home Stay Safe order in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I know how disappointing this to many,” said Scott, […]
No Covid-19 in water: Chester among 690 Vermont systems ordered to chlorinate water State director says mandate aids vulnerable population
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Under state orders, Chester has begun adding chlorine to its town water supply, something that it had previously only done as a precaution after a water main break or when bacteria is detected during routine weekly testing. The state mandate, Bryan Redmond, director of the Drinking Water […]
Funding at heart of startup Ludlow private school
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC A new private, independent high school in Ludlow will be pushing hard to raise the funding it needs to open in the coming school year, according to its board chair Sean Williams. The task is made doubly difficult by the effect of a global pandemic on the […]
‘First’ extension of stay at home to be announced Friday
By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC Gov. Phil Scott announced Wednesday that on Friday he will announce the “first extension” of his stay-at-home orders that have closed shops, restaurants and schools and kept many people at home. During his Wednesday press conference, Scott also said that the administration would also provide an update on […]
Health Dept. rolls out new Covid-19 dashboard More detailed demographic information available
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Vermont’s Department of Health today rolled out a new Covid-19 activity dashboard that gives the public much more detailed information than has been available to date. There are still totals of tests, infections, hospitalizations and deaths and there’s still a map, but now a visitor to the […]
Victim advocates unsettled by drop in help hotline calls during stay-at-home order
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Advocates for victims of domestic violence are seeing a significant drop in the number of calls to help hotlines since the state mandated stay at home orders in mid-March. And they find that drop “unsettling.” On Monday, Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said that overall 911 […]
Early spurt of gardens, seed sales, farm shares With social distancing regs, farmers markets remain in limbo
By Evan Chadwick ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Covid-19 crisis has spurred an early spike in sales of seeds and growing supplies as well as people signing up for Community Supported Agriculture, even while it has stymied this summer’s farmers markets. Jon Cohen, farmer and owner of Deep Meadow Farm in Ascutney, says that so […]
In reversal, health department recommends wearing masks But save medical grade masks for those on the front lines
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing, LLC Vermont’s Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine stepped out ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today saying that Vermonters should wear cloth masks in public even if they have no symptoms. But his remarks were not without caveats and qualifiers. “At this moment in time, […]
Weston Playhouse cancels summer season Intends to bring back three major productions in 2021
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Weston Playhouse has canceled for the foreseeable future its summer theater season as well as all special events and concerts planned for the playhouse in downtown Weston and the nearby Walker Farm. Susanna Gellert, the executive artistic director of the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, announced Thursday that […]
TRSU offers superintendent position to Fierman
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Last night, the Two Rivers Supervisory Union board offered Green Mountain High School Principal Lauren Fierman a two-year contract to replace Meg Powden as superintendent beginning on July 1, 2020. Powden resigned from the post on Jan. 13 effective June 30, 2020, opting not to complete the […]
Hance named Chester town manager Financially distressed urged to call town over taxes, bills
Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC In the 15 years that Julie Hance has worked for Chester town government, she has been assistant town clerk, assistant town treasurer, zoning administrator, executive assistant and assistant town manager. On Wednesday, April 1, the Chester Select Board unanimously named her town manager and gave her a one-year […]
State’s Covid-19 modeling shows peak mid-April to early May
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC In a lengthy Zoom news conference Thursday afternoon, members of the Scott administration explained that modeling done to predict the course of the coronavirus in Vermont is showing that the isolation and distancing measures ordered by the governor are working and that the peak of the infections […]
More medical surge sites announced for Vermont 50-bed medical trailers for Brattleboro, Mt. Ascutney
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Scott administration today announced that two more medical surge sites will be established — one in Rutland and one in Essex Junction — as the state prepares for a large increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. In a press release today, Gov. Phil Scott said […]
Springfield Medical Systems manages under Covid-19 changes
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic has meant that health care systems have had to make changes to the way they work on a day-to-day basis while coping with shortages in gear and uncertain finances that can be difficult for rural providers and all the more […]
Testing reveals more cases; infections jump by 37
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing, LLC The expanded testing regime announced by Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine seems to be turning up more new cases than were found when screening was limited to only the very sick. On Friday, Levine said that by having received a larger stockpile of test kits, the state […]
Signs of the Times: In Londonderry
Chester Telegraph reporter Bruce Frauman took a tour of Londonderry late last week to visit the shops and offices that are usually open to the public but under shut-down orders because of the Covid-19 virus are either open on a limited basis, with altered hours or closed completely. Here’s what he discovered. Click any photo […]
The women behind the masks Three businesswomen sew kindness into every face mask
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing Three businesswomen have turned their sewing expertise into an act of kindness by creating washable, reusable face masks for friends, family and medical personnel throughout the region to help slow Covid-19 infections in Vermont. They are part of a force of individuals who have stepped up to fill a […]
Gov. Scott: If you don’t need to come to Vt., don’t New restrictions on lodging, mandated quarantine for travelers
By Shawn Cunningham ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Scott today ordered restrictions on travelers arriving in Vermont and ordered the lodging industry — including Airbnbs and others offering short-term rentals as well as campgrounds and RV parks — to close and stop taking reservations. […]
Weston board delays decision on special Town Meeting in its first remote session
By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC In its first video-conferencing meeting during the Covid-19 shutdown, the Weston Select Board on March 24 delayed action on a proposal by board chair Denis Benson to hold a special Town Meeting to postpone large town expenditures such as a $90,000 bridge replacement and $30,000 for a fire […]
