Letters • Published Oct 02, 2024 08 am
Vote Yes for Chester Charter continues Chester’s traditional selectmen/Town Meeting governance. At Town Meeting, voters are the legislators who decide annual budgets that...
Letters • Published Oct 02, 2024 08 am
I would like to thank Rita Christopher for her outstanding Person of the Week on Marilyn Alverio (“Marilyn Alverio: Powering Up,” Sept. 19). At a time when all forms of d...
Letters • Published Oct 02, 2024 08 am
The Chester Hose Company held its first annual golf tournament on Sept.14. The tournament was at Lyman’s Golf Club in Middlefield. We had 15 teams of four, all trying to ...
Letters • Published Sep 25, 2024 08 am
There is much to love about our small town of Chester and its 4,000 residents. At the heart of the debate on whether or not to adopt the proposed charter referendum is th...
Letters • Published Sep 25, 2024 08 am
Chester voters have an exceptionally large stake in this year’s Nov. 5 election with a question on the ballot about adopting a charter form of government. I want to thank...
Letters • Published Sep 25, 2024 08 am
For a long time, Connecticut residents have not considered how energy costs affect their cost of living. However, that is changing with the surprising “public cost” charg...
Letters • Published Sep 25, 2024 08 am
Having served as this district’s state representative for six years, I understand what the job requires. There are three essential qualities needed, and Renee LaMark Muir...
Letters • Published Sep 18, 2024 08 am
As members of the Chester Charter Commission, we considered if Chester needed a charter and, if so, how it should be structured. We concluded that a charter was the best ...
Letters • Published Sep 11, 2024 08 am
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Social media has been flooded with this tired trope by those who oppose the referendum to adopt a proposed Charter for Chester. Out of ...
Letters • Published Sep 04, 2024 08 am
First it was the church leaders closing off the church parking lot preventing runners from using it, after decades of use, for the Four on the Fourth Race. Their excuse t...
Letters • Published Aug 28, 2024 08 am
As a Chester resident and member of various boards and commissions, I have followed the governance study and charter commission with great interest. As some of you read t...
Letters • Published Aug 07, 2024 08 am
“Tax collector” sounds like it has to do with numbers, but my job was all about people. Every year, I saw residents’ circumstances change: a new home with added bedrooms ...
Letters • Published Jul 17, 2024 08 am
After 30-plus years of allowing registration and parking for the Chester Road Race, I was shocked and disappointed by the decision of St. Joseph's Church not to allow the...
Letters • Published Jun 26, 2024 08 am
Chester has shortchanged senior citizens for years, failing to provide genuinely affordable, income-limited housing for seniors like other towns, including Deep River and...
Letters • Published Jun 12, 2024 08 am
The Nest is a small cafe in downtown Deep River that has developed a cozy atmosphere with soft colors, comfy couches, and a cute little book nook. The Nest is also a non-...
Letters • Published May 01, 2024 08 am
After years of misguided and ineffective efforts to improve cellular service in Chester, the town is on a new path.
On April 23, the Board of Selectmen heard a presentati...
Letters • Published Apr 17, 2024 08 am
March 16 was a big day for Region 4 Education Foundation, Inc. We held our second annual Catch a Leprechaun 5K in Essex. We had about 200 runners, and we increased our sp...
Letters • Published Apr 10, 2024 08 am
Chester fans of literature, good cheer, and reliable information resources lost a friend recently in the passing of Leigh Basilone of Deep River. Leigh was part of the li...
Letters • Published Apr 03, 2024 08 am
As many of the residents of Chester know, I recently had a building that belongs to me catch on fire. I want you all to know that no one was hurt by the fire or during th...
Letters • Published Mar 20, 2024 08 am
As a former Chester and Region 4 Board of Education (BOE) member, I have followed the John Winthrop Middle School mold situation closely, and attending the public hearing...
Letters • Published Mar 13, 2024 08 am
I am writing to urge the communities of Chester, Deep River, and Essex to come together and Vote “Yes” at the upcoming March 26 referendum. For the last six months, John ...
Letters • Published Feb 28, 2024 08 am
For too long, the local Board of Education (BOE) has been able to get whatever they want, no matter how costly and without accountability. Their budgets only increase des...
Letters • Published Feb 07, 2024 08 am
Some years ago, not long after she was first elected, I asked State Representative Christine Palm for help with a new state requirement. I appreciated her efforts, which ...
Letters • Published Jan 17, 2024 08 am
According to recent news articles, the Regional School District 4 Board of Education is considering abandoning the John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS) due to building fail...
Letters • Published Jan 10, 2024 08 am
Chester Board of Selectmen Democrats Cynthia Lignar and Patricia Bandzes appear determined to pursue a deeply flawed plan to locate a new cellular phone service tower at ...
Letters • Published Nov 29, 2023 08 am
On Nov. 20, the Chester Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) approved the development of 47 Middlesex Avenue with conditions. That they approved the development with cond...
Letters • Published Nov 15, 2023 08 am
I would like to go on record opposing the overdevelopment plan for 47 Middlesex Turnpike being proposed to Chester by Vesta and Honeycomb Corporation. It has been made cl...
Letters • Published Nov 15, 2023 08 am
I join with Reverend W. Alan Froggatt of United Church of Chester, as Faith Leaders of Chester, to condemn the rise of antisemitism throughout the region, the country, an...
Letters • Published Nov 08, 2023 11 am
On behalf of the Chester Republican Town Committee, I would like to thank Tom Englert for his dedication and service as our town selectman and his wife, Terry, for her un...
Letters • Published Nov 01, 2023 08 am
Good citizenship can, in part, be defined as the role we fulfill as neighbors and volunteers. As a 30-year resident and active volunteer in Chester, I am excited and prou...
Letters • Published Nov 01, 2023 08 am
I support Chester first selectman candidate Cindy Lignar and selectman candidate Pat Bandzes. Both women possess the professional business and necessary experience and co...
Letters • Published Nov 01, 2023 08 am
In my experience, municipal leaders must be partners with their state leaders. That’s why I’m enthusiastically endorsing Cindy Lignar and Carol Jones for first selectman ...
Letters • Published Nov 01, 2023 08 am
It takes a special person to be the chair of the Board of Education. That individual needs to possess a deep understanding of the culture of the town and an appreciation ...
Letters • Published Nov 01, 2023 08 am
As someone born, raised, and educated in Chester, which is still home for me, I am excited and proud to support my father Ron Amara as candidate for first selectman.
My f...
Letters • Published Nov 01, 2023 08 am
Chester has serious issues facing it. Many are financial, others are simply neglect, which we are going to have to deal with. No point in looking at the “why” or “who”. I...
Letters • Published Oct 25, 2023 08 am
I write in support of John Connelly, who is seeking election as an alternate member of the Board of Finance on the Democratic ticket. After a 45-year teaching career, Joh...
Letters • Published Oct 25, 2023 08 am
I am writing in full support of Ron Amara as First Selectman of Chester. I’ve known Ron all my life and can speak to his character and values. I would like to highlight h...
Letters • Published Oct 25, 2023 08 am
I write in support of Deborah Vilcheck, with whom I have had personal experience with as a lawyer and associate for over 15 years. She has been serving as a member of the...
Letters • Published Oct 25, 2023 08 am
I would like to go on record opposing the overdevelopment plan for 47 Middlesex Turnpike being proposed to Chester by Vesta and Honeycomb Corporation. It has been made cl...
Letters • Published Oct 25, 2023 08 am
Chester Elementary School has long been recognized as a special place where the pursuit of academic excellence comes together with the commitment to meeting the necessary...
Letters • Published Oct 18, 2023 08 am
I am supporting the dedicated volunteers in Chester who, like me, are committed to doing their best for all our residents by serving on our boards and commissions that ke...
Letters • Published Oct 18, 2023 08 am
For too many years, some Chester voters have not considered important issues. Some have not bothered to vote. Before the municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 7, I’d sugges...
Letters • Published Oct 18, 2023 08 am
I am writing to support the election of Democrat Lorraine Connelly to the Chester Elementary School Board of Education. Lorraine was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Bo...
Letters • Published Oct 18, 2023 08 am
I write this letter in support of Carlie Dailey, an active alternate member of the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) in Chester and now seeking reelection to this posi...
Letters • Published Oct 18, 2023 08 am
The Town of Chester is at a crossroads. In one of Connecticut’s smaller towns, with a population of close to 4,000, most Chester residents want their town government to r...
Letters • Published Oct 11, 2023 09 am
I’m running for Chester Board of Selectmen with a firm, simple stand on proposed affordable housing planned for St. Joseph’s Parish Center: I am opposed.
I am not opposed...
Letters • Published Oct 11, 2023 09 am
Deep River voters have the unique opportunity to elect a First Selectwoman with no strings attached. Elect Kathryn “Katie” Russell, and she will be beholden to no one.
Ka...
Letters • Published Oct 11, 2023 09 am
As I ponder Chester’s conundrum and the applicant’s difficulties, it is evident to me that this process needs more time. My husband was fond of teasing me for taking an i...
Letters • Published Oct 04, 2023 09 am
I’m Paul Radicchi, candidate for Chester Board of Selectmen, with a message mostly not about politics. I’m writing to Chester friends and neighbors: Heads up, some advice...
Letters • Published Sep 27, 2023 08 am
The recent Sept. 14 press release penned by the Chester GOP (“Republicans Nominate Two for Top Spots”) contained a repeated message beseeching voters to put party labels ...
