Friday, August 14, 10-4
Saturday, August 15, 10-3
 
All infant and toddler clothing, 4 @$1.00
All women’s shorts and bathing suits, 2 @$1.00
 
Please do not drop off TS donations during the sale or when we are not open for business. When the bags get wet and are invaded by critters, we incur an expense to discard these items. Dollars spent to discard unusable donations are better spent to purchase fresh food for our Food Shelf.
 
The Chester-Andover Family Center Thrift Shop is located at 908 VT Route 103S in Chester.
 
For more information follow us on Facebook or visit our website at www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org
 
 Thrift Shop Safety Protocols

• A limit of five customers are allowed in the store at one time.
• Customers are required to wear a mask, sanitize hands prior to entering and maintain social distancing of six feet.
• The bathroom and dressing room will not be available.

    The last day that I and my fellow House colleagues set foot in the House Chamber was Friday, March 13th.   Since then, for over 3 months, the 150 member House has conducted business from our homes . . . with Speaker of the House, Mitzi Johnson, insisting we continue to wear proper business attire while zooming, which for me meant a jacket and tie.

   It didn't take long for the COVID-19 pandemic issues to take top priority.   Vermont's allotment from the Federal CARES Act was $1.25 billion, all of which must be spent by the end of the year and be used exclusively for relief from pandemic losses. Over the past three months we managed to move nearly $1 billion worth of Corona Relief Funds, (CRF), to Vermont communities, including over $235 million for businesses, farms, and non-profits who have suffered significant losses. The combined $1 billion investment is the largest Emergency Recovery Program ever passed by the Vermont legislature.

    $85 million will be direct aid to Vermonters.  It includes $5m for foreclosure protection; $25m for eviction protection; $38m for rehousing initiatives and housing grants. The Vermont Foodbank receives $4.7 million, while summer meals programs get $12 million.  Millions more will shore up schools, child care, parent child centers, and our health care system.  Monies will also support our farms, working lands, state colleges, and UVM.

   The House also approved a Senate bill that would make it easier for those in high-risk jobs to get workers' compensation.  And we also took action  to establish a Vote-by-Mail system for the November General Election.

   Not all of the House's activities were directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
H.955, the Capital bill, will be a $60 million stimulus for the construction and trades industry as we begin to restart the economy. 

   And in our last week of the session, we unanimously supported a bill, that would ban police from using choke holds and mandate all state troopers to wear body cameras, while committing us to start dismantling systemic and structural racism.

   One other bill that had to be passed by the House before we recessed was the budget for the first financial quarter of 2021.  The Q1 budget's purpose is to keep the basics of government functioning through the first quarter, which runs from July 1 through September 30, 2020.  It will finance the Education Fund at 100% and also appropriate $50 million from the CRF to cover pandemic costs for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. 

   But while we have recessed, we are not adjourned.   We are scheduled to return on August 25 after we have a more complete picture of where the State's finances and potential federal assistance stand.  Hopefully in August we will be in a better position to build a full year budget for FY 2021 and appropriate the remaining $250 million of the $1.25 billion CARES Act allotment.  But make no mistake, it will require pulling back fiscally, resulting in substantial reductions.
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   Please reach out to me if you need support connecting to relief resources or have any questions or feedback.    I can be reached at tbock@leg.state.vt.us or tmbock@vermontel.net.  

Due to the generosity of the community and your patience during the Covid-19 shut down, we have been overwhelmed with Thrift Shop donations. Our Donation Trailer is FULL. 
 
Volunteers will be working hard to process the product already donated to make room for your donations. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to get this done.
If you would like to volunteer a few hours between now and August 1 to help, stop in during TS business hours, email us at cafc302@gmail.com or call and leave a message at 802-875-3236.
 
We are located at 908VT Route 103 S in Chester.
 
Thrift Shop Hours are Fridays, 10-4 PM and Saturdays, 10-3
 
Thrift Shop Covid-19 Safety Protocols

• A limit of five customers are allowed in the store at one time.
• Customers are required to wear a mask, sanitize hands prior to entering and maintain social distancing of six feet.
• The bathroom and dressing room will not be available.

The Town of Chester has been notified that a young child has tested positive for COVID-19.  This young child was present at the Chester Town Pool on July 9, 2020 from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m., and she is not a Chester resident.  The testing was performed in support of contact tracing efforts unrelated to the use of the Chester Town Pool or its other facilities.  The child has not shown any signs or symptoms of COVID related illness.

​The protocols for the Chester Town Pool that have been in effect since the pool opened include an hourly cleaning and disinfecting.  Every 45 minutes the pool/pool house area are emptied of people and all touchable services are disinfected. This happens consistently throughout every day of operation. 
Based on information provided by the CDC, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread through contact with chlorinated water in swimming pools.  However, to take all precautions and in compliance with CDC guidelines, the Chester Town Pool area will be closed today, Monday July 13.  A professional company has been hired to disinfect the pool and pool house thoroughly.  It is expected that the pool will re-open on Tuesday, July 14 at noon.  

If you were at the Chester Town Pool on Thursday, July 9, 2020 from 6:00-6:45 p.m., please contact the Chester Town Hall at 875-2173 to confirm your identity and other contact information.  You are also advised to contact your primary care provider for guidance on isolating and whether COVID testing should be obtained. 

​We are hearing more and more about recent exposures taking place closer to Chester. I encourage all of us to strengthen and use all CDC recommended precautions during this time to help minimize the spread of COVID.

Road Work on Chester Road / Grafton Road (Route 35):

Chester/Grafton Rd. will be closed to all traffic from Eastman Rd north to the Chester/Grafton Town line.  Eastman Road will be open.

• from 7 AM to 4 PM on Thursday and Friday, July 9th and 10th, and
• from 7 AM to 4PM for the entire week, that is, Monday through Friday, July 13th through 17th

Access for local traffic from Grafton to Otis Road and to Ellsworth Road should remain open.
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We suggest you have persons and deliveries use Route 121 instead of Eastman, as Eastman may have heavy truck traffic at times.

Town of Grafton

Compost with Confidence State law bans food scraps from the landfill starting July 2020.

• At Home: It could save you money on trash
• Drop-off: Transfer stations, bag drops, and 2 compost facilities accept food scraps
• Curbside Collection: Ask your hauler if they pick up food scraps for composting. Visit VTrecycles.com @VTrecycles

The Chester Andover Family Center Thrift Shop will be open for business starting Friday, June 19, 2020. The CAFC Board recently adopted new protocols to guide how we administer our Food Shelf, Financial Assistance and Thrift Shop programs. All new protocols are consistent with CDC and State of Vermont Guidelines and are intended for the safety of our customers, recipients and volunteers.
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Our Food Shelf will continue to operate with a drive-up, take out system. Recipients will continue to receive their food boxes outside. Volunteers and recipients who may need to be in the CAFC are required to wear masks, use hand sanitizer when they enter and respect social distancing. Food Shelf hours are Thursdays, 1-5 and Fridays, 10-2.

Financial Assistance requests must be made by calling the Center at 802-875-3236 and leaving a message with your name, a phone number where we can reach you and a description of your need. This phone is monitored daily and your call will be returned by a FA Volunteer.
Our Thrift Shop will be open for shopping beginning Friday, June 19 for two days a week: Fridays, 10-4 and Saturdays, 10-3. Thursdays will be reserved for cleaning and processing donations.

To keep our customers and volunteers safe, we are putting in place a few safety protocols.

•       A limit of five customers will be allowed in the store at one time.
•      Customers will be required to wear a mask, sanitize hands prior to entering and maintain social             distancing of six feet.
•      The bathroom and dressing room will not be available.
•      We will receive donations on Fridays and Saturdays, outside, at the rear of the building.

We know that while these new rules are not convenient, they are not unusual for these challenging times. Patience will be required by customers and volunteers. We are confident and determined to provide a safe, enjoyable shopping experience.

Please go to our website at www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org and check out our Thrift Shop page. You will see a list of acceptable donations as well as items we cannot accept.  As always, we request that donations are not left on days when we are closed.
The Chester-Andover Family Center is located at 908 VT Route 103 South. Call us at 802-875-3236, check us out on Facebook or visit our website at www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org.

In previous years, the Town of Chester has mailed tax bills the second week in July. This year, there will be a delay in mailing tax bills.  The State of Vermont will not be setting the Education Tax Rate until August 1st with this date “being subject to change”.   To avoid potential confusion and additional expense of mailing two separate bills, the town will not be mailing tax bills until the Education Rate has been set.  At this time, the tax due date will remain September 15, 2020.  Should the education rate be delayed further, we will reevaluate this process. 

This delay in billing will have a significant impact on the cash flow for the town and may cause a need for additional borrowing.  In effort to help minimize this impact, we are encouraging property owners to make prepayments for their property taxes in July and early August, based on their 2019 tax bill.  Prepaying any amount will also help relieve the overall financial burden for property owners when the final bill becomes due.   

Payments can be made by hand delivery, mail, direct debited from a checking/savings account, or paid by credit/debit card (3% fee for this payment option). Payments can be dropped off to Town Hall Monday through Friday 8;00-4:00 or can be mailed to Town of Chester, P.O. Box 370, Chester, VT 05143. If you would like to make a payment or set up recurring payments to be taken out of an account, please call the Town Office at (802) 875-2173.

​Thank you to the property owners that will take advantage of this option and to everyone for their understanding during this difficult time.

The Whiting Library is gearing up to participate in a fun-filled Green Up Vermont Day, happening on May 30th, 2020. Everyone is invited to come by the front yard of the Whiting Library at 117 Main St, Chester between 10a.m. - 2p.m. to pick up your official Green Up bag for litter collection so you can help make our community shine.

​You may also want to stay for a little while in the library yard. We will be selling raffle tickets for super fun prizes and giving away wildflower seeds for you to plant at home. Kids will enjoy an environmentally-inspired windsock craft project to take and make later. This will also be a chance to meet the new library Director, Deirdre Doran, who is excited to connect with members of the community, albeit from a safe distance! We do encourage participants to practice good safety during this event: wear masks, keep 6 feet apart, and bring hand sanitizer or gloves.

​If you are not already a library patron, now is the perfect time to sign up for a library card! You can also use this opportunity to pick up previously reserved library materials. The library building itself is still closed to the public, but all our materials are available for loan. Interlibrary loan throughout Vermont has also started up again, so feel free to request materials that you can’t find in our library catalog. For more information about front porch pick up at the library, please visit our website www.whitinglibrary.org.

​You can learn more about the mission and history of Green Up Date Vermont, as well as find a checklist for preparing for your successful Green Up Day, at www.greenupvermont.org.

​The dumpster for Green Up Day will be available for use at the Chester Town Garage May 22, 2020 – June 6, 2020. Bags can be picked up at the Town Hall outside on the porch, from Chester Hardware, and at Whiting Library. Please take what you need for bags and leave some for others.  Remember to wear gloves, masks, and protective gear to help avoid ticks, sharp objects, and other threats while out and about. Following all COVID-19 guidelines during this time is very important. For more information about the organization and to help by donating, please visit www.greenupvermont.org. Thank you to the volunteers for taking the time to clean up our community.

Property tax bills will be mailed out in July and will be due September 15, 2020. The Town of Chester is aware that times have been difficult for everyone due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We would like property owners to know that the Town of Chester accepts prepayments for property taxes throughout the year. The 2020 tax amounts are undetermined at this time as tax rates are not established until June 30.  Paying any amount now could make it easier as September 15 approaches when taxes will be due in full. Payments can be made by mail, direct debited from a checking/savings account, or paid by credit/debit card (3% fee for this payment option). Payments should be mailed to Town of Chester, P.O. Box 370, Chester, VT 05143. If you would like to make a payment or set up recurring payments to be taken out of an account, please call the Town Office at (802) 875-2173.

The Chester-Andover Family Center wants to reassure the community that we are here to support and meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens during these challenging times. Our Thrift Shop is closed until further notice. Our Food Shelf and Financial Assistance Programs, however, are open and available.
Please note that due to Covid-19 restrictions and our efforts to protect the safety of our volunteers and those who may need our help, new procedures are in place.

Requests for Financial Assistance must be made by phone. Call the Family Center at 802-875-3236 and leave a message, including your name, what you need and a phone number where we can reach you. Family Center Volunteers monitor this phone daily. Your call will be returned.

Current Food Shelf recipients can pick up their food on Thursdays from 1-5 and Fridays from 10-2. If you or someone you know would like to sign up for food, please call the center at 802-875-3236 and leave a message or stop by during Food Shelf business hours on Thursday or Friday. While we require proof that you are a Chester or Andover resident, we will always provide you with emergency food and refer you to the Food Shelf that serves your address. 

We would like to thank the community for supporting our efforts with donations and by sending folks our way for Financial Assistance and Food. Our mission is more important than ever as we confront this pandemic.
​
Please consider donating. Your help is needed for as we remain a resource for our most vulnerable citizens. Go to our website at https://www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org to donate or send your check to CAFC, PO Box 302, Chester, VT 05143

​The Whiting Library announces Front Porch Pick Up will begin on Wednesday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Front porch pick up will then be available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by other arrangements.
 
To support community health, the Whiting Library building is currently closed to the public. Whiting librarians are still providing services to the community despite our closed doors and we are eager to continue to find ways to assist our patrons from a distance. Front porch pick up is a welcome addition to our many online offerings, free books and movies, and kids craft projects. 
 
How Will Front Porch Pick Up Service Work?
 

1. Browse our catalog online. You can find a link to the catalog on the library website: www.whitinglibrary.org
2. Place items on hold by calling the library at 875-2277 or emailing whitinglibrary1@gmail.com. Remember, there is a ten item check out limit. 
3. Library staff will ask you for your library card number when you call or email, so be sure to have it with you. If you don’t have a library card, let’s get you set up over the phone!
4. Once your item(s) are available for pick up, you will be notified.
5. Once notified, come to the library and pick up the bag with your name on it off the cart on the front porch. Please, only one person at a time on the front porch.

 
Only items placed on hold will be available for porch side pickup. There is no interlibrary loan available at this time. Please do not use the pickup service if you are feeling sick in any way. For more details about front porch pick up, visit the library website. 
 
While the library is closed, please keep your currently checked out materials at home or feel free to return books to the drop box on the front porch at any time. Due dates will be extended and no overdue fines will be charged during this period.
 
We sure miss all of our patrons while we stay closed to the public due to Vermont's Stay at Home Order. Contact-less front porch pick up of our collection will be a great way to bridge the gap until you can safely return to browse the stacks. 

Letter of Thanks to the Community 

Whiting Library’s first librarian served for 50 years. My tenure was a relatively short 11 and a half. What began in the children’s room moved down the hall into the front office which was the library’s original entrance.  From there the services to the public, physical needs of the building, and news ideas were nudged along.  

During this time furniture was rearranged and replaced, old curtains were removed, almost every wall was repainted.  Multiple air conditioner units were replaced with heat-pumps that switch modes from cooling to heating. The furnaces were changed from oil to propane, and every nook has been cleaned and cleared out.  

In 2008 there was one computer for the use of the director. The catalog was a set of cards, and check-out involved a machine that took a chunk out of the side of the book card while stamping the date. Whiting Library now has eight computers, five iPads and three Kindles. The catalog and all circulation features are automated. Our catalog is connected to all the others in Vermont allowing easy searching and borrowing between libraries.  The collection of VCR and audio tapes gave way to discs. Magazines were reduced to a few, graphic novels became popular, and every book, movie and audio was considered and reconsidered for condition and relevance.  

In the public meeting area, a “loop” was installed for those with hearing difficulties. We installed a whiteboard for presentations, a TV, a DVD player, media screen and a popcorn popper. The piano was moved to a better location, repaired and tuned. Craft cubbies, toy storage and colorful rugs were added in the basement for a play space and maker space.  The exterior of the library was updated thanks to a grant and loan, and a park bench now sits beneath the omega window. We now have more opportunities to partner with others in the community, and many, many to thank. 

My personal thanks and also on behalf of Whiting Library to Deb Aldrich, Julie Hance, Cil Mathews, Amie  O’Brien, David Pisha for their help and support; to the members of the Chester Select board and those in Andover who promote our financial support; to SoVerA, Chester Townscapes, Chester Rotary, Nature Museum, St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Chester/Andover and Green Mountain Schools for their partnerships.  

Thank you to all the trustees who sat on the board in the last 11 ½ years: Cynthia Collins, Marian Mosher, Ruthanne Batchelder, Ann Curran, Charlotte Edgar, Janet Churchill Elliot, Phyllis Jewett, Bruce Parks, Suzy Forlie, Shawn Cunningham, Mariette Bock, Mary Lou Farr, Jay Emery, Kathleen Pellett, David Lord, Linda Tallarico, Stephanie Whitney-Payne, Carrie King, Jessica Buchanan, Jessica DiMarco, Vanessa Heyburne, Judith Copping, Coleen Garvey, Ed Grossman, Lyza Gardner, John Holme, Charlene Huyler.   
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A thank you to all the volunteers past and present:  Doris Hastings, Jonne Adler, Chris Blodgett, Alice and Bob Martin, Brenda Dansingburg, Daryl Gustafson, Elizabeth Moulton, Dorothy Clair, Carol Hoyt, Arlene Mutschler, Susan Ronsheim, John Donarum, Joan Houghton, Cathy Hasbrouck, Christine, Michael and Steve Copping. Loving thanks to Mark Tanzer, who through it all has patched, painted, plastered, repaired, hauled, hammered and otherwise been the library “handyman/husband”.  
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Thanks and appreciation for the prior directorship of Karen Morris, and to children’s librarian Carrie King and her predecessors Stephanie Kaufman, Jeanne Waldren, Karin Fischer, Theone Wallace. Thank you to library assistant Will Wilcox and those who came before. I look forward to all that new Director Deirdre Doran will accomplish. Forgive my omissions, please know you are most appreciated.  

I especially wish to thank all those who find something to inspire, inform and entertain at the library.  
Keep visiting! Bring your friends! 
Sincerely, 
 
Sharon Tanzer, Director-Retired, Whiting Library 

MAY 11, 12 & 13 ARE FOR PRE-GRIEVANCE
MAY 18, 19 & 20 ARE GRIEVANCE DAYS
All grievances have to be in writing and submitted via regular mail or email to  chester2020reappraisal@nemrc.com. The Listers can also accept written appeals and will forward them on to the reappraisal team. To schedule an appointment call 802-321-8025 and use option #3. Grievances can be by phone, Skype, Google Hangout etc.

Vermont’s Downtown and Village Center tax credit program is one of the primary benefits of Downtown and Village Center designation, and supports revitalization in community centers across the state. In 2020, $2,600,000 in state income tax credits are available to projects that enhance the historic character and improve building safety of older and historic commercial and community buildings in these designated communities. The credits support general rehabilitation work, code compliance work, and façade improvements, and may be combined with the federal program.
 
Applications for the next round of tax credits are due Wednesday July 1, 2020 and the Vermont Downtown Board will make is allocation decisions by mid-August. The guidelines and application can be found here- program guidelines and application. If you are not able to gather required attachments due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, contact Caitlin Corkins to discuss possible extensions. We also encourage applicants to reach out to Caitlin with any other questions about the program or the application.
 
Finally, stay tuned for an upcoming webinar opportunity which will cover program basics, the scoring criteria, and how to compile a competitive application. Applications must be submitted electronically to caitlin.corkins@vermont.gov or to:
Caitlin Corkins
State of Vermont
Division for Community Planning & Revitalization
One National Life Drive
Davis Building, 6th Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620-0501

With the COVID-19 pandemic still disrupting business throughout Vermont, the Town of Chester is urging all registered voters to update their mailing and physical addresses before this year’s August Primary Election and November General Election. The August and November Elections are still being held as usual. We will be updating you of any changes to the voting process if necessary. If you are already a registered voter in the town of Chester, please visit https://mvp.vermont.gov/ to update your information as well as request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can also be requested by calling the Town Office at (802) 875-2173, or by mailing the Absentee Ballot Request form to Town of Chester, P.O. Box 370, Chester, VT 05143. If you would like to register to vote, please visit https://olvr.vermont.gov/.