[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by c~mom

Great Info! Thanks! We are very curious about the Chester area, we havn't been there yet, but have been through a lot of the nearby towns. We are dying to take another road trip to check it out! There were quite a few homes listed in our size, taste, and price range. What's the school district like? Churches? Volunteer organizations?

Here's the Town of Chester website: Welcome to Chester, Vermont! -- The Town with a heart, located in the heart of Vermont it can give you a little more info. There's an activities calendar to give you an idea of some of the things that are going on around town. The free local weekly Message For The Week can give you a little insight to what goes on around the local towns.

I can not tell you much about the school district, other than the elementary school is right in town (Chester Andover Elementary School= CAES) as is the Jr/Sr HS -- Green Mountain Union HS (Green Mountain Union High School) The people with whom I have spoken love the district; I am not yet a full time resident and do not have all the answers pertaining to the schools.

[Side note: My children attend school on LI. We live in "well-ranked" school district on LI, so we are seeing my oldest through HS before leaving. My youngest would transfer to CAES 6th grade. My husband's trade could be adversely impacted if the economy continues in the direction it is headed in; if so, my VT plans will go up in smoke as I will have to sell that house.]

There are several churches within the village - 4 on Main St, one on Rte 103 in the Stone Village (the Universalist Church is house in one of the stone buildings.) On Main St there is an Episcopal Church, Congregationalist Church, Catholic Church and Baptist Church.

There is a public library on the green; I know that there are some volunteer type positions there as well as at the historical society across the way. There are animal charity groups, FD & EMS fund raisers, the school children run various fund raisers. There's a Family center to help those who need help. The VFW just had a new hall built on 103 as you enter Chester from the east.

It is a very community-oriented community. Want to laugh? A group of local business women (and 1 man) created the "Chester Alternative Calendar" to raise money for community projects and such. Chester Calendar (broken link) Think of the movie, Calendar Girls. Yeppers. That's what these ladies and one gentleman did very tastefully (and with a touch of humor!)

There is a rod and gun club, snowmobile club and car club that I am aware of. Chester covers a huge area; there's probably something I haven't gotten to yet. We make a point of going up on Green up day every year to do our part.

At the foot of Lovers Lane (west of the green - just off Rte 11) there is the town recreation area:
a skateboard park (currently being rebuilt -- they were seeking the local skateboarders' input), pool (swimming lessons in the summer), tennis courts, baseball diamond. This serves as parking for snowmobilers in the winter as the VAST trails cross this area.

Everyone's friendly in that New England way; you can spot us transplants by our tendency to be verbose lol

The local hardware store owner knows our names; knows our account number -- never asks. The folks in the RE office know our situation and check on our house for us. The gentleman who owns the Inn Victoria always has a hello when we stroll past; when he was selling ice cream he always remembered our favorite flavors (Good man!) The ladies in the book shop are a delight; the woman who owns the natural food store is rather Bohemian and fun to chat with.

I don't know whether this helped you or not. Please feel free to ask me anything and I will try to answer you.

[c~mom]

Wow, this is great info, and sounds like a great community, I can't wait to go see for myself! My kids will be very excited to hear about a new skatepark!! Our town we live in now, is (never thought I would say this)...a little too small...we don't have a lot of the extras, like a pool and skate park, so we are looking for a small town, with a friendly sense of community, but maybe a tad bit bigger then where we live now so the kids have more to do...I hate those, "There's nothing to do...I'm so bored!" Days! Another question or two...Have you heard about kids groups and activities???? Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, or 4H, do they do a weekly community or school ski bus trip?

[c~mom]

Oh my Goodness!! Those ladies look they had a "Hoot" making that calendar...it's great to see some gutsy small town folk doin a good deed with a little "risky business" Another thing I love about Vermont, openminded fun people! If someone in my small NY town attempted that...whoo hoo, our little old ladies at church would be in an uproar! You go Girls..and 1 Guy!!!! LOL

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by c~mom

Wow, this is great info, and sounds like a great community, I can't wait to go see for myself! My kids will be very excited to hear about a new skatepark!! Our town we live in now, is (never thought I would say this)...a little too small...we don't have a lot of the extras, like a pool and skate park, so we are looking for a small town, with a friendly sense of community, but maybe a tad bit bigger then where we live now so the kids have more to do...I hate those, "There's nothing to do...I'm so bored!" Days! Another question or two...Have you heard about kids groups and activities???? Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, or 4H, do they do a weekly community or school ski bus trip?

The skateboard park is under planning, the old one was demolished this past fall -- the town was seeking suggestions from the skateboarders as to what could be done to improve the park. There is scouting and 4H in the area. I don't know about weekly ski (be it school or community) bus trips, but those might be listed on either the school website or the Town website.

It's lovely to see children with beach towels draped over their shoulders bicycling along Main st on route to the pool. They're getting to be kids -- which is something on LI they don't have as readily. Everything is too planned here, playdates, activities, SAT tutors, you name it. I love walking through town and seeing people relaxing in the gazebo or chatting with their neighbors; it's like home: warm and inviting.

Here's another glimpse:
VermontTv.net Showing Vermont to the World (http://www.vermonttv.net/chestr.htm - broken link)

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by c~mom

Oh my Goodness!! Those ladies look they had a "Hoot" making that calendar...it's great to see some gutsy small town folk doin a good deed with a little "risky business" Another thing I love about Vermont, openminded fun people! If someone in my small NY town attempted that...whoo hoo, our little old ladies at church would be in an uproar! You go Girls..and 1 Guy!!!! LOL

We were in Lisai's Market in Chester Depot (excellent meat, and nice people) when we spotted the calendar by the register. We scooped one up! My husband brought it home to NY to show and everyone has been remarking much like what you've said.

[c~mom]

[Side note: My children attend school on LI. We live in "well-ranked" school district on LI, so we are seeing my oldest through HS before leaving. My youngest would transfer to CAES 6th grade. My husband's trade could be adversely impacted if the economy continues in the direction it is headed in; if so, my VT plans will go up in smoke as I will have to sell that house.]

Trying to quote you, but still learning my way around this forum

I hope your permanent move to Vt works out for you, your at least a few steps ahead of us with having your 2nd home up there already, but I understand the wait for graduation, its hard to pick a good time for everyone in the household to be ready to move...but I think if its best for the parents, its probably best for the children too! And NY vs. VT is easy to pick the best of the 2! Vermonts got it hands down!! I would sell off anything but that...hold onto your dream...sell the LI house! LOL I know its not that simple! Thanks for everything!!

[KNOTTE]

Chester is a really neat town. I don't know much about the elementary school there, but I would recommend further researching the high school there. GMUHS has had a rough reputation for years. When I was in high school at a private school in Rutland - 15 years ago- we had numerous transfer students from GMUHS who drove the 45 minutes to and fro each day. I'm hoping they've improved, but I can't say that I have heard that they have. I'd just recommend doing your homework - no pun intended.

[c~mom]

Thanks...overheard some other negative feedback around the forum on this High School...appreciate the heads up, I will definately do my homework LOL I heard in some areas you can send your children to tuition based schools for less, or the local district pays sometimes do you know anything about that? Is it only specific rural areas away from schools?

[KNOTTE]

I'd recommend googling VT Act 150 which is High School School Choice, there are a variety of conditions and I believe that you are responsible for transportation if you take advantage of this option. I'm glad to see they are providing alternatives however. Good luck!

[MRVphotog]

Always liked the Chester area...two really cool Vermont food companies are there.
Putney Pasta Home Page and
Drew's All Natural (http://www.chefdrew.com/Pages/aboutus.html - broken link)

Putney Pasta started out in Putney but when they became successful they wanted to expand and the Town of Putney wouldn't give the tax deal they wanted so they moved to Chester. We have been using several of Drew's sauces in our food business for years, nice people, great sauces/dressings.

Short drive to some great skiing and easy access to I91. The row of old stone houses just past the depot heading towards Ludlow are really cool. It's been a few years but I think they were built in the 1700's and people still live in them.