May 22, 2025 Chester, Deep River, & Essex Vol. XXV Iss. 21
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Voters Approve $18.5M Budget at Town Meeting By Christian Maldonado Staff Writer CHESTER
Chester residents voted 71–30 in favor of the town’s proposed $18,567,708 budget at the Annual Town Meeting held on May 13, approving a spending plan that reflects a roughly 10% increase over last year. The meeting drew 101 voters to the Chester
Meeting House—about 3.6% of the town’s registered voters. Members of the Boards of Finance and Selectmen, including First Selectwoman Cindy Lignar, presented the budget and reviewed the results of the May 6 Region 4 referendum before opening the floor to public comment. Board of Selectmen member Paul Radicchi
was among the first to speak, warning that the increase is not sustainable. “We are looking at a 10% increase in the budget compared to last year,” Radicchi said. “We have to ask ourselves, is this sustainable? We have to look at making cuts somewhere. I have friends that I don’t know if
It’s Tony Time for Michael Price................................2
See Voters Approve page 4
Firing Up Creativity
Personal Gains The Valley girls’ outdoor track team has seen a lot of growth this spring on both an individual and collective basis............................................14
Kiln glass artist Jeni Gray-Roberts demonstrates how to cut and shape fused glass during her first class of the spring/summer season at RiverFire Glass inside SOMA Studios in Deep River on May 13. No prior experience is needed to join the creative workshops, which run through August 12.
Photo by Laura Matesky/ Valley Courier #1 COLDWELL BANKER AGENT IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY
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A Show that Has Almost Everything Don’t miss Ragtime at Goodspeed...................................25