What Did The SJC Rule?

Ken O’Brien

According to an article in today’s Worcester Telegram & Gazette, “The state’s highest court yesterday signed off on its earlier decision denying Sturbridge lawyer Kirstie L. Pecci’s request for a judicial review of the Board of Health’s decision to allow more solid waste into the Barefoot Road landfill.”

But, looking at the online docket report raises some questions.

Entries 21 and 22 on the report read as follows:

If You Can’t Beat’em, Bleed’em

Ken O’Brien

Last Friday I informed you of the tactics of the town and its attorney to delay and intimidate the citizen taxpayers of this town who filed suit relative to the illegal composition of the Board of Health.

Well, despite the fact that the matters at issue are purely a matter of law, they haven’t stopped at attempting to use legal maneuvers to delay a decision and make it difficult, if not impossible, for the citizens who filed this suit to continue.

A short while ago I received the following email from our attorney, Kirstie Pecci:

Barack Obama: Crooner in Chief

Last night at the White House:

The Newest Republican Bag Of Gas

Ken O’Brien

The price of gasoline could hit $5 a gallon by Memorial Day.

And it’s all President Obama’s fault.

That’s the latest canard emanating from the Republican talking points broadcaster, Fox News.

 After all, they lost the initiative on the economic issue when there became a clear trend that the economy was improving. It became even more obvious when the fact emerged that the U.S. economy was outpacing European economies that had embraced the kind of austerity policies that Republicans had been advocating.

Will Citizens United Be Reconsidered?

Ken O’Brien

On January 4^th I reported on a case decided by the Montana Supreme Court that was viewed by many as challenging the infamous Citizens United case.

Last Friday the U. S. Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the Montana decision.

According to the New York Times article, “The court’s action Friday does not mean the justices eventually will hear the case. Their most likely course might be simply reversing the state court ruling.”

While this is the prevailing opinion, it is one not universally shared by informed sources and insiders.

Where No Fan Has Gone Before…

Ken O'Brien

Having focused heavily of late on serious matters, both local and national, I thought it might be nice to lighten the mood.

Having been a fan of Star Trek since it first graced our TV screens in the 1960’s I really enjoyed the following trilogy. Whether an old “trekker” or a newbie, I hope you too will find them as amusing as I did.

Local Education in the 21st Century

Ken O’Brien

Three articles that appeared in the local press this week got me to thinking about where education at the local level is heading.

The most recent appeared today in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette and was titled “Local leaders get first tour of new Southbridge school”.

The other two articles appeared in the Southbridge Evening News. On February 17th they published an article with the headline, “DESE slams school improvement process” and on February 13th another front page article informed us that, in Charlton, “School committee discusses impact of virtual schooling”.

…And Justice For?

Ken O’Brien

Somewhat forgotten in the midst of the appalling antics of town government of late have been the developments in certain pending legal matters relating to the Southbridge landfill site assignment and the composition of the town’s Board of Health.

As regards the landfill site assignment, despite the premature crowing of devotees of the current regime, the decision initially rendered by the Massachusetts Supreme Court has been withdrawn.

Update: Southbridge Town Manager Wants a New Employee

Ken O’Brien

On January 25^th I posted an article titled “Breaking News: Southbridge Town Manager Wants a New Employee”.

In that piece I wrote, “I now have it confirmed by reliable sources within town hall that the town manager has come up with plans for a new position (paid for, presumably, with your tax dollars) that will also reward someone who (in my opinion) showed substantial kindness to the administration in the past.
“The proposal will be to create a part-time director (or whatever title) for the town recreation committee….
“Finally, the same sources confirm that the candidate that the town manager has in mind to recommend is Walter Bird, former Editor of the Southbridge Evening News.”

The Whole World Is Watching

A Valentine To The O’Zone Readers

Ken O’Brien

One of the frequently overlooked realities about the world wide web is that it is, in fact, worldwide.

Even as inconsequential a site as The O’Zone, once it is published, filters out to an audience that knows no boundaries.

With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to share with you one of the interesting set of statistics that Google provides to its bloggers.

These are reports on where the visitors to our sites are coming from geographically.

QVCAH SEEKS ARTISTS for the 2nd Annual ART WALL

The Quinebaug Valley Council for the Arts and Humanities (QVCAH) is seeking artists to participate in the 2nd Annual QVCAH ART WALL.

Southbridge Democrats Elect Delegates to 2012 Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention

Delegates to June Convention in Springfield will select candidates for U.S. Senate nomination

On February 11, 2012, Democrats in Southbridge held a caucus to elect delegates to the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s 2012 endorsing convention in Springfield this June.

The caucus, organized by the Southbridge Democratic Town Committee, elected Monika Agnello, Edward Alicea, Gary Fontaine, Maria Fontaine, John Jovan Jr., Linda Jowett, Demetri Kasperson, Paula Kenda, Scott Lazo, Dr. Richard Logan, Dawn Piche and Justin Ryan to represent Democrats in Southbridge at the annual convention. In addition, Committee Chairman Laurent R. McDonald will serve as an ex officio delegate and Javier Melendez will attend as an add-on delegate.

I Still Tear Up

I Still Tear Up

Ken O’Brien

There have been many tributes to Whitney Houston in the last few days.

However, the one moment in time that I will never forget that was, to me, the distillation of her talent and a profound love of country seems to have received short shrift from the media.

Therefore, I offer my moment from Whitney Houston’s life that I will never forget. It has never been approached, let alone equaled.

Put Up Or Shut Up!

Ken O’Brien

Okay, the results are in.

O’Zone readers had the chance to nominate those people that they would like to see run for Southbridge town council.

Then you had 56 hours to cast your vote for those you would most like to see run.

The results were decisively in favor of three candidates, Dennis Martinek, Gary Fontaine and Shaun Moriarty.

But democracy is not a spectator sport.  As the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.”

Now that you’ve expressed your desire to see these people run for town council it is up to you to help make it happen.

Why Southbridge Needs Change!

Ken O’Brien

The absolute first priority of any community is the welfare of its citizens.

The ruling majority on the Southbridge town council is answerable to a higher authority – and you can rest assured that it is not the same authority featured in the famous advertisement for Kosher hot dogs.

That higher authority is the economic interest of those who would plunder our town by making it the largest garbage dump in the state, an inflated town bureaucracy that serves to re-elect councilors that take care of their interests, and a council majority attempting to insulate their coopted town manager from removal by changing the charter instituted mandate that a majority of those elected by the people have a voice.

Poll Results Are In

Martinek, Fontaine and Moriarty Favored

Ken O’Brien

131 of you participated in our preference poll for candidates for Southbridge Town Council. That’s about 10% of the turnout in the last town election. While not a representative sample of the overall Southbridge electorate, it nevertheless is indicative of a strong base of support for the candidates who finished among the top three by a wide margin over the remaining nine prospects suggested by O’Zone readers.

Dennis Martinek gained the most votes with 66, followed closely by Gary Fontaine with 62 and Shaun Moriarty with 59.

Stop The Unfunded Mandates

Bob Cirba, Guest Contributor

I am curious.

When did we become so jaded that we no longer care about how the system we live within does business?  On Monday the 13th we have the annual Wringing of the Hands where the State reps (Gobi and Durant accompanied by Senator Stephen Brewer) give the State of the State address and tell us (for the fourth year in a row) just how badly we are doing.

Now for my money we could mail this bad boy in since it will once again be the same litany of excuses that we have grown accustomed to and been sedated by.  How did we get here and more to the point, when did this become the standard that we live by?  Take the recent article on the 11.3 million that we spend to bus homeless kids.  Now, I am all about making this an easier transition on these kids since they do NOT choose to be homeless.  Having said that, once again the Feds in their ever knowing wisdom and reach expect the towns and by extension the school district to pick up the tab on all of this.  I have no problem helping these folks out but the Mckinney-Vento program expects the towns to pick up the tab on all of this with zero Fed or State reimbursement.

So where does all of this leave us?

Moriarty Announces Candidacy for Southbridge Town Council

SOUTHBRIDGE — Building on his record of community service and desire to move his hometown forward, Shaun Moriarty announced today his candidacy for Town Council.

“I put myself forward not to oppose any candidate, group, or particular issue, but to bring a fresh, new perspective, without biases, agendas, or allegiances,” stated Moriarty. “I put myself forward because this town has struggled for too long and because I have witnessed and felt, first-hand, what the people of this town can do

Nominations Are Closed – It’s Time To Vote

Ken O’Brien

activerain.com

I am both pleased and surprised by the number of you who took the time to suggest names of those you would like to run for Southbridge town council.

I know, however, that the number of you who submitted suggestions is only a small fraction of those who read the article and the comments.

From those comments I have compiled a list of 12 names that were suggested. They are (in alphabetical order by last name):

Who Should Run?

Ken O'Brien

One of my regular readers, dismayed at the current paucity of "quality candidates", suggested that I run a survey among the rest of you loyal visitors.

Whom would you like to see as a candidate for Southbridge town council in this year's election?

I can tell you from personal experience that, often, all it takes to get someone to throw their hat into the ring is the knowledge that others think highly enough of them to encourage them to take the leap.