Happy New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse

Press Play for Susan Boyle's Auld Lang Syne

GOP Has Mastered Devolution

From PoliticusUSA

Pew Research just released a poll on Monday showing the American public’s views towards evolution. The poll showed that 60% of Americans agree with the statement that humans and other living things have evolved over time. Meanwhile, 33% stated that humans have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. This is pretty much on par with the results of this same poll four years ago.

However, where the gaps have started to widen more is when we look at political affiliation and religion. In 2009, 64% of Democrats believed in evolution while a majority, 54%, of Republicans also believed in the theory. Fast forward to today and 67% of Democrats believe in the theory of evolution while only 43% of Republicans feel that humans evolved from lower life forms. That is a remarkable 24-point gap between the two political parties. Independents saw virtually no change, as 67% believed in 2009 and 65% believe now. 

Doin' The Duck Guy Nasty

Ken O'Brien

Phil Robertson

An Inspiring Use Of Social Media

Ken O’Brien

Eric Whitacre

If you are unfamiliar with TED talks, they can be among the most compelling illustrations of the potential of the human spirit.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. But it is the inherent nature of the human element that melds these other components into unique and inspiring stories.

Wingnut Carson Coming To Worcester

Ken O’Brien

Dr. Ben Carson

The right loves nothing more than discrediting a progressive voice by being able to label it as coming from Hollywood or academia. But they are quick to cite someone’s credentials when that someone is parroting their favorite talking points.

Such is the case with Dr. Ben Carson who will be visiting Worcester for a much-touted speaking engagement in January. In a previous incarnation he was a widely respected neurosurgeon. With his anti-Obama speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, Carson became one of the right’s favorite new talking heads

Can Southbridge Hit The “Reset Button” In 2014?

Ken O’Brien

As we enter 2014 and anticipate our town’s Bicentennial in 2016 there is little doubt that Southbridge is a community with serious problems. Is there any way to hit the “reset button?”

Once the hub of economic, industrial and political energy in Southern Worcester County, “The Eye of the Commonwealth” has become an eyesore.

Unfortunately, even saying such a thing seems to automatically brand one as negative and worthy of dismissal.

JibJab Looks At 2013

The Colors Of Christmas 2013

Here Comes Santa (NORAD Real Time Map)

All Done - It's Back To The Workshop 'Til Next Year

Let the kids watch Santa's progress across the globe as  provided by NASA & NORAD !

Reed Contract Still In Limbo

Ken O’Brien

An article posted tonight on the Worcester Telegram website indicates that the proposed contract between Southbridge and Robert Reed for the latter to serve as Acting Town Manager is still hung up over the issue of a town provided vehicle.

In the article titled “Car clause derails Southbridge town manager contract” Brian Lee reports, “After hitting a roadblock over use of a town-issued SUV, officials continue to negotiate with Robert T. Reed about serving as interim manager for six months, Council Chairman David S. Langevin said Friday.” 

[In another article, Brian Lee reports on the turmoil in the leadership of Southbridge Schools. See “Southbridge facing shake-up among principals”.]

December 23 - Happy Festivus (Video)

                                           Ken O’Brien

Are you feeling a little left out!? Are you put off by the crass commercialism of Christmas?  You don't celebrate Chanukah. Kwanzaa just isn't your thing. And, you don't even know what Divali or Ramadan is.

Then, come and experience the joy and the miracle of Festivus. One might say that the Festivus holiday is a miracle in itself.

Still not sure if Festivus is for you? It's non-denominational. So, everyone can partake. The Festivus slogan is "A Festivus for the rest of us!" And, that means you, too. So........... 

Reed Was The Wrong Target

Ken O’Brien

It is fair to say that last Monday’s Council of the Whole town council meeting was not their finest hour. As I’ve expressed elsewhere, I feel that they were bogged down in trivialities while failing to ask the most important question.

To a significant extent the shortcomings were not entirely their fault. While I feel that the final evaluation of Mr. Reed should have been televised (as has been the case with candidates for a permanent town manager) the details of his contract should have been ironed out in private. 

Fallen Limb Cancels School Committee Meeting

Ken O’Brien

A BUZZ SAW?

A downed tree limb on Prospect Street near Hartwell Street landed on power lines and caught fire causing a power outage that affected a significant portion of downtown Southbridge.

As a consequence the Town Hall was closed leading to a cancellation of the previously rescheduled meeting of the Southbridge School Committee.

In addition to the regular agenda items, the meeting was scheduled to convene a half hour early to include a reception for middle and high school MCAS honorees as well as John and Abigail Adams Scholarship awardees. 

The Unasked Question

Ken O’Brien

A key point was ignored in the midst of all the posturing about hiring an Acting Town Manager at Monday night’s meeting of the Southbridge Town Council.

The question that not one councilor saw fit to ask was, “If we can get by for up to six months with a Town Manager serving 20 hours per week at $1,000 per week, why do we need a full timer at more than twice that amount?” 

Southbridge Council Fails To Approve Reed As Acting Town Manager…Amended Contract Submitted For His Approval

Ken O’Brien

By a vote of four to four the Town Council initially failed to approve the proposed employment contract between the Town of Southbridge and Robert T. Reed to serve as Acting Town Manager.

With Council Chairman Langevin absent, the meeting was chaired by Council Vice-Chairman Darlene Marcucci. Councilors Carrasco, Moriarty, Peloquin and Vandal voted against the contract. Voting in favor were Councilors Clemence, Manna, Marcucci and Nikolla. Under Robert’s Rules a tie vote results in defeat of the motion. 

Southbridge School Committee Meeting Rescheduled

The Southbridge School Committee meeting scheduled for December 17, 2013 has been postponed until December 19, 2013 due to a predicted storm.  The School Committee apologizes for any inconvenience; however, the meeting on the 17th was to include a reception for middle and high school MCAS honorees as well as John and Abigail Adams Scholarship awardees.  The decision to postpone was made for the safety of all planning to attend, including those intending to travel from outside the area.   Families have been notified of this change.  The student reception will now take place at 6:30 p.m. on December 19, 2013 in the MacKinnon Council Chambers at Southbridge Town Hall, followed by the Superintendent’s presentation of award certificates at the regular school committee meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Brian's Back

Merry Christmas!

Why Is This Off-Camera?

Ken O’Brien

Posted on the town website is an agenda for a Town Council Meeting of the Whole prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting Monday night. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

COUNCIL OF THE WHOLE

GEORGE PARENT COMMUNITY ROOM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013 – 6:30 PM

AGENDA

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Review resume and employment agreement for Acting Town Manager, Robert Reed and to submit to Council for ratification.

4. Adjournment 

Southbridge Town Council Agenda - December 16, 2013

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL

December 16, 2013 –7:00 PM

********************

AGENDA

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll Call

3. Consider and accept Town Council Meeting Minutes of Monday, December 2, 2013. 

Southbridge School Committee Agenda - December 17, 2013

Southbridge School Committee Meeting

Location: Robert G. MacKinnon Council Chambers, 41 Elm Street

Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2013

                                                                   Time: 7:00 PM

Featherbedding And Ignorance At Southbridge Town Hall

Ken O’Brien

Featherbedding.

To those unfamiliar with the term it gained currency in the days when trade unions defended maintaining positions that were viewed as no longer necessary by the management of passenger and freight railways operators.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines the term as follows:

The requiring of an employer usually under a union rule or safety statute to hire more employees than are needed or to limit production.

Holiday Art & Craft Sale

 Locally made gifts by artisans & crafters

Submitted by: Monika Agnello

The Quinebaug Valley Council for the Arts and Humanities (QVCAH) is proud to present its annual Holiday Art & Craft Sale which will be held this week, December 11 - 15th, 2013 at 111 Main Street in Southbridge, MA.

Please join us from Noon to 8 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 10 to 6 pm Sunday. You'll find a huge selection of locally made gifts at the  Art Center.                                                                   

Taxpayers Aren’t Santa

Ken O'Brien

Note: At last week’s town council meeting the town manager noted that the tax rate was determined by the town budget which had already been settled upon last May. In what is becoming an annual ritual I thought it appropriate to reprint a post that The O’Zone first published on December 6^th of 2011. If so inclined, you may wish to examine the comments that were made by certain readers at the time this article was first published or last year when it was repeated. 

Crotch Rot

Ken O’Brien

One no longer has to go to a strip club to have women’s private parts in your face. Today vaginas are a cultural meme. And pussy galore has become a bore.

The glorification of the magical nature of the vagina as a means to female empowerment has reached a stage that is beyond self-parody. 

The Minutes Waltz: Update

Ken O’Brien

Yesterday The O’Zone published an article titled The Minutes Waltz (Or Is It Tap Dance?).

In it we contrasted the minutes of the DPW subcommittee as presented to council members and as read at Monday night’s council meeting with the way the O’Zone reported that meeting in our piece Really? Let’s Hope It’s A Trend!.

In response to a comment on Thursday’s article Evelyn Rivera, who prepared the subcommittee minutes, replied in part, “Minutes are just that "Minutes" not "hours" and therefore I do not write minutes verbatim. No one, I repeat, no one edits my minutes. If anyone is interested in the exact wording of a meeting they should attend such meeting otherwise an abbreviated version is all they are getting from me. I tape such meeting so that if anyone wants to sit there and listen to a meeting (whether it's a 5 min. meeting or a 5 hour meeting) they can do so. I am happy to provide them with a copy.”

The Minutes Waltz (Or Is It Tap Dance?)

Ken O’Brien

Last Thursday The O’Zone ran an article titled ”Really? Let’s Hope It’s A Trend!”.

In it we recounted the discussion in the prior evening’s DPW subcommittee meeting surrounding the second item on the agenda. That item read as follows:

“Vote to accept the agreement between the Town of Southbridge and Allan F. DiPietro Masonry for concrete masonry work at various locations in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00. Funding to come from Water & Sewer and DPW current budget accounts.”

Insofar as we had the contents of that article vetted by two members of the subcommittee who were present at the meeting, we felt reasonably certain that it reflected accurately the nature of the discussion on this item.

No Fracking Way In Massachusetts

Ken O’Brien

Massachusetts isn't rich in fossil fuels, but we’re going to great lengths to keep the fracking industry out of the state. Last week, the Massachusetts State Legislature's Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources approved a 10-year ban on fracking.

The measure would also prevent fracking waste-water from being treated, stored, or disposed of in Massachusetts. The legislation is moving on to the Massachusetts' House Ways and Means Committee, and hopefully, it will then be approved by that state's House and Senate.

Ellsbury Bolts Boston For Yankees

From BuzzFeed

In a stunning free agent move, the New York Yankees have signed star Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to a massive seven-year contract worth somewhere around $153 million, according to multiple reports.

Ellsbury is well-known for his speed atop the Sox lineup, averaging one steal every three games over his career.

Breaking News: Christopher Olivo Chosen To Fill School Committee Vacancy

Ken O’Brien

Christopher Olivo has been chosen to fill a vacancy on The Southbridge School Committee. The opening was created with the resignation of former School Committee Chairman Patricia Woodruff. The selection was made during a joint meeting of the Southbridge Town Council and the School Committee as mandated by the Town Charter.

Mr. Olivo stated he had been a resident of Southbridge since 2006. He is an active duty member of the Massachusetts National Guard with experience in overseas deployment and is a native of Texas. 

Southbridge Town Council Meeting December 2, 2013 - VIDEO

Tax Rate Set At $19.64

A public hearing on the tax classification system to be adopted by the council and the tax rate to be set for the community precedes the town council meeting.

Southbridge Town Council Meeting Agenda - December 2, 2013

TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE

SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL

December 2, 2013 – immediately following

6:30 PM Public Hearing

********************

AGENDA

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll Call

Shark Jumping At NBC

Ken O’Brien

For those unfamiliar with the term “jump the shark”, I will pull a Rand Paul and quote from Wikipedia (oops! I cited the source):

Jumping the shark is an idiom created by Jon Hein that was used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery, which is usually a particular scene, episode, or aspect of a show in which the writers use some type of "gimmick" in a desperate attempt to keep viewers' interest. Its name is taken from a scene from a fifth season episode of the sit-com Happy Days when the character Fonzie jumps over a shark on water-skis.

In its initial usage, it referred to the point in a television program's history when the program had outlived its freshness and viewers had begun to feel that the show's writers were out of new ideas, often after great effort was made to revive interest in the show by the writers, producers, or network.^[1][2][3]

The usage of "jump the shark" has subsequently broadened beyond television, indicating the moment when a brand, design, or creative effort's evolution loses the essential qualities that initially defined its success and declines, ultimately, into irrelevance.

Southbridge School Committee Agenda - December 3, 2013

Southbridge School Committee Meeting

Location: Robert G. MacKinnon Council Chambers, 41 Elm Street

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Time: 7:00 PM

AGENDA

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Your Thanksgiving Twerkey

Oh, that's just not right.

We’re Number 3 – Uh Hurrah?

Ken O’Brien

Of the 72 central Massachusetts cities and towns surveyed by reporter Zeke Wright in Go Local Worcester Southbridge is tied for third place with Gardner.

Unfortunately, it is not a distinction that any community would relish.

You see, at 9.9% we’re tied for the third highest unemployment rate of those 72 communities. We are only beaten out by Fitchburg and Athol at 10% and 10.5 % respectively.

What is more disturbing to me, however, is how this survey is used as a premise for launching into the repetition of hackneyed attacks on plans to raise the minimum wage. 

The Bish Case – The Southbridge Connection

Reported by Bob Ward Fox News 25

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- At Comins Pond in Warren, 13 summers have now come and gone, yet the mystery of what happened to 16-year-old lifeguard Molly Bish remains.

On the morning of June 27, 2000, on the second day of her new lifeguard job, and within minutes of starting work, Molly Bish was abducted.

Molly's remains would not be found for another three years, deep in the woods in nearby Palmer, Mass.

Molly's killer has never been identified.

But Rodney Stanger, a former Southbridge man, now convicted in Florida of murdering his girlfriend Crystal Morrison, continues to be a focal point of the investigation. Some believe Stanger could be the mysterious man Molly's mother saw at Comins Pond the day before the abduction. 

Maher: Kennedy Or Reagan?

One of the great generational divides is the idealization of two Presidential icons.

To one group it’s the Jack Kennedy persona that embodied hope and idealism tragically cut short. To the other it’s the equally bigger in memory than reality legacy of Ronald Reagan.