Group Stages Pro-Casella Rally

P.A. Roddy

Asserting their right to sell out to economic interests, a group of Southbridge residents staged a protest outside State offices on Friday.

Members of the group calling itself Casella Residents Accepting Pollutants said that their status as an environmental justice community is a two-sided coin.

“What people fail to realize is that in order to assure environmental protection for most people requires the relentless exploitation of a few,” said group spokesperson Didi Clemens. “It is the right of a community to sacrifice its long-term well-being for short term gains. The people of Southbridge have done this for years and have honed it to a fine art.” 

Governor Announces Funding For Innovation Center At QCC In Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

Speaking today at Incom, Inc. in Charlton, Governor Deval Patrick announced $2 million in advanced manufacturing equipment grants to the Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) to support the creation of a new Innovation Technology Assistance Center (ITAC) that will prepare the school's students with the skills for careers in advanced manufacturing.

“We are committed to choosing growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the state’s advanced manufacturing industry, for today and the future,” said Governor Patrick. “By providing our students with proper skills and training, we are supporting opportunities in this critical industry and ensuring a strong economic future for our Commonwealth.”

Durant’s “Nixon Moment” In Sixth Worcester District Rep’s Race? (Video)

Kenneth O’Brien

State Rep Peter Durant

Students of history, as well as those of us of “a certain age”, will remember the famous case of the missing 18 minutes from tapes of conversations in the Nixon White House related to the Watergate matter.

It now appears that a similar issue may be brewing as regards the videotape of last week’s debate between candidates for state representative in the sixth Worcester district.

A number of those present at the debate commented upon the apparent disorganization of incumbent state representative Peter Durant when it came time for the participants to make their closing statements.

Meet Kathleen Walker – Candidate For State Representative 6th Worcester District (Videos)

Ken O’Brien

Kathleen Walker (D – Charlton) is running for State Representative in the Sixth Worcester District against 1 ½ term incumbent Peter Durant.

Kathleen Walker is currently serving her 10th year on the Board of Selectmen in Charlton, Massachusetts.

She has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the MASS Municipal Association, Local Government Advisory Commission and an Officer of the MASS Selectman’s Association.

She is running as the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 6th Worcester District, which includes the towns of Southbridge and Dudley, precincts 1, 2, and 3 in Charlton, and precinct 4 in Spencer.

The following two videos will introduce you to her and explain to you her positions on a variety of issues.

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”.