Martinek Seeks School Committee Post

Letter of Interest

When my wife and I moved to Southbridge in 2000, we had a newborn daughter, Grace. At the time that we moved in, we were told that the schools were experiencing problems, but not having to worry about sending our daughter, and then our son, Jack, to school right away, we figured that by the time the choice came to send them to Southbridge High School, that our schools would be in a higher tier of educational excellence.

We weren’t worried about elementary or middle schools, as we had made the decision before we had children that we wanted them to experience a Catholic School Education, and we were fortunate to live in Southbridge, where Trinity Catholic Academy helped us to achieve that goal.

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.37

Ken O'Brien

Sunday Photo-‘Toons 1.32

Ken O’Brien

Reviewing The Charter Review

Dennis Martinek

As one of five appointed members to the Charter Review Committee (Larry "Butch" McDonald, chair, Gary Fontaine, Deb Gregoire-LeFebvre, and Ken O'Brien were the others), we spent from September of 2009 until the middle of August 2010, when our final report was issued, working on reviewing and making recommendations to the existing Town Charter.

Many of the proposed changes were innocuous (changing the language so that people that home-brewed beer were not in violation) to the politically charged question of how many councilors does it take to unscrew a light bulb (in this case, remove the Town Manager from office)? 

Martinek Launches New Blog

Ken O’Brien

Longtime Southbridge blogger Dennis Martinek has launched a new blog.

He characterizes his new endeavor, SpeakOutUSA.com, as a forum in which he can advance thought-provoking ideas with the hope of spurring serious discussion and debate.

The Politics Of Expediency In Southbridge

Ken O’Brien

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “If you sit by the river long enough you will see the body of your opponent floating by.”

The pollution swollen river that is Southbridge politics has flowed on for many months since The O’Zone first began. Over that time this forum has documented the many distortions of process, reason and intellect that have dominated the decision-making process that has governed this community. 

Some Post-Election Observations: Dennis Martinek’s Letter To The Editor

Dennis Martinek

For those who were unable to read Dennis Martinek’s Letter to the Editor in Monday’s Southbridge Evening News, he has been good enough to provide a copy for O’Zone readers.

To the Editor:

First off, I would like to offer my belated thanks to all who came out to vote in our recent election, regardless of who you voted for. It was an outstanding and impressive turnout, and although I didn't win, I was able to have an enjoyable day with all the candidates and their supporters...it was somewhat of a party atmosphere, that proved to me that no matter how much we may disagree, we can do it politely, and even laugh, when we face each other face to face and just talk. 

From Logan Airport - Courtesy of Dennis Martinek

Martinek On Marketti And Friendship

Dennis Martinek

For a long time, I considered Mike Marketti, who used to draw cartoons for The Southbridge Evening News, a good person and a friend.

Then something happened, going back to February, which lasted three weeks in a row:

He hounded me to sign a petition to change the form of government to a Town Meeting form of government. He got incessantly more aggressive and annoying in bugging me to sign it, even showing up at my house unannounced when I wasn't home. 

Hey Southbridge - Wanna Blog? Classic Site Available

Ken O’Brien

Banned, blamed and belittled by some Speak Out Southbridge was for years the dominant public forum in Southbridge.

Creator and author of Speak Out Southbridge, Dennis Martinek has decided that his tenure in that role has come to its end.

Despite having discontinued actively blogging several months ago, the site still receives numerous hits from internet search engines. 

Don't Be Fooled Again

Dennis Martinek

Southbridge Town Election Campaign Alert

Ken O’Brien

Catch Dennis Martinek’s campaign videos which are being broadcast on Southbridge Cable TV channel 13 starting tonight at 7 pm and they will be rebroadcast on SCTV channel 13 at 7 am and 7 pm until the June 26^th town election.

Worcester Telegram: Clark Criticized Over Access Road

Ken O’Brien

In a late-posted article in today’s Worcester Telegram, Brian Lee reported on criticisms leveled at Southbridge town manager Christopher Clark.

Specifically former town council chairman Steven Lazo and local resident Dennis Martinek criticized Clark’s recent admission (at just over the one hour point in the video) that the much touted access road does not really provide access to the bulk of the property that has been promoted as the site for an industrial park.

Both Mr. Lazo and Mr. Martinek are candidates for the Southbridge town council in the upcoming June 26^th town election.

The Telegram article by Brian Lee follows.

Martinek Releases New Campaign Web Video

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge Town Budget Available On-Line Courtesy of Dennis Martinek

Ken O’Brien

Southbridge town council candidate Dennis Martinek has made all 268 pages of the FY 2013 Southbridge town budget available on-line.

It can be downloaded in PDF format at this location: 2013 Southbridge Town Budget.

Why couldn’t’ the town do this before it was voted on?

UPDATE: Dennis’ latest campaign video, “The Access Road: The Khyber Pass” is also now available.

Martinek Launches Campaign Web Video

Ken O’Brien

Local campaigning for public office has entered the 21^st century.

Southbridge town council candidate Dennis Martinek has released through his campaign website as well as YouTube the first in a planned series of campaign videos.

The animated power-point-like presentation focuses on the issue of Southbridge property taxes.

Martinek Responds to “What I Want To Know”

Dennis Martinek

   1.      What is your position on the Town Council's proposed  amendments to the Southbridge Home Rule Charter?

    

 I served on the Charter Review Committee for a period of one year. During that time, and despite what some people thought, even though we were hand selected, we came from various backgrounds, and there were a lot of passionate discussions on the issues that resulted in our recommendations.

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.4

Ken O'Brien

This week's venture into the re-interpretation of reality to reveal underlying truth (hopefully with a chuckle thrown in) welcomes a new participant.

Frequent O'Zone commenter I. M. Townie has donated a couple of  Photo-'Toons of his own. I welcome his contributions, and I hope that O'Zone readers will enjoy them.

It's been a busy week in local and national politics, and there was much more grist for the humor mill. Regrettably, time only allows so much in the world of satire manufacturing.

Breaking News: Lazo, Martinek File Papers For Town Council

Ken O'Brien

Update: May 10, 1 pm - Both Steve Lazo and Dennis Martinek have had a sufficient number of signatures validated to appear on the June election ballot.

Former town councilor and town council chair Steve Lazo and Southbridge resident Dennis Martinek today filed papers before the deadline to be on the ballot as candidates for Southbridge town councilors in the June election.

We must await notification that a sufficient number of their signatures have been validated for them to qualify.

If that bar is met then we can say, in typical Southbridge fashion, the race is on!

UPDATE: Incumbent councilor David Livengood fails to return papers.

Is Speak Out Southbridge Making A Comeback?

Ken O'Brien

Dennis What's-His- Name

The grand daddy of Southbridge blog sites is back on line.

Speak Out Southbridge

I don't know what is being planned, but I would welcome its return.

What do you think.

Vote in our new poll.