Councilor Steeves Speaks Out On Casella Amendment

Today’s Southbridge News carries an article by Town Councilor Gus Steeves expressing his views on the proposed amendment to the Casella contract.

A ‘First Amendment’ we should not invoke

by Gus Steeves

“The devil’s in the details” is a common cliché, but in some documents, it’s really an understatement.

Multiple demons jump out of the newly proposed “First Amendment” to the landfill site assignment, which is currently being considered by the Council. General Government talked about it Wednesday and I expect it to be on Monday’s full council agenda, but both were after this column’s deadline. 

Southbridge Teacher's Union President Speaks Out

David Williams, President of the Southbridge Education Association (SEA), has broken his public silence over recent issues regarding the conduct of the School Committee and the District's Administration.

His comments appeared as a Letter to the Editor in today's Southbridge Evening News.

However, the letter had been distributed previously to SEA members as well as the Superintendent.

How To (Try To) Silence A Critic

Ken O’Brien

The only good thing about living to be a certain age is that you learn from your mistakes.

As regards the current kerfuffle about this blog and the Chair of the Southbridge School Committee the relevant lesson was “put it in writing”.

The benefits of that lesson are illustrated by today’s Telegram article titled “Fighting tears, Southbridge official reacts to blog comments about her weight”. 

This Is Truly Shameful II

Ken O’Brien

 Well I certainly stepped in it.

But, then again, it’s not the first time.

Back on January 8^th I wrote a piece titled “This Is Truly Shameful”.

As a result I found my views criticized on a local FaceBook site (which I should emphasize I respect and believe serves a very valuable local need).

However, I found it somewhat interesting that people would choose that forum to address my comments rather than coming to this site and addressing me directly.

That being the case I will be compelled to summarize the debate on this matter by drawing quotes from that discussion. 

My Letter To The Editor Of The Southbridge Evening News

Ken O’Brien

On Friday, September 7^th, I sent the following letter to the Editor of The Southbridge Evening News:

To the Editor:

The September 6^th edition of the Evening News carried a letter from Carol A. Goodspeed of Wales touting the merits of Mitt Romney’s stewardship while Governor of Massachusetts. 

Moriarty Responds to Southbridge News Article

Shaun Moriarty

I am featured in a candidate profile in today's Southbridge Evening News; there are a couple of things worth clarifying or correcting.

The biggest one, in my eyes, has to do with spending money. I have often stated that I don't mind paying taxes so long as I feel that money is being spent appropriately and justly, and the article says as much. However, the article states that I feel "the town needs extra spending in some areas," and cites the DPW as a chief benefactor and that I feel a need for "specifically, a new firehouse." 

Southbridge SEA President Williams Speaks Out

Ken O’Brien

David Williams, President of the Southbridge Education Association, spoke out in a Letter to the Editor in Today’s Southbridge Evening News.

Truth In Advertising?

Ken O’Brien

Forgive me for being somewhat of a skeptic by nature.

But, when someone makes a claim that surprises me, I am inclined to question it.

The most recent incident of this occurred today.

In the course of reading the Friday, May 25, 2012 edition of the Southbridge Evening News, I came across a promotional ad on behalf of the newspaper on its editorial page beneath the letters to the editor.

Here is that notice: 

The Local Lamestream Media II

Ken O’Brien

Back in February I illustrated how the local paper was relegating announcements by local candidates to second class status.

Well, today they managed to top themselves.

Several days ago The O’Zone carried the announcement of Amelia Peloquin’s candidacy for the Southbridge town council. 

Southbridge’s Rush Limbaugh Wannabe Revisited

Ken O’Brien

Once again the Southbridge Evening News’ editorial cartoonist has taken a potshot at someone whom, he feels, has not conformed to his narrow view of political correctness.

In today’s Evening News (page 4) he put forward a cartoon portraying Councilor Laurent McDonald (at least that's who people think it is) dancing with the town manager implying that the councilor had supported increases in taxes, water and sewer rates, etc.

The fact of the matter is that anyone who has given the least passing notice to Southbridge politics realizes that Councilor McDonald has been in the forefront of opposing the town manager and his supporters on the council in their efforts to create an imperial town managership.

Responses to Southbridge’s Rush Limbaugh Wannabe

Ken O’Brien

For reasons of copyright I cannot reproduce Mike Marketti’s cartoon from the Southbridge Evening News of March 14^th.

Suffice it to say that it portrayed me, Town Councilor Laurent McDonald and Dennis Martinek as the three stooges trampling his beloved and fatally flawed petition to restore Southbridge to a Town Meeting/Board of Selectmen form of government.

It also showed our town manager reveling in the dissension among those who oppose him. 

The Local Lamestream Media

Ken O’Brien

Shortly after I started the O’Zone last year, I wrote a piece addressing my opinions on how economic factors shaped the way in which local news was reported.

Among my observations in that article were the following:

… I am going to argue that what has happened to our local press is a function of the process of “co-optation” that has resulted from the economic necessities imposed on traditional newspapers….