NASA Video Shows Mars 4 Billion Years Ago As Lush, Verdant World

NASA has prepared a new video to illustrate its Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission's investigation of dramatic climate change on Mars. Today, Mars is a cold and barren desert world, with no sign of life, at least on the surface. However, billions of years ago when the Red Planet was young, it appears to have had a thick atmosphere that was warm enough to support oceans of liquid water – a critical ingredient for life.

The animation was created by the NASA Goddard Conceptual Image Lab.

Should Southbridge Help People Save Their Homes?

Ken O’Brien

Based upon a quick search I found between 85 and 92 foreclosed properties currently for sale in Southbridge.

I was prompted to undertake the inquiry by a recent email I received from Town Councilor Amelia Peloquin. She was seeking my views on a program that has been undertaken by the community of Richmond, CA. 

Southbridge - Mayor Maybe? (Vote in our poll)

Ken O’Brien

With the imminent departure of Town Manager Christopher Clark I believe that it is time to resurrect a proposal that I have put forward in the past. I have been encouraged as well by several people asking me to create a poll gauging public interest in such a proposal.

The issue in question is the proposition that Southbridge switch from its current town manager/council form of government to a mayor/council format. 

Honor Our Veterans

Southbridge School Committee Attends OML Class - Learns Nothing

Ken O’Brien

The newly constituted leadership of the Southbridge School Committee continues its pattern of setting a poor example for the youth in their charge.

In this installment of the ongoing soap opera “As The District Burns” we examine the lesson provided on paying attention in class.

Specifically we will illustrate how what one supposedly gains by attending a specialized training is useless if you cannot apply it in “real life”.

Candidate Emerges For Next Southbridge Town Manager

Southbridge School Committee Still Misleads On Policy

Ken O’Brien

At the November 5 meeting of the Southbridge School Committee Town Councilor Monique Manna questioned the procedure used to select the chairman of the committee following the resignation of former chairman Patricia Woodruff.

Following is a video of the question posed by Councilor Manna and the response from Chairman McLoughlin.

Update: Southbridge School Committee Applicants Now Directed To Town Clerk

Ken O'Brien

Despite what you might have heard from last night's School Committee meeting, if you are interested in filling at least one of the current vacancies on the Southbridge School Committee you are directed to now send your letter of intent to the Town Clerk rather than the Superintendent of Schools.

Apparently they are still asking for background materials including a resume, none of which are required from anyone running for office. As Councilor Monique Manna pointed out at Monday's Town Council meeting, the only legal qualification is that one be a registered voter in the town.

We'll try to keep you abreast of this, apparently, developing story.

Below is the announcement as it currently appears on Southbridge CATV.

A Guide For The Southbridge School Committee

Ken O’Brien

The Southbridge School Committee, during its meeting tonight, held a discussion on a draft document which included their core beliefs. I was reminded during its delivery of the following which is quite similar in both tone and substance to what they offered.

To Tell The Truth, The Half-Truth And Nothing But Half-Truths (About Obamacare)

Breaking News: Clark Offered Town Administrator Job In Harwich

Ken O’Brien

 

Southbridge Town Manager Christopher Clark has been offered the position of Town Administrator in Harwich, MA.

The offer is pending contract negotiations.

The job has been vacant since James Merriam retired last June. Robert Lawton has been serving as interim town administrator.

Breaking News: Director Of Operations For Southbridge School System Resigns

Ken O’Brien

Roland Gaboury, Director of Operations for the Southbridge School District, today resigned from his position.

Also, Everything Southbridge informs The O’Zone via Twitter that School Committee member Dr. Thomas O’Leary has been removed from the Harrington Hospital’s Doctors Listing. 

27 GOP Senators Vote To Disapprove Of Themselves

From AlterNet

About time these clowns disapproved of themselves for their heartless policies and shameless tactics. But, no, no. No such attack of conscience has hit the Republicans in Congress. What took place last week in the Senate may have set a new low on the moron scale—and these days, that is really saying something. All 27 Republican senators who voted recently to raise the debt ceiling, pay the nation’s bills, and reopen the government (and arguably do their jobs), voted in favor of a symbolic “resolution to disapprove” of that vote. All of them.

Southbridge School Committee Agenda, November 5, 2013

Southbridge School Committee Meeting

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

Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2013

                                                                      Time: 7:00 PM

Southbridge School Committee Vacancy: Submit Application To Your Future Subordinate

Ken O’Brien

On Tuesday October 29, there was a joint meeting of the Southbridge School Committee and the Town Council’s subcommittee on Education and Human Services.

Item number two on the agenda for that meeting was, “Discuss the process to ‘temporarily’ fill vacancy on the School Committee until the 2014 election.”

On October 30 a memorandum was released to the media that outlined the “process” that was adopted by this joint session. It reads as follows: