September 1, 2010



by Paul O'Donnell, Asst. Publisher


 Glenn Beck Spoke to the World

 

Glenn had a million come to Washington, check out our front page that was probably 1/4 of all people. And all was quiet as Glenn pleaded that the road to freedom is with God. He went on, to the quiet people over a million. Never has Washington had such a large crowd that agreed. We cannot get our country back without working together such as Tea Parties and Veterans organizations - dozens of other organizations that have their own groups. But it seems all of them seem to be on the same track.


However some louder than others. Some with guns - some with the church but all not satisfied with all the people in Washington D.C. wrecking our country.


So they are gathering together and when voting time comes around in November, we should have many new women and men that win, our people that love their country and go to Washington D.C. for we the people, not to become millionaires.


However their are other situations in our towns, cities, states and horrible in D.C.


So it will be very difficult to love thy neighbor. And in most cases, hopefully from Maine to California that the majority will take its place as the new Republicans and new Democrats will be sworn to obey the people.
 

Paul O'Donnell,
Asst. Publisher

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here if you cannot read the above disclaimer


NIMBY and PROUD

 

To the Editor,


My name is Chad Pepin. I live in Webster Massachusetts. Douglas, a neighboring town has proposed an 11-turbine, 2.5 Megawatt Wind Farm literally in my back yard. My 1-acre house lot borders the Douglas Town line. If the project comes to fruition, I’ll be faced with a 492-foot turbine less than 1400 feet from my house, with another 4 turbines within 2000 feet. I, nor any of my fellow Webster residents will receive any benefit from this project. Douglas will receive the TIF tax incentives, but Webster will get nothing. I am not allowed to vote at Douglas’s town meetings.


When this frustrating topic comes up in conversation, I get quickly classified as a “NIMBY” activist - a radical, selfish resident who doesn’t want change… “Not In My Back Yard”. I have to wonder exactly when it became radical to stand up for one’s rights. The day we stop having the right to defend our homestead is the day we are communists. I didn’t get that memo.


I am a Real Estate professional. My wife and I own and operate a successful Real Estate brokerage in Webster MA. The reason I bring this up is because as a licensed Real Estate professional, I know that every single homeowner in the United States is conveyed a “bundle of rights” with each and every Real Estate transaction. One of these rights is “The Right to Quiet Enjoyment”.


The “Right to Quiet Enjoyment” does not mean you have the right to have someone arrested for talking on your property. However, it does allow you to defend your property against nuisance, which can be noise, traffic or other types of trespass. This is a Civil and Legal right, which is included with each and every Real Estate transaction. Most homeowners have no idea whatsoever of this right.


Now let’s talk about my “backyard”. I bought my land in 2000. When I bought it, I researched the abutting parcels, and made sure I understood the zoning of the surrounding land. I live in a single family agricultural development which borders some undeveloped land in Douglas, as well as 3 or 4 miles of State Forest. The Douglas land abutting my property was zoned as industrial land. The Douglas Town bylaws stated a 50 to 75 ft max height for any structure, which is just about the average height of the tree line. I understood this, accepting that if an industrial complex were to be proposed, it would be similar to our other industrial parks in the area with light manufacturing or construction. I did not expect an Airport or Oil Refinery, based on the demographics.


When the Douglas Wind Farm was proposed, we were notified as abutters - once. We attended the first “informational” meeting. The Wind Developer was looking for a height and use variance of up to 540 feet. The developer had well-prepared answers to all our questions, and we weren’t allowed to speak in any detail. After that, some more meetings were held – of which we were NOT notified. A variance was then issued, allowing the developer to move forward with a project of up to 540 feet high… right in my back yard. How does a town bylaw get by-passed in the blink of and eye with a 10X height variance with no discussion or vote from the abutters? I have no idea, but I’m learning fast. By the way, the population of Douglas (who can vote) is over 3 miles away from the nearest turbine. One of the Douglas Selectmen was recently asked how the Douglas Wind Project was going. He replied “I can’t see or hear it from my back yard.”


This is the “Perfect Storm” for a Wind Developer. The host municipality is completely in favor because of no perceived impact, and the abutting municipality has no jurisdiction, so they can be ignored and intimidated with the NIMBY card. The Wind Developers look at abutters as “hiccups” in the process, and rely on the fact that a small group of residents will eventually get overwhelmed and surrender. From day one, they roll in, pitch the benefits of Green Energy and how wonderful it will be. No negative impacts are discussed in any detail, and if they are brought up, the conversation is stifled. It’s a one-way conversation.


Unfortunately for this Wind Developer, our abutting neighborhood has a high concentration of professionals, many of which are in the Real Estate, Legal and Financial industries. We have a very clear understanding of our right to quiet enjoyment as well all of our other civil rights as property owners. We are proud of our back yards. We earned them, we paid for them and we aren’t about to lose them to an ill-planned project sited at least 5 times too close to a residential neighborhood.


To all of you playing the NIMBY card: You need to really ask yourself if you’d be willing to “take one for the team” at the expense of your family. It’s one thing to make a sacrifice for the benefit of your family, but when a sacrifice will affect your families’ quality of life, that’s another story. I can tell you with no hesitation whatsoever I have no shame for refusing to personally subsidize a poorly planned renewable energy project for the perceived good of ANYONE. I don’t care what your position is on renewable energy. Monstrous moving towers don’t belong in MY BACK YARD. They don’t belong in ANYONE’s back yard.


If you told all the State employees in Massachusetts that they would take a pay cut for each Wind Turbine that was erected, a new buzz phrase would be coined: “Not In My Back Pocket” and Renewable Energy would yesterday’s news. This is nothing more than a big game of “hot potato”.


Legislators seem to lean on the anti-NIMBY crusade to convince us common folk it is selfish to protest progress. Massachusetts State Rep. Paul Kujawski is in favor of the Douglas Project and also voted YES on the recent Wind Energy Energy Siting Reform Act H.4955. Ironically, Rep. Kujawski recently played the NIMBY role to keep a Shopping Mall out of his “backyard” in Webster MA. He led a swift and surgical defeat at a Webster Town Meeting. He said the reason he fought against the Mall was because it was “Too close to the School” which would have been about ½ mile away. I wasn’t aware Shopping Malls were a threat to Schools. Call me crazy, but I’d actually assume a Shopping Mall could be a positive thing for kids, providing a safe place to socialize, as well as a place for teens to find a part-time job.


As for Wind Turbines, I have done my homework. I know the physics behind these enormous machines. I know they don’t work nearly as well as they are supposed to. I know exactly how they work. The problem with the NIMBY critics as most HAVEN’T done much homework beyond “It makes Green Energy”. The public is incredibly uninformed. Most people think Wind Turbines are powered by wind. This is a myth. Wind Turbines are powered by TAXES. If the government subsidies were taken away, wind power would be gone with the wind.


Four years ago, the global economy went into a downward spiral because of sub-prime lending which was basically the practice of subsidizing high-risk borrowers so they could get money they wouldn’t have been able to get with a conventional loan.


Today, the Wind Energy frenzy is subsidizing wind projects that wouldn’t be feasible without the grants. Germany has the largest wind power network in the world. Germany has 25 Gigawatts of wind generation capacity, but actually produces about 2 Gigawatts. This is less than 10% efficiency. The UK has similar results with some projects returning only 6% of their capacity. Wind Energy is “Sub-Prime Energy” and the bubble will burst when the government stops pouring money into it.


Today, Wind Turbines threaten my civil rights and my quality of life. Tomorrow it might be something else. Regardless of the threat, I will never be ashamed to defend my right to enjoy and defend my property and quality of life. I truly feel sorry for anyone who believes we should be obligated to surrender even one square millimeter of our back yard for any cause – period.


Chad Pepin
chad.pepin@gmail.com



Now they’re “talking about talking about maybe doing something!”
 

To the Editor,


Will Mr. Andrew Dreyfus (the new CEO at BC/BS, Mass.) come to be known as “Action Andy,” or just another talker? Other than talking, finger pointing and playing the blame game, what are the health insurance companies (or anybody else involved) actually doing to contain rising health care costs? Lora Pellegrini (Mass Association of Health Plans) constantly complains but offers nothing. James Roosevelt’s (Tufts) main concern seems only for his company. William Van Fassen and Jay McQuaide (BC/BS) finally realize that the health insurance companies, health care providers and government need to “roll up our sleeves and collectively work to come up with a solution.” Something similar was suggested by Lt. Governor, Timothy Murray months ago who said, “Get in a room and solve this problem.” Has anybody representing the health care providers ever stepped up to the plate? It’s been said that Eric Schultz (Harvard Pilgrim) will be an important voice “at the table” as the state’s health care providers, insurance carriers, and policy makers attack rising costs. O.K., so when the hell is this actually going to happen? Will talk ever turn into action? No doubt we’ll be hearing about rate increases before we ever see any results. If only their hot air could heat the hospitals.


Please prove me wrong. The game plan from the Massachusetts Health Insurance Companies seems to have their CEO’s (or representatives) appear in the newspapers as people of action and concern. But when they get their yearly rate increases approved, they slither back into their complacent shells only to again emerge when it’s time to attack our wallets. Is “talking about talking about maybe doing something” ever going to amount to anything? (Try saying that 3 times fast.)

Ed DeLuca, President,
the Plastic Spoon Revolution - Fighting the high cost of living!


website: theplasticspoonrevolution.com
(and in case anybody really needs to know - I work for a small business in Massachusetts. I’ve seen my health insurance plans go from something being affordable and covering everything to becoming an over-priced joke plagued with high co-pays and deductibles. So there!)


To the Editor:


This year marks the 56th anniversary of the inauguration of the partnership between the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Since 1954, IAFF has raised nearly $400 million for MDA, contributing a record breaking $26.7 million in 2009 alone. MDA’s Central Massachusetts chapter is deeply grateful to the firefighters in Dudley for their tremendous support of MDA’s patient service and research programs during their recent Fill-The-Boot drive campaign on Saturday August 21st from 9 am to 1 pm at Webster Dudley town line.


Members of the IAFF Local #4271 raised $2673 to support Central Massachusetts residents living with neuromuscular disease. These funds support basic and clinical scientific research, a comprehensive program of clinical care and support services to individuals and families, support groups, and a special summer camp program. MDA also improves lives through advocacy in matters of public policy affecting people with disabilities and provides widespread professional and public health education. MDA covers 43 different neuromuscular diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common form of muscular dystrophy in young boys, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.


Everyone in the town of Dudley acknowledged these heroes’ ongoing support of families MDA serves. As MDA’s largest national sponsor, the IAFF helps us maintain our research and health care programs, including MDA clinics at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Mass General Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, New England Medical Center and Lahey Clinic in Burlington.


“The IAFF is MDA’s biggest champion. The dedicated efforts of fire fighters and paramedics help fuel our clinics, services, camps and research programs,” says MDA President and CEO, Gerald Weinberg.


MDA extends its sincere thanks to all the Dudley residents, and those from surrounding towns, for their generosity.


Please join me in congratulating the Dudley Fire Local #4271 on a job well done. We are counting on them to help find cures for muscular dystrophy and other muscle wasting diseases.


Sincerely,
Brittany Wiest
Fundraising Coordinator
Muscular Dystrophy Association

   
 

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