5 cups organic oats
1 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup coconut
1 cup walnuts
1/2 to 1 cup almonds or nut of your choice
mix and then add:
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup canola oil
Place on 2 cookie sheets.
Bake at 250 degrees until brown,
Make sure to stir once or twice while baking.
Put over some Side Hill yogurt for a delicious breakfast.
Karen Sullivan
Monday, November 23, 2009
Agenda for Tuesday's 7 p.m. Select Board Meeting
1. Minutes
November 18, 2009 minutes
2. APPOINTMENTS:
7 pm – John Svoboda
3. LIAISON REPORTS
a. Police
b. Fire
c. Highway
d. Emergency Manager
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Computer Security Policy?
b. Email Policy?
c. Hearing Policy?
5. MAIL
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles
b. Vote/Signatures
c. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
November 24, 2009 @ 7 pm – Select Board meeting
December 2, 2009 @ 7 pm – Select Board meeting
December 9, 2009 @ 7 pm – Select Board meeting (tax classification hearing)
December 16, 2009 @ 7 pm – Special Town Meeting/Select Board Meeting
d. PUBLIC FORUM (if time)
* This is a preliminary agenda and is subject to change.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Ashfield in Wonderland
"It is getting curiouser and curiouser."
It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the so-called alliances and camps that were identified early on in the Police Chief controversy. On the one hand you had those declaring that Dave DeHerdt was a staunch defender of the Chief's at all costs and on the other hand you had those who feared that Ted Murray had his mind made up to fire the Chief no matter what the facts.
Yet Wednesday night's meeting seemed to turn that perception on its head. What we witnessed was Ted readying John for his return and Dave piling up the expectations. We saw Ted taking care to explain the expectations that the Board had of John regarding new protocols and policies while Dave insisted he conduct exhaustive inventories of police department equipment and weapons.
We out here in Wonderland may indeed be confused and our world feel topsy-turvy, or maybe we've lived in another type of Wonderland for so long that this is what it looks like to be in the real world.
Amelia Maloney
It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the so-called alliances and camps that were identified early on in the Police Chief controversy. On the one hand you had those declaring that Dave DeHerdt was a staunch defender of the Chief's at all costs and on the other hand you had those who feared that Ted Murray had his mind made up to fire the Chief no matter what the facts.
Yet Wednesday night's meeting seemed to turn that perception on its head. What we witnessed was Ted readying John for his return and Dave piling up the expectations. We saw Ted taking care to explain the expectations that the Board had of John regarding new protocols and policies while Dave insisted he conduct exhaustive inventories of police department equipment and weapons.
We out here in Wonderland may indeed be confused and our world feel topsy-turvy, or maybe we've lived in another type of Wonderland for so long that this is what it looks like to be in the real world.
Amelia Maloney
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tonight's Selectboard Meeting
I was unable to attend tonight's selectboard meeting, so I would appreciate hearing reports and impressions from those who were there. I have heard that we still do not have a police chief.
Ruth Julian
Ruth Julian
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Chair Caning Classes
Some people have asked me about chair caning classes. If anyone is interested, please call me at 628-4685. I'll try to schedule classes for January and February.
Karen Sullivan
Karen Sullivan
Monday, November 16, 2009
This Week in Town Hall
Board of Health: Tuesday 11/17 at 7:00pm
Website Committee: Tuesday 11/17 at 6:30pm
Board of Assessors: Tuesday 11/17 at 7:00pm
Selectboard: Wednesday 11/18 at 7:00pm
Planning Board: Wednesday 11/18 7:30pm
Town Hall is open Monday 9am-6pm and Tuesday 9am-8pm
Website Committee: Tuesday 11/17 at 6:30pm
Board of Assessors: Tuesday 11/17 at 7:00pm
Selectboard: Wednesday 11/18 at 7:00pm
Planning Board: Wednesday 11/18 7:30pm
Town Hall is open Monday 9am-6pm and Tuesday 9am-8pm
October Animal Control Report
10/06/09
8:15AM Received a call from resident
reporting cattle were out on Rt. 112 near Sanderson.
8:17AM Called several people who have cattle in that area,
left messages.
8:23AM Went to area and found the owners herding them
back in.
10:45AM Spoke to Town Clerk. She reports that
David King is the new Field Driver for large animals with Roland
Townsley assisting.
11:15AM Spoke with David about the position, as I may need
to call on him for help with loose large animals.
10/08/09
8:00AM A Buckland resident reported that she just obtained a dog from a
shelter a few days ago and it got away last night. The dog is a
black and white Australian Shepherd and had been spayed 5
days ago. It weighs about 30 pounds and has choke collar with
an 8-foot plastic leash attached. I gave her some other
people to call and I will call Goshen/Plainfield ACO for her.
4:30PM Received email pictures of lost dog.
10/09/09
9:00AM Notified Plainfield/ Goshen ACO about lost dog.
10/11/09
2:52PM On voice mail, Sgt. Nunez called. A dog has been locked
in the police station and she would like a call.
3:10PM Saw Officer Curtis and he reported the problem with the
dog. Told him I will take care of it.
3:15PM Went to police station, took dog to its owner, all set.
10/14/09
5:30PM A Rt. 112 resident called. He is missing his
greyhound. While speaking with him, his dog returned,
all set.
6:50PM Spoke with Buckland resident whose dog was lost. She has found
her dog, all set.
10/17/09
5:00PM A Rt. 116 resident called. He has a female
chocolate Lab at his house with tag # 228 for 2007. Checked
the list to find owner of dog.
5:05PM Called dog owner, left message about where his dog is.
5:15PM Went to owner's house, no one home.
5:30PM Owner called, he will get his dog and put on the 2009
tag.
10/20/09
2:15PM Saw Sgt. Nunez and she gave me an up-to-date large
animal owners list and their phone numbers. She also gave the
list to the Field Drivers in town.
5:50PM Sgt. Nunez called, she reports a Main Street resident called.
He has a dead skunk on his front lawn and wants to know what to do with it. I will call him.
5:52PM Spoke with Main Street resident. He will dispose of the dead
skunk himself.
10/22/09
4:15PM Meadow Lane resident called. She
is missing her large gray cat. It has been missing since
6:00AM today.
10/23/09
1:25PM Sgt. Nunez called. She has a report from a West Road resident
that a Husky dog is running in the middle of the
road heading towards the dirt part of West Rd. I will check the
dog list and meet up with the Sgt.on West Rd. List reveals possible
owner. Called him and left message.
1:35PM Went to West Rd. area, met Sgt. Nunez. She will check
the area for loose dog and I will go to possible owner's home.
1:50PM Arrived at the house. No one home but found a large
hole dug under the front gate of the dog fence. I left them a
note to call me.
2:00PM Saw Sgt. Nunez, let her know what I found and that I
believed I had located the owners of the loose dog.
2:30PM Notified original caller about who the owner is, left message.
4:05PM Message from owner about the dog.
4:45PM Spoke with owners about their dog. Explained that we have
a leash law and their dog just can't run loose
because the fence won't keep it in. They will do their best to
keep the dog at home.
10/24/09
4:38PM A Buckland Rd. resident called. She
reports a gray cat hanging around the neighborhood. Told her
we have a report of a missing gray cat. I will check with the
owners and call her back.
7:00PM Tried again to call owner of lost gray cat. Left
message.
10/25/09
8:30AM Spoke with owner of lost cat. Cat seen on Buckland
Road is not their cat.
11:00AM Tried to call resident who reported cat on Buckland Road.
Left message.
6:32PM On voice mail, dispatch called about an escaped
horse belonging to a West Rd.resident.
An officer is going over to check the area.
7:10PM Called dispatch back--horse problem has been taken
care of.
10/26/09
9:26AM Left message with the police department, thanking
them for taking care of the loose horse.
11:00AM Buckland Road resident called back. I told her the cat in
question is not the missing one. She will call me back if the cat becomes a
problem in the area.
2:30PM Call from another Buckland Rd. resident
reporting an injured gray cat, which may have been hit by
a vehicle. Told her I will be over to get the cat.
2:45PM Arrived on scene, cat has injury to rear legs, some
bleeding. Put cat in cage and will get it medical treatment.
This is probably the same cat that has been around the area
and seemingly has no owner.
3:00PM Made several calls on the cat, no luck about an
owner.
3:15PM Made several calls to vets in the area, no luck. I will
take it to Hadley for emergency first aid.
4:10PM Arrived at Hadley Vets. Cat has a dislocated knee, but
otherwise in good health. The knee will most likely heal by itself.
The bill was $58.00. Returned to my kennel with the cat.
6:00PM Called Buckland Road resident about the vet visit outcome,
left message.
6:08PM Made several more calls on the cat, no luck.
10/28/09
11:00AM Notified Buckland Road residents about the cat.
I will call them back about the health of
the cat in 10 days.
10/29/09
11:12AM On voice mail, a Phillips Rd. resident reports a skunk
is hanging around the area, acting strange, possibly sick or injured.
He wanted to know the laws on destroying a sick skunk, if it returns.
Gave him some ideas. He will keep me posted.
4:20PM Received a call that the problem skunk is back in the
yard. Told resident to keep an eye on it and I will be down as
quickly as possible.
4:21 PM Notified Sgt. Nunez I will be on Phillips Rd. possibly
destroying a sick skunk, in case she gets a call.
4:40PM Arrived on scene, checked the skunk, very sick.
Destroyed it and took to transfer station.
5:10PM Discovered lock on transfer station is broken.
5:30PM Let Tom Poissant know about the broken lock.
10/30/09
6:55PM On voice mail, a Bear Swamp Rd. resident requests
the phone number of the Hawley dog officer.
8:30PM Called back to give the number requested.
Monies Collected: 0
Expenses: $96.40
Phone Calls: In 51 Out 82
Miles: 96
Labor: 47
Warren Kirkpatrick
8:15AM Received a call from resident
reporting cattle were out on Rt. 112 near Sanderson.
8:17AM Called several people who have cattle in that area,
left messages.
8:23AM Went to area and found the owners herding them
back in.
10:45AM Spoke to Town Clerk. She reports that
David King is the new Field Driver for large animals with Roland
Townsley assisting.
11:15AM Spoke with David about the position, as I may need
to call on him for help with loose large animals.
10/08/09
8:00AM A Buckland resident reported that she just obtained a dog from a
shelter a few days ago and it got away last night. The dog is a
black and white Australian Shepherd and had been spayed 5
days ago. It weighs about 30 pounds and has choke collar with
an 8-foot plastic leash attached. I gave her some other
people to call and I will call Goshen/Plainfield ACO for her.
4:30PM Received email pictures of lost dog.
10/09/09
9:00AM Notified Plainfield/ Goshen ACO about lost dog.
10/11/09
2:52PM On voice mail, Sgt. Nunez called. A dog has been locked
in the police station and she would like a call.
3:10PM Saw Officer Curtis and he reported the problem with the
dog. Told him I will take care of it.
3:15PM Went to police station, took dog to its owner, all set.
10/14/09
5:30PM A Rt. 112 resident called. He is missing his
greyhound. While speaking with him, his dog returned,
all set.
6:50PM Spoke with Buckland resident whose dog was lost. She has found
her dog, all set.
10/17/09
5:00PM A Rt. 116 resident called. He has a female
chocolate Lab at his house with tag # 228 for 2007. Checked
the list to find owner of dog.
5:05PM Called dog owner, left message about where his dog is.
5:15PM Went to owner's house, no one home.
5:30PM Owner called, he will get his dog and put on the 2009
tag.
10/20/09
2:15PM Saw Sgt. Nunez and she gave me an up-to-date large
animal owners list and their phone numbers. She also gave the
list to the Field Drivers in town.
5:50PM Sgt. Nunez called, she reports a Main Street resident called.
He has a dead skunk on his front lawn and wants to know what to do with it. I will call him.
5:52PM Spoke with Main Street resident. He will dispose of the dead
skunk himself.
10/22/09
4:15PM Meadow Lane resident called. She
is missing her large gray cat. It has been missing since
6:00AM today.
10/23/09
1:25PM Sgt. Nunez called. She has a report from a West Road resident
that a Husky dog is running in the middle of the
road heading towards the dirt part of West Rd. I will check the
dog list and meet up with the Sgt.on West Rd. List reveals possible
owner. Called him and left message.
1:35PM Went to West Rd. area, met Sgt. Nunez. She will check
the area for loose dog and I will go to possible owner's home.
1:50PM Arrived at the house. No one home but found a large
hole dug under the front gate of the dog fence. I left them a
note to call me.
2:00PM Saw Sgt. Nunez, let her know what I found and that I
believed I had located the owners of the loose dog.
2:30PM Notified original caller about who the owner is, left message.
4:05PM Message from owner about the dog.
4:45PM Spoke with owners about their dog. Explained that we have
a leash law and their dog just can't run loose
because the fence won't keep it in. They will do their best to
keep the dog at home.
10/24/09
4:38PM A Buckland Rd. resident called. She
reports a gray cat hanging around the neighborhood. Told her
we have a report of a missing gray cat. I will check with the
owners and call her back.
7:00PM Tried again to call owner of lost gray cat. Left
message.
10/25/09
8:30AM Spoke with owner of lost cat. Cat seen on Buckland
Road is not their cat.
11:00AM Tried to call resident who reported cat on Buckland Road.
Left message.
6:32PM On voice mail, dispatch called about an escaped
horse belonging to a West Rd.resident.
An officer is going over to check the area.
7:10PM Called dispatch back--horse problem has been taken
care of.
10/26/09
9:26AM Left message with the police department, thanking
them for taking care of the loose horse.
11:00AM Buckland Road resident called back. I told her the cat in
question is not the missing one. She will call me back if the cat becomes a
problem in the area.
2:30PM Call from another Buckland Rd. resident
reporting an injured gray cat, which may have been hit by
a vehicle. Told her I will be over to get the cat.
2:45PM Arrived on scene, cat has injury to rear legs, some
bleeding. Put cat in cage and will get it medical treatment.
This is probably the same cat that has been around the area
and seemingly has no owner.
3:00PM Made several calls on the cat, no luck about an
owner.
3:15PM Made several calls to vets in the area, no luck. I will
take it to Hadley for emergency first aid.
4:10PM Arrived at Hadley Vets. Cat has a dislocated knee, but
otherwise in good health. The knee will most likely heal by itself.
The bill was $58.00. Returned to my kennel with the cat.
6:00PM Called Buckland Road resident about the vet visit outcome,
left message.
6:08PM Made several more calls on the cat, no luck.
10/28/09
11:00AM Notified Buckland Road residents about the cat.
I will call them back about the health of
the cat in 10 days.
10/29/09
11:12AM On voice mail, a Phillips Rd. resident reports a skunk
is hanging around the area, acting strange, possibly sick or injured.
He wanted to know the laws on destroying a sick skunk, if it returns.
Gave him some ideas. He will keep me posted.
4:20PM Received a call that the problem skunk is back in the
yard. Told resident to keep an eye on it and I will be down as
quickly as possible.
4:21 PM Notified Sgt. Nunez I will be on Phillips Rd. possibly
destroying a sick skunk, in case she gets a call.
4:40PM Arrived on scene, checked the skunk, very sick.
Destroyed it and took to transfer station.
5:10PM Discovered lock on transfer station is broken.
5:30PM Let Tom Poissant know about the broken lock.
10/30/09
6:55PM On voice mail, a Bear Swamp Rd. resident requests
the phone number of the Hawley dog officer.
8:30PM Called back to give the number requested.
Monies Collected: 0
Expenses: $96.40
Phone Calls: In 51 Out 82
Miles: 96
Labor: 47
Warren Kirkpatrick
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Town Common Cooks
Ashfield Dutch Baby
Dutch babies are a cross between a popover and pancake that is simple to mix and bake. My daughter adores them and considers it a special morning if a dutch baby is put on the breakfast table. This particular recipe comes from well-known traveler Rick Bayless who discovered what he considers the best version in Holland. The dutch baby bakes in a skillet in the oven, getting golden brown and rising up into a dramatic, puffy, bowl-shaped concoction that is perfect to pile high with seasonal fruit, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, and douse with Ashfield maple syrup, whipped cream or yogurt. Your imagination is truly the limit.
Serves 4
5 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups diced fruit or berries, could be blueberries, apples, peaches, mango, bananas
Confectioners' sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, whipped cream, or yogurt
Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 450 degrees.
Put butter in a 12-inch skillet, I prefer a cast iron one, with an ovenproof handle.
Set skillet in oven for 5 minutes to melt butter completely-it's OK if it begins to brown.
Put flour in large bowl.
Add the milk, eggs, and salt to flour.
Beat until smooth with whisk, large spoon, or hand-held electric mixer.
Pour the batter into the hot pan and return to oven.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sides are puffed up and dark golden brown.
Remove from oven, loosen the dutch baby from the skillet and slide onto a serving plate.
Pile fruit in center and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
Cut into wedges and pass warm syrup to pour on top.
Amelia Maloney
Dutch babies are a cross between a popover and pancake that is simple to mix and bake. My daughter adores them and considers it a special morning if a dutch baby is put on the breakfast table. This particular recipe comes from well-known traveler Rick Bayless who discovered what he considers the best version in Holland. The dutch baby bakes in a skillet in the oven, getting golden brown and rising up into a dramatic, puffy, bowl-shaped concoction that is perfect to pile high with seasonal fruit, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, and douse with Ashfield maple syrup, whipped cream or yogurt. Your imagination is truly the limit.
Serves 4
5 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups diced fruit or berries, could be blueberries, apples, peaches, mango, bananas
Confectioners' sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, whipped cream, or yogurt
Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 450 degrees.
Put butter in a 12-inch skillet, I prefer a cast iron one, with an ovenproof handle.
Set skillet in oven for 5 minutes to melt butter completely-it's OK if it begins to brown.
Put flour in large bowl.
Add the milk, eggs, and salt to flour.
Beat until smooth with whisk, large spoon, or hand-held electric mixer.
Pour the batter into the hot pan and return to oven.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sides are puffed up and dark golden brown.
Remove from oven, loosen the dutch baby from the skillet and slide onto a serving plate.
Pile fruit in center and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
Cut into wedges and pass warm syrup to pour on top.
Amelia Maloney
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ashfield Then and Now
Meandering up Rt.116 from South Deerfield in the winter of 1982, I arrived in Ashfield. At once I knew I wanted to make this place home. I can remember Dave Culver haying the field that now belongs to Tamsen Merrill with his draft horses. Raw milk was available at Bill Eddie’s dairy farm, fresh squeezed, unpasteurized, apple cider at Janice “the apple lady” Scott’s. Spring brought fried dough, maple syrup, and crowds to Gray’s Sugar House. Outside there was sliding down the hill on Willie’s homemade “jumpers” and crafts in the barn. Summers were spent at the Ashfield Lake, climbing Pony Cliff, sliding down the rocks at Chapel Falls, and hiking around Bear Swamp. These are only a few of the beautiful spots in town. Fall was time to go back to the Old Sanderson Academy with Miss O., Poppy Doyle, Mrs Hall, Jackie Clark and many others who hold a special place in my heart. Before Christmas my daughter Sarah and I would ride our horses down West Road to Betty Scott’s to cut our Christmas tree and drag it home tied to our saddles.
Speaking of riding our horses, I was riding down West Road one day and Dillon Frazer saddled up one of his cows and rode along. Where else would such a wonderful thing happen? My horse was a bit perplexed!
As concerned citizens we protested the radar towers at the Hawley potato fields and prevented harsh chemical sprays along the roadsides by WMECO. Which by the way they are talking about again, so a letter to the Selectboard in opposition to the spraying would be helpful.
Today Ashfield still holds much of the same charm. Pieropan’s is still open to cut your own Christmas trees, Ashfield Fall Festival provides a fix of Gray’s maple cream on fried dough, Ashfield Hardware has 50 cent ice cream cones, plenty of nifty things, and a talking pumpkin to boot. Country Pie provides a cup of soup and a slice of pizza free every Tuesday through the “Share the Warmth” project to which you can donate, and you can still get raw milk at Side Hill Farm. There is organic beef at the Steady Lane Farm that is simply delicious and the cows have a wonderful life. Vegetable stands still have cans so that you can self-serve and we have a great Farmers’ Market. Neighbors meet at the two town country stores and share time and space. During emergencies like our ice storm last year, the townspeople always come through and help one another. We have a lively town meeting in which we can agree to disagree, and I encourage all to attend the Wednesday Selectboard meeting so that you can find out what is happening in your town. The Ashfield Lake is still a wonderful place and the Lakehouse provides a place for swimmers, boaters, guests and snowmobilers. The Belding Park space is growing and the History Project is working to provide another history book.
Inevitably things change, some small, some big. There is life and death, triumph and tragedy. But we, as any other town or city, have laws, policy, an awareness of political correctness, (personally, I think, gone a bit over the edge). We should be able to talk freely if our intentions are honorable. We have a responsibility to respect those who have religious practices, sexual preferences, or ideas that are different from our own. We need to honor and celebrate diversity as it adds to the beauty of our town of Ashfield.
This will forever be my home.
Karen Sullivan
Speaking of riding our horses, I was riding down West Road one day and Dillon Frazer saddled up one of his cows and rode along. Where else would such a wonderful thing happen? My horse was a bit perplexed!
As concerned citizens we protested the radar towers at the Hawley potato fields and prevented harsh chemical sprays along the roadsides by WMECO. Which by the way they are talking about again, so a letter to the Selectboard in opposition to the spraying would be helpful.
Today Ashfield still holds much of the same charm. Pieropan’s is still open to cut your own Christmas trees, Ashfield Fall Festival provides a fix of Gray’s maple cream on fried dough, Ashfield Hardware has 50 cent ice cream cones, plenty of nifty things, and a talking pumpkin to boot. Country Pie provides a cup of soup and a slice of pizza free every Tuesday through the “Share the Warmth” project to which you can donate, and you can still get raw milk at Side Hill Farm. There is organic beef at the Steady Lane Farm that is simply delicious and the cows have a wonderful life. Vegetable stands still have cans so that you can self-serve and we have a great Farmers’ Market. Neighbors meet at the two town country stores and share time and space. During emergencies like our ice storm last year, the townspeople always come through and help one another. We have a lively town meeting in which we can agree to disagree, and I encourage all to attend the Wednesday Selectboard meeting so that you can find out what is happening in your town. The Ashfield Lake is still a wonderful place and the Lakehouse provides a place for swimmers, boaters, guests and snowmobilers. The Belding Park space is growing and the History Project is working to provide another history book.
Inevitably things change, some small, some big. There is life and death, triumph and tragedy. But we, as any other town or city, have laws, policy, an awareness of political correctness, (personally, I think, gone a bit over the edge). We should be able to talk freely if our intentions are honorable. We have a responsibility to respect those who have religious practices, sexual preferences, or ideas that are different from our own. We need to honor and celebrate diversity as it adds to the beauty of our town of Ashfield.
This will forever be my home.
Karen Sullivan
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Some Thoughts on Not Being a Native
The differences between natives and newcomers are real and significant. People who have lived in a small, rural town all their lives develop a sense of community that isn’t available to someone who grew up in a larger, more anonymous place. Though it goes against the common wisdom, I also think the natives are more cosmopolitan, in the sense of coming to know and appreciate a wider range of human types. In a big city, you can choose your friends from among the 200 or so people who share your feelings about everything. In a small town, you have to get to know the neighbors you’ve got. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask if someone who hasn’t had a small-town experience can truly represent those who have.
Even among small towns, I believe Ashfield is unique. I can’t begin to list the people – statesmen, educators, writers, engineers, politicians – from Ashfield who have had an impact on the wider world. By contrast, the town where I grew up in Pennsylvania (population of about 5000) was best known for once having been the home of Jim Backus, who played Thurston Howell III on “Gilligan’s Island.” The assumption that anyone competent and well meaning, even if they’ve newly arrived, is capable of running this town fails to recognize its uniqueness.
Finally, I suspect the “Vote Native” sentiment is an unfortunate if understandable reaction to something I’ve often seen among my fellow newcomers – a tendency to treat the natives with benign condescension. This, I believe, shows a blindness to who the natives really are. Those I have come to know have been intelligent, sensible, generous, and affable. Those who cannot see this are missing something and should open their eyes.
To sum it up, I wasn’t born in Ashfield, but I rather wish I had been. I think I’d be a better person for it. That realization gives me a healthy humility that keeps me from trying to tell the natives how to run this town. Ted Murray seems to be a reasonable, open-minded man. I hope, especially in light of the close vote, that he will come to share this humility.
David King
Even among small towns, I believe Ashfield is unique. I can’t begin to list the people – statesmen, educators, writers, engineers, politicians – from Ashfield who have had an impact on the wider world. By contrast, the town where I grew up in Pennsylvania (population of about 5000) was best known for once having been the home of Jim Backus, who played Thurston Howell III on “Gilligan’s Island.” The assumption that anyone competent and well meaning, even if they’ve newly arrived, is capable of running this town fails to recognize its uniqueness.
Finally, I suspect the “Vote Native” sentiment is an unfortunate if understandable reaction to something I’ve often seen among my fellow newcomers – a tendency to treat the natives with benign condescension. This, I believe, shows a blindness to who the natives really are. Those I have come to know have been intelligent, sensible, generous, and affable. Those who cannot see this are missing something and should open their eyes.
To sum it up, I wasn’t born in Ashfield, but I rather wish I had been. I think I’d be a better person for it. That realization gives me a healthy humility that keeps me from trying to tell the natives how to run this town. Ted Murray seems to be a reasonable, open-minded man. I hope, especially in light of the close vote, that he will come to share this humility.
David King
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