The Town Caucus will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9th in Sanderson Academy, not Town Hall.
Hope all who can will attend.
R. Dave DeHerdt
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Truth Will Set You Free
Fiction? "So Perlman called the department and was told to bring the evidence in, which he did during a day when the town was holding voting for the special state election. Instead of bringing it to the station, Perlman says, he saw an officer on duty outside the polling place and stopped to give the officer the package via a 'window-to-window' transfer." From the editorial in the Greenfield Recorder, March 5, 2010.
Fact: Witnesses watched the former select board member walk into the school, enter the polling center and order the only police officer present to come with him. Both the former select board member and the police officer were seen leaving the building and going to the police cruiser. Witnesses watched as the former select board member got into his blue truck and moved it forward about four car lengths until his truck was side by side with the cruiser. A voter saw what appeared to be a black bag being passed out of the truck. A voter watched as the officer received the black bag and placed it inside the cruiser. The blue truck then drove away. Later, another voter watched what appeared to be a heated discussion the sergeant was having with the officer who received the black bag. At the time, both the sergeant and the officer were outside and away from the entrance of the school.
Question: Who was actually supposed to be on duty and inside the polling area and lobby? I wonder if another conference needs to be held at the store to untangle this web and see if another can be forged that is more plausible?
But the Most Important Issue: The safety of the children at Sanderson on voting day was most important. Officers not on duty where they belonged violated that important assignment.
S.M. Corbett
Fact: Witnesses watched the former select board member walk into the school, enter the polling center and order the only police officer present to come with him. Both the former select board member and the police officer were seen leaving the building and going to the police cruiser. Witnesses watched as the former select board member got into his blue truck and moved it forward about four car lengths until his truck was side by side with the cruiser. A voter saw what appeared to be a black bag being passed out of the truck. A voter watched as the officer received the black bag and placed it inside the cruiser. The blue truck then drove away. Later, another voter watched what appeared to be a heated discussion the sergeant was having with the officer who received the black bag. At the time, both the sergeant and the officer were outside and away from the entrance of the school.
Question: Who was actually supposed to be on duty and inside the polling area and lobby? I wonder if another conference needs to be held at the store to untangle this web and see if another can be forged that is more plausible?
But the Most Important Issue: The safety of the children at Sanderson on voting day was most important. Officers not on duty where they belonged violated that important assignment.
S.M. Corbett
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Why You Should Attend Caucus
While disaffected grumblings and loud laments are a perfectly reasonable response to anything that happens in Washington or Boston, here in our small town, where perfect democracy is available, we get exactly the kind of government we deserve.
This exercise in pure democracy begins every year at caucus. Each and every registered voter who bothers to attend has a voice, often a strong voice, in nominating candidates for the town offices that will be decided at the election on May 1.
If you think anything in Ashfield needs changing, come nominate the person who can change it. If you’re delighted with our present government, come give your support to the incumbents who have deserved your praise.
Or just come and learn how real democracy works.
Ruth Julian
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March, 2000 issue of The Ashfield News. This year's Caucus is next Tuesday night, March 9, at 7 p.m. in Sanderson Academy.
This exercise in pure democracy begins every year at caucus. Each and every registered voter who bothers to attend has a voice, often a strong voice, in nominating candidates for the town offices that will be decided at the election on May 1.
If you think anything in Ashfield needs changing, come nominate the person who can change it. If you’re delighted with our present government, come give your support to the incumbents who have deserved your praise.
Or just come and learn how real democracy works.
Ruth Julian
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March, 2000 issue of The Ashfield News. This year's Caucus is next Tuesday night, March 9, at 7 p.m. in Sanderson Academy.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Art of Ashfield Blogging
I've had some reports that, even when the directions to the right of this page are followed, some people are having trouble posting comments. Apparently the trick is just to try again.
After you send your comment, there will be a delay before it is posted. This is because I am not always online, and I must click on a button to post new comments. I have not yet rejected a single comment. The only requirement is that you sign it and make sure it meets a standard of rudimentary civility.
If all else fails, you can always send me an e-mail with "for the blog" in the subject line and whatever you'd like to say in the body of your e-mail. I cannot post it as a comment, but I can put it up as a new article.
Which reminds me that posts on all subjects are welcome. All Ashfielders and friends of Ashfield are welcome. If you have something to say on the Town Common on Main Street, then please feel free to say it on our virtual Ashfield Town Common. We are snow-free and warm, and you can reach a much larger audience.
Ruth Julian
After you send your comment, there will be a delay before it is posted. This is because I am not always online, and I must click on a button to post new comments. I have not yet rejected a single comment. The only requirement is that you sign it and make sure it meets a standard of rudimentary civility.
If all else fails, you can always send me an e-mail with "for the blog" in the subject line and whatever you'd like to say in the body of your e-mail. I cannot post it as a comment, but I can put it up as a new article.
Which reminds me that posts on all subjects are welcome. All Ashfielders and friends of Ashfield are welcome. If you have something to say on the Town Common on Main Street, then please feel free to say it on our virtual Ashfield Town Common. We are snow-free and warm, and you can reach a much larger audience.
Ruth Julian
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
No SB Meeting Tonight, Info Instead
Due to the absence of Selectboard chair Ted Murray, there will be no meeting tonight. However, board member Dave DeHerdt will be in Town Hall to take questions from prospective candidates about the duties of a member of the Selectboard.
A vacancy was created by the resignation of Tom Ulrich and Murray has said he will not run again in the May election. Therefore two positions on the board will be open for candidate nominations at Town Caucus, which will be held next Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Sanderson Academy.
A vacancy was created by the resignation of Tom Ulrich and Murray has said he will not run again in the May election. Therefore two positions on the board will be open for candidate nominations at Town Caucus, which will be held next Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Sanderson Academy.
Wisdom from a 17th Century Poet
He that hath nothing to feed on but vanity and lies must needs lie down in the bed of sorrow.
Anne Bradstreet
Anne Bradstreet
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