6 days Ago
Votes ‘yes’ on Winchendon override May 5Winchendon is facing a Proposition 21⁄2 override. It’s a challenge because nobody likes to pay more in taxes or for anything else. However, there is a gap between anticipated revenue and all the usual budget items plus fixed costs.
How do we balance the budget? The town’s administration proposed eliminating funding for the public library, the senior center, and our parks and recreation department. That will happen unless the Proposition 21⁄2 override passes at the May 5th election. I am sure putting funding for these three departments on the chopping block (along with more than $1 million from other line items) wasn’t an easy decision, but the money simply isn’t there under the existing tax levy limit.
Perhaps the thought was that those three departments aren’t strictly necessary to preserve life and limb. Please consider that those targeted departments provide services and resources essential to the quality of life in Winchendon.In 1909, Mr.
Charles L. Beals gave the town $25,000 to build the Beals Memorial Library. In 1882, Ephraim Murdock, Jr.
, bequeathed the residue of his estate to build a high school in Winchendon. It is now known as Old Murdock and houses our Senior Center. When Wendell P.
Clark died in 1919, he left money for building what we now call the Clark YMCA. These benefactors invested in education and quality of life for the people of Winchendon. Without those donations, most residents wouldn’t have had access to such resources and services.
Similar investment continues today thanks to the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation. Without that continuing largess, those three institutions (along with our schools, churches, public safety departments, etc.) wouldn’t be serving residents as they do today.
In the letter Mr. Beals sent with his donation, he said he placed no responsibility for upkeep upon the town because he believed “the citizens of this town will always provide [for the library] with public spirit and enlightened generosity.” Needless to say, a vote of thanks was immediately conveyed to Mr.
Beals.Now is the time for voters who expect and want a QUALITY life in Winchendon to step up and vote YES on May 5th and at the Town Meeting on May 19.Julia White CardinalWinchendon, MATewksbury Planning Board should reconsider decision on MBTA lawMassachusetts has one of the highest, and fastest growing home prices and rents in the country.
One of the main reasons that housing is unaffordable in Massachusetts is that we simply don’t have enough housing supply.After reading an article by Peter Currier on April 9th, I am writing to encourage the Tewksbury Planning Board to reconsider their decision not to recommend the MBTA Communities article.We should learn from cities like Austin, Texas.
During COVID, rents skyrocketed across the city. In 2023, the Austin City Council tried to reduce rents by expanding the number of housing units that could be developed in areas zoned for single-family housing. And it’s worked.
According to a 2024 report, Austin builds “more apartments than any other large metro.” And according to the Texas Tribune, “Austin rents have tumbled for 19 straight months.”The MBTA Communities Zoning would go a long way to making housing affordable in Massachusetts.
I hope the Tewksbury Planning Board will reconsider their decision not to support it.Ryan OatesLowell, MAScott McIntosh commentaryI fully agree with this article published “Op-ed: Scott McIntosh: What a trial from 300 years ago tells us about Trump’s media lawsuits.” Every action taken by a public figure, and every story has two sides to the outcome.
A great comparison to the Zenger story.Everyone has their own opinion and it should be recognized .A.
DubeFitchburg, MAIn response to: ‘Editorial: It’s time state allows death with dignity’Massachusetts lawmakers are again considering legalizing physician-assisted suicide through the so-called “End of Life Options Act.” But no matter how carefully worded or politically rebranded, this is still suicide facilitated by the health care system.Supporters of assisted suicide claim it offers choice and compassion.
But true compassion does not normalize suicide as a medical response to suffering. It ensures every person, especially the most vulnerable, receives quality hospice, palliative care, mental-health care, and support to live, not die.People with terminal illness deserve to be surrounded by care, not given a lethal prescription.
This legislation risks sending the message that people with life-threatening disability don’t deserve suicide prevention care. That is especially dangerous in a state where access to comprehensive health care, particularly for people with disabilities, serious illness, or limited means, is far from equitable.Despite claims of strong safeguards, no law can predict or prevent coercion, despair, or missed diagnoses.
The risk to vulnerable people is real.Polling numbers cooked up by special interest proponent organizations do not change the stakes for society. Massachusetts voters already rejected this once on the ballot.
Lawmakers should respect that judgment and stand with vulnerable people and offer better solutions to end of life than suicide.Matt VallièreWorcester County, MAFirefighters battle wind-driven blaze in Acton’s Kennedy PitThank you for your article on the recent brush fire in Acton. It highlights a growing predicament that Massachusetts and communities throughout New England face due to climate change.
As temperatures climb and conditions become more arid, these conflagrations will increase in frequency and ferocity. As we are learning, the risk extends far beyond the Pacific Northwest and affects us all. While it is shocking to learn that “wind-driven” fire and “lack of nearby water sources” are factors in suburban Massachusetts, it is not surprising.
We must both improve our response to these kinds of emergencies, and adopt practices and policies that prevent them by moving away from climate-destroying fossil fuels toward renewable and non-polluting energy.Christopher M. O’KeeffeMarlborough MA.
