To the Editor: I thank the public for your interest in the news media’s story about Westborough’s Entrance Age Policy. Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions about the factual basis for the discussion, which I hope to clear up by this letter. Westborough’s Entrance Age Policy reads: ENTRANCE AGE Kindergarten: A child may enter kindergarten if he/she reaches the age of five on or before September 1 of that calendar year. In accordance with state statute, a child must attend school beginning in September of the calendar year he/she attains the age of six. First Grade: As of the 1999-2000 …
To the Editor: Westborough will be holding its third PS 6 foam (Styrofoam) recycling event on March 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tufts Machine Lot on East Main Street. For the second time, Central One Federal Credit Union will sponsor the event. Residents from Westborough and surrounding communities can bring PS 6 (Styrofoam) gift packaging, egg cartons, coffee cups without wraps, coolers, meat and veggie trays, take-out containers and any other foam product with PS 6 on it. In March of 2012, Westborough held its inaugural “Reduce, Reuse, ReFoamIt!” event and filled a trailer truck with …
To the Editor: Westborough Girl Scout Cadette Troop 30507 has been learning about how animals help people by working on the Animal Helpers Badge. In addition to researching animal heroes and presenting the information to one another, we also were visited by a seeing eye dog, Chica, and her human, Pam Loch. As the culmination of our badge, on Friday, March 1, we visited NEADS (www.neads.org) in Princeton to learn about how assistance animals are trained to help deaf and disabled americans, especially veterans. The highlight of our visit was playing with the bouncy, mischivious puppies. The …
To the Editor: I wish to thank all 430 voters that voted for me for selectman. Particularly, I am indebted to Vinnie Borkowsky and many other supporters who stood out in the cold to send a message to our voters, or wrote letters of support. We were able to connect with senior citizens, young families and people who are having trouble making ends meet in this terrible economy. They are the ones most impacted by the overspending in progress. I believe our message has been heard. While we are a minority right now, I think the numbers will grow and become louder. As I have stated, we must …
To the Editor: Thank you to the residents of Westborough for allowing me to serve on your board of selectmen for the past few years, and for reelecting me to a third three-year term on the board. Over the course of the campaign, I had the opportunity to reconnect with many of you and to meet several of you for thefirst time. I wish that I had the opportunity to meet more of you, and I hope to meet you and work with you over the coming three years.As we all know, we are in an unprecedented time of economic difficulty. All of us have known people who are unemployed or underemployed, who are …
To the Editor: My name is Craig Goldman, I have lived in Westborough for over 16 years and I am supporting Stephen Faris for selectman. I believe Steve is the right person to help lead this town through the current fiscal constraints and into the future. I run a small electronics design company in Westborough. I met Steve Faris five years ago; Steve was project manager for a medical pump upgrade that I worked on. He impressed me by his commitment to listen to all parties involved in the project, understand their issues and guide a resolution to conflicting requirements. We have been friends …
To the Editor: The Westborough Garden Club is missing one of their “sandwich board” signs. This sign was last seen advertising our annual plant sale. If you know of its whereabouts, please leave a message at 508-366-0067 and let us know where we can pick it up, or just drop it off at 211 West Main St.,Westborough. No questions asked. We would very much like to have our sign returned. Your help is appreciated. Thank you! Westborough Garden Club
To the Editor: We’re supporting Tim Dodd for selectman in the upcoming town election. Tim has six years experience as a selectman, and is uniquely qualified to continue to help lead Westborough into the future. Tim is third-generation Westborough and cares deeply about our community. He has experience with public service in Washington and Boston as well as in our own town. This gives him an informed perspective on how government programs work at all levels and positions him to bring new ideas to the forefront. Tim has been the selectmen’s liaison to the school committee, …
To the Editor: The rate of childhood obesity is growing to critically high levels. Much of this is from the excessive consumption of sweets and soda. Currently, soda and candy are grouped in the same category as food, and are exempt from sales tax. As a leader of prevention and wellness, the Massachusetts Public Health Association supports the proposal by the governor, legislators, and other community advocates to end the sales tax exemption on candy and soda. This legislation aims to invest the revenue raised from the end of the exemptions into the state’s Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund…
To the Editor:Please join me in voting to reelect Tim Dodd to the board of selectmen on Tuesday, March 5. Tim has the proven track record of hard work and innovative ideas necessary to continue moving our community forward.Tim is third generation Westborough, so he has an understanding and respect for our town’s history. He treats his essentially volunteer position as selectman very seriously, always responding promptly and thoughtfully to residents’ questions and spending time researching best practices in other towns which could be brought to Westborough.Tim’s position as the local …
To the Editor: The Friends of the Westborough Public Library would like to thank area businesses and the Westborough community who supported the 1st Annual Masters of Literacy Mini-Golf Event. The event was a great success, with over 200 golfers of all ages playing 18 holes. Participants were able to explore and experience the library in a unique and fun way. We sincerely appreciate the support of our generous sponsors and donors and all who helped to make Library Mini-Golf successful. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Friends of the Westborough Public Library will use money …
To the Editor: I'm writing today to urge you to join me in supporting Tim Dodd for Westborough selectman in the March 5 town election. I have known Tim for 12 years, and I havecontinuously been impressed with his commitment to his hometown. After graduating from college in Washington, DC, Tim returned to Westborough, and first successfully ran for the board of selectmen in 2007. Since that time, he has invested countless hours working for the betterment of our community. As a member of the planning board, I have worked with Tim on numerous issues related to open space protection, …
To the Editor: Tim Dodd is the perfect choice for Westborough selectman. Tim has dedicated his career to the people of the Commonwealth and works every day to make his hometown a better place to live, work, and raise a family. A lifelong resident of Westborough, Tim is currently serving his second three-year term on the board of selectmen and has brought expertise in local governance and policy as well as utilizing emerging technologies to provide residents with up to the moment information. Tim brings a unique and often underutilized perspective to town office as a young, innovative …
To the Editor: As the country beings to reevaluate the gun control laws in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, it is important to examine the nuances of the proposed changes. As a leader of prevention and wellness, the Massachusetts Public Health Association views gun control as the best means for preventing related tragedies. MPHA supports Massachusetts Governor Patrick in reinforcing firearm laws to include a number of preventative measures that will promote the health and safety of residents. The laws limit the number of firearm purchases an individual can make, work to ensure that every …
To the Editor: On behalf of Westborough Youth and Family Services and the Rotary Club of Westborough, we want to thank all those who so kindly supported the 2012 Free Holiday Store. We are so grateful for the many wonderful gifts donated by the residents, organizations and businesses of Westborough. Thanks to your help, we distributed over 1,200 gifts, books and hats and mittens to local families, which truly brightened the holidays for many Westborough children in need. We are so grateful to the …
To the Editor: My name is Edward Turner. I am a professional artist and a new store owner. I own the Art and Frame Emporium in Westborough and I have, as a profession, illustrated for over 25 years now. I am working close with the landlord to create a unique show for this spring. I am in charge of a small number of unrented storefronts in our mall. I am now looking to enhance the storefronts with original art. This is where you step in. Are you interested in showing your work with my help in hopes to sell it? This is the event. It's title will be "Art and The Marathon." The committee …
To the Editor I’m writing to express deep disappointment in Rep. Dykema. Last October, Marty Lamb criticized Dykema for voting against putting committee votes online. Even the moderator challenged her about voting against this common sense transparency reform. At that point in the debate, she said she would now support putting these votes online. That promise was very short lived. In the third vote to happen this year, she voted against it again. This is a prime example of a politician saying anything to get elected and then doing the opposite on Beacon Hill. Rep. Dykema has proven she is the…
To the Editor: Last fall, during the Hopkinton debate for state representative, Carolyn Dykema changed her position on putting committee votes online. Despite voting against it twice, she pledged moving forward that she would vote in favor of letting the public know about these votes by putting them online. Unfortunately, she did not keep that commitment. Only three roll calls into the new session, she broke that promise! That’s right, the third vote of the year she went back on her word. Committee votes should be online so the public can see them. It is disappointing that Rep. Dykema …
To the Editor: I have been watching and reading the many reactions and comments concerning the sadness we all suffered in Connecticut. As I have grandchildren the same ages as those young souls, it has been especially heart-rending for me. People are railing against the National Rifle Association, while others "dig in" to protect our right to bear arms. Still more worry about the cost of deploying police officers to our schools. But during this discussion, it becomes clear that there may be a solution that is acceptable to all. Let's let our country's grandfathers and grandmothers protect our…
To the Editor: I want to thank all of the residents who attended any one of the four Town Hall meetings that I held over the past month, after my re-election in November. I was pleased with the concerns expressed by my constituents, as well as the positive discussions that were generated out of these conversations. The Town Hall meetings were held in Ayer, Westborough, Marlborough and Acton, to ensure that residents from each geographical area of the 14 communities of the Middlesex and Worcester District had the opportunity to attend a meeting and express their opinions on legislative and …
