Speak out Holland! (no.28)
Peter Frei
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Comments:
Posted on 19 Oct 2011, 19:08 by new readerWhat is wrong with our country
If you have a minute, I recommend reading the excellent piece with the title, Southbridge governs “at the people” written by Brent Abrahamson on his blog. There is a link on the left of this blog under, "Local Bloggers and Voices."
His observations, sadly, can be made in many surrounding towns, including our own.
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Posted on 19 Oct 2011, 19:42 by R.S.
Letter to the editor.
Here is a letter to the Editor I read in the Sturbridge Villager in case the readers missed it:
It is time for politicians, all politicians (Republican, Democrat and Tea Party) to stop threatening to take away Social Security.
Most people on Social Security have paid into the system for 50 years or more. Social Security is no more an entitlement than the benefits that local, state and federal government workers receive when they retire.
Actually, people on Social Security get far less than their government counterparts. What does have to go away is the insane welfare system. Couples are rewarded for having children that they cannot afford. As long as they do not get married they can qualify for
welfare, food stamps, Mass health and rent subsidies. If one of them holds a job then they have a double income thanks to the taxpayer.
They buy houses, cars,maybe two cars.
If they both work they can get day care assistance. My point is, leave responsible people alone and stop rewarding those who are not. That is only common sense. If the state were to stop rewarding these people, would they starve?
No, most would find a job or move to California and there would be less of a burden on the taxpayer.
Imagine this, a new law that would make it a crime to have children that you know will require tax payer assistance to feed and support.
Think about it.
Are there any politicians out there with enough moxie to get my vote! Bet not!
Alan Nason, Holland.
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Posted on 19 Oct 2011, 24:00 by Duh
Only the rich
According to Alan only the rich can have children. Anyone else who may work like a slave yet do not earn a decent wage must be celibate and unable to have a family. God forbid anyone in Alana family be caught up in the recession and won't be able to afford rent, food, heat, car, health, not to mention creature comforts. Dear Alan, sorry we are not as holy as though. Maybe the English will buy our (the poors) young as a delicacy to serve at their black tie BBQ. Let's just eat or kill the poor people's children. That will solve the problem. After all they CAN'T pay their fair share P
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Posted on 23 Oct 2011, 19:43 by JW
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HOLLAND— A roomful of firefighters delivered a petition to selectmen this week in support of Fire Chief Paul H. Foster, after board members said his management skills led them to decide not to reappoint him.
The board had written to Chief Foster last June to give him a year’s notice of its decision not to reappoint him when his term expires this June.
The petition, signed by the entire Fire Department as well as several retired and former firefighters, stated: “We feel it would be a terrible mistake for you, the selectmen, to not reappoint Paul H. Foster as the Chief of the Holland Fire/Rescue Department.”
Deputy Fire Chief John Cozens told selectmen, “We’re here to support our chief and we’d like you gentlemen to appoint him. This is us standing up for him.”
Chief Foster was not at the board’s meeting Wednesday at Town Hall.
Deputy Chief Cozens told the board that the chief “is an excellent administrator,” with more than 20 people serving the volunteer department during the day, night and afternoons. Deputy Chief Cozens stressed that no one has left the fire department in the last five years unless they moved out of town.
Board Chairman James E. Wettlaufer and Selectman Earl A. Johnson both said they agree Chief Foster is good when it comes to fighting fires, but they have a problem with his management skills.
Stating that selectmen need to take a look as to what the money is spent on, Mr. Wettlaufer took issue with expenditure of funds appropriated at town meeting; specifically, “the amount of money that’s spent for ice melt.”
Deputy Chief Cozens said, “The last year there has been nothing unreasonably bought by this department. ...As far as I’m concerned, there’s been no money spent foolishly.”
He said the fire department purchased two cases of canned ice melt to battle equipment condensation and freezing water while fighting fires in the winter. The department only had one chimney fire this winter, compared to 14 last winter, he said, so much of the ice melt has not been used, which will decrease next winter’s purchase.
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Posted on 23 Oct 2011, 19:44 by JW
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Mr. Wettlaufer told the firefighters, “We understand you guys all want to keep him, (but) we are sending a message out (that) we want better management.”
He told the firefighters that selectmen will take their feelings into account when making the appointment, “but you’ll have to understand that we’re accountable to the taxpayers for the money that is spent. We want to make sure that we get the best bang for the dollar.”
He ended the discussion, saying, “We can’t discuss personnel issues without him being here because it’s state law.”
After the board’s meeting, Deputy Chief Cozens said selectmen “have no reason not to reappoint Chief Foster. He has 110 percent support of this Fire Department.”
Chief Foster’s background includes more than 30 years in fire service in town, first as a firefighter and later becoming fire chief in September 1995.
Despite several attempts, Chief Foster failed to convince voters to make the position full time; however, he was successful is winning a strong-chief status. To date, he continues to represent all of the call and volunteer fire chiefs on the Massachusetts Fire Training Council. He was the first part-time fire chief to be elected president of the Western Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association.
Selectmen voted at a meeting last June 22 to notify Chief Foster that he may not be reappointed when his term expires at the end of this June. At that meeting, Mr. Wettlaufer said, “The fire chief’s appointment expires on June 30, 2006, and under the law, we would have to notify him in writing starting now.” He said that sending the letter now leaves the option open to the board on whether it will reappoint the chief “when the time comes. We’re not saying that we’re not going to reappoint him at all. It just leaves open the option.”
The next day, June 23, selectmen wrote to Chief Foster and informed him “that the Board of Selectmen is giving you a one-year notice of our decision to not reappoint you for the term starting July 1, 2006.” They wrote that they will work with him “as required to assure the operational efficiency of the Holland Fire Department for the interim period required for the selection of a fire chief.”
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Posted on 16 Nov 2011, 22:06 by Jim LaMountain.....
Wetlauffers Grandson Homeless
Wetlaugher family leaves grandson with substance abuse issue homeless. He is in my basement as he has no place else to stay. Apparently Wettlaufers daughter who passed away left a son behind and his grandparents the wetlauffers have no problem leaving the young man on the streets begging for shelter.
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Posted on 16 Nov 2011, 22:06 by Jim LaMountain.....
Wetlauffers Grandson Homeless
Wetlaugher family leaves grandson with substance abuse issue homeless. He is in my basement as he has no place else to stay. Apparently Wettlaufers daughter who passed away left a son behind and his grandparents the wetlauffers have no problem leaving the young man on the streets begging for shelter.
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Posted on 19 Nov 2011, 15:21 by ......Jim L....,
Welcome Nipmuc!!!
I saw a sign on the Grossi property that said Welcome Nipmuc... Could there be a project
in Hollands future. I am glad to see Grossi knows whose land he is on. This is Nipmuck/Nipmuc territory and not Mohegan. Palmer makes mistake when they negotiate with mohegans to run project on Nipmuck land. Planners however need to know Chabunagungamaug Nipmuc is the band of Nipmuck who lay claim to Brimfield / Leadmine land grant. Negotiate with The right people here. Chabunagungamaug 413 245 0070,
David "Tall Pine" White. Best wishes to all involved in this concept to Welcome Nipmuc.
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Posted on 22 Nov 2011, 24:32 by JW Brown
Wettlaufer is scum.
I read the comments written in this piece and all I can wonder is how do you shit can Paul for buying to much ice melt when his job is public saftey? Then you have pieces of shit like Brian in the town barn that piss away tens of thousands in a fiscal year.. Hhhhmmmmm how does that work? All I have to say is JW needs to get off of the backs of people who do their jobs and start addressing the real problems at hand. The people of holland need a new selectman/chairman if anything, not a new fire chief. This guy wants to talk about mismanagement... He needs to take a long look in the mirror
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Posted on 25 Nov 2011, 16:02 by fed up
what
it is correct that the chabunagungamuag band of nipmuc indians lays claim to this area but if you beleive that david(tall pine)white wants any thing to do with gameing then you dont have any idea what your talking about which makes perfect sense considering were the information came from
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Posted on 25 Nov 2011, 17:28 by Jim l........
No kidding
No kidding. I don't think you or I can speak for the Nipmuc. It is up to all Nipmuck to determine what is best for them. Tall Pine is one of many. I don't think they want mohegans running gaming on Nipmuc territory either. There are many other things they are involved in and gaming is not on top of their list from what I heard. But if you want to welcome Nipmuc he would be a good starting point.
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Posted on 15 Dec 2011, 15:46 by Jim......,,,
Tragedy
My condolences to the family of the Young Man who took his own life last night... RIP Keegan... I hope you are in a better place..
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Posted on 15 Dec 2011, 15:46 by Jim......,,,
Tragedy
My condolences to the family of the Young Man who took his own life last night... RIP Keegan... I hope you are in a better place..
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Posted on 23 Dec 2011, 11:11 by The Egan's
Start over
Start over. That's right get rid of all the trash. Elect newly town residents only less than 3 years of residents, that has no ties to the old ragime with nothing to gain. Take a good look at your town it's been falling apart for years and it is going to get worse. Look at your elementary school I would be imbarrasset to say my kids go here. Really people the town has potential but the trash ruins it, get rid of the trash and the smell would go away. Now what gives me the right to publish my comments. I've lived in Holland thruout the eighties and early nineties and witness the pollution it has caused. Please take my advise people take out the trash.
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Posted on 3 Jan 2012, 15:49 by Another Dead Child.
Wales Hit and Run
Seems like a teen was killed in Wales today. Victim of a hit and run...
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Posted on 25 Feb 2012, 16:18 by eric's mom
new regime
the egans are right ,we need to get people to start voting in new people in , they do nothing but take , get rid of the old trouble , they give to their family and friends and nothing for anyone else but cause them trouble . if you have the old news paper law and disorder, i need a copy, we need to get together again, holland boys are older now you can help vote them out , help get together before they go any farther.call me lets get going.
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Posted on 26 Feb 2012, 16:35 by insert name here
ya ok
if they were really hated and causing as much trouble as you think they are, dont you think they wouldve been voted out years ago?
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Posted on 19 Mar 2012, 16:49 by eric,s mom
town meeting
meetings a joke , now the can appoint who they want in?
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