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MORE EDITORIALS
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40-B Battle Nears Endgame
(August 20, 2004)
If politics makes for strange bedfellows, 40-B
politics puts the principle players into a king-sized mattress, making weird
politics even more bizarre. In town we have an unprecedented opportunity to
see power politics in action. The changing political landscape has driven
hidden agendas into the daylight...
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Thoughts on the Christensen
Lawsuit
(August 20, 2004)
Our hats off to Lynne Christensen for having the
courage to file suit against the Kingston School Committee and
Superintendent Gordon Noseworthy. Her termination was sloppy, unfeeling and
without merit. Too often in the education administrative circles
terminations such as this go unchallenged...
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40-B:
Managing our Future
(August 20, 2004)
When it
comes to 40-B, it all comes down to money. Each
of the two 40-B projects working their way through the system has the potential
to yield $15-25 million in profit for developers and investors. Inversely, each
project has the capacity to cost the town millions of dollars in increased
expenses for education, police and fire, and additional infrastructure...
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ZBA Incompetence
(July 16, 2004) There is a board in
town that is so powerful that it can change the face of Kingston for decades
to come. It is a board made up of five members and two alternates. They
don’t get paid and they are not elected. The destiny of our Town is
currently in their hands. For that reason we should be very worried.
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Revolving
Door Keeps on Spinning...
(June 19, 2004) KES Principal Lynne
Christensen will not be back next year and nobody is sure why. In April we
received a letter from KES faculty representation voicing their concerns
over the then rumor that Christensen would not be offered a contract. We
were provided with a copy of a letter sent to both the Kingston Elementary
School Committee and School Superintendent Gordon Noseworthy which read...
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Election Buck Stops on Saturday, April 24
(April 2004)
If
the timing of the L. Knife & Son “up yours” public display did anything, it
is a reminder of why the upcoming elections are so vital. On Saturday, April
24 we have the opportunity to turn out in large numbers to fill in the
little ovals on the ballot card that could change the way business is done
in Kingston. Certainly Knife showed no concern for what the result of their
environmental tantrum might bring, and the question is why?
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It's Time We Policed
Ourselves
(March 19, 2004) What
happens when the conduct of public officials comes into question? In
Kingston the answer is, "nothing." And this answer is unacceptable.
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Hitler’s Germany had very
little left over us...”
-- George Cravenho
(February
20, 2004) No George. You’re wrong.
Nothing and no one in Kingston comes close. Not even even our worst foes.
Growing more agitated as his term in office draws toward an end, Selectman
George Cravenho this month lashed out at fellow member Mark Beaton who had
asked that the town become involved in the naming of the Pottle Street
ballfield complex.
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The Sins of the
Fathers and Everyone Else
(February 20, 2004) Catholics, practicing or lapsed,
are used to certain sights and sounds within their parish. There is a loyal
cadre of men and women who arrive early to pray the Rosary before the daily
Mass. They sit in a cluster at the front of the church. They are the ones
who know when to stand up and sit down, and they are guides for those of us
who just can’t remember when to do what. Their heads are mostly gray now.
Who will replace them?
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A Bunch of Foul Balls
Perhaps the selectmen should have
checked with state and federal authorities to see if they might be close to
handing down indictments for profiteering and arson before they, on the
recommendation of the Ballfield Committee, named the new sports complex
after the late father of one of the ballfield committee’s movers and
shakers.
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Cretinon Story Has
No Happy Ending, No Matter How it Turns Out
(October 17, 2003) Lots of
people like Richard Cretinon. He’s got a great smile and a better laugh,
and he did favors for people. As a matter of fact, he helped me to bury my
dog, and after we’d all placed some shovelfuls of dirt over her grave, he
cried with us because he loves animals.
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Cops’ Contractor Still Cleaning Up
(September 18, 2003) A month has passed since we broke the story
concerning a cleaning company, owned by a cop’s wife, incorporated for
less then the two years required to bid, with an employee who was arrested
his first day on the job as an illegal alien having already been deported
once before. One would think these disclosures might lead to a
termination...
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Town
Hall: Fallacies and Faults
(September 18, 2003)
It’s terrific that the seat of government is
moving into the new Town Hall by month’s end. The replacement of the old
Green Facility has been a long time in the making and was the right
decision. Many memories will be left behind and the names of those who
served there would fill a novel. From the attic, which few had ever seen,
perhaps mercifully so, to the lower level that once housed the police
department, and prisoners, to the main level selectmen chambers, the scene
of many political wars, the building served us well.
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40-B-Ware of Impact Upon Quality of Life
(August 2003)
If it weren’t for Selectman Mark Beaton, it is likely that Kingston would
have approved the Beacon Properties proposal to place 700 housing units as
its own without anyone having been aware of it.
About two months ago, Beaton asked the selectmen to host an informational
meeting for residents to discuss the massive housing proposal which is
very significant because it involves the inclusion of affordable housing
under Chapter 40B which makes it easy for developers to cash in on the
altruism of providing housing to those who could not otherwise afford to
buy a home here.
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Norwell's Experience Could Help Kingston
Defeat Beacon's 40-B Application
(July 30, 2003)
Good news for
Kingston! Developers in Norwell of two separate 40B proposals
had their building plans rejected by the State Housing Finance Authority.
MassHousing cited traffic safety and environmental impacts as two key
reasons for deep-sixing the projects. The Queen Anne’s Corner and Baker
Street projects rejected by the state called for a combined 62 condos on 32
acres of land. Each project was far smaller in scope and impact than the
monster 780-unit project Beacon is trying to build in Kingston.
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Making the Case Against
Spot Zoning
(May 16, 2003)
Back in the 1970’s Tom Motte was a well known,
active member of the Kingston Community. He ran a trucking company by
obtaining variances, and at some point went to town meeting to see if those
who knew him well would re-zone his 45 Pembroke Street address from
residential to commercial. By a wide margin, and to no surprise, they did.
Decades ago, Motte expanded his business and moved the operation off
premise. He maintained a small office in his basement for years afterward.
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Stealth Planning by State
is Road to Folly...
(April 18, 2003)
Somewhere out there we have heard a quote about some kind of road paved
with good intentions. Unfortunately, the words are often true. Once again
Kingston comes up short on the communications yardstick where the right
hand has no idea what the left hand is doing. This was the case with the
Department of Public Health (DPH) and the offices of Massachusetts
Emergency Management (MEMA), and the Silver Lake High School
Administration.
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Oh, Pembroke! What are
we to do with you?
(April 18, 2003) To call the
relationship between the Silver Lake Regional School Committee and our
departing Pembroke neighbors acrimonious would be a considerable
understatement. This divorce is
reaching its bitter stage and we’ve still got a year to go.
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Kids Become Collateral Damage in Money Wars
(April 18, 2003)
Readers will recall the issue to be rehashed locally for weeks to come as
“graduation gate.” The proposal would prohibit Pembroke students currently
enrolled and graduating from Silver Lake from participating in the “on
field” graduation ceremonies.
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No Memorial Day Parade? For Shame!
(April 18, 2003)
A line from a Bill Joel song goes “Our fathers fought the Second World
War”. So it was with my generation. We grew up and prospered in those
years after the war but were always reminded about those who made the
supreme sacrifice so that we could remain free. Memorial Day was the day
that year after year we were told the story of the brave men that died for
the principles
that we hold dear. We all participated in some way or another on Memorial
Day.
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Stealth Planning by State is Road to Folly...
(April 18, 2003)
Somewhere out there we have heard a quote about some kind of road paved
with good intentions. Unfortunately, the words are often true. Once again
Kingston comes up short on the communications yardstick where the right
hand has no idea what the left hand is doing. This was the case with the
Department of Public Health (DPH) and the offices of Massachusetts
Emergency Management (MEMA), and the Silver Lake High School
Administration.
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When Fear Replaces Prudence...
(April 18, 2003)
Over the last two weeks I am sure many readers have become aware of the
decision of Dr. Noseworthy to cancel
all out-of-state student travel. His decision came without involvement,
input or dialogue with the students , parents or the elected members of
the Silver Lake Regional School Committee.
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Support School Renovation April 5, 27
(March
20, 2003) Silver Lake Regional High
School was built in 1955. Back in those days it was never expected to
handle the pupil numbers it has seen these days. We agree with the
Citizens For Silver Lake High School Committee when they say, "The
Building is a sprawling, deteriorating facility… necessary improvements
were postponed pending Pembroke’s withdrawal." |
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Will the Real Building Committee Please Stand Up...
(March 20, 2003)
All is not well between the Kingston
Elementary School Committee and the School
Building Advisory Committee. At the beginning of
this year, the Advisory Committee submitted a letter to the School Committee
essentially telling them that the entire $26 million+ renovation project was now
complete, signed off and turned over to the town. Upon receiving the
January 13 letter, the School Committee determined their function
complete.
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‘Snatch ‘n’ Grab’ Approach to Land is Discredit to Kingston
(March 20, 2003)
The selectmen have a strange philosophy when it comes to land. Possession
becomes more important then people or process. There is an emerging land-grab
mindset that can be seen when you examine a trio of attempted land
"acquisitions."
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The ZBA Game: Kenney's Win is Town Loss
(February
13, 2003) Housing
density in the 3-A Design
District could double now that the Kingston Zoning Board of Appeals
has authorized multiple residential buildings on single house lots.
The unprecedented move comes with the approval of Selectman Richard
Kenney's petition for a variance at 83 Main Street. Kenney sought
to subdivide his 16,000 square foot non-conforming lot in order to
build a 28' X 48' ranch style house in his backyard.
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Dirt
Flies In Garden Debacle
(February 13, 2003)
It is
hard to imagine what a roar could be emanated from the authorization
of $200 of town funds to the Kingston
Garden Club Earlier this month, the Selectmen voted 3-2 to provide
the small stipend to assist with purchases for materials used in
the Adopt A Space Program. The issues involved are both small and
large and very little deals with the good work of the Garden Club.
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School Officials Panic as Scandal Breaks
(Special)
As titillating as the headlines have been
in covering the unfortunate Silver Lake student sex scandal, most of the reports
have missed the mark. Just like rape is not about sex, neither is this
story. Kids behaving badly is nothing new, although in this case a new level
of outrageousness was established. The behavior of adults is what troubles us now.
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Policy, Pay
Raises and Politics
(January 16, 2003)
The Sunday Enterprise sternly
criticized Silver Lake Principal Richard Kelly for the now famous bus
incident of a month ago. The truth be told, Silver Lake has had for at
least three years a policy and process for notification
of incidents that involve the police or other authorities.
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Shameless Plan: Take it
on a Technicality
(January 16, 2003)
As the Observer goes to press there
is no judge's decision on the town's Motion to Dismiss in the Davis
property dispute on Pottle Street. The town says it owns the land
because Sharon Davis' father, Tony Bettencourt never secured a deed and
the statute of limitations has run out. Michael Pieroni, counsel for the
Davis Family says the deed recording was the town's responsibility.
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Pottle
Street ‘Takings'... Road to Perdition
(January 16, 2003) The ongoing saga
of the Pottle Street Fields has proven to be a demon with many heads.
One of the more recent issues is the taking of easements from the few
landowners along the private way.
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Thoughts as Observer Celebrates
its First Anniversary
In Print...
(December 20, 2002)
This edition
marks the First Anniversary of the Kingston Observer. It’s hard
to believe that time has passed so quickly. Back in December of 2001,
our introductory editorial said that "Kingston deserves its own
newspaper, we’re a growing town and unique in its own right." That
statement is as true today as when first penned.
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... and Online
(December 20, 2002)
This month not only marks the
first year anniversary of the newspaper, it is also cause to celebrate
the end of one year of online publishing. In the last year we've logged
more than one million page views. The Observer is just about the
only non-daily community newspaper in the nation to totally integrate
its printed product with online delivery.
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Last Year's
Front Pages
Kingston Observer
2001-2002
(December 20, 2002)
This
is our First Anniversary issue and we have thumbnails of every front
page from the previous year. Check 'em out!
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Our
Town Fathers and
the Sins of Omission
(November 14)
The rumors, allegations and suspicions surrounding events
connected to the Pottle Street Project are troubling. But even worse is
the abandonment of all oversight responsibilities by the Board of
Selectmen. |
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November 19 Special
TM: Lost Opportunity
(November 14) There has, of late, developed
a troubling tone by the Selectmen to stifle public debate by keeping
items off Town Meeting Warrants. The absolute irony of the matter is
what we are currently experiencing with regard to the upcoming Special
Town Meeting. |
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New
Town Hall on Track for Spring Opening
(November 14)
Although the contracting company
projects an end of February completion date, the Town Hall Building
Committee is more cautiously predicting a March/April move-in date to
the new Town Hall currently under construction on Evergreen Street.
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Vatican Tunnel Vision
and the Sexuality of Celibacy
(November 14)
When I was a kid we had two
Catholic churches in town, one Irish and one Polish. It was rumored that
the priests had women on the side, a fact that led to one act of
violence I was made aware of when the husband of the lady in dispute
shot a hole through the offending priest’s windshield. My own pastor
retired to a cottage at the seashore with his housekeeper.
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War, the Economy, and People Like Us
(October 2002)
These are frightening times. Our nation is
going to war with Iraq, and if 19 hijackers, without provocation, gladly
gave their lives to murder thousands of us, what will they do once we
have killed Iraqis? |
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The Destruction of Raboth Road
(October 2002)
For hundreds of years Raboth Road has
existed as one of the last bastions of the typical New England cart path
with a demonstrated beneficial use. Unlike many of the hundreds of miles
of similar trails that crisscross the woodlands of our town, Raboth Road
is home for 18 families. Today it is being destroyed.
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Ballfield Committee Goes
Vaudeville
(September
2002) The Pottle Street Ballfield
Committee is acting like they've gone off the deep end... one meeting
was held inside a steel shipping container as a dust storm raged outside
making it impossible to hear. And then there's the case of cloned
fences... |
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No Show, No Sweat, All
Glory
(August 2002)
Even though Kingston has grown by
leaps and bounds, you realize we are still a small town at heart when
what goes on in the Garden Club makes the headlines. Remember two years
ago when all the newspapers were scampering about for Garden Club news?
Back then the talk of the town was Selectman Olly DeMacedo’s "demotion"
from his position as volunteer protector of the triangle of land at the
junction of Summer Street (Rt. 3-A) and Main Street. It is the highly
visible site of the Firemen’s Memorial.
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Streamline Appointed Positions
(July 2002) Every year the Selectmen are faced with the
daunting task of filling an endless array of positions on appointed
boards, commissions and committees. There can be hundreds of such
appointments, some are sought after positions but others can be less
then glamorous. The truth is, often a few don’t get filled.
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The Sorry State of Gray's Beach
(July 2002)
The 2001 December Special Town Meeting
voted that $375,000 be allocated to the Recreation Commission for the
Gray’s Beach Restoration Project. While we realize that all good things
take time, not enough is happening at the only public beach offered the
citizens of Kingston. |
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Pork, Silver Lake Style
(June, 2002) It may not rank up there with the $424 million environmental
bond bill currently under debate on Beacon Hill, but to the taxpayers in
the Silver Lake Regional School District it amounts to about $200,000 in
needless expenses.
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Open
Meeting Law Ignored
Boards Drift Towards
Secrecy
(June, 2002)
In Kingston, you can lead a Board
to office, but you can't make them think. As vigilant as the Town
Clerk's Office has been, there has been a steady erosion of the Open
Meeting Law. We find it disturbing and so too should you.
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