GRAVEL GAME: It may be hard to imagine what is really going on in our fair town, but one thing is certain…gravel is at the heart of it. For those who watch these things, 40-R czar Lloyd Geisinger and his carpetbagger sidekick R. Lindsay Wilson appeared before the selectmen about a month ago bearing a pretty little rendering of a building that looked like a Victorian railroad station. I think they called it Center Station. Anyway, they said it was going to be the post office for the 780 unit 1021 Kingston’s Place. They also said it would serve coffee and donuts for commuters and would eventually become a full scale restaurant. Do you think he can find a worthy “Publican” to run it? Forget we said that…anyway, there is a second building in that plan, located much farther away. So, we’re hearing about two buildings in search of a plan…a plan, by the way which the 40-R folk said would be filed by now with the Planning Board. These people knew they were lying when they said it…we know, of course, that they are actually waiting until after the election when they’re guy Ron Gleason is on board to join Bouchard and Ruprecht tipping the Planning Board to more favorable numbers. Back to the point…once the 40-R folk submit the restaurant and unknown second building, they will decide that then they need to go into a mining operation in order to begin construction. This is not about housing, it’s about sand and gravel. There is also the hope that by building a pretty post office/eatery, that this could be called the beginning of the construction of 40-R so they can maybe that $600,000 check that’s been hanging on the wall at Town Hall can be cashed. Of course it’s all bogus, but the powers that be will treat this nonsense like the second coming and hail the effort. This is why the selectmen’s race is so important…they’re the ones that issue earth removal permits. Beaton & Landis-Naumann will vote “yes” quicker than you can say “publican.”
Now for a new thought: Is it possible that there is an earth removal relationship between the O’Donnell property and the Mark -driven P.A. Landers proposal? Landers has trucks, O’Donnell doesn’t; O’Donnell has aggregate, Landers doesn’t. What is so important about the Landers deal that would make Beaton risk ethics sanctions seeing his brother Angus is a loyal Landers employee. After all, the Landers deal, a Mark Beaton initiative, is the same proposal spawned five years ago when P.A. Landers was in their hay day of bilking the Commonwealth and its municipalities. It’s pretty bad when Beaton defends the company by saying it’s the FBI that is now in charge. Great, then let the FBI file as the applicant…that would be a first for the state.
Mark our words…gravel is the game, and it will be played shamelessly. In the old days the politicians played out such schemes in the smoke filled back rooms…today the schemes are played out on Channel 14 with the evidence reproduced on the town website. Welcome to Tombstone.

TRANSPARENCY…REALLY: We could not end our comments relative to the P.A Landers swap deal without telling you this: The acting town administrator has a letter on the town website encouraging the Landers “stakeholders” (that must be you and me) to write back to him with comments on the plan. Many departments did and they were overwhelmingly negative. Now, wouldn’t you think that these comment should go on the website, joining Mark Beaton’s letter of embrace? We e-mailed TA Jack Healey with that request, and, to his credit, it was actually included on line last Wednesday…for about five minutes. At that point Selectman Chairman Paul Gallagher called Healey and ordered him to remove the letters from the site. How’s that for “transparency?” Have you noticed how Paul has changed? He’s an amiable guy…until you disagree with him. Watching him on TV is like watching the Hulk…”don’t make me angry…you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” Watching Paul do a classic meltdown is only lacking him turning green and tearing through his shirt. Paul needs a hobby and might be well served in opening that pizza place that he is mulling over. It will be interesting to see what the board does about the letters returning to the town website. It will be discussed after we go to press.

MISSING MAURO: It’s hard to imagine another political election year without Mauro Mazzilli running for something. In his memory we placed a generic election sign outside our downtown office. It’s not the same without him, and he’ll know the results before we do.

HEAVEN SPEAKS: Did anyone think it was a little weird to hear Town Collector Priscilla Palombo tell Annual Town Meeting that God told her to run for the position? I’ve spoken with some really devout folks who say that God speaks to us all and hopefully not over politics. It appears that many misunderstood the “lock box” proposal as an aid to both Priscilla and the community…not a means to jeopardize her position. The concept is a win/win opportunity. We understand that a filing for “reconsideration” has been submitted and the matter will return in June, when hopefully the matter can be considered with the practical minus the ethereal.

HOT DOG! If you’re wondering where the Dog House went, he’s up at Lowe’s. The move was prompted when Firestone closed its doors. We hear Sullivan Tire may be occupying the space soon. Maybe then the breakfast/luncheon mobile unit may return…they put out a pretty good product.

SWAN SONG: We can’t help but wonder if there were other reasons why Fran Hoeg gave up the Moderator’s seat. She said it would violate the terms of a talent show that she is in line for. Fran went on to say that she couldn’t run for political office and keep the dream alive. It’s not like she made the show…said she was a standby. Well, whatever the reason, it’s probably for the best. We do think a bit of politics was being played however. Ken Moalli had pulled papers for the seat, as did Hoeg; realizing that it would be too much of an uphill battle, we suspect Moalli pulled out, which was probably why Hoeg waited so long…to get Ken out. It was at that point that she made several phone calls to Olly DeMacedo encouraging him to succeed her. That is why Olly is running a sticker campaign for the seat. By golly, Olly’s gonna be back. It will be interesting to see how he fares.