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| Click for full-size clipping |
Editor's note: there are two typos in the article, likely to be noticed by one reader for each.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Happy 100th, Toivo and Olga
My grandparents were married on this day in 1910. Here's the newspaper clipping from their 50th. My grandfather was 17 when he married; my grandmother was 22.
Editor's note: there are two typos in the article, likely to be noticed by one reader for each.
Editor's note: there are two typos in the article, likely to be noticed by one reader for each.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Kim Ferguson's response
In a Holden blog post earlier this week, Your next representative in the Worcester 1st, I asked each of three candidates to offer their thoughts on why one of the other candidates might win the election. Here is Republican candidate Kim Ferguson's response:
Kim Ferguson's response:
Kim Ferguson's response:
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
On procrastination
Procrastination is not caused by laziness. It's worse than that.
You might think that procrastination is caused by laziness. I was thinking about that as I rotated the desk in my home office by another 90°, claiming to myself that I was sorting out my thoughts.
I worked for a manager who said that the bottom third of any stack of papers was out-of-date and could be safely discarded. The pile o' stuff gets smaller, for a time, but never goes away and grows again soon.
No, procrastination is resistant to all manner of schemes because it isn't about getting organized. It's about understand that we won't be much different in the future than we are now.
I saw my future self and understood in an instant what I was up against. At that moment, I knew that there was no hope for me.
You might think that procrastination is caused by laziness. I was thinking about that as I rotated the desk in my home office by another 90°, claiming to myself that I was sorting out my thoughts.
Procrastination is fueled by weakness in the face of impulse and a failure to think about thinking.We think that we'll be better, smarter, more focused sometime. As a result, our queue of library books, Netflix movies, and smart-folk magazines grows steadily, but we'll just check Fail Blog one more time before getting to something serious. I have nearly 800 delicious bookmarks tagged for blogging. I suppose I could dump the lot of them into a post like some kind of giant gummy worm. It won't change anything.
I worked for a manager who said that the bottom third of any stack of papers was out-of-date and could be safely discarded. The pile o' stuff gets smaller, for a time, but never goes away and grows again soon.
No, procrastination is resistant to all manner of schemes because it isn't about getting organized. It's about understand that we won't be much different in the future than we are now.
The trick is to accept the now you will not be the person facing those choices, it will be the future you – a person who can’t be trusted.I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating. Some years ago, my mother was in her early 70s. She was sitting on her bed. Letters and folders and notebooks and books were stacked on the bed, floor, and night table. "I've really got to get organized one of these days."
I saw my future self and understood in an instant what I was up against. At that moment, I knew that there was no hope for me.
1st Congressional District Debate
It was clear from the outset that it was going to be a wild night. You make the turn in to the driveway to Mount Wachusett Community College and are immediately flanked by two or three dozen Bill Gunn supporters. They've got signs. They're loud. They've got t-shirts.
The debate for the First Massachusetts district was sponsored by the college's Center for Democracy and Humanity. The moderator was MWCC Prof. Jim Korman, chairman of the MWCC Paralegal Studies department. Students from the Paralegal Studies program were time-keepers. The debate would be shown on local cable. The panelists who asked questions of the candidates were from the local newspapers - Joseph Benavidez of the MWCC student newspaper, the Mount Observer, Andres Caamano, senior news editor of the Gardner News, and Marisa Donelan, city editor of the Sentinel-Enterprise.
In the commons area in the center of the college, nearly 100 chairs werfe set out. By the time the debate started, they need more chairs in the back. Even then, there were folks standing. Did I mention that they have t-shirts?
It was going to be a wild night.
Except that it wasn't.
The audience, with just a couple of exceptions, listened intently and articulated their opinions with facial expressions only.
There are three seeking the congressional office - incumbent Democrat John Olver, Republican Bill Gunn, Jr. and Independent Michael Engel.
The topics were familiar, but presented as thoughtful questions that invited thoughtful answers. As the candidates outlined their views on Social Security, spending and deficit, immigration (legal and illegal), Don't Ask-Don't Tell, the stimulus plans, housing, and transportation. Olver not only defended, but even promoted his liberal actions and his support of the president. Gunn would jettison the Education Department, replace the income tax with a national sales tax, and urgently pared down the size and scope of government. Engel proferred nuanced solutions. He, for example, would support raising the retirement age, but only if we address the issue of age discrimination in the workplace. His approach to tax reform and simplification would ensure that corporations and the very rich would have fewer ways to avoid paying taxes on their considerable income.
By this late in the election season, the three candidates had their stories well-honed, except when they didn't. Olver stumbled badly on many answers and ran over his alloted time without finishing his answers. He had a lengthy and somewhat embarrassing 15-second pause while he tried to think of a description something that the Republicans wanted to do with Social Security. It's called privatization, which he finally remembered. Gunn put Wal-Mart in Hubbardston, rather than in Gardner.
At the end of the night, the winner was Engel on points. He commanded his ideas and facts well and made us want to listen. Gunn started out as the most collegial, but tended to get louder when straying from substance and into platitudes. His remarks regarding immigrants, illegal and otherwise, and those who were losing their homes in the mortgage meltdown, were mean-spirited. Finally, it was just not John Olver's night as all. He was generally inarticulate, except when detailing the funding that he brought to the district. We should probably be grateful for his work, but that doesn't mean that we're proud of it.
After the debate, Gunn supporters talked enthusiastically among themselves about where they would be in the coming days. The few Olver supporters sought out each other and quietly chatted. If Engel had supporters there, we couldn't tell. There were no signs for him, no t-shirts. Just some folks mulling over his ideas.
The debate for the First Massachusetts district was sponsored by the college's Center for Democracy and Humanity. The moderator was MWCC Prof. Jim Korman, chairman of the MWCC Paralegal Studies department. Students from the Paralegal Studies program were time-keepers. The debate would be shown on local cable. The panelists who asked questions of the candidates were from the local newspapers - Joseph Benavidez of the MWCC student newspaper, the Mount Observer, Andres Caamano, senior news editor of the Gardner News, and Marisa Donelan, city editor of the Sentinel-Enterprise.
In the commons area in the center of the college, nearly 100 chairs werfe set out. By the time the debate started, they need more chairs in the back. Even then, there were folks standing. Did I mention that they have t-shirts?It was going to be a wild night.
Except that it wasn't.
The audience, with just a couple of exceptions, listened intently and articulated their opinions with facial expressions only.
There are three seeking the congressional office - incumbent Democrat John Olver, Republican Bill Gunn, Jr. and Independent Michael Engel.
The topics were familiar, but presented as thoughtful questions that invited thoughtful answers. As the candidates outlined their views on Social Security, spending and deficit, immigration (legal and illegal), Don't Ask-Don't Tell, the stimulus plans, housing, and transportation. Olver not only defended, but even promoted his liberal actions and his support of the president. Gunn would jettison the Education Department, replace the income tax with a national sales tax, and urgently pared down the size and scope of government. Engel proferred nuanced solutions. He, for example, would support raising the retirement age, but only if we address the issue of age discrimination in the workplace. His approach to tax reform and simplification would ensure that corporations and the very rich would have fewer ways to avoid paying taxes on their considerable income.
By this late in the election season, the three candidates had their stories well-honed, except when they didn't. Olver stumbled badly on many answers and ran over his alloted time without finishing his answers. He had a lengthy and somewhat embarrassing 15-second pause while he tried to think of a description something that the Republicans wanted to do with Social Security. It's called privatization, which he finally remembered. Gunn put Wal-Mart in Hubbardston, rather than in Gardner. At the end of the night, the winner was Engel on points. He commanded his ideas and facts well and made us want to listen. Gunn started out as the most collegial, but tended to get louder when straying from substance and into platitudes. His remarks regarding immigrants, illegal and otherwise, and those who were losing their homes in the mortgage meltdown, were mean-spirited. Finally, it was just not John Olver's night as all. He was generally inarticulate, except when detailing the funding that he brought to the district. We should probably be grateful for his work, but that doesn't mean that we're proud of it.
After the debate, Gunn supporters talked enthusiastically among themselves about where they would be in the coming days. The few Olver supporters sought out each other and quietly chatted. If Engel had supporters there, we couldn't tell. There were no signs for him, no t-shirts. Just some folks mulling over his ideas.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
If voting was like tipping
When I go to a restaurant, I plan to leave a 20% tip because 1) these folks work hard and 2) many are paid below minimum wage with the expectation that tips will bring them up to a decent income, and 3) the math is easier.
There are rare times when I'll leave less than 20%. Sometimes, the service is egregiously bad and not related to the work of the folks in the back room. Most times, however, I wind up reducing the tip if I have to wait to pay the bill. The going rate is roughly 1% for every two minutes I have to wait beyond some reasonable amount. I want to leave and get on with my life.
Now, if I had my choice, I'd like something similar with voting. In this instance, the more that the candidates keep talking, the less enthused I am about voting for them. Over the past few weeks, I've talked with, read about, or viewed quite a few candidates. They've been whining about how they've been treated unfairly by people whom they've helped. They've focused on narrow points of legality; not doing something that's illegal doesn't mean that you've done something good. In an effort to highlight their opponents' failings, they bring discredit to themselves.
Witness Lew Evangelidis's insert in today's Telegram. While there are legitimate reasons for campaigning again Guy Glodis's political system or Tom Foley's state police pension, this flier just plain annoying.
Look, Foley's pension may not seem right, but it is legal and not an abuse of the system. Until the public employee pension system is changed, which is not under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff, disabled police officers can seek employment.
I like Lew. I think that he's done a good job as our rep and would be a good sheriff. At least I thought so until this morning. More stuff like this will have me shopping elsewhere.
There are rare times when I'll leave less than 20%. Sometimes, the service is egregiously bad and not related to the work of the folks in the back room. Most times, however, I wind up reducing the tip if I have to wait to pay the bill. The going rate is roughly 1% for every two minutes I have to wait beyond some reasonable amount. I want to leave and get on with my life.
Now, if I had my choice, I'd like something similar with voting. In this instance, the more that the candidates keep talking, the less enthused I am about voting for them. Over the past few weeks, I've talked with, read about, or viewed quite a few candidates. They've been whining about how they've been treated unfairly by people whom they've helped. They've focused on narrow points of legality; not doing something that's illegal doesn't mean that you've done something good. In an effort to highlight their opponents' failings, they bring discredit to themselves.
Witness Lew Evangelidis's insert in today's Telegram. While there are legitimate reasons for campaigning again Guy Glodis's political system or Tom Foley's state police pension, this flier just plain annoying.
Look, Foley's pension may not seem right, but it is legal and not an abuse of the system. Until the public employee pension system is changed, which is not under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff, disabled police officers can seek employment.
I like Lew. I think that he's done a good job as our rep and would be a good sheriff. At least I thought so until this morning. More stuff like this will have me shopping elsewhere.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Misheard history
On this day in 1854, a British general led his troops into a massacre because either he misinterpreted an order or was set up by the captain who carried the message to attack.
The Charge of the Light Brigade, written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, immortalized those mortals who were led by duty and arrogance to their deaths.
Lord Raglan, commander of the British forces during the Crimean War, gave an order to attack an installation of Russian guns. The order was carried by a Captain Nolan to another general, Lord Lucan.
Some historians believe that Nolan despised Lucan and pointed to a valley where there were Russian installations along three sides when the real order was to attack a Russian contingent on the periphery that was making away with guns. Others contend that Lucan misunderstood the letter and order because he wasn't a good general.
Lucan dispatched Lord Cardigan and the 600 members of the Light Brigade. They charged into the valley and, in the words of another song from from another war, were "led like lambs to the slaughter."
Hear the BBC report, Witness: The Charge of the Light Brigade, on how this story came to us by way of a Times of London reporter. Here's a text version, Charge of the Light Brigade Ends in Heroic Failure, of the tale.
As an addendum, my junior high school teacher once told us, when we were given an assignment that we disliked, "yours is not to question why; yours is but to do or die" For most of my life, I've heard that admonition as "do or die." Tennyson's words, however, are more dire: "do and die." You don't get a reward for following a stupid order. You follow a stupid order and you die.
As the bumper sticker used to say, Question Authority.
The Charge of the Light Brigade, written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, immortalized those mortals who were led by duty and arrogance to their deaths.
Lord Raglan, commander of the British forces during the Crimean War, gave an order to attack an installation of Russian guns. The order was carried by a Captain Nolan to another general, Lord Lucan.
Some historians believe that Nolan despised Lucan and pointed to a valley where there were Russian installations along three sides when the real order was to attack a Russian contingent on the periphery that was making away with guns. Others contend that Lucan misunderstood the letter and order because he wasn't a good general.
Lucan dispatched Lord Cardigan and the 600 members of the Light Brigade. They charged into the valley and, in the words of another song from from another war, were "led like lambs to the slaughter."
Hear the BBC report, Witness: The Charge of the Light Brigade, on how this story came to us by way of a Times of London reporter. Here's a text version, Charge of the Light Brigade Ends in Heroic Failure, of the tale.
As an addendum, my junior high school teacher once told us, when we were given an assignment that we disliked, "yours is not to question why; yours is but to do or die" For most of my life, I've heard that admonition as "do or die." Tennyson's words, however, are more dire: "do and die." You don't get a reward for following a stupid order. You follow a stupid order and you die.
As the bumper sticker used to say, Question Authority.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Crime in suburbia
From The Landmark (subscription required):
[Editor's note: There were 24 suspicious items this week.]
3:27 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in lot on Main St.
3:51 a.m. Two dogs barking on Main St.; dogs left on porch, owner fell asleep
1:59 p.m. Walk-in with photos of suspicious incident at Jefferson Mills
4:40 p.m. Group of youths "up to no good" behind church on Reservoir St.
5:26 p.m. Sick fox lying in mulch on Birch Hill Rd.; animal moved along
11:47 p.m. Three individuals inside closed business on Main St.; ok, cleaning crew
8:47 a.m. Student parked car in business lot; vehicle tagged
10:23 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Harris St.
11:35 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Shrewsbury St.
11:42 a.m. Large fish in driveway on Malden St., sans head
2:52 p.m. Caller about pepper spray application process
3:50 p.m. Fox in area of Blossom Sq.; chased into woods
5:01 p.m. Injured hawk on Cranbrook Dr.; environmental police will take care of bird
5:59 p.m. Kids skateboarding in parking lot on Holden St.; advised to move along
6:13 p.m. Kids skateboarding in road on Heritage Lane; ok, they move when traffic comes
7:49 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Salisbury St.
9:29 a.m. Suspicious incident on Cook St.; neighbors left garage door and basement door
wide open
10:19 a.m. Paving company working on Reservoir St. with no detail
12:49 p.m. Call about leaf blowing from business parking lot on Shrewsbury St.
1:55 p.m. Request for youths to be dispersed from doctor's office on Main St.
4:10 p.m. Request for police assistance for mother trying to get daughter in car on Reservoir St.
5:48 p.m. Lights at Main St. and Highland St. not cycling correctly; possibly kids pressing crosswalk button
6:27 p.m. Caller reports people removing items from home he just bought at auction
4:22 p.m. Caller reports neighbor followed her to gas station and was screaming at her
4:44 p.m. Caller reports wife went to pick up their children at friend's home and neighbor not letting them leave
8:05 a.m. Large sink hole on Rte. 31
9:59 a.m. Large recycle bin removed from roadway
11:00 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on North Main St.
2:09 pm. Checking on vehicle beside road on Main St.; texting
3:15 p.m. Walk-in asking if uncle was chief in Holden at any time
5:52 p.m. Dog found
7:16 a.m. Elderly female walking in middle of Malden St.; lives in area, out for a walk
1:21 p.m. Report of motorcycle doing wheelies on Twinbrooke Dr.
1:36 p.m. Walk-in reports vehicle wouldn't let her merge on Rte. 122A causing her to drive off road
4:55 p.m. 911 hang-up; child dialing phone
8:10 p.m. 911 accidental; trying to dial a number with 911 in it
8:27 p.m. 911 German Shepherd found on Quinapoxet St.
9:19 p.m. Dead deer in roadway on Salisbury St.
11:27 p.m. Suspicious party on bicycle circling around neighborhood on Nola Dr.
11:45 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle idling on Tannery Dr.
5:55 p.m. Large amount of water in road on Thorny Lane; possibly neighbor emptying pool
7:23 p.m. Suspicious individual asked for gas from elderly residents, promised to come back
12:08 p.m. Report of gunshots, Dunanderry Way
7:25 p.m. Report of multiple gunshots, Camp St.
1:37 p.m. Beagle/pug mix dog got loose at Moore State Park
2:50 p.m. Possible breaking-and-enteringattempt, male threw rock through window, Pleasant St.
5:36 p.m. House broken into, basement door kicked in, Pleasant St.
8:42 p.m. Home broken into, Pleasant St.
1:20 p.m. Keys locked in vehicle, Red Oak St.
7:10 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, possibly connected to recent housebreaks, Laurel St.
1:53 p.m. Suspicious male in neighborhood, Brigham Rd.
3:40 p.m. Arrest: ---- breaking and entering in daytime, felony, burglary (unarmed), attempted breaking and entering, larceny over $250
4:55 p.m. Small brown dog loose, Sunset Ln.
12:04 p.m. Suspicious phone call about winning large sum of money and car, Crystal St.
12:53 p.m. Dog escaped from electric fenced-in area can't get back in, running around Holbrook Ln.
4:38 p.m. Suspicious vehicle parked beside road, Suomi St.
9:14 p.m. Male and female arguing, female began walking toward center of town, West St.
9:48 p.m. Lights on at baseball field in center of town, Pleasant St.
6:08 p.m. Dog locked keys in car, Radford Rd.
6:15 p.m. Vehicle locked behind gate at state reservation, Mountain Rd.
8:02 p.m. Assist fire dept., possible microwave fire, E. Princeton Rd.
3:43 p.m. Large black bear with blue tag in yard all day Monday, Ball Hill Rd.
6:51 p.m. Possible injured dog on side of Mountain Rd. Found to be dead porcupine
10:10 p.m. Disabled truck, operator waving down traffic, Rte. 140 N
7:14 p.m. Disabled vehicle, police follow person to gas station, Rte. 140 N
12:31 a.m. Light dept. called, Sterling Rd.
1:45 a.m. Light dept. requests traffic officer while they repair wires, Sterling Rd.
3:05 p.m. Complaint about dog barking all day long, Dowds Ln.
6:20 p.m. Person locked behind gate at state reservation, Mountain Rd.
2:17 p.m. Small black and tan dog loose in neighborhood, Walnut St.
5:25 p.m. Stray dog on porch of home, Edson ens and Ave.
6:18 p.m. Caller says youth riding bicycle was trying to sell "weed" Memorial Dr.
8:43 p.m. Vehicle lockout, Main St.
1:25 p.m. Someone on the rail trail dirt area is target shooting. Crawford Rd.
3:38 p.m. Large coyote near house, Edson Ave.
5:46 p.m. Person lost beagle in Pleasantdale Rd. area
8:10 p.m. Suspicious male says he was going to swap out cable boxes, Maple Ave.
3:58 p.m. Police waved down by person complaining about local merchant, Barre Paxton Rd. Advised to contact attorney general's office
5:14 p.m. Disgruntled customer picketing, Barre Paxton Rd.
6:22 p.m. Report of people parked in travel lane, Main St. None found
7:45 a.m. Large pumpkin smashed over mailbox, Prescott St.
7:53 a.m. Mailbox smashed with pumpkin, Juniper Ln.
11:59 a.m. Person at station to file report about being threatened on rail trail
1:56 p.m. Loose horse in Pommogussett Rd.
3:01 p.m. Report of 10 loose cows on little league field, Pommogussett Rd.
4:09 p.m. Black bear traveling on Glenwood Rd. toward Ridge Rd.
7:41 a.m. Tree on wires blocking road, bus driver needs police assistance backing up, Bushy Ln.
11:15 a.m. Two yellow Labs running loose in traffic, E. County Rd.
12:51 p.m. Report that people have moved from property and left behind a pen full of chickens and
kittens, E. County Rd.
3:44 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about person picketing in front of business, Barre Paxton Rd.
6:59 p.m. Police inspect car seat installation, Main St.
3:46 p.m. Black bear in yard, Clealand Cir.
3:27 a.m. Someone going through vehicle, Juniper Ln.
10:17 a.m. Person calling about his deceased dog, Lord Ln.
10:48 a.m. Stray dog in yard, Forbes Rd.
9:50 a.m. Animal control officer picked up raccoon for testing, Leominster Rd.
12:15 p.m. Loose chocolate Labrador, Quail Roost Dr.
5:18 p.m. State police reporting boxes in travel lane, Leominster Rd.
4:01 p.m. 911 hang-up, child playing with phone, Pikes Hill Rd.
5:21 p.m. Lost black and tan hound, Old Princeton – West Rd. Dog later found
6:24 p.m. Person whose home was foreclosed on wants police check on individuals going through the residence, Worcester Rd.
7:37 p.m. Caller concerned about recent house breaks, says neighbor's dog has been barking for long time, Clinton Rd.
1:58 a.m. Caller's dog barking as if someone is outside, Avery Ln.
2:28 a.m. Caller reports several people around his wife's car, unsure what they are doing, Heywood Rd.
6:43 a.m. Possible gun shots, Chace Hill Rd.
12:36 p.m. Caller wants to know if skunk in his back yard can be shot, Sandy Ridge Rd.
3:53 p.m. Skunk in area foraging for food, caller says animal appears wobbly, Sandy Ridge Rd.
8:56 a.m. Small white deceased dog on side of road, Main St.
[Editor's note: There were 24 suspicious items this week.]
Holden
Monday, October 11
12:01 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in lot on Main St., no one around3:27 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in lot on Main St.
3:51 a.m. Two dogs barking on Main St.; dogs left on porch, owner fell asleep
1:59 p.m. Walk-in with photos of suspicious incident at Jefferson Mills
4:40 p.m. Group of youths "up to no good" behind church on Reservoir St.
5:26 p.m. Sick fox lying in mulch on Birch Hill Rd.; animal moved along
11:47 p.m. Three individuals inside closed business on Main St.; ok, cleaning crew
Tuesday, October 12
7:21 a.m. Repossession company reports individual holding car hostage in garage; owner claims repo company is blocking egress from property8:47 a.m. Student parked car in business lot; vehicle tagged
10:23 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Harris St.
11:35 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Shrewsbury St.
11:42 a.m. Large fish in driveway on Malden St., sans head
2:52 p.m. Caller about pepper spray application process
3:50 p.m. Fox in area of Blossom Sq.; chased into woods
5:01 p.m. Injured hawk on Cranbrook Dr.; environmental police will take care of bird
5:59 p.m. Kids skateboarding in parking lot on Holden St.; advised to move along
6:13 p.m. Kids skateboarding in road on Heritage Lane; ok, they move when traffic comes
Wednesday, October 13
7:33 a.m. Caller asking how to file complaint against officer7:49 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Salisbury St.
9:29 a.m. Suspicious incident on Cook St.; neighbors left garage door and basement door
wide open
10:19 a.m. Paving company working on Reservoir St. with no detail
12:49 p.m. Call about leaf blowing from business parking lot on Shrewsbury St.
1:55 p.m. Request for youths to be dispersed from doctor's office on Main St.
4:10 p.m. Request for police assistance for mother trying to get daughter in car on Reservoir St.
5:48 p.m. Lights at Main St. and Highland St. not cycling correctly; possibly kids pressing crosswalk button
6:27 p.m. Caller reports people removing items from home he just bought at auction
Thursday, October 14
4:22 p.m. Caller reports neighbor followed her to gas station and was screaming at her
4:44 p.m. Caller reports wife went to pick up their children at friend's home and neighbor not letting them leave
Friday, October 15
12:42 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle took off when officer approached to do well-being check8:05 a.m. Large sink hole on Rte. 31
9:59 a.m. Large recycle bin removed from roadway
11:00 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on North Main St.
2:09 pm. Checking on vehicle beside road on Main St.; texting
3:15 p.m. Walk-in asking if uncle was chief in Holden at any time
5:52 p.m. Dog found
Saturday, October 16
1:42 a.m. Suspicious vehicle in driveway with door open on Manning St.7:16 a.m. Elderly female walking in middle of Malden St.; lives in area, out for a walk
1:21 p.m. Report of motorcycle doing wheelies on Twinbrooke Dr.
1:36 p.m. Walk-in reports vehicle wouldn't let her merge on Rte. 122A causing her to drive off road
4:55 p.m. 911 hang-up; child dialing phone
8:10 p.m. 911 accidental; trying to dial a number with 911 in it
8:27 p.m. 911 German Shepherd found on Quinapoxet St.
9:19 p.m. Dead deer in roadway on Salisbury St.
11:27 p.m. Suspicious party on bicycle circling around neighborhood on Nola Dr.
11:45 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle idling on Tannery Dr.
Sunday, October 17
9:15 a.m. Two small dogs wandering on Sycamore Dr.5:55 p.m. Large amount of water in road on Thorny Lane; possibly neighbor emptying pool
7:23 p.m. Suspicious individual asked for gas from elderly residents, promised to come back
Paxton
Monday, October 11
4:12 a.m. Suspicious vehicle parked in front of home, Boynton Pkwy.12:08 p.m. Report of gunshots, Dunanderry Way
7:25 p.m. Report of multiple gunshots, Camp St.
Tuesday, October 12
11:10 a.m. Suspicious males tell homeowner they are from asphalt company and have extra materials, possible scam, Marshall St.1:37 p.m. Beagle/pug mix dog got loose at Moore State Park
2:50 p.m. Possible breaking-and-enteringattempt, male threw rock through window, Pleasant St.
5:36 p.m. House broken into, basement door kicked in, Pleasant St.
8:42 p.m. Home broken into, Pleasant St.
Wednesday, October 13
10:47 a.m. Person locked out of vehicle, Pleasant St.1:20 p.m. Keys locked in vehicle, Red Oak St.
Thursday, October 14
6:36 a.m. Gunshots behind residence, Cutler Rd.7:10 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, possibly connected to recent housebreaks, Laurel St.
1:53 p.m. Suspicious male in neighborhood, Brigham Rd.
3:40 p.m. Arrest: ---- breaking and entering in daytime, felony, burglary (unarmed), attempted breaking and entering, larceny over $250
4:55 p.m. Small brown dog loose, Sunset Ln.
Friday, October 15
11:21 a.m. Caller inquiring about loose dog reported, Sunset Ln.12:04 p.m. Suspicious phone call about winning large sum of money and car, Crystal St.
12:53 p.m. Dog escaped from electric fenced-in area can't get back in, running around Holbrook Ln.
4:38 p.m. Suspicious vehicle parked beside road, Suomi St.
Saturday, October 16
3:07 p.m. Suspicious vehicle in front of vacant house, Orchard Dr.9:14 p.m. Male and female arguing, female began walking toward center of town, West St.
9:48 p.m. Lights on at baseball field in center of town, Pleasant St.
Princeton
Monday, October 11
12:56 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer about ongoing neighbor issue, Goodnow Rd.6:08 p.m. Dog locked keys in car, Radford Rd.
6:15 p.m. Vehicle locked behind gate at state reservation, Mountain Rd.
8:02 p.m. Assist fire dept., possible microwave fire, E. Princeton Rd.
Wednesday, October 13
10:13 a.m. Missing black cat with brown stripes, Sharon Dr.3:43 p.m. Large black bear with blue tag in yard all day Monday, Ball Hill Rd.
6:51 p.m. Possible injured dog on side of Mountain Rd. Found to be dead porcupine
10:10 p.m. Disabled truck, operator waving down traffic, Rte. 140 N
Thursday, October 14
4:35 p.m. Suspicious older black vehicle parked at Krashes Field, E. Princeton Rd.7:14 p.m. Disabled vehicle, police follow person to gas station, Rte. 140 N
Friday, October 15
2:09 p.m. Suspicious gray vehicle and people with tripod and camera, Mountain Rd. Filming foliageSaturday, October 16
12:26 a.m. Wire sparking against tree, Sterling Rd.12:31 a.m. Light dept. called, Sterling Rd.
1:45 a.m. Light dept. requests traffic officer while they repair wires, Sterling Rd.
Sunday, October 17
10:11 a.m. Older male lying under guardraill, E. Princeton Rd.3:05 p.m. Complaint about dog barking all day long, Dowds Ln.
6:20 p.m. Person locked behind gate at state reservation, Mountain Rd.
Rutland
Monday, October 11
11:10 a.m. Strange vehicle parked partially on lawn, Nick Alan Cir.2:17 p.m. Small black and tan dog loose in neighborhood, Walnut St.
5:25 p.m. Stray dog on porch of home, Edson ens and Ave.
6:18 p.m. Caller says youth riding bicycle was trying to sell "weed" Memorial Dr.
8:43 p.m. Vehicle lockout, Main St.
Tuesday, October 12
9:45 a.m. Person lost firearm ID card, Main St.1:25 p.m. Someone on the rail trail dirt area is target shooting. Crawford Rd.
3:38 p.m. Large coyote near house, Edson Ave.
5:46 p.m. Person lost beagle in Pleasantdale Rd. area
8:10 p.m. Suspicious male says he was going to swap out cable boxes, Maple Ave.
Wednesday, October 13
10:35 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer about possible payroll fraud. Advised not a police matter, Main St.3:58 p.m. Police waved down by person complaining about local merchant, Barre Paxton Rd. Advised to contact attorney general's office
5:14 p.m. Disgruntled customer picketing, Barre Paxton Rd.
6:22 p.m. Report of people parked in travel lane, Main St. None found
Thursday, October 14
6:50 a.m. Report of gun shots in area, Intervale Rd.7:45 a.m. Large pumpkin smashed over mailbox, Prescott St.
7:53 a.m. Mailbox smashed with pumpkin, Juniper Ln.
11:59 a.m. Person at station to file report about being threatened on rail trail
1:56 p.m. Loose horse in Pommogussett Rd.
3:01 p.m. Report of 10 loose cows on little league field, Pommogussett Rd.
4:09 p.m. Black bear traveling on Glenwood Rd. toward Ridge Rd.
Friday, October 15
7:41 a.m. Tree on wires blocking road, bus driver needs police assistance backing up, Bushy Ln.
11:15 a.m. Two yellow Labs running loose in traffic, E. County Rd.
12:51 p.m. Report that people have moved from property and left behind a pen full of chickens and
kittens, E. County Rd.
3:44 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about person picketing in front of business, Barre Paxton Rd.
6:59 p.m. Police inspect car seat installation, Main St.
Saturday, October 16
3:14 p.m. Item delivered, Maple Ave.3:46 p.m. Black bear in yard, Clealand Cir.
Sunday, October 17
12:51 a.m. Assist Barre PD trying to locate male involved in domestic assault and battery, Settlers Ln. Person no longer lives there3:27 a.m. Someone going through vehicle, Juniper Ln.
10:17 a.m. Person calling about his deceased dog, Lord Ln.
10:48 a.m. Stray dog in yard, Forbes Rd.
Sterling
Monday, October 11
7:56 a.m. Older male dog wandering on Maple St.9:50 a.m. Animal control officer picked up raccoon for testing, Leominster Rd.
12:15 p.m. Loose chocolate Labrador, Quail Roost Dr.
5:18 p.m. State police reporting boxes in travel lane, Leominster Rd.
Tuesday, October 12
11:25 a.m. Stray black and white dog in yard, Village Ln.4:01 p.m. 911 hang-up, child playing with phone, Pikes Hill Rd.
5:21 p.m. Lost black and tan hound, Old Princeton – West Rd. Dog later found
Wednesday, October 13
6:45 a.m. Bus company advising of lights flashing and no train coming, Newell Hill Rd.6:24 p.m. Person whose home was foreclosed on wants police check on individuals going through the residence, Worcester Rd.
7:37 p.m. Caller concerned about recent house breaks, says neighbor's dog has been barking for long time, Clinton Rd.
Thursday, October 14
1:33 a.m. Ongoing issue with barking dog, Stuart Rd.1:58 a.m. Caller's dog barking as if someone is outside, Avery Ln.
2:28 a.m. Caller reports several people around his wife's car, unsure what they are doing, Heywood Rd.
6:43 a.m. Possible gun shots, Chace Hill Rd.
12:36 p.m. Caller wants to know if skunk in his back yard can be shot, Sandy Ridge Rd.
3:53 p.m. Skunk in area foraging for food, caller says animal appears wobbly, Sandy Ridge Rd.
Friday, October 15
6:18 p.m. Loose dog near animal shelter, Laurelwood Rd.Saturday, October 16
1:55 a.m. Suspicious activity in business parking lot, Redemption Rock Trl.8:56 a.m. Small white deceased dog on side of road, Main St.
Sunday, October 17
12:14 a.m. Loud outdoor party, Redstone Pl.Ken O'brien's response
In a Holden blog post earlier this week, Your next representative in the Worcester 1st, I asked each of three candidates to offer their thoughts on why one of the other candidates might win the election. Here is Democratic candidate Ken O'Brien's response, sent to me in an email:
Ken O'Brien's response
Ken O'Brien's response
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