This Plaistow blog has been very supportive of us throughout our first year, and we respectfully check out their site daily. Here is a post from the Plaistow Town Crier, that is very relevant to us, here at the Atkinson Reporter.
You can find a link to the Town Crier on the right side of the page.
"A Word Of Truth" The latest from atkinson-reporter.blogspot.com
I'm not a resident of Atkinson. I just have friends over there. And I would never post a message on their board directly as it would not be appropriate. However, I am a little concerned over their new-found civility. It sounds like a gesture to the politically squeamish. I myself wouldn't bother. But, maybe it make a little sense. Elections will be coming up fast and there's nothing more useless and tragic than a turned-off former voter.
All the neighboring towns are watching you folks with keen interest. We have elected and appointed officials in our towns too and we're all comparing notes. Do our Selectmen resemble this patriarchial and paternalistic tribe that's running your town? Do our Chiefs of Police confront residents on their own private property, at board meetings and on the streets, then harrass these same residents while they're trying to run their daily lives?
From here it looks like town officials and the blog have been drawn to a precipice and after looking over the edge, the blog drew back and blinked. I hope this isn't the case for some of you have now lost a major mouthpiece. I've been following the blog from its inception and I haven't seen even one comment that's been a turn-off for me. You've got it all wrong. It's the town officials that need to blink, again and again and again. Keep the pressure on. If they won't publish your comments over on the blogspot, bring 'em over here to "The Crier". We enjoy comments from all the area voters, even the "childish" and "immature" ones. Or not. Don't abandon the fight now, take heart. After a few recent hard-fought victories, maybe the folks running the blogspot just needed a breather and they'll loosen up a little as the 2008 town elections get closer.
Thank you, Mr. Herrick, We can not reveal our identities for obvious reasons. You have seen what our police chief does to people openly critical of him, such as, Mr. Acciard, Mrs. Grant, Mr. Kaye, and many others.
For your information and that of your readers, we have not blinked. We do however wish to have a growing voice, as the election season nears, and we Do wish this to be a place where people can learn that which they will not see at selectmen's meetings. And therefore we wish to keep to the moral high ground, if you will, and leave the open slander, to our selectmen, after all, they are really good at it!
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
2 comments:
I have seen a couple of iffy comments but all in all good stuff. Sounds like Sapia or Childs or Cos. to me, belittling the voters yet again. We want you out. GET IT?
I am the person that wrote the request for civility on the Atkinson Reporter board. I am the one you indirectly called "politically squeamish".
I was shocked that the post was chosen to be placed on the front page of the blog, but very grateful as I sincerely want the blog to become a place that all citizens can go to for valuable information about the leaders in our town that have become lost as to their duties and responsibilities.
My post was directed at keeping the posts focused on offering valuable information instead of 4th grade level put-downs. Playground put-downs can be fun, but they don't really offer much in the way of informative information that can help citizens turn things around in our town.
What immature comments CAN accomplish is turning off the majority of people that go to the board looking for a quality exchange of ideas and facts. True change in town won't happen unless there are enough people to support it. Filling a blog that reports on the missteps and corruption of town officials with silly personal slander will only cause people to be turned off to the mission of governmental reform.
In the end, the blog is either about creating an effective destination for people to learn about the malfeasance in town government, or it's about acting like little children and calling people silly names; it can't effectively be both. I'm extremely grateful that the owners of that blog seem to have taken a step towards making sure the board serves the public as a clearinghouse of valuable information that can help "clean up" town government. You might consider doing the same.
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