Our pro-business Sturbridge experience.

The following letter to the editor was published in today's Southbridge Evening News.

To the Editor:

It took far longer than we expected for us to open our new wine and gourmet food shop, The Winebuyer’s Outlet. As the months dragged on we heard many local residents make comments that assumed that the delay mustbe due to the Town of Sturbridge holding things up. Nothing could be further from the truth and I want to set the record straight.

The issues that delayed our opening involved a change in a state law that took effect on Jan. 1. Four months after our original application was sent in we finally we picked up our license at Sturbridge Town Hall this week.

The purpose of this letter is to let those considering opening a business in Sturbridge know that our experience working with the town authorities has been an extremely pro-business one. All of our dealings with the Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator were very positive. We found all of the parties involved to be highly professional and very caring for the interests of the Town of Sturbridge. These town authorities were extremely supportive to our efforts and they seemed genuinely enthusiastic about our new venture.

As business people we often hear of government agencies being “pro business,” only to find that their slogan is not backed by their actions. We have heard some business owners complain about their dealings with the town in the past but our message to potential entrepreneurs considering Sturbridge as their business location is to go for it.

JOANNE SAGANSKY
THE WINEBUYER’S OUTLET

NOTE: The Winebuyer's Outlet Facebook Page can be accessed here.

Fiskdale's Jane Downing hopes to finish race strong!

A story from the Telegram and Gazette website by writer John Conceison.

Her finisher’s medal has been hanging in her home office, serving as inspiration for what lies ahead tomorrow. It has been 10 years since Jane Downing conquered her first Boston Marathon, and this time she enters with a kind of home-course familiarity she didn’t have before.

“Last time, I was experiencing it as an outsider,” said Downing, who in 2001 lived in Durham, N.C. “It was such a thrill, I felt like I was part of a parade. But I wanted to feel better about it at the end.”

The remainder of this article can be accessed on the T&G webiste here.

Satch Sanders makes short trip to Hall of Fame!

A story from the Telegram and Gazette website about Celtics legend and Sturbridge resident Satch Sanders, by writer Bill Doyle:

Celtics legend Tom “Satch” Sanders was thrilled to be finally voted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this month, but he wasn’t too excited about having to travel to Indianapolis to be honored at the NCAA championship game with the other inductees.

Sanders made the trip, but he had to take time away from an event for head and neck cancer research that he and his wife, Lisa, were organizing for Dana Farber.

The remainder of this article can be accessed on the T&G webiste here.

The fallacy of the “pro-growth/anti-growth, stagnation/anti-stagnation..." mantra.

There was a noteworthy comment submitted in response to a post specific to Monday’s Election Results that offers an interesting perspective in terms of how some view local politics. The commentary – at least in terms of my assessment of it - is both accurate and contradictory on several levels, while simultaneously demonstrating a flawed and somewhat simplistic assessment that is oddly, in some respects true, at least that is as viewed by some.

More than that of any other level, local government is the one that most impacts our daily lives and the one we have the most direct control over. Property tax rates, bylaws, zoning, water and sewer fees, permits, municipal debt incurrence, infrastructure projects, etc., are all for the most part, determined by the voters at Town Meeting and not the Board of Selectmen as some mistakenly believe. Under our Town Charter, the voters at Town Meeting serve as the legislative branch of government and as such, function as the decision-making body for local governance. As the executive branch, the Board of Selectmen is charged with developing and implementing policies that ensure the determinations of the legislative branch – the voters - are fulfilled.

Election Results

Selectman: 3-year seat

X - Mary Blanchard: 978

X - Priscilla Gimas: 903

Scott Garieri: 605

Selectman: 1-Year Seat:

X - Angeline Ellison: 776

Alphonso Esposito: 556

Board of Health:

X - Linda Cocalis: 871

Kimberly Desy: 487

Today, it's your turn.

The candidates have done their part, so too have the supporters of each candidate. The campaign rhetoric and positioning are now no longer of any relevance as now the really difficult work begins, that of executing the people's will. It is your turn as voters to determine who you think best to lead you in the direction that you wish to be led over the course of the next several years 

In then end, after all is said and done, whomever is selected today by the voters will be in fact the right candidates, as the voters are always right in a democracy, no matter what. 

Best wishes to all who are ultimately chosen by those that really matter - the voters.  

Seeking Your Support

By this point many of you have already been flooded with emails, phone calls, or post cards seeking your support in Monday’s local election. No doubt there is always a great deal of activity this time of year as candidates and supporters endeavor to communicate the reasons for soliciting your support. To that end, I too, as a resident do now call upon you to consider candidates who I - as a resident have complete faith and trust in. Candidates, who though attendant to varying political affiliations, maintain two of the single most important qualities of leadership, those being integrity and objectivity.

In the last two years, I have endeavored always to ensure the most honest, objective, and principled representation possible. Though decisions made by me will not always be supported by all, I would hope that my representation has demonstrated absolute honesty at the very least. I have never, nor will I ever mislead or misinform those who entrust me with the honor of representing them. Equally, I will never use the power of office to in any way benefit myself, my family and friends or any select few, over the needs or desires of the many – the residents of Sturbridge.

With that said, I call on you seeking your support for 4 candidates whom I know to be honest, objective, and committed to providing equal representation to all residents, while working on your behalf. They will not put their personal ideologies ahead of the needs and desires of the residents of this community. Nor will they allow themselves to be influenced by any single or select group who are driven by special interests. Of this I am certain.

Thus, resident to resident and voter to voter, I respectfully request your vote in support of the following candidates:

Mary Blanchard: 3-Year Selectman’s Seat
Priscilla Gimas: 3-Year Selectman’s Seat
Angeline Ellison: 1-Year Selectman’s Seat

Linda Cocalis: Board of Health

If you click on each name (links now disabled), you will be taken to an endorsement letter that clearly articulates the reasons I believe each of these individuals to be the right choices for leading our community over the next 3 years. If you have any difficulties with the links, you can go directly to www.sturbridgepoliticalwatch.com and use the tabs at the top to review each candidate. As one whose term will expire one year from this election, I am proud to know that departing the Board of Selectmen with these individuals representing all of us, will be something each of us will be able to take great pride in, as they will truly make each of proud in the execution of their responsibilities - on our behalf.

I thank you for your willingness to provide me an opportunity to share my hopes with you.