Thursday, May 16, 2013
Lawrence Block, M.D., said the board endorsed the citizens petition from a health perspective, and the board did not claim gas-powered leaf blowers cause cancer.
To the Editor: I feel it is important to clarify and rebut comments that were made at Swampscott Town Meeting regarding Article 7, which attempted to restrict gas powered leaf blowers (GPLB's) during the summer months. First, it is important to realize that this was a citizen's Article. The proponents of this article came to the Board of Health (BOH) for our support, based on evidence that GPLB's are harmful to human health. The BOH reviewed the literature, and had a public meeting, where one of the landscapers present agreed that GPLB's are a health risk, and admitted that landscapers abuse them. From a health perspective, there was unanimous support of Article 7 by the BOH members. The BOH never stated that GPLB's cause cancer, contrary …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Spoil the moms in your life today.
Spoil the moms in your life today. Some people consider Mother’s Day to be a trumped up holiday where prices are cranked up at restaurants that know everyone will be scrambling for a special meal not cooked or cleaned up by a mother. Certainly some of that is true: people rush out for cards and there are roses for sale on the sides of the road for those who forgot. But I say that even if it is trumped up or “Hallmarked” it is still useful to take the day to consider all that mothers do. In fact, my biggest complaint is that it is only one day. I often think I should just declare a few more such days in the year, or perhaps more often. Our lives are getting crazier and there is little sacred time left. Sporting events and homework will …
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Resident Donna Bagarella asks residents to support Matt Strauss for selectman.
I am writing this letter is support of Matt Strauss who is running for a seat on the Swampscott Board of Selectman. I have known Matt for several years and during these years I have always been impressed by Matt’s commitment to the Town of Swampscott. He has given much time and energy to public service in our town, is well - informed and is willing to take a stand on important issues. And the willingness to take a stand is so important in town politics. Matt has a lot of experience and I believe that experience really matters. He understands the issues facing us, especially since he has been a Town Meeting Member for many years and served on the Board previously. He has shown himself willing to invest time, energy and commitment to …
Resident Mary Bragan urges voters to support Carin Marshall for School Committee.
I am writing in support of Carin Marshall for School Committee. As a parent of 4 children- two who have already gone through the Swampscott school system and two who are currently at Clarke Elementary, I have seen the changes that our schools and school committees have gone through over the years. We are at a point now when a change is needed. Carin will bring a new perspective to the School Committee that would greatly benefit Swampscott’s students. As President of the Clarke PTA Carin has become a well known face to all the children and respected member of our community. She has shown herself, through her actions, to be a dedicated advocate for our kids. Carin believes that is important to be an active member of the community and …
May 1 can’t come fast enough
If you have a senior and have been agonizing over where he or she should go to school, May 1 is the deadline to decide and the journey to that decision should finally be over. It can’t come fast enough. But when it does, I don’t know if any of us who have juniors or seniors in high school will remember what we used to talk about before the discussion of college consumed our lives. The topic takes many forms and has endless detours, but it dominates thoughts and conversations for a long time, maybe more than two years in the foreground and probably more in the background. Everything seems to lead in that direction. There is the testing, the preparing for the testing. Which test to take, ACT or SAT or both? And, how many times? Tutor or no …
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Resident Hilary Foutes supports School Committee candidate Jaren Landen.
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Saturday, April 27
Dear Swampscott Residents, You may have children in the Swampscott schools, no longer have children in the school system because your kids are all grown up, or your children attend private school...or any other circumstance, I have a simple request to please VOTE April 30th to re-elect Jaren Landen to school committee. Jaren is good for Swampscott. If you care about the value of your home, the value of a Swampscott education, and/or the value of protecting the town you live in, WE need to protect our two biggest assets...our beaches and our schools. That's what draws people to our friendly tight knit community and sustains our home values. It is a community responsibility to educate our children and Jaren will help to ensure excellence …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Resident Jeffrey Blonder says Ed Markey, a candidate in Tuesday's US Senate primary election, brings experience and has the support of many veterans.
- OPINION
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Thursday, April 25
On Tuesday April 30th, Swampscott Democrats and Independents will go to the polls to select their nominee to fill the position of U.S. Senator from Massachusetts that John Kerry held before his selection of Secretary of State. Massachusetts is very fortunate that we have two great candidates running to fill Former Senator Kerry’s seat. I plan to support Congressman Ed Markey and I would urge my fellow neighbors to also support Ed Markey. Ed would bring to the Senate a wealth of experience in many fields including the environment, telecommunications and other progressive ideals. More importantly Ed Markey has always been in front of the issues, leading from the front! Ed Markey didn’t need a tragedy to fight for sensible gun laws; he …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Resident Jo Ann Simons says incumbent Jaren Landen brings understanding to the committee and leads by example.
Dear Editor, A school committee should serve as a role model for our town and students and lead by example. School committee members should foster a culture where enthusiasm for knowledge and learning are the priority and that a focus on students is present in everything they do and considered in each and every situation. Members should have compassion and understand that not all children learn in the same way. It has been evident during Jaren Landen, Ph.D.'s 3 year term on school committee that she leads by example and understands the varied priorities of different families. This is also evident by how she learns from criticism while maintaining a very positive can do attitude. I understand what it takes to be a successful committee …
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Swampscott resident Anthony Scibelli says the board needs the sense and experience that Matt Strauss would bring to the table.
I am writing to ask you to support Matt Strauss for Selectman. Matt is a dedicated public servant with a wealth of experience in Town government, including a prior term on the Board of Selectmen. Matt has a unique combination of intelligence, common sense and experience that makes him ideally suited to serve our Town as a Selectman. He also brings a sense of fairness, and a commitment to focus his efforts on serving the best interests of the Town and its residents, rather than pursuing personal interests or hidden agendas. This is an important election. There will be significant turnover on the Board and adding someone with Matt’s background and experience will provide much needed stability and leadership. I urge you to vote for …
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Resident John Giantis supports the re-election of School Committee candidate Jaren Landen.
- OPINION
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Saturday, April 20
To the Editor: I am writing to voice my support for Jaren Landen for re-election to the Swampscott School Committee. In 2011, one of Jaren’s initiatives was to sponsor a Student Life and Grants Subcommittee to the School Committee. I have been serving with other community volunteers on this subcommittee since June 2011. The primary goal of this subcommittee is to identify grants that are suitable for the Swampscott Public Schools. Jaren has consistently engaged school administrators as well as teachers in a welcoming and cooperative manner to discuss projects that may benefit from a grant. With Jaren’s leadership, grants have been obtained to assist in our children’s educations. At the School Committee level, Jaren has been an …
Restless
7:53 am on Friday, May 17, 2013
Too many people run un-opposed in this town. Not enough 'regular folk' would ever consider running for a variety of, usually legitimate, reasons and plenty of very qualified people avoid running because they see how people in elected office are treated. I have been approached to run before but would much rather direct my time and expertise towards projects where I am valued and appreciated. more ›