Wednesday, 26 September 2007
-The food pantry saga doesn’t appear to be quite solved yet. We will have to wait and see if any of the contractors making bids on the project are willing to pony up for the $2 million dollars in liability insurance. The diocese is so far unwilling to bend on that requirement.

Apparently, we were in error to suggest the diocese could make a profit from the sale of the pantry. Father Desmarais said all profits from such sale would go to the parish.

-Thurm Silks of Hopkinton City makes an important point in his letter this week. If the upcoming Chariho bond passes, payments will be divided equally among the three towns – but taxpayers in the three towns will see their taxes increase by different amounts, due to the different tax rates. We are not sure how to solve that one.

-Every once in a while there’s a heartwarming story that speaks to the human spirit. This week, we highlight the recent good fortune of the Hawkins family. They received a sizeable grant to make much needed renovations to their home. This new start comes one year after the family’s husband and father killed was lost to suicide. Hope springs eternal.

-The fact that the tri-town council meeting did not even have a quorum does not bode well for solving tri-town issues and it doesn’t look good either.

-Congratulations to Hopkinton and their 250 years. Join in the celebration at the upcoming sign dedication on Sept. 30 and the community picnic on Oct. 13.

-It seems like Charlestown Council President James Mageau is still up to his old tricks – trying to appoint people to commissions who don’t even appear interested.

-And what’s up with the latest letter from Town Administrator Edward Barrett to Planning Commission Chair Ruth Platner chastising her for using her work e-mail for town business?
Though we don’t think it’s completely appropriate to use one’s work email for other purposes, it’s less appropriate to try to threaten a town volunteer. We will have more on this story next week. There are still some things smelling fishy in Charlestown. Anyone surprised?