Appreciate service members, respect workers
I am hoping this Memorial Day we will have a great turn-out to show our love and appreciation for the service men and women who fought and died in the service of our country at the Memorial Parade.
It’s only because of them we can have the freedoms we have.
One of these freedoms is too have our voice heard in the government which isn’t always the case.
A case in point is when I came forward to voice my objection to the funding of a new police boat. Let me say from the outset that I have a great deal of respect for our Police and Firefighters. I know when I called them they were there.
That being said, what I do take issue with is the use and necessity of this boat. The question I ask is how many boats does this town need and how often are they used? It seems like every department has a boat: Police, Fire, shellfish, harbormaster, emergency, you name it. I call into question how often are they used,
I appreciate the harbormaster makes good use of his boat. I believe the Police could team up with him.
Which brings up another point I would like to make and a big concern I have which is the economy and the tax base. I believe it’s about time we recognize who supports the government in this town. It’s the private sector, yes, we the workers and businesses who struggle every day on our jobs or business who generate the income and pay the taxes which the government is dependent on.
I wish our town officials were more mindful of this fact.
The second point I would to make is, when, if ever, will this town appoint a serious economic committee and perhaps they can attract some business or manufacturing, which in turn will generate some income and provide some jobs for our citizens and provide some revenue and help ease the tax burden on the taxpayers of our town.
I have a challenge for the Selectmen and our new town administrator. Have you taken notice of all the empty storefronts? What, if any, ideas or proposals do you have to attract some business or manufacturing to this town, thereby providing some tax relief and jobs?
I hope you can do better than the last Board of Selectmen when I came and suggested that Atlas Tack could be used as a manufacturing site.
I live next to Atlas Tack. Millions have been spent to clean it up. It sits vacant for 10 years. They said EPA had control of it and Atlas Tack still had some ownership in it. What a lame excuse. I say, what are we paying you for?
John Pond, Fairhaven
Memorial Day is every day
With Memorial Day approaching, many of us may not realize just how many wars or lives may have been lost. So many people, both Americans and others, served their countries to the best of their abilities. Some returned home, some injured, some in boxes, and some never returned.
There is website (http:// interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2014/ apr/image-opacity-slider-master/index.html?ww2-dday) that shows different locations from 1944, during WWII, and 2014.
It will first show you what the area looked like during the time of war, then click on it again. It will show you what it looks like now, a much quieter scene.
There were so many wars after this time and there were many years before this. Does it ever end?
If you see a man or woman with a hat or emblem from the service they were in, thank them for their service as they truly did the best they could regardless of the wars created or in defense of their country. So many of them are still struggling mentally and physically decades later from the aftermath of their time in service. Please remember this. They do.
Thank our police and fire departments too as they provide another service for us and have lost fellow brothers and sisters in their work to keep us safe.
Memorial Day is every day as we reflect on those we loved and lost.
Please acknowledge and be respectful of all those involved.
Thank you.
Karen Vilandry, Fairhaven
Click to download the 5/26/16 issue in its entirety: 05-26-16 SpanishShip
