Well, if it ain’t one thing it’s another, right?
First, let’s be happy it’s Thanksgiving week. With the cold weather arriving in earnest, it’s time to cover up the boats, put the motorcycles in the sheds, and renew the gym memberships. At least it means that Thanksgiving is here, and then Christmas and New Year’s. Then…ah, let’s not get too far ahead.
Thanksgiving is the focus this week. And that means we’re going to be starting our Christmas and other holiday shopping (no, no, not recognizing those of you who finished already, you be on Santa’s coal list). And THAT means, Shopping with the Neighb News.
This year’s couple (see page 12), has some new places to choose from for that fixer-upper. So check it out, and please, please, please try to shop with our advertisers during this spending season. And let them know you saw their ads in the Neighb News.
We have lots of fun stuff in this week’s issue. The high school cheerleaders took first place in their state competition, even though they got bumped up to a tougher division (see page 3). They are clearly a happy bunch.
The Douglass Tree Farm is having its annual sale this year, after having to cancel last year. See page 19 for a really cool aerial shot courtesy of ML. Baron.
And, we had a Selectboard meeting this week. Alas.
Honestly, these guys are the gift that just keeps on giving to my editorializing tendencies.
This week, it’s Selectboard member Dan Freitas, aided and abetted by Charlie Murphy, giving a freebie to a call firefighter. God help us all. Do you NOT understand what favoritism means? Do you not understand that favoritism is bad? Do you not understand that governments are not supposed to play favorites?
Because he is a firefighter we won’t charge him the whopping $150 fee to use the Town Hall for a wedding. Really, guys. He didn’t even ASK for the waiver. He is willing AND able to pay the fee. But, he won’t have to.
Any other schmuck who just happens to pay taxes in town, which support the town hall, does NOT get the waiver. But the guy who gets paid BY the town gets the freebie? News Flash: Town Hall is NOT your daddy’s family business. Government is NOT supposed to work like this. What next? No sewer fees for BPW workers? How about free shellfish licenses for all Marine Resource Committee members? Oooh…oooh…I’ve got it: No building permit fees for all volunteer board members…yeah, that should do it.
I stood around for a couple of minutes after the meeting just looking at those two guys trying to figure out what the heck to say to them. I just kept trying really, really hard not to keep shaking my head tsk-tsking, or scratching my head, literally (face-palm, anyone?). I simply did not know what to say.
So, I’ll let my readers decide for themselves. See page 4. Tell me what you think. The person in question is a call firefighter, not full time, so at least he works in the REAL economy (as Mitt Romney likes to say), and he pays property taxes in town. But, hey, so do a lot of other people, right?
I just do not understand how such blatant favoritism can be so brazenly displayed, unchecked, with no shame. To his credit, Bob Espindola tried to stop the train, but it kept on going.
Heaven help us all.
And please note again: The man did NOT ask for the waiver.
Until next week then…see ya, 
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