Tuesday's Primary Election

The polls, in Plymouth, will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, 9/14/2010.

As you go to the polls, keep the following in mind:

Un-enrolled voters (those not registered for a particular political party) can request a Republican (or some other party) ballot in order to vote in the primary.
You will have to re-register, after the vote, to go back to un-enrolled status.

Many of the party candidates are running unopposed in the primary. They would still appreciate your vote. Show Charlie Baker (Governor) and Karyn Polito (Treasurer)some love.

Of course there are a few key races that are being hotly contested, including:

Jeff Perry, running for U.S. Congress

Mary Z. Connaughton, running for State Auditor

While there is no Republican candidate on the ballot for Massachusetts Attorney General, two candidates are running write-in campaigns in an effort to get on the November ballot to challenge incumbent Martha Coakley. The two write-in candidates are Jim McKenna - Millbury, and Guy Carbone - Belmont. Remember to write the name AND home town, and to fill in the oval on the ballot.

Vote for Jeff Perry, Tuesday, September 14, 2010

This primary election, especially for voters in the Massachusetts 10th Congressional District may well be one of the most important elections of current times. Hyperbole? Not a bit. anyone with a modicum of sense and who has witnessed the results of one party rule in Washington DC for the past eighteen months should realize that it is crucial that we right the ship of state by bringing balance back to the U.S. Congress. Here in the 10th, our choice is clear. Jeff Perry has laid out his conservative credentials and his plans for stopping our country's slide into a socialistic morass.

In more ordinary times, this battle would be fought in November, but in this election, the primary election may well be the telling event. Jeff Perry is faced with an opponent who is committed to destructive campaign techniques in an attempt to discredit Perry. With the help of the lefty media, He has resurrected decade-old events and accusations that have been thoroughly investigated and resolved years ago and which resulted in Perry being fully cleared of any wrongdoing.

So it comes down to the September 14th primary. Voters will have the choice of voting for Jeff Perry, a true conservative with a public record of accomplishments and fresh new ideas for putting America back on track. Check out Jeff's WEBSITE for more detailed information. Or, his opponent, who seems to have focused most of his efforts on slinging mud at Perry. Perhaps not a bad idea for him. If he can succeed in focusing attention on these questionable charges, then perhaps voters might not notice the opponents total lack of favorable accomplishments or any ideas he might have to solve our country's problems.

Voters of the Mass. 10th. Go to the polls on Tuesday, September 14th and help Jeff Perry take a big first step towards the U.S. Congress.

Is There a Point Here?

This editorial cartoon, published in the August 7th edition of the Old Colony Memorial, prompted the following letter to the Editor on August 9, 2010:

To the Editor:

The editorial cartoon featured on the Opinion page of Saturday’s edition not only missed the one of the most serious problems facing Town Government, but gave the Pinehills community a gratuitous back-hander by casting its residents as boozing golf fanatics. Mr. Dorn might find it enlightening to discover the impact that Pinehills residents are making on Plymouth, not only through its collective tax revenues, but also through their widespread volunteer efforts on behalf of many public and private local organizations.

More importantly, one of the biggest, non-fiscal, problems facing the Plymouth Town Government is not some vague power grab by a few precincts, but rather a widespread lack of participation by many of our fellow town folk. As David Peck notes in his comments, posted just below the cartoon, some precincts have had trouble in recent elections fielding enough candidates to run for vacant Town Meeting seats. As recently as last Sunday, the Boston Globe reported that the Selectmen are actively seeking volunteers for a number of Town boards and committees. Broad representation is clearly a key driver of Town Government, but it takes an interested and engaged public to make it happen.


John F. Malloy
TMM, Precinct 5

The following reply was received the same day:

John: Managing Editor Scott Smith and I have discussed your letter at length and we have no problem with the majority of it, however....Jon Dorn is one of the Jam session participants, just like all the others except that his contribution is in the form of a cartoon rather then a paragraph of words. Editorial cartoons by their very nature are caricatures - to identify me the cartoon might have a really big nose or funny glasses, for instance.

Also, neither of us think that Jon portrayed all Pinehills residents as booze swilling golf fanatics. The Jammers were all directed to the same story, which explained that the town charter requires the Fin Com be comprised of a member from each of the town's precincts with the only duplicate being from the precinct of the chairman, who does not vote unless there is a tie. Yet, Precinct 5 currently has multiple members on the committee, meaning there are none from some other precincts. You make the point, yourself, that it's difficult to find people to serve in town government.

Questioning whether Jon knows how much the residents of The Pinehills contribute to the town has no connection to the question posed.
Other Jammers also questioned allowing multiple Fin Com members from one precinct, yet you did not challenge them.

We'd be happy to print your letter without the statements we feel misinterpret the opinion solicited from Jon as part of his participation in this forum and the very nature of an editorial cartoon.

Tam Burgess, senior editor
GateHouse Media New England

There are a number of issues here, not the least of which is our concern for the portrayal of the Pinehills Community.

The last paragraph of the editor's reply comes perilously close to offering a quid-pro-quo which would offer to publish the original letter on the condition that certain comments be removed. Perhaps the "Letters to the Editor" section of the newspaper might then be re-named "Edited Letters to the Editor". For the record, we stand by our original version.

Finally, there is at least one point of confusion running throughout this exchange. The Charter Review Committee which has no restrictions on the number of its members from a particular precinct, and the Advisory and Finance Committee which, under current rules, should be made up of at least one member from each precinct. It is the Charter Review Committee that reportedly includes five members from precinct 5.

If you are still reading at this point, you may be want to read, or re-read, the entire August 7th JAM SESSION article including the opinions of the contributors.

How do you feel about the cartoon? Is it insulting to a whole community, or is it an acceptable response to this opinion poll?

Comments to the View are always welcome. You can also email your comments to the OCM editorial staff at ocm@cnc.com. You may, or may not, have your comments printed in the newspaper

Out of The Blue

There is nothing like a new book, especially one written by someone you know, to pull oneself out of the summer doldrums. Last week, our good friend Virginia Young was at Plymouth's Blue Blinds Bakery and Cafe' to introduce her new book, Out Of The Blue. This pleasant and readable Romance is set right here in America's Home Town and features a full cast of well-drawn characters. We guarantee that the pages will turn quickly and you will soon be drawn into trying to figure out if the attractive and sophisticated Samantha and the handsome and talented Gray will ever find in each other the gentle and loving partner that each seems to be seeking.

The story unfolds within the contours of two families whose warmth and caring come to life under Virginia's precise descriptions which emerge from the page like carefully-drawn etchings. And, of course, contemporary Plymouth, serves as a soothing and pleasing backdrop, where family traditions quietly echo the Town's long and well-chronicled past.

While the author brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, there are enough un-answered questions sprinkled through the text to spawn at least one sequel. We will all look forward to the next installment.

Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book. Contact RiverhavenBooks for a listing of the local shops carrying the book, or order directly from the publisher.

Summer-the Opening Belle

Plymouth's summer season kicked off last week end, just a few days short of the official opening day on June 21st. Along with a few thousand of our closest friends, we spent some enjoyable Sunday hours on the waterfront as a full complement of tourists (anyone who doesn't live in the 02360 zip code) enjoyed the sights and the fine weather. And lets be clear about tourists. Now that Plymouth apparently won't be morphing into Hollywood East anytime soon, tourism is America's Home Town's primary industry. The term "tourist" is absolutely not a pejorative. Tourists are our friends, ka-ching, ka-ching.

So to mark the new season, here are a few thoughts, observations and recommendations, geared toward making the season more enjoyable for all, or at least those who agree with us.

First, Plymouth should get rid of the Pilgrim Belle. Why anyone who thinks a Mississippi River - style paddle wheeler fits into the historic waterfront, especially when docked alongside the Mayflower II, is beyond us. Send this floating eyesore packing. The Town also needs to replace those parking fee machines like the ones in the lot in front of The Cabby Shack. First it takes your money, then it refuses to print a receipt, then you get an extra souvenir of your visit in the form of a parking ticket. This shouldn't be so hard.

We do not join with those who look down their noses at motorcycles and those that drive them. Most of these bikes are attractive, well-maintained and driven with care. There are a few bad apples, however, that need a whack upside the head; namely those bikers who think mufflers are something you wrap around your neck in winter. Nothing shatters a pleasant afternoon like some yahoo revving up his engine from hell, startling the tar out of all within a half mile radius. And while we are on the subject, someone needs to tell those few riders still looking to recapture the glory days of the Hell's Angels that the tough biker-gang look is at least a half-century out of date.

We will close with a few fashion tips designed to improve the general atmosphere. We understand that the shaved head look is "in", and it certainly implies an ease of care, but this look is not for everyone. Before you venture forth sporting a shiny dome, invest in a good mirror and give yourself a critical look. Remember, you can always wear a hat. Ditto for those into multiple facial piercings. If a mirror isn't in the cards, find a trusted friend with some fashion sense. Also, a sure bet for the most promising career path is that of a certified tattoo removal specialist, when, in just a few years, all these tattoo aficionados start to realize that these things really are permanent.

A more general recommendation to motorists: scrape those fading "Obama for president" stickers off your cars. In spite of the speed with which his presidency is melting down, there might still be time to establish some distance from your support of his election.

So happy summer to all and don't forget the big celebration of Plymouth's 400 year anniversary, in 2020. It's not too early to start making plans now, those T shirts are sure to be collector items.

Bloomsday

When the great lamented Irish man of letters, James Joyce, wrote the novel, ULYSSES, he chronicled the wanderings of one Leopold Bloom as he made his way around Dublin on June 16, 1904.

The annual marking of this day by Joyce aficionados throughout the world provides the perfect opportunity for would-be intellectual types to gain credibility by dropping a casual allusion to the day into conversations. This is almost foolproof, as in spite of the book's historical importance in the field of literature, it remains, we suspect, one of the best known, but most unread books in history.

So if you do decide to slip an allusion to Bloomsday into your daily patter, there is a good chance that others will not have read the book. They might, however, know who James Joyce was and this would give your tender ego a small boost. To be safe, you could actually read the book, or at least the Cliff notes. Then, at least, you might glean a few tidbits, such as our favorite: The word, "yes", as featured in Molly Bloom's Soliloquy.

Have a good Bloomsday!

Jeff Perry Follow Up Interview

Click on the link and hear Jeff perry's response to the flap surrounding the press articles discussed below.

HOWIE CARR INTERVIEW

We think that this exchange goes a long way in putting this issue in perspective.