Fraser Drops Out of State Rep Race, Endorses Wedegartner

Genevieve Fraser, an Orange resident and independent candidate for state representative for the 2nd Franklin District, has announced her withdrawal from the race. She endorsed Democrat, Roxann Wedegartner of Greenfield, one of five Democrats vying for the nomination.

“I’m a high energy person, but recently I developed photosensitivity and must avoid direct sunlight,” Fraser explained. “Though I intend to remain extremely active and will maintain my political blog as a non-candidate, www.Fraser4Rep.com, this has put a damper on plans to campaign door to door and attend outdoor festivities throughout the summer.”

“I’ve decided to drop out and support the candidate whose views best reflect my own – Roxann Wedegartner,” Fraser continued. Roxanne favors small-scale biomass as an economic driver –  she is a strong supporter of the rights of sportsmen and women to hunt and fish.”

“Roxann also shares my belief that Massachusetts needs a health care system that provides equal access to quality care for all its residents while controlling costs,” she continued. “The present system, which relies on a myriad of insurance providers, offers plans that require high deductibles and co-payments that make medical care unaffordable even for many of the insured.”

“Roxann and I both support the creation of a Massachusetts Health Care Trust which would function as a public agency, or 'single payer', responsible for the collection and disbursement of funds required to provide health care services for every resident of the Commonwealth,” Fraser commented.

Overrides Pass in Orange

Voters approved Proposition 2 1/2 overrides to keep streetlights on, the transfer station open and to fund the Wheeler Library budget and Council on Aging at a special election Monday. But they said "no" to paying for $132,000 for clerical assistants with Proposition 2 1/2 override money.
 
The library, transfer station, street lights, and Council on Aging measures passed easily as 40 percent of voters turned out. The overrides will add about $1 per thousand of valuation to the town tax rate.

During the days before the special election, Friends of the Library and others met frequently to recruit support for the overrides. Supporters with "Save out Town" signs lined the sidewalk outside the town armory where votes are cast.

The overrides will provide $262,000 for the library and $260,000 for the transfer station and street lights. The Council on Aging budget is about $23,000.

Orange Libraries Summer Reading Program

The schedule of special events at the Orange Public Libraries for the Summer Reading Club of 2010 have been severely cut back due to the fact that the libraries may close permanently shortly after July 1, 2010. With the uncertainty of the libraries’ future, performers were released from their contracts. Some artists were able to continue their commitment to perform if the Orange Libraries remain open through the passage of a Proposition 2 and 1/2 on June 14, 2010. Events scheduled after July 1are listed below but they will occur only if the Orange Public Libraries are open. All programs are free, thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries.

June 21, Monday, 10:00-6:00: Sign up starts for the Go Green Summer Reading Program. Visit the library as soon as possible to register for programs and pick up free materials to help track and reward your summer reading.
June 22-August 3, Tuesdays, 10:30: GO Green Rise and Romp story times at the Wheeler Memorial Library.
June 24, Thursday, 4:30-6:30: Medicine Mammals returns at the request of last summer’s readers. New this year will be their tee-pee which will be set up next to the Wheeler Library. Participants will be invited inside the tee-pee and offered a chance to create a corn husk doll. Some of the animals rescued by Medicine Mammals will also be visiting the library. This three person group is dedicated to wildlife rescue following the Native American philosophy that all life is sacred.
June 24, Thursday, 6:30-7:30: Come be enthralled as Medicine Mammals performs star legends, songs, and hoop dances.
July 8, 15, 22, 29, Thursdays, 10:30: Project Wild Nature story times for toddlers to children age 7. This program takes place at the Moore-Leland Library.
July 28, Wednesday, 3:00: Trina Moruzzi, a wildlife biologist with the Division of Mass. Wildlife, will lead a neighborhood wildlife walk starting from the Wheeler Memorial Library. Come try your skills at tracking and finding other signs left by our wild neighbors. Those 7 years old or younger should be accompanied by an adult. Registration recommended.
August 4, Wednesday, starting at 4:30: The Boston Museum of Science will bring their Animal Invaders program to the Wheeler Memorial Library. Registration required.
August 11, Wednesday, 6:30: Can you make an ice cream sundae look like a tree, a frog, a snake. All who have recorded the time spent they spent reading will be invited to an Ice Cream Sundae Celebration complete with certificates, a drawing for a free pair of tickets to the Big E, and an announcement of how much money we raised for the Orange Food Pantry. Readers’ donations of canned goods will also be made into a Food Frog.

More programs may be added! Check www.orangelib.org for updates or call the Childrens’ Room, 978-544-2495, x103

Walking the Quabbin

A WALK FOR MASSACHUSETTS FORESTS - PART I – QUABBIN WALK will be held from May 17-23, 2010 from Orange to New Salem, Massachusetts.

The Walk will begin May 17, 2010 at approximately 10:15 after a Gathering and speak-out at 9 AM at the peace statue in Orange and a press conference at 9:30 AM. The walk is sponsored by MA Interfaith Coalition for the Forest and Clean Air.

Potluck discussions will take place in each community along the route, providing an opportunity for dialogue on  issues vital to the health of our planetary home and the potential for a healthy quality of life of our grandchildren.

The goal is to educate citizens across the Commonwealth about the effects of commercial logging on public lands including the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed, the drinking water supply for Boston and more than 2 million Massachusetts residents.  

 WALK SCHEDULE

Monday, May 17 – Press conference at Orange Common at Water & So. Main Streets. at 9:30 - Leave Orange at approximately 10:30 AM 

Overnight at Earthlands in Petersham after pot luck and program at the Davis Memorial Hall located next to the Unitarian Church in Petersham Center.
Tuesday, May 18 – Hardwick
Wednesday, May 19 - Ware   
Thursday, May 20 - Belchertown
Friday, May 21 - Pelham
Saturday May 22 - New Salem
Sunday May 23 - Celebration of Walk Completion in New Salem

Broken Paddle Stymies 2010 Local River Rat Favorites

After two years of drawing starting positions deep in the pack, John Berry and Brent Lysieuk caught a break - they started the 47th annual River Rat Race in the NO. 1 spot. "Brent broke his paddle on the first stroke. We just ran out of gas," John Berry said after the April 10 race. The duo finished third.

Matt and Andy Rudnitsky of Unadilla, NY beat a persistent headwind and came from a starting position of 132 to win this years race. Matt was in last year's winning canoe with Ryan Lyesiuk of Gardner.

More than 289 canoes were entered in the race from the Main Street Bridge in Athol to Hachey's Landing in Orange.

Picture Page

Library Unveils Two New Web Site Features

Walt Owens, Director of the Wheeler Memorial Library, announced that two new sections of the library's web site have been made available to the public. The first new historical section of the library's website, "Library Archives", is now available. The Archives includes numerous vintage postcards of Orange and the surrounding area, information about the Grout automobile and historical information about the library and the Town of Orange. The images from the 1900 book entitled "General Views of Orange", which includes many photographs of current and past Orange residences, are a real treasure. Owens said that this Bicentennial year was a logical time to organize and preserve some of the older items in the library's collections. Due to the foresight of former library director Janice Lanou and her predecessors, the library has an impressive collection of historical images.

The other new web site area, "Support Your Local Library", is intended to help bring in alternative funds and assistance that can be used to maintain library services.

The library's web site continues to offer access to the library catalog, research tools, and local information. The library offers a wide variety of informative and entertaining resources and all residents are encouraged to take advantage of the Library's free programs and services, including books and media for all ages.

Brewer Is YMCA Legislator of the Year

Boston, MA – On February, 9, 2010, Sen. Stephen M. Brewer was presented with the YMCAs of Massachusetts Legislator of the Year Award for 2009 – 2010 at their annual State Advocacy Day at the State House.

The award, presented by Jeanette Robichaud, Executive Director of the Athol Area YMCA, recognized Brewer for his efforts to help build strong kids, strong families and strong communities throughout Massachusetts.

Cigarette Sales Taxes Fall Off as Taxes Rise

Massachusetts' efforts to raise money by increasing the taxes collected from cigarette sales are having mixed results at best. A combination of federal and state tax hikes over the past two years have raised the per pack price of major brands in Massachusetts from around $5 to $8 per pack. By the carton in New Hampshire, cigarettes currently retail for about $50.

Robert Bliss, communications director for the state Department of Revenue said Dec. 3 that state tax revenue from cigarette sales was $47.5 million in October, 2009. In October of 2008, tax revenue from single pack sales was $51 million. Sales of the tax stamps that are affixed to each pack sold were flat at 19 million tax stamps in both October 2008 and October 2009, down from 25.8 million in October of 2007, Bliss said.

He said a combination of internet sales and sales by New Hampshire retailers likely accounts for the numbers. "New Hampshire keeps raising its cigarette tax, but they keep a healthy margin below Massachusetts," Bliss said. The number of packs sold keeps going down. It's not just New Hampshire. It is internet sales, too, he said. Bliss said there is no reason to think that smoking cessation programs account for the decline.

On a recent trip to New Hampshire we saw five cars in the parking lot of a cigarette vendor. All five had Massachusetts license plates. Massachusetts does try to bill its residents for taxes on internet sales of cigarettes from Indian reservations. The cigarette excise tax that tobacco companies must pay the federal government rose in April by 61.6 cents per pack, or $6.16 per carton. The tax now comes to about $10.10 per carton, or $1.01 per pack. The Massachusetts tax is now $2.51 per package of 20 cigarettes or $25.10 per carton.

Monument will Move to Park

A new granite veterans Honor Roll will be erected in Memorial Park. The monument will replace the original honor roll, which is made of wood. The first monument has been moved to the Historical building for safekeeping and preservation.