Sunday, May 20, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own letter, click on the "start a blog" link on the homepage.
Dear Editor, Secure Communities is coming to Massachusetts thanks to the efforts of many of the local sheriff's departments and a grassroots movement by the citizens of this great Commonwealth. Secure Communities is a cooperative effort between Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency of the Federal government and the local law enforcement agencies of the state. A federal biometric information sharing capability developed by ICE allows a quick and accurate identification of aliens in law enforcement custody. The program started in 2008, has been adopted in 88% of the nation, and is responsible for removing over 135,000 convicted criminal aliens from the United Stated. Finally, it is being adopted in Massachusetts. It works like this - if…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, go to westford.patch.com/blog/apply or click on the "Start a blog" tab on the home page.
Dear Editor, In 2000, the Community Preservation Act (CPA) was signed into law creating a new program to allow Commonwealth cities and towns to preserve the unique characteristics of their communities. This law created a new mechanism through which the necessary funds could be raised and expended for the acquisition and preservation of open space, the creation of housing, and the funding of historic rehabilitation projects. These important funds are distributed to local communities through a combination of a small property tax surcharges and state matching grants. Pursuant to the program, each community determines their CPA projects through a local board, after the town has accepted the CPA by a vote of town meeting and approval of…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A few weeks ago, we covered a story on Westford Academy's new Mandarin language program. Today, we ask you what you think.
Today, we revisit an article that got alot of attention from Westford Patch readers when we first touched on it a few weeks ago: Westford Academy's new Mandarin language program. With several nearby school districts offering classes in the world's most spoken language, does Westford need to keep it to keep up? Does it need to be expanded to compete with other languages that are taught in Westford's Middle Schools? Or, should the program be reduced or eliminated entirely due to Westford's continuing budgetary concerns? Tell us what you think, Westford!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Today, we ask the Westford Patch community about their thoughts on how the problem of drugs should be addressed in town, or if it is a problem at all.
Earlier this month Westford Patch covered a seminar at the Nabnasset Country Club on the issue of drug use in Westford, a topic that has been a subject of heated debate among many readers here on Patch. Today, we ask you all a follow up question: what should be done, if anything, about drugs here in town? We'll be checking back here closely, so please follow the terms of service, or your comment might be deleted and your account may be suspended.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Market Basket joined 11 other supermarket chains in a voluntary disposable bag reduction effort with MassDEP
How many plastic grocery bags do you have in your house right now? Every time you buy anything, a plastic bag is most likely used. There are lots of problems with plastic bags. They litter our streets, waste natural resources, and can expose us to toxins. In 2007, the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) recognized this problem. Together they set a goal of a one-third reduction in the number of paper and plastic bags used by 2013. Over 500 grocery stores are members of the MFA, including Market Basket. This effort was voluntary in nature. The idea was to encourage people to bring reusable bags. From a flyer created by the two groups, the MFA members committed to: According to Keith…
Monday, May 7, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own letter to the editor, e-mail us at westford@patch.com
Dear Editor, Democratic U.S. Reps John Olver and Niki Tsongas on Thursday held a listening tour for the students and officials at Mount Wachusett Community College. What Olver did not say is that he voted for the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, knowing full well that the interest rate would revert in an election year. Tsongas had not been elected in September 2007. What they both failed to mention is that for the next three years, with the Democratic Party controlling the House and Senate, and for two years the White House as well? They did nothing to fix the return to the nominal interest rate of 6.8%. Why not? As taxpayers, we have increased our tax burden for Pell grant funding from $2.1 billion in 1980 to over $44.3 billion …
Monday, April 30, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own letter, e-mail us at westford@patch.com
Dear Editor, I want to extend my sincerest thanks to all those who supported keeping the Westford Farmers Market on the Common where I believe it belongs. "The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing that all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become..." ~ Lady Bird Johnson Sustainable Westford is working to connect the Westford community and beyond to the land and the environment. Working in partnership with members, volunteers and like minded organizations is at the heart of our work. I hope you will join us soon; whether that is sharing the bounty of fresh, locally grown, produce at our farmers market, or participating in one of our …
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own letter, e-mail westford@patch.com
- OPINION
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Saturday, April 28
To All Westford parents, I would like to encourage all parents of middle and high school students in Westford to attend the town hall meeting “Drugs and Alcohol, Does it Exist in Westford?” that the Westford Health Department and Westford Against Substance Abuse (W.A.S.A.) along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering on Tuesday, May 1st at the Nabnasset Country Club. I would also encourage Westford’s town manager, Jodi Ross, and the superintendent of our schools, Bill Olsen, to attend. The drug and alcohol problem among our teens is a town-wide, school system wide problem, not just a Westford Academy problem. Westford is no different than the surrounding communities; we have a drug/…
Saturday, April 14, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own letter, e-mail westford@patch.com
To the Editor: On Sunday, May 6th, Project Bread will celebrate the 2012 Walk for Hunger. The 20-mile route begins at the Boston Common and weaves through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown, to Cambridge. In the current economic crisis, this year’s Walk has never been more important. I witness the human cost of this crisis every day — families who are who are giving up food for medicine. I urge all Westford residents to take part in this important event that helps families right here in our town who struggle to put food on the table almost every day. Today in Massachusetts, over 700,000 people in Massachusetts do not have enough to eat. At the Westford Community Food Pantry we believe that good food is the foundation of good health…
Friday, April 13, 2012
The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own letter, e-mail westford@patch.com
Dear Editor, Thank you to all who contributed to our First Chipotle Fundraiser last week. It turned out to be very successful and loads of fun. First and foremost we want to whole heartedly thank Chipotle Mexican Grill for recognizing our organization's mission, efforts and strength and opening their doors to support us. That, in itself, is very important and meaningful to our organization. To the many supporters that came that night and waited patiently in a line of 20-30 people deep - that was awesome! To all the students that make up the Westford Academy WFM Team and Sustainable Westford volunteers who work this mission because it is fun, meaningful and a great bonding experience. It was a successful fundraiser and at …
Tom
12:23 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
The FPCU was provided $475,000 of CPA funds to expand their rental hall. more ›