6/28/07

I have lived in the area my entire life. (more or less)
This is where i grew up.

I remember when we still had an abundance of Cranberries that overflowed the
Ocean Spray plant.

Where is that now? No tax relief, that's where it is. Middleborough made the decision to take a big hit. It always has. I'd Like to say I'm against the Casino, but Money buys. It can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you tools to learn and grow. What we have now is an opportunity to give the town what it needs. Sure it may look like a wolf in sheep's clothing, but we as a town are severely lacking (financially) in several factions that we citizens often take for granted.

The police and fire department.

Do they really need all that new gear and new vehicles and more staff? Yes.

The school system.

We are running quite well aren't we? No. We are running on what we have (whichis not much) we could be running much better. Think of your children. And those of you who don't have children, or hate children, or those of you who only want your taxes to go someplace that involves you and not the entirety of the community, think of it like this; If we have optimal education in this town, these kids will grow up and give back to the town that has provided for them.
 

However, if they see that their town doesn't care for them, they will care for the town and grow up despising the town that created them and causing alarm for the rest of us (crime and such). Granted that's a big accusation it may not
be far from the truth. We need to educate and care for the children NOW so that we ALL have a brighter future for tomorrow.

The library.

See above.

Garbage disposal.

(Didn't think you'd see this one huh?) We are so lucky that we pay NOTHING for trash removal. It is one of the MANY reasons my family moved here in the first place. Without a good solid source of income, you may be handling your "crap" on your own.

Middleborough Parks Dept.

This is one that is nearest and Dearest to me because this is where i was every summer (Pierce playground). First I played there and learned how to swim and play sports. I learned how to be a better person by being there. It's not a
daycare center, but it is a place to bring children and watch them grow up. I worked there for 8 years after i did my growing up. I changed the lives of many children when i was there. I'd like to think that they too became better people
because of me as I became a better person because of the people before me. Every year Mr. Pickering fights to the death (metaphorically speaking of course) to get more money for this program that has been implemented for as long as anyone can remember. He fights every day of the year for this. This is his life. Why? Because he cares. I, too, care! We all should. we should be grateful there is a safe place to bring our children to watch them grow and to enjoy ourselves.

If you want I can break it all down.

Police/Fire Dept.: More $$ for staff, newer vehicles and equipment to help better our lifestyle and keep it safe. (although I draw the line at public surveillance.)

Library: $$ for more books, maybe a new wing. New computers and tools to better the community and to keep our own history documented and safe for future generations.

Park Dept.: $$ for Pool restoration, staffing, proper training, higher pay for grounds crew, new equipment, etc.

Trash Disposal: I think this one speaks for itself. unless i have to reiterate the fact that you might be living in your own trash in the future.

School system: $$ for more higher educated teachers, educational tools and new gen. equipment such as computers and other technological advances to come in the future.

All this comes down to is money we don't have.

Yes there are concerns about this Casino.

Does one person have all the answers? NO. But we can work together as a community to accomplish something better than what we have. Instead of belittling our rebirth we can help adapt it and advance it.

Let's push forward.

I am all for living in the woods. That's what I love. I just think we need to be up to par with the rest of the world so that we don't have to sell land to Wal-Mart. (that's something that would ruin us.)

J. T. Quake,
University of Massachusetts student

6/28/07

I have lived in Middleboro year round since 1983 and came seasonally since 1955 when the Woods Lake area was primarily summer residents and many of us didn’t even have telephones in our cottages back then.

 In these 50 years I have seen many, many changes to the Town, but I believe the introduction of the Casino represents nothing more than another step away from the sleepy little town it once was, and this is not a bad thing. Middleboro has seen significant growth since the opening of Route 495 and then the commuter rail. Property values have risen, land has been developed and change has just been a fact of life. Krazy days are gone and shopping malls are springing up all around us, Taunton, Plymouth and Wareham (under construction).

 I support the Casino as a revenue generating addition to our Middleboro. I fear that anything else constructed on this same property may not provide any revenue to the Town whatsoever.   

Thomas Morse

6/27/07

6/27/07

6/25/07

Although not directly related to the Casino, I happen to be reading Nathaniel Philbrick's "Mayflower", which is the history of the Pilgrims, and of course the Wamponoags figure heavily there.

For local folks, reading about incidents at places we pass by regularly is fascinating: for example, an  incident that likely was very important in the later King Philip's war took place at Monponsett Pond in Halifax.

This history probably isn't what you learned in school.  The Pilgrims and Puritans were intolerant and very nasty folk, not anyone most of us would like (unless you are a modern day version, of course). Philbrick isn't out to romanticize the Indians; they had their own
problems of greed and inter-tribal dissension that only added to the mess, but overall I come away liking their moral views a lot more than I liked our forefathers'.  One of my distant forbears happens to have been Elder Brewster, and I honestly can't say I feel any pride in that regard - he and I would NOT get along at all :-)

Anyway, good read, I recommend it.

Tony Lawrence

Response:

One of these days (when) the casino comes and the library is fully 
funded I expect they will increase their collection to include all 
the books about the Wampanoag and Pilgrims.
The library has two copies of "Mayflower" and I understand that  Middleboro is mentioned in it.

The library has just ordered and received every current book on Indian casinos and they are 
being processed this week and should be in circulation next week.
 

This is your library working for you. Let's all remember that it is operating on a bit less than a reduced budget of 10% this year and that unless the resort casino brings an infusion of cash to the coffers of Middleboro the library and other quality of life services will continue to be cut.
 

6/21/07

I just wanted to say I was born here in 1971 and we moved away (only one town). I am now back. I have been here for the last 7 years. I think we need some excitement around this "one horse town". There is nothing to do for miles that we haven't done 100 times!!! I would rather drive 5 min. Instead of 2 hours and I'd rather spend my hard earned money in my own town than spend it in another state!!!!

I hope this happens!!!!!!!!

6/21/07

Route 24 is the road I have to use to get to and from work every work day. (Fall River to Canton). I have been making this circuit for 10 years now and there really aren’t any practical alternative routes.

Rt24, in my opinion, handles a maximum capacity right now. I have found the Rt. 44 exit area, in both directions, to be a bottleneck area at least once a week. Although it is not the worse part of the highway for traffic problems, (that distinction goes to the rt495 and exit 18 areas), I still fear that the additional traffic the casino would create will really tick me off on a regular basis.

I am not looking forward to deal with the merging pissed-off drunks in the morning and the drop off for a “few pulls and hands crowd” in the evening. I go to Foxwoods occasionally so I am not totally against casinos, but unlike Middleboro, Foxwoods is isolated and have many more access roads, not to mention rt 95 is a much more robust corridor.

 My questions are:

1. Will there be additional exits added to rt 24?
2. Will rt 24 be improved?
3. Will police step up efforts to crack down on drunk driving in the area?
4. Will my wife feed me anymore after getting home “casino traffic cranky”

 How I vote if and when the issue reaches the state wide ballots, may be determined by the answers to the above questions.

Regards,

Ed Schill

Response: We can't answer your first three questions, but we suggest you submit them to the Casino Study Committee on the attached form. Committee member Eric Cederholm is going to be looking into the traffic impact of a casino. You can drop these off at Town Hall or the Library. Our resident shrink (me) can discuss your fourth concern with your wife, and I'd be happy to do so waiving my usual outrageous fee as appreciate for the rare bit of humor  during this controversy.

6/20/07

To Casino-Friend:

I'll probably be able to see this thing from my front yard, but I'm
all in favor of this.

First, the tribe deserves it.

Second. the town needs the money.  The deal is fair, let's do it.

--
Tony Lawrence

6/20/07

To Casino-Friend:

Sincerely,

6/19/07

Hi

I am totally for the Casino. I think it would be a huge BENEFIT for the town. I really hope the tribe has a little patience for the contract to be hammered out.

My question is what is the "time line" for the selectman to accept, reject or counter offer?

Donna Asbury
Middleboro Voter

Response: The time line as far as the Mashpee Wampanoag is unknown to us, although they have made it clear that they want the decision to be made in a matter of weeks, not months.