GOOD NEWS

The BEST part of Tuesday was seeing how many people were voting at the Town Office at 9:30am and then even later around 4:30pm. In fact, I called the Eddington Town Office to see if I could get an official count of how many people voted (absentees included) and I am so pleased to report there were 1091 votes cast in Eddington. And there were even some new people registering that day, but it is estimated no more than 100 (and even THAT IS GREAT!) - What FANTASTIC news.

Granted, I wasn't all that happy with the results of many of the issues - but that is secondary to the fact that so many people came out and voted. Now, if we could just get a bunch of them back to regularly attend Selectmen meetings and School Board meetings.

Speaking of the School Board... Since school consolidation was not repealed, it's no wonder that Chairman Don Varnum has called for an Executive Meeting next Monday night following the Budget and Finance Committee meeting to discuss what needs to be done to form an RSU planning committee. One would think so. All the months since last June have been lost (and the work that could have been done) when people both on the Board and from the public have been asking for a committee to be formed to work on a back-up plan in case consolidation wasn't repealed. Even if the people had only come from Eddington, Clifton and Holden we would have been further ahead than we are now (because we can NOT just use the old RSU plan that was drafted a year ago. There were too many problems with that plan - not just that it included Brewer or the overall cost.).

We'll see what Mr. Varnum and Mr. Hart have in mind now.

But I doubt the voters and taxpayers will just fall in line if the price is unacceptable regardless of the state's "penalty". Maybe the bill should just be sent to Chairman Varnum as the cost of failing to provide any leadership. Wonder how Orrington and Dedham feel now? Maybe they've decided to form their own RSU and leave SAD 63 out of any of their discussion. And what about Otis? Otis was the only town that made it a specific point to come to a SAD 63 School Board meeting and asked to join with SAD 63. It sure would be nice if some of the parents who voted Tuesday would start to attend School Board meetings to see just what goes on (and what doesn't).

*******

Come by the Five Seasons Gift shop at the Clewley Farm Restaurant tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday between 9am and 2pm. I'll be working in the shop. There are some great seasonal gifts (Fall and Christmas). And you can get a great breakfast while you're at it in the restaurant.