Ben Rabin | WSPN

Senior Guy Efrat was born in Israel but his time living in the United States has given him a unique perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Palestine and Israel’s feud is perhaps the most divisive conflict in the Middle East since Israel’s creation. Despite several brief intervals of peace, the two sides have been unable to find a permanent solution to the border dispute.

Senior Guy Efrat is growing up a part of the conflict on another continent. Efrat, born in Israel, moved to Wayland in 2000. His view on the conflict has been influenced not only by his relatives in Israel, but also by the American culture he has become a part of over the past 12 years.

At least once each year, Efrat travels to Israel to stay with relatives. Like many Americans, he says his family and Israeli friends are divided on the conflict.

“My relatives have mixed opinions on the conflict. Some believe that the land belongs to Israel as it did 2,000 years ago. Others believe that it’s important that we just share the land with the Palestinians,” Efrat said.

Efrat agrees sharing the land is the best solution. However, in order to do this, he believes Israelis and Palestinians need to forget about their religious differences.

“I realize [Israel is] the only place in the world that is dominated by Jewish culture, but in this case I think religion should be set aside,” said Efrat. “It’s more important to protect the lives of not only Israelis, but also Palestinians who may be harmed.”

From living in the U.S, Efrat has learned to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict differently from Israelis.

“I’ve learned from living in America that you always have to look at the other side,” Efrat said. “[I have to] look at the conflict not just from an Israeli perspective, but also from a Palestinian perspective.”

Although he plans to attend college in the United States, Efrat is still strongly considering joining the Israeli army afterwards. Israeli citizens are required to serve in the army after high school and both Efrat’s mother and father served in the army. However, since Efrat does not live in Israel and is an American citizen, he has the option to skip army duty.

“My parents have talked to me a lot, and they tell me it’s my choice, but I feel like it’s very important for me as an Israeli citizen to follow the steps of the many before me,” said Efrat. “Israel is always at war; it’s something that I want to try to stop.”

Efrat has maintained a strong connection to Israeli culture through his family and friends as well as the Israel Scouts organization. He has been a member of the organization for five years. As a counselor, he leads group activities aimed to promote Israeli culture and strengthen the Israeli youth community. Efrat says they discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict occasionally.

“We discuss the conflict usually on holidays like Yom Ha’atzmaut, which is Israeli Independence Day. We ask questions like, ‘Who do you think is right?’ or ‘What kind of solution could work?’” Efrat said.

Despite Israel’s ongoing tension with Palestine, Efrat says he’s not concerned about Israel’s future. He simply hopes that the two sides can find an agreement.

“Some people think peace is impossible,” said Efrat. “That’s the bigger question we [have to] ask: is it possible?”

Matthew Gutschenritter | WSPN

Ed Collins (left) and Douglas Leard (right) won the two open seats on the Board of Selectmen.

Candidates Doug Leard and Ed Collins won the two open seats on the Board of Selectmen after the votes from the April 3 election were tallied.

Leard received 1048 votes and Collins received 931.

The other candidates, Susan Pope and Chris Brown, received 885 and 782 votes respectively. There were 248 blank votes and 2 write-ins.

Leard spent six years on the Board of Selectmen from 2003-2009. He and Collins were each elected for three-year terms.

Out of 9,008 eligible voters in Wayland, 1948 votes were cast.

To find out more about the candidates, read the summary of last week’s WSPN-hosted debate.

Allison Wei

From left to right, candidates Chris Brown, Ed Collins, Susan Pope and Douglas Leard.

Thursday, March 29, WSPN hosted a debate at Wayland High School for the selectman candidates. All four candidates, Chris Brown, Ed Collins, Douglas Leard and Susan Pope, participated.

During the debate, the student moderators, junior Caitlin O’Keeffe, senior Ben Rabin and junior Kruti Vora asked the candidates questions about issues affecting the town of Wayland. The questions focused on warrant articles for the upcoming Town Meeting. Each candidate was given two minutes to respond to each question.

One issue the candidates addressed was Article 4: Amend Town Section 19: Elect Finance Committee.

Pope and Brown agreed that continuing to have the town’s selectmen appoint the Finance Committee will result in a more qualified committee.

“It is a sharp learning curve to be on the Finance Committee,” said Pope. “[Selectmen] make sure members have expertise in finance.”

Collins believes that an elected Finance Committee provides more options.

“The real point of the article is not to get rid of people, but to look for a variety in views, and add some openness to the positions that we’re advocating,” Collins said.

Leard would also like to explore different ways of selecting the Finance Committee, including election or potentially having them appointed by the Moderator.

The candidates also discussed their opinions on Article 17: Accept Law Allowing Increased Real Estate Tax Exemption Amounts.

Leard and Collins oppose the article, claiming that similarly to last fall, Wayland still has enough free cash to avoid greatly raising tax rates.

“The free cash came from over-taxing you in the first place,” said Collins.

Ally Toto

Candidate Douglas Leard.

“I need to see budget efficiency before we do anything with taxes,” said Leard. “As a realtor, I see too many people here who have to sell their homes because they can’t afford to live in town anymore; that hurts.”

Pope and Brown support the article. Brown explained that Wayland’s “free cash” is a non-renewable source, and that we need an increase in taxes to maintain our town services. Pope also reminded the audience that Wayland’s taxes are residentially, not commercially, based.

“Using free cash to fund ongoing operations is an unsustainable model,” Brown said. “[Once we are out of free cash], we’re going to have to  have very difficult conversations about the programs we’re going to cut. Are we going to cut from the school programs, police, fire department, the library? I don’t want to have those conversations; I want to lay out a long-term budget plan that helps us maintain our services.”

Ally Toto

Candidate Chris Brown.

An issue all the candidates agree upon is Article 12: Appropriate fund for Construction Documents and Bidding of New Department of Public Works (DPW) Maintenance and Storage Facility. All candidates believe that the current DPW, especially the garage, is inadequate. They believe that a new DPW, potentially on River Road, is necessary.

“Our current facility is so old, we don’t have records to when it was built,” said Brown.

“We do need a new DPW, the one we have is in deplorable condition. I would hope that the town does some adequate testing for methane gas,” Leard said.

In their closing statements, each of the candidates summarized the issues that are most important to their campaign.

Brown supports long-term budget plans, as opposed to politically popular, short-term decisions. He also feels it is important to address the senior housing project and the town center. His goals are to avoid cutting services, and to save funds to help maintain Wayland’s character, such as by purchasing Mainstone farm if and when it is sold.

“I want the board to develop a long-term strategy where we can keep all of our outstanding services, and still continue to enjoy our semi-rural way of life. Selectmen have the obligation to the town to look out for the town’s long term interests,” said Brown.

Collins’ priorities include improving Wayland’s water quality and lowering its charges, decreasing tax rates and addressing a surplus in free cash funds.

Ally Toto

Candidate Ed Collins.

“The tax rate is related to the over-collection of funds from excessive real-estate taxes, and also from water charges; there’s a 3.4 million dollar surplus in that fund. It affects the tax rate. Whether we fund projects now, by using free cash recklessly, has a real impact on who’s going to pay for those projects,” Collins said.

Pope emphasized her goals to make positive change in Wayland by supporting several new projects. Pope is also proud to support Wayland’s services, particularly the school system, and she hopes to maintain the conservation land that makes Wayland unique.

“Wayland is facing many issues in opportunities, whether it be rental units for senior citizens, a bike trail, changing town government as we know it, a new senior center, the library, or the town center finally under construction,” said Pope. “I would be able to work for positive changes in Wayland.”

Ally Toto

Candidate Susan Pope.

“If a topic was discussed repeatedly at town boards and committee meetings, Wayland residents should be informed,” Leard said. “It’s important that the town communicates outside the Town Building walls; we’re all residents.”

The a recording of the debate will be available to watch on WAYCAM.

The election will be held Tuesday, April 3.

State Representative Tom Conroy visited Wayland High School during Winter Week to discuss issues relevant to the student body. (Credit: Ben Rabin/WSPN)

This Winter Week, Tom Conroy, the State Representative for Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury, came to Wayland High School to discuss issues relevant to students.

Students engaged in an open forum with Conroy, similar to what he said goes on in the Massachusetts State House. Conroy encouraged students to speak, asking questions, rather than giving his own opinions.

“I wanted to talk about what you are interested in today,” Conroy said. “The fun part for me is when this is interactive.”

Conroy introduced topics that the state legislature has recently debated, hoping to receive a response from students. Among these were the Massachusetts driving age, the age when kids can drop out of school, online shopping and Facebook privacy issues.

After briefly providing background information, Conroy opened the floor to students.

“There is a movement [in the State House] to increase the driving age from 16 to 17,” Conroy said. “The percentage of auto accidents that occur by 16, 17 and 18-year-olds compared to when people who are 35, 50 or 60 … is higher in [teenagers].”

“I think new drivers, no matter what age they’re at, are going to get into more accidents,” said senior Elena Drews.

Conroy asked students whether they believed the state should require kids to remain in school until the age of 18.

“Do we want to allow kids, through law, to just walk away from their education and the hopes of a better future and better opportunities, or do we want to mandate and enforce that by keeping them in high school until they get a diploma or at least they turn 18?” Conroy said.

Conroy served more as a debate moderator than a politician during the discussion. He offered both sides of an issue, allowing students to form opinions on their own. Students of varying ages responded to the issues, making for a lively discussion.

Conroy has served as State Representative since 2006. He entered the United States Senate Race, hoping to defeat incumbent Republican Scott Brown in 2012. However, he withdrew from the race in December of 2011.

Conroy told students he enjoys working on the state level of government because of the myriad of topics he gets to work with.

“I actually enjoy [working in state government] because you have to work on local issues and understand what’s going on in the community like in Wayland,” said Conroy. “You also get to work on federal issues, the big picture stuff, not just Wayland, not just Massachusetts, sometimes not just the United States, but the whole world.”

Miss an event from Winter Week 2012? WSPN’s got it covered.

Romney has been criticized recently for changing his position on various controversial issues. (Credit: CC/Flickr nmfbihop)

In recent weeks, the direction of the Republican primaries has become ever more clear. Michele Bachmann, John Huntsman and Rick Perry have all dropped out and only Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum remain.

Paul, a candidate promising to end all foreign aid and curl the United States back up into its isolationist shell while cutting an incredible five federal departments, has amazingly finished strong in both Iowa and New Hampshire, with respectable showings in South Carolina and Florida. Despite his political agenda, I admire Dr. Paul because he has remained loyal to his principles regardless of how absurd they seem.

Rick Santorum has also fared well apparently because he represents the “average American” born from a family of coal miners. Listening to Santorum compare gay marriage to a paper towel would seemingly scare away voters, but it hasn’t.

On the other hand, Gingrich seems to have dedicated his campaign to barraging Romney with negative advertisements. Judging by his finish in Florida, it doesn’t look like Newt’s strategy is working.

That brings us to the Grand Old Party’s front-runner: Mitt.

After winning in Iowa (at first, anyway), New Hampshire and Florida, Mitt has become the primary target for negative advertisements from other Republican candidates like Gingrich and Paul. Romney is criticized for his constantly changing political agenda – otherwise known as “flip-flopping.” Desperate to appeal to conservative voters, Romney has abandoned the moderate rhetoric that won him the gubernatorial election in Massachusetts in 2003.

For Pete’s sake, Mitt, we know you’re running for office, but you can’t just flip your position on every single issue to get people to like you. This ‘adaptive’ strategy should keep you, Mr. Romney, out of the oval office.

On our nation’s most controversial issues, Romney has repeatedly changed his position.

Let’s focus on abortion. During the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial race, Romney said in a debate: “I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose.” In a historically liberal state like Massachusetts, a statement like Romney’s would appeal to voters.

Romney clearly did not realize though, that he would run for president years later and that conservative Americans would not be pleased with his stance on abortion. In recent years, Romney has become an opponent of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case that allows women to have abortions.

Romney’s “Pro-Life Pledge” states, “I am pro-life and believe that abortion should be limited to only instances of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother … I support the reversal of Roe v. Wade. …”

To defend his changing opinion, Romney argues that abortion was a philosophical issue when he ran for governor, but when he became governor and was presented with real pro-choice legislature, he was forced to switch sides. This argument seems reasonable for a high school vice president but not quite for a governor of Massachusetts.

How can we believe that Romney will follow through with the promises he’s made during his presidential campaign?

Personally, I wouldn’t mind if Romney changed back to his previous political rhetoric like supporting abortion and gay rights and acknowledging the realities of global warming. What concerns me more is that Romney seems to lack principles. He has not maintained the same position throughout his political career, and there’s no evidence to show that he won’t continue to flip-flop.

Changing one’s position on a controversial topic isn’t necessarily a tragedy. However, Romney has done so on almost every issue (research for yourself). It seems he is willing to forgo any principles he had as a governor to win the nomination and eventually the general election in November.

For this reason, we cannot elect Mitt Romney.

Active WayCAM participant Evan Barber awaits the fate of Article 5 at the Special Town Meeting. (Credit: David Ryan/WSPN)

Voters at the Special Town Meeting Tuesday night voted unanimously to approve Article 5, providing WayCAM - Wayland’s community access channel – with space in the new high school, which is currently under construction.

WayCAM records and broadcasts local events with the help of students at WHS who take the TV production elective. The organization is currently housed in the administrative building of the high school, but was not allocated space in the design of the new high school.

Article 5, which was approved by a voice vote, transferred control of the weight room in the field house (currently nicknamed “The House of Pain”) to the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of leasing the room. The field house is to be closed for renovation in the spring of 2011, and remain as the main athletic facility on the new campus. The Selectmen will decide who could best use the room and is expected to lease the room to WayCAM.

Voters also chose to pass over Article 6, which asked the town to allocate $130,000 to the town for the purpose of buying Sudbury’s share of the joint septage facility. Sudbury residents had already authorized the sale of their portion of the facility.

Wayland residents attacked the proposal for alleged lack of planning and for potential liabilities. Voters expressed concern about hazardous materials that could be on Sudbury’s parcel of land, potential worker liabilities, and the fact that Sudbury would not have to help pay for demolition if their stake was bought out.

Wayland residents consult their warrant at the Special Town Meeting. (Credit: David Ryan/WSPN)

Voters also allocated $6,000 from the Community Preservation Fund to renovate to Voke’s Theatre, and $40,000 for appraisal of Mainstone Farm. Appraising Mainstone Farm is the first step in the process for approving the land as a town conservation area.

The longest and most complex article of the night, Article 11, was rejected by town residents. The article would have amended the zoning bylaw to make it “consistent and well-written,” in the words of the Planning Board. Voters argued that they did not have enough time to consider the 50-page article.

Additionally, a stricter set of energy codes was adopted as a bylaw, making Wayland eligible for select state grants.

Finally, the town also approved Article 15, allowing the Mass Highway Department to begin construction of a new Pelham Island Bridge at no cost to the town. The current bridge is one-lane wide.

Town residents will convene again in the spring for the Annual Town Meeting.

Wayland High School graduate James Henderson is running for Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Credit: Basil Halperin/WSPN)

It was his freshman year of high school, and despite being the new kid – he had just skipped a grade after moving back to Wayland – James Henderson was running for class president.

He didn’t stand much of a chance.

“Let’s get real, it’s a popularity contest,” said Henderson, a 1983 Wayland High grad. “What were the issues?”

Though Henderson lost that student government election, he has put his name back on the ballot 30 years later, making an independent run for the statewide office of Secretary of the Commonwealth. He’s hoping he’ll have better luck at the polls this time, as he campaigns on how he would improve the position that he calls the “chief information officer” of the state.

On November 2, voters across the state will cast ballots in several statewide races, most notably in the contentious governor’s race. Other, less well-known offices will be filled as well, including that of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Citizens will be asked to choose between Democratic incumbent William Galvin, Republican Bill Campbell, and independent Henderson.

The office of Secretary of the Commonwealth, occupied by William Galvin since 1994, is not one of the most visible. “It’s interesting and it’s sad that so many people in this state don’t know about the office,” says Henderson. “Interestingly enough, the office is actually third in line for leadership of the state.”

The position deals with a broad range of issues, from overseeing state elections, to regulating lobbyists and businesses, to making any state government-related data available to the general public.

Henderson is sharply critical of the way Galvin has carried out these functions and equally as condemning in his attacks on Galvin as a candidate.

“We’re in a little different era than we were in 1994 [when Galvin was elected]. We need someone in the office who recognizes that,” Henderson said, adding that the Secretary’s website was lasted revamped a decade ago.

Henderson, a lawyer with a law degree from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree from Princeton, also attacks Galvin for refusing to debate this election season.

“I find interesting that the person who is running the very engine of our democracy is himself refusing to participate in the most basic of campaign obligations, which is debating your opponents, letting people know where you stand,” Henderson said.

“I think it’s indicative of the way he runs that office,” he added.

More generally, Henderson says that if he were Secretary, he would aim to make the office better at sharing state data with the public and at using newer technology. “The office has stagnated, and you do not see a lot of progress,” he said.

Knowledge of new technology, he believes, is crucial to the position of Secretary of the Commonwealth. “If you’re talking about someone who’s handling information for the state and on behalf of the people of the state,” Henderson said, “that person has to have a technical background as well, to be able to truly operate that office the way it should be run in the 21st century.”

Henderson, a self-described “technology guy,” has previously worked for Apple. On his campaign website, the father of two has himself coded a tool to find one’s polling station by using free, open-source technology from Google.

If elected, Henderson plans to transform the State Database into an easy-to-use website that is readily available to the people of Massachusetts. “If government is not accessible on your cellphone, then you’re not going to be accessible to the people who are using them,” Henderson said.

Henderson believes that by making state government information more accessible, voter turnout will increase, and a greater number of people in the state will become involved with the state legislature.

Henderson has also put forth numerous ideas during his campaign to increase voter turnout. One idea is to adopt a “ranked choice” voting system – a system used in various cities in California. Under the policy, voters could rank candidates in order of preference, instead of voting for one candidate alone.

“It allows the voter to go vote for who they really want without being concerned that they’re going to elect a person they’re going to dislike and actually encourages more candidates to run for office,” he said of the idea.

A change that dramatic would require approval by the state legislature. Henderson believes that, if elected, he could help pass such a law. “If you have someone like me in the office, who would go and advocate for this, there’s a far greater chance it would happen,” he said.

According to Henderson, this can be done cheaply, often with free open-source software.

Despite the fact that the Stowe native is running without the institutional backing of one of the two major political parties, he believes it’s possible that he could win.

“I hear a very strong anti-incumbency attitude out there amongst the electorate. If there was ever a year for someone like me who could go out and provide a smart, cogent argument without flying a party banner, this is the year,” he said.

Candidate supporters outside Wayland Town Hall on election day. (Credit: Basil Halperin / WSPN)

Voters went to the polls across the state on Tuesday to cast their ballots in this election season’s primaries. With nominees already decided in the high-profile governor’s race, turnout was low.

Primary elections, which typically see fewer voters turnout than general elections do, decide who will be each party’s nominees in the general election in November.

Out of nearly 9000 eligible voters across town, less than 1200 citizens voted.

Nominees had already been decided in the gubernatorial election. Wayland’s incumbent state representative Tom Conroy and state senator Richard Ross also ran unopposed in their respective races.

Party nominations were up for grabs in the state auditor and state treasurer race. Suzanne Bump and Mary Connaughton won the Democratic and Republican nominations, respectively, for auditor. Democrat Steve Grossman will be his party’s nominee for Treasurer.

At the federal level, Jon Golnik, a Carlisle businessman, won the Republican nod over three other Republican candidates to run head-to-head against incumbent Fifth District Democratic Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, who represents three out of four Wayland precincts. Golnik received just over 50% of the Republican vote in Wayland.

Republican Gerry Dembrowski took the Republican nomination in the Seventh District over competitor Tom Tierney to run against Democratic Congressman Ed Markey, who represents one of Wayland’s four precincts. Tierney, however, won the votes of 60% of Wayland Republicans.

There will be no Senate election in Massachusetts this year.

A view of the empty Massachusetts Senate chamber. (Credit: CC Flickr user Plutor)

Last Tuesday, Wayland voters went to the polls to vote on several candidates for local offices, as well as for one of two candidates in a special election to fill the empty Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex district state Senate seat. In the state Senate election, Republican Richard Ross, a state representative and funeral home owner from Wrentham, defeated Democrat Peter Smulowitz, a physician from Needham, 62% to 38%.

However, Smulowitz garnered 59% of the vote in Wayland.

A variety of factors may have caused Richard Ross’s victory. The Democratic primary between Smulowitz and his opponent Needham state Rep. Lida Harkins turned bitter, with Smulowitz accusing Harkins of ethical violations and Harkins dismissing Smulowitz as engaging in “gutter politics”. While Smulowitz ultimately beat Harkins, he may have alienated some of her supporters.

In addition, many recent polls have shown the state and the country trending more conservative in the upcoming November elections. Historically, midterm elections after a president’s first election are bad for the incumbent party.

Ross’s district has a slightly conservative bent compared to the rest of Massachusetts – Scott Brown won re-election in 2008 by a 59%-41% margin. This victory allows the Republicans to retain a seat rather than gain one. If Smulowitz had won, it would have only changed the make-up of the state from an overwhelming 35-5 Democratic majority to a 36-4 majority.

The districts Ross will now represent include the communities of Millis, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, and Wrentham, and includes portions of Attleboro, Franklin, Natick, and Wellesley. It is a thin area that starts in the suburbs of Boston and extends down to the Rhode Island border.

The state Senate seat was previously held by another Republican, Scott Brown. Brown defeated Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley, the presumptive favorite, in a January vote to fill Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat, in a major upset. Brown only took a lead in the race in the last week of the campaign, and his victory shocked political analysts nationwide.

Ross and Smulowitz may face one another again this fall, if Smulowitz chooses to run again, as the seat will again be up for a vote.

A Wayland resident speaks in support for a motion at Town Meeting on May 13th. (Credit: Elizabeth Doyon/WSPN)

Wayland’s annual Town Meeting got off to a slow start on Thursday evening. Slightly over 300 town citizens debated well into the night the merits and faults of the town omnibus budget, several amendments, and four other articles.

After the approval of three standard articles that recognized town employees with distinguished service, allowed reports commissioned by the town to be heard, and chose several town officers, debate arose during a discussion over Article 4, Current Year Transfers. The article requested that the town spend $165,000 to pay current year (Fiscal Year 2010) expenses that were not appropriated for at last year’s town meeting.

While the $50,000 for snow removal and $20,000 for unexpected special elections faced no controversies, the $95,000 aimed for the town council attracted more attention. According to town administrator Fred Turkington, roughly $10,000 of this fund would be used for labor contract negotiations, $20,000 for the town cable channel, and, most controversially, approximately $62,000 to pay for litigation in response to flooding at the town safety building.

Anette Lewis made a motion that the $95,000 in funding for the town counsel be struck from the article, causing a vigorous debate.

After a voice vote on the motion that was too close to be clear, the debate went to a counted vote. The motion failed by just seven votes, 150 in favor and 157 against. The article was then approved as a whole, with the $95,000 included.

Wayland resident and Town Meeting moderator Peter Gossels providing direction on Thursday night. (Credit: Elizabeth Doyon/WSPN)

The rest of the night was spent debating the Article 5, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget. The first motion to the budget would have prevented $500,000 worth of water surplus from being used to pay for the general budget. However, as the chairman of the Finance Committee, Sam Peper, explained, the move was just for budgetary purposes, and the motion failed.

Two further motions came with line item 43, the school budget. The first amendment proposed that the school budget be raised by $18,824, so that an arts position at the high school would not be cut; the second proposed increasing the size of the school budget. Both motions failed.

However, the lengthiest debate came with the capital budget. Margo Melnicove proposed several motions to cut every line item that was debt exempt: money for building repairs, a new bath house for the town beach, a new street sweeper, paving North Cemetery road, field renovations, a Greenways feasibility study, and a senior center feasibility study.

Only two of the motions passed. The $570,000 for the new town beach bath house was cut by a voice vote, despite protests from the Board of Recreation. The $75,000 for paving North Cemetery Rd was also cut, after Board of Public Works Chairman Eric Knapp moved to withdraw the line item.

The final item cut was $625,000 for a network meters reading system, a removal proposed by Peggy Patton. Concerns over cost and radiation brought down the funding. Town officials, however, promised that the radiation would be far less than that from a cellphone and that the cost would be more than made up by efficiencies (e.g. the reduced need for water meter readers).

According to Town Meeting regulations, the Town Meeting is adjourned at 10:30, after a vote over the article being debated has ended. However, due to the lengthy nature of the omnibus budget article, Town Meeting did not actually adjourn until 11:45, when Selectman Joe Nolan moved to adjourn.

Even then, the debate over the capital budget was not finished.The debate will continue when Town Meeting resumes on Monday, May 17th.

Correction

Anette Lewis made a motion to strike $95,000 in funding for the town counsel, not the town council.

The proposed location of the Rec. Center as seen from Google StreetView and Satellite views. (Credit: Google Inc. and Mass. GIS)

See full-size image of the location »

Town citizens will pile into the high school field house on May 13 for Wayland’s annual town meeting. One proposal that is shaping up to be one of the most controversial is Article 25, Transfer and Lease the Recreation Portion of the Loker Conservation and Recreation Area.

If voters approve the article by the necessary two-thirds majority, the deed to the Loker Conservation area would be transferred from the Recreation Commission to the Board of Selectmen, who would then lease the land for the construction of a town recreation center.

The article asks voters to approve three steps. The first step permits the Recreation Commission to transfer the parcel of land to the Board of Selectmen, who are empowered by town law to lease town land. The second step would allow the Selectmen to in turn transfer the property to “an entity”  that must build a recreation facility as approved by both the Recreation Commission and the Selectmen. Finally, the third step requires that when the facility is completed, the land will be leased back for use by the Recreation Commission.

If the article is passed, the town will request construction proposals from interested builders, get a permit, and then lease the land to a selected developer.

The land, located at 412 Commonwealth Road (Route 30), was purchased by the town of Wayland in 2000 for $1.7 million. It was designated a recreation and conservation area at a town meeting in 2004.

See the location on Google Maps »

Objectors point to a number of consequences. Major controversy  surrounds the fact that the recreation center would be built on an area which was owned by the Dow Chemical Company for nearly 30 years. From 1995 to 2001, nine children were diagnosed with brain cancer in Weston and Wayland after living and playing near the former Dow site.

Since then, the site has been cleaned up by officials from the Dow Chemical Company, sent by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP). The procedures included the removal of over 13,000 tons of soil, according to 30REC, a pro-recreation center non-profit group.

Some, however, still fear traces of harmful substances, though the MA DEP stated that the site has “no significant risk to human health, public safety, welfare or the environment.”

Other recreation center opponents also point to the possibility of increased traffic. ”Objections have been raised by some living in the area that traffic surrounding and nearby roads could become much worse as a result of any development,” reads the town warrant.

Another issue is that the recreation center would be built on land that is rich in wildlife. Opponents worry that the construction process would harm wildlife. There are also three small ponds on the property, and although the center will be built around them, there is some fear that damage could still occur.

Junior Swathi Sivasubramanian agreed, saying, “I don’t want it because the area is pretty as it is. Why do we need a recreation center?”

Others are concerned that the abundance of animals and plants could harm the recreation center.

Supporters of the recreation center include officers from the Wayland Boosters, Wayland Baseball and Softball Association, Wayland Youth Lacrosse, Wayland-Weston Pop Warner Football, Wayland Hockey Association, Wayland Youth Basketball Association, and the Wayland Soccer Association. Many boards of these clubs have also expressed approval.

According to the petitioners’ comments from Article 25, Wayland lacks adequate indoor and outdoor recreation facilities to meet the needs of the town’s many sports programs.

“It would be a great asset to our community to have fields,” said WHS softball coach and elementary school teacher Alison Herstine.

“I think that it’s a very good idea because there’s really nothing to do except for Longfellow’s,” said freshman Samantha Belzer. “Now we can get active.”

Athletes at Wayland High School also have high hopes for the recreation center and look forward to the possibility of an indoor ice skating rink and full-size multi-sport playing fields. The recreation center will also feature indoor exercise equipment and exposure to nearby trails.

“I think having a rink in town would be huge for me because it takes 45 minutes to get to our rink now,” said WHS hockey captain Evan Barber. “Other teams get two hours [of practice] every day instead of 50 minutes. [With the recreation center] we would have time to do homework before practice rather than staying up all night doing work.”

Supporters also promise financial viability and revenue for the town. 30REC believes that no new or existing town funds would be used to build or operate the facility and that the center would actually create tens of thousands of dollars of new revenue.

According to the group, Wayland could expect $50,000 to $100,000 a year in lease, rent, and tax payments, in the range of revenue brought in by similar facilities in neighbor towns like Natick and Bedford.

The Recreation Commission has taken no position on the article after a tie vote, but the Finance Committee has expressed its approval in a 5-1 vote.

UPDATE: 30REC announced on May 10 that it would delay the Recreation Center article until the fall due to a busy agenda at this spring’s town meeting. Before the fall vote, the group will appoint a committee to begin work on Request for Proposals, conduct public forums on the proposal, and begin discussions with potential users of the rec center. According to the press release, “Because the busy agenda for the Town Meeting beginning this week will likely push the Rec Center article to a third night when attendance is typically light, the petitioners will bring up the article again at the fall meeting when many more citizens will be present.”

Article 22 would proposes an electronic voting system for town meetings, using devices similar to this voting remote, which is used at the high school. (Credit: Jake Adelman / WSPN)

The town meeting has been a traditional part of Wayland town government for hundreds of years, going back to Wayland’s first town meeting in 1640, when Wayland was a part of Sudbury. Now, a new proposal would bring electronic voting to the Wayland town meeting, modernizing a unique tradition.

Article 22, Electronic Voting at Town Meeting, would give town residents the ability to vote on proposals at town meetings via handheld electronic devices. If the article is approved at the May 10 meeting by a simple majority, the system would be put to use at the annual town meeting in 2011.

ARTICLE 22: ELECTRONIC VOTING AT TOWN MEETING

Proposed by: Petitioners
Estimated Cost: $150,000

To determine whether the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to be expended by the Board of Selectmen for the procurement of a system, including all software and hardware, to enable electronic voting by individuals using wireless handheld mobile devices at future town meetings, beginning with the 2011 annual town meeting; and to determine whether such appropriation shall be provided by taxation, by transfer from un-appropriated funds, by transfer of funds already appropriated for another purpose, by grants received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or Federal Government, by borrowing or otherwise.

Under the proposed system, voters would use wireless keypads, distributed to all eligible voters at the beginning of the meeting, to submit their votes. When articles come up for a vote, the moderator would tell voters what buttons to press for approval, denial, or undecided. Voters would then be given one minute to make a decision. Votes would then be tallied by a computer, which could display whether or not the article passes.

Westwood, a nearby municipality, is also considering electronic voting at their town meeting.

Alan Reiss, a former selectman, is the lead petitioner of the article. Reiss originally conceived of the idea while on the Board of Selectmen after a Wayland High School student sent him a letter suggesting town residents vote by cellphone.

Last November’s town meeting “debacle,” in the words of Reiss, especially strengthened his conviction. He, along with many other town residents, were frustrated at the amount of time it took to count votes, count them accurately, and the amount of social pressure that came with an open standing vote.

“Town meeting crushes under its own weight because of the inability to count votes,” Reiss said. “Town meeting is broken.”

During the November vote on funding for the new high school, those voting against the new high school were vastly outnumbered and left standing up in front of the entire town. This is when social pressure came into play, according to Reiss. Electronic voting, Reiss believes, would solve this problem by making votes secret and independent.

Reiss also points to the fact that citizens have a secret ballot in state and national elections.

“Why should we get privacy at the polls, but not at town meeting?” he asked.

Some have attacked the cost of the proposal, which is about $145,000 for 2,000 key pad transmitters and other hardware, according to Reiss. However, the former selectman says that money will actually be saved if voting is expedited, and there is less of a need for multiple days of town meeting.

Each night of town meeting can cost the town as much as $12,000 not to mention personal extras, like the cost of a baby sitter for a voter with children.

However, the Finance Committee’s comments in the town warrant state that it believes the cost is actually about 20% higher, at $178,900. A further $11,600 would be required, FinCom says, to maintain the system each year. This would require increasing the Town’s annual operating budget or cutting budget dollars in other areas.

Because of this, the Finance Committee expressed disapproval in a committee vote, 6-0. It instead recommended that a pilot program be approved to test the technology and see if lower pricing is available.

Reiss, however, believes the benefits outweigh the costs. “The proposal is finally taking something from the 17th century and adding 21st century technology to it, letting it thrive for years on,” he said.

The town warrant, detailing all proposed articles, was mailed out to all town residents prior to the May 13 town meeting. (Credit: Basil Halperin / WSPN)

The annual Wayland Town Meeting will take place on May 13th. Forty articles are included in the warrant released by the town, and will be under consideration during the meeting.

Here are five of the most important articles to look for :

Article 6 (Independent Review of Town and School Budget Process):

This article proposes the creation of an independent review of the town’s budget, with special attention given to the school budget, to which a large portion of the town’s finances go. The point of this review would be to “discover inefficiencies, redundancies, etc. that could lead to cost savings for the town,” according to the article.

This review would cover both the allocation of funds and the budgeting process as a whole. The reviewers would then determine whether a full audit is required. This article comes after the town budget cuts earlier this year. The budget will also be voted on at Town Meeting.

Article 15 (Transfer and Restrict Use of Certain Town-Owned Land for Septic Purposes and Conservation Purposes)

If this article is passed, land in Dudley Woods would be designated for two purposes, and future use of the land would be restricted. One parcel of land would be transferred to the Conservation Commission and designated as conservation land. Another parcel of town-owned land in Dudley Wo0ds would be transferred to Wastewater Management District Commission for the creation of an updated town septic system.

According to petitioner comments in the warrant, the article would protect the “environmental health of the Pond and the neighborhood.” Arguments against this plan say it is too soon to be ending the development in the Dudley Woods area.

Article 22 (Electronic Voting at Town Meetings):

This article, if passed, would create a new system for electronic voting during town meetings. It would allow for the purchase of new “wireless handheld mobile devices,” to be used in the 2011 annual Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen will decide whether the funding for this program – at least $145,000 for the initial purchase as well as yearly maintenance costs – will come from taxes, cuts in the yearly budget, grants from the state or federal government, or borrowing money.

Article 23 (Create Town Meeting Debate Website):

This article, supported by www.waylanddebates.com, proposes that the Board of Selectmen fund the creation of a new town website, to be used for debating items of interest at town meetings. This website would also be used to provide residents with information regarding these issues. The site would be funded by taxes, unappropriated funds, grants, or any other source. This article comes after a chaotic special town meeting in November at which the new high school was approved.

Article 25 (Transfer and Lease the Recreation Portion of the Loker Conservation and Recreation Area):

If approved, this article would establish a recreation area on the former Dow site around Route 30 and Rice Road. This land was purchased by the town in 2000 and is currently a conservation and recreation area. The Board of Selectmen, together with the Recreation Commission and the Town Counsel, would decide how the land is to be leased.

The Recreation Area would provide space for adult and youth sports. It would not increase taxes, as private developers would build the facility and would bring the town revenue in the form of leasing fees. According to the Route 30 Recreation Center Foundation, the town would bring in between $50,000 and $100,000 from the project.

The health care bill signed last Tuesday will extend coverage to 32 million Americans, but still faces mixed opinions in both Washington, D.C. and Wayland. (Credit: Shensi Ding / WSPN)

President Barack Obama signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act last Tuesday, ending a year-long debate over one of the most significant pieces of social legislation in decades.

“We are a nation that does what is hard, what is necessary, what is right,” the President declared after signing the first stage of the bill last week, which was passed in the House,  219-212, and in the Senate, 56-43.

This is a win for Democrats, who had previously worried that the health care bill could not pass after Massachusetts elected Republican Scott Brown to replace the late Ted Kennedy in a special Senate election, breaking the Democrats’ supermajority.

The bill will extend health insurance coverage to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The health care bill will also expand Medicare, a federal health insurance program that helps seniors and the disabled. Seniors who had previously been in the so-called Medicare “donut hole”, a coverage gap for prescription drugs, will receive $250 to help pay for prescriptions and a 50% discount on brand name drugs starting in 2011.

The federal insurance program called Medicaid, which provides health care to people to cannot afford medical insurance, has now been extended to include any families of four that earn 133% of the federal poverty level, and starting in 2014, childless adults. Illegal immigrants will not be eligible for this coverage.

In six months, the health care bill will also forbid insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and, starting in 2014, the act will forbid insurance companies from denying coverage for anyone with pre-existing conditions. All children will also be allowed to remain on their parents’ insurance plans up until they turn 26 years old.

With the exception of low-income Americans, all citizens will be required to purchase health insurance, starting in 2014, or pay a fine.

However, this extended coverage comes with a price tag. It will cost the nation roughly $940 billion dollars, and households earning more than $250,000 will be paying for a large amount of the bill through increased payroll taxes.

However, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the health care bill will reduce the deficit by around $138 billion dollars in the first ten years after enactment, due to new taxes and increased efficiency, and $1.2 trillion dollars in its second decade.

Republicans argue that the reforms could hurt the economy.

“Everyone agrees that all Americans deserve access to affordable health care,” said Representative John A Boehner of Ohio, the Republican Leader in the House of Representatives, “But is increasing taxes during an economic recession, especially on small businesses, the right way to accomplish that goal?”

Some critics also say that the new 3.8 percent payroll tax could hurt the economy as the tax increase could lead to a decrease in spending.

“It’s going to put the burden of payment on the shoulders of only a select few who are ‘rich’ and those people are going to be taxed more in order to pay for it,” said Kep Edwards, a junior, “Although it sounds nice to [give everyone health insurance], the last thing we need right now is the economy taking any more damage.”

“My main concern is that the people who work hard for their money will have to pay for those who don’t work hard and just expect the government to give them aid,” said Liz Doyon, a senior. “That money is coming out of taxpayers’ wallets. I don’t agree with this because – sure there are plenty of people who work hard their whole life and still cannot afford the best health care, and those people deserve some help – but to think that the people who earn more will be paying for other people without the option of agreeing or disagreeing to do so, it’s not right.”

Elle Bacon, another junior, disagrees. “Honestly, I’m happy that there’s near-universal health care,” she said. ”You can’t live life freely without medical care, and so many people can’t afford it.”

Though  debate continues, the legislation is certainly one for the history books. As Democratic Senator Max Baucus said, “Now it is a fact. Now it is a law. Now it is history.”

Wayland High School students might see changes in the types of food stocked in campus vending machines due to new legislation. (Credit: Erica Van Sciver/WSPN)

In the near future, Wayland High School may be swapping all of its sugary beverages and high-fat snack foods for other, healthier alternatives.  In 2008, nearly a third of Massachusetts youths were obese or overweight, as were more than half of Bay State adults. Prodded by this increasing childhood obesity, the State Senate has unanimously passed legislation that will ban the sale of junk food in school vending machines and snack bars.

The bill calls for nutritional standards to be put in place for food that is sold in school vending machines and snack bars during the school day. More specifically, it endorses the sale of nonfat and low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and other healthier options, while barring the sale of “junk food” such as chips, candy, and other foods typically perceived as unhealthy.

The regulations would extend to beverages as well, promoting non-sweetened water, 100 percent fruit juices, and drinks with no additives or carbonation,  in place of their sugar-laced counterparts.

The bill will only affect food sold at school during school hours. Snacks sold after school and bake sales will not be affected.

Reaction to the legislation at Wayland High School was mixed. Some students believe that the ban would do little to reduce childhood obesity. “I feel like it wouldn’t make much of a difference,” said junior JoAnna Hermanns. “We can just go and get unhealthy food the night before and bring it to school.”

Senior Merritt Elmasri is of the same opinion. “I think it’s a terrible idea,” he said. “It’s the person’s choice what food to get from the vending machine.”

Freshman Olivia Shaw disagrees. “I think it’s a good idea because teenagers don’t often take into account the fact that if they eat too much junk food it could hurt them in the long run.”

According to Food Service Director Cheryl Judd, Wayland is already well on its way to meeting all of the proposed guidelines of the junk food ban. “I’m not too concerned about meeting the guidelines,” she said. “Wayland is close to what they’re asking for.”

Many nutritional changes have already been made in the school district. All Wayland schools now offer homemade muffins and real fruit. The elementary schools have replaced jello with fruit as their main dessert offering.

Following voluntary guidelines suggested by the Massachusetts Action for Healthy Kids, Wayland also reduced drink sizes, lowering sports drink sizes from 20 ounces to 12 ounces and juice sizes to under 10 ounces.

Healthier alternatives to traditional snacks, like low-fat baked chips, are available to students. Even the cream cheese sold as a bagel spread is a low-fat version.

While Wayland High School has made much progress in its pursuit of healthy nutrition for all its students, Judd believes that in order for kids to eat healthy all the time, changes to school lunches can’t do it alone.

“I think it has to happen at home first. If we offer couscous or hummus and kids aren’t used to it at home, they’re not going to eat it in schools. Everyone has to be a partner,” she said.

The Senate bill differs slightly from an earlier version of the bill approved by the State House of Representatives because of an amendment in the Senate bill that highlights the value of physical education programs in schools. Before the “Junk Food Ban” can be signed by Governor Deval Patrick, the two versions of the bill must be reconciled.

The winner of Tuesday's election will soon be at work in this building, the U.S. Capitol. (Credit: cliff1066™/CC)

Massachusetts citizens will head to the polls this Tuesday, January 19 to cast their vote for either Democrat Martha Coakley, or Republican Scott Brown. The winner of the special election will fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy.

After the Senate primaries on December 8th, the field of candidates was narrowed to Coakley, the Democratic State Attorney General, and Brown, a Republican State Senator who represents Wayland. Immediately following the primaries Coakley had a sizable lead over Brown according to opinion polls, but in the last few weeks Brown has closed much of the gap.

In the a recent poll conducted by Suffolk University, Scott Brown actually passed Martha Coakley,  50% to  47%.

Coakley had done little advertising or campaigning until recently when Brown’s poll numbers began to rise. Yet even with Brown’s new surge of support, he is not expected to win, according to many commentators. Democrats outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts 3 to 1.

However, the election is expected to be much closer than previously thought. Historically, Massachusetts has elected mainly Democrats to the Senate. The last Republican to be elected to the Senate was Edward Brooke in 1966.

If Brown wins, Democrats would lose their supermajority in the Senate, imperiling President Obama’s Democratic agenda. The election will also be watched as a bellwether of the upcoming midterm elections in November, especially after two Democratic Senators recently announced that they would not be running for re-election.

Coakley has been endorsed by Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of Senator Edward Kennedy, Tom Conroy, the Democratic state representative of Wayland, and Niki Tsongas, Wayland’s congresswoman.

Over this past weekend both candidates have brought in heavy support. President Obama  and former President Clinton have endorsed Martha Coakley and have helped her campaign this weekend, while former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has done the same for Scott Brown.

Jack E. Robinson's campaign website outlines Robinson's views and plans if elected to the Senate. (Screenshot: David Ryan/WSPN)

Jack E. Robinson III, an Massachusetts attorney, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed Washington and Beacon Hill outsider, hopes to become one step closer to filling the open senate seat left vacant by the late Ted Kennedy today. As of yesterday Robinson was still behind in the polls to his only Republican competitor, State Senator Scott Brown. However, that has not stopped Robinson from campaigning day and night across the state, pushing for last minute votes before today’s primaries.

After receiving a Bachelors Degree from Brown University and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard, Robinson spent many years working in the private sector. This work is what inspired him to run for political office. If elected, Robinson plans to use his private sector experience to help create jobs in this tough American economy.

When asked in an interview with WSPN whether or not he approved of the job President Obama has done so far, he wouldn’t commit either way, but he did say that he was against the stimulus TARP.

When questioned as to whether he would be okay with breaking up banks considered too big to fail, he was much more explicit. “Absolutely,” said Robinson.

Robinson has a 12-step plan for health care reform, which he summarized as being,” focused on competition.” According to his campaign website, the plan will save the country $100 billion each year.

One plan Robinson would try to implement as Massachusetts’s Junior Senator would award merit pay to math and science teachers. Math and science teachers are the only educators who would receive merit pay because, according to Robinson,  “Those are two subjects where America is falling behind foreign countries: India, China, and now even Europe.”

Another piece of legislation Robinson hopes to get passed is a law to extend the school day from 9-5. The extra time would not be spent in the classroom but outside, learning about physical education and participating in extracurricular activities. The goal of this legislation would be to keep kids off the street and help working parents maintain full time jobs. If a student showed evidence of legitimate employment the student would be exempt from the extended school hours.

While his relationship with the Republican Party has been rocky in the past during a prior run for MA Senator as well as a run for Secretary of Massachusetts, this time around he characterizes his relationship with the Republican establishment as “good.” Some of this tension may be caused by some of his liberal views, most notably his support of gay marriage.

In fact, a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act is one of the first three pieces of legislation Robinson would try to get passed. His other two most pressing legislative goals are to reduce capital gains taxes and balance the national budget.

Robinson grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and spent 8 summers of his childhood as a camper at YMCA Camp Becket in the Berkshires. Robinson claims that the lessons he learned there of, as he put it, “friendship, camaraderie, and helping the other fellow”, are what have prepared him for life as a politician.

Robinson hopes to come out on top today, Tuesday, December 8, when votes are cast in the Republican primary for the office of US Senator.

To read WSPN’s article on Scott Brown, Robinson’s Republican opponent, click here.

Rep. Mike Capuano is a six-term Massachussets Congressman vying for the seat left vacant by the late Ted Kennedy. (Credit: Capuano for Senate Committee)

WSPN: What got you started in public service originally?

CAPUANO: To make it brief, the bottom line is I just made a decision at one point in my life to either accept life the way it is or to try to change it and make it better, and that was precipitated by a couple of things, but mostly that was the bottom line, and I decided to jump in and try to make the world a better place to live; at the time it was mostly local issues, for me it was about making playgrounds better and safer for kids, but the motivation is still the same.

WSPN: A more pointed question: Do you approve or disapprove of Obama’s job so far?

CAPUANO: In general I think he is doing a pretty good job. Doesn’t mean I agree with him on everything, but in general I think he is doing a pretty good job.

WSPN: You’re not disturbed by some of the roll backs in his promises in terms of civil liberties, his decision to ramp up our involvement in Afghanistan, and some of his decisions on gay rights issues?

CAPUANO: I didn’t say that Ben; I said in general I thought he did a pretty good job. I said I did not agree with him on every issue, and you just named a couple that I did not.

WSPN: The most recent poll commissioned by Rasmussen showed a distant second behind Martha Coakley, a full 15 points behind. How do you intend to bridge that gap?

CAPUANO: Well Ben, I don’t talk about campaign strategies with the press and that includes even young people. Campaigns are done in certain ways and everybody has different strategies. Mine has always been the same, and it’s a mistake to focus on the horserace. The only thing that matters is how many people have made up their minds, and even in that poll the number was above 50% of people have not yet made up their minds…

WSPN: So you’re optimistic?

CAPUANO: Very few people have made up their minds in this race yet…

WSPN: So you’re optimistic?

CAPUANO: I have been optimistic all my life.

WSPN: Do you believe that Joe Lieberman should lose his seat as the chairmen of the Homeland Security Committee if he tries to obstruct health care reform?

CAPUANO: Not yet. Depends what he does. One thing at a time.

WSPN: Well, if he keeps on his promise to block a public option, do you think he should lose his seat?

CAPUANO: Not on the basis of that alone, no I don’t.

WSPN: What is your plan for regulating Wall Street and preventing another economic debacle like we saw back last September, and more specifically, would you be open to having stringent capital requirements, breaking up “too big to fail” banks and removing holes in enforcement?

CAPUANO: Ben, I have been working on this since I got to Congress. I have thought that the United States government moved way too far away from the concept of thoughtful and reasonable regulation starting in 1980. And now that we have finally gotten back to the table about thoughtful, reasonable balanced regulation. That’s what I am pushing for across the table; capital requirements are only part of it. You have named a couple of small items, but there are a lot of other small items as well; it’s got to be across the board or it won’t work.

WSPN: But specifically would you be OK with breaking up banks that are “too big to fail”?

CAPUANO: Well, I don’t understand the definition of the term. That’s a nice media term; it doesn’t mean anything to the financial services world.

WSPN: But banks that just by virtue of there sheer size; if they fail they are a threat to economic stability.

CAPUANO: That’s not a definition that means anything. That’s a media definition. Define the term: how big, how large of a share of the businesses sector, how many dollars are at stake, what are they doing?

WSPN: But you would be –

CAPUANO: The term is a nice phrase, Ben, but it doesn’t mean anything.

WSPN: Would you be open to the idea in general though?

CAPUANO: Let’s put it this way: I was against repealing the Glass–Steagall Act, which allowed some of these banks to get even bigger than they ever imagined being, so I believe in reasonable regulation.

WSPN: I know this is an open-ended question, but how do you plan to reduce the federal deficit, and, more specifically, would you be open to tax increases?

CAPUANO: Ben I have never voted for, well I shouldn’t say never, I have seldom voted for a tax decrease. I don’t believe you have tax decreases in times of deficits and in two wars, number one; number two, I am one of nineteen people in the Congress that voted to keep the pay-go rules in 2002. I am a strong advocate of a balanced budget, and I am a strong opponent of a deficit. At the same time right now most of the deficit is caused by something called counter-cyclical spending, and I do believe in counter-cyclical spending in periods of a recession and potentially a depression, so there is always an exception to every rule and right now we are in the middle of one of these exceptions.

WSPN: So you would be open to tax increases to reduce the deficit?

CAPUANO: If people want services they have to pay for them. If they don’t want services, then we should cut them. There is no free lunch. Never has been, never will be.

WSPN: The Boston Globe reports that your PAC, and I am quoting here, “collected $64,500 through a high-powered lobbying firm that is the subject of a federal pay-to-play investigation.” In addition, while this is quite common, your campaign is willing to take money from corporations and unions. Overall is there an ethics problem with your campaign? And do you see your insider status in this race–

CAPUANO: Hang on a second, Ben. Ben, hang on a second. If that’s the way you’re going to go that’s the end of this conversation; what ethics problems do I have with my campaign?

WSPN: I am not saying that there is a specific ethic–

CAPUANO: Ben you just said–

WSPN: I think there is–

CAPUANO: Ben, Ben that’s what you just said, either back up or restate the question.

WSPN: I am not saying that there is a specific problem, I am saying that there is a suspicion among the voters that your insider status–

CAPUANO: Ben, no Ben, thank you very much, Ben it’s been very pleasant talking to you there is no suspicion amongst anyone.

WSPN: I think–

CAPUANO: If you have a suspicion, state your suspicion.

WSPN: I am not personally suspicious, but I think that–

CAPUANO: Well then, where are you getting your information?

WSPN: I am seeing right here I was quoting directly from the Boston Globe, and I am sorry that I offended you but–

CAPUANO: You didn’t offend me, but I want clear specific questions that are based upon fact.

WSPN: I am not saying that, well most of the voters don’t work on fact, but there is, I think–

CAPUANO: Ben, I am sorry to disagree with you, but I actually think voters do, I think voters are a lot smarter than some people think.

WSPN: Ok, but I think, beside the point there is a perception that, and this isn’t for you in specific but for any incumbent, anyone who has been in Washington–

CAPUANO: Ben, I don’t think there is any suspicion at all. If you think there is, say so.

WSPN: You wouldn’t think there is an anti-Washington mood in this country?

CAPUANO: Ben I am asking you, if you have a question, ask your question, if you think that you’re going to sit here and state what you think is a general perception, well then, that’s fine you’re entitled to your opinion.

WSPN: Well, my personal opinion is beside the point; I am trying to answer question–

CAPUANO: No it is, you’re stating an opinion, Ben, and you are entitled to state your opinion but you need to say it as your opinion or–

WSPN: Well let me rephrase it then–

CAPUANO: Ben, on what basis do you base your judgment of what public opinion is?

WSPN: I don’t know, I have read a lot about your campaign and it’s a recurring theme–

CAPUANO: Then why did you state it that way then?

WSPN: It’s a recurring theme there is–

CAPUANO: I am out in Western Mass; I must be hitting a tough cell area, say it again.

WSPN: From what I have read, and I, OK let me rephrase the question, do you believe that there is an anti-Washington mood both in Massachusetts and throughout the country, and do you feel that it is a liability to your campaign?

CAPUANO: I don’t think there is an anti-Washington mood, no I don’t.

WSPN: You don’t at all, even though there seems to be a growing frustration with Congress, that Congressional approval ratings have gone down, and that overall support for incumbents have gone down, you don’t feel that there is–

CAPUANO: I am sorry I am losing you; you will have to say that again, I am sorry.

WSPN: Congressional approval ratings have gone down and I think that there is a growing feeling of frustration with Washington–

CAPUANO: Well you think there is and that’s fine that’s your opinion and you’re entitled to feel that way.

WSPN: Ok I will leave the question there–

CAPUANO: You made a statement that wasn’t a question that was a statement, which you’re entitled to make. There was no question there.

WSPN: OK. Is there anything you want to say to the people of Wayland?

CAPUANO: I would like them to review the different candidates in this race. There are a thousand ways to check it on the Internet, and I hope people do, and I believe the average voter will come very well informed.

WSPN: All right, thank you very, very much for taking out the time to talk to me. I am sorry that I got in a little hot water with you, but I hope you forgive me for that.

CAPUANO: You didn’t get in to any hot water; it’s just if you’re going to ask a question ask a question. If you want to make a statement that’s OK too. That’s two different things.

WSPN: Ok. Thank you very much.

CAPUANO: OK.

Sen. Scott Brown hopes to move from the Massachusetts State House to the U.S. Senate Building in D.C.

This past Friday, state Senator Scott Brown dropped off 11,500 signatures at the Secretary of State’s office, the first portion of the 17,000 he needs to put his name on the ballot left empty by the late Ted Kennedy. The winner of this election will fill the position of Senator until a Senate race can be held in November of 2010.

Brown is currently a State Senator who represents Wayland. He is one of only 5 Republicans in the 40 member Massachusetts State Senate. If Brown were to win this election, he would be the first Republican to serve in the Senate on behalf of Massachusetts since Ed Brook was elected in 1972.

Brown has served in the State Senate since 1998, and, prior to his election, he served on the Wrentham Board of Selectmen. Before Scott Brown became involved in politics he worked as an attorney with a specialty in family law. He attended Tufts University and received his law degree from Boston College Law School in 1985.

Brown is known for is his work in veteran’s affairs and efforts towards reform of the states sex offender laws to protect victims. He is also a 29-year member of the Massachusetts National Guard and holds the rank of Lt. Colonel.

One of the controversies surrounding Brown centers around the remarks he made to King Phillip Regional High School students when he went to their school to give a speech in 2007. Some of the students there had made a Facebook group Brown claimed was made to harass both he and his daughter Ayla, who had been a finalist on American Idol. He read aloud some of the remarks made and named the students who had made them. Brown was supposed to be there to give a speech about gay marriage, which he opposes. Another controversy is Brown’s nude centerfold in a 1982 issue of Cosmopolitan. He was 22 at the time, and the magazine named him “America’s Sexiest Man.”

Brown joins candidates Bob Burr, a Republican on the Board of Selectmen representing Canton, Steve Pagliuca a private equity investor running as a Democrat, Alan Khazei a political organizer also running as a Democrat, and Martha Coakley, a Democrat and Massachusetts’ state Attorney General. The party primary elections will be held December 8, and the general election will take place on January 19, 2010.

A bill recently passed by lawmakers allowed Governor Patrick to appoint an interim senator until an election can be held. Patrick appointed Paul Kirk, a former aide to Sen. Kennedy and also the former head of the Democratic National Committee. Ted Kennedy himself wanted this law so that Massachusetts would have full representation in the Senate during the health care debate. Until 2004, the law was that the Governor would appoint the new Senator if these circumstances arose. The law was changed during the 2004 presidential election because Democratic legislators were concerned that if John Kerry won, Mitt Romney – who was Governor at the time – would appoint a Republican to fill his vacated Senate seat.

Brown’s office did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Carolyn Jones

WSPN: What are 3 specific things you would like to accomplish if you were to be re-elected?Jones: Well I want our class to have a really good semi. I also want us to become involved in a charity that we could be involved with throughout high school. I obviously want to raise more money, but I also believe we should have more class socials.

WSPN: In one sentence, why are you the best choice for president?Jones: I’ll bring our grade together and make sure we enjoy our high school careers as much as we can.

WSPN: What is one weakness you have as a leader?Jones: I think I need to be more outgoing and need to get more people involved in what we are doing as a class.

WSPN: Is there anything else you would like to add, just something to tell the class of 2012?Jones: I hope our class likes what we have done this year, and hopefully they’ll give me another chance to do more next year.

Kush Bhagat

WSPN: What are 3 specific things you would like to accomplish if you were to be elected?Bhagat: Well I would like the student body to feel free to make any suggestions to benefit the class of 2012; I want everyone to be able to do that. I would also like to increase the number of class of 2012 events. And I wish to make the class aware that they are a crucial part of the Wayland High School community.

WSPN: In one sentence, why are you the best choice for president?Bhagat: I think I’m the best choice because I’m offering the best freedom and freedom of speech and ideas for student body to present to the e-board, and I’m being honest that not every idea can happen, but I can guarantee I will try to make it happen.

WSPN: What is one weakness you have as a leader?Bhagat: Probably that I don’t have the entire student body’s opinions in my mind. I kind of have my own agenda. That is why I’m asking for feedback on what they would like.

WSPN: Is there anything else you would like to add, just something to tell the class of 2012?Bhagat: Yes, I would like to guarantee that everyone will have a fair say in what goes on during our sophomore year. I also want to make sure that everyone has fun.

Antonia Vitagliano

WSPN: What are 3 specific things you would like to accomplish if you were to be elected?Vitagliano: Probably to keep up the fundraising, do fun social things as a class, and third I would like to unite the class as a whole.

WSPN: In one sentence, why are you the best choice for president?
Vitagliano: I will be able to work hard and make sure that I get everything accomplished during my presidency.

WSPN: What is one weakness you have as a leader?Vitagliano: I wasn’t on e-board this year but I have worked to bring myself up so I know what’s going on.

WSPN: Is there anything else you would like to add, just something to tell the class of 2012?Vitagliano: Basically that I want to have fun during sophomore year and I will work hard to do that.

Andrew Pilkington/ Scott Smith/ Dan Defina S.C. Administration

1. Why do you want to be President of Student Council?
I’ve been involved in student government at WHS for several years. I have always served my school to the best of my abilities. I feel, if people elect you to a position, you should do everything humanly possible to do the job as best as it can be done. No shortcuts, no bs, just you and the people you work for. For two years, I was elected to and served on the class of 2010’s Executive Board. During my tenure on the E-Board I helped come up with many successful fundraisers that enabled our class to host numerous fantastic events, including: Prom, Cotillion, and the Semi-Formal. In addition to serving on the E-Board, I was a member of the 2009 Prom Committee. This year I organized a team of students from every grade to write and produce a TV show that will air on Waycam in late May. I have a history of bringing people together who would never otherwise speak to each other, to create something everyone can enjoy equally. In 8th grade, my running mate [Scott Smith] and I put together a team of 8 people from all social areas of our class to host a class wide event, which 94 percent of our class attended. The main reason I am running for Student Council President is to serve the Students of Wayland High School. I believe the job of the student government is to work for the students it serves. Too many times student governments act with little or no input from the student body. Our administration intends to change that by widening the channel of communication between the Student Council and the student body.

2. What initiatives do you plan to implement next year? Our Administration is different from others because our goals pertain not only to school events like Dodgeball and Winter Week, but also to school funding and infrastructure. Here is a list of 10 priority goals we will work to accomplish while in office.

I. Our school is literally falling apart at the seams. Our administration will pressure the town into fixing our facilities including the cracks and holes in our walkways and parking lots.
II. Programs are being cut left and right. Our administration will not allow money to run out for all of these beloved institutions. We will have huge profit making fundraisers managed by Treasurer Dan Defina to help keep programs going in tough times.
III. A new “Green” Home-Work Initiative, aimed at cutting down on paper use and utilizing technology including more extensive use of email for homework.
IV. Many people are unhappy with the new lunch system. We will find a compromise which the school administration and the student body can agree upon.
V. Our administration will organize a school wide community service project voted on by all grades.
VI. In place of one or two Dodgeball tournaments per year, we will have one at the end of every quarter.
VII. New Spirit Day games TBD
VIII. Instead of a 3-Day Winter Week, we will push for a fourth day with brand new events and guests.
IX. Revamp the Fall Fun Fair by relocating it to a high traffic location to increase attendance.
X. Create a spring BBQ, collaborated by all four class E-Boards.

3. What is one message that you wish to communicate to the students of Wayland High School?
There is one thing above all else that I want to make clear, we work for you. I work for you, the students of Wayland High School. I’m not running to list an activity on my college application. I’m not running because I like power and attention. I’m running because I believe, no, I insist on making this school we love so much, a better place for all of us–a place we can enjoy and learn in with some of of the best teachers and resources in the country. Wayland High School is a wonderful place; but I believe together we can make it better for all our benefits. The Student Council cannot do this by itself, we need every student to do their part. Talk to each other, break down the invisible walls that separate us into groups. Keep our school clean and green; if you see trash lying on the ground, pick it up and throw it away. If someone puts paper in the trash can, take it out and recycle it. Treat each other kindly with dignity and respect. Instead of complaining about events and activities, help us come up with new ones that everyone will enjoy. We will always do our part for you, but it’s a two-way street. Reciprocation is the key to every good relationship.

4. Can you give us one strength and one weakness of Wayland High School?

There are so many strengths of Wayland High School that it is extremely hard to choose just one. The one that comes to mind is the spirit and sure will of the students. Every student at this school is devoted to something, whether it be a sport or club. What they all share is the commitment and enthusiasm for what they love doing no matter what. If there is one weakness of Wayland High School, it is the lack of access to its student governments. In every campaign promise the candidates always say “you can talk to us anytime.” This is true if you know where you can find them. Our administration will be an open administration. To guarantee you have an active role in your student government, the Student Council will be hosting monthly public forums open to all students. In addition to this new way to make students voices heard, there will be an open invitation to any Student Council meeting. To insure our administration is transparent, the Student Council Facebook group will be open to viewing by all students on the Wayland High School network. Our administration is fully committed to making sure every student has input in the government that serves him or her.
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Lauren Jenny

1. Why do you want to be President of Student Council?
I want to be the Student Council President because I want to help the school. That is the main reason I am running. I want the students to have the most fun this next year that they can with all of the activities that the student council plans, such as field day and winter week. I have been on student council since my sophomore year so I feel as though I understand how the process works. I have helped and watched the past presidents do their job, and I am fully aware of the time that this job requires. I also understand what needs to be done in order to make this the best year possible. Therefore, I think I could do a good job in replicating the success in past years and bring more success for the future.

2. What initiatives do you plan to implement next year?
To start, I am not making any promises. Unfortunately, I can not promise to lower the lunch prices or convince teachers to not give homework because no matter how hard one tries, it simply would not happen. Student Council has no control over doing so. However, Travis Downs (my vice President) and I have plans for next year. First, field day was a great success this past year. It was the first year and the student council officers (and student council) did an amazing job when organizing it. Travis and I plan to keep this event a tradition, and improve it with more activities. Second, we plan to start contacting performers and presenters as early as possible for winter week. If we do so, Wayland High School could have a four or five day winter week. Third, Travis and I plan to have a Battle of the Bands. We know there are a lot of bands in Wayland, and in surrounding towns and we would love to have them all get together to play! Most importantly, we will ask the students what they would like to see improved, and we will put as much effort in as we can to make it happen. We will take all suggestions from all Wayland high School students.

3. What is one message that you wish to communicate to the students of Wayland High School?
One message I would like to communicate is that Travis and I are running for all of you, the students of Wayland High School. We are running because we want to make a difference. We want to help. We want to unite the school and ensure everyone has the most fun that they can in between schoolwork, tests, papers, and after school activities.

4. Can you give us one strength and one weakness of Wayland High School?
One strength at Wayland High School is the spirit we have. It was seen at field day. Each grade was told to wear a color, but instead, many went out to buy crazy outfits to show their spirit for their grade and their school. It is also evident at football games where people wear their varsity jackets, paint their faces/bodies and most importantly, wear orange and black. It’s a great site when you see a school united through the spirit, and that is one thing I love about Wayland High School. This is one aspect Travis and I want to keep going next year, and increase even more. Also, our high school students and teachers are always there to help each other in a time of need. For example, Ms. Lowen, and Ms. Rainoff are participating in a walk to raise money for cancer. Knowing this, the juniors class raised their prom ticket prices $5 each and gave the total amount to Ms. Rainoff and Ms. Lowen as a donation.
One weakness at Wayland High School is the litter around campus. It’s important to clean up after yourself, but many students don’t think to do so. Sometimes they leave their lunches sitting on the table and then leave, so the administration or a nice student walking by has to pick up after them. We should take care of our school surroundings.

WSPN: What are 3 specific things you would like to accomplish if you were to be re-elected?

Eisenson: If I were to be re-elected as class president, I would set specific goals for our class to accomplish. First and foremost, I would start to raise money for prom right away because it will come up much faster than everyone thinks. I would also be sure to elect a prom committee that would contain members from every group of people in our grade so that every voice is heard in the planning. Lastly, I think it is really important that I organize a prom to bring our grade together.

WSPN: In one sentence, why are you the best choice for president?

Eisenson: I think I am the best choice for class president because I have already had two years of experience, so I know how to plan and organize successful events; Also, I am very dedicated to the class.

WSPN: What is one weakness you have as a leader?

Eisenson: One weakness that I have as a leader is that I want to do too much. I always volunteer to talk to teachers, print out flyers, sell tickets at lunch, or whatever else it is that the E-board needs doing. Although it is a weakness because it sometimes seems like I take on more than I can do, I always get everything done, and I do it well.

WSPN: What fundraisers would you plan for big events such as prom?

Eisenson: To fundraise for prom, the E-board would organize a raffle in the fall, and then in December we would organize the candy-canes to give out. In February, we would do Candy Grams, and in the months leading up to prom we could do a bottle and can drive. There are many more ideas for fundraisers that the E-board and I have discussed in the last two years as well.

WSPN: Is there anything else you would like to add, something to tell the class of 2011?

Eisenson: I think that the most important thing for the class of 2011 to realize is that there is little time next year to plan for prom. As of next fall, I will have already been to many different prom locations so that we could pick the venue that best fits our class. It is also important to know that I am extremely dedicated to the success of our class. I have been honored to be class president for the past two years, and I would love to be able to continue my responsibilities.

This could describe this week’s scene on the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia, where Somali pirates took an American skipper hostage. It would equally well describe the early 1800s, when, during the first years of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, pirates from the Barbary Coast (modern day Libya and Tunisia) repeatedly hijacked American shipping vessels.

Back then, the U.S. was forced to pay tribute to these states, hoping to stop the attacks; however, they did not cease. Jefferson in 1801, and later President James Madison in 1815, solved this problem by sending in the newly created Navy and the Marines to directly attack the sponsor states. This military action became known as the Barbary Wars, and by the end of 1816 state-sponsored pirate attacks had all but ended.

The Somali pirates who attack American ships today do not have the sponsorship of any government. They are the maritime equivalent of international terrorists, fighting for economic reasons rather than political ones. Anarchy in Somalia has left most there in deep poverty. The millions that can be earned through piracy look pretty alluring when you have no other way to make money.

Because there is no state entity behind these pirates, it is extremely difficult to respond to their attacks. Unlike the Barbary Wars, the U.S. today cannot just send the Marines or the Navy to burn down Mogadishu. Compounding this problem is the fact that the area of water and coastline the Navy has to protect is four times the size of Texas.

The obvious key to stopping piracy is preempting attacks. However, this is easier said than done. Shipping companies will have to send escorts, and the navies of the world will have to contribute as well if they wish the attacks to stop. One option that has been discussed, but not acted upon, is the possibility of arming merchant ships. This would definitely protect sailors and should be done.

This problem represents a chance for the United States to work with other countries constructively on the world stage. China, Russia, and India all have interests in protecting their vessels in the Indian Ocean. Their navies, along with ours, should work together to fight the pirates.

If pirates do manage to capture an American ship – like they did last week – the United States must stand strong. Every single government of the world watched to see how Washington responded, and more specifically, how President Obama responded.

One country in particular, Iran, was surely watching closely. Iran seized 15 members of the British Royal Navy and held them for 12 days in 2007 after they supposedly trespassed into Iranian territorial waters. If we had responded by paying the Somali pirates, foreign countries like Iran would view the Obama Administration as weak.

Instead, we responded by attacking the pirates and successfully rescuing the hostage; as a result, foreign powers will be less likely to test us. This was the necessary route.

The pirates of the Indian Ocean present both a problem and an opportunity. While they will surely harm commercial interests in the region, they are a chance for the U.S. to work multilaterally to defeat a common foe. This may not be enough to protect all boats, however, and individual ships might have to take initiative and defend themselves, a move that could include taking up arms. If all of this is still not enough, and another ship is captured, there is only one way the US should respond: forcefully.

Under the plan, carbon dioxide that is emitted would be capped at a certain amount per year, with that amount decreasing in each subsequent year. To see how the full plan works, check it out in the Wall Street Journal blog, “Environmental Capital.”

The plan faces opposition from both Republicans and Midwest Democrats. This is not surprising. Many Republicans have long denied that humans have any ability to impact the climate, or they believe that taking any action against climate change would be too harmful to the economy. Midwesterners-I’m looking at you, Kansas-living in states full of coalmines and coal power plants believe they would be disproportionately affected by any attempts to limit emissions.

Surprisingly, opposition is also popping up in many other places. Because of the current recession, some have come to the conclusion that fighting global warming would only hurt an economy that is already extremely weak. Global warming activists have been cheated even more as the economy suffers. There is some distorted belief that fighting global warming will hurt the economy. However, if we don’t stop global warming now, the economy will be hurt even more.

Newscasters talk about how the “next generation” is going to be stuck with the problem of global warming. That “next generation” is people our age, and we need to convince our representatives to stop polluting greenhouse gas emissions.

The hardest thing about passing global warming legislation is the “deferred gratification.” Unlike cleaning up a polluted river, the benefits of spending to fight global warming are not immediate. Carbon dioxide can remain in the atmosphere for more than a century. This makes it difficult to convince people to support bills fighting climate change.

But the recession is no excuse to stop caring about the future. Besides, advancements in green technology will create millions of jobs in the energy, construction, and automobile industries. These could make up for any supposed “job losses” that could be incurred by a cap and trade regime. The time to act is now. We must stop global warming.