Proposed New Signage for Willard's Woods

Now that the ConCom plans to adopt the Boulder dog control rules, new signs will have to be created to explain these rules to Easterners. The only sign that is necessary is a big one that says


PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG


in large letters.  However, here are some other signs that capture the mood of the dog walkers.

ConCom votes to extend existing rules for 6 more months

A Dean Forest HOOF movement sign in the UK.  The people won.

The ConCom met on 2/22 and decided to extend the current regulations (no weekend unleashed dog walking) for 6 months until 9/1.  There was some discussion of changing the weekend hours to include morning hours, but nothing was changed. They will continue to implement a permit system with input from various parties, including dog walkers. It seems that they will also try to push through some other restrictions before then - like the 2 dog rule, no dogs off leash in the parking lot or first 150 feet, etc. See the report for details.

If you want to hear and see the meeting go to

     http://www.lexmedia.org/ondemand.html

Choose Category: Town of Lexington and select the 22-Feb-2011.  The Willard's Woods part starts at 26.00 minutes (you can slide ahead).

Nancy Bryant - Precinct 3 Town Meeting Candidate Statement

I am writing to ask for your vote as a Precinct 3 Town Meeting representative in the March 7 election.  I previously served on Town Meeting for two terms, but did not seek re-election as I felt others should have the opportunity to partake in town governance and service.

I am running for Town Meeting again now because I am disheartened with Lexington’s politics and hope that I can help make a difference working towards governance that is more representative and fair.  The issue that propels me towards Town Meeting is that of the Willard’s Woods controversy where the Conservation Commission’s mishandling of what they term as “user conflict” has escalated what little conflict existed and destroyed what was one of Lexington’s best examples of true community.

Years ago I was drawn to run for Town Meeting over the Pay-As-You-Throw debacle.  As an environmental biologist by profession, I strongly support recycling.  However, Lexington’s PAYT had many flaws and social concerns and it lacked proper recycling incentives, especially for single individuals and elders who tend to generate little waste.

In trying to resolve the PAYT and Willard’s Woods controversies, I have frequently encountered several Lexington officials, elected or appointed, who did not want to hear positions or recommendations contrary to their own view.  These officials have told me and others that though our points are articulate and knowledgeable, that they know best what to do.  This imperious attitude has led to programs that don’t work because they lacked continuous citizen involvement from the ground up.

Hence, I come before the Precinct 3 electorate again and ask for your vote.  I have a passion for environmental issues, rescue dogs, elder care advocacy, and the common good.  I pledge to listen to your concerns and I would be honored to have your vote.

Sincerely,

Nancy Bryant

Blossomcrest Road, Lexington

REIN IN THE CPA SURTAX

I was delighted to see Alan Seferian is trying to rein in the rampant overspending and mismanagement of CPA funding by reducing the surtax to a very reasonable 1% via Article 17 at the annual Town Meeting. With the largess provided by the 3% surtax, the CPC and Conservation Commission have squandered most of the CPA funds.   

According to the USDA 2007 Census (the latest available), Massachusetts has among the most expensive farmland in the nation at some $12,313 per acre.

But wait - the Busa farm parcel, soon to be socialized into a town-supported toy farm for the benefit of a tiny minority of shareowners, was bought by the CPC at an astounding $517,000 per acre, the price of regular residential land.

Next, the Conservation Commission bought the Cotton farm for $3.8 million (a truly staggering $900,000 per acre). If you've not been there, it can charitably be described as the verandah for a swamp. It provides no recreation area and the only benefit is to the owners of the adjoining property who are now guarded from development forever.  

Finally, the Conservation Commission is waging a battle with dog owners at Willard's and is extending its campaign to ban legal dog walking in all Conservation areas. The Commission wants to hire its own police force to impose its own brand of leash law designed for its abutter buddies.

Instead of $1000 designer garbage cans (reminiscent of deposed CEO John Thain’s office decorations at Merrill Lynch)  the Commission needs to place about 2 more ordinary trash barrels in the middle of Willard's Woods and arrange for their pickup.   

Tell your town meeting members to vote for Article 17 - put some brakes on runaway "preservation."

Unleashed : Dateline Morocco 2003

Casablanca, Morocco: Boulevard Mohammed el Hansali (today Boulevard H. Boigny) Circa 1956

It is, of course, possible that Morocco could be the next to go.  Putting such concerns aside, today we make a few remarks about its forgotten recent history.  When I was watching the Oliver Stone movie  "W" I was reminded of the participation by Morocco in the Coalition of the Willing against Iraq.  They did not contribute any troops, but according to the Washington Post on March 24, 2003

... if a report yesterday by UPI is to be believed. According to the wire service, Morocco's weekly al Usbu' al-Siyassi claimed that Morocco has offered 2,000 monkeys to help detonate land mines.

These monkeys would have been unleashed, beyond the voice control of their owners, and out-of-sight.  Are monkeys allowed in the Woods?  Best not along Brent Road, if this photo is to be believed:

Unfortunate Color Choice

It turns out that green is the color used in rallies by pro-Moammar Gadhafi demonstrators. Unfortunately, this is also the color adopted by the Friends of Willard's Woods for banners and dog kerchiefs.

The use of a symbolic color is important for revolutionary movements. This is made clear by quotes from Gene Sharp in his book From Dictatorship to Democracy A Conceptual Framework for Liberation. You can get a copy of this book online at no charge from the Albert Einstein Institution. The Albert Einstein Institution is dedicated to advancing the study and use of strategic nonviolent action in conflicts throughout the world.  Sharp lists some 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action.  Here are a few including colors.


Symbolic Public Acts
18. Displays of flags and symbolic colors
19. Wearing of symbols
20. Prayer and worship
21. Delivering symbolic objects
22. Protest disrobings
23. Destruction of own property
24. Symbolic lights
25. Displays of portraits
26. Paint as protest
27. New signs and names
28. Symbolic sounds
29. Symbolic reclamations
30. Rude gestures