Bad News : Dead Crows in Woods

From Leslie Goldberg (reported to the ConCom)
Just wanted to report to you that there is a dead crow in Willard's Woods, in the pine forest just past the meadow. Coming from Brent Road, it is on the right of the path about halfway between the meadow and where the pine forests ends. (At least, that is where it was this afternoon but of course it might be disturbed by a dog or other animal).

There have been some reports that this is the 2nd dead crow seen in the Woods in the last two weeks, but I can not confirm that.

I am aware that the Board of Health wants to test these animals for West Nile and EEE, so I thought I should alert you.

Some Good News - Newton Expands Off Leash Walking

The Boston Globe reports some good news for dog walkers today.  This is about a decision made by the alderman of Newton.

In summary, the major points are:

• 
  
  "... decisions on future dog parks to the commissioner of parks and recreation, who will have the power to designate areas after public hearings and also decide whether a location requires fencing."  A much better idea than letting the Imperial Conservation Forces control the dogs in parks.
• 
  
  "The aldermen also voted for an amendment allowing the city to explore using land owned by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation for off-leash areas" 
• 
  
  Cold Spring is the first experimental off-leash area.  Just like everywhere else: "... Cold Spring has not been without its detractors. Abutters have complained about illegal parking, dogs off leashes outside the designated area, and waste left on park grounds."

Like the DoD forces in Afghanistan, the Newton alderman seem to be considering the needs of the people:

New Places to Go After Willard's

We are on the eve of having Willard's Woods closed to unleashed dogs, at least on weekends.  Where will you go when jack-booted Imperial Conservation Forces force you off your own land?  Here is what they looked like in a recent "Patriots' Day" parade on Tatooine (Tatooine is in the western part of the state, I think):

We have visited many alternate off-leash recreation areas and will soon be reporting on them.  Here is a partial list:

Lexington

• Paint Mine
• Sutherland
• Joyce Miller Meadow
• Meagherville

Burlington/Woburn

• Land-locked Forest
• Mary Cummings Park

Maine

• Seal Harbor: Long Pond

The Inflatable Strategy

In May of 2010, there was a union protest that ran for about two weeks in front of the Verizon building in Lexington on Waltham Street.  I don't know what the beef was, but the protesters had a large inflatable rat in the bed of a pickup truck.  I don't have a picture of that exact rat, but it looked just like this one - they are in common use around the country for union protests.

Those protesting the arbitrary and capricious Willard's Woods leash restrictions could rent a rat, but they might be the target of union protests for stealing sacred symbols.  Probably it would be better to get a real dog inflatable.  They cost around $1500.

Like most protests and events involving over-sized inflatables, this could backfire.  In 2008 in Berne, Switzerland, artist Paul McCarthy's giant inflatable dog turd broke loose from its mooring and knocked down some power lines.  World headlines carried various versions of "Giant dog turd wreaks havoc at Swiss museum"

Basketball Dog Betrayal

Dear Lexington,

All of Northeast Massachusetts and dog supporters wherever you may be tonight;

The Conservation Commission has voted to close Willard's Woods to unleashed dogs on weekends for a 6 month trial starting in September 2010.

This was announced with a several-month, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a local cable access TV special of the "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of dogs and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team (i.e. the voters) and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Fans of Willard's Woods have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:


"I personally guarantee that the Fans of Willard's Woods will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled Conservation Commission wins one."

You can take it to the bank.  (Take your choice of the thirty of so polluting the urban landscape.)

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Lexington, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously known and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown "appointed ones" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Lexington, Massachusetts. The Conservation Commission will be taking the "curse" with them into the winter. And until they do "right" by Lexington and Massachusetts, the Conservation Commission will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Lexington. Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day...

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU AND YOUR DOGS the unleashed freedom you have long deserved and is long overdue...

Fans of Willard's Woods

Boiling Frog

Think the pending ConCom diktat on unleashed dogs only on weekdays in Willard's Woods is acceptable ?  Think again.  What do you think the ConCom will do in 6 months? Here is the metaphor of the boiling frog (from wikipedia)

The boiling frog story is a widespread anecdote describing a frog slowly being boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to significant changes that occur gradually. According to contemporary biologists the premise of the story is not literally true; an actual frog submerged and gradually heated will jump out. However, a variety of 19th century research experiments suggested that the underlying premise is true, provided the heating is gradual enough.

Next, probably there will be fences.  Here are some that could be used for ConCom Option 3 to divide the land into off-leash and on-leash areas:

Next, no dogs allowed on Conservation land.  Just my luck, they will go for the German Shepherds first as they did here in Luzern.

After that, no dogs off leash anywhere in the town.

It's a slippery slope.

JUNE 22 : URGENT, URGENT, URGENT: WW VOTE TONIGHT

THE VOTE ON WILLARDS WOODS IS TONIGHT, TUESDAY, JUNE 22 CARY HALL, 7 P.M.

It appears that the CC is going to rule SQUARELY against us. They have NOT taken into account the many, many opinions they heard at the public hearing and this whole process has been a sham. Unfortunately, we are going to have to fight--and fight hard--this next battle, perhaps with legal action. Therefore, we need everyone to step up now and participate--this is not a battle that 10 people on the steering committee can fight alone.

WE NEED EVERYONE THERE TONIGHT!!! Although we can not influence the vote this evening, the CC needs to see clearly that they are about to have a VERY ANGRY MOB on their hands.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE COME TONIGHT AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS. DO NOT RELY ON OTHERS TO ATTEND FOR YOU. WE NEED EVERYONE PRESENT!!!! (Even if you can't stay the whole time or have to come late, please just come!!!!)

Bring your buttons, your signs, and your voices. Be prepared to boo and shout when the ruling is made (but no tomato throwing please! :-)


Thanks,






the FOWW Steering Committee