Normally, I don't post non-Westwood things here or blog my opinion as the primary focus. But I ran across this YouTube video of a "typical" school day in the Netherlands. Check this out:

Can you imagine such a sight in ANY American city or suburb?

I would like to know who the other candidates are for the open seat on the planning board. When I called the town and asked for the names they would not release them. The people that put their names should put something in the paper as to why they didn't step forward just a couple of months ago. Some of the residents who ran for boards actually got out there and knocked on doors and talked to residents. On the planning board like most boards it's what you stand for and not so much what you know when it comes to the board. There is a learning curve for everyone new. Let me be the first to tell you how I feel on different planning board issues. When it comes to open space, I believe we should try to preserve as much open space as we can. Special Permits change the town and I'm not against change but once you make that change you can't go back. Westwood Station is a perfect example of how important the planning board position is in the town. My stand on Westwood Station is I am not against it.
I am against the size and the refusal of the developer to downsize and expand overtime. The developer is not looking at an override in May, we are. When it comes to Wild Star Farm, I believe they are not asking for a Special Permit so they have the legal right to build. The planning board can make recommendations and have a site plan review. The horses using the Lowell Woods is a conservation issue not a planning board issue. For the residents that put their name in for planning board ,you should at least come out and let the residents know how you stand on different issues. You had the opportunity just a couple of months ago to throw your hat in the ring and you did not. Yes it is much easier being a hand picked person from the BOS then getting out there and doing the real work. We have already seen the BOS last time Mr Gale stepped down , the BOS appointed someone else and not the person who came within 19 votes of winning the planning board seat. That race was a virtual tie and Mr Gale wrote a letter that recomended Mr Toffoloni for the planning board position. That being said the BOS ignored the voters choice and felt their vote held more weight.  

So I noticed my recycling truck this morning mixing the plastic and cardboard/paper together. He just grabbed the green recycle tubs and dumped them together.

I've been taking the time to seperate the plastics into 1 bin and the cardboard/paper into another. Now I'm either questioning the recycling or now going to bother seperating out the plastics from the paper.

Have others been seperating or just clumping all recycle into bins?

Library Director Tom Viti has started a blog to provide updates and respond to questions from residents about the new library project. Check it out by following this link to the Library Building Project News site.

FOX25 News ran a special report tonight on how parents and school children in Wakefield have organized a "walking school bus" to encourage and promote kids walking to school. This is one of the programs described/promoted by Safe Routes to Schools. In Westwood, I know Hanlon and Downey are doing "Walk on Wednesdays" as part of their participation in Safe Routes to Schools. Here is the video:

The Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee is meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, June 18) at 7:30pm at Town Hall in the Board of Selectmen's meeting room. All meetings are open to anyone interested in Ped/Bike Safety issues.

Editor's Note: I received a copy of the following letter, sent to Edward Farley, Executive Director, Outdoor Advertising Division, MassHighway, by Dedham Selectman Paul Reynolds, related to the T's plans to deploy new billboards...

Dear Mr. Farley and the entire MassHighway management team,

On behalf of many alarmed constituents in the Dedham/Westwood area, I respectfully offer strong and resolute opposition to the proposed expansion/scaling of billboards along the Commonwealth's highway system.

While we fully understand and appreciate the severe fiscal crisis the State faces, we please ask you to reconsider plans that would steamroll over local jurisdiction/bylaws and add serious visual blight with increasingly garish, large-scale signage. Our residents will forced to live with these eyesores towering over their neighborhoods everyday, and the overall aesthetic, residential, and commercial real estate values will be seriously impacted in the surrounding areas.

Thank you for your consideration, and for all you do to ensure the maintenance, safety, and beauty of the Commonwealth's highway system.

Sincerely,
Selectman Paul Reynolds

from the Town web site...

Interested in serving in local government?

If you would like to serve the Town of Westwood on one of the following committees: Communications & Technology, Conservation, Council on Aging, Cultural, Health, Historical, Recreation, Youth & Family Services, as well as the recently established Roy London Award Committee, which will choose a worthy recipient who has served the community, please contact the Board of Selectmen’s office at 781-326-4172 by July 3, 2009.

Henry Gale, a long standing member of the Planning Board, has indicated that he is moving to another community and will be stepping down from his membership on the Planning Board. If you are interested in being considered to fill the expected vacancy on the Planning Board, please contact the Board of Selectmen’s Office at 781-326-4172 by July 3, 2009.

Monthly meeting of Ped/Bike Safety Committee. Come join us and help find ways to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in Westwood.

Meetings are 3rd Thursday of each month. This meeting will be held in the Board of Selectmen's meeting room at Town Hall.

We had a great turnout this weekend as five of us trekked into Boston to run the Harpoon 5-miler on Saturday. John Isberg left us all in the dust, running an impressive 7:03 pace--almost a minute ahead of the rest of us.The race raised money for the Angel Fund, and afterwards, we enjoyed some free beer.

A visitor sent me a suggestion to find out how to join any local softball, basketball, etc. leagues. I know a few people who play, but I don't know who organizes these things. Any suggestions?