“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
April 25, 2014
I must admit that I find it bothersome finding that candidates put up signs on public property. I find it even more bothersome when those candidates have been in office for far too long and take the residents of Maynard for granted. In my opinion, they are there to feed their egos and push their agendas, satisfied to maintain the status quo with the assistance of their cronies. Perhaps what bothers me even more is witnessing some public officials treating residents attending meetings in good faith and with legitimate concerns, rudely and disrespectfully. I was especially taken aback at how rudely both parents and senior citizens with legitimate safety concerns were treated. Every citizen who goes before a board or committee should be treated with respect, dignity and understanding. The untenable way residents were treated was absolutely shameful. I was also shocked at the way I was treated by one of my colleagues, but I have thick enough skin and am able to recognize a pompous egotistical windbag when I run into one, (they’re just older versions of schoolyard bullies). Every community needs an honest, efficient government concerned with every resident. We’ve fallen on very difficult...
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Posted at: 08:52 PM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Who Will I Support For The BOS?
April 19, 2014
Over the past few weeks many residents have asked me who I will be supporting for the two seats on the Board of Selectmen. First I should explain who I won’t be supporting.
I cannot and will not support any candidate for selectman whose views on 129 Parker Street development would further suppress the economic growth of our community. Housing must also be included in any plan. Those who arbitrarily dismiss a Walmart or Target will never get my vote for selectmen or any other municipal position. We need businesses that will offer residents products at affordable prices and bring in customers from surrounding towns. A high priced supermarket and a few small specialty shops will not achieve this. We need tax relief, we need not compete with Newton, Wellesley , Weston & Wayland. We are Maynard and should be proud of it. Furthermore those who are willing to give TIFs (which are unfair to both existing businesses and taxpaying residents) also need not apply. I would not support any incumbent who has in my opinion obstructed much needed growth and commercial tax revenue, leaving the bulk of the tax burden on hardworking residential taxpayers, while at the same...
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Posted at: 12:07 PM | 1 Comment | Add Comment | Permalink
You can fool some of the people all of the time & all of the people some of the time . . .
April 18, 2014
I find it very interesting that a certain candidate appears to not know the difference between being a "leader" and being a "bully". Speaking from my experience with said candidate I can attest that IMO he displays the characteristics of the latter rather than the former.
Posted at: 09:56 PM | 1 Comment | Add Comment | Permalink
Transparency in Government . . .
February 19, 2014
I guess some things just never change . . .
At least until we say enough is enough!
Posted at: 02:36 PM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
How to make due with less . . .
February 19, 2014
If we don't clean house in the upcoming town elections, this could be the official dress of Maynardians before you know it. (After the last round property tax & water/sewer bills I'm about ready to be fitted for my barrel). 
An astute reader even suggested that we should use the barrels to collect rain water and save on our water bills. I think he's on to something! Perhaps we should all go buy swimming pools off-season, fill them with snow and use the melted snow to get through the summer. If we are really lucky perhaps we would be able to even wash our cars every full moon if we live on a street that begins with a vowel, unless of course that happens to fall on a Monday, then we would be out of luck like those who live on streets that begin with consonants
There is one exception however, if you are are member of the "enlightened clique", then of course you can do whatever the hell you want.
~Jim Buscemi
Posted at: 11:02 AM | 1 Comment | Add Comment | Permalink
Maynard's West End Boys & Auni Saari (Hyden) Circa 1920's
February 17, 2014
West End Boys & Auni Saari (Hyden) Circa 1920's
Auni was one of the very nicest Maynardians I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She always had a warm smile on her face and a cheerful word for all. Those who aren't old enough to remember the "Old Maynard" missed out on a very special time in a wonderful tight knit community filled with nice, sincere & caring people (and a lot lower tax rate) Though Auni has been gone for a long time now, I often think of her with warm memories and a smile.
If only those generations were still here to vote in elections and attend town meetings things would sure be different. I know of at least one selectman who never would have been elected because the older generations would have seen right through his blatantly disingenuous facade, pandering to both sides of an issue to gain votes for his next election, while behind the scenes pushing questionable agendas for his own benefit. Yes they would have seen right through him in a nanosecond just like the Town Meeting slick talkers (who seem to be on par with time...
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Posted at: 09:48 PM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Time For Accountability
February 15, 2014
The sooner elected (& hired) "officials" realize that they are elected to represent us - NOT SPECIAL INTERESTS - that both those elected & hired realize they WORK for us & that they can be prosecuted for weaving their webs of lies & doing wrong by us, that we are not their personal piggy banks and the sooner we throw all of the disingenuous phonies out on their ears, the better we will all be.
Take a stand to stop government waste, patronage & cronyism - starting right here in Maynard! Why is it that less cities and towns appear to be governed by good honest people while more seem to be controlled by unholy cliques?
Don't fall for the "untruths" anymore. Remember politicians don't lie they just "forget to tell the truth", they don't cheat, they just suffer "errors in judgement", they don't refuse to testify, they just "can't recall". I bet they can't recall what they were thinking when they handed out some of the most ridiculous contracts to individuals who must have thought they had won the lottery and couldn't believe that they played the "negotiating team" like a violin. I'll bet they can't recall what they were thinking when they hired...
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Posted at: 07:01 PM | 2 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Due to health issues I have resigned from the Board of Selectmen - by Jim Buscemi
December 6, 2013
Due to the many health issues I have been dealing with & because I need to under go yet more surgery, I have resigned as a member of the Board of Selectmen. I feel it is unfair to the residents of Maynard to be missing so much time on the BOS. However if these upcoming surgeries & procedures can restore my health, I assure everyone I will be back in the public forum as soon as possible. I feel that the working class is under-represented in all levels of government in all levels of government and it was my hope, and still is my hope to be a voice for those who are too often ignored.
Below is a copy of my letter of resignation.
Due to ongoing health problems I must reluctantly resign my position as a member of the Maynard Board of Selectmen.
I feel that I am letting my colleagues and my fellow residents down, however at this time I must focus on getting well and spending time with my family.
When elected, it was my hope to serve the residents of Maynard by being a voice calling for fiscal restraint, tax relief and complete...
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Posted at: 03:06 PM | 0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
Naysayers have no effect on Eye On Maynard
January 9, 2013
I must admit, I don't get why some go on Eye On Maynard to snipe and take shots at the page because we dare to ask questions or post pertinent stories related to current events.
I can't help but notice, but some of those postings come from public employees, and as a taxpayer, I wonder what the policy is regarding public employees posting comments on social media while at work. I think we have a right to know.
No matter what these "snipers" motives may be, Eye On Maynard will continue to ask the questions they've always asked, whether it be regarding discolored water or water smelling like bleach, the reasons for certain expenditures or requests for expenditures, the wisdom of making certain land acquisitions, or whatever the case, (or the current topic) may be. It seems to me in many cases those who don't want the questions asked, are those who don't want the answers known.
It really makes one wonder how they would react if we started asking tough questions. You know, the ones that some might not want us to know the answers to. In the past we have seen all kinds of tactics used. From deciminating "misinformation" and going into "high alert...
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Posted at: 05:18 PM | 2 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink
How should parents and school staff respond to incidents of bullying?
December 22, 2012
Questions for parents of school aged children:
Have any of your children been subjected to bullying at school?
Our 5 year-old daughter who is attending kindergarten at Green Meadow came home yesterday with torn pants & a bandaged knee. She reported that she was pushed at recess by a bully who is in first grade and had to go to the nurse. She reported that this is the same girl who has bullied her in the past and has called her "fatty". She also reported that the child who assaulted her was given a "time out". Our daughter informed us that she doesn't want to go to recess anymore and is afraid to go to school.
I am very concerned about this incident which appears to be becoming a pattern, but what is especially concerning is that we were not notified of this incident by anyone from Green Meadow. This to me is totally unacceptable. I believe when a child is assaulted on school grounds (in this case to the point she required medical attention and her pants were torn in the assault) that school staff should be required to notify parents immediately.
My daughter attended an out of...
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Posted at: 05:57 AM | 1 Comment | Add Comment | Permalink
