Letters to the Editor

Brewer assures residents of Veterans' Services continuity

To the Editor:

It has been said that facts shouldn't get in the way of a good story. The story in today's (the March 6) Boston Herald relative to Secretary Tom Kelley's "demotion" is false and misleading. We want to assure the readers that the Department of Veterans' Services Secretary position remains intact. We have confirmed with Governor Patrick, Secretary Kirwan (Administration and Finance), and people at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, that Secretary Kelley maintains the same level of influence as he did under former Governor Romney's administration.

In 2003, former Governor Mitt Romney appointed the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) Commissioner Tom Kelley to the position of Secretary of Veteran's Services. Under the direction of the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Secretary Kelley oversees DVS which provides benefits for those men and women residing in the Commonwealth who served our country bravely. Governor Patrick has not changed the Secretary's role in his new administration.

As the chairmen of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, we have worked tirelessly for the veterans and will continue this endeavor. We commend Secretary Kelley for his service to the Commonwealth.

Stephen M. Brewer

Senate Chair

and Anthony J. Verga

House Chair

Town warrant correction

To the Editor:

The Ashby Conservation Commission would like to correct a reporting error in last week's Community Journal. We have placed an article on the Town Warrant to ask the town to accept the donation of a parcel of land, not the purchase of land. It is most unfortunate and terribly misleading that this erroneous reporting was tacked on to the end of the article entitled "Ashby can't sustain spending level." We would like to assure the residents of Ashby that we are not proposing a land purchase at this time of financial difficulty.

Cathy Kristofferson Ashby Conservation Commission

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