Letters to the Editor

Selectmen offer support for former member

To the Editor:

To: Residents Of The Town Of Westminster

We support Preston D. Baker's candidacy for election to the Board of Selectmen. There are many reasons why we enthusiastically and wholeheartedly support Preston's bid to serve the town of Westminster once again as a selectman. Here are a few of them.

During the last 10 years of our joint community service, we have come to know and respect this life-long resident of Westminster. First, Preston Baker has served the town in several capacities, including selectman, Public Works Commissioner, Town Landfill Committee, New Town Hall Building Committee and others. His service with some of these has spanned almost two decades. Preston's leadership is always objective and positive and in the best interest of the town and you, the taxpayer. During his various "tours" on the Board of Selectmen, he has consistently been the voice of seasoned judgment when others were recommending a less than wise course of action for the town. Second, his experience and knowledge of the public works processes and business has been undeniably helpful on numerous occasions, resulting in the Advisory Board and Board of Selectman recommending a sound and reasonable course of action. Third, he played a pivotal role in the hiring of the town planner, and was a strong supporter of the board's position regarding land preservation and responsible growth in our community. Finally, his contribution on the Landfill Committee has been and will continue to be a strategic and financial long-range success to the town due in large part to Preston's leadership and participation. One of the projects that directly benefited from this was our new Town Hall.

When the polls open on Tuesday, April 24, please come out and vote for another three years of experienced leadership. Vote for Preston Baker for Board of Selectmen.

Lorraine J. Emerson

John F. Fairbanks Thomas P. O'Toole

Westminster Board of Selectmen

Frustration with lack of plowing, thanks police

To the Editor:

During the snowstorm on Sunday morning I got a call that my teenage son's car slid off of the road in Ashburnham. As other cars were stranded in the same spot where River Styx Road meets Crosby Road, we were frustrated that the roads still had not been sanded or plowed at noontime. I understand that the DPW has priorities but with multiple cars stuck in a valley area, it seems this area would be somewhere near the top of the list.

I went to the police station and was assisted by an officer who helped us out tremendously, especially given the fact that we could not just leave the car where it was stuck. I was so impressed by this officer's concern for my problem, I asked him his name. He identified himself as Sergeant Robert Brennan. In light of the fact that I've read his name many times in the paper in the past few years, I thought it was important to publicly thank Sergeant Brennan for his help and to let him know that we appreciate his representation of Ashburnham as having the same good small town service that we have gotten used to in Westminster.

Jennifer Shenk

Westminster