Editorial
Recognizing service
      Over the last few weeks and months everyone has been focused on the details of local budgets and how to handle the increases in costs and the losses in revenue. But every now and then town officials need to step away from that and focus on the good and the service in our communities.
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Letters to the Editor
      Thankful for cooperation between church, community To the Editor: I have to admit that when my family and I moved here to pastor Peoples Church over three years ago, we knew nothing about Ashburnham. We were excited and maybe a little anxious to learn about our new community, and that is exa...
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL QUESTION OF THE WEEK
      Are you going to visit the Westminster library at its temporary location? Yes, a little drive won't stop me. I don't go to the library ever. No, it's too far out of the way. Cast your vote online at www.thecommunityjournal.
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Speak Out
Unfunded mandates limit local options, increase local spending
Dick Mackey WESTMINSTER RESIDENT
      One reality that all residents of Ashburnham and Westminster as well as every other town and city in Massachusetts would agree on is that the state mandates too many programs while at the same time falls short on funding them. This is especially true in our public schools.
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Resident says tax impact is too much
      To the Editor: Now that the dust has settled after the defeat of Proposition 2 1/2 last year and the Town Administrator and the Superintendent of Schools can't figure out why, I think they should go back to school. In the last few months a paper was sent around giving the tax rates of the citie...
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Fresh Air Fund says thanks to hosts
      To the Editor: National Volunteer Week is one of the highlights of the year for The Fresh Air Fund, and I would like to use this opportunity to extend my deepest thanks to our dedicated Fresh Air hosts, volunteers and supporters in the Gardner area. They truly embody the meaning of the 2008 Nati...
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