Then And Now

Covered bridge at Old Sturbridge Village in the late
1950's.

Same covered bridge today from the opposite direction.

The Sidewalks Are Clear! The Sidewalks Are Clear!

I was driving along Route 20 from Route 148 this morning, on my way to do some errands, when I saw in the distance, a small Bobcat type type tractor with a snowthower attachment on the front of it clearing the sidewalks.  It was actually clearing the sidewalks on the north side of Route 20 while being trailed by a "support" pick up truck.

The tractor was taking out the entire snow berm that usually separates the street from a cleared sidewalk leaving only small mounds of snow around the utility poles where it could not reach.  One long section that had been cleared by hand the owner of the property along the side walk was left intact, and not bothered by the tractor.  Good idea. 

The cleared sidewalks looked great, and safe passage along Main Street in Sturbridge has been restored.

Now, whether the timing of the sidewalk clearing had anything to do with yesterdays post here on this page, or folks contacting the town hall on their own, or maybe it was just scheduled to be cleared today anyway, it doesn't matter at this point. The clearing may be a few days late, but what matters is the sidewalks along Route 20 have been cleared by the town, as it always should be.  Pedestrians can once again safely walk along Main Street without having to run the gauntlet in the street from driveway to driveway.

To whomever made the decision to clear the sidewalks today, thank you.  Well done.  Nothing can replace keeping our residents safe when it is within our power, and is our responsibility to do so.  

It's going to be a long winter, keep up the good work.

Shame

For five years I have used this space to write about many things, many of those were about Sturbridge.  The good, bad, and the silly were all written about here.  My inspiration to write is the incredible pride I have in being a resident of this town.  When I see something that is wonderful, I have written about it, as well as when I have seen something that could use a bit of fixing.

I've also written about the downright foolish things.  There have been a lot of those.  I live for those moments.

Today I felt something I have never felt about my town before.  I felt shame.

I saw many people walking on Route 20 because the town will not plow the sidewalks.   The recent storm dumped a foot of snow on Sturbridge, and our roads were tended to in good fashion as they always are, but for yet another winter our sidewalks were not touched.  The town has ruled that those that own a business, or their home, along a sidewalk must clear the sidewalk in front of their property themselves.  The town will not do it.

How is the towns responsibility for the town built roadways any different than the town built sidewalks is beyond me.  Property owners aren't required to shovel the street yet, but there may come a time.

Driving along Route 20 showed almost the entire sidewalk was untouched except in some areas that had been shoveled with a path about 18 inches wide from property line to property line, and then stopped.  Some of the shoveled areas still had many inches of snow left in place.

The most ludicrous sight I saw was the sidewalk along the town owned land at the corner of Main Street and Cedar Street had been plowed by the town right to the property line, and at the property line the the unplowed sidewalk remained.

I'll tell you what this says. It says that the town will only make safe for the residents pieces of sidewalk along town land.  At the end of the town owned land, where the unplowed sidewalks live, where the safe town path has led you, is a path that is obviously unsafe to tread.

The town knows this, but will continue to clear bits and pieces leading to the unsafe paths forcing you to walk in the street. The town is actually encouraging you to walk in the street, instead of using the sidewalks we paid to have constructed.  When the sidewalks were built they were built as year round sidewalks, not as seasonal paths.

Imagine a family pushing a stroller on a sunny winter day on the roadway of Route 20 near Motel 6, and a car being driven by a driver unfamiliar with the area rounds the bend, and takes out the entire family.

It can happen, but lets just sit back sand see how long it will take.  Like we are waiting to see when the next fatality occurs at the intersection of New Boston Road, and Route 20.

Bottom line is the sidewalks were built to make foot traffic safe for people along the roadways in town.  They were built for us as year round structures.  We did not agree to them being three season.

If the town can drive their tractor from the town shed to the corner of Main and Cedar, and back again, then how much more money is it going to cost to clear the sidewalks on the way there, and back again?

Really.  How much money did we save?

I challenge the Selectmen to give a rational reason why this bylaw is in place along with an accounting of just how much money has been saved since it went into effect.

Are we in that much fiscal trouble here in Sturbridge that we can no longer afford to perform simple highway maintenance?

First Day Hike At Heins Farm

Enjoy a First Day Hike

January 1^st, 2013, 2 PM

Heins Farm Conservation lands Parking at 197 Leadmine Rd. 

Join Sturbridge Tree Warden Tom Chamberland on this guided hike, exploring our winter landscape, Hike is about 1.5 miles long, will last about 2 hours, Children welcome, no pets please, dress for the weather & snow on trails, bad weather will cancel, Bring your favorite winter tracking or tree ID book

Early Winter Wanderings At Old Sturbridge Village

I like to take advantage of Old Sturbridge Village being just down the street whenever I can, especially if I'm home alone, and Mary is off at work.  It's a place we have always enjoyed together.  Today, it is 29 F, and I had some time, so turned into the village for a hike.  No matter how often I go, I am always finding something different.  Today, a group of school children came across the river from the day camp side.  They were dressed in period outfits from the 1830's. Some had metal lunch buckets, and others had wooden baskets.

As I passed a small group of girls, one looked up at me from under her quilted, cotton hat, and greeted me with a happy, "Good day!".  I wished her a good day in return, and smiled as I walked ahead of the crowd.  Her clothes of a long ago time, had given her permission to greet me as she had.  It would never have had happened in the parking lot of Walmart.  We have become to cautious with our interactions today, and we teach our children the same.

The day was bright, and the landscape glistened in the snowy frosting, but that wonderful greeting from such a happy little lady truly made my day.  It was obvious she was not only comfortable, she had been learning as well.  Salutations in the 1830's were very important, and showed good manners.  I wish the same could be said today.

Dirt road leading out of Old Sturbridge Village towards
the Quinebaug River.

School children spending their vacation in the 1830's
at Old Sturbridge Village.

Wool clothes and a metal lunch buckets, essentials of the
day.

A pair of girls scurrying across the common to catch up
with their friends.

It's always warmer in a flock of friends.