Posts Tagged ‘Wakefield Daily Item’

There are heroes walking among us, but the true heroes don’t go around seeking recognition for their deeds. We lost another one of those authentic heroes last week. I count myself fortunate for having known World War II veteran Alfred Willett. Al was 85 years old in 2010 when I had the honor and privilege […]


Mean streets

04Apr25

I’m told that my last column was insensitive to those who despise Elon Musk and Tesla with every fiber of their being. So, allow me to make amends and start off today’s column by saying something positive. Last Saturday was International Tesla Takedown Day, but unlike their brothers and sisters in arms, our local protesters […]


Senior movement

21Mar25

If you ventured to downtown Wakefield last Saturday morning, you may have thought you’d stumbled upon an open-air AARP meeting. In reality, it was a couple of dozen Woodstock alumni holding handmade (or is it handmaid?) signs proclaiming their disapproval of the current administration in Washington.


Monday’s Wakefield Town Council meeting felt like karma. And you know what they say about karma. On Monday, the Town Council pulled the plug on the “Decarbonization Roadmap.” Creating the Roadmap was key step in the process of joining the state’s “Climate Leader Communities” program. To appreciate why this is so delicious, return with me, […]


After the outpouring of love following my first round of Executive Orders, as a Valentine’s Day gift to my readers I am issuing a new list of decrees sure to warm the hearts of the Compassionate Community. When it comes to issuing Executive Orders, I can’t possibly keep up with the new president. Still, I […]


When you attend a lot of municipal meetings, you come to learn that each board has its own pet buzzwords and phrases. But one phrase favored across the board by local government bodies is the term “subject matter experts.” Town boards and committees rely on these subject matter experts to inform and validate their actions […]


Monday, January 20 is Inauguration Day, and while many of you will be celebrating, please try to have some consideration for those who are mourning the Death of Democracy.


Reality bites

27Dec24

Cycling and farmers markets go together like avocado and toast. Wakefield’s Farmers Market even offers a bike valet service for the convenience of its cycling customers during the market season. And now, Wakefield‘s first true bike lane begins right next to the Farmers Market location at Hall Park. A match made in heaven, right? Perhaps […]


Lean and green

07Dec24

It’s both humbling and gratifying when one’s advice is taken to heart, even if it’s for the wrong reasons and after the horse has left the barn. In this space last June, I wrote: “One of the Environmental Sustainability Committee’s Guiding Principles is, ‘Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost.’” I added, “They could start by reducing […]


Much of the attention at Saturday morning’s Town Meeting will be focused on Article 4, the town’s latest plan to comply with the state’s so-called MBTA Communities Act, mandating by-right multifamily zoning in all Massachusetts communities served by the MBTA. Also sure to spark some discussion is a plan to put solar panels on the […]