I'd like to wish everyone out there in the Peabody Blogosphere a happy and healthy new year. The way I look at things in the Peabody politics aspect ... it can't really get any worse! I have placed a new poll to the right of this post, please feel free to participate and use the comment section to tell us why!
What started as merely a rumor at The Peabody Patriot has transpired into a point of FACT. Newly elected School Committee member Jarrod Hochman IS on the advisory board of the Road to Success Charter High School . TT sees this as a huge conflict of interest and grounds to have his newly won school committee seat stricken. Also an appointed member of the Peabody Conservation Commission, I wonder what else he has his paws in?
As requested, I have taken my "shut-in" ass out for a drive with my handy dandy camera. A Twisted Tanner viewer asked that I post a story about a new strip mall being built in her neighborhood on Lynnfield street. Above is a photo taken today, what are your thoughts on this project? I am also hearing that the run down building behind Craig's pond is going to be an apartment complex? thoughts?
Dear Twisted Tanner,
Starting a new contest is always an exciting task. If you have not already noticed, I have already made up a few "nicknames" for some of our illustrious elected officials. Now it is YOUR TURN !! Pictured above is one of your 11 city council members, I leave it entirely up to the viewing audience here at The Twisted Tanner to pick a "nickname" that most fits his leadership qualities. Game on! www.twistedtanner.com
State education officials are in the midst of conducting a comprehensive review of the city’s public schools, which is done every six years by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This should be a very interesting process seeing that in the opinion of most, a few of the current schools should be condemned! You can read the story from the Weekly News HERE , they also offer contact info to the state in case you want to help them in their inspection.
President BARACK OBAMA was invited to address a major gathering of the American Indian Nation two weeks ago in upstate New York.
They can all brag about Peabody having the lowest tax rate around, but for how much longer? These last two years of Mayor McCheese's tenure will prove to be a costly one, Our taxes are rising at a rate higher, MUCH HIGHER than other surrounding municipalities. A combined average tax rate of $262.00 will put much strain on homeowners and businesses due to the spending problems and irresponsible decisions being made by our hack leaders.
Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning last November's Presidential election:
The City of Peabody has recently lost yet another law suit. This one was in the paper over the weekend where a school teacher volunteers to chaperon a high school class on a ski trip. The teacher falls down and injures herself, the school claims no liability and loses having to repay lost wages. Here is the story from the Salem Evening News. My view is that she was "on the job" during this eventful trip and that she should be covered. What do you think? This IS NOT the first time this has happened.
With all but one sponsor left and an indefinite leave of absence from golf, it seems that the mighty Tiger (Eldridge Woods) has cast a shadow over the PGA. Another well known PGA professional states: "he has ruined the sport of golf", that may be a bit drastic in my opinion, to be honest...it may actually even out the fields a bit!
As the year nears it's end and "Sour-puss" resumes his chair on the city council, a new city council president will have to be chosen. This is a big decision with it being a non-election year. Sources close to TT say that Anne Manning will be the next City Council President, leading the way for Dave Gravel to hold the post next year.
ORIGINAL STORY...
I would like to take the time to convey a message written in today's Salem Evening News. Please take a glance at the EDITORIAL written by Carleen Eddy. This seems to be the opinion of many, yet we continue to elect these tax and spend liberal rubberstampers.
According to todays's Salem Evening News, Mayor McCheese has chosen a new Director of Community Development. Her name is Karen Sawyer and she is coming to us from Methuen MA. HERE is a direct link to the story.
On December 7th, 1941 at 03:42 hours Hawaiian time, Admiral Chuichi Nagumo ordered the aircraft to take off from the Japanese aircraft carrier to attack the United States fleet at the US Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Five midget submarines had been sent to torpedo US ships after the air attack started. None of the Japanese midget submarines returned. The minesweeper USS Condor had spotted a midget submarine outside the Pearl Harbor entrance and alerted the USS Ward, a destroyer. Hours later, the USS Ward fired the first shots that began the Pacific Theater of World War II, when she attacked and sank a midget submarine, probably the same one that was spotted around 0600 hours on the morning of December 7th, 1941. Out of ten sailors aboard, only one survived, Kazuo Sakamaki, who became the first Japanese prisoner of war. One of the midget submarines that entered the harbor was able to fire a torpedo, which struck the USS West Virginia, and this may have been the first shot fired by the Japanese.
Ward 5 is plagued with empty businesses up and down both sides of rt 1. Lots of land that have been made into reflect such images as the Afgan mountains. All approved by the #1 clown in charge of that said ward, Dave Gamache. Read the STORY published in today's Boston Globe North section and see who all of the players are. Specifically the names of the "big city" lawyers. Sure...much can be blamed on the economy, but bad decisions by our elected officials to allow these plans without some consequential conditions if they should rescind should have been put into place and could have made this less painful.
Does anyone out there in Blogland find it to be strikingly odd that there are multiple reader board signs throughout the city and only 3 of them have been targeted? This Peabody tax payer sees it to be strikingly odd that all 3 of those "big bad signs" are all with-in one mile of one another. Meanwhile, smack dab in the middle of all of these signs is the North Shore Bank on rt. 114 where Mikey's previous rubber stamp goon councilor works. NO MENTION ABOUT THAT BIG BAD READER BOARD SIGN! Oh, and then there is Sonic...
Apparently the rumors that continually thrust them self about here in the dark city will all eventually come true. Rumors that our city of "Pee"body needs stronger, more efficient leadership couldn't be any more evident when you read today's story in the Salem News in regards to Salem's recent contract negotiations with their police patrolmen.
With just about a week to go, let us all know whom you think will fit the bill to replace the late Ted Kennedy. I have positioned a quick poll to the right hand side of the Twisted Tanner for your participation. You can visit all of candidate's websites by clicking the links below.
Mayor McCheese Bonfanti is 100% behind raising the Optional Meals and Hotels tax!! Now that we are looking at a 9+ MILLION DOLLAR bond for the Vocational School merger, is this how we are going to pay for it?
Well ladies and gents, the election process has taken it's course and Anne "The Ice Queen" Manning has gotten her wishes! First she was re-elected, now she will get to force that $800,000.00 optional meals tax that she brought up before the election down our throats! That's right folks, open up wide or bend over, which ever floats your boat, it is on the agenda for this week's meeting!
I would personally like to thank you all for allowing me into the Peabody Blogworld and patricipating here at The Twisted Tanner! Happy Thanksgiving to all!
A few comments have arisen lately regarding Jimmy "The Grouch" Liacos' vote on the Voke Merger. Even better, how about his future vote to accept the 9+ million dollar bond? What are your thoughts? Should he, being an employee at the school, be able to cast a vote being a sitting elected city official?
The rumor appears to be true! Click on the link the I have provided HERE and you will see that our previous DPW director is now working in N. Reading! Apparently they haven't been informed of any of Peabody's past problems while tricky Dicky was at the helm. Perhaps they should pick up the phone and call the DEP!
Did you really think that this was NOT going to pass? I would first like to thank "FACTS JACK!" for posting comments in this thread that sparked the attendence of a well respected elected official, Beverley Griffin. With her help we were able to educate some folks at the last minute as to why this in our opinion was not a good decision. It then led to posting on The Patriot blog...
Saturday will be the day that determines the outcome of the ward 4 council race. Just 1 vote separated a long-term incumbent and someone we never heard of until 5 months ago. The lawyers for both candidates are ready and the ballots are under lock and key. Either candidate could pick up votes and most likely will, on the other hand both candidates could also lose votes. Let's hope for the future of Peabody that Grayson emerges the victor! HERE is your latest on this race.
My moles have recently informed me of some possible "side-dealings" going on between a certain city councilor and Aggregate Industries. If you do not already know, Aggregate Industries has been put under a microscope the past 2 years by ward 6 councilor "Sour-Puss" Sinewitz. To satisfy special permits, they have been obligated to present several "closing plan" options to the City of Peabody.
No news in the local tabloids this morning, so I figured that I would venture out on a trek of Spring pond and it's lagoons...etc. What I observed was a bit dis-heartening. Both of the lagoons were full of water, from what I understand only one should be wet at a time. I also followed the stream down the hill and noticed multiple areas of ALUM deposits and rusty shades of water. There is an old broken/dismantled wooden structure (bridge?) about 20 feet or so away from lowwer Spring pond along the stream just before it empties into the pond, the smell there was not pleasant.
Many different thoughts, comments, and opinions in Tom's latest drivel. I am interested to see what you all come away from this piece with. Click on the image to the right and give it a quick read, then let me know if anything imparticular sticks out to you.
According to my moles, the latest word from Podunk NH. is that we may indeed see Fitzy back in 01960 in 2 years for a run for mayor. Do any of you out there in the Blogosphere think that he has a chance? I think he may! Other rumors circulating locally hint that Edward "I don't have an opinion" Bettencourt and Dave "The Rat" Gravel will be seeking the same seat. I've even been told that Anne "The Ice Queen" Manning may be looking towards the corner office?
Well it's been a while since we've had real leadership here in Peabody, and I guess that is why every new project seems to end up with his name on it! I can't remember how long his coattails were back when he was delivering my mail as a child, but apparently they were pretty long...Bonfanti has been riding on them for 8 long years now!!! Click HERE to read the story.
