But, remember the indigenous peoples who don't share the same feelings. Their experience was entirely different from the English settlers. For one group it was the beginning, the other the beginning of the end.
I have mixed feelings about the day as my family was to follow these pilgrims path in 1630 when the Winthrop Fleet brought them to the shores of Massachusetts. I hate to think that Daggetts or Purintons (or any settlers for that matter) were in any part responsible for the downfall and destruction of the local tribes' way of life. Of course they were, in the most basic sense by being part of a group of people who thought that they had a right to 'settle' on someone else's land. I'd like to think that they were at least cognizant of that fact, and were possibly ones who at least tried to have a mutually beneficial relationship.
These days those issues aren't what most people think about on Thanksgiving day. Come to think of it, on the original Thanksgiving most were thinking of themselves and the fortunes of their group and little of the people whose lives and lands they would eventually dispossess.
This Thanksgiving while we are giving thanks for family and friends, the bountiful feast, and the fellowship of the day, it would be good to give some thought to those whose lives were
irrevocably changed by our forefathers. I certainly will.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
New Parking Garage Elevators Out Of Action Again
Anyone who needed to use the elevators in the new parking garage either for convenience or necessity Sunday were out of luck. This isn't the first time I've noticed this condition. The last time I went to use them they were turned off also.
Personally, I parked on the top level and was only inconvenienced by having to take the stairs to the top level, but anyone in a wheelchair or with any other type of medical necessity wasn't able to. After I shot a couple of photos for this blog I went over to the Red River Theaters to see if the manager was aware of the situation. As she hurriedly came to speak with me she was obviously already on top of the situation and was in a rush to deal with it.
Now I don't know the reason for them being turned off this time. I would hope that there aren't maintenance issues already, they were just installed! I do know that along with some of the other issues I've read about in the Monitor having to do with the layout of the parking pay stations, the new theaters are already swimming upstream to gain some traction with patrons.
The theaters now need a nice comfortable restaurant in the ground floor space next door as soon as possible. What they don't need are elevators that are shut down and other problems that should have been foreseen in the design and planning process.
On a brighter note, there were lots of folks coming and going in the lobby of the theater and nice friendly employees to help them, and of course the wonderful smell of popcorn.
I'll be speaking to the parking people this week to ask a few questions and will posts back with the results. In the mean time go see a movie! Here's a couple of links to the S.N.O.B (Somewhat North of Boston) Film Festival including their MySpace page.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Do you wonder why voter turnout is so low?
I had the date set on my calendar. I also had it set as a reminder on my computer, in more than one place. But just to be sure I had the day right (my mind is a very confused place) I went to the Concord Monitor's web site. I thought for sure they would have some mention of it on the 'front page', probably somewhere right near the top of the page. After all it's a very important day is it not? It's one of the foundations of civilized society, electing local leaders who will debate and decide important matters that affect our communities and our lives. But I saw nothing there at the top of the page. I scrolled down and still nothing. "Has it been changed?", I said to myself. Who knows these days, but I thought no that's not likely, and I surely would have heard something if it had.
I don't get the paper version of the Monitor, it's one of the things I do without now that I live on a severely limited income. Besides, I have an internet connection and I get most of my news from there. Maybe there was something in the 'paper' version about getting out and voting but I saw nothing in the "Concord Monitor online".
Why is that? Did a major news story happen that day and there wasn't enough room?
Of course not. Getting out and voting should have been the lead story of the day.
Wasn't it deemed important enough, or did the Monitor figure that everyone already knew so it wasn't necessary? Maybe because they had already done multiple articles about the candidates running for the various offices there wasn't anything left to say until after the votes were counted. But it was important. It is important. On a national level it's as important as it's ever been. But locally it's important too, and it seems that so few take it seriously enough to change their normal routine or drive a few extra miles to the polling station.
Instead of writing articles after the fact about how low voter turnout is these days shouldn't we be re-emphasizing the importance of being involved and encouraging as many people as possible to get out and vote for the best person to represent their district, town, state, or whatever?
Shouldn't we strive to increase turnout and participation more and more each election cycle?
Shouldn't people be reminded how important voting is?
Yes, and yes, and local papers like the Concord Monitor (and that includes the online version) should lead that effort. There should have been a headline reading "Get out and vote!" in large bold letters for all to see with maps detailing the polling places for each neighborhood and summaries about the candidates. As busy as many people are these days some need the prodding and encouragement, and the reminder to exercise their right (and privilege) to vote.
Every time an article is written about voter apathy and low voter turnout, news organizations should ask themselves "did we do everything we could have to get citizens to the polls?".
I don't get the paper version of the Monitor, it's one of the things I do without now that I live on a severely limited income. Besides, I have an internet connection and I get most of my news from there. Maybe there was something in the 'paper' version about getting out and voting but I saw nothing in the "Concord Monitor online".
Why is that? Did a major news story happen that day and there wasn't enough room?
Of course not. Getting out and voting should have been the lead story of the day.
Wasn't it deemed important enough, or did the Monitor figure that everyone already knew so it wasn't necessary? Maybe because they had already done multiple articles about the candidates running for the various offices there wasn't anything left to say until after the votes were counted. But it was important. It is important. On a national level it's as important as it's ever been. But locally it's important too, and it seems that so few take it seriously enough to change their normal routine or drive a few extra miles to the polling station.
Instead of writing articles after the fact about how low voter turnout is these days shouldn't we be re-emphasizing the importance of being involved and encouraging as many people as possible to get out and vote for the best person to represent their district, town, state, or whatever?
Shouldn't we strive to increase turnout and participation more and more each election cycle?
Shouldn't people be reminded how important voting is?
Yes, and yes, and local papers like the Concord Monitor (and that includes the online version) should lead that effort. There should have been a headline reading "Get out and vote!" in large bold letters for all to see with maps detailing the polling places for each neighborhood and summaries about the candidates. As busy as many people are these days some need the prodding and encouragement, and the reminder to exercise their right (and privilege) to vote.
Every time an article is written about voter apathy and low voter turnout, news organizations should ask themselves "did we do everything we could have to get citizens to the polls?".
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Why Am I Being Forced To Breathe Cigarrette fumes? (and why has it been allowed to go on for so long?)
I just got up from the computer and went into the bathroom. As soon as I opened the door I was hit with the stench of cigarette smoke. Big problem -- I don't smoke.
This is an ongoing issue ever since we had some "Energy Improvements" company come in and replace the bathroom fan-light combination and kitchen ceiling light with what I assume were touted as energy-efficient florescent units (which are much dimmer than the previous lights). I didn't notice the ventilation problem until the apartment directly above me was rented. Soon after that I noticed odors in my bathroom that weren't mine. Now the cooking smells were fine, but the first time I opened the bathroom door and smelled a strong odor of cigarette smoke I almost threw up. And just the other night I was awakened by the smell of tobacco in my bedroom and realized that I hadn't left the fan on in the bathroom. Something must be done about this! It's unhealthy, annoying, and I'm betting it violates state and/or federal laws.
Since I brought the matter to the attention of the Hodges management and maintenance personnel I was told that "there's nothing we can do about it", and another time "just run the fan" (of course that's saving energy now isn't it?). The former quote was during a quarterly inspection in which someone from maintenance, and the property manager were present.
Since then I have learned from another resident down the hall from me that she's had the same issue, she brought it to the attention of CATCH, and was given (by Hodges) one, and then two air filter/fans similar to the expensive ones you've seen on TV but much cheaper (and I do mean cheaper). And finally, I brought this issue up again recently to our property manager and pretty much all I got was a shrug. I wasn't offered any air filter or any other solution. At that point I mentioned that if this issue was brought to the attention of state or federal authorities someone would be in big trouble.
Q: Is it possible that this issue had something to do with Hodges not managing CATCH properties anymore (as of November 1st)? TBD
Q: Did anyone from CATCH or Hodges contact the company that replaced the fans to find out what they did to create this unhealthy and illegal condition and rectify it or hold them accountable in any way? I haven't seen any evidence of that.
Q: Did CATCH/Hodges Development Corp. do anything to rectify the problem themselves other than to provide cheap air filters (and only after a resident complained to CATCH)? No.
Q: Do I still have to breathe cigarette smoke coming from another apartment? Yes.
Since that time Hodges Development Corp. has been replaced by "MB Management" for reasons unknown to me at this time. I will be speaking to CATCH directly about this and other concerns but it shouldn't be contingent upon me to go to them to rectify this existing and known issue. They know about the unhealthy (and illegal?) situation and they've done nothing [to date].
Some of the questions I have for them are:
1. What were the reasons for the management change?
2. Was there any communication between the Hodges maintenance staff and the new maintenance staff at MB management, concerning among other things any specific quirks/issues relating to specific properties (like the steam heating system and the mis-configured wiring in the Endicott, or where the cable/telco access rooms are)?
3. Who was the energy improvement company that replaced the bathroom fans/lights (and the kitchen lights that are much dimmer than before) and are they going to be held accountable?
4. What did [that] company do to the ventilation system to cause fumes/odors from one apartment to flow into other apartments?
5. What is CATCH's plan to remedy the [illegal] situation?
6. Why haven't the people who videotaped the condition of our apartments prior to construction returned to inspect the apartments for potential damage done by the construction vibrations?
There's a crack in my bedroom wall next to the window [now] that they should take note of.
7. When is the exterior of the Endicott going to be painted? Heck, when is someone going to bother to even clean the entry ways of the building?
I was told by a manager of the Pachamama store on the ground floor that the owner of the sections of the building that CATCH doesn't own was trying to secure a grant to fix the exterior.
- Does CATCH have any similar plans?
8. Does CATCH/the construction company feel any obligation to the residents whose air conditioners died prematurely (like mine) from all the construction dust/dirt (and mortar that ended up sprayed onto our windows and A/C units when it was being finished) to provide some form of compensation?
9. Why do (or do) they have a resident getting a free apartment plus a stipend for cleaning the building and being the resident contact who works full time, when the carpets are stained, the laundry room is disgusting, and even after he supposedly vacuums the carpets are still dirty? Plus I mentioned the entry ways, which haven't been cleaned [ever that I've seen].
- When I spoke to our [Hodges] property manager about spills/dirt in the elevator that sometimes remain for a day or more before being cleaned up, I even offered to clean them myself if they could provide a mop, bucket, and ringer in the maintenance closet adjacent to my door, to no avail.
10. Referring to #9, Why don't they have someone who is on-site all the time? Residents complain that he's not there during the day, and after he gets home is tired and frequently sleeping and unavailable. I'd be willing to bet that there's someone living in the building right now that would love to get a free apartment and stipend that would be there during the day/night, and actually care about keeping the place looking good (inside and out).
- I'm hoping that he's not being shielded from responsibility because he's a CATCH volunteer...
I frequently make coffee and take it with me while I walk around the block picking up trash, brushing away cigarette butts from around the new benches in front of the building, picking up [some of] the trash left around the dumpster behind the Lighting Place and next to the brand new parking garage, and also trash scattered around the nicely landscaped section just built down at the corner of Pleasant St. extension and Storrs St.. If I'm out walking around and I see trash I usually pick it up and put it in one of the nearby trash cans. I'm frequently cleaning up trash strewn about when the dumpster driver empties the dumpster or food and/or broken beer bottles from the Green Martini are left lying on the pavement (and sometimes in the middle of the stairs) next to the dumpster.
If I could afford it I'd buy one of those dustpan/trash containers with a handle and a broom to take on my walks around the block (I don't know how I'd carry my coffee though).
Why does it seem that I'm the only one who cares enough to at least try to keep the block clean?
I guess that most people think that it's someone else's problem.
Another thing I can't understand is why can't the city of Concord have it's workers clean the area? I see them changing out the trash bags in the early mornings but they walk right past trash strewn about the brand new sitting area on the corner that was so nicely landscaped. All that nice new construction and landscaping and it was just a matter of days until the trash started accumulating.
For that matter, why has the city of Concord let it's streets and highways get so neglected with weeds growing out all over the place, and other unsightly areas neglected until someone complains loudly enough to the right person? And why do we frequently have to wait until the day after a snowstorm for the downtown side street sidewalks to be cleared and sanded?
And why don't the residents of the Endicott have any parking spots provided for them so that we aren't threatened daily with towing ($150.00 ransom I've been forced to pay once already) because we park in the big parking lot across the street?
And finally, will I ever get a response to my email request to Clay McCuistion who's the "blog wrangler" for the Concord Monitor online's "blogsNH"?
A while ago I wrote to him (following the instructions at the top of the page for people wishing to "blog here") and haven't heard anything back.
I just checked the date I sent the email and it's been eleven days! So I guess I'll send it again in case it got lost, and if I have to I'll go to the Concord Monitor offices and hand deliver it.
Hopefully you'll be reading blog posts from me at blogsNH in the very near future!
-UPDATE [11/10/07]: I got a brief email from Mr. McCuistion the other day informing me he's on vacation and wouldn't be back until November 2oth.
All those questions and more will have to wait for another day and another post in The Endicott Dispatch. Stay tuned...
This is an ongoing issue ever since we had some "Energy Improvements" company come in and replace the bathroom fan-light combination and kitchen ceiling light with what I assume were touted as energy-efficient florescent units (which are much dimmer than the previous lights). I didn't notice the ventilation problem until the apartment directly above me was rented. Soon after that I noticed odors in my bathroom that weren't mine. Now the cooking smells were fine, but the first time I opened the bathroom door and smelled a strong odor of cigarette smoke I almost threw up. And just the other night I was awakened by the smell of tobacco in my bedroom and realized that I hadn't left the fan on in the bathroom. Something must be done about this! It's unhealthy, annoying, and I'm betting it violates state and/or federal laws.
Since I brought the matter to the attention of the Hodges management and maintenance personnel I was told that "there's nothing we can do about it", and another time "just run the fan" (of course that's saving energy now isn't it?). The former quote was during a quarterly inspection in which someone from maintenance, and the property manager were present.
Since then I have learned from another resident down the hall from me that she's had the same issue, she brought it to the attention of CATCH, and was given (by Hodges) one, and then two air filter/fans similar to the expensive ones you've seen on TV but much cheaper (and I do mean cheaper). And finally, I brought this issue up again recently to our property manager and pretty much all I got was a shrug. I wasn't offered any air filter or any other solution. At that point I mentioned that if this issue was brought to the attention of state or federal authorities someone would be in big trouble.
Q: Is it possible that this issue had something to do with Hodges not managing CATCH properties anymore (as of November 1st)? TBD
Q: Did anyone from CATCH or Hodges contact the company that replaced the fans to find out what they did to create this unhealthy and illegal condition and rectify it or hold them accountable in any way? I haven't seen any evidence of that.
Q: Did CATCH/Hodges Development Corp. do anything to rectify the problem themselves other than to provide cheap air filters (and only after a resident complained to CATCH)? No.
Q: Do I still have to breathe cigarette smoke coming from another apartment? Yes.
Since that time Hodges Development Corp. has been replaced by "MB Management" for reasons unknown to me at this time. I will be speaking to CATCH directly about this and other concerns but it shouldn't be contingent upon me to go to them to rectify this existing and known issue. They know about the unhealthy (and illegal?) situation and they've done nothing [to date].
Some of the questions I have for them are:
1. What were the reasons for the management change?
2. Was there any communication between the Hodges maintenance staff and the new maintenance staff at MB management, concerning among other things any specific quirks/issues relating to specific properties (like the steam heating system and the mis-configured wiring in the Endicott, or where the cable/telco access rooms are)?
3. Who was the energy improvement company that replaced the bathroom fans/lights (and the kitchen lights that are much dimmer than before) and are they going to be held accountable?
4. What did [that] company do to the ventilation system to cause fumes/odors from one apartment to flow into other apartments?
5. What is CATCH's plan to remedy the [illegal] situation?
6. Why haven't the people who videotaped the condition of our apartments prior to construction returned to inspect the apartments for potential damage done by the construction vibrations?
There's a crack in my bedroom wall next to the window [now] that they should take note of.
7. When is the exterior of the Endicott going to be painted? Heck, when is someone going to bother to even clean the entry ways of the building?
I was told by a manager of the Pachamama store on the ground floor that the owner of the sections of the building that CATCH doesn't own was trying to secure a grant to fix the exterior.
- Does CATCH have any similar plans?
8. Does CATCH/the construction company feel any obligation to the residents whose air conditioners died prematurely (like mine) from all the construction dust/dirt (and mortar that ended up sprayed onto our windows and A/C units when it was being finished) to provide some form of compensation?
9. Why do (or do) they have a resident getting a free apartment plus a stipend for cleaning the building and being the resident contact who works full time, when the carpets are stained, the laundry room is disgusting, and even after he supposedly vacuums the carpets are still dirty? Plus I mentioned the entry ways, which haven't been cleaned [ever that I've seen].
- When I spoke to our [Hodges] property manager about spills/dirt in the elevator that sometimes remain for a day or more before being cleaned up, I even offered to clean them myself if they could provide a mop, bucket, and ringer in the maintenance closet adjacent to my door, to no avail.
10. Referring to #9, Why don't they have someone who is on-site all the time? Residents complain that he's not there during the day, and after he gets home is tired and frequently sleeping and unavailable. I'd be willing to bet that there's someone living in the building right now that would love to get a free apartment and stipend that would be there during the day/night, and actually care about keeping the place looking good (inside and out).
- I'm hoping that he's not being shielded from responsibility because he's a CATCH volunteer...
I frequently make coffee and take it with me while I walk around the block picking up trash, brushing away cigarette butts from around the new benches in front of the building, picking up [some of] the trash left around the dumpster behind the Lighting Place and next to the brand new parking garage, and also trash scattered around the nicely landscaped section just built down at the corner of Pleasant St. extension and Storrs St.. If I'm out walking around and I see trash I usually pick it up and put it in one of the nearby trash cans. I'm frequently cleaning up trash strewn about when the dumpster driver empties the dumpster or food and/or broken beer bottles from the Green Martini are left lying on the pavement (and sometimes in the middle of the stairs) next to the dumpster.
If I could afford it I'd buy one of those dustpan/trash containers with a handle and a broom to take on my walks around the block (I don't know how I'd carry my coffee though).
Why does it seem that I'm the only one who cares enough to at least try to keep the block clean?
I guess that most people think that it's someone else's problem.
Another thing I can't understand is why can't the city of Concord have it's workers clean the area? I see them changing out the trash bags in the early mornings but they walk right past trash strewn about the brand new sitting area on the corner that was so nicely landscaped. All that nice new construction and landscaping and it was just a matter of days until the trash started accumulating.
For that matter, why has the city of Concord let it's streets and highways get so neglected with weeds growing out all over the place, and other unsightly areas neglected until someone complains loudly enough to the right person? And why do we frequently have to wait until the day after a snowstorm for the downtown side street sidewalks to be cleared and sanded?
And why don't the residents of the Endicott have any parking spots provided for them so that we aren't threatened daily with towing ($150.00 ransom I've been forced to pay once already) because we park in the big parking lot across the street?
And finally, will I ever get a response to my email request to Clay McCuistion who's the "blog wrangler" for the Concord Monitor online's "blogsNH"?
A while ago I wrote to him (following the instructions at the top of the page for people wishing to "blog here") and haven't heard anything back.
I just checked the date I sent the email and it's been eleven days! So I guess I'll send it again in case it got lost, and if I have to I'll go to the Concord Monitor offices and hand deliver it.
Hopefully you'll be reading blog posts from me at blogsNH in the very near future!
-UPDATE [11/10/07]: I got a brief email from Mr. McCuistion the other day informing me he's on vacation and wouldn't be back until November 2oth.
All those questions and more will have to wait for another day and another post in The Endicott Dispatch. Stay tuned...
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