Out of Control?

LOCALIZED

Looking for something to do on Saturday with the kids.  How about Big Truck Day.  The town's BPW puts on display the trucks and equipment used in operation and maintenance of the town's water, sewer and highway divisions.  The type of thing kids of all ages get a kick out of.

The even is being held in conjunction with the Recreation Center's open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new gym floor.   It is a great opportunity for families to check out the rec center and its offerings.  The rec center is in fact an asset to this community.  One we will unfortunately be facing the hard decision of whether we can afford to maintain it come FY 2014.  It is a hidden treasure in many ways, and people who are interested in similar facilities (think gyms, "Y"s, pick-up leagues, after school and summer events, and on and on) should look at what is available.  It needs your support.

For all the turmoil and debate that runs through our town, it possesses a wealth of diverse offerings and services. The trick has been, is and will be finding a way to keep that happening.

LOCAL

It is pretty well acknowledged that a casino in New Bedford will remain nothing but a dream.  One is going somewhere in Bristol/Plymouth Counties area.  We know that because that's how they wrote the law.  The exact where is up in the air, but it is not here.  

Seems the city across the harbor is taking the steps it deems necessary to keep the state from taking over its school system.  The S-T article today discusses the buy out with the current superintendent, appointment of an interim superintendent and the beginnings of a search for a new superintendent.  

Another article in the S-T I found interesting is Oh fudge! State nutritional standards could take the sweets out of school.  There is no doubt that the health issues addressed in the article are a real problem.  New regulations about what can be served in schools go into effect in August.  As noted in the article by Anika Clark, the regulations: 

Passed by the state's Public Health Council, the standards apply to on-campus "competitive" foods and drinks — items ranging from cafeteria sales and snack bars to concession stands, booster sales and fundraisers. Except for vending machines, which must always follow the rules, the regulations apply to any food or beverage given to students from 30 minutes before school to 30 minutes after.

Quoted in the article is 

Rep. Bradford Hill, R-Ipswich, who introduced a measure in the House to keep bake sales, concession stands and classroom parties under school districts' control..."This is the government growing out of control, in my opinion, coming up with regulations like this," he said. As for the birthday cupcakes, he said, "My God, we've been doing that since we were kids."

I get what is wrong.  I can understand and even go along with what has been done with the passage of Rep. Hill's measure tacked on.  What does make the article at least thought provoking in my mind is the Rep.'s statement about government growing out of control.    

It seems we are in fact developing into a society that needs more and more protection from ourselves, and there are those more than willing to make the decisions for us.  

I guess whether these regulations are in fact an example of government growing out of control depends on your philosophy.  I don't see this as an example of it given what I know at this point of the regulations.  But it is pretty darn close.