We Can Breathe

I had just pulled into my driveway when my daughter, Victoria, pulled in behind me. As we got out of our respective cars, she asked, "Did you get my text?"

"I can't read texts when I'm driving, Victoria," I retorted.

She didn't hesitate, "Two cops were shot on Seacoast."

My stomach sank.

Rebecca, my wife, arrived home shortly thereafter. Upon hearing the news, she started sending a flurry of texts.

When Sean Gannon and Michael Chesna were shot and killed in the line of duty, I was saddened, but this is on a whole different level. This is Falmouth. My wife was raised here, as were her mother and grandparents. I graduated from Falmouth High School. Our children grew up in the Falmouth school system. Rebecca and I have been town meeting members for years; I was a selectman for six years. We literally know half the police department, and now Rebecca was trying to find out if they were OK.

As the night wore on, I found myself fighting to hold back tears. This really did hit home. We lived on Hampden Road - in Seacoast Shores - for several years. Were our former neighbors OK, too?

My brother-in-law, a nurse at Falmouth Hospital, also has friends in the FPD. He was on duty when the officers arrived in the emergency room.

Falmouth has often been featured in the news for all the wrong reasons: The baseball bat assault on the 4th of July; the departure of a former town manager; the high school renovation fiasco; the tooth in the wallet at WalMart; the golf club assault at Clauson's Corner; the Moniz murder; Melvin Reine; the Busby shooting.

And now this.

As with most tragedies, there will be knee-jerk reactions and calls to "do something" before we even know what can be done. There will be investigations and accusations. Prayers will be said and people will be blamed. Eventually we will have all of the facts, but there will be rumors and speculation until then, and perhaps even afterwards.

Thankfully, for at least this one time, we can breathe a little easier knowing that Officers DiMiranda and Moore will go home to their families. Everything else is just noise.

Marriotts Happen

For many months now, the town has discussed and debated the proposed Marriott Springhill Suites at the intersection of East Main Street and Lantern Lane. I don't oppose this project, but I don't support it either.

I have no opinion because it's too late. The proverbial horse is already out of the barn. I'll get to that in a minute, but first, let's look at some of the issues that have been raised.

Traffic is a red herring. Every time someone has a problem with development, they ask for a traffic study. I'm not sure why. Maybe some project some time ago was halted because a traffic study proved it would turn every road into a parking lot, but for as long as I can remember, nothing has ever been totally derailed. Such studies are usually used to force the developer to pay for road improvements that modify traffic patterns in ways that annoy everyone who is used to the current traffic pattern.

Some have suggested that Falmouth has enough hotel rooms already. Maybe we have enough restaurants. Maybe the hospital is big enough. Define "enough." You can't. It's a subjective term. One person's definition of enough may differ from another's. Arguing about whether there are enough rooms is like arguing over the best pizza in Falmouth.

By the way, the best pizza in Falmouth can be found at Pizza One in the 02536.

Moreover, not all rooms are created equal. Large hotels like a Marriott are more likely to attract large groups of people, like youth sports teams traveling to a tournament, or businessmen attending a convention. These kinds of visitors are not going to rent a house for a week, or stay in a 4-room B&B. However, it does work the other way. A couple desiring a room at a large hotel might stay in a B&B if there are no rooms at the hotel.

This is important, since – like it or not – Falmouth is a tourist destination. I work off-Cape. I recently encountered one of my coworkers in a local store. He asked if I was vacationing here too.

Over the years, Falmouth has lost a lot of hotel rooms to timeshares, condominiums and other redevelopment. We host more visitors, but get less in room taxes. And unlike B&Bs which might be able to close for the winter, a large hotel doesn't have that luxury. They need business year-round, which means that they will attract those large crowds in the off-season. That's good for Falmouth's other businesses.

This part of Main Street is not – as one person suggested – blighted in the sense that some inner cities are. However, for Falmouth, this intersection is an eyesore. There is nothing attractive or welcoming about the perpetually vacant lots at the corners of Nye Road and Lantern Lane, and while that old red building has character, it's seen far better days.

Urban sprawl has been mentioned, but this is a commercially-zoned property in a commercially-zoned district. It's neither urban sprawl nor spot zoning.

Someone said this was in a residential neighborhood. Again, this is a commercially-zoned property in a commercially-zoned district. There is a neighborhood behind the property on Lantern Lane, but that doesn't make this a residential neighborhood. Using that logic, the residential properties on Walker Street make downtown Falmouth a residential neighborhood.

That said; none of this really matters.

One of the most frustrating aspects of being a selectman were the Johnny-come-latelys. These are the folks who show up to protest something that is perfectly legal. They usually wanted us to intervene, and complained bitterly when we didn't.

It's not that we didn't want to, it's that we couldn't. At least once a month, there is a meeting of some decision-making body (selectmen, Planning Board, conservation commission, etc.) where something is decided. It's a public meeting and the agenda has been publicly posted. If you don't speak up and say something when those decisions are made, Marriotts happen.

Most of the people who are protesting the Marriott project haven't been to a Planning Board meeting in years, if at all. Yet, that's where it's at. This project wouldn't be on the table if this area was zoned differently.

So, don't blame the developer. Don't blame the Planning Board, or the Cape Cod Commission. Don't blame the property owner who wants to sell this blighted corner. Blame the person who didn't speak up when the Planning Board and town meeting voted for this zoning. Blame the person in the mirror, and then – to quote another vacation option – "get out there" and start participating before the next Marriott comes to town.

Peace Officers Memorial Day Speech

Every year, I have been honored to attend the Police Week observances held by the Falmouth Police Department on Peace Officers Memorial Day. This year, I was asked to speak.

What follows is the text of my speech.


Good morning. It is good to see all of you – some of whom I recognize as having attended these observances in years past.

Two months ago, two Boston firefighters lost their lives in a spectacular blaze on Beacon Street. Just days later, when Plymouth Police Officer Gregg Maloney died in a motorcycle accident, I immediately thought of Falmouth's own Officer Samuel Pierce.

From my perspective, it seemed that the media gave little airtime to Officer Maloney's circumstances. The Boston firefighters, in contrast, were all over the news for weeks.

Officer Maloney didn't die in a spectacular fire, but the circumstances were no less tragic. Like the Boston firefighters, he devoted his life to serving the public. Like the Boston firefighters, he left a family behind.

When firefighters are called to duty, they are wanted. For the peace officer, it's a little different. I know of no one who would cringe at the sight of a fire truck, but how many of us feel a pit in our stomach at the sight of blue lights behind us?

My father was a firefighter. He saw some spectacular, and some gruesome, things. But were he alive today, I'm sure he would agree that it was nothing compared to what the boys in blue – as he called them – have seen.

Indeed, it's often said that public service is a thankless job, but it pales in comparison to the lot of a police officer.

You often see the worst of what humanity has to offer.

It is the peace officer who must deal with the belligerent driver who thinks the speed limit is a suggestion.

It is the peace officer who must intervene in the domestic relationship which has soured and become violent.

It is the peace officer who must pretend to be something they are not, so that they may infiltrate and destroy the criminal enterprise.

It is the peace officer who must stand in court and defend what they have done to defend us – their actions second-guessed; their credibility questioned.

Benjamin Franklin stated, "it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer.” Our system of justice errs on the side of innocence, the burden of proof falls upon the state, and we hold peace officers to a higher standard.

Yet, we forget that being held to a higher standard, in and of itself, requires sacrifice. The mistakes made by any given civilian often go unnoticed, but the mistakes made by a peace officer are often publicized, scrutinized and criticized. Many would crumble under such pressure, but our peace officers persevere.

All of this makes today that much more important. Officer Maloney – like Officer Pierce before him – did not simply die in a motorcycle accident. He made the ultimate sacrifice; he died in the line of duty. Those of us who wear civilian attire can only guess at what these two men – and the thousands of other officers who also died in the line of duty – had seen and dealt with prior to their passing.

Yet they all served to their very last moments here on this earth.

None of this is meant to diminish the bravery of the Boston firefighters, or the tragedy of their passing. Rather, we must raise awareness of the sacrifices made by Officers Maloney and Pierce, and all of the other peace officers who have lost their lives while serving, and all of you, who continue to serve.

To the members of the Falmouth Police Department: Hold your heads high. Know that we value your integrity, and that those of us who stand here with you today – those of us who have stood here with you, year in and year out – know what sacrifices you make so that we may sleep soundly at night.

Information Session about the Little Pond Sewer Service Area

On Monday, May 12 at 7pm at the Teaticket Elementary School, the town will be holding an informational session about the proposed Little Pond Sewer Service Area (Question #1 on the May 20 town ballot).

This is not a meeting of the Board of Selectmen, although some selectmen may be present. Town Manager Julian Suso will serve as the facilitator.

Items on the agenda include 1) a general overview of this project, 2) general questions from landowners and residents of the Little Pond area, 3) breakout stations which will focus on Little Pond collection system issues (such as the grinder pumps) and questions about individual properties.

In addition to Town Manager Julian Suso, DPW Superintendent Ray Jack, Wastewater Superintendent Jerry Potamis, Assitant Town Manager Heather Harper, Vice Chair of the Water Quality Management Committee Virginia Valiela, and Water Quality Management Committee member Sia Karplus will be present. Also present will be consultant to the town Nate Weeks.

This is not intended to be a forum for debate on the pros or cons of question #1, but will instead focus on providing facts and addressing specific questions from Little Pond area landowners.

The event will be taped and replayed by FCTV.

Dedication of River Bend Farm

The 300 Committee will be dedicating the River Bend Conservation Area in memory of Beth Schwarzman on Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 PM, at 682 Sandwich Road in Hatchville.

From the invitation, "The 300 Committee Land Trust will hold a short ceremony to dedicate the River Bend Conservation Area to the memory of Beth Schwarzman, a member of our board of directors from 2005 to 2012...If you plan to attend, please RSVP by phone (508-540-0876) or email (lhelfrich@300committee.org). The event will take place rain or shine."

Prior to being acquired by the 300 Committee in 2007, River Bend had been a dog kennel since 1966. Originally the Sunnyside Dairy farm, a 104-year old silo remains on the property, having been saved from demolition in 2011 and restored in 2013.

Falmouth Kiwanis is restarting

"The members of the Mashpee Kiwanis are leading the drive to recharter a Kiwanis Club in Falmouth. The first meeting will be held on..."

Read more at Falmouth Kiwanis

Kudos for our town manager

The Board recently evaluated our town manager, Julian Suso, giving him marks that ranged from meets expectations to exceeds expectations in every category.

However, we did not review Mr. Suso in a vacuum. What follows is one email we received which certainly corroborates my experience.

=====

Hi there ~

I’m not sure if you at all interested in the public’s opinion on evaluating Mr. Suso, however I feel inclined to share my thoughts.  Do with them what you will, but my motivation is simple; I believe in giving credit where credit is due, because far too often we only share the negative.

Most of my interface with the Town is done professionally, as [role] of [organization]. 

Since Mr. Suso has taken office I have found a pronounced change in the atmosphere at Town Hall.  Once irritable and visibly frustrated personnel in all departments are more upbeat.  There is a sense of information sharing and working together which did not exist previously. 

Additionally projects that [organization] is involved with are making significantly more headway and progress.  Delays are explained and problems or obstacles are addressed in a collaborative spirit. 

Town Hall is a very different place. 

I have found Julian to be polite, respectful, and a quiet leader. 

He has not come to Falmouth and stormed in, making broad sweeping changes to how we do things.  He instead has observed and listened and then implemented change with support from staff, committees, elected officials, etc.  He has been correct regarding all major issues and changes and yet works with folks to make changes for the better.

He also comes to us with many troubling issues facing him and yet remains undaunted and cool in a stressful situation.  

We do not have a personal relationship but a professional one – and it is one I value. 

I think Falmouth is SO LUCKY to have him and I hope you do as well.

Thank you,
 

From the Horse's Mouth

It's official.

I will not be running for re-election this year.

I'll have more to say about this in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Parking Meters, Tickets and Traffic Control

What follows is an email from a visitor to Falmouth, and my reply. Some names and details have been removed, but it doesn't change the overall message.

I thought this was worth sharing because of the attention given lately to parking issues in town. As noted below, Falmouth doesn't (currently) use metered spaces to generate revenue, but we do generate revenue from the sale of beach stickers, which are basically permits for using the beach parking lots.

Could this change? Maybe. Whether or not we intend to generate revenue from parking fees and fines, the fact is that by charging for parking, it helps control traffic. Free is great, but when everyone can get something free, there usually isn't enough to go around, as this exchange (below) illustrates.

Food for thought.

=====

Hello,

My name is Mr. XYZ, and I am writing to you because I received a parking ticket while parked outside of Pie in the Sky bakery on [date & time]. 

Parking meters exist to enforce parking restrictions, which are absolutely necessary in the Woods Hole area between April and October.  Maybe even year-round during the weekday business hours.  Not on [date & time], which is when I parked.  Parking meters should not be used to earn revenue. 

Further, in a time of relative fiscal restraint... is it really financially efficient to pay for parking enforcement during the winter weekends?  I'd blurt out an answer of "No!," but I guess if you're going to over-zealously ticket...

I live near [coastal town].  Another town similar to Woods Hole.  [coastal town] enforces their parking meters 7 days a week (maybe even 24 hours a day).  There are huge signs that explain the rules when you enter the town.  However, [coastal town] removes its parking meters in the winter because there is no need for them!  Why burden the locals and distract potential visitors when there is ample parking?  Why can't Falmouth and Woods Hole figure this out?

I spent almost 30 dollars at Pie in the Sky on 3 breakfast sandwiches, a juice, two coffees, and a croissant.  I could have gotten something at any random Dunkin Donuts for half the price.  But I like Woods Hole and I like the bakery.  We visit the Cape 6-8 times a year and visit Falmouth and Woods Hole 2-3 times a year.  We spend money in your town.  Unless I receive a thoughtful response, my conclusion is not to return to the area for the rest of the year.  Enjoy your $10.  I will not support a town who is unwilling to support their own businesses.    

--
Mr. XYZ

=====

Dear Mr. XYZ,

Thank you for your email. You directed it to our finance director and
town clerk, but since you copied the selectmen, and because it is we who
set policy, and fees and fines, I thought it more appropriate that I
respond.

Ironically, I, too, have found a parking ticket on my windshield while
patronizing Pie In The Sky. It's a wonderful bakery that I just don't
have enough time to indulge as much as I'd like. And like you, I was
upset. However, to be perfectly honest, if we don't feed the meter, we
must pay the piper. Or the parking ticket as would be the case.

Falmouth is a bargain. Our $10 parking fine compares quite favorably
with Boston (which I believe is $25), and Chatham, another Cape Cod
resort community. They issue $50 parking tickets. I should know - I got
a parking ticket there last year.

That said; Falmouth is not Boston or Chatham or even [coastal town]. Indeed,
Falmouth, and the village of Woods Hole in particular, is unique in all
of Massachusetts, and not just for it's geography, scenery, bakeries, or
marine research institutions. As you probably know, Woods Hole is the
home port of the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship
Authority (the "SSA"), a state-chartered organization charged with
maintaining a lifeline between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and the
Massachusetts mainland.

As a result, Woods Hole is a working ferry port. A significant side
effect of this is that residents of both Martha's Vineyard and the
mainland use Falmouth to park their vehicles as they travel across
Vineyard Sound. Although the SSA maintains a number of parking lots in
Falmouth to accommodate these travelers, there's always someone who
tries to avoid paying for parking.

Which brings us to your question, "Why burden the locals and distract
potential visitors when there is ample parking?"

The simple truth is that there is ample parking because of the meters.

You asked, "Why can't Falmouth and Woods Hole figure this out?" Well,
what Falmouth figured out years ago was that without meters, parking in
Woods Hole was impossible at any time of the year. Right now, parking in
a SSA parking lot costs $10. If we were to remove the meters - to
eliminate the fees and fines associated with parking on the street in
Woods Hole, to make street parking cheaper than using a SSA lot - the
parking space you used to patronize Pie In The Sky would already have
been taken by someone traveling to or from Martha's Vineyard.

Like many communities, Falmouth struggles with the challenge of auto
traffic. However, we do not use parking meters for revenue. Rather, they
have been carefully placed in a few locations in order to ensure that
our residents and guests do not monopolize the limited parking that is
available. For example, in addition to Woods Hole, we also have meters
at Falmouth Harbor, which also hosts several ferries such as the Island
Queen and the Pied Piper.

Long story short, the meters are there so visitors such as yourself can
find parking when you want to patronize businesses like Pie In The Sky.

Thank you again for your email, and thank you for visiting us in the
off-season. I hope this email has answered your question, but if it has
not, I've included my cell phone below. Feel free to call me.

--
============================
Brent Putnam
Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Town of Falmouth
508-444-0222
www.FalmouthLocal.com
============================

The First Amendment Applies to Everyone

Upon reading the title of this particluar post, you probably thought, "duh."

Well, it's not that simple. Until about 15 years ago, the only way to reach large groups of people was via the printing press, or television or radio broadcast equipment, all of which required a substantial amount of cash to own and operate.

The advent of the Internet led to the rise of the web log ("blog" for short) and the blogger. This leveled the playing field for the little guy. Now anyone could be a source of news and information; all they needed was access to the Internet.

As with everything, government lags behind, and it was only recently that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals leveled the legal playing field.

Lawyer and blogger Eugene Volokh represented another blogger, Crystal Cox, in a defamation suit brought against her by Obsidian Finance Group. Cox lost in part because a lower court refused to treat her as a journalist.

However, on appeal, the 9th Circuit found differently. Many have decried the Citizens United decision which struck down parts of the federal campaign finance laws. However, in that decision, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) noted, "We have consistently rejected the proposition that the institutional press has any constitutional privilege beyond that of other speakers."

The 9th Circuit noted that the SCOTUS, "has not directly addressed whether First Amendment defamation rules apply equally to both the institutional press and individual speakers."

Citing various other decisions, the 9th Circuit Court ruled that, "The protections of the First Amendment do not turn on whether the defendant was a trained journalist..." In other words, bloggers are no different from any other media outlet.

This is very good news for the public, as it ensures that alternative sources of news are afforded the same protections as the more traditional sources.

For example, in Obsidian Finance v. Cox, Cox was sued and lost a $2.5 million judgment. If every blogger lost lawsuits like this, there would be no more bloggers. Our news and information would continue to be filtered through traditional mass media outlets, which are often owned by the very institutions they claim to oversee (think NBC and GE).

As good as it is, you've probably not heard about this decision.

Why?

If your business model is being challenged by some upstart competitor, would you tell everyone about it? The traditional media - newspapers, radio and television - are and have been in decline, due in part to the rise of the Internet and the availability of news and information from other, independent sources - like bloggers.

Let us know if you hear about this important decision on the 6 o'clock news, but we're not holding our breath.

h/t to Eugene Volokh and The Volokh Conspiracy.

Winter Storm - Community Notice

January 2-3, 2014

Winter Storm - Community Notice

Issue Date: January 2, 2014 Issue Time: 2:40 PM

Next Community Notice- Mid-Morning January 3, 2014 as needed; unless conditions significantly change

Falmouth is expecting a seasonal storm. Public Safety and Public Works Departments have inventoried and secured necessary equipment and staffing and made necessary preparation in anticipation of this seasonal storm event. Officials have coordinated with MEMA and Regional Emergency Operations Center and accordingly offer the following information:

Sheltering: Residents and visitors are recommended to shelter in place. Preparations should be made prior to sunset for all necessities including vehicle fueling to weather the storm through at least mid-day on Friday. *Please take care to check on elderly family and neighbors.

All Town Facilities are expected to open for regular business hours.

Warming Facilities: The Main Public Library on Katharine Lee Bates Road is available as a warming station for those residents or visitors that may have lost power during the storm. Friday Hours 9:30am – 5:30pm
Council on Aging/Senior Center- Dillingham Avenue – 8:00am – 4:00pm

Weather Conditions: Conditions are expected to worsen after sunset through the early morning hours of Friday, January 3, 2014. Cape Cod and Falmouth may continue to see snow through mid-day on Friday. Concerns include limited visibility and high winds with blizzard conditions, snow drifts, and frigid temperatures following the storm. Snowfall is expected to be light and fluffy reducing the scope of potential power loss.

Road Conditions: Roads and Sidewalks have been pretreated in anticipation of both the snowfall and very cold weather to follow. Roads will be slippery and black ice may be a hazard for drivers even after the snowfall subsides. Drivers are requested to remain off the roads through mid-day on Friday avoiding any non-essential travel to allow the road crews to the clear the roads after the storm has subsided.

Coastal Structures: The storm is likely to peak during an astronomical high tide with an estimated 1’ storm surge. Properties on the coast should take necessary precautions.

Town Hall/Town Facilities: Will be open for regular business hours.

STORM RELATED CONTACTS:
Number.................................................................................Hours
FOR EMERGENCIES 911......................................................24/7
Police Department non-emergency - 508-457-2527...............24/7
Fire/Rescue Department non-emergency - 508-495-2501......24/7
Department of Public Works 508-457-2543.......................7:30AM-4:00PM
NSTAR: 1-800-592-2000
Verizon: 1-800-Verizon (837-4966)
Comcast: 1-800-Comcast (266-2278)

The Injunction

For those who haven't seen it, this is the injunction ordered by Superior Court Judge Muse.

Because of the ongoing litigation, I cannot comment on it.

Veteran's Day Observances

The Town of Falmouth will hold its annual Veteran's Day observances on the lawn at the Falmouth Public Library at 11am today.

Please join us as we remember our veterans.

Consensus, dissent and decisions

Not only is the word "consensus" overused, it turns out that dissent is a better way to come to a decision.

Not too long ago, a Harvard Business Review blogger noted that, "When group members are actively encouraged to openly express divergent opinions they not only share more information, they consider it more systematically and in a more balanced and less biased way. When people engage with those with different opinions and views from their own they become much more capable of properly interrogating critical assumptions and identifying creative alternatives. Studies comparing the problem-solving abilities of groups in which dissenting views are voiced with groups in which they are not find that dissent tends to be a better precondition for reaching the right solution than consensus."

This shouldn't come as a surprise. The post mentions a few well known individuals and organizations that suffered as a result of consensus. Nor does it take long to come up with a few examples of our own. Consensus is sometimes the result of groupthink, and that led to the Challenger accident.

Closer to home, we attempted to resolve the wind turbine issue using consensus. The Wind Turbines Option Process (WTOP) did achieve consensus amongst its members, but that group had no authority. Although the selectmen - in a show of solidarity - adopted the recommendation to shut down the turbines, the taxpayers weren't part of the consensus. We all know how that turned out.

We often lament the gridlock in Washington, D.C., but in truth, it is far better for us than consensus. Consensus brought us the Patriot Act and the NSA's domestic spying. And, of course, the Chinese government loves consensus.

Social media and communicating with the public

A recent announcement that Twitter will be introducing an "Alert System" reminded me of an item on the board's agenda last month. Back on August 26, the selectmen had a policy discussion which included talk of social media as a potential communications medium.

Some folks watching the meeting apparently interpreted the discussion to mean that the town was considering abandoning its use of the reverse 911 system in favor of Twitter.

Not so.

First of all, the town as an organization hasn't even decided whether or not it will use Twitter, Facebook or any other social media.

More importantly, if the town does decide to establish social media accounts, they wouldn't replace the current methods for informing the public of an emergency situation (e.g., reverse 911, the movable electronic billboards, web site updates, etc). The idea behind establishing such accounts would be to suppliment these other methods.

As cellular phones become less and less expensive and cellular service becomes more reliable, more and more people have dropped their traditional telephone service - a.k.a., the "land line." This makes reverse 911 calls less and less effective for getting information out in a hurry.

On the other hand, the increased use of "smart" phones - cell phones such as the Apple iPhone and the Android phones from Samsung, Motorola and others - means that it is becoming easier and easier to reach people using social media.

For example, the most recent use of the reverse 911 system was back on September 1 when an elderly man with Alzheimer's went missing. I don't have Twitter, but friends in Falmouth and Mashpee had multiple posts about this all over Facebook - which is where I first learned about it. A reverse 911 call went out, but we were out of our house at the time.

The biggest benefit of social media is that it is opt-in. The town wouldn't need to keep track of emails or phone numbers. Anyone - whether they live in Falmouth or not - could simply follow the Twitter feed or Facebook posts to keep abreast of breaking information such as boil water orders or missing persons.

Because this information is distributed via the Internet, you don't even need a smart phone to stay informed. A home computer and Internet connection will work just as well. Even when the power goes out in stormy weather, cable and/or phone are often still working.

Finally, while reverse 911 is useful for urgent issues, using it for everyday announcements like meeting cancellations or road closures is both problematic and expensive. Wouldn't you like to know that a road is closed before you get there? A Twitter "tweet" or Facebook post would let residents and visitors know this, helping them find other routes before they get stuck in traffic.

That is what the social media discussion is really all about - informing the public.

Evidence

On February 28, 2011, the neighbors of the town's wind turbines sat in the selectmen's meeting room for hours. They waited patiently while one agenda item after another was discussed. When the board finished its business, they asked to be heard.

The board's meetings are televised live, and the home audience watched as one neighbor, Neil Anderson, approached the selectmen's table at the front of the room. Coming so soon on the heels of the December, 2010 Panama City school board shooting, many expected the worst.

What the home audience couldn't see was that Mr. Anderson was not violent. Throughout that evening, Mr. Anderson sat quietly in the back of the room - sleeping. Every time I looked in his direction, his eyes were closed, or he was nodding off, clearly struggling to keep them open.

This man was exhausted.

Following this week's decision by the Board of Selectmen to operate the turbines only 16 hours per day, a resident emailed me. He said, "Emotion again trumps Evidence."

With all due respect to the scientists and doctors who claim that there is no evidence, I've seen it for myself.

Until the Board voted to curtail the turbines' operation, several town boards and employees had been receiving volumes of emails and phone calls every day the wind blew.

Afterwards, the complaints dropped off dramatically.

Some folks have questioned why the Board of Health (BoH) hasn't done anything. Unofficially, I'm told that this why. The BoH had nothing concrete to work with other than sleep deprivation, and when the selectmen turned off the turbines at night, that issue went away.

In essence, the problem was solved.

Likewise, many have asked why - if the turbines are such a problem - the state hasn't stepped in to do something. Again, the turbines' operation only exceeded state noise standards during the dead of night. If the turbines aren't operating at that hour, there is no exceedence and there is no problem, so the state doesn't need to act.

The science behind "wind turbine syndrome" isn't settled yet, and it may be years or decades before it is. Whether or not infrasound - or some other mechanism - is the problem, is as yet unknown. On Monday, many speakers called for more studies, and I agree.

However, in the interim, I have to make decisions based on the information I have before me.

And so I did.

Facts don't back more gun control

Not long after the Loganville, Georgia mother had grabbed her children and her husband’s gun, the stranger forced his way through the front door. He rummaged around the house, finding his way to the closet where they were hidden. Police were on the way, but she and her children were cornered. Five of her six shots hit him, but he got out and drove away.[1]

One hundred years ago, “Big Tim” Sullivan took advantage of community outrage after the Gramercy Park murder-suicide. A corrupt New York state politician of Tammany Hall fame, Sullivan was more interested in protecting his thugs than the public. His new law, the Sullivan Act, required a permit to carry a concealed weapon, but it allowed local authorities to reject an application, giving Tammany Hall the ability to decide who would be armed. A year after it became law, robberies had climbed by 40 percent and murders by 18 percent.[2]

Cries for more gun control are rarely grounded in fact. Recent letters have called for banning automatic weapons and 600-rounds-per-minute AK-47s, yet federal laws passed in 1934, 1968 and 1986 made these guns illegal decades ago.[3]

The “assault weapons” many talk of banning are just rifles with one or more “military characteristics” like barrel shrouds. They look like military weapons, but function like the rifles and shotguns used by hunters, firing only one bullet when the trigger is pulled. Barrel shrouds protect your hands from getting burned; putting one on a rifle doesn’t make it any more dangerous than putting pinstripes on my Prius will make it go faster.[4]

Our police do a fine job. In recent years, they’ve had to deal with shrinking public budgets, pay cuts and mandatory overtime, but they still serve and protect. However, they cannot be in all places at all times. Across the country, the average police response time varies between five and ten minutes.[5][6] Sheriffs from South Carolina to Wisconsin acknowledge this, recommending that the public learn how to defend themselves – with guns.[7][8]

With few exceptions, most states have relaxed their gun control regulations over the past few decades. Gun control activists want us to believe that every shooting on the evening news is a result of this. Yet, as gun ownership has risen, crime has fallen.

Economist John Lott studied every county in the US and found that when more law abiding citizens are armed, violent crime falls.[9][10] Some question Lott's conclusions, but it's been verified again and again. In Virginia, the Richmond Times-Dispatch found that a 63 percent increase gun ownership was accompanied by a 27 percent decrease in violent crime.[11] CBS News reported that gun sales in California rose by 36 percent, yet gun injuries fell by 28 percent, and gun deaths fell by 15 percent.[12]

One of those exceptions, Massachusetts, implemented some of the strictest gun laws in the nation in 1998.[13] The new laws are so onerous that legal gun ownership plummeted by 84 percent. As New York learned in 1911, criminals prefer disarmed victims. Before 1998, violent crime in Massachusetts had been falling. Since 1998, gun-related assaults have increased 59 percent; gun murders have risen 79 percent.[14][15][16][17][18]

New York state recently limited firearms to seven rounds. Governor Patrick wants to follow their lead, but the facts don't support this additional infringement on our constitutional right to self-defense.[19] When you need six shots to stop one assailant, seven won’t be much good if there are two of them. The governor’s bodyguards will be exempt. The rest of us will be hiding in our closets, hoping the police arrive in less time than the national average.

(This also appeared as an op-ed in the Monday, February 11, 2013 edition of the Cape Cod Times)

For those interested, these links provide references for the facts provided:

[1]Cops: Mother of two surprises intruder with five gunshots

[2]Kachalsky v. Cacace

[3]National Firearms Act (NFA) - History of the National Firearms Act

[4]The Truth About Assault Weapons

[5]Criminal Victimization in the United States Tables: Table 107

[6]Response times- city to city

[7]Sheriff tells women to get guns to ward off attacks

[8]Sheriff David Clarke's radio ad says 911 not best option, urges residents to take firearms classes

[9]An interview with John R. Lott, Jr. author of More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws

[10]John Lott: More Guns, Still Less Crime

[11]Gun-related violent crimes drop as sales soar in Va.

[12]As Calif. gun sales go up, number of gun-casualties goes down

[13]Welcome to Massachusetts! A Practical Guide to Living in the State

[14]Violent Death Reporting

[15]Injury Fatalities to Massachusetts Residents 1998

[16]MAVDRS Violent Death Report 4-19-12

[17]Weapon Related Injury Surveillance System (WRISS)

[18]WRISS Data Overview: Gunshot and Sharp Instrument Wounds, 1994-2009

[19]An Act To Strengthen and Enhance Firearms Laws in the Commonwealth

The Milton Turbine Decision

The Patriot Ledger reports ("Judge says Milton must limit operation hours for proposed wind turbine") that the town of Milton must restrict operation of a wind turbine because the town, violated “taking” provisions when Town Meeting voted in 2010 that a turbine could be built on town-owned land “as of right.”

Interestingly, Falmouth built it's wind turbines using similar logic, i.e., that the turbines were a municipal use on municipal land.

The Milton decision was the result of binding arbitration (the dispute was over lease terms, so a Superior Court judge ordered arbitration) so it's uncertain as to how this would affect the lawsuits pending against Falmouth. However, the municipal use parallel does make one wonder...

Frank W. Putnam, III, 1935-2013

Frank Wendell Putnam III, 77 of State Road, Kittery, Maine, and a former Plainville, MA resident, died February 1, 2013 in Portsmouth Hospital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was the beloved husband of Jane Sheldon Chevers Putnam.

Born in Acton, MA, on November 3, 1935, he was a son of the late Frank W. Putnam II, and the late Norma (Palmer) Putnam. He was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree. He also received an Associate Degree in Fire Service Magna Cum Laude from Wachusett Community College. He had been a member of Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity while at UMass.

At one time an active member of the Masonic Fraternity, he had become a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. His lodge affiliation was with Star Lodge, Brunswick, ME.

Active in high leadership within the Boy Scouts of America, he had earned his Eagle Scout Award with Troop 1, Acton, MA. He was a Silver Beaver Award recipient, and had served as a Commissioner at Pine Tree Council in Brunswick, ME.

Frank was a tank commander in the U.S. Army's Yankee Division, and later served in the Army National Guard. He retired as a Captain.

Beginning his firefighting career in Acton, Frank served as a volunteer firefighter with his father and uncle Everett. Later, Frank was employed as a Civil Service Firefighter with the US Government at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, retiring from the Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod. He went on to serve as the Fire Chief for the community of Lincoln, RI. He was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

He is survived by his dear children, Brent Victor Wendell Putnam and his wife Rebecca Putnam of Falmouth, MA, Rory Stevens Woodbury Putnam and his wife Olida Putnam of Windham, ME, and Heather Sheldon Goliber and her husband Christopher of Ponte Vedra, FL. He was the loving grandfather of Brigitta, Katarina, Andrew, Kaytlen and Victoria.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the RJ Ross Funeral Home, 135 South Street, Route 1A, Wrentham Centre, on Thursday from 4-8 PM. His Funeral Service will be Friday at 10 AM in St. Barnabas Church, 91 West Main Street, Falmouth, MA. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Pine Tree Council, Boy Scouts of America (131 Johnson Rd, Portland, ME 04102, or http://aplacetogive.scouting.org/magento/index.php/give-local-pine-tree.html ) or the USO ( https://www.uso.org/donate/ ).

Arrangements are in the care of the RJ Ross Funeral Home, Wrentham Centre.

Merry Christmas!

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." - Luke 2:10 Merry Christmas, Falmouth!