Entering Falmouth

Imagine that on the 4th in Falmouth

 Falmouth is almost a century older than the U.S.A.

It is interesting that 233 years ago tomorrow, as the ink was drying on the Declaration of Independence and a fledgling nation was emerging in Philadelphia, Falmouth was already 90 years old, ready to celebrate a century of local democracy. 

So, on this anniversary of our nation, as Falmouthites and visitors alike, we should reflect not only on what it means to be an American, but what it means - why we are grateful - to have the privilege to live in our slice of Americana known as Falmouth.

I wonder if our founders, as brilliant and visionary as they were, could have begun to comprehend the meaning that this observance would come to have.

Yes, for many, tomorrow will be filled with an overabundance of food, spirits, and celebrations.  Those commercialized interpretations of the 4^th of July, although important in many of our lives, really miss the point. Here are some thoughts, from a local and national perspective, on what this day of independence mean to me:

Our celebration of America's birthday, as nations in and out of this hemisphere resort to violence as a way to change leaders and have the voices of the people heard, means that we still have the privilege of casting our votes in peace, with no fear of violence, to shout out our democratic voice, recognizing, as did the founders on the first fourth, that power is derived from the "consent of the governed."  Imagine that. It means that we can honor those who fought, thought, wrote, and died to make that peaceful vote possible, this day and every other. Here in Falmouth, it means that opinionated gents like me get to share thoughts on our local democratic experiment - agreeing and disagreeing, praising and criticizing - with the full confidence that those thoughts and opinions are a vital part of the process.  Imagine that.

How about nearly 200 elected Town Meeting Members taking the time this week on a rare sunny June evening to pile into the Lawrence Memorial Auditorium for a Town Meeting - with nothing said from Gadflies Rich Latimer and Dan Shearer? Imagine that!

Having this Special Town Meeting near the eve of our nation's birthday was a fitting tribute to the importance and endurance of our uniquely American form of local government and the citizen-public servants that make it work.  This concept of locals taking time to assist in the workings of local government is a direct result of the citizen-soldiers who took up arms in that conflict so many years ago.  Imagine that.

As 25,000 people pile onto the beaches of Falmouth Heights tomorrow night, most of them will marvel in the fireworks display thanks to the Falmouth Fireworks Committee and over100 of our men and women from the Falmouth Police and Fire Departments will keep everything safe and orderly.  Among those 25,000 will be Falmouth native Ron DeSouza, who knows what it means to serve this great nation as a 20 year veteran of the U.S. Army and has traveled all the way from Oklahoma to catch a glimpse of a hometown 4^th.  Imagine that.

As we enjoy a hot dog or two with family and friends, we can pause to reflect on the current sacrifice of men and women who proudly wear the stars and stripes on their shoulders as they munch on their MREs across the globe.  Today, more than three million men and women serve the United States as active and reserve members of the military.  Imagine that.

Here in Falmouth, our celebration will include village celebrations in Woods Hole, North Falmouth, Teaticket, and East Falmouth, as well as the annual bike parade down Main Street, where the village lines, if only for a day, vanish in favor of a unified Falmouth.  Imagine that.

So here in Falmouth, 233 years after a group of 56 men, ages 26 to 70, gathered to declare our rights to live freely, we continue to do so.  How beautifully simple but incredibly powerful.  Imagine that.

This  column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise. Photo courtesy of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.

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Shining the Light on Bad Behavior

 Selectmen shenanigans and chicanery

As this June gloom continues and my impatiens turn yellow from a lack of sun and too much water, I am desperate for some sunny weather.  I thought I might do my part to bring summer along by offering a lighthearted, upbeat and sunny column this week.  No dice.  The shenanigans and chicanery by some Selectmen, in this case related to committee appointments, begs a look-see this week that pre-empts any attempts to coax the sun from its hiding place. 

The committee appointment powers vested in the Selectmen are among the most important responsibilities of our chief elected officials.  Our local government is nearly wholly dependent on the civic-mindedness of volunteers, who offer countless hours for no compensation other than an occasional speckle of gratitude from a citizen, to manage the boards and committees that comprise our local government.

We place our trust wholly in the appointing authority, the Selectmen, to conduct a fair and open process for placing people on these boards, and to use good judgment in choosing the hundreds of folks vested with the authority to make decisions that impact our lives.

Back in the mid-90's, Selectman Pat Flynn and I took a stab at creating a document that outlined the process of appointments, creating a policy that would guide the Board in its considerations and deliberations.  We succeeded in a decent first effort, and this committee appointment policy has been updated several times, resulting in the Board's current blueprint for bringing new volunteers in and keeping current ones.  More than any other point, the policy stresses that all prospective volunteers should submit a detailed application and have the opportunity to be interviewed. It appears that in a couple of instances this week, that policy has been ignored or simply discarded.

I have lamented in this space before that the vacancies on many of our dozens of volunteer boards is due, at least in part, to the shabby treatment many volunteers receive from their board of bosses.  My lament continues.

The decision to not reappoint Linda Deegan to the Conservation Commission was well within the authority of the Selectmen.  The practice of unceremoniously dumping her was not within the bounds of decorum or good manners and flies in the face of the Board's own policy and usually respectful behavior.

Similarly, the effort by some (or one) Board members to simply slide through an appointment of a Constable, an important and visible position, without so much as an application, smacks of special treatment and good ‘ol boy politics that is the Falmouth politics of yesteryear, not 2009. 

In the case of the Conservation appointment, I understand the lack of endorsement of the Selectmen for Dr. Deegan's re-appointment.  Her approach to issues, despite an indisputable expertise for the subject matter, was at times brusque and anything but user-friendly.  She was an active participant in the cranberry wars, and sometimes allowed that passion to spill into her deliberations.  That said, those factors only matter in whether to reappoint her to her position, not the manner in which her dismissal was carried out. The Selectmen conducted a half-hearted, almost dismissive interview, then proceeded directly to the vote, not even offering a mirage of deliberation. The Selectmen have had enough bad publicity with their treatment of ConCom members recently - this snafu could not have been more ill-timed.

As for the Constable appointment, this display of hubris and disdain for the process was jaw-dropping. The Selectmen's own policy, which has been in place for more than a decade, is that all applicants, even incumbents, must provide information to the Selectmen for appointment.  One applicant chose not to follow the rules.  Selectman Carey Murphy correctly highlighted this fact, and was backed up by Chairman Pat Flynn, at which point they were both rebuked by the applicant's pal, Selectman Mustafa.  I truly wish I could stop mentioning him in nearly every column, but his behavior just keeps getting worse, and, more importantly, his individual set of rules is becoming more offensive to everyone who abides by the rules of good government. This foolishness also took the focus away from the other applicants, one who brings over three decades of law enforcement experience to the table.

Maybe it's appropriate that the sun hasn't been shining.  With behavior like this, we need to shine the light on the corner conference room ourselves.

This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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The Man on the Street Speaks in Falmouth

My favorite quotable President, Abraham Lincoln said, "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed. He who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or decisions possible or impossible to execute."  True, indeed.  I have always felt that the "man (or woman) on the street" was the most reliable source to understand the true public sentiment.  I grew up learning that the best place for news in Falmouth other than The Enterprise was the barber shop.  Armed with that, I have spent the last couple of weekends combing the sidewalks and shops of Falmouth, seeking to understand just what public sentiment is these days, what the pulse is of our community.  Here's what people had to say:
"I'm so glad the Selectmen listened to us and voted not to privatize the dump.  Now the pressure is on.  They said they could make money.  Now show me the money."  - Ted from East Falmouth.

"What's up with Selectman Mustafa going to the discipline hearing at the Rec Committee for the liquor violation last week?  He said he was there as a citizen, but then told the Committee that a harsh penalty would be overturned by the Selectmen.  What's up with that?" - Mary from North Falmouth

"I'm so glad the Selectmen gave Chief Riello a contract extension.  He's so in touch with the community - and doing a great job.  Kudos to all of the Falmouth Police Department." - Sam from Hatchville

"I love that new Burrito Place in East Falmouth!  Who knew you could get a touch of Mexico at the Davisville lights!" - Matt from East Falmouth

"I wish that there were white lights in the trees on Main Street.  That would make an already wonderful downtown magical."  - Donna from Falmouth

"I heard the old Falmouth Ford was going to be a parking lot. Just what we need.  Isn't downtown already a parking lot in the summer?" - Ken from Teaticket

"I had the chance to visit Coonamessett Farm the other day.  What a gem!  They even have a Montessori School based there where the kids learn from the books and the land.  It is truly a special place." - Diane from Woods Hole

"I heard the new Selectman was going away for like a month.  Bad timing." - Andy from Falmouth

"Ha.  Sometimes I wish they would all go away for months at a time." - Andy's friend Ed from Falmouth

"I'm so glad the Commodores are back, I come here every year to see them, but boy I miss those Braga burgers." - Jeff from Maine

"What a relief to have the Woods Hole Drawbridge completed in time for the summer.  Town Hall got that one right." - Tom from Woods Hole

"I've been all around the world, even seen the pyramids in Egypt.  But I've never seen anything like the views from the new bike path.  That just blew me away." - Betsy from Falmouth Heights

"If someone hasn't already said it, thumbs up to the Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager for getting all that stimulus money for the wind project in West Falmouth.  Wasn't it like millions?"  - Ray from Teaticket

"I heard Joe Studley is retiring.  He was the best teacher I ever had."  - Ronnie from East Falmouth

"What a great job the School Department did with graduation - and with awards night.  That Scholarship Association of Falmouth gave out over $300,000 to Falmouth kids.  That's just amazing." - Gary from West Falmouth

"What a shame to see the band shell lose its name.  I don't know Oscar Wolfe but I think he got a bad deal." - John from Falmouth

"Don't listen to him. No matter the name, the new band shell is amazing.  I can't wait for the first Thursday night concert."  - John's wife Martha from Falmouth

"Carey Murphy may get his dander up, but he is surely a voice of reason." - Rob from North Falmouth

"I just went to Menauhant Beach for the first time in years.  What a treat!  Whoever put all that new sand there deserves a raise." - Cliff from Hatchville

That's just a sampling of the comments received in my travels.  Feel free to add your own, because Honest Abe was right.  Without public sentiment, without citizens who care enough to stop on the street and provide an opinion, nothing can succeed.

This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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Next-to-the-Runway Syndrome in Falmouth

My first job out of college was working for Ernie Keating with Doug Karson at the Public Affairs office for the 102^nd Fighter Wing on Otis.  Part of my job was to field complaints and concerns from citizens.  Many times, I would answer a call from an angry resident wondering why the jets were flying so low near their home.  When I asked if they knew that an F-15 fighter unit was next to their neighborhood when they bought the house, the most common reply was something like, "yes, but they still shouldn't fly over my house?

What an insult for one citizen to tag visitors as "riffraff," a description dripping with the disdain these folks have for those they deem to be outsiders." 

Watching the display from some attendees at the Selectmen's meetings for the last couple of weeks, I get the feeling that some of the residents of Falmouth Heights have that next-to-the-runway syndrome, where they bought a house knowing it was near a resort area, but want complete tranquility anyway. 

It was just about this time last year when the same parade of bulldozing killjoys masked as concerned citizens bemoaned a half-hour extension for the license at the Casino Wharf FX, citing certain collapse of the Heights as we know it if the extension was granted.  It was, and the Heights is still intact as one of the most attractive and visited villages on the Cape.

The fear of these perhaps well-intentioned but certainly sorely mistaken naysayers is based in the Falmouth Heights of generations ago.  The memories and images are legendary in Falmouth lore. Hundreds - no thousands - of beer-soaked patrons left the two mainstays of the Falmouth Heights night scene at closing time - The Casino and the Brothers Four - sprinkling laughs, smiles, and plenty else on the neighborhood.  Putting up with the revelers was seen as an annual cost of doing business, a raison d'etre for the tourism industry in Falmouth.  My, how that has changed.  Today, two restaurants that serve alcohol but feature a full menu adorn the bottom of heartbreak hill and by most accounts add character and vitality to the village. Rather than offer support for the jobs they provide and the visitors they attract, though, the neighbors continue to rail against any pro-visitor initiative, using fear and intimidation to get their way.  The $100,000 donated by Casino Wharf developer Frank Messina to build a public loo still sits in the bank, waiting for the residents to okay a comfort station in their village.

This week, that bad behavior was on display once again, as the Selectmen responded to an enthusiastic but bullying crowd of Falmouth Heights residents wanting to put an end to the 11PM closing of the Heights Beach parking lot.  They offered the same tired refrain from the same complainers who have been longing to turn Falmouth Heights into West Falmouth Harbor for twenty years. What an insult for one citizen to tag visitors as "riffraff," a description dripping with the disdain these folks have for those they deem to be outsiders.   Things got even worse when two well respected and generally well behaved public servants, Selectman Carey Murphy and Finance Committee member Andy Dufrense engaged in a disappointing and dispirited exchange which resulted in Dufresne, the aggressor and unofficial Heights spokesperson, almost being tossed out of the game by Board Chairman and umpire Pat Flynn. 

Then came the voice of reason.  Heights resident Bill Frawley correctly asserted that there is no appreciable link between noise, bad behavior and the beach remaining open or the restaurants in the area.  This reminded me of last year, when Selectman Mustafa challenged Heights residents to present "articulable facts" on why the Casino Wharf FX should not be granted a license extension.  I heard the crickets chirping then and now.  Repeating a baseless argument, no matter how loudly and angrily, does not make it right. 

We live in a resort community.  Our local economy depends on visitors enjoying our surroundings, including commercial establishments, enough to come again and again and to spend again and again. The Selectmen didn't offer a ringing endorsement for that concept, as a tie vote with only four Selectmen present means a stalemate on this issue for now.  Let's just hope that when and if the naysayers come back for another round of bullying, they have the articulable facts sought by Selectman Mustafa last year.  Without them, the beach parking lot should stay open for the public - all of the public - to enjoy.

This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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Thumbs up and thumbs down in Falmouth

As we ramp up to another busy summer here in the land of Bartholomew Gosnold, several issues and events sit piled up in my inbox which merit a mention.  Some good, deserving the ‘ol thumbs up, and some not so much, earning a Troy's Take thumbs down.  So here is my periodic desk cleaning look at several issues of interest to Falmouthites and visitors alike:
Thumbs up to the Falmouth School Committee for swiftly, efficiently and correctly appointing long-time on-deck hitter Marc Dupuis as the Superintendent of Schools.  It is appropriate that Marc is a recreational boater, as he has been a steady force through some stormy times for the SS Falmouth Schools, and his calm demeanor and quiet leadership have enabled him to be a life raft of tranquility during some turbulent times.  Marc, equipped with superlative financial skills, will be able to efficiently work the maze of requirements of federal stimulus funds while ensuring that those much-needed dollars have benefits in the classroom.  He is the right man right now.  Nice work, Chairman Jamie MacDonald, in conducting a fair and open process. 

Thumbs up as well to the elected officials a couple of miles down Route 28 in Town Hall Square.  Our Selectmen this week listened to their constituents who spoke loudly and without equivocation on the proposed privatization of the dump.  In rejecting the notion that a private contractor could do a better job with one of the cornerstones of our local culture, the Selectmen proved the value of civic involvement.  It's not often you see Joe Netto and Wendy Buessler on the same side of an issue, but it happened on this one.  It was also nice to see Moderator Dave Vieira making a cameo at a meeting of our chief elected officials.  His impassioned plea to keep the dump in public hands was a sincere and eloquent appeal.  Thumbs up to you, Dave, for getting involved in this important issue.

As positive as this development was, I must offer a thumbs down to one participant in the process, Selectman Ahmed Mustafa, for his non-vote at the conclusion of this debate.  As much as his practice of not voting was a head-scratcher when he was Chairman, it is even more so when he no longer holds the gavel.  Abstaining on this very prominent issue was a very prominent cop-out.  We expect more, Ahmed, and now is the time to give it to us.

Both thumbs are squarely in the up position for Jody Shaw of Ballymeade for having the persistence to yet again present plans for CLSV's 31 acres on Route 151.  Chairman Pat Kerfoot and gadfly Rich Latimer have the chance to earn a thumbs up by actually listening to the plans for a much-needed senior care facility this time around and not dismissing another sincere attempt by Jody to meet a public need and make a profit (these are not mutually exclusive concepts). 

An enthusiastic thumbs up is due to new Chamber Chief Jay Zavala and his team for a fantastic and fascinating Infomania event at magnificent Highfield Hall.  This expo, which showcased things to do in Falmouth, from sailing cruises on Vineyard Sound, to massages on Dillingham Ave., was a great way to create a summer to-do list.  Kudos also go out to Island Queen point person Todd Bidwell for hatching this idea a few years back and to Deb Rogers and Kevin Lynch at FCTV for sharing it with Channel 13's wider audience.

As we continue to soak in the results from last week's election, the two out of ten voters who participated deserve a thumbs up and get to give a civic pride thumbs down to the eighty percent who stayed home.  Town Clerk Mike Palmer has created a well oiled machine that chugs along each election day.  He and his staff in Town Hall and at each of our nine polling places, especially Assistant Town Clerk Laurie Clayton, are aces.  Finally, Brian Dale and his crew, led by Parks Department guru Rocky Gomes, managed to wave a magic wand at the Library Lawn for Memorial Day.  I've been to just about every ceremony in recent memory, and I can't remember the jewel of our downtown ever looking better.  A green thumbs up to you!

The inbox is looking better, but not empty.  That's the nature of our seaside hamlet - never a shortage of issues on which to opine.  Feel free to share anytime.

This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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Advice from the Dad of a Grad

 Lessons learned on the third rock from the sun

My daughter Sydney will graduate from Falmouth High School next week, completing one journey of life and learning and starting another, alongside nearly 300 classmates.  As a forty-year-old Dad of a grad, I am just figuring out my own place in our community and on this third rock from the sun, much less imparting wisdom to our graduating seniors.  What I can offer, though, are some lessons learned in my own journey to our newest full-fledged adult Falmouthites. 

I've learned that there is no substitute for sincerity.  Our grads will become everything from caregivers to CEOs, from laborers to lawyers.  No matter the vocation, the value of saying what you think far outweighs the value of saying what you think someone wants to hear.  I've learned that service to others is not a career choice; it is a way of life, a defining philosophy.  It is simply the law of averages and the mores of our society that some crossing the platform and receiving official kudos and recognition from the Falmouth School Committee will pursue service to others, and some will not.  To those that do, do it because you can feel it deep in your soul that making this place better for others is who you are, not who you want others to think you are. 

I've learned that the teachers who touch your lives in high school can truly leave an imprint on your entire life.  The lessons I learned from men like Joe Studley, Ted Rowan, and Paul Cali are with me today.  Hard work, respect, fairness, and kindness can be learned from others - High School is not just about Euclid and the Telltale Heart.

I've learned that whoever said that showing up is half the battle was right, and this includes classes in college.  On that note, I've also learned that college is not a four-year respite from responsibility, it is the opportunity to demonstrate some. It is indeed the gateway to the odyssey and should be cherished.    

I've learned that being patient with yourself is one of the most important components to success.  Out of college, I rushed and clamored to achieve and meet the goals I had established to attain before the age of 30.  That birthday was a stinker because those lofty goals had not been met.  That disappointment clouded my ability to see the importance and value of what I had accomplished.  Now, many years and many lessons later, I realize that a career, like a life, is a journey, not a destination.  The value is in learning, growing, and sharing those lessons as we progress. 

I've learned that the road of life inevitably leads back to people we've met and places we've been, as long as we don't burn bridges along the way.  I also know it's never too late to repair a bridge - even plank by plank - if you've burned it.

I've learned that as much as we think we know - leaving high school, college, or grad school - there are new lessons to learn every day.  I've lived in Falmouth most of my life and meet new people that touch my heart and teach me something every week.  I learned what an allen wrench is at 35, the ingredients to a seven layer bar at 38, and read my favorite book at 40.

I've learned to take nothing for granted, and to never doubt the power of ideas.  When I graduated from FHS more than twenty years ago, there were no i-pods, laptops, e-mails or microwave popcorn.  Polaroids were the closest thing to digital cameras, wind power was found in convertibles with the top down, and you did your research at the library or at a neighbor's house who had an updated set of encyclopedias.  On the other hand, I've learned that good pizza is timeless.  Paul's, Kosta's, Steve's and the North Falmouth House of Pizza are proof that some things, some good things, never change. 

So to you, my dearest Sydney, and all graduates of the Class of 2009 - know that as much as the i-pod and facebook define you today, they will be the nostalgia of your tomorrow.  Cling to the Paul's pizzas, the constants in your life in this wonderful small town, that defined your youth, and be prepared to use that foundation to create and define tomorrow for us all.

This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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Change Agent or Troublemaker?

 What's wrong with Brent?

Merriam-Webster defines "maverick" as "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or a party."  They describe "contrarian" as "a person who takes a contrary position or attitude."  In politics, the former certainly has greater appeal than the latter.  To be seen as an independent individual has a certain, well, maverick quality to it.  To simply be contrary is just negative.

A year ago, as Selectman Brent Putnam assumed his seat at the Selectmen's table, he had an everyman quality about him as he promised a new spotlight on openness and transparency.   He brought with him a tech-savvy platform and a willingness to provide a different perspective.  Other than his strong links to the cranberry wars, he came unaligned and independent - and certainly willing if not determined to be a free-thinking man of the people and not "go along with a group or party."  He was swept into office in part due to the negativity surrounding the incumbent whose village-centric style wore out voters after one term.  He became victorious as a maverick and, I believe, relished in that status.

So, one year later, what is the status of the maverick?  The question can best be answered with another - what's wrong with Brent?

I have watched the progression of this previously promising leader with a sometimes quizzical perspective, as he has mistaken raising questions for making objections and has replaced discussion with dissension. 

The shouting match between Brent and Selectman Carey Murphy at Monday's meeting on sewer issues is just a symptom of the problem - he seems unwilling or perhaps even unable to contribute to the "member of a board" concept.  Having served with all of his colleagues with the exception of the newly elected Melissa Freitag, I know the dynamic he faces can be a difficult one.  I have been there, as the young guy with energy and a true desire to do the right thing, trying to get through to the old guard and the good old boys to no avail.  It can be frustrating and can sap your energy.  The problem, though, is that it appears that Brent is giving up or has already abandoned any attempt to work with his colleagues, and has chosen after only a year to indeed become the contrarian and to simply find issues to raise at meetings to solidify his position as the loyal opposition. He is focusing, though, on the problem and not the solution.

More than one colleague on the Board  has shared with me frustration of what is emerging as Brent's crash and burn style of tossing a haymaker at the Selectmen's meetings with no prior discussion or inquiry on the topic.  I've been there too.  It doesn't work.  I remember my first budget cutting over a million dollars with no thought to the impact the cuts would have on town services; I just wanted to show the voters that I could yield the budget axe.  The Selectmen accepted a paltry $1,500 of my cuts and agreed to eliminate new guns for the Natural Resources Department.  I was smarting from getting slapped around, but learned an important lesson in teamwork and how my lack of it cost me.  Brent, let me have learned this lesson for you.  Your chances of making real, substantive change are far better by working with, not against your colleagues, even when they make you mad.  This week's meeting is also a good example for this point.  If Selectman Putnam had questions on the sewering of East Falmouth, the most significant and costly public works project in the history of our community, the questions should have come before the meeting to Wastewater Chief Jerry Potamis.  To raise points at the meeting on television with no warning is bad policy.  If his questions were last minute revelations, then fair enough.  If he raised them for dramatic effect, he should have at least given Potamis a heads up.  No one likes a sucker punch.   

I don't necessarily agree with the editorial staff that Brent's endorsement of Sheryl Kozens-Long's candidacy was somehow shaky on political grounds.  These types of endorsements are as common around here as beach sand.  I do agree, though, that endorsing a candidate with less than a year in the office yourself carries with it a hint of arrogance, which points to the emerging theme - has the maverick lost his way? His cool?  His everyman quality?
I don't think so at all.  Selectman Putnam still enjoys wide appeal as a sincere and dedicated guy who wants to make substantive positive change, but the list is growing of skeptics who see an emerging troublemaker with complaints but no solutions.  A new Board and a new dynamic present a renewed opportunity to bring back the maverick and make change from within.  How you handle this opportunity, Brent, is up to you.

 This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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Freitag Wins in Falmouth

"The Professor" Bests Four Others in Only Contested Race

Melissa Freitag, offering a message of inclusion and transparency, was the victor in five-way race for Falmouth Selectman today.  She bested Transportation Commission Chair Brig. Gen. John Flanagan, her closest competitor, by 476 votes, garnering a convincing win.  Flanagan was followed by Historical Committee Chair Sheryl Kozens-Long, Planning Board Member Robert Volosevich, Jr., and David Moriarty, according to unofficial results released by Town Clerk Michael Palmer.  4,969 voters, or 19.5%, cast ballots.

Here are the unofficial results:

• Freitag - 1,784
• Flanagan - 1,308
• Kozens-Long - 1,236
• Volosevich - 334
• Moriarty - 283

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The Professor & the Ice Cream Man

Good Choices in Tuesday's Election

I like choices.  Baskin Robbins made a brand of it, offering 31 flavors of ice cream from which to choose.  Next Tuesday, there may not be 31 candidates for Selectman on the ballot, but the choices are good ones nonetheless.  Of the five who would be Selectman, each of them bring qualities that would complement the foursome currently seated at the big table.  After the votes are counted, though, only one will take the oath, take the seat at the table, and take on the task of putting forth an agenda while recognizing the crucial concept that the only success comes with the Board members working together for common goals.

All but one of the candidates offer a local government pedigree that has prepared them nicely for the detail and sometimes weekly drudgery of Selectmen's meetings.  In no particular order, John Flanagan has immersed himself in local transportation issues on the Transportation Management Commission and Sheryl Kozens-Long is Chair of the Historical Commission, sits on the Agricultural Commission, and is a Town Meeting Member. Melissa Freitag sits on the Historical Commission and has been on the Finance Committee in another town on Cape, and Robert Volosevich is an elected member of the Planning Board and serves as Chair of the Local Planning Committee.  Only Falmouth native David Moriarty lacks some tenure on a local board, but even he has political experience, having served in the office of former State Rep. Eric Turkington 

It is in their plans for our community's future, their outlook on the issues, and their approach to governing where these five Falmouthphiles differ.  I am excited and encouraged by the optimistic and inclusive tone struck by Volosevich in his written and spoken word.  His vision to create a Kennedyesque "kitchen cabinet," while not an original thought, certainly places an appropriate emphasis on listening to locals and their opinions, which in many cases have been left out of the decision making process in town of late.  Freitag speaks frequently of the public as stakeholders in our local government, an apt and insightful perspective that is important and necessary on a Board that should strive to represent a mosaic of our community.  Kozens-Long appears to have taken a less inclusive approach in her local government experience, having been an active participant in the polarizing cranberry wars and earning fairly low marks from this observer for her outreach with the Historical Commissions' recent inventory of historic buildings.  Flanagan has unmatched business and financial acumen among the candidates, but his statements and vision for the office make him well suited to be a sole authority, a mayor, and not necessarily a consensus-building member of a Board of five.  Falmouth already has one Selectman who thinks he's a mayor and I'm not sure would be well served with another.  Moriarty's stand to "save the dump," emblazoned on his yard signs, is a noble objective, but other than striking a "green" theme, he has not articulated his plans well enough to make an informed judgment on his candidacy.  His lighthearted demeanor, though, has been a welcome addition to the local political landscape and I hope he sticks around. 

The choice for me, then, is between the Professor (Freitag) and the Ice Cream Man (Volosevich).  In addition to the aforementioned admirable attributes, they are the only two candidates who have embraced technology as a means to reach out to the voters, Freitag with a website, and Volosevich with a Facebook page.  This demonstrates an understanding of today's voter and sincere effort to reach out that will be invaluable in Town Hall.  Volosevich, as the owner of Spiral Cone in Teaticket, understands what small business owners are going through in these difficult times and would bring that perspective to the fee hearings and regulation discussions.  His commitment to working with Chamber President Jay Zavala on a citizens' academy to inspire volunteerism is a home run and I hope it becomes a reality no matter what the outcome on Tuesday. 

In the final analysis, though, my choice for Selectman is Melissa Freitag.  Her commitment to "fiscal responsibility while upholding the democratic process" points to a transparency and an openness that is wilted today and is sorely in need of new life. She has a grasp of the issues, an ability to communicate her ideas, and most importantly, a desire to "communicate with all residents - not just the most vocal." 

We all have the opportunity to be loud and clear, whatever our choice on Tuesday.  Scream out your democracy on Tuesday and cast a ballot.

This article is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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Wayne Soares = A Big Hug

 East Falmouth Values Last a Lifetime

"When I think of Wayne, I just think of a big hug."  So said my mom Donna Stone when describing famous Falmouthite Wayne Soares.  True enough.  Wayne's magnetic personality and super-sized smile spread an automatic hug to anyone he encounters. 

My house growing up in Fisherman's Cove in East Falmouth was a big brown gambrel that had a large concrete patio in the backyard.  The garage had its obligatory basketball hoop on it, and Wayne was a constant on that court, day and night, practicing his basketball craft.  I can remember when it would snow, Wayne would show up at all hours, asking if he could shoot hoops if he shoveled the patio and the large deck alongside.  He did.  The constant dribbling of the ball and the clang (or swish) of the ball as the shot completed became a source of support for me after my Dad died, knowing that the older and wiser Wayno was not far away.  My sister Tara recounts other fond memories of Wayne, a young man wise and caring beyond his years and determined to help the family he loved, tucking her in at night after her Dad had gone away.

Wayne still provides that kind of loving support to kids everywhere.  Whether speaking of good sportsmanship in schools across the country, sending his message of building good character over the radio, or telling jokes to raise money for a kid-centric charity, Wayne has taken the lessons of his East Falmouth neighborhood and brought them to the national stage.  He is dedicating his life to sharing the love and support he got from his family - the whole Davisville family - to prove that those childhood lessons help make good citizens.

I sat with Wayne a few weeks ago to talk about his latest venture, his second children's book titled "Are You a Good Sport?  Kids + Sports = Fun!"  During our chat, we shared laughs and memories of the old neighborhood and how growing up in a close-knit community helped shape our lives and the compassion we feel for others.  In the Cove, as in Wayne's nearby neighborhood, young families sometimes struggled, but worked hard and supported one another.  It was not uncommon to have three or more families, like the Clarksons, Palanzas, and Kapulkas, eating together and sharing good laughs, great food, and unwavering support for one another.  Wayne was often at these gatherings, where status, smarts, and material things mattered not - we were all family.  These themes are pervasive in Wayne's literary work.  "It is always fun to compete.  Be a good sport, play fair, and never cheat," advises a page in his book.  "Sportsmanship and character are one and the same. Whatever you play, be sure and learn the game," offers another.  "It's all about the kids," explained this gentle giant, his eyes glimmering with both memories of those wonderful days, and the hope that his message is reaching the thousands of kids he encounters in his life's work.  "You've got to make it fun," he continued, talking about countless activities, including a variety show he has begun, a non-competitive outlet for young people to showcase their talents and develop self-confidence.

A former minor league voice of the New York Mets, Wayne also brings his message to adults nationwide.  His new show on ESPN Radio is titled "A Walk Down Memory Lane."  Much like his work with youth, this show attempts to bring a simpler, less hurried life back into our consciousness.  It airs Saturdays and 1PM and is a great example of how the respect and familiarity Wayne learned in those early days in Fisherman's Cove help him carry the message today. 

Mom was right.  Wayne Soares personifies a big hug.  The next time a neighborhood kid asks to shoot hoops in your yard, remember that.

This column is reprinted from the Falmouth Enterprise.

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