A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight
My husband was asleep, his head on my chest,
My little son beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my husband and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,
'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
So that your family can sleep without fright.
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearlon a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers'

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile'.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'
'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'

'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.'

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'

I did not write this poem, it was sent to me by a friend. I, as I am sure many of you, have family or friends fighting for our great Country and pray every day for their safe return home.

May everyone have a safe and happy holiday, and please do not forget to pray for our brave soldiers who fearlessly fight for our freedoms.

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years,
Carverchick

- be the change you want to see in the world -

Perhaps.....

Here we go again –

Quote from factfinder blog: (please note that the misspellings are his, not mine)

Tom Calter is quoted in the Enterprise as follows:

"The water demanded by this project equals usage of the entire town of Kingston" refering to the propsed casino in Middleborough.

Since the Town of Kingston pumped an average of 1,420,180 gallons per day in 2006 and the agreement between Middleborough and the Tribe is for 750,000 gallons per day. It is far from the truth. Comparing the Max Day pumping. The max day pumpage in Kingston was 3 Million gallons per day. The casino max day is 1.5 million gallons per day.

To quote Jeff Foxworthy, "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" Most 5th graders would know that Kingston uses about twice as much as the proposed casino.

I wish Mr. Calter would check his facts and sources prior to making false statements.

- factfinder -

Sigh….and I wish factfinder would stop ignoring the fact that the Tribe will put private wells on the proposed casino site, making his average daily usage of 750,00 GPD a bogus figure, something which I’m sure most fifth graders would know. In my opinion, Representative Calter did not make any false statements here. In the agreement, the Tribe is allotted to take up to 1.5 MGPD over a 24 hour period from the Town's public water supply….Kingston pumps 1.4 MGPD average – seems to me that the water demanded by the project will equal, at least some of the time, what Kingston pumps on an average day - and most assuredly will be a whole lot more when you include the private wells. The idea alone that one project could take up as much water as an entire town whether it be for one day, one week or one month should cause anyone to pause. Not to mention, since factfinder wasn’t even at the RTF Meeting (I know because I was there), who is he to say anything about Representative Calter? If factfinder really cared about the FACTS instead bashing State Representatives who want to defend communities besides Middleboro, or cared even a tiny bit about what other towns are worried about, perhaps he would have actually gone to the Regional Task Force (RTF) meeting.

Perhaps he would have heard the pathetic pleading of the Middleboro Town Selectman to be allowed a seat at the table…in all honesty, I felt bad for him...how embarrassing to have to stand up in front of all your peers after all that has been done, and an agreement has been signed ensuring that you will do what is in the best interest of the Tribe, and say "we want to help you"..... I give him a lot of credit, I couldn't have done it myself.

Perhaps factfinder would have heard that same selectman insist that Middleboro never said they wouldn’t share their mitigation money with surrounding communities – well…..they never said they would, now did they.

Perhaps he would have seen said Selectman stumble and bumble with a non- answer when asked if one the RTF members could sit on the Middleboro Casino Resort Advisory Committee if he was allowed to sit on the RTF.

Perhaps if factfinder took the time to go to these meetings instead of insisting his neutrality on the issue while posting on a pro-casino forum, he would have some real insight as to how this project will directly impact surrounding communities.

Perhaps if factfinder had ventured outside the confines of Middleboro to attend the RTF meeting, he wouldn’t be so quick to gloss over or outright deny that there are any impacts.

Perhaps factfinder would have seen our wonderful RTF be nothing short of professional, attentive, and polite to said Middleboro Selectman….and perhaps factfinder would have seen the fine demonstration of an obvious pro-casino woman throwing a hissy fit in front of the entire room because the RTF said they would take Middleboro’s plea “into consideration”. Gee, what a fun filled night that turned out to be. Too bad factfinder was too busy posting on a pro-casino forum and missed it. He may actually have learned something. Then perhaps, he could quote Jeff Foxworthy without putting his own foot in his own mouth.

And it just keeps getting worse....

Just the other day I found myself reading....actually reading, line by line the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Wampanoag Indidan Tribe and the Town of Middleboro. I must say, after reading that document closely, I can see why there was such a rush to get this approved. I was really interested in the water usage sections but found myself a bit surprised by much of what this document says. Shortly after, I stumbled upon this statement made by my favorite casino constituent, Factfinder:

Quote -

The casino is not allotted 1.5MGD on average it is allotted 0.75MGD. When you look at sustainability you have to look at long term, not one single day. Plus with Carver getting their water from a different aquifer, it will free up water that was provided by Middleboro to Carver (as the good neighbors we are) for sale elsewhere.

- Factfinder-

Sigh....where does one start? First of all, I am not even going to retort the comment about Carver...that has absolutely nothing to do with the Casino (except that those residents will also be affected) and is just a tactic to focus the true issue elsewhere. I will however make on thing perfectly clear again, North Carver residents and cranberry farmers are on the same aquifer. Factfinder can continue to say that isn't so, but it won't make it true. North Carver residents will be directly impacted.

Okay, now that I have cleared up that little fallacy, the real issue with the above statement, in regards to the casino is the insistence that the casino will be using 750,000 GPD - not 1.5 million gallons per day. I read the agreement and I assure everyone that the agreement does give the tribe an allotment of up to a maximum of 1.5 MGPD, this is based of course, on a day actually being 24 hours....the 750,000 is an an average usage over time - whether it be monthly, quartely or annually.

Quote from the agreement (page 7, section 10: Water Usage)

"The Town shall provide an allotted maximum water volume of up to an average daily volume of 750,000 gallons, with a maximum 24 hour usage of 1.5 million gallons to the Project."

Why the insistance that it isn't 1.5 MGPD when it clearly is - whether they use it all or not isn't the concern...the concern is during those months when water is in higher demand for everyone, it will be used and it will affect everyone else. If you really want to look at aquifer sustainability, you need to look at maximum usage per day as well as overall usage over a given time to determine impacts. Insisting on only using averages as a basis that the aquifer is sustanable for all life, in my opinion, is just another half truth hand fed by a so called "neutral expert".

Oh, but it gets worse....

"The Tribe may explore the potential for on-site water supply for potable consumption and/or irrigation as a means to reduce the Project's demands on the Towns water supply system."

What exactly does that mean? This statement is basically saying that the Tribe can put private wells on the site for water use in addition to the maximum 24 hour usage of 1.5MGPD.

If the tribe puts private wells on the site for potable consumption and/or irrigation, aren't they still taking the water from the same water supply source - the same aquifer? How exactly does that reduce water demands? I mean, they are still taking it, aren't they? This is the aquifer that is recharged by the Taunton River Watershed, the same watershed that has been classified as in "moderate drought" condition by the USGS as I pointed out in a previous blog. Don't get me wrong here, I think it is really nice that they are concerned about the "demands" to the Towns water supply system, but what really bothers me is that these "demands" are more related to the maximum authorized withdrawl limits established by the MADEP Water Management Act (WMA) and not about any real "concern" for the Town's water needs. The fact of the matter is that the Town under current permits does not have the water available for withdrawl to give the Project what it needs. If the Town is unable to re-permit two of it's public wells, and permit two new wells to increase it's daily withdrawl, the Tribe will need to find an alternative source of water....private wells. Let's say the Town is able to get the necesssary permits, the Tribe still has the option to drill private wells on the site anyway while continuting to take 1.5 MGPD from the Town wells. How much water are we talking about here? Two...Three...Four million gallons per day? At this point it is anyone's guess. No one, including Middleboro has even seen a conceptual design for this Project. I just cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can claim that there will be minimal impacts, or say we can mitigate for potential impacts when we don't even know how big this thing is going to be. What we can do though, is closely look at said Agreement between Tribe and Town and show impacts based on the little information we have...and know it will get worse.

And it just keeps getting worse....

Quote from the Agreement (page 2 section 2: Future Land Acquisition)

If the Tribe acquires additional lands beyond those described as the Project Site in Exhibit A and subsequently seeks to place such lands into trust status with the United States, the Parties agree to reopen and negotiate in good faith an amendment to this Agreement to mitigate any impacts of the Tribe's acquisition and development of such lands, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Tribe from acquiring such additional lands in fee status.

So......what? Future land acquistions and impacts will be mitigated in "good faith" as written in the Ambiguities clause.

Section 24. General Provisions - Section F (page 14)

The general rule of contract construction that any ambiguity in a contract will be construed against the party drafting such contract shall not apply to this Agreement.

Or is it that same good faith shown recently to the Southeast Region and the State by appealing to the BIA their right to open a casino - using the same sign now or else tact so eloquently pointed out in the recent casino facts blog.


I would like to say that the MADEP Water Management Act was adopted for one reason...to ensure adequate water supplies for current and future water needs - source dep. So under this agreement (assuming the land does go into trust) the Tribe as a sovereign nation using private wells will not need to comply with WMA regulations and they can expand operations.

More expansion means more need for water...as well as more traffic, more pollution, more noise, more lights, more impacts.

That leaves me wondering.....what will happen to all the other communities, as well as wildlife, plant and aquatic life that will be forced to live with these impacts?

Get the real facts at casinofacts.org.

- be the change you want to see in the world -

Get the Real Faqs....Part Deux

Get the real faqs indeed!! Now honestly, I am not trying to pick on anyone here but once again I feel the need to comment on something I read recently. Once again, factfinder has posted some interesting facts concerning water supply to Middleboro…but dare I say…taking rainfall data from over 10 years ago and posting runoff data from 67 years ago hardly gives an accurate picture of what the recharge conditions for the watershed is today. In all honesty, I will give kudos to anyone who makes an effort to educate people. My problem with the post below is that the information may be a list of facts, just not all are actual up-to-date facts. Jeez, you cannot expect people to make informed opinions about such an important topic if you choose to give them outdated statistics and only one little piece of the big picture. So once again, I feel the need to comment on the so called "facts" of factfinder. I have highlighted the particular areas of my concern for your convenience.

The sub basin which Middleborough gets its water from is as follows:

Subbasin for Nemasket River - 26.67 sq. miles
Subbasin for Barlett Brook - 5.63 sq. miles
Subbasin for Black Brook - 10.30 sq. miles

Which totals 42.59 square miles.

Average rainfall is 42 inches per year. (TR-55)
Average 1961 to 1990 - 40 to 50 inches per year (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)
The estimated runoff is 50% (Lee 1915, Theis 1940)

The aquifer is not diminished. It is sustained and unless it stops raining forever, it will recharge again and again and again.

I point people to the water cycle.”



__________________
-Fact Finder

Nice picture! I seem to remember that one from 5th grade science class.

Now I will give factfinder credit where credit is due - average rainfall has remained fairly consistent (average 45 inches per year for the State), and the picture posted is a general overview of the natural water cycle, but factfinder’s post is severely lacking in some very important key factors that affect a balanced water cycle hydrology. Did you notice how there are no buildings, streets or parking lots in the picture?
Although there are several factors that can affect the natural water cycle, I feel the need to point out that urban development (such as building a mega resort casino) creates man-made impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roadways, buildings, rooftops, etc. that directly impact the natural water cycle. Factfinder would have been better to post something more along this line...


















So basicially, when urban growth occurs, you can expect approximately a 10-15% decrease in shallow water infiltration and approximately 10 -20% decrease in deep water infiltration into the natural water cycle, depending on the area of impervious surfaces in the given area - source EPA. This means that the resulting alterations to the land has the potential to lead to dramatic changes to local hydrology. Impervious man-made surfaces and compacted earth associated with urban development create a barrier to rainfall, which would otherwise percolate into and through the soil. Impervious surfaces also increase surface runoff, as well as decrease infiltration and groundwater recharge. This disruption of the natural cycle of water flow and infiltration leads to a number of harmful changes including: increased volume and velocity of runoff; increased frequency and severity of flooding; peak storm flows many times greater than in natural basins; loss of natural runoff storage capacity in vegetation, wetlands and soil; reduced groundwater recharge; and decreased base flow in rivers and streams ( base flow is the groundwater contribution to stream flow), which can result in streams becoming intermittent or dry, and also affect water temperature. Water temperature changes affect the natural ecosystem on which plants, animals and aquatic life rely.

We cannot deny the fact that urban development of watershed areas can create some serious issues with water quality and quantity which is why the MADEP has water conservation programs and the southeast region has groups such as SPREDD. Smart, sustainable and responsible growth is imperative to water conservation. Sorry, I just don't feel that building the worlds largest resort casino falls into the "smart, sustainable and responsible growth" category.

Here are some up to date facts about our watershed condition this year. Again, I urge you not to take my word for it, but to do your own research on this subject. The MA DEP website has a wealth of information regarding the condition of our rivers, streams and watersheds as well as what you can do to help conserve water.

As of Monday, December 03, 2007, the USGS has mapped our area as being in a moderate hydrologic drought and stream flows in the State as of October 2007 are below normal, within the lowest 25% on record. It is this surface water runoff from rivers and streams that contribute greatly to aquifer recharge.




Click here to see the map of surface water run off data for Massachusetts as of October 2007.

“At the end of October stream flows in the State that are monitored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) were generally below normal (orange area) in most of Massachusetts” – source USGS


Additional information on streamflow is available from the USGS website.

So in my humble opinion, factfinders statement “The aquifer is not diminished. It is sustained and unless it stops raining forever, it will recharge again and again and again” is not only shortsighted and irresponsible, it is inaccurate.

Get the real facts at casinofacts.org

- be the change you want to see in the world -

Get the Real FAQS?

Here is a statement I read recently regarding the water impact made by an individual who says he is the fact finder. I cannot speak for all his so called facts, but I need to speak to this one.

“There is enough water available in the aquifer serving Middleborough. Middleborough's effect on Halifax and Plympton and Kingston and Boston and whoever else SRPEDD, Tom Calter, the Task Force and CFO want to use is false. Kingston isn’t even in the same basin. If that were true Pine Dubois would be all over this. The water statements are a LIE.” - Fact Finder

Hmmmm….okay, but if you truly want to get the real facts, I suggest you do your own research. Regarding the statement quoted above, Fact Finder apparently isn’t quite able to grasp the real facts...or read a map. Not only is a section of Kingston in the same watershed (i.e, the Taunton River Watershed), so is Plymouth.


Taunton River Watershed Map




Here is a link to the map if you want a closer look.


Towns with Significant Areas within the Watershed

Abington, Dighton, Hanson, Pembroke, Somerset
Attleborough, East Bridgewater, Holbrook, Plainville, Stoughton
Avon, Easton, Kingston, Plympton, Swansea
Berkley, Fall River, Lakeville, Raynham, Taunton,
Bridgewater, Foxborough, Mansfield, Rehoboth, West Bridgewater,
Brockton, Freetown, Middleborough, Rochester, Whitman,
Carver, Halifax, Norton, Sharon, Wrentham

Towns with Small Areas within the Watershed

New Bedford, Plymouth, Weymouth,
Norfolk, Rockland,
North Attleboro, Walpole

Go here for more information regarding the Taunton River Watershed.

Get the Real Facts at CasinoFacts.org

Water, Water Everywhere...

Let me start my blog by saying in my opinion…..


There has been much talk lately about the Taunton Watershed and the effects the proposed Middleboro casino will potentially have on the water supplies for area farmers, residents and businesses. Let’s face it, 1 Million gallons of water per day for one facility is a heck of a lot of water. And although my primary concern has been about my own private well, I cannot ignore the fact that this is something that will affect anyone who relies on water supplied by the Taunton River Watershed for survival….including our local wildlife. Why is it so easy for so many to ignore, or not care about the fact that humans are not the only living beings who need water? I would like to take the opportunity to hopefully remind everyone about who else is affected by this proposed casino. It is after all, my blog…..

The Taunton River Watershed is the second largest watershed in the state at 562 square miles and contains 94 square miles of wetlands and 221 lakes or ponds. 700,000 people call the watershed home. The Hockomock Swamp, at 12 square miles, is the largest wetland in Massachusetts. The Assawompset Pond Complex (APC) - including Long Pond, the largest natural pond in the state - is in the watershed. The APC is a part of the Southeastern Massachusetts BioReserve. This area provides nesting habitat for the bald eagle, spawning grounds for river herring, and water that is provided to over 150,000 residents. – source Mass.Gov

Taking water from area of the watershed will affect the entire watershed, regardless of who is north or south of the proposed casino site. Here is but a small example of the wildlife that could potentially be directly affected by this proposed casino.

Over 154 species of birds, including approximately 114 possible breeding species including bald eagles.


River otters, who are noted at several locations along the Taunton as well as its tributaries, the Nemasket and the Winnetuxet Rivers (the water for this area is supplied by the Nemasket).


The Gray Fox, who can be found in two locations in the watershed. Deer activity is found throughout.


The watershed supports 29 species of native fish, including native brook trout.


The very rare native sturgeon, which can grow to 14 feet long, has been found in the lower Taunton.


The Nemasket River is the state's largest Alewife fish run.


The Taunton River hosts 7 species of freshwater mussels, making it among the most diverse waterbodies in the state for this rare group of animals.


The watershed also boasts over 360 species of plants. The globally rare Long's Bullrush ("endangered") was discovered along the taunton River. Several small populations of Long's Bittercress ("endangered") were found in Brackish tidal marsh which is also home to the Eaton's Beggar Ticks ("threatened and a globally rare species). Three populations of Pale Green Orchis ("threatened") were found in floodplain wetlands. Uncommon species that may be of local concern include the Colicroot, Slender Blue Flag, Seaside Crowfoot, Ash leaf Maple, Silver Maple, Trout Lily, Rattlesnake Fern, Nodding and Painted Trillium, arrowhead and bullrush.
The following information is excerpted from a Natural Resource Inventory and Conservation Plan for the Taunton River Corridor prepared by the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts in Feb of 1998. To learn more about the Wildlands Trust, please visit their web site at www.wildlandstrust.org. or visit http://www.tauntonriver.org/


Wow! I consider myself to be an avid gardener and I wouldn’t know half of these plants by sight…how sad!


May I recommend visiting the Taunton River Wild & Scenic River Study website, it is filled with valuable information regarding the Taunton River, the watershed and the tireless efforts of concerned citizens and groups dedicated to conserving its natural resources. On the webpage, the late Representative Joseph Moakley was quoted as writing, "It is my hope that…. the Taunton River should be designated as a Wild and Scenic River. I cannot think of another river in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that captures the magnificence of New England better than the Taunton River."



- be the change you want to see in the world -

Thinking on Thanksgiving

On September 6, 1620 a group of English fortune hunters set sail from Plymouth, England bound for a “New World” on a small ship named the Mayflower. When they landed on the shores of what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts they were ill prepared for the brutal New England weather and found themselves struggling through a winter that took over half their people and destroyed the seedlings brought with them from England. In the spring of 1621, a friendly Native American from the Wampanoag Indian Tribe came forward and taught the settlers fishing, planting and hunting. By the fall of 1621, there was enough food to survive the upcoming winter. As a celebration for a successful harvest, the settlers and the Wampanoag Indians sat together and had a huge feast. Today we celebrate that fateful time in history with Thanksgiving, an American Holiday celebrating home and family. The early settlers had much to be thankful for, as do many of us. Thanksgiving Day is time to reflect on all the wonderful things life brings us. I would like to say that I am thankful for….

My wonderful family…I am thankful for my husband who has always supported me while making many sacrifices to provide us a happy and loving home. I am thankful for my son who constantly reminds me how beautiful and amazing life can be.

My Home…An old farmhouse built in 1850 that we have dedicated the past fives years to restoring.

My job and career….I am thankful for a job which brings me much satisfaction as well as a means to provide for my family.

My community…A community built on history and tradition. We are blessed with wonderful friends and neighbors who bring much joy into our lives. I am thankful that my son will be able to grow up here.

I am also thankful for the folks at CasinoFacts for reminding me that a small group of people can make difference in this world. A small group of people who have become a large group of people dedicated to preserving our families, our homes, our jobs and our communities. May you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!