Middleboro Gazette: Still Only 50 Cents!

Much criticism has been rendered about the decline of the media nationwide, in particular the newspapers. With the advent of the internet, declining revenues, escalating debt with consolidation, and the litany of complaints, inter alia, the greatest sacrifice that has gone largely unnoticed has been local coverage.

.

While I have differed with the editor of the Middleboro Gazette and sincerely promise to continue to do so (and Ms. Lopes would expect no less), it should be noted that the reporting has surpassed that of other competitors in the local markets.

.

Where else is Middleboro reported in the depth that the Gazette provides?

.

And the editor, herself, actually attends those godawful Board of Selectmen's Meetings that put you to sleep at home. (Were it not for those uncomfortable antique chairs, perhaps she would succumb to a similar fate!)

.

And what other towns receive the coverage with any dedicated newspaper? Very few and those are declining in numbers.

.

So, Kudos to the Middleboro Gazette and Kudos to the editor for her persistence in reporting, whether or not we agree with her.

.

Her coverage and her editorials have allowed us all to hone our positions and consider our opinions.

.

That being said, thanks for including my name in the last two issues of the Gazette.

.

Of course, that still doesn't explain the secret Sacred Ceremony on land owned by others, but at least Ms. Lopes got the tongue in cheek part that others missed. (Who is the Jetpuffed Marshmellow Man? )

.

As my friend, Bellicose Bumpkin pointed out that there is no such thing as bad press, so your comments, as always, are appreciated.

.

While the unintended consequences of the JetPuffed Marshmellow Man post has been skyrocketing readership, more importantly, those new readers are paging through and reading other issues, maybe even learning something, which is of greater import. They are even reading, get this, the energy conservation stuff!

.

I tossed an idea out in embryonic form on nemasket, as follows (link) :

.

Newspapers are filled with the threats of this winter's heating costs and the cuts in funding for the heating assistance program (LIHEAP).

.

The Middleboro Veteran's Outreach Center is offering raffle tickets for heating fuel (oil or gas) and will subsidize needy veterans with the proceeds.

.

Although the Massachusetts delegation is calling for increased funding for weatherization, is there anything we can do locally?

.

Does it make more sense to help those who can't afford their heating bills to reduce them?

.

I would prefer to make a donation to help John Anonymous insulate his home to reduce his heating costs and keep him warm and comfortable in addition to contributing to his heating costs.

.

I would volunteer to help John Anonymous caulk his windows and weatherstrip to reduce his costs. And I would gladly donate and install CFLS or power strips.

.

There must be some Scouts working on their badges who might participate. There must be others who have additional ideas about how we might help one another on a local level and I would be interested in hearing them.

.

To me, this is much like the oft quoted “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown

.

Give a man fuel assistance and you have helped him survive this winter. Help him make his home more energy efficient and you have reduced his energy cost forever.

.

What ideas are out there?