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Bedford’s 2021 Town Election ~ Final Candidate Statements and Video PSAs

By The Bedford Citizen | March 5, 2021

Final statements submitted by each of the candidates in Bedford’s March 13 election, presented in ballot order.

Statements were due on Monday, March 1.

Thanks to Bedford TV, each candidate was offered the opportunity to share a video PSA; if one was recorded, the link appears beneath the candidate’s statement.

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Alison O’Connell for Board of Health

I would like to endorse Alison O’Connell for the Board of Health. Though a newcomer to Bedford, Alison is not new to matters of health. As a scientist myself, Alison and I often discuss health policy especially during these trying times of COVID. I find her perspective always to be thoughtful and informed by data. Her years in consulting honed her problem-solving skills while her long experience in health care compliance and strategy have prepared her to engage, learn, and act on health policy.

Sunny Winter Saturday in Bedford Center

Sunny and cold, Saturday, March 6, saw Bedford teens outdoors: practicing for the upcoming football season, selling Girl Scout Cookies, and organizing the Interact Club’s scavenger hunt.

To Vote or Not to Vote? Is That Really a Question?

We take civic engagement seriously here at The Bedford Citizen, in fact, it’s kind of our mission. The Bedford Citizen – About Us. There was a recent article on the importance of local elections and lamenting the low turnouts.

Hanscom Field Advisory Commission Taking Residents’ Air Noise Complaints to the FAA

* Monday, March 15 is the deadline to answer FAA’s call for public comments on its research concerning: aviation noise impacts on the public; efforts to mitigate such noise exposure; and public perception of aviation noise. The long-running complaint by residents of Ayer and Groton about aviation noise harassment from pilots based at Hanscom Field is starting to head back toward the Federal Aviation Administration, this time with support from the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission.
Help Your Garden Grow & Conserve Water with a DPW Rain Barrel

The spring planting season is almost here. If you are looking for a sustainable, cost-effective way to water your garden, the Department of Public Works has a suggestion: capture the rainwater off your roof and use it on the days it doesn’t rain. The DPW’s Stormwater Management Team has arranged for residents to purchase a rain barrel from The Great American Rain Barrel Company and receive it by mid-April.

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Extra, Extra!

Assessor Candidates Inspired to “Give Back” to Town

Both candidates for the upcoming vacancy on the Board of Assessors were moved to seek the position by civic spirit. Joseph Gilbert and Elliot Lovy told the League of Women Voters candidate forum Sunday that they decided to run because they noticed that there were no candidates. One of them will succeed retiring Assessor Ronald Cordes on the board after the March 13 town election, joining Rebecca Neale, who was elected a year ago, and veteran Bruce Murphy. Neither candidate has attended a virtual meeting of the board, and both recognize that they will need a state-mandated training course early in their term. “We have been on the receiving end of a lot of hard work that goes on in this community. Reading about this opening, I thought this is my time to step up and give back,” said Lovy, a software developer and “statistics guy.” Gilbert said he also noticed the opportunity. He cited his background and education in real estate and finance and noted, “It is going to be a very important and interesting year.” The Select Board recently voted against a motion to change the town charter and bylaws which would have made assessor an appointed rather than an elected position. Gilbert and Lovy each endorsed that decision. “Independence is integral” to the position, Gilbert said. Lovy commented, “I came to understand that this position is about curating and governing data, building transparency and trust.” Each candidate acknowledged that there’s a lot to learn. Gilbert said he has questions about how frequently taxpayers request abatements, how and when the board makes those determinations, and how soon the town expects to hire a full-time professional assessor. Lovy said he will need information about management of the property database, “mechanics of the meetings,” and the board’s role with the Select Board, as well as the abatement process.
Community-wide Scavenger Hunt ~ In-Person or Virtual ~ Saturday, March 6

Join the Bedford High School Interact Club in a scavenger hunt on Saturday, March 6 from 11 am until 12:30 pm! This is a free activity for all ages to enjoy, no matter where you are. You can participate virtually or in-person for a chance to win various prizes such as gift cards.

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Features

Priscilla Douglas: “You can’t let anybody tell you who you are and what you can become.”

(First of two stories on recent Black history in Bedford) “We were the first Black family in Bedford,” Dr. Priscilla H. Douglas affirmed. “But in my family, there was no […]
Ash-less Wednesday ~ A Reflection ~ The Rev. Chris Wendell ~ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

This week marks the beginning of the Lenten season for many Christians, a time of preparation, repentance, and renewal. But unlike every other year for at least the last millennium, this year for many Lent will not begin by marking a sign of the cross in ashes on our foreheads. Today may be the first Wednesday of Lent, but it is likely to be an “Ash-less Wednesday” for most. The need to care for one another by limiting in-person contact to reduce the chance of spreading COVID has claimed congregational singing, preaching in person, the sharing of bread and wine, and now even the marking of our foreheads with ashes. Ashes have been part of this day’s liturgical observances going back to the 6th century in at least some places. Their formalization in the Western church’s customary was made universal in the 11th century. Even in my part of the wider Christian family, which broke away from Roman Catholicism during the Reformation five centuries ago, the use of ashes on this day took a mere 250-year hiatus before working its way back into our traditions and customs. It is one that many faithful Christians of all stripes may find themselves missing this year.

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Sports

Football Season Begins with Next Week’s Practice on Sabourin Field

There’s a foot of snow on the oval that surrounds Sabourin Field. You’ll need a shovel to get to the stands, let alone find a seat. And it’s going to be a while before the grills fire up next to the POMS snack shack. But the gridiron itself is green and dry – and ready for high school football practice to begin next Monday. The pandemic-induced “Fall II” season is actually going to take place, with safety modifications that have become routine for many student-athletes.
BHS Basketball Team Fulfills Commitment to Weekend of Community Service

Fulfilling a commitment to a weekend of community service, members of the Bedford High School boys basketball team recently spent several hours as volunteers at the Bedford community food bank. They also wrote letters of thanks and donated gift cards to heath-care workers. “I am proud of our boys for following through on an important part of our program’s mission,” said Head Coach Ryan Kilian.

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The Bedford Citizen - Community-supported news for Bedford, Massachusetts since 2012

Bedford’s 2021 Town Election ~ Final Candidate Statements and Video PSAs

By The Bedford Citizen | March 5, 2021

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Alison O’Connell for Board of Health

Sunny Winter Saturday in Bedford Center

To Vote or Not to Vote? Is That Really a Question?

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Letter to the Editor: Supporting Chris Gittins for Planning Board

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Chris Gittins for Planning Board

HFAC Investigates Airfield Environmental Impacts on Water Resources

By The Bedford Citizen | March 5, 2021

Related: Letter to the Editor: Supporting Alison O’Connell for Board of Health

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