Bedford

Letter to the Editor: Increased Rules Transparency for the Massachusetts House of Representatives

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Following the historic tenure and departure of Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, a new era begins on Beacon Hill. With the election of Rep. Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, as Speaker, the Massachusetts House of Representatives has a true opportunity to commit itself to transparency and good government.

Every two years, at the start of the session, the House is tasked with approving a rules package – essentially setting the methodology for how the House will operate. The rules packages that Speaker DeLeo put forward were filled with blatant efforts to maintain a level of secrecy from the general public.

Speaker DeLeo’s support for these rule packages mitigated measures to increase transparency and therefore sowed public distrust toward the Massachusetts General Court.

While elected officials here in Bedford are required to know the in’s and out’s of Open Meeting Law, Speaker DeLeo made sure the Legislature was exempt from these levels of standards.

A Moment in Time: College Life in the Time of Pandemic ~ Lily Nemirovsky

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If you had asked me back in June what I’d be doing in August I would have dreamily envisioned myself sitting in a classroom discussing some totally geeky topic with five other students and a college professor, or grabbing a latte from the campus coffee shop before meeting up with some friends to study in the library together.  I never would have guessed I’d be sitting on a plane, heading for the other side of the country with no academic plans ahead of me for the next four months.

A Moment in Time: College Life in the Time of Pandemic ~ Hannah O’Connor

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One year ago, when I was a senior in high school and going through the college selection process, I could never have fathomed the end of my high school career being completely upended by a pandemic nor the start of my college experience looking so entirely different than those of the college students I’d spoken to in the process of making my decision on where to attend. Now, a year later, I am finally on campus at Macalester College, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I couldn’t be happier to be here. I moved in a mere three weeks ago, flying out by myself and leaning on an incredibly patient and understanding new friend from my dorm who picked up an embarrassing number of Target and Amazon packages from the college’s mailing services for me ahead of my arrival. Macalester has split the Fall and Spring semesters into a quarter-like “module system.”  For the first module, I was at home, studying and learning remotely while nannying for three incredibly sweet boys in Bedford who I’d been with since the end of senior year. I can honestly say that the time I spent at home with both families was challenging, with respect to managing school, and also immensely rewarding.

A Moment in Time: College Life in the Time of Pandemic ~ Brooke Shamon

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I can always recall returning home as a freshman from Marist College in 2019 after being away for thirteen weeks. As we drove back through town, the fall leaves had left the trees and the town was preparing for the holiday season; Thanksgiving was only a day or two away. I gazed at the town I had called home for thirteen years as if for the first time.

When I got to my house and entered my bedroom it was sort of empty. My drawers had a few clothes inside that had been left behind, unworn for many years.  I had packed light for this holiday visit knowing I’d be returning to school for just two more weeks before spending the winter break back in Bedford. For a moment there I felt like a stranger in my own room, memories from every year in high school stashed inside; my class ring, a photo album from senior year, a picture from my time as a cheerleader freshman year. I was most excited to be back in my own bed! Unlike my other classmates, I had not been home all semester. Sleeping on the little twin got old at school and I was excited to snuggle up in a familiar place of comfort and warmth.

2020 COVID-19

Announcing ‘A Moment in Time: College Life in the Time of the Pandemic’ ~ A New Series

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A few years back The Bedford Citizen initiated a special column for student writers from Bedford High School and Shawsheen Valley Technical High School.  We invited students who wished to write their opinions or describe their experiences and perspectives to submit essays to us for publication under the banner “Student Voices @ The Bedford Citizen.” 

Since then, a dozen or more students have written diverse articles running the gamut from their charitable involvements to their views on gun control, hate speech to their thoughts on growing up in a small town.  Reader response has been positive and The Citizen is proud to continue to provide these young people a place to make their voices heard.

Opinion

Impact of Covid-19 on One Charitable Organization: A Follow-up to a Previous Article on Don Bosco Orphanage in Mexico

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The current outbreak of Covid-19 has launched us both nationally and globally into times that are unprecedented and many call pre-apocalyptic.  As millions of Americans take daily notice of hourly news reports and updates from around the United States, it is easy to stay within a domestic bubble.  The spread of the virus, however, is affecting everyone in ways both unforeseen and devastating far beyond our Bedford and Massachusetts communities.

Bedford

Freshman, Ending: Closed Without Closure

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I stood in my room, Sheahan Hall 207, for what I never thought would be my last time living there. The previous week was filled with hard-core studying for mid-terms, work-study, and sneaking in a meal or two here and there. I looked around at my bags all packed up, most of my belongings inside, worried that the college would end up closing and I would leave much-needed clothing behind.

Bedford

Real, But Distant…Until It Wasn’t

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At first, the coronavirus seemed like every other news headline: real, but distant.  We’d hear about how it affected others, we’d talk about it in the hallways, but none of us believed we would actually feel the effects ourselves; that our lives would be directly impacted.

Climate

Another Solution to the Looming Climate Crisis

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Protests. Marches. Strikes. Walk-Outs. The impact of young people on the direction of climate change proposals has been monumental.  However, their voices represent a mere fraction of Generation Z.   While most Gen Z’ers do indeed agree on the need for change to preserve our beautiful world, opinions differ as to exactly what changes are needed and who should be involved in implementing them. The majority of Americans recognize the dangers that climate change confronts our country with, so there is overwhelming support to take action to prevent further damage.  Despite the polarizing political sphere in today’s world, climate change is a unique issue on which many people agree that something must be done. However, a significant divergence in approach becomes apparent as we discuss possible solutions to the looming effects of climate change.

Features

In a New York Minute: Adulting 101

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Please welcome back a former “Voice”, Brooke Shamon, who graduated last June with the BHS Class of 2019.  Several of her submissions last year spoke about the college application process and her mixed emotions around graduating and leaving Bedford. Brooke is now settling into her freshman year at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York and offers this reflection as she prepares for her return to Bedford for Thanksgiving break. 

Bedford

Seja Bem Vindo (Welcome) Gabriel Imhoff: Bedford Rotary Exchange Student Joins Class of 2020

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Gabriel Imhoff has always been interested in new cultures and languages.  After visiting Florida with his family in 9th grade, he began to imagine what it would be like to live in the United States. 

Many of his friends in Brazil had participated in exchange programs and he became intrigued; he watched videos about exchange students and began toying with the idea that he could live abroad himself. 

Homepage Featured

An Invitation to Participate in Student Voices @ The Bedford Citizen

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In 2018 The Bedford Citizen was pleased to introduce a feature column entitled Voices @ Bedford High School.  We invited interested students to submit articles on topics of their choice.

Reader feedback was very favorable and we are pleased to initiate a new year of student musings under a revised banner, Student Voices @ The Bedford Citizen.