Letters to the Editor

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Inside This Issue

Business Directory....................68 Church News..............................38 Classifieds...............................67 Club Announcements.................28 Events.......................................25

Food & Dining.............................62 Letters to the Editor.......................4 Local Farms...............................46 Library...................................... Blanding.......................45 Seekonk......................40 Obituaries................................59 People.................................31 Rehoboth COA...........................50 Rehoboth Ramblings.................39 Rehoboth Town News................9 Restaurant Guide.......................65 Scouts...................................58 School News...............................54 Seekonk Human Services..........47 Seekonk Town News...................17 State House................................66

Letters to the Editor...

The letters in this section and opinion articles do not reflect the views of the staff of The Rehoboth Reporter. It is not our intent to take sides on any issues, but to present all arguments from all points of view. If your point of view is not represented on an issue, it is only because you have not voiced your opinion. Let us hear from YOU!

Love for Seekonk

Seekonk is my home now, but it hasn’t always been.

Growing up my life was centralized on the South End of Fall River, that was until I attended school in Providence. I ended up studying at Johnson and Wales University, recently graduating with a B.A. in Media and Communication Studies. Having only moved to Seekonk months ago, I find myself attempting to engage with the community in whatever way I can.

For obvious reasons life has been at a standstill, but thankfully receiving the Seekonk Reporter Monthly has allowed for the seamless introduction to local shops and restaurants I can support and appreciate, especially during these uncertain times.

As I live in North Seekonk, my daily commute is about a half hour. While driving down Central Ave., Newman Ave., and Arcade, I find myself reflecting often, feeling gratitude for all that I am privileged to have. Seekonk has provided me with a place I can comfortably and confidently call home. Here in Seekonk, there is no shortage of community.

Although the kinds of engagement that take place within the community have changed, the importance has not. Whether it be the several social distancing walks around Gammino Pond, or through Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, or connecting with local farmers and buying fresh produce at Walker St. Organic Farms, life in Seekonk is safely enjoying the simple things. In the coming months, I’m excited to continue to explore the endless opportunities this town seems to be offering me. From picking my own blueberries at Osamequin Farms to exploring more local shops and trying fresh chowder from Dicky’s for the first time, I anticipate a sweet end to the summer.

And it’s all thanks to you, Seekonk.

Be grateful. Shop local. Be kind. Jacquelyn Lussier

Thank You for Your Courage

We are writing in regard to a letter to the editor in the last Rehoboth Reporter by Chris Andrade about his experiences with racism as a child growing up in the area and as an adult raising kids of his own. We wanted to say thank for you for a beautiful letter that aimed to enlighten people about the often invisible but insidious effects of racism. We did not grow up here but have lived in Rehoboth for nearly 7 years. We are grateful to live in a town with neighbors like Mr. Andrade, who are obviously kind, ethical, and committed to social justice. We hope other residents heard him and appreciated his non-accusatory but honest descriptions of his experience and will take his message to heart. The fight against racism is going to take all us to be successful. It will also take the type of courage Mr. Andrade displayed by submitting his heartfelt letter to us all.

So, thank you and know that there are many of us in solidarity with you. Sincerely, Gail Sahar and Jean-Luc Solère Rehoboth

I Stand in Solidarity

I am writing to thank Chris Andrade for his thoughtful and eye-opening letter sharing his experiences with racism in our community and schools. Your message opened my mind and heart to the privileges of indifference and silence that I have benefited as a white member of our town and society. I want to stand in solidarity with Mr. Andrade in his desire and hope for a community that listens and feels empathy towards its neighbors. Mr. Andrade ends his message by saying that although things have improved, “our work is not finished.” I hope that this message can be a call to action for us to come together against racism for more open and honest communication and listening within our schools, classrooms and community forums to bring racism out of the shadows and challenge it with our united voices and collective will. Sincerely, Lisa Sirois

Gratitude and Admiration for Your Bravery

I would like to express my deep gratitude to and admiration for Chris Andrade’s brave letter in July’s Reporter on “Racism.”

His letter courageously relates his painful experience growing up in a rural mostly-white town in so-called progressive Massachusetts. It must not have been easy to write this. His letter calls on us white residents to seriously reflect on our interactions with people of color and demands that we examine our past and present beliefs about race and our behaviors towards those who are non-white.

His letter challenges all of us to do better. When any of us commits a racist act, utters a racist sentiment, or treats people of color as inferior or less deserving, we must be accountable and reflect on how we could improve in changing how we think and act.

Thank you, Chris Andrade!

Sincerely, Renee Shield Seekonk, MA

Thank You RYBSA for Making It Possible in 2020

Like many of you I enjoy the game of baseball and look forward to the start of a fresh new season each year. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly disrupted team sports around the world—as we all know. Leading through these unprecedented times has truly been overwhelming for volunteer run leagues attempting to plan and organize a safe season. So challenging, in fact, several communities in MA and across the country have cancelled spring/summer sports all together. Sadly, many league age 12-year-old boys and girls will miss out on what many view as the pinnacle of their little league experience. Countless 5 through 11-year-olds will have to wish for next year.

I would like to recognize the tireless hard work of RYBSA board members and volunteers in making the 2020 season a reality. Their commitment to cause, due diligence and standards of excellence have made it possible for boys and girls of this community to be part of a team and take to the field once again. The great Babe Ruth once said, “never allow the fear of striking out to keep you from playing the game”. The temptation to give up is a common one, and nobody is exempt. Facing an unprecedented set of challenges, The RYBSA board and team of volunteers stepped up to the plate in a big way and they made it happen. Thank you Joel Lynch – Rehoboth Resident

Thoughts on the Withdrawal of K-8 by Rehoboth from the Regional School System

By Robert P. Gagnon, Chairman Rehoboth Citizens for Responsible Government rehobothcrg@outlook.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RehobothCitizens At a recent Rehoboth Board of Selectman meeting it was mentioned that Rehoboth has a problem. We need to plan for a large town meeting of 1000+ people, no small task in the age of corona virus. Why such a large meeting? Chairman Skip Vadnais went on to explain there is a warrant article on the agenda asking if the voters would approve a K-8 withdrawal from the Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District. What does that mean? Does that mean we are totally dissolving the Regional District? Are we going to have to build a new High school? Doesn’t Dighton have to approve our actions also? The answer to all these questions is a simple no. Why? Because our current Regional Agreement when it was written provided for just such a contingency (Section 9 on page 9). What a withdrawal of K-8 does is return “local control” of their respective K-8 back to their individual towns should a town desire to exercise that option. Rehoboth, not the District would then be solely responsible for their K-8. Withdrawing K-8 still leaves the Dighton Rehoboth Regional District intact at the High School level, there is no need to build our own High School. What does “local control” actually mean for our K-8? It means that every penny we put into our new K-8 budget goes directly to the children and benefits families in Rehoboth. We would no longer need to contend with the competing priorities of what is good for Dighton as well.

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P NE 508-252-6575 ax 252-6320 news@rehobothreporter.com Visit ur Website at... www.ReporterToday.com The Letters to the Editor and opinion articles do not reflect the views of the staff of The Rehoboth Reporter. It is not our intent to take sides on any issues, but to present all points of view.

I understand that people will have many questions of about how it will impact their unique situations. It was not my intention to address them all here, that would be impossible. The best answers will come from our Town officials, the Board of Selectman, our Finance Committee. I encourage you to inform yourself at every opportunity thru watching our Board of Selectman, Finance Committee meetings and, the School Committee meetings. Hopefully we can have a fact-based civil discussion that address the concerns of all our citizens. I think you find this issue will resonate differently with people as we have a diverse population in Rehoboth. Some will see this solely as a financial issue, e.g. “What’s the bottom line”? Others will see this as a way to address grievances and improve what we have over the current K-8 school system. Still others will see this as a way to have their vote counted once again. After all we went to 3 record size Town Meetings last year over the School District Assessment. Only to have our votes ignored and then threatened with a 2 Town “tent” meeting to try and override our votes by enlisting people from Dighton to vote against us. Finally, in the end the State ended up assuming Financial control of our District. In summary I see this as not just a question about withdrawing K-8 but rather about what kind of future do you want the Town Rehoboth to have? Because the alternative narrative is the District is given even more control. They have been working on a new Regional Agreement that would do just that, by removing the language allowing us to assume local control of our K-8 and forever intertwine the fates of our two communities. Right now, we still have a choice, attend the Town Meeting and vote your conscience. By Robert P. Gagnon

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Rehoboth Town Meeting 2020 Warrant Article

To see if the town will approve the withdrawal of K-8 grades from the DightonRehoboth Regional School District in accordance with section IV of the regional agreement, and to direct the board of selectmen to take all relative action hereto.

We must withdraw K-8 from our present K-12 regional school district. Why, because we have lost control of our schools due primarily to the takeover by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commonly known as DESE. Another big factor is in a regional district we have to contend with the other town’s school committee. We have 5 members and Dighton has 5 members, 7 is a majority vote and invariably all 5 Dighton members vote as a block against Rehoboth. And even a bigger problem for a long time, 2 or more Rehoboth members vote along with Dighton!!!!!

DESE by state laws has assumed the power to usurp our local control. These laws have been approved by the majority of our state senators and representatives.

Our own history:

DESE developed a new statutory budgeting formula which allows the least wealthiest town in a regional district to select the budgeting formula which has cost

Rehoboth millions of dollars since 2014. Previously, for years, they used the Alternative Method, an equitable formula. Rehoboth has no say! The least wealthy town is based on personal wealth and property valuations.

DESE allows our regional school committee to nullify our town meeting votes. THREE times last year.

DESE declared we had to have a “TENT” meeting because our school committee refused to accept our town meeting votes. A tent meeting would have included Dighton! Again Dighton residents could vote to deny us.

DESE declared they were going to set a 1/12 budget at $45,000,000 which they did. No consideration, no input from anyone, no discussion, this was several hundred thousand MORE than even our school committee was asking!

We can withdraw from the existing K-12 regional agreement because the regional agreement states we can. Several years ago a joint committee attempted to revise our regional agreement. It failed because thankfully it was voted down by Rehoboth because Dighton wanted to eliminate the K-8 withdrawal clause.

As you can see a regional district is a terrible arrangement. DESE recommends that the thing to do is to find more towns to join our regional district. As you can see any town that is aware of the consequences would never enter a regional district unless they were the least wealthiest town. .

The residents of Rehoboth who signed the petition to withdraw have been researching this dilemma for several years and we have come to this conclusion, WE must WITHDRAW FROM K-8. It is essential that We get OUR CONTROLL BACK. We will have our own control of a Standalone K-8 Rehoboth School System. Remember when we find out the date of the 2020 Town meeting, we must be there in order to get our control BACK!!!!!! It is our right but only if we use it! PLEASE VOTE TO WITHDRAW K-8!!!!!!! It REQUIRES a 2/3 vote. Hope to see you there! Thanks, Jay Crandall a signatory to the petition to WITHDRAW K-8 Black has Some shades, Also does White, But shades Of green Are pure Delight. Envy need not Be shown By blue, Can change

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