I will be standing outside the polling place at Holliston High this Tuesday May 22, distributing informational handouts and holding a big red sign with the updated message "Casino-Free in Milford" (and Ashland, Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, etc...).

(Back in the fall of 2011, I made and distributed the CasiNO! lawn signs you may have seen around town.)

Voter turnout is likely to be low that day, but I'm taking the opportunity anyway (and a vacation day from work) to help raise awareness. I plan to be present from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you were to ask random people in Holliston how the fight against Crossroads is going these days (or the fight in favor of it, for that matter), they'd probably tell you that there's not much happening.

Not so. First, the seven focus groups of citizen-volunteers organized last winter by the selectmen to study the potential negative impacts of Crossroads on the region (in terms of traffic, public safety, water use, etc.) continue to meet and compile data, for presentation to the BOS this summer. The selectmen may then use the data in any upcoming open meeting concerning the casino development proposal.

To my knowledge, the focus is on Crossroads alone. The consensus has been that there may be sites across the state where a big resort casino makes sense, but the Milford site isn't one of them.

Second, an informal group of Holliston and Hopkinton residents, of which I am a member, has been developing an informational website and has posted an online petition, now with over 1,000 signatures. The new theme, "Casino-Free in Milford" (or "For a Casino-Free Milford," depending), is positive in tone and intended to be inclusive of Milford residents. In fact, they will be the ones (and the only ones) to vote on any proposal, and we stand ready to offer our support to casino opponents who may come forward in that community.