The Singing Sensei is no stranger to these electronic pages, but this time, he really out did himself.

Before this weekend, Jimmy Cormier was known simply as a sweet singing crooner anchored to a guitar by his karate black belt.  But Sunday night at Damigella Field, Cormier put on a show for the ages.

Cormier has never been shy about his desire to pitch old man softball, and when Huskies Coach Wayne Peterson handed him the ball he was ready.  Cormier led the Huskies to a 10-3 victory over the Minutemen, allowing no walks. 

After the game he stated that he couldn’t have done it without the able assistance of his teammates, his five hits being but a small contribution to the effort.  As a result of his performance, Cormier has been named Patch Player of the Week.

The Huskies win, their second in a row, moved them into second place behind Keith Buday’s undefeated Terriers.  The Crimson finally put a checkmark on the “W” side of the ledger with a 13-11 victory over the Eagles, before stumbling in the nightcap.

The Standings

                        W   L   GB

Terriers             4   0    -

Huskies             2  2    2

Minutemen       1   2   2.5

Eagles               1   2    2.5

Crimson            1   3    3

LACK OF VOICE ON CASINO BORDERS ON ABSURD

A few years ago, the lovely Suzanne and I were invited to spend the day at our friends’ summer home in Humarock.  I was only vaguely aware of the spot, and was interested to learn that though still a part of Scituate, it was separated from the rest of the town due to the shifting of the North River during the Portland Gale of 1898.

As a result, direct auto access to Humarock is now possible only from Marshfield, with which it is linked geographically and commercially.

I mention this fact so as to establish a foundation for the following assertions that I declare to be true, though certainly subject to argument by those less concerned for the preservation of our town than I am.  They pertain to the impending decision regarding a Milford casino, and the negative effect its presence will have on our daily lives.

It all revolves around Interstate 495.  I’m old enough to remember the construction of the bridge abutments along Route 16 in Milford, which would one day carry this interstate highway to our doorsteps. 

When the road first opened, it offered three lanes north, three lanes
south, no traffic and no police.  My friends, newly licensed and brimming with youthful ignorance, rocketed us to our summer baseball games in Marlboro and Hudson.  Gilbert O’Sullivan was on the radio, Wally was at the wheel and Paul rode shotgun.  I was in the back, alone again, naturally.

It was easy then, and it’s easy now to discover the intent of the road’s engineers by examining its placement.  In most locations, the road is situated near the borders of adjacent towns, keeping communities whole while reducing the possibility of intra-town isolation.  An argument can be made, and should be made, that highways such as I-495 serve as defacto borders; that their practical existence operate as the true, yet unmapped borders for our towns. 

As such, the decision regarding the possible siting of a casino on Route 16 East of 495, should rest no less by a determination of Holliston residents who will have to live with its negative consequences,  than with the Milford residents who will not.

I applaud the vigorous yet failed efforts of Representative Carolyn Dykema, who recognizing the legitimate concerns of her constituents, fought for a greater voice at the casino placement table.  Now, it's Sen. Karen Spilka’s chance to go to bat for her district, as the senate continues the casino debate.

It amazes me that in a country which fails to protect its borders from unlawful intrusions, and in a state which wears blinders when it comes to enforcing laws that protect its citizens, the establishment of a line on a map drawn centuries ago, during a period when it took hours to travel from town to town, can be used as the basis to deprive the people of their rightful voice.

It is time for the state to recognize the obvious:  it was a storm that changed the flow of the North River, severing Humarock’s ties to Scituate and forging for it a new identity with a different community.  

I-495 has done the same here, and you don’t need a map to see it.

MARSHALL STREET CONDO PLAN FOR THE BIRDS

t was in the early 1990’s that the town of Holliston
spent several hundred thousand dollars to extend town water to residents of Marshall Street living in the vicinity of the Bird Property, an EPA Superfund site. 

The intent of the town was clear.  Serious and legitimate concerns existed regarding the quality of groundwater in the area, and rather than wait for Nyanza type negative consequences, the town decided to act.

This past week, the State Housing Appeals Committee acted,
granting permission for the construction of 200 condominiums on the site of the Bird Property, despite town health concerns.

Fifty of the planned condos are to be designated “affordable” providing the project with 40B status and the ability to bypass specific town zoning regulations. 

The decision, barring future appeals, signals a triumph for developer J. Michael Norton in his long fight to develop the property, on which over $1 million has been spent in the yet unfinished cleanup.  Who are the losers?  Look in the mirror.

Want some background on the property?

MEET THOMAS HOLLIS

I am not a clairvoyant.  I cannot see the future or communicate with the dead.  The only voice that rings in my subconscious is that of the lovely Suzanne, usually directing me to do something.  But as the town prepares to recognize another Celebrate Holliston, I believe I must tell the truth.  I have spoken to Thomas Hollis.

Just this week, in fact.  No not the man that town histories have incessantly described as “A benefactor of Harvard College,” but a man, who likely more than any other, can describe himself as Hollis’ descendent.

It was about a month ago when in a business context, I found myself talking to a Tom Hollis who lives outside New England.  When I mentioned to him that I lived in a town named for a Thomas Hollis, he indicated that he was very familiar with the man, and was a family descendant.  

He put me in contact with his sister, Virginia Hollis, who lives in New Hampshire and is the family historian.  She wrote:

Hi John, nice to meet you via email.

I have a book, the memoirs of Thomas Hollis Esq. published in London in 1780 (MDCCLXXX is written on the front page).  It’s large- 2 volumes, and I haven’t read it.  It’s obviously very fragile so I can’t tell you what’s in it.  We also have a book from 1884 that is Abijah Hollis’ memoirs from the Civil War.  My mother retyped that book and gave copies to my brother, sister, and me.  There is also a family genealogy, much of which is difficult to read, but it doesn’t go back beyond 1718. 

Thomas Hollis, Esq. funded the divinity chair at Harvard in 1721 and later funded a mathematics chair in 1726.  I do have a small piece written on him that appears to be from the Harvard University Bulletin of 1894/1895.  I can mail a copy to you if you want to sen me your address.  He was born in 1659 and died in either 1730 or 1731.  From the article in the Harvard Bulletin, it appears that Thomas did not have any children. His brother Nathaniel named his son Thomas and that Thomas was the heir to his uncle’s money and continued donations to Harvard.  There were Thomas Hollis descendants until mid-1800’s when Thomas Hollis died unmarried without children.  His brother Abijah then named his son Thomas
who was our great-grandfather.

A short time later, I received the copy of the Harvard Bulletin mentioned above, and from which the portrait accompanying this story was taken.  I will forward the Bulletin to the Holliston Historical Society for their records.

I invited Tom to participate in this year’s Celebrate Holliston festivities but a family wedding prevented its occurrence.  Hopefully, next year he and his sister Virginia can join us, and experience a great New England greeting from a town that took its name from their ancestor.

BENEVOLENT DICTATOR PREPARES TO TAKE REINS 

 knew it would work.

What I’m referring to is my subtle ten month campaign to be named Holliston’s benevolent dictator.  Oh sure, I know a Sept.5 Patch storyannouncing my interest in the position was the first public posting of such, but my effort to win support for this measure has been long ongoing.

In my quest to become Benevolent Dictator, I have adhered to a seldom used political maxim that I’ll refer to as the “Paul is Dead” principal.  You may be familiar with it.

In 1969, it was widely rumored that Paul McCartney of The Beatles was dead, and in fact had died in a 1966 car crash.  The basis for the rumor were numerous “clues” found on Beatle album sleeves and in their music.  “He blew his mind out in a car,” from A Day in the Life, “I buried Paul”, at the end of Strawberry Fields Forever, and “Turn me on dead man”, from Revolution Number Nine (when played backwards of course), all supposedly indicated that the group’s bass playing cherub had departed, which of course he hadn’t.

Since the Holliston Patch debuted last November, through numerous highly complementary stories, it has been my deliberate intention to subversively drop clues while gathering a team of supporters who will be instrumental in my quest to become Benevolent Dictator, and equally important in preserving my position once obtained.

I knew I had captured my first big fish when the Patch’s comments bobber bounced on the day my intentions were first announced.  “Sir John-Our new Benevolent Dictator- I take it that the photo in your article was taken from the Pleasure Point side of Lake Winthrop.  I say this as the five gentlemen appear belly button deep in water only a few feet from shore.  Stoddard Park is shallow.  Also- will you be using the town’s health benefits plan?  Since the newly proposed solar panels on town buildings won’t likely cover the cost for this benefit, I propose that you set up a solar plant in the old Good will Shoe factory in Mudville.  Maybe the Gov. has a few extra $ left over that Evergreen Solar didn’t expend.  The panels could be installed on the Rail Trail.  Energy independence, and a healthy town dictator, now that’s being progressive.”  Bobby Blair.

“Oh, my God,” I thought.  Here was someone who had really drunk the Kool-Aid.  I had written about Bobby (July 6, Where Have all the Flowers Gone),  and his support would be crucial for my campaign.  My intention was to name Bobby the ward boss for Mudville, with Kerry Kampersal(November 26, Kampersal Named to Mudville Hall of Fame) ruling Braggville, and Matt Dellicker (August 5, East Holliston Landmark Undergoes renovation) the Boss of East Holliston.

I knew I would need the support of our safety personnel, thus I have diligently reported on the Police (August 9, New Police Chief Seeks Resident Input) and Fire Departments (March 27, Memories of the “Dairy”), as well as those currently serving us politically (too many to mention) to help in my transition.

Through Bobby’s family, I am connected to Holliston’s traditional Irish base.  Stories involving Kampersal’s, Kurzontkowski’s, Damigella’s, Rossini’s, Dellicker’s, and others have placed me in good stead with families whose support I must maintain.

As Benevolent Dictator, I will be aware of all issues deserving my attention, and “I will not rest” until they are adequately resolved.  My first order of business will be to address some pressing town concerns, while working to improve our town’s self-sustainability.

Two areas of current town conflict involve plans to construct a solar farm at the Bullard Farm off Central Street, as well as plans to develop a 200 unit 40B housing complex on the site of the Bird Property, a former EPA Superfund site on Marshall Street. 

As Benevolent Dictator, I will halt both projects.  Instead, we will move the Solar Farm to Marshall Street, and under the direction of Bobby Blair, my Secretary of Agriculture nominee, the Bullard Farm will once again operate to feed our people.

I’m not prepared to discuss the merits of 40B, but with Cutler Heights barely half full, and our streets lined with for sale signs, the need for 200 more housing units seems unnecessary.  But the state appears really gung-ho to build on the Bird site, some indicating their primary concern being to recoup the money already spent in its cleanup.  If that is indeed the case, I recommend that with solar panels above the ground,and water of a quality the state obviously deems acceptable below, that this water be sold to Milford for the casino should it be built, and the state paid off.  Everybody wins!

I have not as yet completed the naming of my cabinet, but
along with Bobby I will nominate Mark Heavner (December 30, Holliston Reporter Provides Voice of Reason) my Director of Homeland Security and Bill Tobin (March 21, Two Rivals, two Stories, Two Eras) my Minister of Propaganda.  The lovely Suzanne (July 5, Who Am I #25) will operate, naturally, as my Chief of Staff.

I will heed the recommendation of Bobby, and will work to gain a state grant to build solar panels in Mudville at the old Goodwill Shoe factory.  They will be used at the Marshall Street solar farm and on town buildings to bring clean energy to all of Holliston.  And don’t worry about us leaving; we’ll have lunch brought in every Friday from Jing’s Garden.