Step forward to give back
By Philip Peirce
Brookfield Citizen Publisher

It has been my distinct pleasure to say that I have been allowed to serve Brookfield many ways; a pleasure, because I did such service as a down payment on my debt to a great community that offers much to all that live here. The most rewarding, however, has been A.P.P.L.E. Seed. This group of equally dedicated individuals established “Clean Sweep” as an annual town cleanup, organized people, machines, and trees into the “George Washington Memorial Highway Project” that planted flowering trees along Route 9 from W. Brookfield to E. Brookfield, and birthed the community newsletter, the Brookfield Citizen.

There have been other projects; some have moved on into more capable hands, such as housing rehabilitation, which was followed up by the town government, and assisted living for our seniors, which has been melded into the operations of the Blanchard Means Foundation. But, it is the Citizen that brings me to this letter.

Through the years since the first issue in April of 1995, the “hands-on” staffing has dwindled to a “precious few,” as people relocate, find other pursuits, or lose interest. The first few years were the hardest, but it all became progressively easier as time went on, and a few people picked up the slack. Now, 11 years later, I’m 11 years older, and just a tad wiser. Wiser because I just realized that we need a replacement for me.

I have been trying to reduce my overall participation in activities that consume my time and energies. It’s not easy saying “no” when I’ve been so used to saying “yes.” As my health hiccups every now and then, I am forced to remember that if I don’t pass on what I have learned, or how I have managed something, then that something will pass on with me.

I am asking that anyone who considers themselves a part of A.P.P.L.E. Seed, anyone who wishes they were a part, or any citizen who wishes to pick up this organization and inject some new life into it, to step forward, and let me know. Here is a golden opportunity for you to show your gratitude to your community for what it means to you.

In the beginning of this letter, I mentioned a debt. I should be clear that the debt is not for any material things or services. It’s not about plowing the roads or watching for speeders or the like. It’s about people. It’s about the community of people who live here, who care for one another, who express their love for their neighbors through acts of kindness, and whose open invitation to share with less fortunate ones is evidenced in our food pantry, our turkey dinner baskets, our Toys for Joy, and the countless other giving and sharing acts.

Listed below are the current members of the board. You may contact any one of them, or me, if you want to know more. And, as the late Ted Davis (one of our founding members and the first editor) used to say, thanks for reading.

Philip Peirce, Chair
Linda Peirce, Treasurer
Ron Couture, Project Manager
John O’Leary, Project Manager
Tim Kane, Project Manager
Kermit Eaton, Director at Large
Sarah Heller, Director at Large
Rudy Heller, Director at Large

Neighborly courtesy needed

To the Editor:

The first time it happened, I took it as a one-time deal, and let it go. Still, it was more than a little inconvenient to work around it, but I persevered. This time, when I saw the chalk marks on the road, I had a feeling it was happening again. When? I had no idea.

When I looked out the window one Saturday, I saw the same “roadblock” with a uniformed officer directing traffic. The bicycle race was in progress. It was kind of exciting to see the swarm of riders travel as one down the road, around the corner, and off into the distance. All the excitement wore off quickly when I realized that once again I had to drive around the “block” getting back into my house.

My doctor tells me to “stay cool, try not to lose your temper and get upset. It’s not good for your heart.” I wasn’t thinking about my doctor.

I was thinking about the people who knew this event was going to take place, knew where it was going to take place, and when. I would think that it would be common courtesy for those folks to let a few others in on the secret.

Perhaps they could inform the residents on the streets where the traffic flow would require a detour at some point. I would like to think that the Board of Selectmen was aware of the event, and I do know that the police knew, when my temper flared, uncharacteristically, in front of one of them.

Wouldn’t you think that at least one of those two groups could have used some of their common courtesy to address such an obvious issue? Is it at all possible that they will the next time?

Only time will tell.

Philip Peirce
Philip Peirce, who publishes the Brookfield Citizen, writes this letter as a concerned resident.