Sun columnist
Mariano: Young patriots, raise your voices | “To those who find student protests un-American, I would remind you that this is precisely what freedom looks like.
Ray Mariano
It is highly likely that the freedoms that you cherish were won, at least in part, by patriotic young Americans who dreamed of making their country better.”
Sun columnist
Chris Sinacola
Sina-cism: DACA is no way to reform immigration | “The strength of our republic has traditionally resided in the rule of law. The DACA debate has clouded the fact that it is the legislative branch which bears the primary responsibility for upholding the rule of law — and not a president tired of antagonistic legislative delays. Previous generations of Americans would have had little difficulty recognizing this vital point.” But with university leaders flouting federal courts — and common sense — what hope do we have? Sinacola muses.
Guest commentary
Courtesy railershc.com
Tym Dore
Tymmothy Dore: Railers brought me to Worcester, city keeps me wanting more | “I had grown up in the Pioneer Valley and was familiar with the hardships that cities like Lowell, Springfield and Worcester faced. After being away from Massachusetts the past few years, my wife and I came to Worcester to meet with the Railers, and we were hooked.” Find out more about what drew a young, small-town family to become certified fans of the Woo.
Guest commentary
Sun Staff
Moe Bergman
Moe Bergman: Ignoring nonprofit discussions and tax classification | “What if the city challenged the land assessment values made by the commonwealth. In fiscal 2009 the state assessed its holdings in Worcester at about $72 million, but by fiscal 2013 much of that same land came in at only about $21 million. Why would state-owned land depreciate to less than one-third its value — shouldn’t it have been going up during this period of state-boosted economic development and college expansion?” One city councilor points a finger at what taxpayers should really be concerned about.
Sun commentary
Bill Randell
Randell: So, you think Worcester only raises taxes 2.5 percent every year? Think again | “For the most part, the average taxpayer believes that the tax levy can only go up 2 ½ percent unless there is an override. You see examples of this often when a municipality wants to build a new school, safety complex or DPW building. But ‘new growth’ caused a 4.4 percent increase for the current fiscal year and could do the same again.” City businessman Bill Randell, and several savvy friends, say let’s put new growth in its place.
Sun Spots with Hitch [Vol. 118]: Checking it twice with Charlie Baker | One thing even the luckiest, best-behaved children have learned over the years is that you won’t always find everything from your Christmas list underneath that sagging blue Balsam Fir. So, y’know, having reasonable expectations and handling disappointment are handy lessons — gifts, you could say — to stuff in your back pocket for later in life. So, with sagging revenues nipping at his heels and the holidays in full swing, of course Charlie Baker decided it was time for a trip to the mall. Hitch tagged along.
Wikimedia Commons/Photo by og-emmet
UMass Medical School
Editorial: CANDO spirit in Worcester | It’s a time of year to hear about good deeds large and small — and to do them. Attendees at the annual Winter Ball put on by UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center did their part in a big way this month, raising $1 million. Part of that money will go to the CANDO clinic, which provides treatment on autism and other complex disorders at UMass.
Antonio Caban / State House News Service
Gov. Charlie Baker last week unilaterally slashed $98 million from the state budget to address flagging revenues.
On Beacon Hill: Baker’s budget ax grinds DeLeo’s gears | From the governor’s perch, he decided he had seen enough of yo-yoing revenue reports — including a disappointing November — that had tax collections up one month and down the next. Rather than wait to see what December or January brings, he started paring back spending immediately. “Premature,” DeLeo and the Democrats shouted. “Outrageous and immoral,” the more partisan-prone crowed.
Flickr / mcnallyterrence
Roller derby girls can make crafts, too …
Worcester Weekly: Jingle 5K, Craftershock! + more to do, Dec. 11-18 | Running for fun — never ceases to amaze me that’s a thing. But it is, and as with most frivolous endeavors, Worcester — being the good, little college town it is — tends to do these things well. So jingle all the way downtown for that. Or while you’re out shopping today anyway, roll on down to the Hadwen Park area for Craftershock! an “alternative craft fair,” featuring more than 70 vendors and also helping out the ladies of Worcester Roller Derby. And, trust us, you want to stay friendly with them!
Courtesy of Bancroft School (Karla Cinquanta photo)
Bancroft School’s new fieldhouse
Inbox [Dec. 11]: Bancroft School opens new fieldhouse, Worcester Public Library debuts new STEM program, ex-courthouse back on market, UMass increases downtown presence, Shrewsbury panel awards culture grants | Interesting and worthwhile things happen every day in our community. Alas, we can’t cover them all. That’s where Inbox comes in, to offer readers an easily digestible compilation of interesting and noteworthy items you and your neighbors keep telling us about. Have a release or a photo you or your group would like to share? Let us know by emailing it to info@worcester.ma. Be sure to include a link to the full release on your site or Facebook page so we can include it and send Sun members your way.