Letters: Peter Stefan, Shrewsbury election, gas stations, Clubhouse, Ukraine and Lake Quinsig
Reporter captured essence of a Worcester icon
I just wanted to thank reporter Brad Petrishen for his wonderful story about a wonderful man, Peter Stefan, who passed away. Brad truly captured the essence of this Worcester icon: a man with a quick (though often juvenile) wit; a man with principles who wasn’t afraid to do what he thought was right; and a man who was a friend and advocate for society’s forgotten: the poor, the sick, those who had nowhere else to turn. I worked with Peter, along with co-writer Frank Quaglia, on his new book, “Mumblings of a Mortician,” and in interviewing him on a number of occasions, all of these qualities showed through in his stories and demeanor. Of course, getting him to stop talking was a bit of a chore, but usually his stories were so good, we just didn’t bother. It’s ironic that someone whose job was to bury the dead did so much to help the living. Again, kudos to Mr. Petrishen for such an in-depth account of a life well-lived – and a man who will not be quickly forgotten.
Art Sesnovich, Marlborough
Shrewsbury should vote to re-elect John Samia
On Tuesday, May 3, Shrewsbury should vote to re-elect John Samia to the Board of Selectmen. A dedicated public servant with impeccable integrity, he kept Shrewsbury on an even keel and steady course through rough seas during the pandemic with its significant budget challenges. With his undivided focus and positive leadership, John has ably served our community as part of a productive, honest, open, and dedicated board. Battle-hardened, John Samia is a proven asset. Now is not the time to shift the rudder, potentially placing our town in extremis. Please vote to retain John on the Board of Selectmen.
Bob Holland, CAPT, USN (Ret), Shrewsbury
Worcester doesn't need more gas stations
I was very disappointed to see the Telegram publish an article on March 18 advocating for more gas stations in Worcester by Chamber of Commerce President Timothy Murray. The Chamber is central to the big oil disinformation campaign on climate change. The Chamber’s environmental and energy policies benefit some of the biggest dirty energy companies in the world. Many of these companies have leadership positions and/or donate substantial sums to the Chamber including Chevron, Hess, Marathon Oil and Tesoro Petroleum. The Chamber has been a long-standing opponent of action on climate change. It has repeatedly targeted the Clean Power Plan, bringing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency to block its implementation. The Chamber has also been critical of the Paris climate agreement.
Murray’s article was more of the same gaslighting, full of whataboutism and misdirection, that has delayed necessary reforms and accelerated climate change. We don’t need to “modernize” gas stations; EV charging stations can be set up anywhere. Remediated former gas station sites can be converted to higher and better uses like multi-family housing.
Gas consumption in the U.S. peaked in 2016, primarily due to the increased fuel efficiency of gas-powered vehicles. If the chamber really cared about local gas station owners, they wouldn’t want new gas stations that will just put an older gas station out of business. Timothy Murray and the Chamber only care about the continued flow of dark money from Big Oil to support their ongoing operations.
Nathan Sabo, Worcester
For over 30 years, Clubhouse has provided safety net
Everyone, regardless of mental health status, deserves to live with dignity and purpose. For the millions of Americans diagnosed with severe depression or bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD, the attendant loneliness and isolation can be overwhelming and even contribute to early death. Many of us heard former NIMH director and author Dr. Tom Insel on the March 15 edition of the PBS News Hour call for a “social movement for mental health” including a better social safety net.
Fortunately, the Worcester community has for over 30 years embraced this very remedy: the Clubhouse Model of recovery. Genesis Club House of Worcester, an independent nonprofit, opened its doors on Lincoln Street in 1988 as a place for adults with mental illness to gather, learn, support each other, and reclaim their lives. Today, Genesis is that place to belong; that place to recover for more than 870 members each year. At the Clubhouse members participate, at their own pace, in every aspect of the club’s operations, working side-by-side with staff.
Many members hold a regular job and attend college. Research shows that members of accredited Clubhouses have better health outcomes and more stable employment than their peers. We are grateful and proud that Worcester is a community with this profoundly important safety net, that saves lives and improves health every day. To learn more, visit the websites of Clubhouse International www.clubhouse-intl.org or Genesis Club www.genesisclub.org.
Lisa Brennan, Executive Director, Genesis Club, Worcester
The people of Ukraine should be saved
The children go off to school in the morning. They can't wait to get there to see their friends, to talk and play at recess, and of course they can't wait for the school day to end so they can go home, play with their friends, and talk about what they want to be when they grow up. The dreams they have. They take their dreams with them to bed when a mad man from Russia decides to bomb their homeland of Ukraine. The dreams of these children are now forever with them inside of a body bag, waiting to be buried in a mass grave.
This mad man from Russia dictates to the leaders of the world as he goes about murdering innocent people and destroying their homeland and the leaders of the world allow this. We all hear this could be World War III. Sometimes you have to make a choice in life. Enough is enough.
For me, I believe that in America the person that occupies the oval office is incompetent and both physically and mentally challenged and for the occupier, the right thing will never be done. The people of Ukraine have done nothing wrong and should be saved. I am devastated by our world leaders.
Like Pete Seeger use to sing, “Where have all the flowers gone.” “When will they ever learn.”
Leo Mard, Worcester
Stewardship of Lake Quinsigamond a generational responsibility
The Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge provides Worcester with a $105 million gateway to Eastern Massachusetts. Boasting cycling lanes, color-changing lights, historical plaques, and seats for viewing the beautiful Lake Quinsigamond below, the award-winning build is itself a destination point. The lake boasts the Donahue Rowing Center, Quinsigamond State Park and Regatta Point, which provides sailing lessons to people of all ages. These facilities let community members experience Worcester’s natural beauty and provide parents a safe place to bring their children. Our community has made improvements, including millions of dollars invested by the state and city to update both the sewer infrastructure and the bridge.
On Feb. 7, almost six million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Lake Quinsigamond. Health officials were forced to issue a public advisory, and the lake was briefly closed to recreational activities as E. coli levels spiked.
The continuing failure of these upgrades leaves one to wonder why this beautiful natural resource is still subject to manmade hazards. The stewardship of Lake Quinsigamond is a generational responsibility. Our natural resources are meant to be passed on from us to our children.
On March 14, city officials, myself, state environmental and wildlife officials gathered to discuss the incident. The city committed to working with their consultant to remedy this issue. We remain hopeful the city will access funding to modernize the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station and ensure the healthy future of Lake Quinsigamond for generations to come.
State Senator Michael Moore, Second Worcester District
Joseph Ricca Jr., Shrewsbury
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Letters: Peter Stefan, Shrewsbury election, gas stations, Clubhouse
