Drowning Out The Piper

Hello there. I saw something last week that set me off. I mean it really aggravated me. My daughter actually wanted to stop and say something, it was that maddening! I have been waiting to comment on all the changes that North Woburn is facing, but I cannot keep quiet any longer. Most of us have seen the big changes taking place next to St. Anthony's church. Now I want to say for the record that the complex being constructed is a HUGE MISTAKE! But as usual, our City Councilors, especially our Alderman, said little or nothing to prevent this. In fact, our Alderman here in Ward 6 pretty much turned a blind eye.

OK, I am off on a tirade. Now back to the subject at hand. As my daughter and I were driving by the church, we noticed a Bagpiper playing out front. Clearly there was a Funeral Mass going on inside. Imagine the family in the church, full of sorrow with the Bagpiper outside, and all that could be heard was the sound of construction equipment! Back-up alarms were chiming, front end loaders were working away, and trucks were driving off! I'm not going to mention the company's name here, but I'm sure you would know it if I did. So I want to say to them: COME ON! Are you that ignorant? I don't think it's stupidity, but maybe it is. Imagine having to listen to that in a church during your time of sorrow! I don't know about you, but I do not want to meet my maker with the sounds of back-up alarms leading the way instead of trumpets, if in fact, that is where I'm going in the end.

I ask you, is the deadline that important that 45 minutes will put it all behind? Will you lose thousands of dollars if you take the time to let the funeral mass proceed? Is that what North Woburn has to look forward to in the next few years? I say years because we all know that's what it will be. We have an impending fiasco on our hands here. Our city Councilor has been silent! Oh sure he ACTS like he cares, but I think he is just putting in his time to fight off boredom. I mean seriously, First he sponsors a resolve to go and poke holes in our capped landfill for a ridiculous solar panel project, (which was passed on the sly due to the snowstorm in October). Then he ignores the junkyard/building collapse at 1071 Main Street. Then he does little about the impending gravel pit. He comes up with a list of demands for the developer which will never be followed anyways. Then he says nothing about the traffic mess that is going to be the ridiculous Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru that is already in a traffic congested area. His only concern was if sandwiches will be sold. And the discrepency in the building size was approved last week. And yet again OUR councilor was silent: in fact, I do not think he was even at the meeting! Then yet again he said nothing when this impending nightmare at St. Anthony church was proposed. In fact, the entire City Council said nothing! Why? Simply put, it's because they do not drive through here at all.

I'm sorry. My real tirade was the Funeral Mass construction mess. To the company that is excavating: You know who you are! The next time there is a Funeral Mass SHUT OFF THE EQUIPMENT! Go get a coffee. A 45-minute delay won't hurt you. And let me add: It's about courtesy and respect. You know what that is, I think. At least, I hope you know. After all, I'm sure you have intelligent people working for you. I mean, you have to be pretty smart to run that equipment, so I can only guess that they were told to keep working. You are a well-known excavation company; you didn't get that way by being ingnorant of peoples needs. Or did you? And to the contractors that are overseeing this fiasco, from what I have heard you are Woburn people. If you care at all about Woburn people, make sure you tell workers to stand down when there is a funeral. I say it again: it's about courtesy and respect, and in this case they go hand in hand.

If you take care of this now, who knows? When your time comes many years from now, the folks at your funeral will actually hear the bagpiper instead of back-up alarms.

And, for all the contractors that are to work on this site in the next year or two, stop work when there's a Funeral. The project manager needs to have this made clear to him now. He shouldn't have to be told, but obviously he is thinking time is money. Just think, the respect you will gain from the site workers will be immeasurable.  I mean, who doesn't want to work for someone who shows respect towards people? And I'm sure your workers would be glad to run across the street for a coffee. Now don't hold me to this. but I think they have sandwiches at the drive-thru... But you better ask our alderman to be sure.

Peace to all of you.