Stone Field

[Tom]

Comments on Walpole Youth Football and Chearleading's proposal to rescue Stone Field.

[Unregistered]

Here's a great idea..how about the recipients of all the dough raised by the carnival hold the carnival on their baseball fields? Why does the town allow one entitiy to trash Stone Street Field every spring..then walk away?

[Unregistered]

The Babe Ruth has the carnival to help defray the costs of those families that are having trouble with the costs among other things.

Rich McCarthy does a great job with that program

[Unregistered]

Here's a great idea..how about the recipients of all the dough raised by the carnival hold the carnival on their baseball fields? Why does the town allow one entitiy to trash Stone Street Field every spring..then walk away?

I think Adams Farm would work for the carnival.

[Unregistered]

Sunny Rock Farm is a great spot too.

[Unregistered]

Why not on the Babe Ruth fields? Or maybe up on Mylod on the town fields that the soccer association thinks they own?

[Unregistered]

The Babe Ruth has the carnival to help defray the costs of those families that are having trouble with the costs among other things.

Rich McCarthy does a great job with that program

Rich McCarthy is the unsung hero of Babe Ruth baseball. All the hard work and dedication Rich puts into the carnival keeps the cost reasonable for families.

[Unregistered]

I think Adams Farm would work for the carnival.

I agree! This is where the Town is not fully utilizing its resources to house this carnival event or any other event. Instead, they continue to allow events only suited for the Adam's Farm clique.

[Unregistered]

Adams Farm would be a great spot for the Carnival. There would be enough room the people that would dislike it the most are the business downtown that rely on the income from all of the kids.

What else is Adams Farm used for anyway? Put a couple of baseball fields in the space and then the town could get some use outside of a couple of dog walking paths.

Then let the football folks and the cheerleaders have Stoned field.

Rich keep up the good work. He is also on the board of the Little League a credit to the town.

[Unregistered]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this yet, but thanks for the youth football program for stepping up and giving back to the town of Walpole. The youth program is already providing a great program to the boys and girls of Walpole, and this is just another great thing they're doing for the town.

[Unregistered]

Stone Field is a mess due to overuse by many groups including baseball. soccer, softball, lacrosse , Canada Geese and lack of any maintenance by the town.

Does the football proposal include a provision to include maintenance and upkeep?

The town has the best equipment but you can never find anybody using it.

[Unregistered]

1. Perhaps there is a better fundraising endeavor than a Carnival for Babe Ruth baseball. While the pursuit is noble, it relies heavily on town resources, including the annual degradation of Stone Field to a point where it is both a town embarassment and a safety concern for youngsters that use it. 2. If Youth Football foots the initial outlay, does the annual maintenence then fall on the depleted town coffers? How does the Rec Dept. figure into this?

[Unregistered]

Reply # 11

Stone field....you cant maintain concrete !! thats what the field has become, The Town uses the same equipment on Bird field and The town commons, looks pretty good there...have a carnival and geese eating and crapping on your back yard, see what it looks like..Bird field has irrigation and time to recover, no tilt-a-world or rollercoaster during the muddy month of April to contend with...

[Unregistered]

I believe the Youth Football and the Cheerleader group said they would be paying for the upkeep and maintenence and the town could use the field 3 days a week.

I believe the football chews up the grass pretty good I think they wished to make it softer for the kids.

[Unregistered]

Find someplace else for the carnival or the field will be ruined again but the worse problem is the geese droppings... hope the field plan has a serious proposal to deal with the geese...they are not easy to get rid of and will keep coming back....need fencing. and border collies and movement of water to deal with geese

[Unregistered]

In all seriousness,.. wht is the idea of Adams Farm for playing fileds met with sarcastic jokes? It is a great spot for fields, and an obvious recreational use for a larger slice of residents. Has this idea been brought up?? Has it been shot down??? I really do not understand why this idea is not being given serious consideration...

[Unregistered]

I seem to remember the Town commissioning a Fields Master Plan...How's that going?

Perhaps if they spent less money on studies and master plans, never to be adopted and more on general maintenance we would not have some of these problems.

[Unregistered]

Are Canada Geese edible? I've got a turkey fryer....

[Unregistered]

Stone Field is not a very pleasant place for boys trying to get ready for football in the
summer. Especially since they spend a lot of time face down, amidst the rocks and animal droppings. A little more grass would be great. Are there any other fields that could be used this year? Thank you.

[Unregistered]

In all seriousness,.. wht is the idea of Adams Farm for playing fileds met with sarcastic jokes? It is a great spot for fields, and an obvious recreational use for a larger slice of residents. Has this idea been brought up?? Has it been shot down??? I really do not understand why this idea is not being given serious consideration...

I agree 100 percent. Adams Farm is perfect for fields and that is a great way to make the farm something all residents can benefit from .

[Unregistered]

Adams Farm has always been politically untouchable. That's why there's so many jokes about its use. It's the property that we all paid for but is only usable for certain activities. The sight of a soccer ball might spoil the view. Oh the horror.

[Unregistered]

Stone Field is not a very pleasant place for boys trying to get ready for football in the
summer. Especially since they spend a lot of time face down, amidst the rocks and animal droppings. A little more grass would be great. Are there any other fields that could be used this year? Thank you.

What about Ellis field on June Street? This is mainly used for soccer in the fall and soccer/lacrosse in spring but it's empty and locked up all summer.

[Unregistered]

reply # 17...

Its going great.....plans for new playing surface and sports field at fisher school are in the works right now and Im told by the rec. dept. that porker field is to be rehabed in the fall. funding is in place for both projects and plans are on the table,

see, things do work in this town, roads are being paved, projects are being done, the sun is out and the birds are singing.....

[Unregistered]

Adams Farm has always been politically untouchable. That's why there's so many jokes about its use. It's the property that we all paid for but is only usable for certain activities. The sight of a soccer ball might spoil the view. Oh the horror.

It may also frighten the riders on horseback....and let's not forget the traffic.

[Unregistered]

#22 FYI Ellis Field is part of Bird Park therefore it is now owned
and operated by the Trustees of Reservations

[Unregistered]

#22 FYI Ellis Field is part of Bird Park therefore it is now owned
and operated by the Trustees of Reservations

It is still owned by the Trustees but it is maintained by the soccer association, they have hired their own landscaper to maintain it.

[Unregistered]

I would like to see it used more than just a community farm but a real farm run by the town and volunteers. I would love to see apple trees, pumpkin patches, strawberry and blue berry patches as well. It was a farm before why does it have to change. Actually what was on it before was a bunch of sheep but can't we make it something more? Also, the Norfolk Agriculture school, I believe, cuts the grass and makes hay bails for their horses. I do not live near Adams Farm and I think it is such a gem to the town. I live near the town forest which I never visit but I do visit Adams Farm.

[Unregistered]

I would like to see it used more than just a community farm but a real farm run by the town and volunteers. I would love to see apple trees, pumpkin patches, strawberry and blue berry patches as well. It was a farm before why does it have to change. Actually what was on it before was a bunch of sheep but can't we make it something more? Also, the Norfolk Agriculture school, I believe, cuts the grass and makes hay bails for their horses. I do not live near Adams Farm and I think it is such a gem to the town. I live near the town forest which I never visit but I do visit Adams Farm.

I agree, but in addition some thought should be given to sports fields for the children. I am an old Walpole lady and when my boys were young they found the best fields by themselves. Mostly at Bird Park where the grass was mowed for them and they could come and go. These days the girls need fields too. Let's find something good for them.

[Unregistered]

Back to Stone Field...could the town dpw, or some enterprising landscaper, at least aerate it and rake it before this football season starts? You literally can't walk across the field w/out stepping in goose droppings.

[Unregistered]

If someone doesn't take care of geese problem, there's no point in improving Stone Field. Money would be better spent on some other field or piece of property. Very unhealthy situation at Stone Field.

[Unregistered]

Back to Stone Field...could the town dpw, or some enterprising landscaper, at least aerate it and rake it before this football season starts? You literally can't walk across the field w/out stepping in goose droppings.

Stone Field is a health hazard and why parent's have their kids playing on it is unbelievable. The amount of goose droppings and the waste product will no tbe solved by aerating or raking the field. When it rains the waste is even more dispersed throughout the field and children are handling and rolling around in this stuff, especially during Pop Warner football practice. My only thinking about Stone Field would be to eventually build on it since you will never get rid of the geese in the area due to Memorial Pond and the stream running next to Stone Field. This will always be a home for the geese to feed and excrete.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone know the health problems of the geese at the Stone field? I believe thaat Adams Farm would be the best locale for the football field. Maybe the senior centre at Stone field

[Unregistered]

There are natural food additives that can be added to the grass to make it unpalatable for geese, there are many natural methods for geese removal, and there is always border collies and birdshot!

[Unregistered]

I have lived in Walpole for 45 years and cannot recall when the Stone Field did not look
"crappy" so to speak. Why don't they just build on that piece of land i.e the senior center
or police station.? As far as land for the kids to play on, use Adams Farm, Bird Park or the
field at the Allen Dam on Washington Street.

[Unregistered]

reply 29

instead of blaming the dpw fpr the goose problem around town, why dont some of you start asking questions state wide to see what can be done about this problem, irrating and raking wont do a thing, we could leave a sign for the geese and tell them to please stay off the field !!..the bottom line is...you cant grow grass with out irrigation !! you cant grow grass having a carnival in april when it rains and turns to mud !!! you cant grow grass it when football practice is on it for 2 months grinding up the turf !!! look at bird school...it is regulated who plays there and when, if the weather is bad users are told not to play, the field has time to rest and regrow, stone field is and always be a what it is, somewhere to play tee ball and a practice field....

[Unregistered]

Maybe if the people running the town didn't lease town land to one organization for the princely sum of $1 a year and allow that organization exclusive use of the land in direct conflict with the deeded rights of the parcel, then there would be ample playing fields available for all youth sports. But that is not the case. Every other youth sport entitiy has to beg for space where they can find it. Then trash Stone Field for a "fundraiser" for a sport that plays on a "nice" field. Makes perfect sense. Now, youth football advocates propose to fund a renovation of the disgrace known as Stone Field, and anonymous wags instead suggest Adams Farm? As if no one has gone down that road? Six million dollars for butterflies and dog walks. Bird Park? Nope, acres of empty grassland, can't be used. It's for the children!

[Unregistered]

The geese cannot be a healthy enviorment for the kids. Put a senior center on the land and let the kids play at Adams Farm. The Youth Football will take care of their field and the seniors can take care of the senior center

[Unregistered]

It sounds like we are all in agreement that Stone Field is not a place to play any longer and that Adams Farm land out front should be utilized to some extent.

You cannot get rid of geese that easy. You have to implement long term preventive measures to alienate the geese from their nesting sites. Since they have not implemented measures to control the geese at Memorial Pond, many nesting sites are probably located there and the nearby stream. Border collies do work form the moment,but who is going to sit there all day and run dogs only to have the geese continue to return.

[Unregistered]

I would like to see it used more than just a community farm but a real farm run by the town and volunteers. I would love to see apple trees, pumpkin patches, strawberry and blue berry patches as well. It was a farm before why does it have to change. Actually what was on it before was a bunch of sheep but can't we make it something more? Also, the Norfolk Agriculture school, I believe, cuts the grass and makes hay bails for their horses. I do not live near Adams Farm and I think it is such a gem to the town. I live near the town forest which I never visit but I do visit Adams Farm.

All that aside, there is plenty of room for a number of playing fields and parking, while still having plenty of space for farming, blueberries, butterflies, and horseback riding.

[Unregistered]

reply 29

instead of blaming the dpw fpr the goose problem around town, why dont some of you start asking questions state wide to see what can be done about this problem, irrating and raking wont do a thing, we could leave a sign for the geese and tell them to please stay off the field !!..the bottom line is...you cant grow grass with out irrigation !! you cant grow grass having a carnival in april when it rains and turns to mud !!! you cant grow grass it when football practice is on it for 2 months grinding up the turf !!! look at bird school...it is regulated who plays there and when, if the weather is bad users are told not to play, the field has time to rest and regrow, stone field is and always be a what it is, somewhere to play tee ball and a practice field....

Your tone is unnecessarily hostile. The poster you are refering to did not "blame" anyone, least of all the DPW. They simply asked "if" the DPW could try a few things to improve the situation. As for your comment about "asking questions state wide", I am not certain what you are getting at? Are you talking about geese being a protected species? If so, I believe that is a federal issue. As for needing irrigation and having carnivals and football, I do not think the state has much to do with that.

I for one appreciate the posters who are at least attempting positive discussion and trying to ask questions and give suggestions. Just because the field is a mess does mean it needs to stay a mess. Thanks much, but I would rather not have my 4 year old playing T-Ball on that mess. Along with the goose droppings there is glass, pieces of metal, bottle caps and other discarded items. It is a disgrace, and one that reflects poorly on our town, as well as being a true hazard to our children.

Thanks to all for their suggestions, concern, and desire to continue improving Walpole. Most of us appreciate you energy and willingness to take action!

[Unregistered]

Stone field - the High School students leave their beer bottles and the trash is picked up by the parents. The goose droppings are a mess Get Elmer Fudd over to take care of the geese the old fashioned way one shot at a time. Bury the hides in Turner Pond or under the new Adams Farm fields

[Unregistered]

# 40

Glass and metal, what kind of metal is on the field..the only thing I see is trash left by people who use the field, oh thats right the dpw will pick it up, they have nothing better to do than to pick up water bottles that some one brought to the field, drank and couldnt walk over to the barrel and throw it in. Have you seen the million dollar turco field, trash everywhere, on the million dollar field, under the bleachers, the coaches and parents are to blame for this.

[Unregistered]

We let kids roll around in goose poop on Stone Field and preserve our beloved Adam Farm for a handful of old hippies.. Excellent!

[Unregistered]

I am not a hippie and I use Adams Farm. Actually I see quite a few people every day use Adams Farm for walking their dogs, taking nature hikes and the community garden. These people are all ages, old, young and middle age. I would like to see a field put in. Please note, we work with the Norfolk Agriculture School to give the hay to their horses. I do want to point out that Stone Field is a pit not just because of goose droppings is because of lack of maintaince. Why let the town get their hands on another field when they cannot maintain what they have. I have a child in Elm Street School and the playground or the front of the actual building in the summer is pathetic. The playground on windy days blows dirt all over the place. I propose why not make what we have look nice first then move to other additional fields. I like the proposal that the cheerleaders have proposed and lets give it a try. If it works then move to other locations in town. Why not make a request for Bird Park trustees to use the field for sports as well. Trust me this town does not have the money to fund additional projects. Unless fully fundraised than I am in but lets not ask the town for what they cannot afford to do.

[Unregistered]

Don't pick on the DPW and expect them to clean the field and say they have nothing else to do!! That is rather mean spirited.

Many of the coaches are volunteers and at the end of the game and or practice. They do a large amount of the clean up many times it those parents who are not coaching or helping out telling junior to run to the car. that are not participating in the clean up.

Maybe each sport could have a group clean the trash and bottles from the field. I do not think the DPW would be adverse to picking up the trash bags.

Many of the beer bottles and other trash is left by the drinking parties at night.

[Unregistered]

We let kids roll around in goose poop on Stone Field and preserve our beloved Adam Farm for a handful of old hippies.. Excellent!

Nothing against the DPW or Adams Farm, but the condition of Stone Field is really terrible and not healthy for the boys who practice football there. Hard to imagine anyone who would disagree with that - and there is glass, metal, etc. in that field, not just water bottles. Of course water bottles and trash should be the kids and parents responsibility. No one is trying to coddle kids here. Stone is a field in very poor condition, with problems that go beyond left behind water bottles. As hard as concrete, dusty, bad grass, trash, animal waste, plain awful. Fields all around are cherished and protected and this one is just abused.
And when August rolls around my son will again, regrettably, have to practice there many nights a week. He accepts it for the love of football, but I just don't understand this situation. Maybe parents could pass the hat and put in five dollars to contribute to some kind of (non-carcinogenic, please!) fertilizing/ landscaping when practice time comes. It is sad to watch boys playing in this dust , stop by and check it out if you don't believe it.

[Unregistered]

I am not a hippie and I use Adams Farm. Actually I see quite a few people every day use Adams Farm for walking their dogs, taking nature hikes and the community garden. These people are all ages, old, young and middle age. I would like to see a field put in. Please note, we work with the Norfolk Agriculture School to give the hay to their horses. I do want to point out that Stone Field is a pit not just because of goose droppings is because of lack of maintaince. Why let the town get their hands on another field when they cannot maintain what they have. I have a child in Elm Street School and the playground or the front of the actual building in the summer is pathetic. The playground on windy days blows dirt all over the place. I propose why not make what we have look nice first then move to other additional fields. I like the proposal that the cheerleaders have proposed and lets give it a try. If it works then move to other locations in town. Why not make a request for Bird Park trustees to use the field for sports as well. Trust me this town does not have the money to fund additional projects. Unless fully fundraised than I am in but lets not ask the town for what they cannot afford to do.

"why let the town get their hands on another field"....????? The "town" is made up of all of us, you, me, and the next guy.... the "town" OWNS that field, farm, etc at a mighty high price tag. It should be far more accessible to many more residents than it is. We all own it, weather we live next door to it and can walk our dogs there, or if we need to drive to it to play on it. Town owned. That's why the town should get their hands on it.

[Unregistered]

I am not a hippie and I use Adams Farm. Actually I see quite a few people every day use Adams Farm for walking their dogs, taking nature hikes and the community garden. These people are all ages, old, young and middle age. I would like to see a field put in. Please note, we work with the Norfolk Agriculture School to give the hay to their horses. I do want to point out that Stone Field is a pit not just because of goose droppings is because of lack of maintaince. Why let the town get their hands on another field when they cannot maintain what they have. I have a child in Elm Street School and the playground or the front of the actual building in the summer is pathetic. The playground on windy days blows dirt all over the place. I propose why not make what we have look nice first then move to other additional fields. I like the proposal that the cheerleaders have proposed and lets give it a try. If it works then move to other locations in town. Why not make a request for Bird Park trustees to use the field for sports as well. Trust me this town does not have the money to fund additional projects. Unless fully fundraised than I am in but lets not ask the town for what they cannot afford to do.

Then I suggest we SELL Adams Farm in order to fund raise. If that is the way you feel then we surely cannot afford to keep that useless property.

[Unregistered]

# 40

Glass and metal, what kind of metal is on the field..the only thing I see is trash left by people who use the field, oh thats right the dpw will pick it up, they have nothing better to do than to pick up water bottles that some one brought to the field, drank and couldnt walk over to the barrel and throw it in. Have you seen the million dollar turco field, trash everywhere, on the million dollar field, under the bleachers, the coaches and parents are to blame for this.

If you got off your duff and walked down there, you would have no problem finding the glass, metal, plastic etc pieces that are splinterred and scatterred on the ground. I am certain some are peices left by the carnival, others by carts and booths from Walpole day, others from years of abuse. Screws, nuts bolts, bottle caps, and shards of scrap. All easy to find. So take your nasty tone and go look.

[Unregistered]

This is a fantastic proposal by the Pop Warner group!!!! They have already consulted with the company that has renovated similar fields in Norwood. It can be done. Lets get behind them. This project will go hand in hand with the new Library and the expansion of CVS. A rejuvenated Stone will bring more people into the center to help the ailing businesses. I'm sure the Rec Dept and softball would like a new field for kids to play on. This is another example of private citizens/club stepping forward to better the town. Adams Farm, West st, Mylod Fields Turco Field and Track, are all public lands supported by private donations. They all have common factors: They show Walpole Pride and they are in mint condition. One poster said " It's been bad for 45 years". When is enough enough? Let them at least try. Then you can post "I told you so"

[Unregistered]

You mention the company did field work in Norwood. Do the fields in Norwood have a geese excrement problem? Whatever is done at this field has to include a management program for the geese problem. Greener grass with geese droppings is still gross.

[Unregistered]

response 49

I ask again..what metal ??? If you have seen it, did you go pick it up or let the next person get it, if you see a dog doing its thing there, speak to the dog owner and then go to the police, or do you leave it for the next person....nuts, bolts, glass...the carnival and the baseball people hire a local landscaper to till and reseed the field...do you think he sees this stuff and just leaves it there, this should end it here.....ok, here goes.....what field in the town, private or public, if hundreds of kids in football cleats playing for weeks used it, what would it look like?. ever watch TV and see what a football field looks like when they play and it rains ??...mud ??..you could resod stone field and in a week it would look like that...its only GRASS !!..its a play field, what grass that is there is mowed, the trash is picked up, and its somewhat safe, no one can do anything about the geese, they eat the grass !!..if you think its unsafe for your child, dont let junior play !!..I was at the PRIVATE fields on West Street not to long ago, saw a player get hurt...that field is beautiful, flat, green lush grass, and noticed some dog droppings there too......

[Unregistered]

beer drinking partys at stone field at night...think of anyone close by who might see them there and do something about it ?

[Unregistered]

# 44

elm street school was never meant to be a school....it was a church...the play areas where crammed in with what space they had..it wasnt designed like a new building would have been, put the fields where the sun would hit it best, the field would have been designed with drainage in mind, and so on....

[Unregistered]

20 years ago my kids all played at stone field..yes they had fun and got a little dirty...they could have cared less what it looked like. its the parents who are all up in arms here, go ask a kid, really they dont care,

[Unregistered]

beer drinking partys at stone field at night...think of anyone close by who might see them there and do something about it ?
Probably those darn Rebel high school football players....
Retaliation to those of us who made them roll around in goose poop when they were little.
Ha Ha

[Unregistered]

boy..someone would think that Walpole has many grumpy, cranky, old has beens who think what was good enough 60 years ago is good enough today...

Funny thing about that logic,.. they didn't have senior centers way back then. Thank goodness there are more progressive open minded people who seek the betterment of this town. Cranky, negative and in search of preserving the past have no place in the current,... let alone the future.

.... and yes, I have picked up many a peices of glass, scrap metal, plasic, and paper from Stone Field. What about you.... or do you just sit and pontificate your views with your negative, anti change, no progress needed mentality?

Oh wait, "nothing needed" except what you want for your little world... right:)

[Unregistered]

Then I suggest we SELL Adams Farm in order to fund raise. If that is the way you feel then we surely cannot afford to keep that useless property.

Many People support Adams farm daily. Maybe I suggest you visit the farm. I felt the same way as you did until I decided for myself to visit the farm on a nice day. It is actually beautiful. Why change it. The town bought it so we would not build houses on it, 200 to be exact. If we did out town would be in a bigger whole with all the children living in that neighborhood, 350 children at $10,000 each total of 3.5 million each year. Lets not forget plowing, maintaining, lights, trash, ambulance, fire and police service. I say lets make it more of a farm, seriously. I do not live near Adams Farm and I do not understand why we continously go after this location. Anyone can play in the fields right now. Yes there could be ticks but the dogs do not seem to mind and neither do the kids flying the kites. I say stop asking the town for money and pull out your pockets. How about Bird Park? If anything is ideal I say it is this location. Very flat no grading needed. I see a couple of sports fields in this location with a great parking lot right across the street.

[Unregistered]

I hope it not your contention we/the town should be worried about the feed for Mr Ed and other horses and not the little kids.

I think the statement that Adams Farm is just for Hippies is incorrect but I believe the posters point is a few well intentioned citizens have kept fields and other activities from occuring at Adams Farm in the past and that is shortsighted on the towns part

[Unregistered]

NIMBYISM has kept fields from Adams Farm. The few well heeled residents who live in that area don't want their neighborhood to change. Traffic and noise are so awful for them. And they have made their feelings known to the board of selectmen so nothing happens on the farm. So ridiculous. The sports crowd needs to lean on the selectmen to use the obvious location for more fields - Adams Farm.

[Unregistered]

It has been mentioned that you are free to schedule whatever at bird park. This is not the case. You have to call the manager and ask permission. This is not town owned and is maintained by the Trustees of Reservations. It is all run by donations.
Please have some respect and realise everything does not automatticly belong to you to use as you like.

[Unregistered]

Stone Field Sunday April 26, 2009

The Babe Ruth carnival is over - all that is left are a few trailers and a pile of litter....

8:00 am Enter the WHS girls softball team who are handed surgical gloves and trash bags and a donation to their own program for cleaning up after their male counterparts fundraiser (a little license here not the WHS baseball team......)

Stone Field Monday April 27 - Girls Softball starts the season with one marked field and one makeshift field.

The carnival is an old fashioned endeavor and if the funds were that necessary they would not be giving them away to someone else to clean up after them.........

[Unregistered]

The carnival is good for the Babe Ruth and Legion program

Keep up the good work Rich

[Unregistered]

69 What is your point? That the carnival benefits two programs and Stone field is cleaned spotless by Sunday 11AM

[Unregistered]

No one official will come out against the carnival being hosted on Stone Field because they do not want to jeopardize their voters support by going against the sports teams in town who benefit from the carnival. That's the real issue here.
Stone field is a mess and no matter what you do to it to recover from the mess, you will continue to have problems until you remediate the geese problem which will have to endure long lasting extensive and costly preventive measures.

[Unregistered]

The same can be said for Adams Farm. No public official will stand up and say let's use the Farm for fields because they will not stand up to the voters in the area surrounding the farm.That piece of property is the obvious choice for fields but for so many years everyone has been dancing around the topic and trying to use or rehab fields that should have been left alone. The question of using Adams Farms for fields should be put on the ballot so everyone gets to decide instead of a few connected people.

[Unregistered]

#1 beer bottles on Stone Field.....why are high school students blamed for this? What proof that high school students did it? I think not....kids know the police are right there. Perhaps a person with an addiction.
#2 Why does the carnival have to be set up on a field when they are often set up in parking lots in other towns. So why not use one of the school parking lots during the summer instead of April vacation, which often has cold or wet weather.

[Unregistered]

The same can be said for Adams Farm. No public official will stand up and say let's use the Farm for fields because they will not stand up to the voters in the area surrounding the farm.That piece of property is the obvious choice for fields but for so many years everyone has been dancing around the topic and trying to use or rehab fields that should have been left alone. The question of using Adams Farms for fields should be put on the ballot so everyone gets to decide instead of a few connected people.

Perfect idea, put it on the ballot so everyone has a say afterall it does belong to all of us.

[Unregistered]

I think that blaming the Beer Bottles and the trash on local citizens that may have an addiction is a little foolish

The only choice for the pile of beer cans being laft at Stone field is a young persons party

[Unregistered]

There should be several choices put on the ballot for Adams Farm. 1. Sell all of it. 2. Sell part of it. 3. Allow fields for sports. 4. Allow development: recreational, commercial, residential.

The town owns plenty of open space but continues to hold onto 365 acres of very valuable land when it is struggling financially. I would never have voted to buy this land if I had known it was going to become "exclusive".

[Unregistered]

#1 beer bottles on Stone Field.....why are high school students blamed for this? What proof that high school students did it? I think not....kids know the police are right there. Perhaps a person with an addiction.
#2 Why does the carnival have to be set up on a field when they are often set up in parking lots in other towns. So why not use one of the school parking lots during the summer instead of April vacation, which often has cold or wet weather.

Do you think the local town drunk came over and left his empties like Otis from Mayberry? More than likely he would need the deposit for another 40oz bottle of Rhinegold Malt Liquor.
As far proof I do not think the police took the fingerprints off the empties.

The idea of moving the carnival to the High School parking lot for the week probably is not a bad idea.

[Unregistered]

Geese can be controlled very easily - a single Border Collie walked on the perimeter of the field just once a day will leave enough scent behind to make the geese seek safer feeding grounds.

[Unregistered]

Do you think the local town drunk came over and left his empties like Otis from Mayberry? More than likely he would need the deposit for another 40oz bottle of Rhinegold Malt Liquor.
As far proof I do not think the police took the fingerprints off the empties.

The idea of moving the carnival to the High School parking lot for the week probably is not a bad idea.

I agree. Very funny! The parking lot is a good idea.

[Unregistered]

Geese can be controlled very easily - a single Border Collie walked on the perimeter of the field just once a day will leave enough scent behind to make the geese seek safer feeding grounds.

Border Collies can work,but only temporarily. They were used a long time ago in Bird Park,but the constant workin gof the dog everyday is time consuming. Although they work temporarily, the gees WILL return. The idea is to get rid of the nesting sites and other remedies such as repellants, tall grass near water sites, fencing, decoys, etc. NOt a simple task or we wouldn't have a goose problem with towns of web sites on on methods to get rid of them. They always come back

[Unregistered]

When would all of this take place? Pop Warner starts in 2 weeks I do not want my 9 year old Future Rebel to take a mouthful of Goose refuse if he does not need too.

In all reality is this clean up going to take place this year or when?

[Unregistered]

When would all of this take place? Pop Warner starts in 2 weeks I do not want my 9 year old Future Rebel to take a mouthful of Goose refuse if he does not need too.

In all reality is this clean up going to take place this year or when?

I wouldn't hold my breath that there won't be any goose droppings on that field in two weeks. Do you get downtown much? The geese are everywhere, and unless they forget how to fly, you're not going to keep them off that field. Stock up on laundry detergent and make sure your kid has all his shots.

[Unregistered]

Buy your son a mouthguard.

[Unregistered]

Maybe if all the pundits drove down to Stone St. Field with a rake, the field would look better. Which is worse the geese droppings or the grousing on this site?

[Unregistered]

Maybe if all the pundits drove down to Stone St. Field with a rake, the field would look better. Which is worse the geese droppings or the grousing on this site?

I think that is the idea the Boosters and Youth Football and the Cheerleaders are going to take it over and clean it up. We can chase the geese to your yard then you do not have to decide which is worse you can have both.

At least you will not have the redeem the empty beer cans and throw out the metal tops and the trash our group will take care of those issues.

[Unregistered]

Why do people blame the carnival for the mess at Stone field. The trash and liquor bottles left from the parties in May cannot be blamed on the carnival folks.

Keep the carnival and let Youth Football handle the field the other 51 weeks a year and keep the geese off the field. Let the police have target practice.

[Unregistered]

Why not hold the carnival at Mylod if it is such a benign treasure of the town? Why not Adams Farm? Or maybe the trustees of Bird Park will allow carnies and the crowd they attract to host such a profitable event for the town? At the very least, hold it on the very baseball fields that it raises funds for. Spring is vital for sod development, and the carnival destroys Stone St. Field..that is not debatable.

[Dave]

The same can be said for Adams Farm. No public official will stand up and say let's use the Farm for fields because they will not stand up to the voters in the area surrounding the farm.That piece of property is the obvious choice for fields but for so many years everyone has been dancing around the topic and trying to use or rehab fields that should have been left alone. The question of using Adams Farms for fields should be put on the ballot so everyone gets to decide instead of a few connected people.

AMEN brother!

NO WAY will the wine and cheesers let Adams Farm be used for anything but instropective thought, and a place to walk off the pounds gained by driving the Caddy SUV all over the town. I say that's what the town forest is for.

Just a general question BTW, am I naive? Does the Adam's Farm site generate any revenue to the town whatsoever? (I'm actual being serious here - not a wise guy.) If not, then it is time that group of "caretakers" learn that this is town property - for town use. Put that to the ballot!

I coach little league and rec sports. Parents are paying anywhere from 75 to 175 for their son or daughter to participate. I am tired of this town that beats it's chest about it's dedictation to youth sports sending it's 7 thru 15 years old onto ball fields that require innoculation for hepatitis B in order to ensure thier kid's safety.

Stone should be the centerpiece of this town, but as long as it's proximity to Memorial Pond is what it is, and as long as we protect these rats with wings, you're going to have the goose droppoing problem. Case in point - Morgan is a well kept field - same problem there.

As far as the carnival. I appreciate Babe Ruth's and all the effort that gets put into defraying the cost. I was one of those parents once that could afford it. However, I would at least like to see the carnival moved to a "paved" locale, like the High School P-lot in June.

I think if we moved the Carny to Adam's you'd lose the transient customers, and with that the profit margin. Let's be honest - I don't recognize anyone when I go to that carnival.

[Unregistered]

Why not hold the carnival at Mylod if it is such a benign treasure of the town? Why not Adams Farm? Or maybe the trustees of Bird Park will allow carnies and the crowd they attract to host such a profitable event for the town? At the very least, hold it on the very baseball fields that it raises funds for. Spring is vital for sod development, and the carnival destroys Stone St. Field..that is not debatable.

Which reminds me. Great season to all the Walpole Soccer teams. Keep up the good work. I know the lessons you've learned from soccer, like running around aimlessly, staying out of any actual contact, with little or no accountabilty or effect on the outcome or final score, will serve you well in later years. I am sure you will look back on these lessons - many years after you've realized this sport has no value beyond that of your parents desire to keep you occupied - and say to yourselves "We're wasting that land on Mylod for what?"

Resist that cynicism because I'm telling you - soccer is the game of the future in this country. Trust me. It's only a matter of time. They've been telling me this for 30 years so it must be true.

Again, well done. Here's hoping that all your days end up 1-nil.

[Unregistered]

#83

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

[Unregistered]

Kind of a cheap shot on the soccer program? Jon Lester and Wes Welker were both accomplished youth soccer players, so there is hope!

[Unregistered]

I walked from stone field to the library the other day and couldn't get over how much goose poop I had to dodge along the way. My son was playing on the field and his uniform and cleats were destroyed, it's plain discusting! How come we are putting the geese before the residents of town? do other towns have this magnatude of a problem? I had to stop going to Bird Park because there wasn't anywhere to walk without landing in geese droppings. There must be some way to thin out the herd. Who would be the one to take action, aminal control??

[Unregistered]

Geese are a protected species, because all migrating species are protected , unfortunatley they don'tmigrate .. nothing can be done legally.
BTW you can blame humans for this .. in the 30's geese were bred not to migrate so that they could be used asdecoys .. you can see how that worked out..

[Unregistered]

Kind of a cheap shot on the soccer program? Jon Lester and Wes Welker were both accomplished youth soccer players, so there is hope!

I tend to think they probably played a little more baseball than they did soccer. I'm sure they realized pretty early on that they weren't taking the "soccer thing" to the next level.

[Unregistered]

The Soccer program deserves as much accolades as the other sports at the High School. Why would someone elect to pick on those kids . They did nothing but play and keep their own fields tidy

[Unregistered]

response 49

I ask again..what metal ??? If you have seen it, did you go pick it up or let the next person get it, if you see a dog doing its thing there, speak to the dog owner and then go to the police, or do you leave it for the next person....nuts, bolts, glass...the carnival and the baseball people hire a local landscaper to till and reseed the field...do you think he sees this stuff and just leaves it there, this should end it here.....ok, here goes.....what field in the town, private or public, if hundreds of kids in football cleats playing for weeks used it, what would it look like?. ever watch TV and see what a football field looks like when they play and it rains ??...mud ??..you could resod stone field and in a week it would look like that...its only GRASS !!..its a play field, what grass that is there is mowed, the trash is picked up, and its somewhat safe, no one can do anything about the geese, they eat the grass !!..if you think its unsafe for your child, dont let junior play !!..I was at the PRIVATE fields on West Street not to long ago, saw a player get hurt...that field is beautiful, flat, green lush grass, and noticed some dog droppings there too......

You are clearly a person pontificating from a location far from Stone field. What a mess!!! I was down there tonight. I cannot believ how bad it is, how much trash and debris is EVERYWHERE. I found all kinds of scary and dangerous stuff from metal and glass to bottle caps and shards of hard plastic. I could not possible pick it up. The mud is the least of the problems. I hope the town does not get sued if someone is injured. Health hazards are one thing... this is out and out dangerous. The kids are not the problem. It is the adults with the big opinions, and no $$$$, time, or commitment to get anything done.

Hopefully the "campers" will come through again!!

[Unregistered]

I tend to think they probably played a little more baseball than they did soccer. I'm sure they realized pretty early on that they weren't taking the "soccer thing" to the next level.

...and given that they were athletes they probably enjoyed keeping score, so a migration away from soccer was inevitable.

[Unregistered]

Doesn't control of the Canada Geese fall under the Animal Control officer's duties?
Does Walpole even have one?

[Unregistered]

Which reminds me. Great season to all the Walpole Soccer teams. Keep up the good work. I know the lessons you've learned from soccer, like running around aimlessly, staying out of any actual contact, with little or no accountabilty or effect on the outcome or final score, will serve you well in later years. I am sure you will look back on these lessons - many years after you've realized this sport has no value beyond that of your parents desire to keep you occupied - and say to yourselves "We're wasting that land on Mylod for what?"

Resist that cynicism because I'm telling you - soccer is the game of the future in this country. Trust me. It's only a matter of time. They've been telling me this for 30 years so it must be true.

Again, well done. Here's hoping that all your days end up 1-nil.

I assume you're being sarcastic, because your comments could easily be directed toward any student athlete in any sports program in town. How much money and resources go into our football/field hockey/soccer/baseball programs, vs. how many of our graduates ever go on to make their living playing or coaching sports?

The football program is a HUGE waste of resources, according to your own logic. We would better serve our students by killing all sports programs and funneling those resources into the computer club instead.

[Unregistered]

I assume you're being sarcastic, because your comments could easily be directed toward any student athlete in any sports program in town. How much money and resources go into our football/field hockey/soccer/baseball programs, vs. how many of our graduates ever go on to make their living playing or coaching sports?

The football program is a HUGE waste of resources, according to your own logic. We would better serve our students by killing all sports programs and funneling those resources into the computer club instead.

I wasn't applying any logic here. My point was to simply state that soccer is a fun thing to do, but that's it. As a sport - it teaches kids nothing that that can take "outside" of the sport itself. Unlike say baseball or football, where lack of hustle, or focus is clearly evident, and where you can actually fail as an individual, and by doing so, learn that you can rebound from failure by trying harder, or practicing harder.

Kids learn nothing about life from playing soccer. It's very difficult to fail at a sport where a 0 - 0 score is considered a wonderful outcome. Parent's know this, and they protect thier kids from the risk of failure by stinking them in a youth soccer program for 3 or 4 years.

Football, baseball, hockey, field hockey, sofball, track. Failure - personal shortfalls, and rising above these challenges are all inherently a part of these sports.

You can disagree, but it is what it is. Soccer will eventually be big in this country - around the same time English becomes the second language of this country. Until then, traffic won't be a problem during a Rev's game.

[Unregistered]

reply # 90

then tomorrow morning make a phone call to town hall and they will go and pick up all the materials you found today....I cant believe you found mud...where was it...I think it did rain for a bit...as for the water bottles and trash..its from all the kids who use the field at night, they leave their trash where they stand and the coaches and parents should be the ones picking everything up after football and lacross...go take a walk up to the new turco field...must have been 100 water and juice bottles all over the place...I guess the trash barrels and the big signs posted means nothing to the " kids"

[Unregistered]

reply # 90

then tomorrow morning make a phone call to town hall and they will go and pick up all the materials you found today....I cant believe you found mud...where was it...I think it did rain for a bit...as for the water bottles and trash..its from all the kids who use the field at night, they leave their trash where they stand and the coaches and parents should be the ones picking everything up after football and lacross...go take a walk up to the new turco field...must have been 100 water and juice bottles all over the place...I guess the trash barrels and the big signs posted means nothing to the " kids"

Dude - you are so right about this. I coach, and baseball, and after each game I must be picking up 15 water bottles, bubble gum wrappers, and sunflower seed bags. These kids finish the game or practice, and they are outta here.

It's not the town's responsibility to clean up after every darn practice.

[Unregistered]

I wasn't applying any logic here. My point was to simply state that soccer is a fun thing to do, but that's it. As a sport - it teaches kids nothing that that can take "outside" of the sport itself. Unlike say baseball or football, where lack of hustle, or focus is clearly evident, and where you can actually fail as an individual, and by doing so, learn that you can rebound from failure by trying harder, or practicing harder.

Kids learn nothing about life from playing soccer. It's very difficult to fail at a sport where a 0 - 0 score is considered a wonderful outcome. Parent's know this, and they protect thier kids from the risk of failure by stinking them in a youth soccer program for 3 or 4 years.

Football, baseball, hockey, field hockey, sofball, track. Failure - personal shortfalls, and rising above these challenges are all inherently a part of these sports.

You can disagree, but it is what it is. Soccer will eventually be big in this country - around the same time English becomes the second language of this country. Until then, traffic won't be a problem during a Rev's game.

You seem to think that any sport that doesn't have a lot of high scoring opportunities is not a real sport. Truthfully, kids get more exercise and experience running around a soccer field than they do standing in the outfield or warming the bench in a baseball game. Soccer doesn't have all the breaks in the action like football does, so the kids spend more of their time playing the game and less time waiting for the ref to determine the location of the line of scrimmage. If you don't think it takes hustle or focus to play soccer, you have clearly never played the game.

By your thinking, a game of T-ball (where no score is kept) has no value to the player, while a virtually identical game of little league baseball (with scoring) teaches some vital life skill?

It may not be as entertaining to watch a 1-0 soccer game as it is to watch a 96-93 basketball game, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is equally exciting to play in either sport. You can't sit still in soccer; you have to be in great cardiovascular condition to stay on the field for more than five minutes.

There is much greater value to the athlete when they are playing most of the time instead of standing around waiting to be told what to do next. In case you've forgotten, school sports are not intended for the amusement of adults, but for the enrichment of the student athlete. Very few of these kids will go on to become professional athletes - the majority of them will be sitting in front of computers for their entire carreers.

So I repeat, either you are being sarcastic, or you are missing the purpose of school sports entirely. The realistic goal is not to mold a generation of highly-paid professional football players, but to teach kids the value of exercise and teamwork - values they could just as easily learn doing curling. (Soccer and curling are Olympic sports, but where is football?) Anything you've said to bash soccer holds equally true to the football program, or any other sports program in Walpole.

It's not that I think soccer is a better sport than the others, but I strongly disagree with you when you suggest that it is a lesser learning opportunity for students simply because of the single-digit scores. I worry that the attitudes of adults like you puts the wrong kind of pressure on our student athletes, and will ultimately teach them the wrong life lessons.

[Unregistered]

"Dude" you must not be much of a coach if you let your kids race "outta here" and then you go around picking up their trash. It's not the town's responsibility to pick up, but they should provide and periodically empty trash barrels. It is not the coach's responsibility to pick up after the kids. Isn't the whole point of youth sports to teach the kids responsibility and commitment. Why not tell the kids that they are not allowed to leave until the dugout is spotless? Give it a try, coach!

[Unregistered]

"Dude" you must not be much of a coach if you let your kids race "outta here" and then you go around picking up their trash. It's not the town's responsibility to pick up, but they should provide and periodically empty trash barrels. It is not the coach's responsibility to pick up after the kids. Isn't the whole point of youth sports to teach the kids responsibility and commitment. Why not tell the kids that they are not allowed to leave until the dugout is spotless? Give it a try, coach!

You have obviously never been a coach. At the end of the game parents eager to get to their other duties often tell Junior to leave right away. You as the coach are put in an uncomfortable position of telling the kid to disregard what his mom or dad are telling to listen to a volunteer trying to coach 15 boys/girls You try it sometime Have your kid tell Coach Green of the football team he is leaving right after practice or tell new AD Tompkins you cannot do the laps after the game.

Dude

[Unregistered]

"Dude" you must not be much of a coach if you let your kids race "outta here" and then you go around picking up their trash. It's not the town's responsibility to pick up, but they should provide and periodically empty trash barrels. It is not the coach's responsibility to pick up after the kids. Isn't the whole point of youth sports to teach the kids responsibility and commitment. Why not tell the kids that they are not allowed to leave until the dugout is spotless? Give it a try, coach!

How about the PARENTS of the kids teach their children to pick up after themselves?. The coaches in this town volunteeer to coach our kids and teach them fundamentals of various sports, as parents we should be teaching them to pick up after themselves.

[Unregistered]

"Dude" you must not be much of a coach if you let your kids race "outta here" and then you go around picking up their trash. It's not the town's responsibility to pick up, but they should provide and periodically empty trash barrels. It is not the coach's responsibility to pick up after the kids. Isn't the whole point of youth sports to teach the kids responsibility and commitment. Why not tell the kids that they are not allowed to leave until the dugout is spotless? Give it a try, coach!

I do - every time. They're kids. Most of the time it's like hearding cats. Usually, mom or dad is there waiting from them and they jet out of there without their glove - nevermind thier trash.

They do provide barrels, but they don't empty them everyday. There are what - 8 different ballfields in this town? You expect them to empty the barrels every day? You going to pay for that?

And another thing: Easy on the "not much of a coach" reference, okay? You're pretty ignorant making a comment like that - on line. Insult someone that volunteers thier time - nice.

You don't even know me.

[Unregistered]

Weak excuses! "Parents, the kids aren't dismissed until they pick up all the trash in and around their dugouts" One message like that would solve your problem..who's gonna argue with that? After all you're volunteering your time. And yes, the town should empty the trash barrels..add a couple of bucks to league fees to pay for it if the DPW can't handle it. My "reference" was based on an "if-then" scenario. If you are walking around with a plastic bag picking up after the kids "because they are kids" while they are racing off to Bubbling Brook, THEN you are not coaching them the proper respect for the time you volunteer, and the duties of being on a team entail. No it is not too much to ask that kids pick up after themselves..try it sometime.

[Unregistered]

The coach is absolutely right. The folks coming down on him have no clue and/or have never volunteered their time to coaching.

Coaching does NOT involve chasing your kids to pick up after themselves. Coaching involves teaching your kids how to play the game. Coaching involves teaching your kids how to handle a loss graciously and how to handle a win with compassion for your opponent (soccer fans take note, you're missing out on this).

Unless you're involved and helping out, you have no right to tell a coach that they're not doing enough for your kids when quite a few parents treat practices as built in babysitting.

Children's behavior is based on what they learn at home. Start there.

[Unregistered]

reply # 90

then tomorrow morning make a phone call to town hall and they will go and pick up all the materials you found today....I cant believe you found mud...where was it...I think it did rain for a bit...as for the water bottles and trash..its from all the kids who use the field at night, they leave their trash where they stand and the coaches and parents should be the ones picking everything up after football and lacross...go take a walk up to the new turco field...must have been 100 water and juice bottles all over the place...I guess the trash barrels and the big signs posted means nothing to the " kids"

Obviously you did not read the post, or you are trying to hide the fact that the post refers to bottle caps, glass, shards of plastic and dangerous stuff. It says that the mud is the least of the problems. The poster was not talking about water bottles. Go back and re-read and make certain you get the point.

[Unregistered]

Dude - you are so right about this. I coach, and baseball, and after each game I must be picking up 15 water bottles, bubble gum wrappers, and sunflower seed bags. These kids finish the game or practice, and they are outta here.

It's not the town's responsibility to clean up after every darn practice.

You missed the point to "Dude". Go re-read the post.

[Unregistered]

You missed the point to "Dude". Go re-read the post.

Apparently - the use of the word "dude" was a mistake. I didn't know I was dealing with that kind of audience. I hadn't realized Walpole Words was such a formal forum.

Next time I'll refer to you as Sir, or Madam.

Lighten up will ya!

I mention the water bottles and trash because someone else did. It is an open forum, right?

And let me just say that as a coach, one of the more troubling notions is that people like some of our posters here expect that coaches are suppose to educate thier kids on what is right and what is virtuous. Let me tell you, I have seen more examples of bad parenting through my years as a coach than I care to talk about. It's not my role to undo what they've learned at home.

We try and teach them play (whatever sport) to their potential, and to win and lose with dignity. Expect anymore than that and you're really stretching it.

[Unregistered]

Sir, that is Bunk! If you are volunteering your time to coach youth sports, you have an inherent obligation to make sure the kids you coach adhere to your rules. The "win and lose w/ dignity" stuff is the easiest part. You make it easy by setting an example. If there is a disruptive kid causing commotion, or dropping F-bombs, it is a total cop out for a coach to say "I can't undo in an hour what he has learned over 12 years at home." Well, Yes you can! For that one hour, the kid has two choices, play by your rules or not be on the team. If you can't provide that then you are doing a disservice to whatever youth sport you are volunteering for, and you would be better off in a lawn chair. And yes, I have done it.

[Unregistered]

Well, did we all witness the other night after the rain we had to see the Pop Warner kids all playing on Goose Field (AKA, Stone Field). I hope when they got home a disinfecting shower was in order. The field was an absolute mess.

[Unregistered]

then what is the point of fixing it up since the geese are not going away? wouldn't the money be better spent on another project? are parents hesistant to say anything about this idea?

[Unregistered]

This has nothing to do with enough trash containers being there..If you bring water and refreshments with you, bring the empty water bottles home with you...very easy, I know I dont get a drink in my kitchen, drink it and then just drop the cup on the floor. thats whats going on at all the fields. not the coaches job, but its going to fall on them to make sure its clean.

[Unregistered]

reply 108

If the field was a mess due to rain. the coaches should have called off playing for the night.

[Unregistered]

Sitting outside the firehouse the other night I could have sworn I was watching the Patriots practice. Or least some other screaming college/pro coach. Lighten up. It's a game, they're kids. If I had a kid on that team, and the coach spoke to him like that, the coach would be talking with a lisp.

[Unregistered]

reply 108

If the field was a mess due to rain. the coaches should have called off playing for the night.

The football players shouldn't have to miss their practices. That field is a disgrace. It is hard to believe Town Hall faces out that way. With all the public dissatisfaction, how about an elected official doing something. A little honest dirt is one thing, this is something else. Another field should be found.

[Unregistered]

The other field is right under your nose at Adams Farm.

[Unregistered]

Sitting outside the firehouse the other night I could have sworn I was watching the Patriots practice. Or least some other screaming college/pro coach. Lighten up. It's a game, they're kids. If I had a kid on that team, and the coach spoke to him like that, the coach would be talking with a lisp.



Funny, my kid was all smiles on the way home. If you ever feel like that again, walk on out to the field and address the coach in question.

[Unregistered]

The other field is right under your nose at Adams Farm.

I agree! I would like to see playing fields up there. There is plenty of room for fields and parking. Have you seen the great fields at the Wrentham State School. We need something similar, but with more fields. There are 100s of acres up there. Let's use them!

[Unregistered]

reply 108

If the field was a mess due to rain. the coaches should have called off playing for the night.

In favor of a tiddlywinks tournament? Football is played in the rain.

[Dave]

Here's a great idea..how about the recipients of all the dough raised by the carnival hold the carnival on their baseball fields? Why does the town allow one entitiy to trash Stone Street Field every spring..then walk away?

Why does everyone assume that the carnival itself makes the field look like it does? The carnival doesn't bring the geese.

How about the fireworks? That's where the allot of the trash (bottles, cans, garbage) comes from - not the carnival. Kids are not partying at Stone field ( too close to the police station) so you can't blame them either. I hate the carnival, don't get me wrong though - I do support Babe Ruth and I can accept the week of weirdos if it means some kid that can't afford to play ball can play anyway.

Fact is, Stone is mess due to years and years of ground neglect - not just one week in April, and one night in July. It'll take a lot more then some student atheletes volunteering (also appreciated BTW) a few days to make it presentable. The geese are always going to be there because of the proximity to Diamond Pond.

It's a tough nut to crack - to be sure.

First thing I would do is find an alternate sight for the carnival.

Then ,a committee should be formed ( non -taxpaying, grass-roots thing), whose sole purpose is to come up with - say - a three year plan to revitalize the field. (It's not like anyone expects it to turn around over night, right?) If a sound plan is generated - with volunteer effort both from a planning & labor perspective - then I think you could raise the neccessary funds - through private and corporate donations - over a three year time span to make it happen.

Heck - get the Aggie involved even. Pull out all the stops. Make it a project for the lanscape and design cirriculum.

I'm just throwing these thing out there, and I'm sure there are smarter people than I that can organize such an effort, but I'd like to take part.

Stone Field would be the centerpiece is should be. Something to be proud of, instead of the eyesore it is today. A place people WANT to go, instead of place they just pass though to avoid traffic. The surrounding businesses could benefit, and everyone would live happily ever after.

Maybe it's a little pie-in-the-sky, but all I'm reading on this forum is whose fault it is, and goose crap stories. No one offering a solution.

There's got to be 500 landscapers in this town. You're telling me we could find people to help out?

[Unregistered]

The FWCAC made a huge deal about getting the artificial turf field in place so the younsters playing pop warner football could have a better place to play. What happened with that...? That point is hammered home in the FWCAC video...especially starting at about minute 1:00.

Are these younger kids banned from Turco field? What is going on? That was one of the reasons I gave $$$ to that endeavor.

Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snVYb2gDIdk

[Unregistered]

Reply 118

after the fireworks are over the dpw comes in and cleans up...it is spotless !! get up early and see for yourself next year....yes, one or two events on the field will contribute to the problems...the field has never has time to establish growth in the fall....and during football season gets beat up..yes football is played in the rain, then the full time grounds crew comes in and makes repairs..this is not the NFL...why do you think old Turco field looked so good when it was all grass, it had time top recover during the week, it has irrigation, it was built to allow for water runoff all things Stone does not have. this is not the towns fault, so many users groups want different things and all want control over what goes on there, the baseball people have the carnival, football people want the field, fireworks people want the field, recreation dept wants the feild, tee ball, little league, the dog walkers/poopers want the field, go to open fourm at the next selectmens meeting, bring a plan, start a group, form a commitee, make some calls, but remember, the field will need to be shut down and not used for a year, thats the hard part...good luck, that will never ever happen

[Unregistered]

We have a wonderful resouce just down Main St in the Aggie. These folks know how to grow grass and would probably welcome the class project to rehab Stone Field.

Also- when I coached a notice was given to each player / parent telling them what their responsibilities were such as marking all belongings with name & phone and being responsible to be there on time, call if you will not be there etc and for their behavior and belongings. Parents were encouraged to volunteer for duties and told when their child is with their team the coaches are in charge.

After each game or practice we had a team meeting away from the parents in the outfield to discuss the game and let the kids go away on a positive note. Also nobody could leave until the equipment was put away and all litter cleaned up.

[Unregistered]

The FWCAC made a huge deal about getting the artificial turf field in place so the younsters playing pop warner football could have a better place to play. What happened with that...? That point is hammered home in the FWCAC video...especially starting at about minute 1:00.

Are these younger kids banned from Turco field? What is going on? That was one of the reasons I gave $$$ to that endeavor.

Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snVYb2gDIdk


Turco field is used by the Youth Football program on Sunday (game days) and an occasional practice. However, youth football practices during the week and there are some scheduling conflicts with the high school as well as the lack of lights which means they can't practice at WHS. Stone has lights.

I don't know why the youth football program does not take advantage of Turco during August.

[Unregistered]

Your kids was probably all smiles not due to the fact he was listening to a Bill Belicheck wannabe but due to the fact he was playing with his friends in an activity he enjoys.

Many of the people involved are reliving their own frustrations in athletics through their kids. Look at the other sports, the best coaches are the ones who are involved after their kids are long gone. They do it for the love of the game and of teaching others to love the game.

The firefighters who witnessed the coach yelling like Lombardi should have take film of that and sent to the paper or at sent to that coach to view how foolish he looks.

Good Luck for all of the Rebel fall teams

[Unregistered]

Your kids was probably all smiles not due to the fact he was listening to a Bill Belicheck wannabe but due to the fact he was playing with his friends in an activity he enjoys.

Many of the people involved are reliving their own frustrations in athletics through their kids. Look at the other sports, the best coaches are the ones who are involved after their kids are long gone. They do it for the love of the game and of teaching others to love the game.

The firefighters who witnessed the coach yelling like Lombardi should have take film of that and sent to the paper or at sent to that coach to view how foolish he looks.

Good Luck for all of the Rebel fall teams

Sad to say that I must agree with you. My own observations tell me that many, but not necessarily all, of the coaches are in it for themselves and their own sons. They are there to ensure that a select few children really learn to play football. The others are placeholders on the field so that a few kids can learn to become stars. All you have to do is watch a game and see a few kids playing both offense and defense, multiple positions, while other kids wait most of the game for a few plays. This starts the first year they play. Most kids will never touch the ball no matter how many years they play.

The adults are really ruining the game. When it comes to youth sports, everyone should get a chance, everyone should learn. Sadly, it really is the Walpole Way to ensure that you carve out your own version of your child's future. If most of the kids never get a chance to participate in a meaningful way, it ensures that Johnny looks the best.

[Unregistered]

Sad to say that I must agree with you. My own observations tell me that many, but not necessarily all, of the coaches are in it for themselves and their own sons. They are there to ensure that a select few children really learn to play football. The others are placeholders on the field so that a few kids can learn to become stars. All you have to do is watch a game and see a few kids playing both offense and defense, multiple positions, while other kids wait most of the game for a few plays. This starts the first year they play. Most kids will never touch the ball no matter how many years they play.

The adults are really ruining the game. When it comes to youth sports, everyone should get a chance, everyone should learn. Sadly, it really is the Walpole Way to ensure that you carve out your own version of your child's future. If most of the kids never get a chance to participate in a meaningful way, it ensures that Johnny looks the best.

Are you volunteering to coach then? It seems like you could really turn the program around

[Unregistered]

I must wholeheartedly disagree. It is you the disgruntled parent that seems to think that the kid blocking every play is less valuable or inferior to the kid carrying the ball. Why is it no one thinks the goalie on the field hockey team, or soccer team or lacrosse team who can go their entire career without scoring a goal, and this is fine, but a kid can excel at playing offensive or defensive line and is deemed a "placeholder" for the "stars" in youth football that carry the ball? Some of these coaches give up their entire August to prepare kids for the upcoming season. The youth level games go by in a flash. It is a real juggling act getting every kid into the game, let alone enough time at the "glamor" positions to satisfy every parents' desires. When in your post you question whether a player not deemed a star is not contributing in a meaningful way, you display your ignorance about the sport of football. By and large, the coaches are cognizant of the perception of favoritism, and go out of their way to fight it. Some of their own kids see less time than other kids less deserving, if you base that decision on practice attendance. Come over to the field and ask any coach if you are confused. You are way off base with your comments.

[Unregistered]

I must wholeheartedly disagree. It is you the disgruntled parent that seems to think that the kid blocking every play is less valuable or inferior to the kid carrying the ball. Why is it no one thinks the goalie on the field hockey team, or soccer team or lacrosse team who can go their entire career without scoring a goal, and this is fine, but a kid can excel at playing offensive or defensive line and is deemed a "placeholder" for the "stars" in youth football that carry the ball? Some of these coaches give up their entire August to prepare kids for the upcoming season. The youth level games go by in a flash. It is a real juggling act getting every kid into the game, let alone enough time at the "glamor" positions to satisfy every parents' desires. When in your post you question whether a player not deemed a star is not contributing in a meaningful way, you display your ignorance about the sport of football. By and large, the coaches are cognizant of the perception of favoritism, and go out of their way to fight it. Some of their own kids see less time than other kids less deserving, if you base that decision on practice attendance. Come over to the field and ask any coach if you are confused. You are way off base with your comments.

Couldn't agree with you more. There are a handfull of parents that are less then willing to give up their free time to support their child to learn the game of football. They don't promote attendance, because, gosh, they have a vacation home. Then their little " Johnny" comes back, doesn't know the plays and the coaches hold their breath when the kid gets in.
They don't know enough to defend themselves, never mind doing their job so another child doesn't get hurt.
Rather, they sit in their cars, cross their arms and talk about how much they hate the coaches.

[Unregistered]

Agreed. Most coaches, given some feedback from parents, try to do the right thing. Sometimes after a long week of work, they get caught up in the win. If someone is slighted, I think they would all try to make it right, given the chance. They give an aweful lot of their time, especially for football.

I would add that many of the parents could use a refresher course on manners themselves. Not every kid can play QB. It cannot be easy to constantly have side-line coaches telling you where they think their kid should play. Some parent conduct at games is less than you would expect as well.

All in all, if the adults keep reminding themselves that it is really all about the kids, we should be OK. I have seen some pretty incredible coaches in Walpole sports, football included, that have had an impact on my kid that I am very very grateful for. Nothing is perfect, but everything has value.

[Unregistered]

No matter what how you feel, the coaches give more time than anyone. Far more time than the parents, and more time that the kids. So all I have to say is "thanks".

[Unregistered]

Couldn't agree with you more. There are a handfull of parents that are less then willing to give up their free time to support their child to learn the game of football. They don't promote attendance, because, gosh, they have a vacation home. Then their little " Johnny" comes back, doesn't know the plays and the coaches hold their breath when the kid gets in.
They don't know enough to defend themselves, never mind doing their job so another child doesn't get hurt.
Rather, they sit in their cars, cross their arms and talk about how much they hate the coaches.

How about the parents that have their kids in so many sports that they are leaving one game to go to another game/practice half way through. If you meet one of these "super Moms" they will spend the entire conversation telling you how busy they are running their child/children from sport to sport, it's like a contest to see which Mom has it the toughest.During this conversation you will usually hear complaining about their child's lack of playing time and how the coach "plays favorites" and coach so and so at the overpriced private sports camp said Little Johnny is a natural. The lack of respect for the VOLUNTEER coaches and sense of entitlement of these parents carries right over to their kids.

[Unregistered]

Couldn't agree with you more. There are a handfull of parents that are less then willing to give up their free time to support their child to learn the game of football. They don't promote attendance, because, gosh, they have a vacation home. Then their little " Johnny" comes back, doesn't know the plays and the coaches hold their breath when the kid gets in.
They don't know enough to defend themselves, never mind doing their job so another child doesn't get hurt.
Rather, they sit in their cars, cross their arms and talk about how much they hate the coaches.

Having been a coach myself, I know it takes a lot of time to coach the various youth teams, that being said. Many parents would like to coach however their employment position or family situation does not allow for that enjoyment of working with their kids.

If you are totally being objective look at the number of sons of the coaches playing the skill positions on the football program at the younger levels. Ironic isn't it that many of these kids earn those coveted positions. What difference does it make who wins the 9 year old Pop Warner division.

Do you not think all the kids should play basically the same amount of time until the JV or Varsity level at the High School so they may all learn the game.

It seems to me that is the problem with the youth sports if you are a coach you are in essence a teacher. If a teacher at the High School or the Middle School spent an lesser time teaching the kids math due to the fact he/she does not understand the concept being currently taught. You as a parent would be outraged due to the fact you pay the same amount of taxes as the parent of that kid.

Your comments are indicative of the problems with the youth sports and if you have the time and initative to be a coach congrats and thanks for helping the kids. If we are putting some kids in danger of being injured as you said maybe we should revisit this activity

[Unregistered]

"If you are totally being objective look at the number of sons of the coaches playing the skill positions on the football program at the younger levels. Ironic isn't it that many of these kids earn those coveted positions. What difference does it make who wins the 9 year old Pop Warner division" Funny, you ask to be objective, then you jump to a conclusion with no factual basis. Of course it makes a difference who wins. The kids care about winning..that is why they show up in the heat, and are willing to give up beach time and backyard games for a more organized sport. Most of the drills are competitive..relay races, offense versus defense, one against one..by design because the kids are competitive and like to test themselves. Even soccer kids where you don't keep score can tell you what the real score was. Sometimes the coaches kids are the "whipping boys" for the team, held to a higher standard and depended on to set a good example at practice. They come early, stay late, and pick up equipment. Sometimes the coaches kids aren't as talented, and show that hard work pays off. Sometimes the coaches kids are "just another player" and the Dad just likes spending time with the kids. Sometimes the Dad coaches offense and his kid plays defense. Sometimes there are no Dad coaches on a team. Please don't ask for objectivity when you yourself offer none. No one I've experienced thinks their son is going to be a pro, they are doing the best they can, and I've heard Dads ream their own sons and handle your sons with kid gloves. Football is not a freeform game, it requires an iterative, painstakingly slow approach to develop fundamentals and come together as a team. My son tells me some kids would rather not run the ball, or be qb..as strange as that may seem to a parent.

[Unregistered]

"If you are totally being objective look at the number of sons of the coaches playing the skill positions on the football program at the younger levels. Ironic isn't it that many of these kids earn those coveted positions. What difference does it make who wins the 9 year old Pop Warner division" Funny, you ask to be objective, then you jump to a conclusion with no factual basis. Of course it makes a difference who wins. The kids care about winning..that is why they show up in the heat, and are willing to give up beach time and backyard games for a more organized sport. Most of the drills are competitive..relay races, offense versus defense, one against one..by design because the kids are competitive and like to test themselves. Even soccer kids where you don't keep score can tell you what the real score was. Sometimes the coaches kids are the "whipping boys" for the team, held to a higher standard and depended on to set a good example at practice. They come early, stay late, and pick up equipment. Sometimes the coaches kids aren't as talented, and show that hard work pays off. Sometimes the coaches kids are "just another player" and the Dad just likes spending time with the kids. Sometimes the Dad coaches offense and his kid plays defense. Sometimes there are no Dad coaches on a team. Please don't ask for objectivity when you yourself offer none. No one I've experienced thinks their son is going to be a pro, they are doing the best they can, and I've heard Dads ream their own sons and handle your sons with kid gloves. Football is not a freeform game, it requires an iterative, painstakingly slow approach to develop fundamentals and come together as a team. My son tells me some kids would rather not run the ball, or be qb..as strange as that may seem to a parent.

Thank you for a very well written explanation of the game of football and the coaching perspective. Most kids that play football don't complain about much. The coaches should be applauded for their hard work and dedication.

[Unregistered]

"If you are totally being objective look at the number of sons of the coaches playing the skill positions on the football program at the younger levels. Ironic isn't it that many of these kids earn those coveted positions. What difference does it make who wins the 9 year old Pop Warner division" Funny, you ask to be objective, then you jump to a conclusion with no factual basis. Of course it makes a difference who wins. The kids care about winning..that is why they show up in the heat, and are willing to give up beach time and backyard games for a more organized sport. Most of the drills are competitive..relay races, offense versus defense, one against one..by design because the kids are competitive and like to test themselves. Even soccer kids where you don't keep score can tell you what the real score was. Sometimes the coaches kids are the "whipping boys" for the team, held to a higher standard and depended on to set a good example at practice. They come early, stay late, and pick up equipment. Sometimes the coaches kids aren't as talented, and show that hard work pays off. Sometimes the coaches kids are "just another player" and the Dad just likes spending time with the kids. Sometimes the Dad coaches offense and his kid plays defense. Sometimes there are no Dad coaches on a team. Please don't ask for objectivity when you yourself offer none. No one I've experienced thinks their son is going to be a pro, they are doing the best they can, and I've heard Dads ream their own sons and handle your sons with kid gloves. Football is not a freeform game, it requires an iterative, painstakingly slow approach to develop fundamentals and come together as a team. My son tells me some kids would rather not run the ball, or be qb..as strange as that may seem to a parent.
You are so right. Ever been the parent of the running back who is chosen because he is quick and has decent hands but depends on the others to block and tackle for him?
Winning may not be everything, but the ability to protect each other from being injured is.In football ,EACH PLAYER DEPENDS ON EACH OTHER.
To the previous poster who states he/she coached, you never coached a collision sport like football. There are many kids there for a variety of reasons: to have fun with their friends, to work hard and excel or because their parents are hoping they will like the game. The latter self select how much playing time they want on the practice field. Some kids don't like it, they don't want to be hit. There is nothing wrong with that. The coaches know who they are and believe me, there are several kids who worry about what happens " if they do get in."

[Unregistered]

"If you are totally being objective look at the number of sons of the coaches playing the skill positions on the football program at the younger levels. Ironic isn't it that many of these kids earn those coveted positions. What difference does it make who wins the 9 year old Pop Warner division" Funny, you ask to be objective, then you jump to a conclusion with no factual basis. Of course it makes a difference who wins. The kids care about winning..that is why they show up in the heat, and are willing to give up beach time and backyard games for a more organized sport. Most of the drills are competitive..relay races, offense versus defense, one against one..by design because the kids are competitive and like to test themselves. Even soccer kids where you don't keep score can tell you what the real score was. Sometimes the coaches kids are the "whipping boys" for the team, held to a higher standard and depended on to set a good example at practice. They come early, stay late, and pick up equipment. Sometimes the coaches kids aren't as talented, and show that hard work pays off. Sometimes the coaches kids are "just another player" and the Dad just likes spending time with the kids. Sometimes the Dad coaches offense and his kid plays defense. Sometimes there are no Dad coaches on a team. Please don't ask for objectivity when you yourself offer none. No one I've experienced thinks their son is going to be a pro, they are doing the best they can, and I've heard Dads ream their own sons and handle your sons with kid gloves. Football is not a freeform game, it requires an iterative, painstakingly slow approach to develop fundamentals and come together as a team. My son tells me some kids would rather not run the ball, or be qb..as strange as that may seem to a parent.

I can honestly say that my kid played,... because he wanted to play. The win is nice, but more than anything he wanted to play, to be involved, to participate. There is no glory in a win for a child who sat on the sidelines, or barely played, or has never been given a glimmer of hope that he would ever score a touchdown. It is actually demoralizing. That kid came out in the heat to. That kid gave up pool time and play time. That kid is no less commited,.. don't you think he would like to play... to have a chance at glory... to thump his chest with pride over a touchdown even in practice? Your drive and emotion comes through. I am sure you are a coach, and I thank you for your time and commitment to the kids.

But please remember that it really is about being a part[U] of the team. A [U]part of a win or loss. About feeling some personal pride for being involved. Kids want to test themselves and grow. They need to all be given the opportunity to do that. And parents rely on you to be certain that chance is given to all of the boys. You have chosen the leadership role. Without the chance, and your time, dedication, and skill being available to all of the boys, the poster who so upset you is actually correct.

Again, thanks for your time coaching. You are appreciated. It is just that every child wants a chance to learn and maybe someday shine. Every boy dreams about an end zone dance. They may never achieve that, but if they never get the chance to even hold the ball how will they grow? How will they learn if they never get any of your much covented time and attention. They all just want a chance. Parents are asking that you give it to them.

Most adults would rather see a team loose and everyone play, than win with boys on the side line. That is what the adults are suppossed to make youth sports about in the early years. It is about learning. Believe it or not, there are some pretty significant life lessons to be learned from this approach. Equity, valor, pride, team building, compassion, and maybe still winning. You never know if you do not let everyone try.

For the kids who don't want to run the ball, fine. But I am willing to bet there are a whole slew who have never been given the chance. And honestly, that is a coaches job in youth sports. I am not trying to offend you, and you obviously give a great deal of time... but you signed on, and part of the expectation is that evrybody gets a chance. These are very young kids. The adults in charge owe them that.

[Unregistered]

Obviously this is a hot-button topic, but as a parent of sons who have gone through the system, I realize that some of the criticisms are ill-founded if only because the parents have no understanding of the game and the rules. Take a look across the sideline some day. Some towns show up with 15 kids, and all the kids play both ways and have a grand time. Then look at the Walpole team, with 35 kids, all who have worked hard in practice and have visions of scoring the winning touchdown. It is physically impossible for all the kids to get the playing time they all deserve, especially in the "glamor" positions. Football is a game that requires 11 kids working together, and finding that combination is extremely difficult, especially while shuffling kids in and out on every play. In baseball, every kid dreams of hitting a home run, and they all get a chance. But even then, if the other pitcher can't throw a strike, you have no ability to get that hit. So too, if the linemen don't block, then no running back has a chance. Every kid is important, but not all can be the running back, nor the center in basketball, nor attackmen in lacrosse, nor pitcher in LL. No excuses, just facts..maybe if Adams farm had 2 more fields, Walpole could have more teams, meaning more playing time..as it stands now is hard for everyone, parents, players, and coaches.

[Unregistered]

"If you are totally being objective look at the number of sons of the coaches playing the skill positions on the football program at the younger levels. Ironic isn't it that many of these kids earn those coveted positions. What difference does it make who wins the 9 year old Pop Warner division" Funny, you ask to be objective, then you jump to a conclusion with no factual basis. Of course it makes a difference who wins. The kids care about winning..that is why they show up in the heat, and are willing to give up beach time and backyard games for a more organized sport. Most of the drills are competitive..relay races, offense versus defense, one against one..by design because the kids are competitive and like to test themselves. Even soccer kids where you don't keep score can tell you what the real score was. Sometimes the coaches kids are the "whipping boys" for the team, held to a higher standard and depended on to set a good example at practice. They come early, stay late, and pick up equipment. Sometimes the coaches kids aren't as talented, and show that hard work pays off. Sometimes the coaches kids are "just another player" and the Dad just likes spending time with the kids. Sometimes the Dad coaches offense and his kid plays defense. Sometimes there are no Dad coaches on a team. Please don't ask for objectivity when you yourself offer none. No one I've experienced thinks their son is going to be a pro, they are doing the best they can, and I've heard Dads ream their own sons and handle your sons with kid gloves. Football is not a freeform game, it requires an iterative, painstakingly slow approach to develop fundamentals and come together as a team. My son tells me some kids would rather not run the ball, or be qb..as strange as that may seem to a parent.

Do you really think it is correct to ream their own son and they should be the "whipping boy" in front of the other kids. That is probably the reason of frustration with the fireman quoted he watched practice see the the head coach screaming trying to audition for the Patriots coach. Maybe a good solution is for no one to coach their own kids move to another team/age group?

One of the major problems with youth sports is the belief these kids will be pros. Let them have fun

[Unregistered]

... nor attackmen in lacrosse...

Actually, that is not true. In youth lacrosse, every boy or girl is given the opportunity to play every position. The only position that I would never put a player in without asking them first is goalie, but if they want to try it, they get the chance (following some training and a chance to prove that they are able to protect themselves in that position).

In youth lacrosse, players are developed and improve by playing all positions. As the players progress through the program, their skills tend to develop in a direction that suits them for one or two positions. Some players are natural defense men, some players are natural middies, some players are natural attack men, and some are natural goalies. The boys recognize this, and some of them even ask to play a single position, but I still like to move them around a bit.

The point though is that in youth lacrosse we have that luxury. When I set up my lines before a game, I try to put all my boys in positions where they need work or want to try for one half, and then follow up with strength positions in the second half. That luxury doesn't exist in football because if you continually move the boys around, they forget how to run the plays and it all falls apart. BTDT. For better or worse, the coaches are forced into placing the boys into 1 or 2 positions and then running the plays over and over until they get it right, and believe me, it doesn't happen over night.

In the end, I'm not picking on you, I'm just pointing out a sore spot. I've had parents ask me why their boy hasn't been able to play enough attack because they see that as the scoring position, but the game is not just about scoring goals. That's ok, it is what it is; everyone wants to see their child smile and feel great after a game and I do whatever I can to make that happen.

Coach Ford, WYLL.

PS - if you would like to give your son or daughter a chance to play every position and feel great about playing a team sport, head over to Walpole Youth Lacrosse, registration is open for Spring 2010. We have programs for boys in grades 1 - 8 and girls in grades 3-8. AND... we'll even teach you how to coach the game, so long as you are able to provide a fun and safe experience for our Walpole youth athletes. http://wyll.walpolesports.org

:)

[Unregistered]

Obviously this is a hot-button topic, but as a parent of sons who have gone through the system, I realize that some of the criticisms are ill-founded if only because the parents have no understanding of the game and the rules. Take a look across the sideline some day. Some towns show up with 15 kids, and all the kids play both ways and have a grand time. Then look at the Walpole team, with 35 kids, all who have worked hard in practice and have visions of scoring the winning touchdown. It is physically impossible for all the kids to get the playing time they all deserve, especially in the "glamor" positions. Football is a game that requires 11 kids working together, and finding that combination is extremely difficult, especially while shuffling kids in and out on every play. In baseball, every kid dreams of hitting a home run, and they all get a chance. But even then, if the other pitcher can't throw a strike, you have no ability to get that hit. So too, if the linemen don't block, then no running back has a chance. Every kid is important, but not all can be the running back, nor the center in basketball, nor attackmen in lacrosse, nor pitcher in LL. No excuses, just facts..maybe if Adams farm had 2 more fields, Walpole could have more teams, meaning more playing time..as it stands now is hard for everyone, parents, players, and coaches.


You know... I think that is a heck of an idea!!! Fields at Adams Farm. More space,... more teams,... smaller squads,.... more play time. I really think that is a fabulous idea!!!

[Unregistered]

Actually, that is not true. In youth lacrosse, every boy or girl is given the opportunity to play every position. The only position that I would never put a player in without asking them first is goalie, but if they want to try it, they get the chance (following some training and a chance to prove that they are able to protect themselves in that position).

In youth lacrosse, players are developed and improve by playing all positions. As the players progress through the program, their skills tend to develop in a direction that suits them for one or two positions. Some players are natural defense men, some players are natural middies, some players are natural attack men, and some are natural goalies. The boys recognize this, and some of them even ask to play a single position, but I still like to move them around a bit.

The point though is that in youth lacrosse we have that luxury. When I set up my lines before a game, I try to put all my boys in positions where they need work or want to try for one half, and then follow up with strength positions in the second half. That luxury doesn't exist in football because if you continually move the boys around, they forget how to run the plays and it all falls apart. BTDT. For better or worse, the coaches are forced into placing the boys into 1 or 2 positions and then running the plays over and over until they get it right, and believe me, it doesn't happen over night.

In the end, I'm not picking on you, I'm just pointing out a sore spot. I've had parents ask me why their boy hasn't been able to play enough attack because they see that as the scoring position, but the game is not just about scoring goals. That's ok, it is what it is; everyone wants to see their child smile and feel great after a game and I do whatever I can to make that happen.

Coach Ford, WYLL.

PS - if you would like to give your son or daughter a chance to play every position and feel great about playing a team sport, head over to Walpole Youth Lacrosse, registration is open for Spring 2010. We have programs for boys in grades 1 - 8 and girls in grades 3-8. AND... we'll even teach you how to coach the game, so long as you are able to provide a fun and safe experience for our Walpole youth athletes. http://wyll.walpolesports.org


Walpole Youth Lacrosse
:)

Walpole Youth LAX is THE BEST youth sports program I have encounterred in Walpole. It is everything Coach Ford says, and more. The program works... it works for the kids, it works for the parents, and the coaches are simply outstanding. And on top of all that.... it is prducing some of the best LAX talent the highschool circuit has seen!

[Unregistered]

I can honestly say that my kid played,... because he wanted to play. The win is nice, but more than anything he wanted to play, to be involved, to participate. There is no glory in a win for a child who sat on the sidelines, or barely played, or has never been given a glimmer of hope that he would ever score a touchdown. It is actually demoralizing. That kid came out in the heat to. That kid gave up pool time and play time. That kid is no less commited,.. don't you think he would like to play... to have a chance at glory... to thump his chest with pride over a touchdown even in practice? Your drive and emotion comes through. I am sure you are a coach, and I thank you for your time and commitment to the kids.

But please remember that it really is about being a part[U] of the team. A [U]part of a win or loss. About feeling some personal pride for being involved. Kids want to test themselves and grow. They need to all be given the opportunity to do that. And parents rely on you to be certain that chance is given to all of the boys. You have chosen the leadership role. Without the chance, and your time, dedication, and skill being available to all of the boys, the poster who so upset you is actually correct.

Again, thanks for your time coaching. You are appreciated. It is just that every child wants a chance to learn and maybe someday shine. Every boy dreams about an end zone dance. They may never achieve that, but if they never get the chance to even hold the ball how will they grow? How will they learn if they never get any of your much covented time and attention. They all just want a chance. Parents are asking that you give it to them.

Most adults would rather see a team loose and everyone play, than win with boys on the side line. That is what the adults are suppossed to make youth sports about in the early years. It is about learning. Believe it or not, there are some pretty significant life lessons to be learned from this approach. Equity, valor, pride, team building, compassion, and maybe still winning. You never know if you do not let everyone try.

For the kids who don't want to run the ball, fine. But I am willing to bet there are a whole slew who have never been given the chance. And honestly, that is a coaches job in youth sports. I am not trying to offend you, and you obviously give a great deal of time... but you signed on, and part of the expectation is that evrybody gets a chance. These are very young kids. The adults in charge owe them that.

At the young level every kid should get a chance to play every position. I believe that the % of kids that do not want to touch the ball at all is relativly small. But every kid who is on the team wishes to play. All the kids should play an equal amount until the High School.

No one care about wins and losses at the younger levels including the kids.

[Unregistered]

Is that the "town team" rec lacrosse league, or the elite team that plays other town's elite teams? Do you really switch around positions on these elite teams? No! It is easier when you play in a league that expressly is designed not to keep standings in order to introduce the game to new players. But the elite team, that doesn't allow kids to play baseball in the same season, certainly keeps aware of the standings and ramps up the competitiveness. Not trying to argue, but compare the youth football to the FNL not the town teams..and some kids, like in lacrosse, are natural defensemen (linemen) or attackmen (backs), and migrate that way. You certainly don't put out a raw unskilled player for an important faceoff in the 4th quarter. Youth lacrosse is a fabulous program, but one that can easily and happily coexist with the youth football program, where the coaches are just as dedicated from my observations, and you must admit, 75% of the lax parents are new to the game and barely know the rules, but every football parent can clearly explain to the coach why he should be running Dungy's Tampa Cover 2 defense and some version of Brady's aerial attack.

[Unregistered]

Is that the "town team" rec lacrosse league, or the elite team that plays other town's elite teams? Do you really switch around positions on these elite teams? No! It is easier when you play in a league that expressly is designed not to keep standings in order to introduce the game to new players. But the elite team, that doesn't allow kids to play baseball in the same season, certainly keeps aware of the standings and ramps up the competitiveness. Not trying to argue, but compare the youth football to the FNL not the town teams..and some kids, like in lacrosse, are natural defensemen (linemen) or attackmen (backs), and migrate that way. You certainly don't put out a raw unskilled player for an important faceoff in the 4th quarter. Youth lacrosse is a fabulous program, but one that can easily and happily coexist with the youth football program, where the coaches are just as dedicated from my observations, and you must admit, 75% of the lax parents are new to the game and barely know the rules, but every football parent can clearly explain to the coach why he should be running Dungy's Tampa Cover 2 defense and some version of Brady's aerial attack.

The Lacrosse Coaches are very good about working with Little League and the Babe Ruth as far as playing both sports.

[Unregistered]

Is that the "town team" rec lacrosse league, or the elite team that plays other town's elite teams? Do you really switch around positions on these elite teams? No! It is easier when you play in a league that expressly is designed not to keep standings in order to introduce the game to new players. But the elite team, that doesn't allow kids to play baseball in the same season, certainly keeps aware of the standings and ramps up the competitiveness. Not trying to argue, but compare the youth football to the FNL not the town teams..and some kids, like in lacrosse, are natural defensemen (linemen) or attackmen (backs), and migrate that way. You certainly don't put out a raw unskilled player for an important faceoff in the 4th quarter. Youth lacrosse is a fabulous program, but one that can easily and happily coexist with the youth football program, where the coaches are just as dedicated from my observations, and you must admit, 75% of the lax parents are new to the game and barely know the rules, but every football parent can clearly explain to the coach why he should be running Dungy's Tampa Cover 2 defense and some version of Brady's aerial attack.

No argument. You cannot argue with success. WYL plays other towns. It is very competitive, but the teams are small and every kid plays alot. And they do play every position. I have a kid who participates. I have NEVER heard a parent complaint. NEVER. It is really becoming common discussion among parents that this is the best program in town. There is a buzz. Clearly they have it right.

There is no reason other sports can not try to take something from this approach, unless the adults involved are not interested. Fundraising and building support for youth sports programs is all made easier when the parents are happy with the programs. Just something to consider.

Lets all of us adults come together for the kids. I think we really all have the same "goal" in mind, let's just try to build a better road-way. I think we will get a lot further.

[Unregistered]

Not if you want to play for the elite teams!

[Unregistered]

Yes, lacrosse is a wonderful program, and a freeform sport that allows the kids to play multiple positions and the team numbers are kept low to ensure plaenty of playing time, making the kids and parents happy. But don't be fooled, the coaches all have their favorite kids, and if Johnny is going to miss the game for a baseball game, the same core of kids get the secret call from the coaches to fill in for another team. Some kids play 2x as many games as other kids, not because the other kids are less willing, just because all the coaches call their own pet kids to fill in. I've seen a regular member of a team that attends all the practices get less playing time than a fill-in kid who has already played a game that day for his own team. All the youth programs try their best, but all are somewhat politicized. Let's not let the lacrosse folks portray a holier-than-thou attitude about their sport, it too will experience growing pains, and struggle with how to retain the skilled kids playing with the recreational kids, when NESLL and MA ELITE offer a more competitive alternative. Some might say the league design of "striving for medicrity" where teams are drawn up to all be equally skilled will eventually implode on itself.

[Unregistered]

Is that the "town team" rec lacrosse league, or the elite team that plays other town's elite teams? Do you really switch around positions on these elite teams? No! It is easier when you play in a league that expressly is designed not to keep standings in order to introduce the game to new players. But the elite team, that doesn't allow kids to play baseball in the same season, certainly keeps aware of the standings and ramps up the competitiveness. Not trying to argue, but compare the youth football to the FNL not the town teams..and some kids, like in lacrosse, are natural defensemen (linemen) or attackmen (backs), and migrate that way. You certainly don't put out a raw unskilled player for an important faceoff in the 4th quarter. Youth lacrosse is a fabulous program, but one that can easily and happily coexist with the youth football program, where the coaches are just as dedicated from my observations, and you must admit, 75% of the lax parents are new to the game and barely know the rules, but every football parent can clearly explain to the coach why he should be running Dungy's Tampa Cover 2 defense and some version of Brady's aerial attack.

I was speaking about the town teams and not the Friday Night Lights program which is a competitive, supplemental, league for boys in the U13 and U15 levels. In the FNL league, boys are played to their strengths and those strengths suit themselves to 1 or 2 positions. A stipulation of playing in FNL is that each player must also commit to their town team, however, the town team is fine with a 50% commitment to share among other sports. And let's be clear, the town teams are considered instructional teams and to that end we strive to have each player learn to play the game at every position.

In FNL, we may not move the boys around to other position on a regular basis, but we do ask the boys to play other positions occasionally. That's no secret, and it's done to ensure a win where winning is important and standings are kept.

The football program does not have a 2 tier league set up that we enjoy in lacrosse. If there is support in the town for a strictly instructional league, then by all means, start one up. I'll even build you a website for it if you want one; but your point is taken, the football program, especially this year with the introduction of the Baystate Conference Playoffs/Superbowl, is more akin to a competitive league.

The point of my earlier post was to correct a statement concerning Walpole lacrosse and the availability of the attack position. Based on your reply, I would assume that you are a fellow coach or know the league intimately, and I would assume then that you understand where I'm coming from; the competitive leagues (FNL, NESLL, Mass Elite, Jr Minutemen, etc) have their place and I'm happy to be able to be part of some of them, but I'm also very proud of the WYLL instructional league and what it provides to the boys and girls of Walpole.

Coach Ford, WYLL

[Unregistered]

Yes, lacrosse is a wonderful program, and a freeform sport that allows the kids to play multiple positions and the team numbers are kept low to ensure plaenty of playing time, making the kids and parents happy. But don't be fooled, the coaches all have their favorite kids, and if Johnny is going to miss the game for a baseball game, the same core of kids get the secret call from the coaches to fill in for another team. Some kids play 2x as many games as other kids, not because the other kids are less willing, just because all the coaches call their own pet kids to fill in. I've seen a regular member of a team that attends all the practices get less playing time than a fill-in kid who has already played a game that day for his own team. All the youth programs try their best, but all are somewhat politicized. Let's not let the lacrosse folks portray a holier-than-thou attitude about their sport, it too will experience growing pains, and struggle with how to retain the skilled kids playing with the recreational kids, when NESLL and MA ELITE offer a more competitive alternative. Some might say the league design of "striving for medicrity" where teams are drawn up to all be equally skilled will eventually implode on itself.

The WYLL is a member of the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League which mandates equal/balanced teams for the purposes of equal/balanced games. The WYLL has very strict rules around the creation of a team and advocates for a blind draft choice of players per team. Without getting into the nitty gritty of it all, this system has been in place for quite some time and it has fostered incredible growth of the sport of lacrosse in Walpole. There is no sign of an implosion and in fact we expect the growth to continue based on registration trends over the past 5 years.

For those boys and girls who are interested in a more competitive game of lacrosse, our own FNL, NESLL, Mass Elite, etc., programs are there to provide an enhanced game with great emphasis on skill, commitment, dedication, and talent.

The select leagues are great, however, they are not meant to provide the instructional services of MBYLL member towns. There is no danger here of losing kids to the select leagues to the point of damaging the WYLL program.

As far as, filling in a roster, coordinators at each level are instructed to keep lists of children who are used as fill ins and to be sure that the same core set of children are not used over and over. Further, on the boys side, rosters can only be filled in with non-team members to a total number of 16 boys per team. The fill in players are also not meant to be able to swing a game in any direction.

There is no "secret call". I, personally, have in the past made calls to families that I know are committed to the game and would bring their boys at a drop of hat because of last second scheduling problems, but in general everything is handle via email to entire levels or teams.

If you do have complaints about the WYLL program, I would love to discuss them with you because we strive to improve the program every single year. Please contact me at wyll.webmaster@walpolesports.org. All conversations regarding the program will be kept confidential and all suggestions will be given their appropriate attention.

Coach Ford, WYLL

[Unregistered]

Yes, lacrosse is a wonderful program, and a freeform sport that allows the kids to play multiple positions and the team numbers are kept low to ensure plaenty of playing time, making the kids and parents happy. But don't be fooled, the coaches all have their favorite kids, and if Johnny is going to miss the game for a baseball game, the same core of kids get the secret call from the coaches to fill in for another team. Some kids play 2x as many games as other kids, not because the other kids are less willing, just because all the coaches call their own pet kids to fill in. I've seen a regular member of a team that attends all the practices get less playing time than a fill-in kid who has already played a game that day for his own team. All the youth programs try their best, but all are somewhat politicized. Let's not let the lacrosse folks portray a holier-than-thou attitude about their sport, it too will experience growing pains, and struggle with how to retain the skilled kids playing with the recreational kids, when NESLL and MA ELITE offer a more competitive alternative. Some might say the league design of "striving for medicrity" where teams are drawn up to all be equally skilled will eventually implode on itself.

I am suprised by the negativism of this response.... The fact of the matter is that you just don't hear complaints about LAX. Parents all rave about it. Other sports cannot say the same. Don't knock LAX because they are creating so much positive response. It seems like you cannot wait to see them "implode". That is to bad. Instead of focussing on what you think will eventually become a problem for LAX, why not just look at all that is good and see if there are any take-aways? It doesn't make you any less of a person. In fact, I would say it makes you the bigger person.

They are really trying to do something right. They have succeeded. The bigger thing to do would be congratulate them.

By the way,... competitive teams can loose one game once in a while and they do not need to romp their opponents. Recognizing this may be one way to allow for a bit more playtime shared among the teammates. And who knows.... if you let everyone get decent play time you may STILLL romp the other guys. You never know if you never give it a try.

Its about the kids. And lots of them quit because they don't get a chance.... and those kids may be the lost stars who develope later,.... making Walpole teams more competitive in the older age brakets... where winning is what its suppossed to be about.


PS. Kids filling in on other teams is not the same as the kids who are on a team not getting a chance to play.

[Unregistered]

Yes, lacrosse is a wonderful program, and a freeform sport that allows the kids to play multiple positions and the team numbers are kept low to ensure plaenty of playing time, making the kids and parents happy. But don't be fooled, the coaches all have their favorite kids, and if Johnny is going to miss the game for a baseball game, the same core of kids get the secret call from the coaches to fill in for another team. Some kids play 2x as many games as other kids, not because the other kids are less willing, just because all the coaches call their own pet kids to fill in. I've seen a regular member of a team that attends all the practices get less playing time than a fill-in kid who has already played a game that day for his own team. All the youth programs try their best, but all are somewhat politicized. Let's not let the lacrosse folks portray a holier-than-thou attitude about their sport, it too will experience growing pains, and struggle with how to retain the skilled kids playing with the recreational kids, when NESLL and MA ELITE offer a more competitive alternative. Some might say the league design of "striving for medicrity" where teams are drawn up to all be equally skilled will eventually implode on itself.

AMEN! ... is all I have to say to WYLL! They ARE "holier-than-thou" as far as I am concerned! Keep it up Coach Ford!!

[Unregistered]

The WYLL is a member of the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League which mandates equal/balanced teams for the purposes of equal/balanced games. The WYLL has very strict rules around the creation of a team and advocates for a blind draft choice of players per team. Without getting into the nitty gritty of it all, this system has been in place for quite some time and it has fostered incredible growth of the sport of lacrosse in Walpole. There is no sign of an implosion and in fact we expect the growth to continue based on registration trends over the past 5 years.

For those boys and girls who are interested in a more competitive game of lacrosse, our own FNL, NESLL, Mass Elite, etc., programs are there to provide an enhanced game with great emphasis on skill, commitment, dedication, and talent.

The select leagues are great, however, they are not meant to provide the instructional services of MBYLL member towns. There is no danger here of losing kids to the select leagues to the point of damaging the WYLL program.

As far as, filling in a roster, coordinators at each level are instructed to keep lists of children who are used as fill ins and to be sure that the same core set of children are not used over and over. Further, on the boys side, rosters can only be filled in with non-team members to a total number of 16 boys per team. The fill in players are also not meant to be able to swing a game in any direction.

There is no "secret call". I, personally, have in the past made calls to families that I know are committed to the game and would bring their boys at a drop of hat because of last second scheduling problems, but in general everything is handle via email to entire levels or teams.

If you do have complaints about the WYLL program, I would love to discuss them with you because we strive to improve the program every single year. Please contact me at wyll.webmaster@walpolesports.org. All conversations regarding the program will be kept confidential and all suggestions will be given their appropriate attention.

Coach Ford, WYLL

Very impressive Coach Ford! Well said, in a positive tone, fact based, and encouraging feedback in a non-confrentational manner. I guess there is a reason that WYLL is the talk of the town. Your leadership skills, sincerity, and clear focus on youth sports as we once all knew it shows. I am certain this permeates the league.

I gues it just goes to show that "If you build it,... they will come"!

Thank you for all that you and the WYLL coaches do!

[Unregistered]

And the truth lies somewhere in-between! If you want to play "competitive" lacrosse (FNL) you cannot play baseball in-season. There are tryouts, and kids are cut, and there is not equal playing time..much like travel soccer, basketball, etc.

[Unregistered]

Very impressive Coach Ford! Well said, in a positive tone, fact based, and encouraging feedback in a non-confrentational manner. I guess there is a reason that WYLL is the talk of the town. Your leadership skills, sincerity, and clear focus on youth sports as we once all knew it shows. I am certain this permeates the league.

I guess it just goes to show that "If you build it,... they will come"!

Thank you for all that you and the WYLL coaches do!

I agree the other programs (football) in Walpole could take a lesson in sportsmanship and class from the Lacrosse program.

Why do they yell so much? Parcells wannabe Who are they trying to impress?

[Unregistered]

The ignorance of these comments know no bounds. People are comparing an instructional league with a competitive league. Town LL, rec basketball, instructional soccer, softball, WYouth Lacrosse, and many other sports all offer equal playing time and mixing and matching positions for skill development. Walpole's Elite lacrosse league is run more like another sport's travel team, where kids "migrate" to the most suitable position, as determined by the coach, just like in travel soccer, Williamsport LL, travel team basketball and youth football. Walpole Youth lacrosse will have to cut kids from their FNL teams..they hold try outs and require 100% committment. It is disingenuous for Mr. Ford's fans to compare the developmental league with youth football. The rec department offers a flag football league for young kids where everyone plays every position as well. Youth football coaches are forced to mold a team out of too many kids, half of which don't come to practice as consistently as they should. It is hard to develop the teamwork and timing with some of these part-time players, but they are all guaranteed playing time every game. Furthermore, the cross-coaching community is rather large, so either these volunteers know how to coach, then don't, or some of these comments are misplaced. All the sports do the best they can with the situations they are faced with. They are all volunteers. Anonymous sniping doesn't help.

[Unregistered]

It is interesting with all that is going on in the world that these blogs are dedicated to bashing anyone and everyone associated with the game of football. There are now two forums devoted to that.
My sons have come through the walpole sports programs including youth football and lacrosse.
coaches for both sports are tremendous. It is weird, if nothing else, to start comparing the two. I don't know Coach Ford, but I do know many others involved in both programs.
All great guys.
To Coach Ford,
the Youth Lacrosse Program is great. However, so aren'the other youth programs. You seem very dedicated, so isn't everyone else.
don't kid yourself, however, around Lacrosse. Your " Friday Nght Lights" program can impact many youth athletes and make them feel marginalized as an athlete. While everyone may play the regular games, your program is teeing up the kids for the high school team. Do you really think any different?
sort of like the Varsity Farm team.
In football, there are many kids who had moderate play at theyouth level, not great super stars and then came into themselves in high school and became starters.

[Unregistered]

I agree the other programs (football) in Walpole could take a lesson in sportsmanship and class from the Lacrosse program.

Why do they yell so much? Parcells wannabe Who are they trying to impress?

My son plays football and loves it. He is a good student but football gives him another kind of confidence. I appreciate all the time and effort and respect the coaches have shown him over the years. They might yell a little, but it is usually out of enthusiam.

[Unregistered]

To Coach Ford,
the Youth Lacrosse Program is great. However, so aren'the other youth programs. You seem very dedicated, so isn't everyone else.
don't kid yourself, however, around Lacrosse. Your " Friday Nght Lights" program can impact many youth athletes and make them feel marginalized as an athlete. While everyone may play the regular games, your program is teeing up the kids for the high school team. Do you really think any different?
sort of like the Varsity Farm team.
In football, there are many kids who had moderate play at theyouth level, not great super stars and then came into themselves in high school and became starters.

I think you may be attributing others' comments to me. I certainly have not written anything to suggest that I believe lacrosse coaches are better than other programs' coaches, nor have I written anything to suggest that the lacrosse program is better than other programs in town. I simply wanted to correct an incorrect statement regarding the availability of the attack position to lacrosse players.

The FNL program is a supplemental program which works in parallel to our WYLL program. The program is not meant to marginalize any player, instead we use it as a means to allow those players who are dedicated to the sport another avenue to play the game of lacrosse. We've found that the FNL program provides another flavor of select teams because we offer a local alternative whereas the other select programs in the area are regionalized. The boys really enjoy playing competitively as a Walpole team and the parents are happy to not have to drive all over God's creation to make it to a game.

I'm not sure I understand your question concerning "teeing up the kids for the high school team". Can you restate that?

I agree with you that youth athletes change from year to year, we see it all the time. Between growth spurts, off season dedication to skill building, or any number of factors, the players change and grow. It's a great thing to watch and to be a part of; I can't tell you how satisfying it is to see a player excel at something with which they previously struggled.

Coach Ford, WYLL

[Unregistered]

And the truth lies somewhere in-between! If you want to play "competitive" lacrosse (FNL) you cannot play baseball in-season. There are tryouts, and kids are cut, and there is not equal playing time..much like travel soccer, basketball, etc.

Actually, that is not completely true. We have not yet had to hold tryouts for the FNL program, nor have we cut anyone from the program. However, that situation may be true in the future if the popularity of the program continues to grow.

You are correct in that there is not equal playing time.

To the best of my knowledge, we had 1 baseball player on our U13 FNL team last season. I believe the player and his family decided on their own to commit to the FNL team over his baseball team. I'm not privy to what sort of conflicts that may have created, but I don't recall that the boy missed any FNL practices or games.

[Unregistered]

http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/sports/x1991354279/Izzo-picks-UMass-for-lacrosse

Sounds like Izzo made a smart decision. I'm making a guess here, but he figured out that his chances of injury (life-long injury) playing football are greater than playing lacrosse. How many ex-WHS football players do you know that have a life-long injury? I can think of at least 10. Most common injury that nags them into old age: Knees, followed by shoulders.

[Unregistered]

Rather ironic, then, that Izzo is in danger of missing a portion of his senior, and by his plans, last year of football, due to an injury suffered on the lacrosse field, no? One that he surely will still remember when combing his hair at age 50? Hope he finds success at whatever endeavor he chooses to pursue, but a 1/3 scholarship @ instate tuition levels to UMASS may seem exciting, but purely from economic perspective, his talents might find a better offer as the year goes on.

[Unregistered]

http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/sports/x1991354279/Izzo-picks-UMass-for-lacrosse

Sounds like Izzo made a smart decision. I'm making a guess here, but he figured out that his chances of injury (life-long injury) playing football are greater than playing lacrosse. How many ex-WHS football players do you know that have a life-long injury? I can think of at least 10. Most common injury that nags them into old age: Knees, followed by shoulders.

Let's face it . Although he is the best running back WHS has ever had, and hopefully by the end of this season, he'll hold some state records, the fact is he is just too small to play major college football (D-1). Doesn't matter how strong and fast he is, he just doesn't seem to have the frame to play at that level. But who cares, we have him for this final magic season, and we wish him and all the other players the best of luck and good health throughout the season. O-Line, get Ryan those records!!

[Unregistered]

In the Herald on 9/03/09 that Ryan has committed to Umass
to play lacrosse

[Unregistered]

In the Herald on 9/03/09 that Ryan has committed to Umass
to play lacrosse

Great news for Umass!!

[Unregistered]

There is major construction on a new field at Fisher Street School currently going on. Who is funding this? Who gets to use this new playing field? Recess?

[Unregistered]

There is major construction on a new field at Fisher Street School currently going on. Who is funding this? Who gets to use this new playing field? Recess?

Where is the Intersection of Fisher and School?

[Unregistered]

Fisher School

Town Funds...Everyone in town will get to use it...It will be nice...Im sure the kiddos at school will use it on break time, im sure there are no football or soccer games going on during school time..you sound so negative....

[Unregistered]

I think Adams Farm would work for the carnival.

The idea of ballfields on Adams Farm is a waste of time. Passive recreation is all thats allowed there.

[Unregistered]

The idea of ballfields on Adams Farm is a waste of time. Passive recreation is all thats allowed there.

That's all that some want to allow there. More can be allowed to occur and should.

If not then perhaps we don't need it at all. we cold sell all or a part of Adams farm to fund other needs of the town.

[Guest]

I applaud Bobby Conrad for all that he is doing to improve the quality, the look and the uses for Stone Field. I saw Bobby down on Stone Field on Friday working with a number of crews. Its exciting to see and the idea that our kids will not have to practice football this fall on a stone and trash riddled dust bowl-of-a-field is great.

However, I was shocked and disappointed to see dozens of Canadian Geese on the field on Saturday afternoon!!! I haven't seen a goose there in months! Perhaps whatever was put down on Friday was appealing to the geese (maybe add a little arsenic and solve all of our problems!).

I was tempted to bring my dog down to Stone field and let her chase the dirty birds away, but wasn't sure what the reception would be by the Walpole townfolk. There is a lot on the news these days about dogs for hire to keep these beasts off of golf courses and town parks... I'd volunteer my dog, no fee necessary. Anybody else want to join??!

In any event, thank you Bobby, from the folks here in Walpole for what you are trying to accomplish on Stone Field... your efforts are so appreciated!!!!

[Unregistered]

I noticed the lack of geese down there lately too, and thought maybe the fake coyotes that were out there were helping. But then the other day I saw the same thing, and they were all gathered around the coyote. Are geese smart enough to think, "Hey, those things haven't moved in 3 weeks, someone is messing with us". Good to see the amount of work going into the field. Hopefully they'll come up with a permanent plan for the geese.

[Unregistered]

As much as I dislike the Canada Geese, (BTW, they are not Canadian) They are still considered migratory birds, even though they no longer migrate. They are a protected disgusting goose that fowels the grass and waterways.
Here's something to think of; "owners of unlicensed dogs or dogs running loose are subject to a fine" this is from the town web site. The laws state that dogs are not allowed to chase any wildlife, that includes dirty geese, racoons, rabbits and so on. I'd like to have my dogs chase the geese too, but I'm not willing to pay a fine. There are ways to get rid of geese but it needs to be done humanely. If the dogs chase them away, they will return when the dog has left the area. I suggest that you bring this up with the new animal control officer and avoid being fined. I know that your heart is in the right place, avoid the fine, Dogs are not allowed off leash anywhere in town, that's called a leash law.

[Unregistered]

I'd be curious to see what the new ACO has to say about this. I only know of Mark from growing up with his brother, but he does run a pest control business, so maybe he has some good ideas. I don't know whose idea the fake coyotes were. That may very well have been him. I'm sure there is something that can be done, though unfortunately I'm sure it's not cheap, and that's probably not exactly a priority.

[Unregistered]

I know that your heart is in the right place, avoid the fine, Dogs are not allowed off leash anywhere in town, that's called a leash law.

Thank you for the lesson in responsible dog ownership... I had been completely confused about what a leash law was until now.

It still disturbs me that these dirty birds are more protected than our children who will be practicing football on this field (which my taxes pay for) in a few weeks.

[Unregistered]

I'd be curious to see what the new ACO has to say about this. I only know of Mark from growing up with his brother, but he does run a pest control business, so maybe he has some good ideas. I don't know whose idea the fake coyotes were. That may very well have been him. I'm sure there is something that can be done, though unfortunately I'm sure it's not cheap, and that's probably not exactly a priority.

You need a comprehienseive approach to geese management such as fencing, border collies, movement, addlling and nest removal. That is why I am so surprised that more money was spent on this field without addressing the geese problem.

[Unregistered]

The geese in town are a nusance just like in other towns. They really leave a mess behind. I did a little research on the Canada Geese and on average, they poop 1 pound per day. A few years back we counted over 150 geese at Bird Park. Some barrirers were installed around both Willow Pond and Frog Pond. It hinders their access to the water with their gosslings which seemed to cause them to move elsewhere. They went to the Common, Stone Field and the Aggie School to make their messes. There is a birth control that has been used successfully in other towns and I don't know what the cost is. I remember a few years back walking into Bird Park from the Washington St. entrance and a lady commented on the walkway being covered with poop. She thought it was from careless dog owner's.
I explained the color difference to her. There are fewer geese in the park, but where they congregate is always a mess and I would guess a bit of a health risk. I keep my dogs away from those areas. I think that the geese are just something that we have to learn to deal with, as messy as it is.

[Unregistered]

Thank you for the lesson in responsible dog ownership... I had been completely confused about what a leash law was until now.

It still disturbs me that these dirty birds are more protected than our children who will be practicing football on this field (which my taxes pay for) in a few weeks.

then keep little jimmy off the field if you feel so strongly about it, why would you ever put YOUR child at risk.

[Unregistered]

then keep little jimmy off the field if you feel so strongly about it, why would you ever put YOUR child at risk.

So then you believe the geese are more important than the children? The geese have more right to the field than Walpole children. Brilliant.

Look.... just go down to the field at night and shoot them. Use BB guns, they're quiet. No one has to know. Give the new animal control officer something to do, he can fill the back of that pretty truck with dead geese.

If that's not accepted, give each youth football player a bat and for every dead goose turned in, you get $10 taken off of your player fees. The families save some money, the kids get into shape for the season by running around chasing geese. It's a win-win.

Extending that theory, give each driver a rebate on their town taxes if they turn in a dead goose run over when the stupid things cross the street in front of town hall. $10 for an adult goose, $20 for a gosling . Charge a fee for every minivan full of children that stops to watch and wave at the geese crossing the street; use the money to pay for the dead ones turned in. We can also sell little geese stickers to put on the fenders of cars, one sticker for every goose taken down. We'll have cars in Walpole looking like World War II fighter planes. I will personally congratulate the first Goose Ace in town with a car wash by hand.

While I'm on a roll, let's rename the high school team the Walpole Goose Killers. I bet Joe will replace the Confederate Flag with a statue of a Canadian Goose that the kids can throw rocks at before each game and practice. Colonel Reb will be modified to be shown with one foot on a dead goose.

For you animal lovers, you can work towards declaring Adams Farm a Canadian Goose refuge. Good luck.

[Unregistered]

then keep little jimmy off the field if you feel so strongly about it, why would you ever put YOUR child at risk.

Jeeze, you sound like an angry person who hates kids. It is a playing field where town sports are held. I don't think it is unreasonable for parents to want it sanitary. It may not be something you care about, but I bet there are things of interest to you that the poster you mocked would not belittle.

[Unregistered]

That was so darn funny. It sounds like you must belong to P.E.T.A. "People Eating Tasty Animals". I think that your ideas are a bit barbaric but wickedly funny. See if you can make this suggestion in the Walpole Times. Still, LOL.

[Unregistered]

So then you believe the geese are more important than the children? The geese have more right to the field than Walpole children. Brilliant.

Look.... just go down to the field at night and shoot them. Use BB guns, they're quiet. No one has to know. Give the new animal control officer something to do, he can fill the back of that pretty truck with dead geese.

If that's not accepted, give each youth football player a bat and for every dead goose turned in, you get $10 taken off of your player fees. The families save some money, the kids get into shape for the season by running around chasing geese. It's a win-win.

Extending that theory, give each driver a rebate on their town taxes if they turn in a dead goose run over when the stupid things cross the street in front of town hall. $10 for an adult goose, $20 for a gosling . Charge a fee for every minivan full of children that stops to watch and wave at the geese crossing the street; use the money to pay for the dead ones turned in. We can also sell little geese stickers to put on the fenders of cars, one sticker for every goose taken down. We'll have cars in Walpole looking like World War II fighter planes. I will personally congratulate the first Goose Ace in town with a car wash by hand.

While I'm on a roll, let's rename the high school team the Walpole Goose Killers. I bet Joe will replace the Confederate Flag with a statue of a Canadian Goose that the kids can throw rocks at before each game and practice. Colonel Reb will be modified to be shown with one foot on a dead goose.

For you animal lovers, you can work towards declaring Adams Farm a Canadian Goose refuge. Good luck.

Outstanding! I love it!!!

So jbage, you think that the solution is to keep my child (not named Jimmy) off the field so that the geese can defile the field without incident? How about instead, I keep my child off your lawn and we bring the geese to your yard where they can live in peace and quiet and harmony and goose poop... you can be one with the geese.

[Unregistered]

So then you believe the geese are more important than the children? The geese have more right to the field than Walpole children. Brilliant.


Umm, no he/she didn't say that. Nobody would say that. The point is if you're concerned about your child's safety on that field, you shouldn't let your child on that field.

Of course, you're not really concerned about your child's safety on that field because you're letting him play there. You just wanted to tell everyone your taxes pay for that field.

[Unregistered]

umm, no he/she didn't say that. Nobody would say that. The point is if you're concerned about your child's safety on that field, you shouldn't let your child on that field.

Of course, you're not really concerned about your child's safety on that field because you're letting him play there. You just wanted to tell everyone your taxes pay for that field.

thank you !!!!!!!!!!

[Unregistered]

Umm, no he/she didn't say that. Nobody would say that. The point is if you're concerned about your child's safety on that field, you shouldn't let your child on that field.

Of course, you're not really concerned about your child's safety on that field because you're letting him play there. You just wanted to tell everyone your taxes pay for that field.

Actually, he/she did say that. And now you're saying it, too.

By disallowing children on that field due to goose droppings, but allowing geese on that field to provide the goose droppings, you are blatantly setting priority. Geese > children.

Shall we charge you now for your viewing/waving privileges in front of town hall? Please send your $10 check to:

Walpole Goose Hunt 2010
P.O.Box 222
Walpole, MA 02081

You will receive, in the mail, a reservation for your viewing opportunity in front of town hall. Conveniently, we are also accepting reservations for "drive thru" opportunities at the same time; time to get your tax rebates and clean up the town!

[Unregistered]

Umm, no he/she didn't say that. Nobody would say that. The point is if you're concerned about your child's safety on that field, you shouldn't let your child on that field.

Of course, you're not really concerned about your child's safety on that field because you're letting him play there. You just wanted to tell everyone your taxes pay for that field.

No, s/he didn't "say" that, but s/he absolutely inferred that if I don't like my kids playing on a field with goose poop, the ONLY solution is "don't let Jimmy play on the field".

Why isn't the solution to get the geese off the field permanently so that the children can play on a less toxic field?

Your logic makes absolutely no sense... you are giving the geese priority and far more consideration than anybody who wants to use that field for recreational purposes (baseball in the spring, football and recreation soccer in the fall, fireworks in July, etc.).

[Unregistered]

Actually, he/she did say that. And now you're saying it, too.

By disallowing children on that field due to goose droppings, but allowing geese on that field to provide the goose droppings, you are blatantly setting priority. Geese > children.



Well sure, if you're a simpleton you can look at it that way. The fact that there are other fields and other activities your child could participate in is apparently irrelevant. Maybe the priority should be to let you and your kid use whatever piece of grass in town you want, whenever you want to. After all, when there are games scheduled then someone is daring to set priority for permit holders over your kid and that's just plain wrong!

[Unregistered]

Well sure, if you're a simpleton you can look at it that way. The fact that there are other fields and other activities your child could participate in is apparently irrelevant. Maybe the priority should be to let you and your kid use whatever piece of grass in town you want, whenever you want to. After all, when there are games scheduled then someone is daring to set priority for permit holders over your kid and that's just plain wrong!

It's glaringly clear that you have no idea what you're talking about. Stone Field is a field that is used for activities and is managed by Walpole Rec for scheduling purposes. The field is used for multiple sports and it currently has a goose problem.

Removing the children from the field (youth football, rec soccer, hs lax, etc.) due to the goose problem is surrendering the field to the geese.

I don't quite understand the "my kids, any field, any time" comment, and I don't believe you do either. The fields around town are generally maxed out and the scheduling of the fields is a nightmare job that Josh Cole manages to pull off year after year. Removing Stone Field from the mix is not really an option.

So in the end, taking potshots at Walpole children and their activities are not very helpful. Killing geese on the other hand, would be a huge help. I suggest you pick up a bat or a BB gun and get to work. You'd only be helping Walpole kids.

[Unregistered]

No, s/he didn't "say" that, but s/he absolutely inferred that if I don't like my kids playing on a field with goose poop, the ONLY solution is "don't let Jimmy play on the field".

Why isn't the solution to get the geese off the field permanently so that the children can play on a less toxic field?

Your logic makes absolutely no sense... you are giving the geese priority and far more consideration than anybody who wants to use that field for recreational purposes (baseball in the spring, football and recreation soccer in the fall, fireworks in July, etc.).

You can capitalize the word only if you want, but I don't think anyone is saying that it's a permanent solution. The point is simple. There's a problem with geese. Anyone can see that. If it's such a big problem for you that you think your child's health is in jeopardy, until that problem is solved, keep your kid away from the field.

See? You can't just snap your fingers overnight and solve the problem at the field level. Geese are major problems to communities, golf courses, etc. all around the area and it's not a quick fix. So nobody's saying the geese are more important than your kid. Settle down. If you don't want your kid to be subject to the goose droppings until the problem is solved, keep them off the field. For now, yes, the ONLY way to keep your kid from getting covered in goose crap on Stone Field is to not bring your kid to Stone Field. It's not ideal, and it's not going to be permanent, but unfortunately life doesn't work at whatever whims you decide it needs to.

[Unregistered]

It's glaringly clear that you have no idea what you're talking about. Stone Field is a field that is used for activities and is managed by Walpole Rec for scheduling purposes. The field is used for multiple sports and it currently has a goose problem.

Removing the children from the field (youth football, rec soccer, hs lax, etc.) due to the goose problem is surrendering the field to the geese.

I don't quite understand the "my kids, any field, any time" comment, and I don't believe you do either. The fields around town are generally maxed out and the scheduling of the fields is a nightmare job that Josh Cole manages to pull off year after year. Removing Stone Field from the mix is not really an option.

So in the end, taking potshots at Walpole children and their activities are not very helpful. Killing geese on the other hand, would be a huge help. I suggest you pick up a bat or a BB gun and get to work. You'd only be helping Walpole kids.

I know Josh and the work he does and I'm quite aware of how the town's various programs operate. But thanks for the lesson in any event.

My initial response was to someone stating that people (and apparently the town) are saying that the geese are more important than the children of Walpole. That's clearly an antagonistic and inaccurate viewpoint to take.

It's a problem. It has to be dealt with. Everyone knows it. Inferring that the town or other posters are child-haters or whatever because they dare to infer that you step back and move away from the situation for a bit until it was resolved is pretty foolish.

Think of it another way. If there were a pack of coyotes roaming Bird Park and the town and the trust were trying to figure out how to corral them, would you go for a walk there at night with your young children or would you avoid the area until something was done to alleviate the problem. Or would you still be screaming "the town is saying coyotes are more important than my children!!!"

[Unregistered]

If there were a pack of coyotes in Bird Park would you walk your child there at night?
Of course not! Because Bird Park is open dawn to dusk, not at night. Night time at Bird Park recently has been for underage drinking and kids hanging out.
Now back to the geese issue, in the past few weeks you may have seen fewer geese because this time of year they are moulting. So you may be seeing a lot of goose feathers on the ground. They sort of go into hiding but they'll be back in full force. Watch where you step everywhere around town.
Sorry, but I have no solution to this problem. Be well, my goose hating friends.

[Unregistered]

Well sure, if you're a simpleton you can look at it that way. The fact that there are other fields and other activities your child could participate in is apparently irrelevant. Maybe the priority should be to let you and your kid use whatever piece of grass in town you want, whenever you want to. After all, when there are games scheduled then someone is daring to set priority for permit holders over your kid and that's just plain wrong!

I would not bother continuing to respond to this poster. It is an angry person, who is having fun trying to get your goat. Their comments have no basis in fact, and are aimed at trying to be hurtful. ...and it is very likely that this is one of the same old gang who bemoan that Walpole is no longer "the friendly town". Give me a break!

[Unregistered]

See? You can't just snap your fingers overnight and solve the problem at the field level.

Actually you can.

The town of Norwood took matters into their own hands to take care of their cemetery which had been overridden with canadian geese... and it almost was an overnight solution... and it was permanent.... and the town was happy with the result. The geese-lovers were not (nor were the geese), but the geese were perceived as a nuisance and were thus treated like one, and the problem was solved.

Our town should follow suit.

[Unregistered]

What exactly did Norwood do that Walpole should follow suit?

[Unregistered]

Question about the field. Does it make sense to put money into the field when we are still looking where to put the police/fire station?
Will this become yet another excuse as to why we can't have a compined building? I can just here them now saying Oh we can't have a combined building because we just put money into the field.

[Unregistered]

The present board ( including Kraus and Berry ) reaffirmed the position taken by the previous board that Stone field
WILL NOT BE BUILT ON. I t certainly appears that they were not so clear during the election campaign.

[Unregistered]

The present board ( including Kraus and Berry ) reaffirmed the position taken by the previous board that Stone field
WILL NOT BE BUILT ON. I t certainly appears that they were not so clear during the election campaign.

There should be a real plan to move forward on a police/fire building. large parcels of open land in the middle of downtown should NOT be taken off the table until the building issue is resolved.
The fact that they continue to block possible locations for a police/fire facility just shows they are not serious about resolving the issue, or they want to continue to mess up the center and then say look nowhere to go but Robbins Rd.

[Unregistered]

I'm not sure if this idea has been kicked around before, so please bear with me. Could a combined Public Safety building be built in back of the present firehouse. I don't know what size footprint is needed for a combined facility.
The public safety building in Norwood is quite large and would be too big to build behind the present firehouse.
I know that in the not to distant past, someone suggested razing Blackburn Hall to site the facility there. It really doesn't appear t be enough land to build a combined facility in the downtown. I don't think that Robbins Road would be a good location due to the proximity of the school. That would pose a problem for the fire trucks. The superfund site on South St. could be a good location, but who pays for knocking down the present building and capping the land? Any suggestions?

[Unregistered]

Last I checked, the Police/Fire proposal was voted down in a landslide. So know you folks want to "preserve" Stone Field in it's deplorable condition as a possible, maybe, speculative, future site of a combined police and fire facility, that can or cannot be built on the site and has been overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate? FYI, private funds have been spent attempting to upgrade the conditions of Stone Field. Why not siezing Kihana by eminent domain for the new PD/FD facility? Why not the parking lot across the street from the train station?

[Unregistered]

I'm not sure if this idea has been kicked around before, so please bear with me. Could a combined Public Safety building be built in back of the present firehouse. I don't know what size footprint is needed for a combined facility.
The public safety building in Norwood is quite large and would be too big to build behind the present firehouse.
I know that in the not to distant past, someone suggested razing Blackburn Hall to site the facility there. It really doesn't appear t be enough land to build a combined facility in the downtown. I don't think that Robbins Road would be a good location due to the proximity of the school. That would pose a problem for the fire trucks. The superfund site on South St. could be a good location, but who pays for knocking down the present building and capping the land? Any suggestions?

Yes, a superfund site is a fabulous place to site a public facility (typed with heavy sarcasm).

Why not seriously enter discussions about either of the Woodworker sites?

[Unregistered]

Last I checked, the Police/Fire proposal was voted down in a landslide. So know you folks want to "preserve" Stone Field in it's deplorable condition as a possible, maybe, speculative, future site of a combined police and fire facility, that can or cannot be built on the site and has been overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate? FYI, private funds have been spent attempting to upgrade the conditions of Stone Field. Why not siezing Kihana by eminent domain for the new PD/FD facility? Why not the parking lot across the street from the train station?

You should check again.
1) a combined police/fire station has never been proposed or voted on either at Town meeting or by the electorate.
2) Town meeting seems to be leaning toward a combined facitly.
3) A flat piece of town owned land in the center of town is the logicial place to build a station.
4) The goose dropping infested land behind town hall has never come to the voters.

[Unregistered]

The geese are winning!!!!

[Sparky]

Yes, a superfund site is a fabulous place to site a public facility (typed with heavy sarcasm).
...

I don't understand your sarcasm. Isn't the whole idea of a $13M superfund cleanup to make it suitable for occupation?

[Unregistered]

I don't understand your sarcasm. Isn't the whole idea of a $13M superfund cleanup to make it suitable for occupation?

there's different levels of cleanup. there's cleanup to a reidential level and there's cleanup to a commercial level. sounds like it is the commercial level cleanup.

[Unregistered]

Yes, a superfund site is a fabulous place to site a public facility (typed with heavy sarcasm).

Why not seriously enter discussions about either of the Woodworker sites?

I bekieve that the Walpole Woodworkers site is the perfect place for a combined fire/police station. There is plenty of room on that land, it could even hold the senior center. It would certainly be a better choice than any future housing development!

[Unregistered]

I bekieve that the Walpole Woodworkers site is the perfect place for a combined fire/police station. There is plenty of room on that land, it could even hold the senior center. It would certainly be a better choice than any future housing development!

And pray tell, were would the monies to purchase the land come from?

[Unregistered]

I don't understand your sarcasm. Isn't the whole idea of a $13M superfund cleanup to make it suitable for occupation?

My understanding is they are not going to be taking down those delapitated buildings. Correct me if I am wrong and if they do not plan to take them down, then what's the purpose of clean-up? Someone mentioned to continue to house commercial industry on a site that is not totally cleaned-up? Makes no sense to me, but this Walpole

[Unregistered]

And pray tell, were would the monies to purchase the land come from?

You can pay now or you can pay later. One way or another that site is going to cost us money, be it for services later or to purchase it now and build it to suite our needs.

[Unregistered]

I think it's key to get the land cleaned up, and then worry about anything else. At least once it's clean, it's marketable. The building will have to be torn down. It's beyond being something that someone can renovate. Regardless of who buys it, the town or someone who wants to use it for something else, at least it's clean.

That would be about par for the course. Someday the land is going to cost the town money, so don't have it cleaned up. The money will be gone and we'll be stuck with it.

[Unregistered]

I think it's key to get the land cleaned up, and then worry about anything else. At least once it's clean, it's marketable. The building will have to be torn down. It's beyond being something that someone can renovate. Regardless of who buys it, the town or someone who wants to use it for something else, at least it's clean.

That would be about par for the course. Someday the land is going to cost the town money, so don't have it cleaned up. The money will be gone and we'll be stuck with it.

The last thing we need to spend more money on as a town is buying land. It is a waste of the taxpayers money to spend revenue needed for services, on buying more land. The town already owns WAY more land than it needs or uses.

As for the South Street Superfund site, that was always heavy use industrial land, and it should remain so.

[Unregistered]

When I served on the Zoning Rewrite Committee, I seem to remember a discussion on the available land on South St. It is a total parcel of 22-29 acres. Some are owned by various entities and some can be taken by eminent domain. This includes the land that is now ocuppied Cosmec. Cosmec does not own their site, they are renters and it is the owner that has not been paying property taxes. This site could be taken by the town for the back taxes but then who pays for the clean up? Some of the proposed uses were perhaps a medical center, combined Public Safety building, light industry, commercial think tank and even elderly housing. So there is quite a bit of value to this site. Let's just make it something clean that will be a benefit to the town's coffers. The land in question begins near Common St. and extends to the intersection of Brown Drive. Does anyone have some good and reasonable ideas that they would like to share?

[Unregistered]

The land in question begins near Common St. and extends to the intersection of Brown Drive.

I don't see how that is possible. There are many residential lots between Common and Brown. A quick look at Google Maps appears to show the parcel on both sides of South Street but no where near Common nor Brown.

http://tinyurl.com/2bgb7fs (Google Map link)

Personally, I would like to see a mixed usage of housing and medical offices (dental/doctor/therapy) on the site.

[Unregistered]

How might we attract the YMCA back to Walpole? They were interested at one point, but the opportunity/location did not work out.

[Unregistered]

I seem to rember that there are 3 acres opposite the Brown Drive intersection. On the same side as the town forest.
There is also an empty lot at the corner of South St. where a house once stood. You can still see the stone stairs and wall. The parcels that I have mentioned are not contiguous. I think that it would be a massive clean up effort to do something with this messand would far exceed $13b. My hopes are that something get done to benefit our town.

[Unregistered]

Oops!! I meant to say $13m not $13b.
Wishful thinking, I stand corrected.

[Unregistered]

I think we blew that already. They are expanding in Foxboro again.

[Unregistered]

Yesterday the geese seemed to be gathering around the coyote, I'd say within maybe 3 feet or so away. That was until someone, who undoubtedly will get my vote for parent of the year, allowed her 4 year old daughter to chase the geese around the field for a little bit. Frolicking in goose excrement is something everyone should encourage their children to do. It was so sweet to watch mom sitting and smiling at her little darling chasing the winged rats.

And this morning? The geese must have attacked. One coyote, laying on his side, his left rear leg 20 feet away on second base of the freshly raked baseball field. The field looks great. From over 100 feet away you can actually see how much goose excrement litters the infield.

The geese are winning. The geese are definitely winning.

In no way am I mocking anything that anyone is doing. I don't have any ideas either. But when you see the geese literally gathered around the coyote, and then to see it laying on its side with a broken leg, you can't help but laugh.

But please, if you bring your kids to the field, don't let them do that. It's so dirty, and if the coyote isn't intimidating them, mommys little princess isn't going to either.

[Unregistered]

Yesterday the geese seemed to be gathering around the coyote, I'd say within maybe 3 feet or so away. That was until someone, who undoubtedly will get my vote for parent of the year, allowed her 4 year old daughter to chase the geese around the field for a little bit. Frolicking in goose excrement is something everyone should encourage their children to do. It was so sweet to watch mom sitting and smiling at her little darling chasing the winged rats.

And this morning? The geese must have attacked. One coyote, laying on his side, his left rear leg 20 feet away on second base of the freshly raked baseball field. The field looks great. From over 100 feet away you can actually see how much goose excrement litters the infield.

The geese are winning. The geese are definitely winning.

In no way am I mocking anything that anyone is doing. I don't have any ideas either. But when you see the geese literally gathered around the coyote, and then to see it laying on its side with a broken leg, you can't help but laugh.

But please, if you bring your kids to the field, don't let them do that. It's so dirty, and if the coyote isn't intimidating them, mommys little princess isn't going to either.

We could put a combined police/fire station there. But we have given it to the geese.
Sad.

[Unregistered]

I must say that really made me laugh. In the city Flying Rats are Pidgeons and Sea Gulls.
The geese are a problem everywhere around town. On a recent Sunday I was walking my dogs in Bird Park, as I do everyday. There was a wedding party having their pictures taken. The bride looked so pretty in her white gown.
She was walking and holding it up to avoid dragging it in goose poop. It's pretty hard to avoid stepping in goose poop anywhere in town. I think that the Coyote is an expensive joke. It's not a deterent to geese, as they get accustomed to seeing it and have no fear of inanimate objects. A visit from a live Border Collie would be a better deterent especially if it visits at random times. The real problem of the proliferation of geese is that they have few predators and are still considered migratory birds and are therefore a protected specie.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I hate Gesses to pieces!