Once again, we are providing an open forum for our readers who want to say something on any issue, regardless of whether or not it is related to a Times story.Because the Dorchester Times was designed to facilitate lively discussion and the free flow of ideas, we feel we are obligated to occasionally publish this "general comments" post, in which any topic is fair game.
We were reminded just how popular reader commentary is when, earlier this month, Times readers voted overwhelmingly (75% to 25%) in opposition to our staff's decision to limit remarks following stories.
The Times' decision was reversed May 14.
The Dorchester Times' Web site averages more than 235 hits a day, according to an independent Web tracking service. That means the Times is the perfect forum to air your thoughts, news tips, announcements, complaints and concerns -- on any issue.
So go ahead and sound off. We are listening. And so are hundreds of others.
Bens Iron Grill looks good. Now maybe main street can be cleaned up a little more
ReplyDeleteYep, Hopefully they can do something to the building north of BIG'S (Bens Iron Grill)!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Dorchester has the same real estate problem as many towns, lots of unsold homes. People just aren't buying right now.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't City Hall put a stop to all the junked cars sitting around? Getting rid of the junkers would greatly improve Dorchester's appearance. A ticket could be issued requesting the owners to get rid of the junkers with a time limit, after which a fine would be
ReplyDeleteadded, including interest accrued on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. If action isn't taken by the owner, Dorchester would have to take some kind of action. I'm sure that City Hall could come up with some type of plan.
It bothers me that more people are worried about the looks of other peoples yards than are worried about the youth in our town. {the current poll}
ReplyDeleteI think the youth of the town needs to fall to thier parents responsability ! ! ! Sure it would be great to have some programs, but that takes time and commitment. What is wrong with the parents of these kids if they are letting thier kids run the town ?!?!?! I do think if we want to encourage people of character to move to our town then it needs to look clean, downtown AND personal property. Unless you are going to put up a huge fence.
ReplyDeleteWhat is there for the kids to do in town. Give them something and they will not " run the town"
ReplyDeleteSad to say, but I never see kids working anymore.
ReplyDeleteThey're doing basketball camps, team sports, etc., etc. But that's not real life. Parents, you want to teach your kids a lifelong lessson? Make them earn a dollar or two over the summer months. The lessons they learn there are much more valuable than their jumpshot.
"Small town life is like wearing a dirty diaper: You can sit in your own stink and blame others or you can get up and change it yourself."
ReplyDeleteBest quote ever left on the Times blog.
I'm from Arizona and I read the Blog and the comments from all,unfortunatly I'm only in Dorchester for a few days in September for famlly reunion.I will definitely go to Ben's iron Grill and always love going to the museum every year.
ReplyDeleteThis community spent lots of dollars for the kids, in the park, and the other day we had kids cars pulled up on the basketball courts, and tonight there we kids riding 4 wheelers in the city park.
ReplyDeleteit will never change until we start making kids and adults responsible for their actions.
those jumpshots and hardwork will pay off when those scholorships come in. and its a scientific fact that exersize helps stimulate the brain to learn.... hard work in the classroom and hard work in sports will pay off better than hard work in the field. with todays economy the jobs will be in the office not in the corn. the kids do a great job with themselves at this school.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of at least two unmarked graves of veterans in the Dorchester Cemetery. This would make a great Eagle Scout project, or a school history project. They were both Union soldiers, and I beleive Jan Stehlik knows their names and even units they served in. If there is a problem with the research, I could help.
ReplyDeleteJR Wolfe
I just got home from work at 245 am and there was kids walking around on washington street. Parents need to be responsible for keeping track of what their are doing. No need for kids to be out this late at night. There should be a town curfew like other towns have
ReplyDeleteBuy what you can in Dorchester, without everyone's support there will be no businesses left in town. This is something we can all do to improve and invest in our town as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWhy do some people have to continually put this great town of ours down??? What is really wrong, in my opinion, is that these people don't really know about life outside Dorchester. I wonder if they've ever lived anywhere else. Sure our town has it negatives, but it also has a lot of positives too. Maybe they should realize just like anything else in life the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Maybe they should try thinking positive and refuse to say anything negative and maybe things will be different. I came back to this great town after being away for many years to raise my family. I found out life is what YOU make it and Dorchester IS the best place to live life!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for the garage sale days event on June 20. I think that will be a good thing for our community. Hopefully, it will be a change for some people to tidy up their yards and for our town to display some community pride.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...if the city keeps telling no on projects on there place of dwelling ,this town will never change.More buiding more tax money to the city & school,and maybe more people would be glad to call Dorchester home.
ReplyDeleteEverybody has something to complain about. Instead of just griping why don't we do something about it?
ReplyDeleteTo the person concerned about the "junkers", the city has an ordinance that went into effect last year. If its not being utilized it needs to be brought up at a city meeting, they are the first Monday of every month.
To the persons concerned about our towns youth. I disagree about working during the summer. I worked the corn fields and while I work an office job now, that job taught me a responsibility that a lot of these kids don't know. If we want them to quit "running the town" we need to give them something to do.
If we are so concerned about how the town looks why not organize a fundraiser for supplies, utilize the city youth and do painting projects for homes that need a fresh coat of paint, or mowing for homes that need some yard work. It would greatly improve the look of the town while giving the youth something to do. I know that not very many kids these days are interested in working that hard, but that's where the parents need to step in and show the kids what it means to have integrity.
One thing I do know about the kids in Dorchester is that they are by nature a very helpful lot. Sometimes all they need is someone to guide them. I bet if someone organized a city clean up plan you could get them on board....they don't have much else to do, especially once summer baseball and softball are done. As for work, in most places you need to be 15 or 16. I was working LONG before that when I was a kid. Too bad, laws prevent kids from becoming productive at an earlier age. I do realize there are two sides to that issue, it's just that we live in a different world now and I'm not sure if that is all good or bad, which is another conversation entirely.
ReplyDeleteIm going to convert to islam ............................................. maybe then obama will pay attention to this farmers plight .................................................
ReplyDeleteto cynical dick....
ReplyDeletejust get a bigger mailbox for all those govt checks.
Just another infidel ................................................
ReplyDeleteYou guys should ridicule the Lincoln paper for its story on wind energy in Bloomfield, NE. Where's the story on how many more workers are in eastern Nebraska to install the new oil pipeline? Around 900-1200 workers at a time coming to 9 eastern Nebraska counties. One of your blog posts said the property taxes will bring in a lot more than these overgrown windmills. Oil will be around hundreds of years after anyone has heard of a wind turbine, but it won't get covered when you base your news agenda on trends, fads and Obama directed political correctness.
ReplyDeleteHot air lasts longer than oil.
ReplyDeleteYes, oil maybe around hundreds of years from now but who will be to pay to fill their cars? Get a grip
ReplyDeleteLast month a former Dorchester resident and graduate posted a comment that bullying is more prevalent in the schools today compared to the 1950's. Here is an excellent link to a New York Times article about the topic.www.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/health/09klas.html?_r=1&em
ReplyDeleteThe only ones who support wind energy are:
ReplyDelete1.) Those with land who think they'll make an easy buck.
2.) Those who have never see electricity produced and have no clue how it is.
3.) Those who flunked science and economics.
Bye bye...