To the Editor: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the nation’s largest one-day food drive to feed those in need – the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive conducted by the National Association of Letter Carriers.  In 2011, this event resulted in an astounding one billion pounds of food collected! On Saturday, May 12, caring and committed Letter Carriers throughout the country will collect food along their routes and deliver it to local food pantries.  All food collected in Woburn and Winchester will be delivered to Council of Social Concern’s Food Pantry. For two decades, our Food Pantry has …

    Editor's note: Resident shares opinion, after not having the opportunity to at last week's public meeting. Good evening all. When told the reason for daylight savings time the Old Indian said, "Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket." My name is Richard Longland, I live in North Woburn. Some know the 20 year legacy of the community’s resistance to developing this beautiful, historical and peaceful land.  Others know its 100 year history. I’ve lived here 11 years, only recently experienced the …

  Residents Drop Golf Range Proposal for Spence Farm This is to advise the community in general that we are discontinuing our efforts to seek a golf driving range for the 14-acre parcel of Spence Farm land. As our due diligence efforts progressed with several professional golf management groups they became more and more conservative about potential total revenue generation.  As the level of conservatism increases so does the level of risk for success.  At this point we have determined that there is more risk than we are willing to accept so, sadly, we are discontinuing our efforts to seek a …

  To the Editor: Questions and concerns about cost of the driving range plan have been raised along with the fact that there are many more urgent projects in the city that should be considered.  We agree that there are many other needs, but wish to point out that this plan does not compete for money.  It will pay for itself and will also bring in additional dollars that can help fund other projects.   Also, please consider that study after study shows additional costs for city services for new residential development in a close suburban setting exceeds new tax revenue generated.  So which is …

Editor's Note: When the city bought part of Spence Farm, it turned the land into a Farmer's Market and recreation area for Woburn residents. Now, an adjoining parcel is up for sale and could soon turn into a development. The group Save Spence Farm! has suggested the city meet the developer's price—$4.5 million—and operate a golf driving range on the site. But Mayor Scott Galvin has reservations about the group's proposal, citing money as one of the major concerns. Woburn Patch is publishing a Letter to the Editor from Save Spence Farm! this morning. Continue the conversation in our comments: …

The following letter to the editor was submitted by the office of Sen. Kenneth Donnelly:  Dear Friends,  As the end of the year approaches, and we prepare to begin the second half of our legislative session in January, I wanted to take the time to update you on what the Senate has accomplished in this past year.  This year has been very busy and productive in the Legislature with some major pieces of legislation being passed.  Two bills of particular importance that I was most proud to support were An Act Relating to Anti-Human Trafficking and Protection as well as An Act Relative to …

Horn Pond Concerts Thanks Dear Editor,On behalf of: Social Capital Inc., the North Suburban Y, and WREN (Woburn Residents’ Environmental Network), we would like to thank the concert committee members and the following individuals and sponsors for a successful 2011 Horn Pond Summer Concert Series:Concert Committee Members:Jamie AddonizioAreve AlexanderMelissa ClarkSusan DavisDebbie GirardMyra GreenDoug & Pam MacBrideKallie McConkieMary Jane SawyerBarry & Lorin WilsonConcert Sponsors:Sean Coakley & Atlantic Power CleaningDunkin Donuts of Woburn CenterMcCue Garden CenterMichael de la MazaBill …

Thank You to Clapp-Goodyear Family: With the Clapp-Goodyear School closing its doors in the next few days, I want to sincerely thank the staff, parents, and residents for getting through a difficult period with cooperation and understanding.  In spite of a few bumps in the road, one thing has remained constant; it has always been a true joy having the children here.  Believe me when I say that many of us will miss the sounds of happy children at recess and their smiling faces as they go to and from the school. Thank you as well to the school crossing guards who were diligent in watching out …

Dear Mayor Galvin & City Council members: To those of you who support our cause, thank you. To those of you who do not, our group will be working for a library upgrade, long after you've been voted out of office. The amount of grandstanding, smoke & mirrors, and theatrics used at the June 7th meeting was shameful! A city like Woburn needs a functioning library for our citizens to remain literate in today's world. Woburn’s citizens just 'going to the Lexington library' is not an option. (Especially!) To Mr. Denaro: That was a total disservice to every Woburn voter, resident, and viewer, when …

Thank you! The National School Scrabble Association is less than two weeks away! Our players have been studying their two- and three-letter word lists and playing countless games with any willing volunteer in order to sharpen their skills even further before the tournament dates arrive. The Woburn Word Wizards would like to thank all the people that bought candy bars in support of their trip. In addition, we would like to thank all of our donors: Woburn Credit Union; Kiwanis Club of Woburn; Mount Horeb Lodge; Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 1214; Woburn Public Media Center; Plasma Films; Brian & …

Letters to the Editor will be printed at Woburn Patch each week we have submissions. To send a letter for publication, e-mail us at danielle.masterson@patch.com. To Our Fellow Citizens: We, the Yes to Our Library Committee, are a group of concerned citizens from all walks of life. We have been meeting for several months. Most of us have little experience with campaigns such as this.  What we share is a strong desire to see our National Historic Landmark restored and expanded into a safe and modern facility of which we can all be proud. Our principle goal is to mobilize public support for the …

Resident Urges All to Attend City Council Meeting Tonight Dear Mr. Mayor, City Council members and School Committee members: You are playing Russian Roulette with my tax dollars!  Monday evening, I learned just how much this lease of the Clapp School to a third party could cost the taxpayers of this city.  The Clapp School is not ADA compliant.  It is not even close to being compliant.  The third party that these elected officials want to rent the Clapp School to is the SEEM Collaborative.  Some of these children are severely handicapped.  All it would take is one complaint, one parent of one…

Letters to the Editor will be printed at Woburn Patch each week we have submissions. To send a letter for publication, e-mail us at danielle.masterson@patch.com. Resident Urges City Council to Vote "No" I am writing to let you know how disgusted I am with the actions of the School Committee and the mayor regarding the Clapp School.  They are trying to go around the law that was passed last year by breaking a promise to the residents of this city.  As the president of WREN, I am extremely happy that the mayor purchased acres of open space at Whispering Hill on the West Side and Spence Farm in …