A Letter of Thanks for Sterling First Responders
Many, many thanks to Sterling’s Jim Emerton and his Sterling EMT/SFD/SPD crew for saving Debbie’s (my wife) life last month.
Very anxious evening involved Sterling ambulance to Clinton Hospital then to UMASS Worcester via “LIFE FLIGHT” helicopter. BP had dropped to 60/40. All because of a toxic/allergic food reaction.
Had their response been any less prompt and professional we’d be looking at a very unhappy event rather than the near coincidental welcoming of our fourth grandchild !
Jim’s been to Birch Drive (assisting my 92-year-old father-in-law) several times since before COVID. Hopefully we’ll meet under better circumstances next time.
Most Sincerely,
Gary & Debbie Menin
Birch Drive, Sterling, MA
A Message from the Zoning Board of Appeals
One of the articles on the warrant for this year’s annual Town Meeting on June 14 is a proposal sponsored by the Zoning Board of Appeals to prohibit more than four dogs per household in residential neighborhoods. Kennels would be permitted in commercial, Town Center, and light industrial districts under the proposal. Unfortunately, there has been some misunderstanding about the intent of this proposal, which, in turn, has generated some controversy.
The ZBA is not attempting to eliminate existing kennels. Kennels previously permitted and licensed would not be impacted by this article. Moreover, state law provides that certain commercial activities involving the breeding and raising of dogs are an exempt agricultural use. These activities likewise would not be adversely affected if this article is approved by the voters.
Despite what has been implied by some, the ZBA is not “anti-dog.” There are approximately 2,900 housing units in Sterling and theoretically each one of those units could have up to four dogs. We are not trying to change any of that; but at some point in the town’s history the voters did decide that four dogs per household was a reasonable and appropriate limit. Part of the rationale for this proposal is to give due regard to that decision.
It has been our experience generally that when kennel permit applications are presented to the ZBA, more people oppose the application than support it. For example, at one recent hearing virtually all of the applicant’s neighbors (more than 20 people) signed a petition opposing the issuance of a special permit. A minority of Town residents who are kennel license-holders certainly have a right to have their views considered by the voters, but so do the majority of residents who live in Sterling’s residential neighborhoods and who may have a different point of view.
So this question should be decided by the voters at Town Meeting. If you are ok with houses in residential neighborhoods having more than four dogs, you can vote to defeat this article. If, on the other hand, you think four per household is enough, you have the option to support the passage of this article.
Patrick Fox
Chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals
A Message from Animal Control Officer Louis Massa
As the summer heat approaches, here are some preparedness tips to consider when caring for your pets:
· Never leave pets in a car, even with the windows down. The inside of a car can reach temperatures in excess of 150 degrees in a matter of minutes.
· If possible, pets should be kept indoors during excessive heat.
· If keeping a pet outside, make sure that pets have adequate shelter from the sun and plenty of fresh water at all times.
· Plan outside activities with your pets during the cooler parts of the day: early morning and evening. Limit the outside activity of your pets during the heat of the day.
· During hot weather, sidewalks and pavement radiate excessive amounts of heat and can be too hot for the pads of your pet’s paws. Consider that if the sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it is too hot for your pet to walk on.
· Allow access to the coolest part of your home. If you don’t have air conditioning, or you turn it off while at work, make sure your pet can get to a cool place, such as a basement.
· Take extra precautions in hot weather for dogs that are elderly, overweight or snub-nosed.
Upcoming Sterling Dems Town Committee Meeting
The Sterling Democratic Town Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 28 via Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please contact Fionuala Dullea at griffonlula@gmail.com for the Zoom number/code if you are a Democrat or Unenrolled interested in participating, or interested in joining our committee.
Emergency Water Ban and Restriction in Effect
In accordance with the requirements of the Water Management Act Final Permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Sterling is required to enact a Mandatory Water Ban from May 1 – September 30. Further, as recommended by the Department of Environmental Protection, water irrigation is now limited to ONE day per week. If compliance is not met, future restrictions could include a total ban on underground irrigation. Please check the town’s website in the coming weeks for further updates. Town water usage is monitored on a regular basis to assess compliance. This is necessary for fire protections and to ensure that sufficient water is available to all users.
Restricted Uses
Daily “nonessential” outdoor water uses from the town’s public water sources.
The use of automatic irrigation systems and any type of sprinkler used more than one day a week .
Permitted Uses
Irrigation use is only permitted on the day that trash is collected on the property between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.
Handheld watering of vegetable and flower gardens with the use of a hose is unrestricted and may be performed on any day or time.
Regarding House Docket 4206
A Bald Eagle was recently killed in Waltham after eating a poisoned rodent. This is the first poisoning of our national symbol in Massachusetts and has evoked a call to better control rodenticides.
Rodents can ingest enough poison before they die to then kill larger animals up the food chain.
That eagle is but one of many unintended victims seen in the state as over 90% of hundreds of raptor carcasses have tested positive for poison in recent years.
Massachusetts House Docket 4206 is intended to address this problem.
This bill would require: rodent management plans, user reporting to an online database, discussion of risks with consumers, and educational programs on rodent control.
Ask your legislator to support House Docket 4206 and use only poison-free control methods which can be found at raptorsarethesolution.org.
Gary Menin, Sr.
Birch Drive, Sterling, MA
Live Toxin Free – Poison Is Not The Answer
www.facebook.com/We-the-People-Oppose-Toxic-Spraying-101856924570912
Guided Hikes on Trails in and Around Sterling
Sterling’s Open Space and Implementation Committee (OSIC) will resume guided hikes in June 2021, and we plan to offer such guided hikes every third Saturday during June, July and August, starting June 5. The distance covered on these hikes range from 2.5 to 4 miles. These hikes provide an opportunity to experience the variety of flora and fauna, and the natural and cultural landscapes of this region.
While the hikes are for all ages, you must still be able to walk at a normal pace on uneven terrain for one to two hours, with breaks. Be sure to wear good walking shoes, always bring water, insect repellant, and maybe a windbreaker or raincoat in case there is an unexpected change in the weather. The hikes that do not allow dogs are indicated.
Below are the dates and descriptions for the hikes planned for June through August 2021:
Saturday June 5, 2021, 8:30 a.m.: We will meet at Sholan Farms on Pleasant Street in Leominster. We’ll hike through orchards and fields; beside the Fall Brook Reservoir; follow the Monoosnoc Trail to the Devil’s Pulpit Trail; hike down the abandoned Hapgood Road; and loop back to Sholan Farms. The hike is rated as moderately difficult. This hike is dog friendly.
Saturday June 26, 8:30 a.m.: Hike the Paradise Pond Trail in Leominster State Forest. The hiking distance is about 4 miles, and the hike is rated moderate. To reach the trailhead, go North on Rt. 140, through East Princeton. Follow Rt. 140, and then turn slightly right onto Rt. 31 north and continue for about 0.9 miles, where you turn off to the right onto a dirt road. Follow the dirt road for 100 yards and park. If you miss the first turn off, there is a second one just a hundred yards further that will get you to the parking area. This hike is dog friendly.
Saturday July 17, 2021, 8:30 a.m.: Hike the Allenwood Trail, distance is 4.2 miles. The trail has a few steeper hills and crossing of wet areas and is rated moderate. The trailhead with a parking area is on the east side of Heywood Road in Sterling, about a half mile from Rowley Hill Road, and is marked by a trail kiosk. This trail is dog friendly.
Saturday August 7, 2021, 8:30 a.m.: Hike the Quinapoxet River Trail, with a total distance of about 3.5 miles. The hike is rated easy to moderate. We will meet at the Mass Central Rail Trail (MRCT) parking off Manning Street in Holden. Dogs are NOT allowed on this hike.
Saturday August 28, 2021, 8:30 a.m.: Hike trails and forest roads along the west side of the Wachusett Reservoir. The hike will be 4 – 5 miles and is rated moderate. The starting point of the hike is DCR gate 28, located on the right hand side of Rt. 110, immediately after its junction with Rt. 12. Dogs are NOT allowed on this hike.
For more information, such as features of each hike, parking tips, and more, visit www.SterlingMeetinghouseNews.com/