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Parks and Recreation 10/07/2025

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0:00 | 14:51

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

A pair of black frames sparks the first surprise—smart glasses that can move a cursor with your hand—before we steer straight into the meat of what keeps our town running. We celebrate a freshly finished field that looks as good as promised, then confront the recurring headache of sideline wear with plans for turf and tarps, especially with rain on the way. From there, we walk through a year-long journey to award our rental property, laying out the winning applicant, backups, credit checks, and the goal of getting the home productive by November 1.

Our calendar comes alive with the programs that anchor families. The before-and-after school care program passed a state review after a location mix-up, and we’re measuring space to expand access. Trunk or Treat returns with a nostalgic twist as Dairymaid Jr. rolls up with a reduced menu, and we tailor the event to pre-K through second grade while welcoming older siblings. We also share a lineup of after-school enrichment—drama, Minecraft, Lego engineering, and Mad Science—that mixes play with hands-on learning.

Gratitude runs through the episode. We tip our hats to youth soccer’s opening day and the 30-plus coaches who make it run, celebrate the packed paddock as it nears its season finale, and thank the Eagle Scouts for a gazebo makeover with new benches set in concrete. When vandalism hits the donated ball wall, neighbors step in with paint and time to set it right. Meanwhile, new lights and a scoreboard on Field Three raise the game-night experience, and we draw a firm line on parking near the Babe Ruth field to protect the grounds and set the right example.

Looking ahead, we brainstorm how to refresh the Christmas tree lake event to avoid conflicts with town Santa drives and lighting nights—balancing early winter darkness with family schedules. We also have community ticket blocks for the Celtics and Bruins, including the night Zdeno Chára’s number goes to the rafters. Even our check on the forest trails gets a plan: light cleanup now, state crews in spring. It’s a snapshot of small-town momentum—steady fixes, clear standards, and a calendar full of reasons to show up.

If this kind of practical progress and community care matters to you, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps us keep the lights on—literally and figuratively.

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New Gear, Smart Glasses Banter

SPEAKER_02

I just think about the new one.

SPEAKER_00

I somehow lost the uh the old gamble. I don't know what happened to it. Maybe they left it here and it disappeared. So Sammy did a nice job and found this for us. Alright, Sammy.

SPEAKER_01

I like it. Gamble's gone and we got the new gamble. Um Organization representatives, town officials, community members, I don't see anyone in the audience. Do you have a camera in these glasses? I do not.

SPEAKER_02

Oh they look, like they look just like. Ray Ban's the one that snakes them. Really? Have you seen them? No. Oh. Ray-Band made these new glasses and you wear a wristband. And the wristband feels your hand movement, and you look at a screen in there, and that's your wristband. These are getting some raid to get some. Oh my friends. Yeah, there's no mouse, it's just the movement of your hand, and that moves a cursor and you screw.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Crazy. So look, when you see somebody with Ray bands on, thick black lens um frames, look to see if there's a camera in the corners. That's scary. FYI.

Field Updates and Repairs

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Um alright. Old business, old business, Beton Courtfield.

SPEAKER_00

Yep, uh, I just want to let you know all the work on Beton Courtfield is done. Looks phenomenal. Yeah, it looks great. Everything came out as great as we could have hoped. Uh I was walking it again today. The only issue again is the never-ending battle with a sideline, and something that, you know, I think work with the Giants, maybe do some type of turf or tarp like you did before, Chris, because it's starting to get torn out for it. Yeah, just to have it there, because unfortunately walking it this morning that was just torn up. Nobody's fault.

SPEAKER_02

It's already it's already destroyed.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it's it's starting in that direction.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it's just a matter of time. Especially if it gets if it's gonna get wet.

Rental Property Lottery and Next Steps

SPEAKER_00

Yes, and it's gonna pour tomorrow and some days over the weekend. All right. Uh the Aruda field, I just want to give you an update. We did have that fence fixed that was driven into. Looks good. Yeah, no, that was quick, easy, and uh glad it's taken care of. Uh, just also speaking of the soccer fields, uh, we did have the Grippus field uh aerated and overseated because that's the field that's resting this season, just to kind of give it a head start for the the spring getting ready for this the season. Alrighty. Alright. Uh well we're finally here, guys. The rental property. Time to award. Time to award. It only took us a little over a year.

SPEAKER_01

We're speaking of the rental property?

SPEAKER_00

Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Alrighty. Let's get the let's get the.

SPEAKER_00

So I'm just gonna see where we can find you. We'll pull the name out of here. We have three candidates, and uh, we'll just see what happens.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, alrighty. We need some we need some income. We need some we could generate some revenue with that house.

SPEAKER_00

And the winner is Michelle Boozan. So I will contact her and uh we will do a a credit check.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Just to make sure. Awesome. And uh, once that's good, we can get her in as early as uh November 1st because the house is ready.

SPEAKER_02

Awesome. What if the credit check is bad?

SPEAKER_00

If the credit check is bad, we will redraw. And we do a second one just as a backup.

SPEAKER_02

Okay as well.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so that's our top, that's number one.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And number two.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. David Lenin.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Uh Keith Hastings will be the second family if it doesn't work out. Okay. All right. Okay. Keith Hastings. Oh yeah. So, and then we have our our third, if one, two doesn't work. The last one we had was uh Tim Wilbur. Okay, okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Oh beans.

After-School Care Review and Expansion

SPEAKER_00

So I will contact uh all the parties right now, let them know where we're at, and uh we'll go from there. We'll get that house rented, and I can avoid going there as much as I have been. I did have to put some oil in today just to make sure we get through the next few weeks before somebody gets in. Awesome. So looking forward to it. Yep. And uh finally, uh fore and after school care program. Uh so far, the year's going great. The state did show up back in September.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

We went through an entire review. Unfortunately, they went to the wrong school. They were supposed to go to Liberty. They came to Merrill, I went through everything with them, and then when they were looking at the board with all our signage, you know, for advice and things like that, she told me I had the wrong signs on. So I looked at her and I said, What do you mean? She goes, I'm at liberty. No, you're a no. And it was already the end of the day, she's like, I'll have to come back and do the other side. So waiting for her to come back anytime over the next week or two, she told me, uh, to measure that other room to get the expansion going and get those daycare families that need it back in. So far, so good. Okay. Alright.

Trunk or Treat Plans and Food Truck

SPEAKER_01

And that is it for the business. Trunk or treat, one of my favorite events that we do here.

SPEAKER_00

Yep. Trunk or treat is uh gonna be on the 23rd of this month. Okay. Looking forward to uh I will be there.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, I appreciate it, really. Thank you. Maybe drag my folks at home down to the last lunch.

SPEAKER_00

Good, good. And uh, you know, it again we kind of focus on the pre-K through second grade area. Yeah. If siblings come along, that's not a problem. And uh this year the Dairymaid Jr. is gonna be coming for a food truck.

SPEAKER_01

You know, I ran into um Jenny Lang and she was telling me about that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Dairymaid Jr. It's the family that used to own the Dairymaid. Yeah. Back in the day, they the daughter opened up a food truck. Oh, yeah. And she's gonna come to the site and do a reduced menu and have some, you know, sell burgers and dogs, whatever she's gonna do for a couple hours while the event's going on. If you can't want to have dinner while we're there.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So you know, that that was one staple I wish I was old enough to appreciate, because everyone I know used to talk about how much they enjoyed working there and how it was just a Iranian place everyone would go to back in the day. Yeah, it was good.

Youth Soccer Shoutouts and Paddock Growth

SPEAKER_00

It was good. So and so that's what's going on there. And uh besides that, believe it or not, no fall permits came and I was gonna keep that on the agenda in case they do come in the last minute. So that is it for new business, guys.

SPEAKER_01

Alrighty. Mr. Sharl, you get that fit? No. Um I got one thing. I attended the uh youth soccer opening day along with Tim. And I just want to give kudos to uh Josh Tato and all his board members and all the volunteers and coaches that make that program successful. It uh was quite busy that morning, I think. How many coaches would you say there's total? Because I'll be honest, it was larger than I originally anticipated.

SPEAKER_00

It was spread out so much, it's hard to give a number, but I say there was at least 30 plus coaches there.

SPEAKER_01

But um, you know, they did a great job of it, and just kudos to all those you know volunteers that you know make that happen. You know, it's a good program for our kids here, you know.

SPEAKER_00

Yep, no, it was very it was a nice event. No, it was nice to be there.

SPEAKER_02

I I guess I will add my uh observation, well, just and I I think I mentioned it before, but um the paddock, the horse ring, the paddock in that whole area. Um last week, the week, the week before.

SPEAKER_00

Probably the last time they were there. Three weeks ago, I think.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, three weeks ago last time we've been packed down here and it was awesome. And I just loved I just love seeing it.

SPEAKER_00

They only have really one more event for the season and then they're done. I was gonna say, are they finished or they finished? Yeah, it's the last weekend in October is their last show. They had to take some weeks off because we're gonna be able to do it.

Community Day, Garden Closing, and Scout Project

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I just I I'm beside myself. I think it's great that they're really interested.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah, it is a they do a nice job. The group is growing, from what I understand. That's good. Yeah. I'm happy to hear that. Sam, do you got anything?

SPEAKER_03

Um, just that community day was a great day. We looked out with the weather again this year. It was beautiful. Um it was unrails. It was really good, and the field turned out fine because the sun was beating down those two days. Um, Tetra Truck was also great. That was back the weekend before. Um, and our community garden closes on October 31st. So anybody who has to have it cleaned by then so the highway can shut it down.

SPEAKER_01

Shut her down. Yep. We did it on the way, unfortunately.

Lights, Scoreboard, Parking Issues, and Winter Events

SPEAKER_00

And just a few things for me. Uh I want to thank uh Mike Diantono, I hope I said that name right, and the Boy Scouts for their work on the gazebo. Uh when they were out there a few weeks ago, they put up cleaned up all the mulch, put fresh mulch down, weeded all the area, and they also put two benches in as well, so they're in the ground, concreted in so nobody can walk off of them. Nice. And so they nice job. It's a great Eagle Scout project you did. The Eagle Scouts have done some really nice things for nice. I haven't, I was there that day, but I haven't looked at it since they finished the side. Yeah, so it became really nice. Uh I just want to remind you guys that Fall Town meeting is scheduled for November 17th. Uh, we don't have anything on the agenda. It's gonna be kind of a quick one this year for Sounds like they're gonna have time to get in that quorum. Yeah. Uh I don't know if you've been out there, Chris, but I have walked uh Rainham State Forest a couple weeks ago just to see how everything's going. You know, just the trails just need to be cleaned up a little bit, no hang trees. So obviously the state comes out in the the springtime after the winter, so I'll make sure I stay on there and keep that clean, but no whale makers leaning over.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, we don't have a uh we don't have a present commissioner that enjoys spending a lot of that time in Mr. Brown. Yeah, I want to make sure. I haven't heard any report from Mr. Brow that anything's wrong, so that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. So it's but it's a nice little walk.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. It really is. It's been quite a few years since they've been out there. Yeah. So I'll have to.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Uh we did have some vandalism on the ball wall that Jay Messler donated to the town. Oh no, really? So, you know, the school let us know because it was on there, just kids writing on the wall. Jay had some leftover paint, so he donated to the town, and Mark Carterpain's uh volunteering his time is gonna be painting the wall on Friday, those areas to clean them up to get that taken care of. So thanks both of them.

SPEAKER_01

Is there any way we could maybe do a post online recognizing, you know, that volunteer efforts? Yeah, you can do something like that. We'd get it on Facebook, that's not a problem.

SPEAKER_00

Yep. Uh TMLP put up a new light pole by field three. Uh kind of a giant's baseball combination so they could get more light for practice at night, and also put a scoreboard on field three. So TMLP came in, that's all set to go.

SPEAKER_02

Really? Yes. I guess one message I'd like to convey to the Giants. I saw a half a dozen vehicles parked on the perimeter of that of uh the Babe Ruth field. Yes. That's something I want to talk about. Yeah, they need to they can't be lazy. They need to not be lazy. Yes. Yeah, there's no need for them to be out there. Yeah, absolutely. I'll be right back. It just it just you know it's bad because it it it sends the wrong message to other people who might want to drive out there, and it's just it's not a good look. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00

Uh I mentioned uh after school care program. We also have after school programs going away going around with Heather right now. We have drama kids, Minecraft, Lego Engineering, and Mad Science. Uh we are going to be doing uh Santa's calling again this year, as we have in the past few years, a great event. We are looking at brainstorming the office how we can kind of change up the Christmas tree lake. Because on that day we're competing with the town going around, driving around with Santa Claus, and also taunting lights on. So we're considering maybe doing like an earlier Friday evening thing. Just trying to think of something how we can kind of freshen it up. The problem is it's so dark out daily, you really we don't have a lot of options.

SPEAKER_01

But we're well like a Sunday evening.

Ticket Sales, Forest Trails, and Meeting Motions

SPEAKER_00

But even Sunday would be tough because once it gets to like dark out at that point, you know, really we go from 3 to 4.30. By the time you get to 4.30, it's pitch black out there. So it's something we're gonna try to put a few things together, kind of change up something. But we'll we'll work on it. We'll be close to the holiday. So right now we're doing we have it set for the seventh, or the sixth, excuse me.

SPEAKER_01

So we didn't maybe the 13th?

SPEAKER_00

Possibly.

SPEAKER_01

You know it's scheduled for the seventh?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, the first uh Sunday of uh sort of first Saturday, I think that's the sixth.

SPEAKER_02

6th, yes, yes. So like maybe the the 20th? The weekend right before.

SPEAKER_00

We can look it up.

SPEAKER_02

If if it if we're not doing if there's no other big events around.

SPEAKER_00

Mm-hmm. Okay. We get some time to think about that. So just before you know it's gonna be here, God help us all. And uh finally, uh I just want to remind you we do have a group of Celtics tickets available that we're selling this year for a game against the 76s in early March, excuse me. And we're selling uh a few tickets as well for the Bruins. And it turns out the game we selected is the night they're gonna be retiring Zade O'Char's number, which is July, uh January 15th, excuse me, against the Kraken that night. So Yeah? Yeah. So yeah. Interested. Yeah, so love hockey. They start tomorrow night, actually. Oh nice. So and that is it for me.

SPEAKER_01

Alrighty. Waiting for a motion, sir.

unknown

Motion? I'm sorry to interrupt you. Did you guys vote in the minutes at the beginning of the meeting? Did I miss that? No, we did not.

SPEAKER_03

Are we keeping it?

SPEAKER_02

We can do that. We can we can do that. Yeah. Make a motion to accept the meeting minutes of September's meeting? I will second that.

SPEAKER_01

Um I'll favor. I I mean, wait for one more motion. I will second that.