Vand_letters

Given a recent attack on citizens by a town official for their editorializing, we are removing all names.

To see the quotes attributed to the Boylston Police Chief concerning the "Hate" graffitti painted at Rocky Pond in Boylston is quite troubling. It concerns an article in Saturday's paper August 14, 2004. It attributes a quote by the Boylston Chief of Police and his lack of thinking a possible hate crime is worth looking into. "I've got other stuff to worry about. This happened in the absolute middle of nowhere," Chief Sahagian said. Just what does the chief feel is important? I didn't realize Boylston's crime was such that a potential hate crime is low on the priority list.

I am writing in response to the recent article by Kevin Keenan. My thanks to Kevin for bringing this incident to the attention of the wider community. I fish, canoe and swim at Rocky Pond with my children quite often and have always found it a quiet and serene place to be. Too bad my illusions were shattered by the appearance of hateful and anti Semitic graffiti. I was very happy to have been forewarned of this as I would not like my children to see this message of hate that is directed to them as Jews, especially in our home town. I am deeply disturbed as I am sure many of the other Jewish residents of our town and other surrounding towns are. As distressing as the hate filled words are I find myself even more concerned by the lack of concern over a racist incident and the wanton destruction of the environment by Boylston's Chief of Police Sahagian. Rocky Pond is not "the middle of nowhere" as chief Sahagian seems to think and the fact that our Chief of police doesn't have the time to investigate. What is he doing if not protecting and keeping Boylston's citizens safe from hate filled messages, destruction of a pristine area and the pollution of a beautiful pond teeming with wildlife. What does Chief Sahagian feel is worth investigating if not hate messages? This attitude of Boylston's Chief Sahagian only encourages this type of thinking and behavior. If our police chief does not stand up and denounce this as reprehensible then he is as guilty of spreading hate as are those people who wrote the messages in the first place.

Sincerely,

This is referring to the article "Rocky Pond Graffiti" by Kevin Keenan in
the Saturday, August 14, 2004 T&G.

There are photos available of the vandalism before the graffiti was covered over with the green paint if Police Chief Sahagian would like to see them. In the photos names are written and in one case a last name. Rocky Pond is a beautiful pond that is used by many fishermen and canoeists. I live near the pond and have been at my present location for almost forty years. There are also very large boulders with graffiti that are right on the water. At the site in question people go swimming and hiking. It is true this happened at the far end of the pond. But to many of us living on its shores and with many new houses being built in the immediate area it is far
from remote. Rocky Pond is not a large pond and is not located "....in the middle of nowhere." as the Chief is quoted as saying in the article. The police were very concerned about other minor matters at the pond but they are too busy with "other stuff" when it is a serious matter. The pond up to now is very clean with a family of beavers and otters being seen in it. This is pollution with paint in the water if nothing else may hurt the wildlife.. The least that can be done is to find the ones responsible and make them clean it up. After all symbols such as swastikas, KKK, and the words "murder", and "hate" conjur up ugly, very ugly thoughts.

Sirs:

The comments of the Boylston Chief of Police, Anthony Sahagian ('Rocky Pond Graffiti', Saturday, Aug. 14) are both dangerous and not entirely true. Hate symbols, such as swastikas and 'KKK', should not be trivialized because they are perceived as vandalism in a 'remote' area, which Rocky Pond certainly is not -- as the hundreds of fishermen, boaters, walkers and nature lovers who use it and could easily see the obscene and hateful language at a popular swimming area would attest. They should never be trivialized at a time when they are occurring increasingly at home and abroad. If we've learned anything from the history of racism and discrimination, members of the Jewish, immigrant and minorities communities and others of good will should be outraged and demand a full and serious investigation -- and a full apology from the chief for his thoughtless and foolish comments. Nor is it accurate that the Boylston Police Department has no evidence of the original outrage, as the chief says. I was the person who reported the incident to the police originally (on the morning of August 11) and shortly thereafter e-mailed photos to the investigating officer which fully revealed the hate language on trees and rocks. All the evidence needed exists and the police have it, and always have. The New England Forestry Foundation has it as well and I hope they press for an investigation if they have not already done so.

Ronald K. Goodenow, Ph.D.
Northboro

The vandalism at Rocky Pond is very disturbing to me. Not only for the wanton damage to the trees and the water in the pond, but for the messages --- anti-semitic and other symbols, words and messages that the perpetrators have left and then tried to cover up. I am a teacher in Lowell, MA with a specialty in behavior management for emotionally disturbed students. The people who did this need to know the serious implications of their actions. We , who know better, would be remiss, if we trivialize this with the "kids will be kids" philosophy. Any light you can shed on what we residents of Boylston can do will be most appreciated. The reaction of the Boylston Police Chief is totally inappropriate and callous but unless pressure is put on him I don't think he will investigate. Perhaps you could call NEFF, as Ron suggested, or even the Boylston Police Dept, indicating that trivializing this incident is unacceptable.

I recently reviewed the Save Rocky Pond web site and was really ticked to see the offensiveness of the spray paint "artists" as well as the developer and other devastation. Rocky Pond is obviously a naturally beautiful slice of nature that needs to be preserved. Somehow, the cult of hate of others and destruction of nature's beauty should be stopped immediately as it will sure get worse if nothing is done that can lead to a dangerous culture where discrimination and defamation can thrive. The local police should be actively taking action to find the haters and destroyers and deal with them properly.

I was very disturbed to read that racist graffiti was found at Rocky Pond in Boylston. The location in question is not "in the middle of nowhere" it is/was at a very popular beach area on Rocky Pond. Racism is a form of terrorism and should not be tolerated even 'in the middle of nowhere'. Such acts need to be put an end to. If ignored such acts go from the racist 'joke' to 'violence' even to the scale of 9/11 if we should turn a blind eye to it. The Chief of Police is way out of line here with his lack of concern and needs a wake up call.

As a conservationist I have been following with interest the efforts of local citizens to preserve the natural beauty of Rocky Pond. I was
disappointed to learn that this area had been desecrated by racist graffiti. People should be outraged. The disinterested response of the
Police Chief reminded me of what I saw in the Deep South back in the Sixties. At that time law enforcement would often respond to acts of racism by stating that they had more important concerns.

Dear Editor:

I would like to thank Ken Cleveland for the great article about the ugly situation at Rocky Pond.

1) The BPD had photos of the hate messages in their custody prior to Mr. Cleveland’s interview.

2) The Fire Chief and other town officials seem to think that the people living on the pond are ignorant and cannot tell vegetation from paint.

3) With the wide publicity this is generating it make will make potential home buyers wonder about the nice sleepy town of Boylston.

4) One cannot help wondering about why the potential evidence as seen it the Banner photo was allowed to be covered over with yet more paint.

5) Nothing as yet has been done about the spreading pollution of the lead based paint.

Boylston’s natural Crown Jewel, Rocky Pond, is being treated with indifference by town officials.

Sincerely

Fred Brown

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Sirs:

As I read Ken Cleveland’s fine and revealing piece on Rocky Pond vandalism (“Rocky Pond Residents Report Graffiti, Vandalism”, August 19) I can’t help but feel that the Boylston Police Department and the New England Forestry Foundation are living in another world I never dreamed of when I made the original calls to both organizations about the crime. A close look at the evidence in this case (which the police have had all along and NEFF has apparently not witnessed first hand) shows anti-Semitic and racist symbols + drug symbols + violence language + true property destruction. Trees were destroyed and the pond is being subjected to serious pollution thanks to a submerged paint container and a failure of local and state officials to act. All this is presented in detail at http://www.saverockypond.org.

Given we know that youth behavior of this kind often leads to violence and that it is on the rise in many rural parts of New England (it is not an urban phenomenon) any go slow attitude of the department and NEFF are regrettable and, I’m sure, taken by many as a code for ‘boys will be boys’. This is not a matter of time and efficiency, or prioritizing the destruction of some property over another. Citizens of the region deserve far better. This is not the pre-civil rights Deep South.

Ronald K. Goodenow

Letter from Area Resident

What do you think is really going on here? I can't believe the reactions of the local authorities (police). Is that the usual reaction to vandalism, destruction, and racist displays? It's a bit incredulous in this day and age! Especially in an area with major universities--i.e. people who think and speak out about larger issues. Who do you think was responsible for the vandalism, etc.? From what I read, it sounded like a pretty large group of vandals...if this goes unpunished, what might they do next?

I'm sure that you have involved all of the available agencies and watchdog sorts of groups (like the ADL and EPA). How about the environmental protection committees in other local towns. They may be able to offer wide spread support, publicity, suggestions, etc. I know that the town of Westford has a very involved group that makes lots of rulings that do not keep all of the people happy all of the time...it would be good for them to be aware---to be on their guard for similar incidents and to offer support/suggestions.

Letter in response to questions we raised in the Friends of Rocky Pond newsletter about Town Administrator Olsen's letter to the Banner:

Hello Ron,

I have the answer to the question; 'But worse, try as I might I can find no letter from Barbara. Why was she attacked?' It's called guilt by association! I know for it has applied to me over the last few years. Then Town of Boylston was taken to Court by concerned citizens i.e. the Rocky Pond Realty Trust issue. Although not a plaintiff, I am related and thus have been subjected to the harassment of town officials and others. You indicate surprised by the attacks by these officials? It has been my experience (I have even found myself in court) that they are quite vindictive toward anyone who questions (even by association) their actions.