THE FARMERS MARKET

FARMERS' MARKETS,so-called have sprung up in various area across the US,for many reasons. The Claremont Farmer's Market has been going for quite some time but the participants have varied over the years. Some of them were followed by BAND CONCERTS which were somewhat popular and served to bring people in early,etc. However, some of the things there seem to resemble 'glorified' yard sales,despite the notion of 'arts & crafts'. Nevertheless, while these things may seem a bit 'medieval' they are only slightly regulated at present by local cities and towns,which,of course,extract their fees and permits, to help fill the ever emptying coffers, being drained in innumerable ways,far too lengthy to enumerate here. Although so-called 'public' land is involved(also called municipal, town, city,etc.) the land is not really accessible to the public except on certain imposed schedules,regulations,etc.

PROPERTY TAXES & PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

Those in Claremont who own property received notices of an increase in property values. In this particular era of economic downturn, an increase in value,done without consideration of the present economic realities, seems to be counter-productive and will lead to some dire consequences for the town of Claremont in years to come. First, employment is down and unemployment on the rise. Wages may have been increased minimally for low-paid workers but with new taxes and fees being imposed by ALL governments, from towns, cities, counties,states and also the Federal, such things amount to little or nothing for the most part. ALL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT, whether National or Local, are in TROUBLE and will continue to be in trouble to the extent that growing unrest and growing poverty will continue. As for Claremont, itself, it may be time for 'TEA PARTY' which other towns have performed in the past. It is also a time to send politicians a message on taxes, health care, and the like. Claremont has a vast number of VACANT LOTS, and remember, every parking lot you see, whether private or public, is A VACANT LOT! Likewise, every vacant building you see is unproductive, is not bringng in revenues or helping the business climate,etc. What is the solution? It is something that most people tend to ignore.

THE DEMISE OF THE EAGLE TIMES

The EAGLE TIMES has apparently ceased publication just as I was getting interested in some of its articles, the last two of personal interest to me being on John and Virginia Meloney who were once neighbors to me when I lived on Winter Street. Both articles are worth reading and a lot more could have been said about each of them.

THE NEW PARKING GARAGE IN CLAREMONT

With the erection of a new parking garage on Main Street near the newly prepared COMMON MAN, Claremonters can express a bit more pride in the town, although we might well wonder at the continued asphalting of the town, especially on North Street near the tourise center that hardly sees any dramatic use, either by locals, natives, or flatlanders passing by or gawping at the place if they have time. Claremont is full of parking lots, asphalted affairs, both public and private that contribute to continual run-off and that require constant maintenance which all raise taxes. Also, the restrictions that all towns, cities, and villages tend to impose on parking makes one wonder what will be next?