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This Fall, Shop Local!

November 8, 2011 by Greg Agnew

The following is a re-print of an article I authored for the Dedham Transcript on September 18, 2011. Another is following this soon, so stay tuned! Also, a new article will be coming to my site soon regarding Politics, I’ve just been a bit backed up!

Alas, the end of summer has made its way into Dedham, signaling the beginning of yet another school year, the end of family vacations to Cape Cod, and far cooler temperatures than June and July had to offer.

For some, Labor Day weekend was a solemn reminder that our fresh fruits and vegetables will soon be making their exit as well, considering as the days get shorter and the leaves begin to fall, our Massachusetts native fruit and vegetable choices begin to dwindle.

The dread of autumn brings with it the dread of root vegetables. Potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic cloves, shallots, and radishes fill the minds of the weekly shopper, further motivating the creation of those ever-so-boring stews and other hearty meals.

It certainly sounds as if autumn is a drag, right?

Well, it’s really not all that bad, especially if you live in or around Dedham. Our town’s impressive array of locally-grown, organic focused residents and small business owners have committed their dinner plates to more unique and exciting dishes over the past few years while providing those who are like-minded with resources to do so.

Take the outdoor farmers market for example. Most outdoor markets are run only during the late spring and summer months, closing down just before the first bite of cool air is felt. Dedham’s, however runs through the end of October, providing plenty of alternatives to those dreaded stews we spoke of earlier. Additionally, the year round Dedham Country Store is another local, organic, and all-natural refuge for foodies who still desire the tastes of summer throughout the whole year.

Now that you’ve had a short lesson on where to shop, the struggle with cooking ensues. But have no fear, as Dedham provides yet another easy way out in the form of Dedham TV’s “Greater Boston Gala Girls,” a locally-produced and hosted show that provides viewers with tips and recipes for exactly what to do with all of those wonderful root vegetables, as well as ideas on how to entertain guests during the autumn months.

All of these impressive, yet relatively small and locally focused efforts are part of a direction I feel our country is moving toward, and Dedham is certainly at the forefront of this movement.

In order to promote growth and ensure the health of not only ourselves, but also future generations, we must always be conscious of where our food comes from, how it is grown, and who we are purchasing it from. In many ways, buying from larger, less local big box stores promotes the acceptance of quantity over quality and discourages the entrepreneurial spirit that will someday rescue America from the black hole of debt.

So, remember, next time you’re writing out your grocery list, think of the ways you can help not only Dedham, but also our country grow and recover. Support small businesses by shopping where (dare I say) you may know the owner or employees while exploring the possibility of growing your own fruits and vegetables on a small scale to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, and always be focused on what you can eat according to the current season, not what’s on the sale rack at the grocery store.

Greg Agnew is a local small business owner and farm operations manager who provides insights as to how to live your life fresh & local. Greg can be reached at: greg@dedhamsquarecountrystore.com or by calling: 781-326-8944.

Read more: FRESH & LOCAL: Shop local in Dedham this fall for produce – Dedham, Massachusetts – The Dedham Transcript http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/highlight/x462627782/FRESH-LOCAL-Shop-local-in-Dedham-this-fall-for-produce#ixzz1dB0Feqhd

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Dedham’s “All-American” Send Off

June 9, 2011 by Greg Agnew

Westwood can be proud of  the fact that they are the neighbor of Dedham, named this April as one of the National Civic League’s finalists for the All America City Award, given out on June 17th, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. As a small business owner in Dedham, and as an employee of the counties most-watched television network, I’m proud to say that I have roots in both communities.

I still live in Westwood, and I enjoy doing so. I even plan on opening up an additional business there some day. However, on most week days, I consider myself part of the Dedham Community as well. In fact, I was so enthusiastic about Dedham’s chances of coming home on June 18th with a victory as Massachusetts’ first All-American City since Barnstable (2007) and Worcester (2000), that I was asked to join the delegation and complete for the highly sought after award.

I mention these things because I believe after my whole experience is over on June 18th, I’ll be able to take information to Westwood’s Economic Development Advisory Board, and get to work encouraging commercial and economic development in Westwood – something that Dedham prided itself on during the application process for the AACA. Sustainability and energy efficient buildings, a civic group dedicated to small business relationships and fostering growth within the community, and many other great strides Dedham had made over the past few years were the reasoning behind naming Dedham a finalist.

In Westwood, we can take note of these accomplishments and use them to further our own economic growth by building a similar model of success rallying around vocal community members and establishing a timeline for success. In a few years, Westwood can be on the same path to the All-America City Awards – and the increased federal and state grant funding that can come with this very prestigious designation.

With that being said, I’d like to invite all who are interested to Dedham’s “All-American” Send-Off Party, which will be held at the Dedham Square Country Store located at 626 High Street in Dedham, MA, from 7:30pm – 9:30pm on Monday, June 13, 2011. After many months of hard work by Dedham’s Town Administration, Youth Commission, Small Business Owners, Elected Officials, and Civic Activists, Dedham’s finally going out to Kansas City, MO on June 14th to compete for the All-America City Award in a theatrical performance. This is a great opportunity to help send the delegation out the right way – with a few drinks and light refreshments – hosted by one of Dedham’s most unique retail shops that embodies the renewable and sustainable message that brought Dedham to the AAC Finals, the Dedham Square Country Store. It’s a great opportunity to meet everyone who’s going out to KC on Tuesday and Wednesday, and to sneak a quick peek at some of the performance Dedham’s going to give to the judges! Come and bring your enthusiasm for Dedham to this event – along with family and friends!

We’d prefer if you RSVP by clicking on the Facebook Event Link. 

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“All for Paul” and the Dedham Dynamic

May 10, 2011 by Greg Agnew

I met Paul Reynolds about 10 years ago while teaching a seminar on “back country camping and cooking” to a group of youths in Milton, MA. One of those children happened to be one of Paul’s three sons. After the seminar was over, Paul was the first person who came up to me, and told me what a fine job I had done teaching the kids the basics of camping and cooking outdoors, something that not too many other parents of children had done that day.

There was something different about Paul. He looked you in the eye when he spoke to you, meant what he said while speaking from the heart, had no ulterior motives in mind, and had the genuine desire to want to work with you in the future. Overall, speaking to Paul was most likely one of the most encouraging and exciting moments in my life.

Fast forward through time, and you would have experienced a great deal of dealings between Paul and I. Whether it be interning at his company (FableVision) in Boston, dinner in and around Dedham with friends, or managing his last campaign for Selectman, we’ve been pretty close.

I mention this because there is a huge difference between Paul (a two-term Selectman) and the entire Board of Selectmen in Westwood. Paul, by his very nature, is an outwardly over-transparent person. He’ll tell you anything and everything you need to know about the Town of Dedham, the current business the BOS is discussing, and always asks how he can better serve the residents with any problems that they may be facing.

Paul also brings with him a very encouraging attitude, a rare quality that not too many people possess. He is a community-builder at heart, setting out each day to truly make a difference by helping and enabling others to step forward if they want a project completed, or have a desire to solve problems that have long-plagued the community.

Paul is one of the driving forces behind some community groups in Dedham: the Dedham Square Circle, and the Oakdale Square Alliance. He’s also the co-founder of Dedham’s Blue Bunny – Books & Toys, as well as the Dedham and Boston-based children’s media company FableVision.

After Paul and Sarah MacDonald’s victory in 2008, Dedham set sail for a new course. A course that was mapped out by all kinds of residents who had either lived in Dedham for decades, or had just moved in a month ago. The dynamic and attitude of “the powers that be” had given birth to a new feeling of acceptance and positivity. A feeling by all who participated that no matter what, their suggestions and ideas would be taken seriously, transparency was a top priority, and each Elected Official was accessible and approachable.

I credit Paul with giving me the same positive “can-do” attitude that many of Westwood’s former and current residents once possessed, but have since given up on, due to a lack of effective communication tools by the current (and past) Boards of Selectmen, dating back to Tom Dunn’s era.

As you may recall, I too embarked on a journey in 2008 to run for Selectman, but was defeated by a candidate considered by most to be the “hand-picked” successor of outgoing Selectman Tony Antonellis and the rest of the “powers that be”. Regardless of the truth of that comment, it’s the perception. Luckily, Phil Shapiro, the victor in 2008, and again in 2011, has panned out fairly well for the town. He rarely makes a splash, has calculated his moves wisely, and gives off a surprisingly approachable attitude. However, the same can not be said for many of his colleagues. This is not a personal attack against any one member of any elected board or committee in Westwood, rather, it is a criticism of the way in which Westwood is perceived as “doing business” when it comes to new building projects, various concerns of residents for town-wide issues (macro or micro), and the desire for some to build stronger relationships between Town Hall and the citizenry.

My thought is that we need a Paul Reynolds in Westwood. We need someone to “step up to the plate” and run for elected office with the passion and positive attitude that Paul possesses. Someone to help form community groups and non-profits, open up the lines of communication, and bring together parties of differing opinion to conclude on reasonable solutions for the betterment of Westwood.

Dedham is evidence that motivational people like Paul really do wonders for the community. They invigorate the creative base of the population and foster growth and an overall positive attitude. In sort, more work gets done.

I closing, I’d like to thank Paul Reynolds for giving me the courage to get out in the community and try to make a difference in the lives of people, just for the betterment of Westwood. Thank you for allowing me to help your community of Dedham, and for your guidance along my path of life. Most people tend to think you must have a personal, or financial stake in what you’re trying to accomplish when you run for elected office, but for me, it’s just my desire to want to help and to make a difference. Why else would I do this at such a young age while 99% of my friends (and others of similar age ranges) stay clear away from running for elected office?

It’s my desire to change the perception of Politics in America – and to take the Parties out of politics.

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O’Brien is right, Parks is wrong; “Dean of Students” is unnecessary

April 7, 2011 by Greg Agnew

In no way does Westwood High School need a “Dean of Students” to take the strain off of the Vice Principal.

Westwood High School, in addition to thousands of High Schools across the country, have operated successfully without a Dean of Students since their inception. There is no doubt in my mind that adding another layer of thick bureaucracy and red tape to the School Administration is the last thing the students need in order to excel academically. Additionally, this proposed new position would further strain an already tight budget, allowing this new “czar of students” to pull in around $78,000, while only working 10 months out of the year. Sadly, some of us don’t even make half that salary, working the full 12 month cycle like normal human beings.

Sadly, our current economic conditions don’t exactly promote growth, rather, it favors cost-cutting measures and reductions of services, just to make ends meet. Adding a frivolous position to Westwood High School will not only cause budgetary issues, but will further separate the students from people they should be regularly communicating with: the Principal and Vice Principal.

 

Photo Credit: Bobby Martin, Patch.com

School Committee Member Jack O’Brien commented that the position is highly paid and unnecessary. He also noted that just because other school districts may be exploring a similar post, Westwood should not follow along without careful deliberation. Westwood is continually a top school within Massachusetts, and neither the addition of a Dean of Students, nor the failure to hire a Dean of Students, will affect Westwood’s academic reputation within the community and beyond.

 

Surprisingly, the added position within Westwood High School was proposed by outgoing Principal Emily Parks, who formerly served as the Assistant Principal not long ago. Next school year, she will be elevated to the level of Assistant Superintendent,  a move criticized by much of the Westwood community citing her lack of experience and supposed inability to work in cooperation with students. Observation of Emily’s service as Westwood High’s Vice Principal is evidence enough that she was well-equipped at the time  to handle the needs of over 900 students on a daily basis, mostly without the help of other support staff.

Especially during these tough economic times, it seems a bit frivolous of an incoming School Administrator to propose a position that will add a burden to the already strained FY 2012 budget.

 

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A Final Examination: Plowing and Contractors in Westwood, MA

February 21, 2011 by Greg Agnew

The following is a short video that was taken after one of the smaller snow storms that Westwood experienced in early February 2011. It depicts an employee of the contracted plowing company FedCorp, removing snow from the driveway of a private resident located in the Fairway Acres neighborhood of Westwood, MA. Removal of snow in a private residence is prohibited in the Town of Westwood (as is for most other towns), unless the resident compensates the company and provides proof that the service was completed outside of the contractor’s regular town duties.

In short, the video is not meant to disrupt the plowing contract between the town and FedCorp, rather, it is meant to highlight the lack of focus, dedication, and responsiveness the town of Westwood has when it comes to snow removal, especially during 2011.

In a previous post, I highlighted my frustration with the town and its ability to plow on time, provide an accurate snow removal budget, and make available supporting facts as to why our taxes are going up more than 6% in 2012, but services are being slashed.

My YouTube page will also give you a glimpse of some other weather related travel restrictions in 2011 that were of a direct result of Westwood not plowing my neighborhood for over 8 hours after a rather large snow storm.

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“Market Growth” – Q&A Session with Greg Agnew

February 9, 2011 by Greg Agnew

The following is a re-print of a story that ran in the Dedham Transcript and the Westwood Press, about my Country Store celebrating one year in business, during one of the hardest economic times that our Nation has ever faced. I’m sharing it with the rest of the community, to highlight and to thank each and every person who has made the success of the Country Store possible. Credit for the article goes to Andrea Salisbury, and photo credit to Sean Browne.

On weekdays it looks like a homey, Americana shop with rows of jams and empty baskets just waiting for baked goods. Then Sunday rolls around and the Dedham Square Country Store is packed with shoppers, warm bread, fresh seafood, cheese and conversation. The 23-year-old proprietor, Greg Agnew, said there were times he never thought it would make it through the first year. Luckily it did and on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. the High Street shop will be open for its anniversary party. Agnew recently talked to the Dedham Transcript about the first year in Dedham Square and his future plans.

Q: The Dedham Square Country Store is marking its year anniversary, did you think you would make to this point?  

A: I honestly thought at some points during the last year that we would have never made it to year one. The store is a constant work-in-progress, with so many hours each week put into planning and implementation of new products, store design, and functionality. There were some moments over the past year where I would sit at my desk and wonder if we could survive another week with the budget we had, or the products we were going to offer the following Sunday at the market. I still wonder how we made it this far, but it’s important to remember that we continue to need the communities unwavering support if we’re going to succeed and make it to year two. We have a phenomenal following in the town of Dedham, and our customers are the reason we’ve been in business this long.
Q: What motivated you to even open this market and to keep it going?  

A: My father (Greg Agnew, Sr.) scheduled an appointment to look at the open space at 626 High St. back in October of 2009, thinking we’d never be able to afford it. We were hoping to get just a simple winter farmer’s market-style business up and running to support the following of the summer farmer’s market, co-created by our friend Adina Astor. As we moved farther along through November, and into the months leading up to now, we realized the town needed more than a farmer’s market-style outfit, they needed organic, fresh, all-natural produce and other products year round. They needed a place that they could shop, knowing where the ingredients came from, and knowing it was truly all locally-produced. The landlords (The Odd Fellows), my father, and I all worked out a plan that would allow us to survive, and we’re grateful to Odd Fellows and the community for this wonderful opportunity. My motivation in keeping the market open was knowing that I was filling a need for local, organic, all-natural and fresh products, in a world that offers mostly processed, pesticide-laden foods.
Q: What is your five-year plan for the store?  

A: I have my dreams as to where I might be in five years. I definitely still want to be in business, I want to be open at least five days a week, and I want to expand our customer base deeper into the surrounding communities (especially my hometown of Westwood), so that we can educate more people about the advantages of eating and living healthy. As for the rest of my dreams, you’ll just have to periodically drop by and see.
Q: What has been a highlight over the past year?  

A: The highlight for me has been spending more time with my dad, and learning how to be in the retail business (something he’s done his whole life). I’m a very firm believer that formal education can only take you so far, and its limited in what it can teach you. My dad says that if you want to learn, (and be successful), you have to be willing to bust your hump, open your ears, and get your hands dirty. Without my dad around, there would be no country store.
Q: Who was the best customer?  

A: It’s hard to judge who our best customer really is, since we have so many weekly regulars. I’m not going to name names, but I’d like to thank everyone who regularly comes in, and relies upon us to fulfill their grocery needs each Sunday.
Q: What was your strangest moment?  

A: Our strangest moment occurs every week, when someone, who I seem to never notice, leaves an empty egg carton in our fridge. (We have a program that rewards you $0.25 off your next egg purchase if you bring back the carton. Everyone but one person gives the cartons to me each week).
Q: What can shoppers expect in year two?  

A: In year two, shoppers can expect a lot of surprises, just like they’ve observed on a high frequency throughout 2010. I hope to install a coffee and lose leaf tea bar, all-natural smoothies, and an overall robust and full product selection. Our intent is not to encroach on anyone else’s retail turf, and to honor the commitment we’ve made to our customers to open more hours as time goes on.

 

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Higher quality snow removal demanded, residential tax increases questioned

January 14, 2011 by Greg Agnew

We all know that the Metro West and coastal areas of Massachusetts have been hit hard with two massive snow storms in 2011, and that most cities and towns have already blown through their allocated budgets, and have since requested to take more taxpayer money, which prompts the question that has been asked frequently: why continually go over budget when you’ve been dealing with snow removal for centuries in Massachusetts?

Each year, our budget is faced with a puzzling question: why do DPW department heads continually ask for so little, when the numbers indicate they always need more? Especially since the past two snow removal jobs in Westwood, MA have been sub-par at best, even with crews supposedly working long hours day and night to resolve the many transportation issues we face with the Public Schools, and our residents venturing out to work each day.Snow

The past snow removal that occurred on January 12, 2011, was particularly atrocious. Streets were left partially plowed for up to three hours, driveways faced mountain-esque blockages due to loader-plowing, and main roads (such as Route 109) were almost un-drivable for almost two days. The DPW, from hearing radio communication, were down a few trucks due to malfunctioning sanders, which is understandable. However, contractor CJP & Sons, responsible for most of Precinct 4, were fully operational, yet very unprofessional, slow, and unresponsive to the needs of those wanting to drive to work, or leave their homes.

After two appalling snow removals by Millis, MA based CJP & Sons, I question the town’s ability to award contracts to qualified bidders. These comments come in lieu of seeing the superior snow removal of the neighboring towns of Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Medway. Now, I am not sure who contract plows for the aforementioned towns, but they sure did a far better job. For all I know, CJP & Sons could just be over extended, but if they are, they should have the sense to tell the town of Westwood they will not be able to perform quality snow removal.

With over 32 years of knowledge from a family member who worked everything from small snowplows to Caterpillar front-end loaders in the snow, I know the difference between a quality job, and an unqualified or over extended crew.

Let’s right this situation by re-visiting our plowing contracts for 2012, and make sure they can get the job done. Especially since our taxes are rising at least 6% more in 2012 (without the new library project figured in), due to Westwood’s mistake of allowing developer CC&F to demolish buildings before funding was secured for the Westwood Station Project.

To combat this residential tax increase, I 1). Advise residents to file for a tax abatement at town hall, and 2). Encourage residents to share their ideas on how we may attract more commercial development to the Economic Development Advisory Board, on which I sit. From here, we can start developing a more inclusive discussion to allow everyone to share their solutions for a better Westwood, where each resident can have a say in what they think is best for the town’s health and overall growth.

In the future, I hope we all can enjoy a problem free commute in the snow, and a lower tax burden next time around. With better ideas and thought processes from our Board of Selectman and other elected officials, we can all benefit in the end.

Makes me wonder why I decided not to run for Selectman.

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Agnew not to run for Slectman in April 2011

December 8, 2010 by Greg Agnew

Dear Friends, Family, and residents of Westwood,

During my first attempt to lead Westwood residents to a brighter future, I was ultimately not successful. The process was physically draining, very time-consuming, and left little time to myself to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. With that being said, I can’t deny that I highly enjoyed the experience, had fun, and very much looked forward to challenging myself again by running for elected office in the future.

The April 2008 elections were, in my mind, a very good litmus test of how the town would look three years from then. Now, in 2010, with that three-year mark fast approaching, we are left to wonder why Westwood Station has yet to move an inch, while all of our property taxes have risen miles. April 2008 told many of us that the town of Westwood was going to continue in the direction it had been traveling for decades before. The voters decided that it was better to send many candidates to Town Hall who lacked the professional skill sets, vision, and youthful presence and energy that we clearly needed in order to reach a successful outcome with the University Avenue property.

During the better part of 2010, I had the urge many times to vigorously pursue my goal of righting the situation for all of us, by running for Selectman again, and presenting new and creative strategies that I knew could improve the town immediately, without relying on the “all eggs in one basket” approach (and we know where that’s gotten us). None of us ever wanted Westwood Station to fail like it has, since the impact of losing all of the once occupied commercial spaces was a hit to all of us. The wrong thing to do is to place the blame on one, or more elected bodies in the town. The solution is to come together, create ideas, present successful strategies, and invent a compromise that will benefit us all, rather than to pander to one or more groups of people in town.

We need motivated, excited, intelligent, and creative people to step up to the plate, and make a difference by including all residents that live in town. We need a comprehensive effort, by all of our voters, to encourage their neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers to rise to the occasion, try something new, and run for office. It’s time for us to put our heads together, and focus on the one thing that we all have in common: protecting our future in Westwood. We all have an interest in helping keep the property taxes lower, to include the ideas of those who have been silenced in the past, to demand governmental transparency, and to break the cycle of leaders who struggle to communicate with their fellow citizens.

It is with great displeasure that I’m announcing to you today that I will not be considered as a candidate for Selectman in Westwood for the 2011 Election cycle. I simply don’t have the time to run the type of campaign that I am used to running, which is a successful one. I’ve thought for years that when December 2010 rolled around, I’d be ready to go. But, I’m not. I have too many family members, too many employees, and too many friends that rely on me every day, and I simply can’t add another item to my plate. I’m sorry to those who wanted to be a part of my team, and to those who have cheered me on in the past, supporting my aspirations for a 2011 victory. However, this does not mean that I’m fading away, never to be heard from again.

I wish everyone the very best Christmas and Holiday Season, and I sincerely hope each registered Westwood resident can get out to vote in April 2011.

Best Wishes,

Greg Agnew

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Agnew quoted in Boston Globe

August 18, 2010 by Greg Agnew

In the Sunday Boston Globe, published on August 15, 2010, Michelle Morgan Bolton, Globe Correspondent for the Westwood/Dedham areas, was charged with the assignment of writing a story to highlight Westwood’s second attempt since 1987 to re-write its Town Charter. Sparking this article were numerous suggested changes in 2009 to the charter by Westwood residents Michael F. Walsh (current State Senate Candidate), David Feyler, Jason Lee, and Myself.

My attempt to change the way we vote in Westwood garnered the most vocal support at a town meeting in early 2009, when I proposed that we change Town Election day to Saturday, instead of Tuesday, citing that it was safer for both children, and their parents, to vote on Saturday. This move could also boost participation almost 20%, providing people with more time to vote on the weekends, when they don’t have to worry about getting to work on time after voting on a Tuesday, or having to rush home from work in order to beat the early evening poll closures. In the end, the petition was voted down, but not without discussion. Selectman Pat Ahearn was concerned that the move may bar certain individuals (such as Orthodox Jews) from voting on Saturday, since their religious obligations prevent them from using modern technology (such as cars, as a mode of transportation) on Saturdays.

However, during my research for this proposal, I found that out of all of the residents in Westwood, only a select few observed strict Jewish practices and were able to vote via absentee ballot, just like many of our troops fighting overseas who reside in Westwood. I even took the time to speak with Jewish residents, who all agreed with my petition and supported my cause. I also called the Westwood Council on Aging to make sure that the vans that transported seniors to and from the polls would still run at no additional cost to the town. All my bases were covered, however, so I was not necessarily unhappy with the outcome.

During my petition’s journey to the floor of town meeting, I was scheduled to appear in front of the Financial Commission to state my case in order for them to suggest a “no” or “yes” vote in their annual report. Even though my petition, and several others had absolutely nothing to do with the town’s finances, it’s still a common practice for some reason. I acknowledge that the move to voting on Saturday could slightly more (having to pay poll workers and the Town Clerk etc…), it was well worth it. Due to a scheduling conflict, I was unable to make the presentation to the FinCom, and I charged Michael F. Walsh to speak on my behalf. Although Michael spoke well, my name was publicly (as I was told) berated due to my decision to focus on my then studies at Assumption College.

In the end, I was not disappointed with the decision of the town not to support my petition, rather, I was unhappy with the way I was treated.

I was proud that I not only tried (once again) to make a difference at such a young age, but I was also proud that I garnered some support from old friends, and some new ones. This article in the Globe only further motivates me to one day run again for public office, and to make my best attempt every day to promote meaningful solutions to complex problems we face. Perhaps my attempt, in addition to many others’ attempts since 1987, who tried to move Westwood in a meaningful direction, sparked a discussion, that eventually led to the forming of the Charter Commission.

And that, I too can say, I’m very proud of.

For the full article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/08/15/westwood_ready_to_start_updating_charter/

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Greg Agnew mentioned on Blue Mass Group

June 10, 2010 by Greg Agnew

While it’s not the most talked-about article about myself, I was given a mention by Blue Mass Group user mthomsondem concerning my position as Campaign Manager within the Dunkelbarger for Congress Committee:

Why Dunkelbarger is going to win in November

I’m still looking forward to supporting Dunkelbarger in the November Election. Mac is just Harmony Wu’s last minute replacement, someone who the Progressives think will oust the right-leaning Lynch and his machine.

Even though Phil Dunkelbarger didn’t do so well in his 2006 attempt, 2010 looks a lot different. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Dunk’s campaign website is completely overhauled: more professional, informative, and interactive. His 2006 site was awful, and it provided no avenue for contact and action.

2. Phil hired one of Massachusetts’ youngest Campaign Managers, Greg Agnew, who has been leading candidates to victory since early 2007, when he was only 20. The kid has a lot to learn, but has impressed a ton of people, and has turned skeptics into believers from Worcester, all the way to Boston.

3. He’s not just another “Democrat.” Phil’s Independent candidacy is more reflective of his views, not of his strategy. Take a look at Phil’s positions on his website, they’re all mostly progressive, liberal, therefore, “Democrat.” However, he’s looking to cut the military budget, and promoting economic growth by rebuilding in Massachusetts, not overseas. His ideas aren’t conservative or liberal, they’re just plain Phil.

4. He has more ground support than Mac and Lynch combined. Over 200 people on the ground (as I’ve witnessed) almost every two weeks, gathering signatures and pulling in new volunteers and money.

5. Phil’s staff includes people from all walks of political life: former Kennedy and Tierney staffers, grassroots experts, former non-profit directors, they’re all there because they believe in his cause.

Dunk’s established his new way of campaigning for 2010, and it’s not going to be matched. Trust me, I’ve wanted to stray away from him in the beginning, but he’s made a true believer out of a former skeptic.

Thank you, to whomever made that comment, and may the comment be recognized by all of my former skeptics!

In addition, I would like to take this moment to alert you to my personal fundraising appeal for Phil Dunkelbager. His cause is valiant, and his efforts will be unmatched. I hope, that after considering Phil’s candidacy, you will donate to his worthy cause. Donations from residents like you will empower the campaign to move forward and allow Phil to achieve his dream to become our Independent Voice for Main Street, not for Wall Street. Not only do donations help us survive the campaign season, but they allow people like myself to stay employed and pursue their dreams. I thank you for your consideration in advance, and encourage you to speak with Phil personally by emailing him (dunk2010@gmail.com) if that is something you’d be interested in doing.

See the full article: http://bluemassgroup.com/diary/19554/mac-dalessandro-vs-steve-lynch

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