By David Grossman

    Too bad there is no town fair this year. The fundraiser was a major source of funding for the Lunenburg schools courtesy of the PTO. The Town Fair was also a major source of fundraising for The Lunenburg Music Aiders, The Chester Mossman Teen Center,plus various  high school organizations such as the Latin Club, LYSA and others.

    At last year’s  Lunenburg Ledger booth we raised  over $200 for the Chester Mossman Teen Center.
    Wendy Bertram, President of the PTO, pointed out that too few people were doing too many things. After 10 years the citizens who started the fair no longer have kids in the school system. For all you parents with kids in the school system, especially those with children in the Primary School and in TC Passios, you should  find a place to pitch in and help.

    You will be either taxed more to cover the fiscal shortfall or you will be hit directly in the pocket. Maybe both. Don’t you think that in a few years you will have to pay for your children to take the busses? It was being considered during last year’s town meeting.  Sports fees, my friends, will be going up---not down. By volunteering you can alleviate some of the monetary stress caused by state and local shortfalls. It’s all about the money. No money for school supplies? Guess who has to buy them? That’s you!

    The schools are in dire straits. Infrastructure is failing. Talks to regionalize with Ayer and Shirley collapsed last year. And recently talks with North Middlesex failed.  Lunenburg schools have to go it alone for now anyway. For example, you and  the schools have to deal with the aging kitchen equipment. It is so old school officials have problems finding parts.

 
    By volunteering to resurrect the town fair or to volunteer for any school or civic organization, the total Lunenburg society can defer some expenses.  Find the time.  Volunteering can be a tricky business especially in a town where only a few people have given their time like serving on town Boards.

    You have to start somewhere. Call a friend. Call the PTO or just call your child’s school and see what you can do to help. Believe me it won’t kill you.      

     If you don’t volunteer, plan on buying umbrellas for your kids when they get to the high school. Fitting them with hard hats isn’t a bad idea either.

    Volunteer now or pay up down the road.  It’s up to you.