Dave Richards' Weekly Column in The Woonsocket Call




Dave Richards for September 7th.....

--Tickets are on sale right now for the biggest talent show of 2010, The
Colgate Country Showdown, this Saturday evening, 7pm, at the Woonsocket High
School auditorium. 12 exceptionally talented performers will vie for the one
slot open in the New England Finals, which will lead to the Eastern States
Finals, and then to the National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee and the
chance to win $100,000 and appear on national TV. It all starts right here
in Woonsocket for these 12 people. I want to remind you that this production
is part of a fundraising effort to benefit the Woonsocket High School Band
and Chorus. The athletic departments have fundraisers to help their
activities and this is ours for the kids who love music. We've got to try to
replace some of the funding which was cut in this year's budget. Doors open
at 6:15pm and there is no reserved seating, so show up early. Yes, tickets
are inexpensive at $10 each, and will be sold at the door.

--Speaking of school funding, let's talk about school sports for a moment. I
certainly didn't mean to make light of the funding difficulties they are
having in athletics, just that being a music student and also the dad of a
music student, I chose to work in that direction. We read in The Call over
the summertime that North Smithfield nearly didn't field a boys varsity
football team this season. We are very glad they did. And we are celebrating
by broadcasting their first league game of the season this Friday night at
7pm. North Smithfield puts a great deal into their students. They bring in a
portable generator to light up the field so they can play on Friday nights.
They know that football games on Friday nights are social events which get
the whole student body involved. Attendance on Friday nights always seems to
be greater than on Saturdays anywhere you go. I wish Woonsocket would look
into this. I've even suggested we set up a fundraiser to get the money to do
it and there just doesn't seem to be an interest.

--Things that go on in Burrillville don't always get the same attention as
those which happen here in the big city. This Sunday the Wallum Lake Rod
and Gun Club is having their annual field day and they are going all out to
attract visitors from very wide area. Game tasting, rides for the kids,
demonstrations, food and drink, music, the whole deal in a beautiful part of
the state with clean, fresh air and a whole day of things you just don't see
every day. I'll be there, too. Come on out and join us starting at 10am.
You'll have a blast.

--I want to take a moment here to wish all my Jewish friends a Happy New
Year. Rosh Hashanah begins tomorrow afternoon. I was pleased to learn that
some companies and school districts allow the faithful to take time off for
this holiday, as they do for the majority faiths. It makes life more
complicated and a trifle less productive, but it seems right. You see, I
think it's a great thing to offer these benefits to people, but I don't like
it when they are demanded by people. If these types of benefits are not
offered by an employer, then certain people can look for those which do,
it's a free country, mostly. The employers who offer more will attract the
employees who want more. That's just me. I'm the guy who wore my seatbelt
voluntarily starting in 1972 because I wanted to and then I bitterly
resented the government for threatening to penalize me if I didn't wear one.
Is that wrong?

--One week from today Rhode Islanders will be going to the polls to vote in
either the Democratic or Republican primaries. Some races have no Republican
running and therefore the Democratic primary will be the deciding vote taken
to see who will be finally elected in November. There have been a number of
gatherings of the candidates in various formats, some broadcast and some
not. The Call and WOON will team up for another broadcast event this
Thursday evening at 7:30. Unlike some others with limited seating for a live
audience, this one will be held at the Woonsocket High School Auditorium,
which seats more than 800 persons. As I have said, your personal freedoms in
a democratic republic do have a cost to them. And some of the cost is in
your time to be well informed so you can vote for the candidates you think
will do things your way. The only way to know this is to get to know them
and this debate on Thursday night will be a great way to do it. We're
broadcasting it only because there are thousands of voters and only 800
seats. But that's hundreds of seats more than other debates, so please take
advantage of the larger auditorium.

--That's what I think. What do you think? Mail comments to Dave Richards,
WOON Radio, 985 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, RI 02895-6332. Or email to
dave@onworldwide.com. Thanks for reading.

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