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In the past, whenever I travelled by plane I would, typically, only feel angst about my own situation. What should I pack? When should I arrive at the airport? Will I have enough time to make my connection?  9-11 changed that. Now, I feel angst about the situation of those travelling around me. And whether the angst I feel is validated or not, I recently discovered, it somewhat alters my travelling experience…
For example: Recently, we arrived at the airport for a 12-hour flight. We were early and the airline had not yet opened their check-in counters, but, as it was a large plane, there were already many passengers queuing-up. The airline also had a lot of self-service kiosks and since we already had our digital boarding passes and only one bag of luggage to check-in, we went to the widely available bag-tag kiosks and headed to the bag-drop line which had only one passenger in front of us.
As we rolled our bag (with its proper tag on it), we noticed that this passenger was carrying only a small bag, slung over her shoulder. The bag was more like a purse and would be classified (according to airline policy) as a personal item. She wasn’t even wearing (or carrying) a jacket. In addition to our luggage, we each also carried a personal item and a mid-sized backpack.
Bottom line, WE looked like travelers who were about to board a 12-hour flight and SHE looked like a mom about to run into a store to buy some apples for her children to snack on in their minivan. As the airline attendant readied himself to open and manage the bag-drop line, SHE turned around to us and asked, “Am I in the right line?” I wanted to shout a resounding “NO!” because she was standing in the bag-drop line WITHOUT a bag. We soon discovered that she was not only NOT in possession of a bag in the bag-drop line, but that she also was NOT in possession of a boarding pass. My husband encouraged her to utilize the boarding-pass kiosks so that she could print her bag-tag. She responded with some weird claim that the kiosks don’t work with her passport because her name isn’t correct. WHAT? We both began to worry and even more so when the bag-drop line attendant promptly printed her boarding pass for her. Shouldn’t SHE have been a red flag for the airline as SHE was seemingly travelling without luggage and under some sort of alias? SHE certainly was a cause for concern to me! And rather than relaxing while I waited, I spent the rest of my time worrying about her and what her possible motives might be for travelling on a 12-hour flight with NO luggage and with a passport with an incorrect name.
At the gate, I only watched her. SHE seemed nervous and apprehensive to me. Her behavior, in comparison to all others, was odd. Nevertheless, we still boarded the plane when our group was called and settled into our seats. Shortly before boarding was complete, from the back of the plane (or at least from behind us), a man abruptly sat in the seat in front of us. He was carrying only a backpack and quickly placed it in the spot between the empty window seat next to him and the window fuselage rather than under the seat in front of him. Why did he do this? Was there something in the backpack that would explode? Why did he come from the back of the plane? Why did he seem nervous? Was he trying to get an upgraded seat without paying for it?...
Angst! Angst!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

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'Rail' Against Winter
A paint color reminiscent of summertime highlights a foot bridge rail at Crystal Pond Park. More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.

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Trash sticker
prices going up
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It was inevitable.
The town’s trash removal service, Casella, notified the town recently that they will increase prices by 60 percent.
Selectmen voted to raise the price of trash stickers.
Effective July 1, the $1 stickers will cost $3 and the $2 stickers will cost $5.
Last July 1 the sticker prices doubled, going from $.50 to $1 and from $1 to $2.
At the time, Travis Sirrine, highway superintendent, said because the amount collected from the sale of trash stickers “is nowhere near” the actual cost, the prices had to go up.
The (soon-to-be $5) stickers are for 30-35 gallon bags and the $3 stickers will be for 13-20 gallon bags.
The appropriate sticker must be used for the appropriate sized-bag regardless of how full the bag is. The stickers are to be put on the top portion of the bag and the bags must be placed, by 6 a.m., at curbside as close to the road as possible.
Last June Sirrine said the rates had not been adjusted in about 20 years and that the amount collected from the sale of trash stickers “is nowhere near” the actual cost. The balance is funded by the town budget. Sirrine said that Town Administrator Elaine Sistare surveyed other towns last year and discovered, even with the new prices, Putnam residents have a “remarkably good deal.”

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caption, page 5:


Aerial view of property

Dealership
work is
beginning
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
EAST PUTNAM — About a year after purchasing the former Cormier property on Rt. 44, the new owners are starting plans to develop the 12-acre property.
Town officials said the engineering firm last week conducted soil analyses, saying the firm took several samples. The firm will take the results of the tests and formulate from there the plans for the property.
The site plan will be based on what the soil analyses says.
There are wetlands on the property.
A year ago the property was purchased by Sean and Michael Putnam, LLC. They said at the time that the company “intends to give all their customers as many local options as possible at the Toyota dealership now slated for 88 Providence Pike.”
Breault Realty III, LLC sold the property to Sean and Michael Putnam, LLC, for $1.335 million, according to town clerk records.
The agent listed for Sean and Michael Putnam, LLC, of Norwell, Mass., is Robert McGee.
Under various companies that group owns 17 dealerships including McGee Toyota in Dudley.
The parcel contains a small yellow house, a field adjacent to the house along Rt. 44 and a large undeveloped area directly behind the house and field. The open acreage in the back runs all the way behind the store buildings on the eastern end of the Putnam Parkade.
Directly across from the property are Tractor Supply and a liquor store. Retail stores, a pharmacy, fast food restaurants, banks, and more fill in Rt. 44 on both sides heading west toward I-395.

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