MetroWest Daily News
Sunday, March 25, 2007

SPEAK OUT: More Important than Mascot

In regard to the continuing Natick saga involving the retired Natick mascot. I have lived in Natick my whole life, some 30 years, and I am rather embarrassed the subject continues to be mentioned when we have more important issues, such as a candiates' race for school committee, town clerk, and other offices in town, and the fact we have a budget issue approaching the next few years that really deserve much more attention. I'd also like to correct some ignorant people who chose to open their mouths. First of all, Natick was not 'named for an Indian chief.' "Natick" stands for 'place' or 'land of hills.' Second, somebody recently wrote to the paper that we have too many 'transplants' on our boards. If transplants are the only people running for office, those are the individuals who are going to get elected. If you were to ask the Native Americans 350 to 400 years ago who the transplants were, I guarantee they would say us.

R.J.V.,
Natick