site redesign

In my search for other local news and information sites, i found a few web sites worth checking out in our neighboring towns...

• Sam Ober, has a radio show, blog, and website in Walpole. Check out the interviews he's done with politicians on the radio show and his commentary on Walpole issues. Also, for local news...see http://walpolenews.com.
• In  Norwood, after the Norwood Bulletin newspaper was purchased (ultimately becoming a Gatehouse Media property), its publishers started a second weekly, the Norwood Record. They charge $1/month for full access to the online edition. I haven't been able to locate any blogs about Norwood.
• In Canton, the Canton Citizen reports all the news that won't fit between the ads on the Canton Journal. Self-proclaimed "barking dog" Carl Lavin blogs at http://www.cantonbarkingdog.com/ about Canton issues...

Consider what it would look like to pull together the locally-written content from all these towns, plus Westwood and Dedham...imagine if a post about Westwood Station drew impassioned commentary not only from residents in Westwood, but also people in Canton. Imagine an online discussion about the adult entertainment zone that was discussed in Dedham MONTHS before it briefly flared up at a Selectman's meeting in Westwood. Wouldn't that be valuable to know what's going on in and around us?

Yes, there would be more noise. More angry novellas of discontent...but our issues matter, and while people do not always express themselves politely or accurately, I think most of us can sort out the bias and substance of these issues.

Consider the potential value such a hyperlocal network would bring to local businesses seeking to attract clients and customers from neighboring towns. People in Westwood, Canton, Norwood and Walpole would ALL be potential shoppers in Dedham Square...and plenty of Westwood businesses would like to find more clients in Dedham and Norwood.

More to come...