To the editor: Green means go. It's universal. But if you are a local driver, just be careful when you go on green in Mansfield.

At the many traffic lights on Route 140 and around this busy town your light may turn green, but there will be two or three vehicles still turning in front of you and your fellow travelers. Those drivers on their way shopping, doing errands or just going home, are running the left turn red light, not clearing the intersection and dangerously placing themselves in front of oncoming traffic.

Heaven help the driver who wants to time the green light as he or she approaches the intersection; do that in Mansfield and you are gambling with your life. Tractor- trailers, shoppers, business people and even soccer moms are running the left turn red light and putting themselves and their passengers in jeopardy.

Don't go on green in Mansfield because other drivers don't stop on red.

I have seen the Mansfield Police Department pulling drivers over along routes 140 and 106, but they can't keep up with the tide of these hurried scofflaws. Day or night drivers are confronted with left-turning cars as they try to go on green. With the holiday season approaching, let us hope and pray this turmoil will not result in accidents and injuries. Traffic will be busier, more drivers will be out and, sadly, when your light turns green you will have to wait.

Remember, green doesn't mean go in Mansfield.

Paul Broderick, Norton

He's right; North needs new exec

To the editor:

That was a great column Saturday by Bill Gouveia. He said it all regarding Mark Fisher and his few selectmen buddies. I don't include all selectmen but you know who you are. Town Administrator Mark Fisher needs to go. The sooner the better for the town.

He wasn't qualified to be hired for the position, the taxpayers didn't want him appointed, but here he sits in the position because certain selectmen were pals with him. He has proved as a former selectman and now as a town administrator that his qualifications, abilities, and competence are well below average in handling challenges that arise in our town.

The North Attleboro Electric Department fiasco is only one of many that he has botched. This is going to cost the taxpayers dearly in lawsuits that I'm sure are yet to come. Mark Fisher, and his few selectmen confidants need to do the right thing and resign in disgrace immediately.

North Attleboro has the dignity to rebuild its reputation and will, with knowledgeable people that this town can be proud of.

Linda Corbett, North Attleboro City's one-penny opera ought to make you smile

To the editor:

I have read reach and every article and letter to the editor regarding the recent flap over a penny. I, probably being much older than the average writer, have a different take on the event.

I do not see this as an insult to any city employee. Nor is it a catastrophic blow to the tax collector's office.

It is also not a reason to replace a mayor or any other city official. No, in my humble opinion, it is an occasion for celebration.

People from coast to coast, and possibly even further away, are now aware that the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts has within its borders a city known as Attleboro. A city that in its diligence and attention to fiscal responsibility, sends out notices to any and all delinquencies regarding to collection of its just taxes. The "notoriety" exists only in the stilted minds of nitpickers who would find fault with rain during a drought.

May I refresh the memories of those older folks, and just possibly enlighten those who are younger and open to learning?

Back in the 1950s - yes, there was really life back then - a group of singers known as the Kingston Trio hit the top of the charts with a song titled "M.T.A."

This song told a tale of a man called Charlie, who supposedly was stranded on Boston's subway system for lack of a nickel, due to a fare raise. It was totally fictional, of course, but people the country over sent nickels to the Massachusetts Transit Authority.

Had we played this local incident properly, Attleboro might have reaped a banquet of pennies. Oh well, such is life. Lighten up, all you naysayers, the election is behind us and the holidays (known in some circles as Christmas) are just ahead of us. Oh, for those who have not heard the song, the lyrics can be found by simply typing in "Charlie and the M.T.A." on your search engine. Thank you all, and a merry Christmas to the tax office.

Steve Fricker, Rehoboth

Selectman has false idea of school workload

To the editor:

I am writing in response to Selectman Francis Cavaco's letter of Nov. 17.

I am an employee of the Seekonk School Department. I would like to tell the taxpayers of the town of Seekonk that even though some of us only work 195 days, we only get paid for said 195 days.

Instructional aides who work 180 days once again only get paid for 180 work days. Mr. Cavaco, if you are going to write a letter to the taxpayers, please get your facts and figures straight so you don't give the voters the wrong impression of us.

Teachers, nurses, psychologists may only work 180 school days, but the hours they put in preparing lessons, doing reports etc. add up to way more than 180 days.

As a member of the board of selectmen you fail to realize that when your team goes into negotiations with the superintendent of schools, the business agent, and a school committee representative we start early in the year to avoid complications like our troubled economy that Mr. Cavaco alluded to.

Last, but not least, the school department does not spend money like "a drunken sailor." Mr. Cavaco should check the contracts he is responsible for and leave the school department contracts to the people who were hired and elected to negotiate with school department employees.

Mr. Cavaco, walk a mile in our shoes and then you will realize just how much we do.

Helen Leavitt, Seekonk