Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 8/1/2023
LUDLOW — The Board of Selectmen approved a request to use the Memorial Park gazebo and grounds for a “Brave Book Story Hour” at its July 25 meeting. Resident Grace Burek brought the request to the board.
The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in conjunction with the national See You at the Library Movement.
Kirk Cameron, an actor best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the television show “Growing Pains” and Brave Book author, has been visiting libraries and hosting story hours across the country.
Brave Books is calling for local communities to host their own Brave Book Story Hour at their respective town library at the same time and day.
The website says, “On Aug. 5, 2023, [we] are calling on all families who love God and love America to gather at our local public libraries to pray, sing, and read Brave Books and other books of virtue.”
When the motion was presented to be voted on, Selectman Tony Goncalves seconded it to spark a conversation before making a decision.
Goncalves said, “Rather than all of us sit here and look at each other and nobody wants to say anything I’m not going to be a chicken. Its not a secret the potential that can come with this book.”
The original event was scheduled to take place inside the library, but Burek said that day did not work for her team to set up.
“In the library you had a controlled environment, I did some reading, and it appears that wherever there is a book reading, you end up having some disturbances normally. Its attracting other groups that are protesting against this type of thing,” Goncalves added.
He also brought up that when there was a Black Lives Matter march that took place in Ludlow from the high school to the police station in 2020, it cost the town $19,000 “in police overtime and ambulance.”
Goncalves’ main concern is who will pay for the cost of a potential disturbance and if it will create a public safety issue for Ludlow.
He said, “That [Black Lives Matter march] we didn’t even see it or know it was coming where this one I can comfortably read where in Louisiana there was a major disturbance at one of these readings. Who picks up this tab if all of a sudden we run into that type of situation?”
Goncalves added, “I am not talking about the intent or the value of what is going to be discussed. I am talking abut what could happen and what it could end up costing the town.”
Burek said she is aware of that situation and thinks they were subtle disturbances.
She added, “Yes, a disturbance could happen but I would think that knowing that this is for children and it’s a story book and its songs and activities. This isn’t against any particular group.”
Burek said she will have people outside to calm down anything that could potentially happen.
She said, “I welcome people to come and listen to the stories. I welcome any group to see what’s going on there and they’ll know there is really no need to have any type of protests.”
Resident Kelly Kapinos was present at the meeting to talk on behalf of members she has heard from in her precinct.
She said, “I am a Town Meeting member and have talked to quite a few people. I have read the book and then I said what’s the problem with the book. The book isn’t the problem. I went onto bravebooks.com, Kurt Cameron has a three minute video and the first sentence is we are trying to stop indoctrinating our children.”
Kapinos added, “That is where I have the issue. Many people and I am not going to say just a few have already told me that they will be bringing in people from out of town even to protest this.”
Selectman Bill Rosenblum agreed with Goncalves concerns but said he would never want to censor anyone.
He added, “The tough part I have a little bit is knowing this is religious a little bit because it is a Christian book reading.”
According to the Brave Books website, its purpose is to honor God by shaping a future generation of Americans, who will fight for a nation defined by freedom, truth, humility, bravery and compassion.
Their mission “is to help parents instill a love of truth in their children so that the children will withstand harmful progressive influences.”
Burek responded, “It’s based on Christian values which was the foundation of the country. We will not be teaching, preaching or discussing religion.”
Board of Selectmen Derek DeBarge and James Gennette were in favor of approving the use of the space.
DeBarge said, “This was easy for me; that is why I just read the motion and don’t need to discuss it. This is the problem. These groups that go against things like this that preach the family unit and all of that. These groups prey on fear of people like us that won’t vote for this because we are afraid of what, backlash from three people on social media.”
He added, “I could care less about that, and I would vote any day for this and vote against anything that I don’t think is right for the community at large.”
Gennette said, “This is a public area and this is free speech. I don’t know what the hell any of you are talking about, they can do whatever they want with our approval. How do you stop that? It’s that simple. It’s free speech, this America and those are our freedoms.”
The Board of Selectmen approved the use of the Memorial Park gazebo and grounds on Aug. 5 for the Brave Book Story Hour in a 4-0-1 vote.
Goncalves abstained.