Period 9: Kelly Civics Project by Jennifer Jourdain

Light Pollution in the state of Massachusetts

2025-03-18 05:00:36 UTC

Light Pollution is a serious problem for many people including myself. For many light Pollution doesn't seem like much of a problem because it doesn't really have a direct and obvious problem for many besides making it harder to see the stars. But for many others is has serious complications for researchers it makes it hard to do studies on the sky without finding a place with minimal light pollution but often times you need specialized facilities and resources that is harder to access in rural areas. For many normal people it can have effects such as being unable to see the stars or worsening insomnia or causing insomnia, and this is a problem that effects me directly as I suffer with many symptoms associated with insomnia which was effected by to much light from my surroundings which effects my and many others mental and physical health. Unfortunately the topic of light Pollution and changes to make it better aren't taken seriously many times and change hasn't happened in years even though mass remains as a state without light pollution measures, and is significantly worse and worsening than the surrounding states such as Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

High snow banks blocking visibility

slewis490_ — 2026-03-19 18:09:18 UTC

High snow banks are a big problem in Massachusetts. The article reports that after a recent snowstorm in western Massachusetts, large snow banks are creating dangerous driving conditions by blocking visibility on roads. This is especially risky at intersections and driveways, where drivers may not be able to see approaching vehicles or people.

Schools Stupid Hat Rule

2026-03-19 18:13:41 UTC

It’s time to change the outdated hat rule

Students deserve respect to make choices that pose no harm to others, Senior John Adkins often wears a hat to school, only to be told to take it off when he arrives. Ethan Smale Senior John Adkins often wears a hat to school, only to be told to take it off when he arrives. Ethan Smale, Editor in Chief

February 17, 2022

Over my several years in the public education system, I’ve been told I couldn’t wear hats or hoods while in school. Every time I was told this, I was given different reason as to why this was the case. Many teachers said it was for the safety of the students to make sure the cameras could see faces, while others would claim the act of wearing a hat was disrespectful. Either way, this reasoning is outdated, and hypocritical in most instances, and should inspire a long overdue change in the dress code.

This is a problem because the camera should be able to see 75% of your face; only 25% is covered, which is not bad at all, and when people wear hats, they could fell confindent with themselves, and some people feel comfortable, so in that reasons Hats should be allowed in school at all times and most kids actually gets 🤬 or mad becuase of this ridiculous rule in which I don't blame them.

House inflation

2026-03-19 18:27:15 UTC

I think that house inflation is a huge problem in the U.S, but also definitely in Massachusetts. Central Massachusetts went up faster in house prices than the rest of the states in 2025. Another issue is that there aren't enough houses on the market, which also limits options for people, and which also doesn't help that prices are so high, because that limits options for price range and houses in general. A lot of people are not buying houses either and when they do the prices are crazy high.

KEILI RICHARD

Yield Sign in Gardner MA

wczasnowski133 — 2026-03-19 18:27:54 UTC

The yield sign on Elm St. going into Pear St. in Gardner Ma is dangerous and should be moved farther back. The current placement of the sign where cars stop is very close to the lane where people enter pear St. causing huge traffic jams and accidents because of drivers coming from Elm St. cutting others off.

Housing market

2026-03-19 18:34:43 UTC

Housing in Massachusetts is really expensive right now, and it’s becoming a big problem for younger people. The main reason is that there arent enough houses, so prices keep rising.

Some large companies are also buying single family homes and turning them into rentals. Even though this isn’t the biggest cause, it still makes it harder for regular people to buy homes.

Another issue is that it’s hard and expensive to build new housing because of zoning laws and slow approval processes.

To fix this, the state should make it easier to build more homes and possibly limit how many houses big companies can buy. This would help make housing more affordable for future generations.

The housing prices in Massachusetts are way too high.

jbabb323 — 2026-03-19 18:35:56 UTC

It's a really big problem in this state because many people cant afford these houses most of the time, and over the past few years, inflation has made the house prices skyrocket. which also leaves less money for other things, personally like food, healthcare, transportation, etc. alot of people who lived in this state are forced to move out because of how expensive living here is in general.

Gas Prices In Massachusetts

2026-03-20 00:20:48 UTC

Gas prices are going up very fast. Since mind-February, they have shot up to about 65 cent, and now the average price in Massachusetts is $3.55 per gallon. Prices last week were down like 24 cents. A important shipping route called the strait of Hormuz has been closed off, and that's where we get about 20% of the worlds oil travel. This is because of the things happening with Iran. A price of a barrel of oil hits around $100 a barrel. People in Massachusetts are starting to feel the hit and have to change their spending cost.

Gas prices in Massachusetts

2026-03-20 12:03:52 UTC

Gas prices in Massachusetts have been increasing fast over the last few months. Since February it has gone up almost 65 cents a glance and now the average price in Massachusetts is 3.55 a gallon. when 2 weeks ago it was about 3.30. A shipping route that transports the oil has been closed off which transports about 20% of the worlds oil. it has shut down because of what is going on in Iran right now.

Potholes in Athol

mjean460 — 2026-03-20 13:41:47 UTC

The Potholes by Market Basket in Athol are extremely dangerous. When they first started, they were small, and there were only two. Now there are like 8, and they have grown so much in the past year. When you drive down the road, you have to basically go into the other lane because they are so deep to the point that people have gotten flats, and it's just so bad to drive on.

School Zones

2026-03-20 13:47:57 UTC

In school zones, drivers are expected to reduce their speed for the safety of children, but studies show that most drivers exceed the posted speed limits. just don't slow down much at all. Most people are speeding to get to work eich just makes it worse for the people if they need to brake they will have less time to stop for them. Furthermore, the presence of potholes and other road imperfections can make it even more difficult for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions, especially in school zones where children are present. This behavior not only endangers the children but also puts the drivers themselves at risk, highlighting the need for increased awareness and enforcement of speed limits in these areas.

Potholes In Massachusetts

2026-03-20 13:51:27 UTC

Potholes in Massachusetts, are frustrating for drivers. The road defects, formed by a freeze-thaw cycle, where water seeps into the cracks in the pavement, freezes, expands, and then melts, causing the asphalt to break apart, are a common sight, especially after winter months. The resulting potholes range in size and severity, causing damage to vehicles and posting safety hazards to drivers. The impacts of potholes extend beyond mere inconvenience. Vehicles can suffer tire damage, wheel alignment issues, and suspension problems, leading to costly repairs. and potholes can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. the Massachusettes Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining state roads and actively works to address pothole issues. However the sheer volume of potholes and the ongoing cycle of their formation often make it challenging to keep up with the repairs.

2026-03-20 14:08:36 UTC

Gas Prices

2026-03-20 14:10:14 UTC

Pot holes

rcoulson187 — 2026-03-20 14:26:20 UTC

Potholes are a huge problem. They are very dangerous for new drivers and people who have been driver for a while. They can damage your car costing lots of money people don't have an being dangerous for getting into car crashes. In the winter when the road freezes in can cause the pot holes to get bigger and cause more problems.

Street lights

jhill182_1 — 2026-03-20 14:35:22 UTC

In barre mass there are not a lot of street lights which causes a lot of bad things to happen, car accidents, someone could get hit, ect ect. this is also very dangerous for when it snows outside, when its icy and we have no street light this will cause someone to crash for not being able to see and it being icy. when someone is walking without street light it can be highly dangerous because a driver will not be able to see them and can cause the driver so maybe hit the person. also in emergency situation if the responders come they might not be able to see where the accident was if there are not street lights

High snow banks

2026-03-20 14:38:17 UTC

Snow banks are too high and are blocking drivers sight. In order to see through them you have to pull out farther than safe in order to see which creates a higher risk of crashes.

springtime pothole danger for motorcycles

2026-03-20 14:45:31 UTC

yes I know potholes are everywhere and no one ever does anything for it but they are a danger for all vehicles. but they are very dangerous for motorcycles. in 2019 there was 5,014 motorcycle fatalities in the US due to various causes like speeding,DUI, drugs or the weather and roads conditions. but when motorcycle riding is very popular it is between may and September but this is also when pothole repairs are underway. aside from the injuries and deaths of motorcyclists it loses stability and balance from a pothole. it can cost a lot of money when a motorcycle is damaged from poor pavement conditions. so all together the potholes are very dangerous for motorcyclist who are just trying to have a nice smooth but they cant because they have to inconstantly look for potholes to stay safe

Alcohol & Drug Addictions

aclark364_1 — 2026-03-20 14:48:48 UTC

In Massachusetts, drug addiction has become a constantly growing problem. Massachusetts has a higher adult drinking rate, 21%, compared to a national rate of 16.2%. The aftermath of rehab has not been as successful as others make it out to be. Once you're out of the system, you are practically forgotten. There are no drug tests following, and no help is provided. Once your time is up, you are left on your own. This has caused relapse and continuous abuse of the drug of choice. Since addiction is mainly you telling yourself that you need it, it's hard to change those thoughts once they're there. I think to help addiction come to a stop, rehabs and clinics should provide a 1-to 4-year-long aftercare program that provides random drug tests, phone calls, and maybe even Zoom calls.

Road Safety in Massachusetts

2026-03-20 18:38:04 UTC

Many roads in Massachusetts are unsafe due to heavy traffic, outdated infrastructure, and confusing road designs. These conditions increase the risk of accidents for drivers who travel everyday.

Unsafe intersections, unclear signs, and high-speed traffic increase the risk of crashes on both highways and local roads. Areas with high traffic volume and complex layouts are especially dangerous.

Road safety is an important issue because it affects daily travel and overall safety in the community. Improving road design, adding clearer signs, and maintaining roads more regularly could help reduce accidents and make transportation safer for everyone.

School safety & vaping among teens

2026-03-31 00:37:39 UTC

The article explains how vaping among teenagers has increased in recent years, even though there are serious health risks like lung damage and nicotine addiction. It highlights how flavored products and social pressure make vaping appealing to teens. The article also discusses efforts by schools and the government to reduce vaping, such as banning certain products and increasing education about the dangers.

Gas Prices in Massachusetts

amartineau505 — 2026-04-02 21:10:30 UTC

Gas prices in Massachusetts have been on the rise, and they have impacted so many people's commutes to places such as work and school. It is also impacting how much money they have to spend on gas and how much they didn't need to spend on gas before. Since mid February, the gas prices have shot up to around $3.80 for a gallon of gas. A couple of weeks ago, the regular gas prices were about $3.30 per gallon. The shipping routes for oil have been closed off, and they transport about 20% of the world's oil, which is really not good. These routes have been closed because of the war that is happening in Iran.