WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:05.960 It's with Dan Ray on delay Boston Radio. 2 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:13.080 All right, welcome back everyone. Look, last weekend there was 3 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:18.120 this incredible storm that hit some several southern states. I 4 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.640 think you, unless you've been living under a rock for 5 00:00:21.719 --> 00:00:27.000 the last month, you must know the amount of damage 6 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:30.719 that was done by Hurricane Helene. A Category four hurricane 7 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:36.079 made landfall in what they call the Bend northwestern Florida, 8 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.159 and then it blew up as it hit the land. 9 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:42.399 Oftentimes hurricanes lose some of their power. It blew up 10 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:45.679 as it hit the land. It got stronger into Georgia, 11 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:49.640 South Carolina, parts of North Carolina, and Tennessee. At least 12 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:52.679 two hundred and fifteen people have died. It's actually now 13 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:56.320 about two twenty that they know of, and hundreds more 14 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:00.640 of missing. I've seen video of this town, Asheville, North Carolina. 15 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:02.679 It looks as if it was hit by a bomb. 16 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:06.040 There is a group out of here, Massachusetts or the 17 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:09.799 Massachusetts Task Force One. It's an urban search and rescue team. 18 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:13.359 It is in North Carolina tonight with us now is 19 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:16.079 a member of that group. I'm not sure of your title, 20 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:21.640 Tom Cazunis, but you will tell me all of that. 21 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:25.760 You are with the Massachusetts Task Force one, and first 22 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:29.079 of all, tell us about the group. Is it a 23 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:33.079 government group, is it a group of private individuals? Give 24 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:34.599 us a little bit the history of the group. 25 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:39.040 Sure, thanks Dan for having me on a longtime listener, 26 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:41.879 first time I think I've been on your program, but 27 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:46.480 really enjoy it. So, Massachusetts Task Force one is part 28 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:50.680 of the excuse me, twenty eight member FEMA Search and 29 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:53.920 rescue teams. There are twenty eight across the country, and 30 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:56.560 the Massachusetts numbers are actually made up of all the 31 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.959 New England states. But we're based out of Beverly, Massachuset, 32 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:07.560 and we're all volunteers until we get deployed. When members 33 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.759 get deployed, they do get compensated by the federal government. 34 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:13.719 But all of our training, all of our service time 35 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:14.840 is all volunteer. 36 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:20.520 Okay, So you're almost you're almost the difference between active 37 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:24.439 duty military and members of the National Guard. You're you 38 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:29.759 have your volunteers, but once the National Guard is activated. 39 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:32.080 So how large a group do you have here? It's 40 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:34.960 a Massachusetts based group, but it's from all around New England. 41 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:37.159 How many folks do you have in the group? And 42 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:40.159 can can people of a certain age or a certain 43 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:44.159 physical capability. Are you always are you looking for new 44 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.159 members or participants? 45 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:50.879 Yes, we're always looking for additional members. We currently have 46 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:54.719 just over a little over two hundred active members on 47 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.400 the team right now, and we're made up of firefighters, 48 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:08.199 police office officers, medical technicians, doctors, engineers, communications specialist, logistics specialists, 49 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:13.199 and other professionals but come from you know, all variety 50 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:14.159 of walks of life. 51 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.639 Are the rooms before we're going to get into this 52 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.360 of what's going on in North Carolina? But I just 53 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:23.960 want to make sure that I lay a foundation so 54 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:28.120 people are the room. Is there room on your team 55 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:32.719 for people who may not have a specific professional background, 56 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:37.599 meaning police officer, e MT. Firefighter, nurse, doctor, et cetera. 57 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:40.120 Are there is there room and the team for people 58 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.000 who are who are in good shape and are willing 59 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.400 to go down and work and lift boxes and move 60 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:48.280 things and all of that. Or do you have to 61 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:51.879 have some sort of a specialty to become a member 62 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:53.280 of the team if you know what I think? 63 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:55.680 You know what I'm asking ye ye, yes, no I do, 64 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:59.840 thank you, And yeah, you come with some level of specialty. 65 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:04.639 But it's we don't just you don't just walk in 66 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.319 the door and become a member and part of the team. 67 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:10.319 It's you know, close to one thousand hours of training 68 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:15.360 that goes in before you can actually be deployed and 69 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:17.040 are available to go out. 70 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.720 A thousand hours of training for people, by the way, 71 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.600 just to put it in some context, two thousand hours 72 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:26.959 represents forty hour fifty weeks or forty hours, so that's 73 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:28.839 like a full year. So this is a half of 74 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.600 year of training. It has to be quite intense and 75 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:37.920 quite Yeah, you've got to commit a lot just to 76 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.240 complete one thousand hours of training. That's the equivalent of 77 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:41.399 a half a year's worth of work. 78 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:47.680 Yep, pretty much. You know, you it's it. It doesn't happen, 79 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:51.480 you know, all at once. So it takes a couple 80 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:54.199 of years for you to be part of the team 81 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:58.199 before you are able to be deployed. And you know, 82 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.680 because we want to make sure that people have the commitment. 83 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:05.480 Sure and that they also you're not just pulling people 84 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:08.759 in off the street. Okay, so so exactly how you 85 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:10.360 and not in North Carolina? 86 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:12.279 It is correct. 87 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.120 Are you an officer in the group. 88 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:18.399 Or you know, I'm the public information officer for the team. 89 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:23.480 I'm also serve as a planning manager, planning team manager, 90 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:26.399 and a structure specialist. I'm an engineer by training. 91 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:30.319 Okay, perfect, Okay, So how many members of the Massachusetts 92 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:35.079 Task Force one are deployed at this point and where 93 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.120 are they deployed to and what are they seeing? What 94 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:37.720 are they doing. 95 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.120 We have a total of sixty six members deployed right now. 96 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.959 Sixty one of them are in North Carolina and the 97 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:50.399 other five are serving on the Incidents Support Team, which 98 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:54.680 is they're part of the group that goes down pre event, 99 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:57.199 you know, for a hurricane. We know it's coming, so 100 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:00.560 we'll pre deploy some members and they're they go in 101 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.279 as part of like the pre planning team to help 102 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:09.800 with logistics and then bringing in and other search and 103 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:13.560 rescue teams from across the country and you know, knowing 104 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:16.680 where they're going to be, where they should go as 105 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:19.800 the missions come in, our assignments come in. They help 106 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:26.199 with the being a federal agency to deploy those individuals 107 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.639 in the teams where they need to be. 108 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:30.800 Okay, so you work in conjunction with them and the 109 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:35.000 five who are sort of the advanced come the Advanced 110 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:37.759 team are they also in North Carolina. Tonight. 111 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:39.439 They're in Florida. 112 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:40.639 There in Florida. 113 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:43.639 They started down in Florida and they stayed there. Yeah, yeah, okay, so. 114 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.199 You're five in Florida, six sixty one in North Carolina. 115 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:50.560 How difficult has it been to communicate? I assume that 116 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:52.279 they're in areas where there's not a lot of like 117 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:56.519 of electricity. Cell phones need electricity. Are you are you 118 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.839 able to tell us what they're doing and what they're seeing. 119 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.279 Yes, so we you know, as when we deploy, we 120 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:06.519 bring all of the equipment that we need with us. 121 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:08.759 So they're down there. They have their own generators, their 122 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:13.240 own tense corts, et cetera. But your absolutely correct cell 123 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:17.000 phone coverage down there is very very spotty. Will go 124 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.439 you know, most of the day without being able to 125 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:23.959 communicate with them from up here. But as a team 126 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.240 when they're down there, they have two way radios that 127 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:30.079 you know, they're communicating amongst themselves with their own repeaters, 128 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:30.680 et cetera. 129 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:36.680 The conditions idea, any ideas So far, when did they 130 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:39.839 get there? I mean, obviously this hurricane really hit. I 131 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:41.720 believe it was late last week, so it's almost a 132 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:45.839 week now since since the hurricane impacted how quickly were 133 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:48.360 they down there? And have you had any communication as 134 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:50.480 to what they're seeing, because I assume it must be 135 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:51.079 god awful. 136 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:56.839 Sure they so our team was activated one day afternoon. 137 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.240 They were rolling out the door around midnight Wednesday night. 138 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:05.879 They drove through the night, arrived in North Carolina late 139 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:10.199 afternoon on Thursday, set up all their gear and equipment, 140 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:13.079 and went to work Friday morning, and they've been working 141 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.000 every day since then. 142 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:20.519 So what have been communicated with you as to the 143 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:26.639 area that they're in and is the problem water? Water everywhere? 144 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:30.240 Is it problem with no structures or structures that have 145 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:33.279 been deployed. I mean, we've seen pictures, We've seen aerial pictures, 146 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:35.600 but I'm just wondering if they have provided you with 147 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.320 any specificity as to what they have found. 148 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:45.360 Yes, yes, absolutely, really honestly everything that you mentioned. Water everywhere, 149 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:53.039 water filled with debris. They've literally had to you. Before 150 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.799 they can deploy the boats and move the boats along 151 00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:00.559 the water, there's three typically three people in the boat, 152 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.879 one operating the engine and the other two up front 153 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:09.000 actually pushing debris with paddles out of the way so 154 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:12.840 that they can make their way through the water. And 155 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:19.039 then the traveling on the land, they've had to stop 156 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:23.200 and wait for dozers and front end loaders to come 157 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.559 through and push the debris out of the way so 158 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:29.559 that they can continue to travel down there on the 159 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:32.639 on what used to be open highways and roads. 160 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:35.440 Yeah, are they looking the groups in the boat. Are 161 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:39.399 they looking to rescue people from homes that are that 162 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.720 are surrounded by water or are they bringing supplies to people? 163 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:49.480 No, they are rescuing. They're they're rescuing. They're they're going through, 164 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:56.240 you know, systematically checking structures, checking vehicles. Have pulled some 165 00:09:56.360 --> 00:10:00.159 people out of homes that have been completely surrounded it 166 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:04.759 and inundated with flood waters. I would I would. 167 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:09.159 Venture I would venture to say, not being an expert 168 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.919 in North Carolina terrain, but I would venture to say 169 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:15.360 that they have to be concerned about the presence of 170 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:19.120 snakes in that in that in those waterways. Is that 171 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:21.679 a factor that that they need that they were aware of. 172 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:29.480 Yes, that's absolutely correct. And other wildlife that you know, 173 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:37.919 when very hungry, maybe looking at individuals and humans as dinner. 174 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.200 Yes, yes, yeah, uh man, I'll tell you this is 175 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:46.799 this is an amazing story. How long will your team 176 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:50.159 be down there, I know the real the the answer 177 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.960 probably is as long as they need. But do you 178 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:56.639 cycle people in and cycle these folks out or or 179 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:00.879 do they return with the vehicles that brought them brought 180 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.279 them down there, and then another team goes down as 181 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.679 as these circumstances require. 182 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:10.919 So a typical deployment could last you know, or does 183 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.200 last around two weeks. But as you said, we will 184 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:16.559 stay and the team members will stay down there for 185 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:20.519 as long as it takes until their services are not needed. 186 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:26.279 If someone has to come out for whatever reason because 187 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:30.159 of you know, whatever the factor just fatigue or you know, 188 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:34.559 personal circumstances, we rotate individuals out if the team you know, 189 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:40.039 until our team is deactivated or demobilized. All our equipment 190 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:44.559 and our cash will stay down there and members will 191 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:48.440 rotate in and out. As I said, we're about over 192 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:52.879 two hundred deep. Every position are over two hundred members strong. 193 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.279 Every position is several members deep, so that we could 194 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.279 bring people out if necessary. 195 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:04.840 Okay, and then my last last question is I don't 196 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.000 know how long your group has been around, how many 197 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.840 times you've been deployed, but would you how would you 198 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.559 explain the circumstances in North Carolina, since that's where the 199 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.399 majority of you, what the vast majority of your members 200 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:23.200 are working. Have you ever seen destruction on this scale before? 201 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.919 Or have you or is this normal that you've You've 202 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:28.320 been doing this for twenty years and this is just 203 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:32.080 another another horrific natural disaster that you're helping out with. 204 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:38.080 The team has been around, you know, pre nine to eleven. 205 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:42.559 In fact, Massachusetts was the first team to be in 206 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:49.320 New York City on that day. But so Hurricane Katrina 207 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:53.879 was probably one of the biggest and worst storms, and 208 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:56.960 this is, you know, from a devastation point of view. 209 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:00.600 From what the members are telling us, it's pretty close 210 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.600 to that as far as the amount of debris and 211 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:09.759 the difficulty in getting through and getting to areas. It's 212 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.600 just the amount of water that came down out of 213 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.480 the mountains and the debris that it brought in, the 214 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:20.799 mud slide slides that happened in conjunction with that water 215 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:24.480 coming down, and then just staying in the valley because 216 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:28.480 it's stuck there has been pretty catastrophic. 217 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:32.919 Yeah, I'll tell you, it's amazing. I don't know off 218 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:35.320 hand how many people lost their lives in Katrina. I 219 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:39.080 know there was loss of life. But I think that 220 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:43.120 this loss of life is going to exceed significantly the 221 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:46.600 two hundred and twenty people who have already lost their 222 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:50.559 lives in this horrific, horrific storm. So thank you for 223 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.519 what you do. Best of luck. Is there a way 224 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.240 of people have listened to you tonight, have been inspired 225 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:57.799 and want to join your team. How they can get 226 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:00.320 in touch with the team. What's the website? 227 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:05.080 The website is m A t F one dot org. 228 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:09.320 So m A from Mask Task Force and the number 229 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:10.480 one m A t. 230 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:13.120 F one correct dot org dot org. 231 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:17.600 Right, all right, well again, thank you for joining us tonight, Tom, 232 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:21.440 and I hope all of your team members get home safely. 233 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:25.200 And you are truly doing an incredible it's it's a 234 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:29.159 very traditional American service, people from one part of the 235 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:32.000 country helping other people when they are in distress. So 236 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:34.879 thank you for what you do and keep us me 237 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:37.200 may have you back on in the next week or 238 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:39.159 two and follow this more closely. 239 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:41.679 Okay, thanks again, absolutely, thank you. 240 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:48.279 Okay, Tom Gazunis, he's the public relations a public information 241 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:52.480 officer for the Mask Task Force. One. Now what I 242 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:54.279 want to do, We're going to take a break and 243 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.600 when we come back, we have about I don't know, 244 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:59.360 well about thirty five minutes. I would love to know 245 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:03.679 if the these really horrific storms that seem to have 246 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:09.960 hit the South in recent years, recent months in Florida 247 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:15.480 and now on up into the Carolinas, has that made 248 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:21.879 you rethink about leaving Massachusetts because we're kind of blessed here. 249 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:25.679 We have an occasional tornado, but nothing like they have 250 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:29.200 in the Plain States. We do have blizzards, there's no 251 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:33.120 doubt about that, and we have had hurricanes blow through, 252 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.679 but never with at least in my memory. I was 253 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:40.159 around for one of those in the mid fifties, but 254 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:44.399 I don't remember much about it. Does this change your 255 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:48.679 attitude as to how likely you might be to either 256 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:53.559 take early retirement or retire and work remotely from one 257 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:56.840 of these states. I mean, these are amongst the most 258 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:01.279 beautiful states in the country, North Carolina, South Carolina. Uh. 259 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:06.279 They also have a temperate client climate and pretty good 260 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:13.320 tax circumstances, and you know, they are less taxing than Massachusetts. 261 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:15.080 But I just would love to know from some of 262 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:19.200 you how lucky we are to live in Massachusetts because 263 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:22.480 weather is really not a factor. Oh if you have 264 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:27.720 a house on the ocean and and the cliff is 265 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:31.759 eating away. Yeah, but that's few and far between. Let's 266 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:35.720 talk about it. Six one, seven, two, five, four, ten, thirty, six, seven, 267 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:38.600 nine thirty. My name is Dan Ray. We will go 268 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.799 to the eleven o'clock hour, the twentieth hour of the 269 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:44.240 week tonight, right after the eleven o'clock news and the 270 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.200 question that hour. That's an hour where you get a 271 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:49.279 free pass. You have the Hall pass if you called 272 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.440 earlier in the week, You're more than welcome and join us, 273 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:55.000 and we're going to talk about what skill would you do? 274 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:57.639 You regret that you did learn when you were younger, 275 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.720 however you define that back on Nightside after this. 276 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:04.119 Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World 277 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:07.799 night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio. 278 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.279 Well, let's get some phone calls going here, folks on 279 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:13.799 a Friday. Now, we got Dmitri and Jemshire. Hey, Dmitri, 280 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:18.599 how are you tonight? Welcome? Hello, Hello, Dmitri, Welcome to 281 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.279 night Side. 282 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:24.000 Yes, Hello, I want to call in and just want 283 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.839 to share my opinion. I moved to Massachusetts twenty eighteen 284 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:32.400 with my wife and two girls, ages ten and thirteen. 285 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:39.039 We moved from Arkansas down south, and of course people, yeah, 286 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.480 we moved here mainly for the public schools, but I 287 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:44.799 have to admit, in the last few years, I've had 288 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:48.079 in basis surgery in my right leg and my leg 289 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:51.119 was almost amptutated. People don't realize how good the medical 290 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:54.319 services are in this part of the country. But regarding 291 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:58.640 the devastation going on down south, I will share this. Yes, 292 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:02.279 we have our fair shere cold weather up here, but 293 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:08.319 I'm truly grateful to be living again in a part 294 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:13.279 of the country that has four seasons. I mean, originally 295 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.599 I was born raised in Athens, Greece. I lived in 296 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.880 the New York City every fifteen years. Then my wife, 297 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:21.200 who's from Arkansas, we moved down south to be closer 298 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:26.200 a family, and it was Yes, it's nice during the winters, 299 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:31.480 but it was kind of unpredictable weather during tornado season, 300 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:37.440 and so you kind of hit the nail a few 301 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:40.519 moments ago when you said, am I thinking twice about 302 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:44.960 moving back moving down south after seeing all these hurricanes 303 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:48.680 year after year? I am. I mean, I really am. 304 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:52.680 And from one side, I'm very grateful that I currently 305 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:57.400 live in Massachusetts and I've been through some serious health issues, 306 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:01.680 which people don't realize how good the health services are 307 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:07.039 in Massachusetts until you actually have a very serious health 308 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:08.079 issue to deal with. 309 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:10.599 But let me ask you. Let me ask you a 310 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.480 couple of questions to meet you. First of all, first 311 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:17.079 time calling Mi Shew, yes, sir, okay, a little run 312 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:19.440 of Apaust with Dimitri. Thanks for calling in and thank 313 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.839 you for listening. So, Mike, my question is how tough 314 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.839 was it to work for you to get your wife 315 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:28.960 to uproot the family and leave up the area of 316 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.119 the country where she was from that had not that 317 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.720 must not have been easy for her. 318 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:38.319 It was not easy, but we did it for our children. 319 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:42.960 I had to explain either we stayed in Arkansas. Unfortunately 320 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.920 we were not making enough money to send our children 321 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.440 to private school. 322 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:49.880 We were so how bad? How bad of the public schools? 323 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:51.680 How bad of the public schools in Arkansas? 324 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:56.160 Well, let's just say they're not as good as up here. 325 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:58.200 If I could put it for that. 326 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:00.680 That's good. And then I see that you're in I 327 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:04.519 see that you're in Chelmsford. Does Chelmstord have a particularly 328 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:07.599 outstanding public school system? Is that why you picked chelms. 329 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:10.480 For Well, we picked Chelms. For number one, it was 330 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:14.880 a reasonable commute. It was a strategic decision to have 331 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:20.039 a reasonable commute to where I work. Sure, yeah, I 332 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:24.000 work in the Conquered area near Hanscome Air Force Base, 333 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:27.680 but it was it was also yes, what. 334 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.200 What sort of work? What sort of work? 335 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.400 To me? 336 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:32.400 You did you do in Arkansas? What? You know, what 337 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:35.680 was your profession that not only could make a living 338 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:38.319 for you in Arkansas, but then you could come up 339 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:41.519 here and and do that same type of work. 340 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.839 Well, I was very I'm fortunate I worked for the 341 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:48.559 federal government, so I was able to find another federal 342 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:55.319 government job up here as well. So once we did 343 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:58.920 the job, and you know, the job was secure. But I, 344 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.200 of course I was very trained parent with my wife 345 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:05.480 from the very beginning, I explained to her, you know, 346 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:09.160 the move is mainly for our children and because we 347 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:12.279 just were not going to be able to afford to 348 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:16.400 provide private schooling for them down there. And I said, well, 349 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:20.200 this is a practical solution. And we happen to also 350 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:24.759 have half cousins that live in the area, and so 351 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:28.240 my wife would never have left Arkansas to go to 352 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:32.720 a state where we had absolutely no family. YEP, but 353 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:36.160 it did help. I had some family, but yet we 354 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:39.559 were leaving behind her immediate family, her mother, her father, 355 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:43.359 her sister, mother in law, and people are very friendly 356 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:47.599 down south. Don't get me wrong. It's just we really 357 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:50.200 wanted to provide the best for our children. 358 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:53.759 This is your first time in Massachusetts. Do you find 359 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:56.640 us friendly as friendly as people down there generally? I'm 360 00:21:56.640 --> 00:22:01.000 talking about, well, does our reputation of being a little 361 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:03.440 stand offish did you. 362 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:07.279 Find out the yes. To answer your question, sir, the 363 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:09.920 reputation is probably worse than what it really is. 364 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.319 Ok. 365 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:17.440 We moved up here. Maybe people were not necessarily that 366 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:20.079 friendly initially, but once they get to know you, you 367 00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:23.000 get to know them. And we go to church, and 368 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:28.319 you know, we're very faithful and uh dedicated to our community. 369 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.440 We go to a Greek Orthodox church, very friendly people 370 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:34.359 involved with Yeah, with the name with. 371 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:37.519 The name Dimitri having been born and said in Athens, 372 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:40.319 I have many friends in the Greek community, and the 373 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:43.960 church in the community, in the Greek community is really 374 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.720 the the hub of activity, and so you would not 375 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.920 You will have many friends, I'm sure right away within 376 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:55.039 within that church community, and then they will have introduced 377 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:57.319 other people as well to Matri thank you for calling. 378 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:01.359 You answered the question specifically. I hope some more people 379 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:05.920 call with similar stories. Very interesting, and I hope that 380 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:08.519 you'll become a regular, not only listener, but a regular 381 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.200 caller on nightside. 382 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.279 Yes, I am thank you. Have a good evening. 383 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:15.839 Thanks Dimitri, thank you very much. All right, that's an 384 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:19.480 interesting call. I didn't expect to first call it to 385 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:22.160 be someone who had moved here from Arkansas, but I 386 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:25.039 would love to know. Do you think, having watched what 387 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:30.119 has transpired in the last few days in Florida on 388 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:33.599 through Georgia and into the Carolinas, has it given you 389 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:36.440 not that No, maybe you've never thought about it, But 390 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:39.920 does it give you a greater appreciation for the weather 391 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:43.119 that we have here? We have storms, yeah, we have thunderstorms, 392 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:46.960 we have blizzards, but it's nothing like with what the people, 393 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:49.839 particularly in the mountains of North Carolina, are dealing with tonight. 394 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:52.880 So let's let's get the conversation going here on a 395 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:55.559 Friday night of North America's back porch. I'm just looking 396 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:59.559 for your thoughts. All you going to do is dial 397 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:02.599 the phones six seven, two, four ten thirty, six seven 398 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:05.920 nine three, one thirty I'm working hard. I hope you 399 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:08.599 are as well. Well. Tonight you're relaxing, but give us 400 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:10.160 a call back on Nightside after this. 401 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:18.119