And the winner of Tiverton’s Sore-Loser-of-the-Year Award is funeral director Jonathan R. Ferreira of Fall River, apparently determined to prove that, if his proposed business can’t degrade Tiverton’s quality of life, then he'll champion another one — any one — that will.

After his crematorium application was rejected by the Tiverton Planning Board, Ferreira’s property at 730 Main Road now sports a FOR SALE placard, but also several crudely-painted signs that declare “Yes to Seasons” and “Embrace the Seasons,” plus a yards-long WE LOVE SEASONS spray-painted on the grass. Reference is to application by the Colbea Corporation to construct a Seasons mega-gas outlet and drive-in restaurant a short distance away.  Both projects face strong citizen opposition.

Most of us have the smarts to realize there are some business models that don’t fit with residential homes. Like a pig farm. An auto speedway.  A shooting range (Oh, wait, guess that one slipped by).  An eight-pump gasoline station with convenience store and drive-thru on a two-lane road. Or a plant with an oven that cremates human remains into the atmosphere. Indeed, each of these businesses has its proper place. So we install town officials who are supposed to know when a proposed establishment is appropriate. And when it clearly, utterly and absolutely is not.

In childish reprisal, Ferreira seems to have launched a public tantrum against the Town of Tiverton.  Picture a stymied five-year-old, face in a pout, grabbing his toys and stomping home. Now, keep the grudge, add a few years and give him a can of red spray paint. Similar picture, yes?

Instead of staging a fruitless public display of tit-for-tat, most grownups would simply gather their foiled plans and move on.

Ron Marsh

Tiverton