Tom Fredericks isn’t a fighter. Yet something about seeing senior citizens and handicapped people living in a dark neighborhood caused Fredericks to snap.
At least in writing.
In response to what he considered the city of Lewiston’s inattention to detail, Fredericks threatened action that was part Evel Knievel, part Robin Hood, part Don Quixote and, well, part Homer Simpson.
“Denis Caron is electrical superintendent for the city, and he told me it would have been about the stupidest thing I could ever do,” Fredericks said.
Thankfully, it was only a threat. An effective one, though.
For three weeks, Fredericks phoned Public Works to inform them of a burned-out street light at 26 First St. Three times, he heard what he considered a promise to fix it the following Friday.
Three Fridays and no repairs later, Fredericks wrote Public Works – with copies sent to the city administrator, Sun Journal and electric company – and gave an ultimatum.
If the bulb remained dark by the time he returned home from work last Tuesday, Oct. 5, Fredericks threatened to drag his fiberglass ladder to the end of his driveway at 9 Perrier St. Then he’d repair the pole around the corner for his elderly neighbors.
Approximate time for a professional to complete the job: five minutes.
Estimated risk to Fredericks: about 12,000 volts.
Wild and crazy guy
“Yeah, I caught hell for that (from Caron),” Fredericks said of his tiptoeing the line between chivalry and craziness. “I hoped it might shake ’em up a little bit.”
If you’re wondering how many angry letters it takes to change a light bulb, the answer is one. Photocopied seven times. Plus the price of stamps.
Tuesday afternoon, the project was completed by the appropriate authorities. Still, Fredericks was treated as a conquering hero.
“Tom Fredericks is a very good friend of the neighbors,” said Jeannette Peters of 28 First St.
Next door to Peters, Helen Moran spent Tuesday evening on the telephone with Fredericks trying to talk him out of any remorse for the out-of-character rant.
Most of those feelings stemmed from his weekly exchanges with a female dispatcher.
“He called last night and asked me if I thought he should apologize,” said Moran. “I said, Tom, who’s been calling for a month? You’re the taxpayer. You have the right to complain.’ He wasn’t out of line. He has the right to have a light bulb changed.”
Moran, it should be noted, is Fredericks’ polar opposite in personality. Asking what she thinks about a darkened street corner is an invitation to a five-minute soliloquy about sewage rates and Carol Palesky’s property tax-cap proposal.
Fredericks appreciates and shares Moran’s passion for politics. (Perhaps his best line about Lewiston city officials: “They’re doing a great job with the Colisee.”)
Ready to apologize
But he is trying to reach the dispatcher and intends to say he’s sorry.
“They should be the ones apologizing to us,” Moran countered. “I know Tom. He couldn’t be rude if he tried. I’m the bag in this neighborhood.”
Fredericks is an able-bodied guy. Moran, Peters and a slew of other residents, all 66 or older, needed illumination more than he did.
One neighbor is missing a leg. Another woman is 93, living alone.
“It lights up her driveway best of all,” Fredericks said of the 93-year-old. “I just want her to be safe, although she says she goes to bed at 6:30 and doesn’t know the difference.”
Fredericks also didn’t see a need to give wandering eyes an invitation. He said teenagers occasionally congregate and engage in mischief. Perhaps they would be more inclined to do so in the dark.
Recently, Fredericks has noticed two lights out in the more crowded vicinity of Dunkin’ Donuts on Lisbon Street.
“I’m not getting involved with that one,” he said. “Somebody else can call.”
Kalle Oakes is the Sun Journal’s staff columnist. His e-mail is koakes@sunjournal.com.
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