Stoughton Fire Chief David Jardin will be retiring on April 2, 2011. Jardin has served as the Chief for seven years, and has worked for the Town of Stoughton for 38 years. Jardin was also the Emergency Coordinator for the Town, and a member of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. I'm sure the town will conduct a "nationwide search", but let me tell you something. There ARE people currently working at the Stoughton Fire Department that are qualified and more than able to be named to that position. Town Manager Francis Crimmins Jr. is the appointing authority for the Fire Chief…

RESTAURANT FORCED TO CLOSE:  The roof collapse the old Cheng-Du restaurant has dealt a financial blow to a neighboring restaurant.  Said Safai, owner of Kabob House, tells About Town that he was forced to close.  "The Building Inspector told me that because of the cave in next door, we had to close up our place for 30 days, while they repair the adjacent walls and roof."     Safai said he has worked hard to build up a crowd of regular customers who enjoy his Middle Eastern delicacies, and he is afraid of losing them.  "Please tell my customers that I WILL be re-opening as soon as we can."  …

TEACHERS HAVE THEIR SAY: So, the opinions of the Stoughton Teachers Association will finally become public.  As readers know, I have reached out to EVERY leader, negotiator, and board member of the Stoughton Teacher's Association to learn why they have taken a "job action" (a directive to teachers to cease afternoon "club" activities) that hurts students, while not helping their case at all.  I have received nasty anonymous emails, but nothing from the people in power at the STA.  One of the people I wrote to, requesting a "sit down" to learn his side of things, was John Gunning of the O'…

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO: Ryan LaCasse, one of the best players that ever played for the Stoughton High Black Knights grid squad.  LaCasse went on to star at Syracuse University, and played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, where he won a Super Bowl.  He lives in Clifton Park, New York and works in the financial industry. His birthday was yesterday. NOW THAT'S A STACKED DECK:  Jean Deveber couldn't believe what the heavy snow and rain did to her house.  She posted a photo of her collapsed deck on Facebook (see photo gallery in this article). Friends helped to prop up a corner of the …

Happy Birthday to Leo Mellyn, a frequent contributor to the Snydersstoughton.com website. Leo takes a great interest in the inner workings of the town, and shows amazing insight into the problems and solutions, with a particular emphasis on public safety. Not surprising, with Scott Mellyn serving on the Fire Department, and Stewart Mellyn serving on the Police Force! He has been one of Stoughton’s biggest defenders, in print, via letters to the editor of numerous newspapers, as well. IT'S NOT THE SIZE THAT COUNTS: An exhibit of extreme miniature paintings at the SAART Gallery that opened on …

IS IT 50 YEARS ALREADY?  Time DOES fly, and the Stoughton High School Class of 1961 is heavy at work planning their 50th reunion. The shindig will happen on September 24 at the Radisson in Plymouth. The Committee will be releasing details on time, price, entertainment and menu shortly. We'll let you know!   STOUGHTON DEMOCRATS TO ELECT DELEGATES TO STATE CONVENTION: Registered Democrats in Stoughton will be holding a caucus at the Stoughton Public Library on February 5th at 10 a.m. (top floor, Wales French Room). Doors open at 9:30 a.m.  15 delegates and 3 alternates will be elected to attend…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:  To Stoughton native Elizabeth Dembrowsky, the author of two incredible novels. The B.U. grad is a novelist, playwright and producer, living in New York City. She's the daughter of Attorney Jack Dembrowksy, a frequent co-host and panel member of Cable's "The Local News." KUDOS TO DPW: Even though I got mad at one driver who I felt wasn't too nice (and spoke about it on Facebook), we all have to give thanks for the men and women of the Stoughton DPW who worked practically around the clock making our streets safe to drive on during the recent storms. With the unprecedented …

In another of its occasional series of “Important But Obscure Films," the First Parish Universalist Church will show Gregory La Cava’s provocative and controversial 1933 film, Gabriel Over the White House, as part of its “Free Market of Ideas” program. The presentation will be held at the church, 790 Washington Street in Stoughton Square, and will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 10. Admission is free, and all interested persons are welcome.   Walter Huston is outstanding in this dramatic, Depression-era look at the transformation of a man from a back-slapping politician to President…

Happy Birthdays to: Barbara Anzivino, a member of the Stoughton Finance Committee.  Barbara, a laboratory instructor in chemistry at Stonehill College, is the wife of Stoughton Selectman John Anzivino.   Danny Silva, the owner of Whiplash, a nightclub at 63 Wyman Street, near the Stoughton Rail Station. Silva, who studied at Berklee School of Music, has refurbished the club, and features some of the best local bands there.  Friday, February 4th, FX presents an "Anti-Valentine" singles party at Whiplash, from 8 p.m. to midnight. It's for kids 14-18.  Alcohol-free, of course. Admission is $20. …

BORED THIS EVENING?  I know since Snyder’s Stoughton TV Show was postponed from this evening to tomorrow night, that a great void has been created (tongue squarely placed in cheek) for the people who are desperately looking for something to do.  Well, there are actually two things that I know of happening tonight---unless they get cancelled due to the insane amount of snow pouring out of the heavens.  First of all, the Council on Aging has their meeting tonight at the Stoughton Senior Center at 110 Rockland Street.  It starts at 7 p.m.  If you are a senior, and you’ve never been to this …

BENEFIT FOR THE BELYEA FAMILY: A benefit will be held for the Belyea family Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Sons of Italy, 560 Washington Street. The event, which starts at 5 p.m., will feature Balloon Raffle, Black Jack, Raffles, Music, and Food. Cost is $10 per ticket, and they can be purchased at the Sons of Italy, Pages Groceries, or at the door. The Belyea family were the victims of a house fire on New Year's Eve, that caused extensive damage and killed their two pet dogs, Ace and Boo. Checks may be made to: Debra & Leonard Belyea. A FUNDRAISER FOR STOUGHTON HIGH ATHLETICS:  Bob …

Call me a winter wimp. I admit it. I’ve had enough of this season of winter. I can’t stand the sight of snow anymore.  I hate freezing through every pore, in every bone and nerve throughout my body every time I leave the house. I can’t stand shoveling or paying for more plowing.  I used to enjoy the four seasons. I’ve always loved spring, as it was a harbinger of summer, my favorite season.  Winter features football, so it’s not bad when the Patriots are still playing.  Then, the Super Bowl comes, and for an evening, we can forget what’s happening outside.  I’ll admit it—the first snow was …

CONGRATULATIONS to Christine Cochrane-McKay, who won an award for Outstanding Female Undergraduate Student and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Management, and intends to go on to earn her Masters Degree. S.T.A. STILL CHOOSES TO REMAIN SILENT:   No response from anyone on the Stoughton Teachers Association in regards to their "work slowdown" or "Job Action", whatever expression you want to use for their marching orders to teachers to cease afternoon "club" activities.  Now, it's hurting even those who can least defend …

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS: Barry Crimmins, the ubiquitous attorney, celebrated his birthday yesterday.  Crimmins serves on a number of town committees, and is a long-standing and quite active Town Meeting member, as well.  Barry practices law at a relatively new office on Rt. 138, at 909 Washington Street.  His brother Francis, Jr. is a former presiding Judge at Stoughton District Court and is the current Stoughton Town Manager.   Ed Hoffman of the D.P.W. celebrates his birthday today.  Hoffman lost a ton of weight and got in the best shape of his life a couple years ago at Elite Health and Fitness. …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my old friend Ron Raskind, who is originally from Randolph, but now makes Stoughton his home.  He is married to Diane Raskin. Tedeschi Food Shops Opens State of the Art Store in Stoughton: Tedeschi Food Shops has opened its newest store at 987 Central Street in Stoughton, Massachusetts, at the intersection of Route 138, across from CVS and Walgreen's.  The interior of this store boasts the company’s latest design, colors, and graphics along with state of the art store equipment, according to spokesperson Erin McGarry. McGarry says, "The store proudly offers many proprietary …

A VERY SAD ANNIVERSARY: On this date in 1995, Stoughton lost Firefighter Victor C. Melendy in a deadly Saturday morning blaze on Rose Street. He was 47 years old.  Mr. Melendy was a 23-year veteran of the Stoughton Fire Department, who was searching for people trapped inside a burning house when the blaze suddenly accelerated, fire officials said at the time. He was the second Stoughton firefighter killed in the line of duty in the department's 146-year history. The first was Edward J. Kelleher, killed Dec. 21, 1966, while battling a blaze.  A bell on a Stoughton Fire Engine bears Melendy's …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to School Committee member Joyce Husseini.  The New Prague, Minnesota native has been one of the most active volunteers in the town.  She was formerly the GIS Coordinator for the Town of Stoughton. Currently, she is GIS Specialist at Nitsch Engineering. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH ALL THIS SNOW?  Well, a family on Turnpike Street had the right idea.  They built a giant snowman that appears to be over eight feet tall, and pretty rotund.  The snowman is on the front lawn of the home, that is not far from Central Street.  A few people going to IKEA let About Town know about it, as did …

WILL STOUGHTON BE IN THE TV SPOTLIGHT? The Friday sports spotlight could shine on Stoughton, but we will soon see if they got their needed support in the form of online votes. It's been between our boys' basketball game and another one for coverage on Fox 25's High School Friday. Although the game is in Franklin, our players and fans would also get some TV coverage. At last check, we were losing a close race.  The winner will be announced Friday morning on the Fox 25 Morning News.  Let's hope they choose Franklin and Stoughton! Details will be found here:  http://www.myfoxboston.com/subindex/…

PLEASE GET ME OUT OF HERE: Ok, I give up!  After ANOTHER foot of snow, and drifts over two feet deep, with piles of snow higher than I stand, I have finally given notice---I GIVE UP!   When I was younger, it was exciting when it snowed. First, we got to skip school.  And, I'd go out with my friend Mark Leppo and we'd shovel driveways. We'd work a 10 hour day and make $50 each.  Those were the days.  My son Dan is a snowboarder, and has taught snowboarding at Blue Hills for the past seven years. For him, snow is money. At my age, snow means sliding around in a car that isn't built for winter…

STOUGHTON'S MOST FAMOUS SINGER-SONGWRITER:  There was a large turnout for Stoughton housewife/mother/singer/songwriter/guitarist Lori McKenna last night at Newbury Comics in Norwood.  The giant record store set up a stage for McKenna, and she belted out a half dozen tunes before signing autographed CD's for a throng of fans. McKenna dedicated one tune from her new CD, "Lorraine" to the Town of Stoughton. As she played "Buy this Town", she told the crowd that it was dedicated to her hometown. She told About Town before the concert that she's concerned about the town's budget woes. She even …