NEIGHBORS: NO GARAGE FOR YOU! - David Krivelow, a 12-year Stoughton resident, and his business partner, Scott Rawl of Resource Project Group, a wrecking and demolition company, were looking for a location for their 20-foot dump truck and their demolition tools, and saw the vacant eyesore at 75 Lambert Ave in Stoughton. He tells About Town, "When we saw it, we thought we'd be doing the neighbors a favor. Our intentions were all good. We figured we'd take a condemned eyesore and make it something that looked good." But, Krivelow got a taste of what the neighbors along Lambert Ave., Rockland St…

BROWN, WARREN WOO STOUGHTON BUSINESS OWNERS: As the race for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts heats up - polls show Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren running neck and neck on the eve of the candidate's first debate Thursday, September 20 at 7 p.m. on WBZ - Brown and Warren recently met up with a pair of Stoughton business owners.   Brown visited a Stoughton resident's family repair shop in Mattapan (Auto Service and Tire). Looking for "Thank You for building this" businesses, he couldn't have picked a better place. Stoughton resident Paul McKeen tells About …

THE EYESORE ON LAMBERT AVENUE: Sherry Radbil, who grew up on McGarvey Road, and whose parents have lived there since 1961, wrote a note to About Town regarding a scheduled Stoughton Zoning Board of Appeals hearing Sept. 20 regarding the abandoned building located at 75 Lambert Avenue, adjacent to the Stoughton Senior Center and Youth Commission building. After previously housing Donahue Trucking, will the now vacant property be used as a garage/storage space and bring trucks back to this residential neighborhood?  Neighbors came out to a ZBA meeting on Aug. 16, to respond to a proposal for a …

STOUGHTON HAS BIG PLANS! The Stoughton Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner meeting at Courtyard by Marriott Thursday night, with Stoughton officials and the business community gathering to talk about this town's future. With delicious food from Smokey Bones Restaurant in their bellies, and interesting food for thought in their minds, the crowd heard from a number of speakers about Stoughton's Master Plan, and then split into small groups to tackle a number of questions supplied by Juliet Walker and Sue Brown of Brown Walker Planners in Newburyport.  They were hired by the Master Plan …

THE FINAL THREE CANDIDATES FOR TOWN MANAGER: The Town Manager Search Committee got what many expected during a three month search to replace former Town Manager Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. - displaced or recycled Town Managers. Interim Town Manager Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., who has been serving since April 1, was one of the "final seven" who were interviewed by a myriad of questioners on September 12. But he did not make the cut for the "final three" submitted to selectmen Thursday night, Sept. 13. Paul Shew of Franklin; Kenneth Fields of Boca Raton, FL; and Michael Hartman of Canton emerged as …

JOHN LENNON COMING TO STOUGHTON? On Saturday, Sept. 15, Dennis Stephen will perform his one-man show, "Imagine – a John Lennon Tribute" at The Last Shot in Stoughton. Dennis Stephen is a seasoned rock and pop music performer, guitarist, vocalist, and former Geffen Records recording artist.  Known for his work with the Boston-based bands Stardust and Stratosphere in the late-1970's and 80's, Stephen ventured out nationwide, and has opened for major recording artists, such as The Cars, Aerosmith, Dire Straits, J.Geils Band, Pretenders, and others. In his John Lennon tribute show, Dennis Stephen…

TOWN PLANNING & GOOD FOOD FEATURED:  The Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, Courtyard by Marriott, Smokey Bones Restaurant, and the Town of Stoughton come together on Thursday, September 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott’s location on Technology Drive. Smokey Bones will cater the affair, and speakers will discuss “Master Planning for the future of Stoughton.” According to the Chamber's website: "The Town of Stoughton, through its Master Plan Steering Committee, is beginning a community planning process that will lead to the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan to help Town …

IT’S OFFICIAL: SINAI NOW A STEWARD PROPERTY: New England Sinai Hospital is now officially a member of Steward Health Care, the largest fully integrated community care organization in New England.  New England Sinai Hospital is a 212-bed, long-term acute care hospital offering state-of-the-art medical technology and a highly skilled staff. Steward announced the acquisition on September 4, according to the Boston Herald and Boston Globe. The Globe reports that Steward will "invest $34 million in the [Sinai] hospital, which will convert from a nonprofit to a for-profit. That figure includes $13 …

VOLUNTEERS TO BE HONORED: A tradition started a few years back by former Board of Selectmen Chairman Steve Anastos will continue later this month under the direction of current Chairman John Stagnone. All volunteers in the town will be invited to a barbecue lunch on September 22 at the Old Colony YMCA Branch in Stoughton.  The fun will start at 12:30 p.m. Stagnone tells About Town that all town meeting members and volunteers on boards, commissions, and committees will be receiving their invitations soon.  “There will be a couple of hundred people invited, and usually around 125 show up,” he …

A SPECIAL TRAIN OF THOUGHT:  Do you think the Town of Stoughton should purchase the historic Stoughton Train Station from the MBTA?  What do you think should go in there, if they buy it?  The Board of Selectmen want YOUR opinion!  You are invited to attend a public hearing to solicit thoughts of residents on whether the Town should purchase the Stoughton Train Depot, and what might be the best uses for the building. The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11 at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall on the third floor of the Town Hall. The town-through State Reps. Lou Kafka and William …

STOUGHTON GENEROUS WITH TAXPAYER MONEY: Stoughton Selectmen were generous with taxpayer's hard-earned money Tuesday night, voting to give $2,200 toward half the travel, hotel and meal expenses of the final candidates for the Town Manager's position. That brings the total of the nationwide "search" to $21,100, more than the $20,000 originally budgeted for it. The search for a permanent Town Manager in Stoughton has been narrowed down to seven candidates. Some of these candidates live far enough away that they will need to fly into town for the two-day interview process set to take place …

STOUGHTON MOURNS THE LOSS OF JERRY SAVAGE:  Personally, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Jerald S. Savage, a CPA with Wallace, Savage & Davis in Stoughton. He died Wednesday, August 29. Jerry Savage was a vice chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and was the campaign treasurer for former selectman John Anderson’s campaign.  Savage was a financial wizard who helped to save Curry College, and did the same for New England Sinai Hospital. He and his lovely wife Sheryl, Executive Director of College Advancement at Massasoit Community College in Canton, were very active at Ahavath Torah …

STOUGHTON MUSICIANS PLAY FENWAY (ALMOST): A trio of Stoughton High School students played outside of Fenway Park and About Town has the story!   Stoughton High 11th grader David Elmowitz and his band Outside City Limits played two sets of music at Lansdowne Pub immediately following this past Sunday's Red Sox game. Kassandra Melo, another SHS 11th grader is the incredibly talented lead singer. David plays the drums, while fellow SHS 11th grader Dan Goldberg is on guitar. 12th grader Bret Guaraldi, from Bristol Plymouth High School, is on bass guitar. All four are part of the Stoughton Music …

FIGHTING DISTRACTED DRIVING: Hardy Insurance Agency on Tosca Dr. is bringing the state-of-the-art Distractology 101 tour to Stoughton this week (Aug. 27-31) and About Town was there on Monday to give it a try.  Distractology 101 is an interactive program developed by the Arbella Insurance Foundation to teach new drivers the dangers of distracted driving. The campaign features a 36-foot-long, neon-yellow mobile classroom outfitted with high-tech driving simulators designed to give new drivers the chance to experience the perils of distracted driving, including texting while driving. Instructor…

STOUGHTON MAN LEADING FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: Dr. Keith Kowalczyk of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, is using a new tool to fight kidney cancer.  It's a robotic laparoscopy procedure, with a new Firefly technology that allows for greater visibility and accuracy. "Firefly is a procedure that uses infrared imaging to illuminate exactly where the kidney and its blood supply is," according to WUSA9-TV, a Washington, D.C. news outlet. "The robotic laparoscopy involves inserting a tube in a small incision to remove the tumor with a remote controlled unit," WUSA9 reports. Kowalczyk is son of …

WHO WILL CATCH THE RAIN? Residents can now purchase rain barrels through the town. The barrels can be used to collect rainwater from roofs to be used on gardens and house plants, saving residents money on water bills. The barrels come in three colors, red, black and blue. They cost $75 and can be ordered through the engineering/conservation department on the second floor of Town Hall. Checks should be made out to Sky Juice, the company making the barrels. Sky Juice has partnerships with a number of other Massachusetts towns such as Sharon. The barrels are 65 gallons and made from recycled …

SNOW WHITE IS A HIT! The Little Theatre of Stoughton is doing something a little different this summer. As part of their 55th season, their production of "Snow White: The Musical" will take place in the great outdoors. Opening weekend was Aug. 17-19. Miss out? You can still catch the production on Aug. 24, 25 and 26 at the Cedar Hill Golf Course under the Big Top! It’s adapted from the original Grimm’s Fairytale by the trio of Sarah Flanagan, Kellie McGrath, and Jeanette Champagne.  Jan Jones, the president and glue that holds together the Little Theatre of Stoughton, told About Town that, “…

THE UMPIRE STRIKES BACK! For the third consecutive year, local umpires from Stoughton were selected to work the championship game at the very prestigious Cooperstown Dream Park in New York.  Each year, Cooperstown Dream Park runs 13 one-week tournaments for 104 teams from all across the country and Canada (a group of Stoughton 12-year-olds participated in week 6 of the program this summer). This year local umpires Lee Policow, Rich Snyder, John Zaniboni and Paul McKeen were all selected to work the championship games. Rich Snyder was selected for the week 1 championship game. Week 10 saw …

HERE GOES THE JUDGE: The former First Justice of the Stoughton District Court - and former Stoughton Town Manager - Francis T. Crimmins, Jr., has already outgrown the location of his new law practice, and is moving to larger, more plush, surroundings. Crimmins, managing member of Ab Initio Elder Law Solutions, LLC., can now be found at 247 Washington Street, in office space at Albert's Plaza on Route 138. His practice was previously located at Cabot Place off Page St. The practice, according to its website, "provides a variety of legal and supplemental support services for elderly or disabled…

KNOLLSBROOK LIGHTS A MYSTERY TO TOWN OFFICIALS: When the State's Transportation Bond Bill was signed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Aug. 9, it had a few goodies inside for the good people of Stoughton, including a half-million dollar surprise that had town officials scratching their heads. The Massachusetts State Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives sent the $1.5 billion bill to the Governor Deval Patrick, which included $100,000 for a study of downtown Stoughton and $175,000 to help buy the Stoughton Railroad Station from the MBTA.  But, most shockingly, was the …