ABOUT TOWN: South Coast Rail and Weekend Entertainment

Happy Birthday to Stoughton's Amy Snetsky, a Senior Nurse Consultant at Polaris Group.  She is married to Jonathan Bloom and they have a daughter, Maya.  Happy Birthday to my friend Johnny Crawford, an actor, bandleader and owner of Crawford Music.  Some may remember him for playing Mark McCain on "Rifleman." He was 12 when he started on the show. He turns 65 today. Happy Birthday tomorrow to Alice Coyle, a Regional Editor for Gatehouse Media.  She's my boss's boss.  Happy Birthday tomorrow also to my cousin, David Gonick, and my media friends, Dan Hausle and Matt Siegel.

CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER: Dr. Erdem Ural, candidate for School Committee, is holding a Breakfast Meet & Greet from 8-11:30 a.m. TOMORROW (Sunday) at the Sons of Italy Hall, 550 Washington Street on Rt. 138. Suggested $5 Donation, but seniors and kids are FREE.   

A STITCH IN TIME GETS YOU A QUILT: Diana Piechowski and Evelyn McStowe of Stoughton were participants in the  at Blue Hills Regional Technical School, held last weekend. The event featured "The Supper Quilt." Designed and pieced by Dr. Donald Locke and quilted by world renowned quilter Linda Taylor, "this quilt is a masterpiece in and of itself." It is modeled after Leonardo da Vinci’s famous work, “The Last Supper.” 

Take a look in the media gallery above for pictures of the Stoughton quilters' work.

CHOO CHOO IS COO COO: State Senator Brian Joyce (D-Milton) wants readers to know there will be public hearings held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the citizens of all areas affected by the to discuss the implications of the project.

The two hearings will be held: Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 7 p.m. at Qualters Middle School in Mansfield and Thursday, May 5, 2011, 7 p.m. at Keith Middle School in New Bedford. If you would like a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, you can find it in libraries on the South Coast (see the list at www.mass.gov/southcoastrail) or by downloading it later this week from the South Coast Rail or Army Corps of Engineers sites (http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/projects/ma/SouthCoastRail/southcoastrail.htm.)

You can also request a DVD and Executive Summary or print copy (email or call Charlie Patton, 617-357-5772 or cpatton@reginavilla.com).  In addition, MassDOT has prepared “A Reader’s Guide to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Report,” and a Fact Sheet, which will be posted on the website. The Corps and MEPA will accept written comments until May 27, 2011.

Please send your comments to both agencies: Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, Army Corps of Engineers, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751, Email: SCREIS@USACE.army.mil, or fax: 978-318-8303.  And Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., EOEEA, attn.: MEPA Office (Aisling O’Shea), 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114. Email: aisling.o’shea@state.ma.us or fax: 617-626-1181 or via hand delivery. For background information on the project, please visit www.mass.gov/southcoastrail.

I don't know if residents can have any effect by protesting this outrageous waste of money, and extreme safety issue, but it's worth a try.  We NEED TO MAKE SOME NOISE.

YOUTH KICKING BUTT: Youth from Student’s Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), a program of Stoughton High School, participated in the 2011 held at the Massachusetts State House on March 23. Take a look at a photo of the Stoughton crew in the media gallery above.

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE THREE-ALARM FIRE IN EASTON: The Stoughton Fire Department was one of TEN fire departments in the area to respond to a fire at Edwards Movers in Easton (7 Lois Lane, off Route 138) Friday morning. According to Jim Bertram of the SFD, the fire started at 8:24 a.m. "Great work by many mutual aide crews assisting the Easton Firefighters. 10 towns from 3 different counties (Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk) working together."

Take a look at photos Bertram submitted from the scene (in the media gallery above) and check out additional photos/video from by clicking on the link.

IT'S A CRAZY SATURDAY!!! Don't let me hear you say you have nothing to do TODAY.  There's something for everyone---day and night! 

* Start off your day at Church.  First United Methodist Church, 103 Pleasant Street, is having a Yard and Bake Sale, TODAY from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.   

* The Gibbons Elementary School, 235 Morton Street, holds a Spring Fair TODAY from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are also having a Blood Drive there for Children's Hospital. Have some fun and leave some blood behind for a kid who might need it. 

* Then, TODAY at 12:30 p.m., come see the of Stoughton Media Access Corporation. SMAC is holding an open house with tours, door prizes, giveaways and refreshments. The studio is located at 421 Page Street, in the suite adjacent to the Church, on the right side of the Lappen's Business Center building.

* First Parish Universalist Church in Stoughton Center, is having a Chicken Dinner TONIGHT, starting at 6:30 p.m., and a Bola Bola raffle after that. Raffle tickets are $1 each at the Church. 

* Then, the Stoughton Lions Club holds its annual fundraising concert TONIGHT at 7 p.m. at Stoughton High. The "Legends in Concert, featuring Tony Funches (who has actually toured with The Platters) and Friends in a tribute to the legendary Platters ("Only You", "My Prayer", Magic Touch") music. Tickets are $10 each at the door

* Finally, TONIGHT at 8:30 p.m., there's a fundraiser for the Save The State Theatre organization, that is trying to restore and reopen the cinema in Stoughton Center.  The fundraiser will be held at Whiplash, a nighclub located across from the train station at 63 Wyman Street.  A number of local performers will be featured, including Stoughton's singer-songwriter Mike Viola. Admission is $5.