Thursday, May 23, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
TOWN MEETING NIGHT II RECAP: Wednesday, May 22, Town Meeting Night Two started late (7:51 p.m.) and didn't really get going until 8:10 p.m. It ended at 10:57 p.m. in the middle of a motion by the Stoughton Public Schools to add $308,000 to the FY2014 education budget - $70,292 for an expected increase to the Southeastern Regional assessment and about $238,000 more for the Stoughton Public Schools budget - bringing the total department to $40,707,147, with $39,539,512 going specifically to the Stoughton Schools. It was the $238,000 which caused a lengthy back and forth discussion, which ultimately was not resolved by the time the second session was adjourned. The $238,000 for the Stoughton Public Schools would replenish the reduction by …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
GREETINGS FROM CONGRESSMAN LYNCH: Congressman Stephen Lynch didn't answer any questions from the 122 Town Meeting members present Monday when he came to deliver a "short update" to the people of Stoughton on the opening night of Town Meeting, but he did make it clear that his committee will fully investigate each of the three major scandals plaguing President Barack Obama and his leadership team. Lynch, who sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said, "We'll be investigating the Internal Revenue targeting of 'Patriots', 'Tea Party' and those that have criticized the government. Citizens have the right to dissent without retribution from their government. They have the ability to exercise their rights under the …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
TOWN MEETING NIGHT ONE: ZONES & DRONES: Stoughton's Annual Town Meeting got underway on Monday, May 20 at Stoughton High School's Auditorium. Scheduled for a 7:30 start, proceedings instead started at 7:48 p.m. The 122 Town Meeting members present (out of 155), took up the first of 80 articles before them, approving several enterprise funds and tackling some of the budget, including adding a couple of new positions. But, the reoccurring talk of the night had to do with privacy rights. Town Meeting members unanimously passed five Enterprise Fund Budgets: Ambulance ($1,307,907), Cedar Hill Golf Course ($223,683), Public Health Association ($935,277), Sewer Department ($6,262,694) and Water Department ($5,055,713). They also passed an …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
STOUGHTON QUARTET SCORES AN EAGLE! Last Thursday night, four Eagle Scouts were honored during a Presentation Ceremony by the Rising Star Lodge of Stoughton. The young men - Stephen Zorn, Adam Lurie, and Nolan Fraine from Troop 516 and Nick Selby from Troop 88 - were honored with citations and their mothers received a Sebastian statue. It was a fantastic night for the families, featuring a nice chicken dinner catered by the members of Rising Star Lodge. It was followed by the public presentation of the awards attended by many of the troop scouts and their families. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Tom McClintock, a member of Old Colony Council of Boy Scouts, scoutmaster of Troop 42 in Norwood, and a Mason in St. Albans Lodge of …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: The Stoughton Council on Aging & Youth Commission recently hosted the Mass Memories Road Show, Sunday May 5. With the help of over 35 volunteers, over 350 images have been digitized and labeled for future generations to view and explore. These images, both photos and videos, were scanned or taped on Sunday to record who makes up the Town of Stoughton on this day in history. Many personal stories and experiences were captured, including 48 video stories. About 150 people attended the well-publicized event. Over the course of that Sunday, people had the chance to archive up to three photos and document their family (or Stoughton) story on a video recording. There was a crew ready to scan photos or transfer them…
Monday, May 13, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
POSTHUMOUS HONORS AND A FUNDRAISER FOR JAKE HOFFMAN: Stoughton’s Jake Hoffman would have graduated college on May 10, 2013, with a degree from the Isenberg School’s Department of Tourism Management at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. To the continuing sorrow of his family, friends, and everyone who ever met him, he was tragically killed in an off-campus apartment fire in Amherst on Jan. 21, at the age of 21. In a wonderful gesture by his University, his parents - Anne and Dave Hoffman - received his degree at the Isenberg School of Management Senior Celebration on Saturday morning, May 11. They also received the Chancellor's 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal on Jake's behalf, according to associate dean Linda L. Shea. The …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
TORNADO IN STOUGHTON? Did a tornado hit Stoughton late Thursday afternoon? Yes, says the National Weather Service, who conducted a storm survey Friday morning. What appeared to be a funnel cloud came down at the Bay State Pre-Owned Ford dealership at 1776 Washington St. on Route 138 around 4:45 p.m on Thursday, May 9, causing damage to several vehicles in the lot, destroying a bay garage door, and lifting a part of the roof. Stoughton firefighter Scott Mellyn said that the funnel cloud was visible from their Freeman Street station in the downtown. The Stoughton Police Department came to the Bay State Ford location and inspected the damage. The dispatcher there said that the police could not confirm it was a tornado at the time. But, …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
STOUGHTON WOMAN IS A FIT BEAUTY! Stoughton's Bela Santos was pleasantly surprised with her third place win in WBFF (World Beauty & Fitness Federation) Masters Fitness Diva round, which took place April 13 at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT. She tells About Town, "It was my first time competing in this organization next to so many amazingly beautiful and fit women. It was a shock! I'm hoping to come back with a better package and get my BIG WIN in June at the WBFF Boston Championship!" Santos runs BelaBody Fitness here in Stoughton. About Town did a rare Q&A. Here's the scoop from this local model of fitness (check our photo gallery for pictures from the WBFF Competition): How many contestants were in the contest? At the WBFF …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
THE ACTIONS OF A FEW SPOIL IT FOR THE REST: Halloran Park at the corner of Pierce and Leach Streets is a jewel in Stoughton. It has a "track" that has families walking in strollers, dog walkers (who can get a complimentary bag for cleanups there), joggers, and other assorted adults - young and old - who utilize the park every day. A few times a year, Grace Church shows films there, and has fun fairs for the kids. There's also a basketball court. Groups of young people play there regularly. Most people pick up after their dogs, and most pick up after their own messes. But, recently, there was a large amount of garbage tossed on the ground at the basketball court (just a few feet from an empty barrel.) And, once again the backboards were…
Friday, May 3, 2013
Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.
STOUGHTON NATIVE PRODUCES HOLLYWOOD FILM: Frederick Levy, a Stoughton native and 1988 graduate of Stoughton High, now lives in Los Angeles. He is the founder of Management 101, where he guides the careers of actors, writers and directors, and also develops and produces feature films and television programs. He has written a number of books, including the best-sellers "Hollywood 101--The Film Industry: How to Succeed in Hollywood Without Connections" and "Short Films 101: How To Make a Short Film and Launch Your Filmmaking Career." He was the Associate Producer of "Frailty," starring Matthew McConaughey, and has worked on many other films, including "Reindeer Games" and "Mr. Wrong". Levy has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, MTV, CNN…
ladyknight
1:57 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
While there are several positions that the school needs, I also question the emphasis on a community relations specialist and part time parent coordinators/liasons. I would rather see the money go to hiring people that directly provide student services- such as adjustment counselors (2 elementary schools share one), more full-time aides to provide consistency for the students, more teachers- … more ›