Monday, May 21, 2012
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.
NEARLY 300 SENIORS FEAST FOR THREE DOLLARS! Stoughton's Friends for Seniors held their 2012 Annual Spring Dinner on Saturday, May 19, in the basement hall at the Immaculate Conception Church. Father Joseph McDermott did the opening prayer, and from there it was Mike Sammarco and his famous Sons of Italy/Babe Ruth cooking crew that took over. Everyone got chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and a roll - and cake for dessert. Seniors paid only $3 for tickets! Friends for Seniors President Bob Mullen (who doubles as President of the Stoughton Lions Club and Stoughton's Deputy Moderator at Town Meeting in his spare time.) presented Friends for Seniors Scholarships to Rebecca Goldberg of the Stoughton High National Honor Society ($500); …
Friday, May 18, 2012
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.
MORE ON THE PARK STREET FIRE VICTIMS: Friends of Dennis Manning, Laurie Smith and Stoughton High School student Dianna Manning, who were all made homeless by the recent Park Street fire, held a fundraiser for them, last Friday night at Game Time Sports Bar & Grill, 365 Centre Ave. in Rockland. If you couldn't make it, and would like to help the family (who are looking for an apartment), you can send a donation to them directly at P.O. Box 134, Stoughton, MA 02072. Dennis is undergoing treatment for cancer. This family could use our help! Bela Santos of BelaBody Fitness in Stoughton, wrote to thank About Town for the publicity of her fundraiser on Stoughton Patch: "I'd like to extend a formal THANK YOU to everyone who donated for the …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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.
MILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL FEASIBILITY STUDY PASSED: School Committee member Deborah Sovinee was beaming as members left Stoughton High May 16 from Town Meeting Night Four, with the article for a Feasibility Study for Stoughton High School passing by an overwhelming margin. Sovinee had really taken the lead on trying to do something about the deteriorating condition of Stoughton High School. After the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) had put Stoughton High on "Warning Notice" status due, in part, to the many deficiencies in the physical plant, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi, and the School Committee were determined to renovate or replace the high school. It's a VERY long road until the day when a new …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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.
THOUGHTS ABOUT A NEW HIGH SCHOOL: Article 66 is asking for Town Meeting to borrow up to $1 million for a feasibility study to look at the potential renovation or replacement of SHS. There's no doubt that high school needs a radical repair job or total replacement. It seems that the myriad of problems - many involving the health of teachers, staff and students - is beyond a simple repair job. It is estimated that it could cost 15-20 million dollars for repairs to the building. But, there are SO many problems - particularly the mold, mildew, asbestos, and water problems - that would really require that portions of the building would need to be torn down. And, like repairing an old car, it might run, but it would not be the most modern …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
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 SPENDS OVER 72 MILLION DOLLARS: Town Meeting approved a $72,469,307 municipal and school budget on Monday, May 14, the third session of Town Meeting (this does not include nearly $15 million in enterprise accounts). Some $400,000 of anticipated spending was saved due to negotiations with town and school employees in regards to health insurance. Although it is still early in the Town Meeting process, it would appear that over two million dollars will be added to the town's Stabilization Fund. This will help solidify the town's future bond rating. Monday night's meeting opened with the myriad of DPW budgets, including the highway department, snow removal, street lighting, parks and trees, and sanitation, a total of 3.1 million…
Monday, May 14, 2012
National Police Week is May 15-21. Here are some fun and easy ways to show your appreciation.
President John F. Kennedy set aside, by Presidential Proclamation in 1962, every May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, as well as the week it falls on as National Police Week. As a result, National Police Week is May 13-19 this year. One of the event’s sponsors, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, states that “on average one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty…every 53 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.” The poem, In The Line of Duty captures the essense of National Police Week with a poignant reminder: “Today an officer will place their badge on their chest. To fulfill the dreams of heroes killed In…
Common products found around the home can be used to get a “household high.” Know the warning signs if you think your child is “huffing.”
The following is written by Dan Tarlin of OASIS. Tarlin is a clinical social worker and Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor at Westwood Lodge Hospital, where he directs the Partial Hospital Programs for children, adolescents, and adults. He has been working in the field for over twenty years and is a charter member of OASIS. OASIS (Organizing Against Substances In Stoughton) partners with a diverse group of people and agencies that offer various support for: families, education in schools, policy development and after-school programs. *** If you thought the only drugs endangering young people are found on street corners, think again. Some of the most lethal drugs are items you probably have around your house or that they can buy at a …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Let the kids in on the action with child-made Mother’s Day gifts.
Need a last minute Mother’s Day gift idea? For anyone who is looking for some child-directed gifts for the moms and grandmas out there, look no further. Here are some very easy AND meaningful gifts for the kids to create: (adapted from Hand-Shaped Art by Diane Bonica) Materials Needed Instructions Adaptations (adapted from Mother’s Day Crafts by Jean Eick) Materials Needed Instructions Adaptation (from Adam Iacobucci) Materials Needed Instructions (adapted from All New Crafts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day by Kathy Ross) Materials Needed Instructions
Friday, May 11, 2012
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 GROUP SAVES CAT: At approximately 1:30 p.m. on May 8, the Stoughton-based South Shore Disaster Animal Rescue Team (SSDART) was called for a cat in a tree behind La Salette in Attleboro. According to a press release from SSDART, the caller reported the cat had been stuck in the tree for at least three days and was approximately seventy feet up. Team leader Christopher D’Arpino (a Stoughton resident) responded to the call with rescuer Jonathan Cuneo (pictured with Timber the cat in our gallery). Once the two arrived they saw a tiger striped young male cat up in a tree perched on a very thin branch. “The wind was the biggest concern, given the branch was very thin and the whole tree was swaying from the wind” said D’Arpino in the…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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.
IN SEARCH OF THE HOLY GRAIL: 128 Town Meeting members convened Wednesday night, May 9, at Stoughton High School's Auditorium. It began with an honor to Dr. Roberta Camacho (for over 25 years on the Redevelopment Authority.) Newest SRA member and new Chairman Carlos Vargas read a proclamation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Then, the TM body dove headfirst into the FY 2013 budget. The most contentious moments concerned the Planning Board and Police budgets. A motion was made by Interim Town Manager Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, to request adding $75,000 to the Planning Board budget to help pay for the Town's Master Plan. $50,000 was included in the 2012 budget for it, and Town Planner Noreen…
Scott M
5:05 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Seriously, at some point you HAVE to invest in the town. When is the time right? When every building has collapsed from years of neglect? We might as well get it done now, it's never going to get cheaper. more ›