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…
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…
Wednesday, May 9, 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.
HELP THREE 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, are holding a fundraiser for them. It will be held on Friday, May 11, from 7 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. at Game Time Sports Bar & Grill, 365 Centre Ave. in Rockland. Admission is $10. If you'd 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! *** SHALOH HOUSE CHABAD OF THE SOUTH AREA TO HOST OUTDOOR FUN AND FESTIVITIES MARKING THE MYSTICAL JEWISH HOLIDAY OF LAG B'OMER: Shaloh House Chabad of the South Area is …
Tuesday, May 8, 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.
BAY STATE BIKE WEEK: Stoughton will be celebrating Bay State Bike Week Festivities, according to the Stoughton Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force. There are two events listed on their schedule. On Saturday, May 12, 2012, a Group Bike Ride is planned to join a massive gathering of bike riders at DW Field Park, on Oak Street in Brockton in celebration of BikeWeek. Plan to meet at 9 a.m. at the DPW main lot, 950 Central Street, Stoughton, for a 3.5 mile ride to DPW Field. Free T shirts, reflective gear, bike bells, and stickers will be available for distribution, while supplies last! Free Coffee will be offered complements of Gary Lewis of Honey Dew Donuts at the DPW at 8:30 a.m. On Saturday, May 19, 2012, a Group Trail Ride at Bird …
Monday, May 7, 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.
MONDAY NIGHT HOMEWORK A BIG SUCCESS FOR LIBRARY: If you happen to visit the Stoughton Public Library on any Monday night that school has been in session, you will see 50 - 60 Stoughton middle and high school students busily working on homework. About fifteen of these youngsters are usually talented and amazing tutors. For the past five years, the Monday Night Homework Center has offered free tutorial help to Stoughton residents. Originally the Homework Center was supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Library System and Eastern Bank. The last few years, the Stoughton Public Schools has sponsored the program. This program is so successful because of its tutors. These young adults are top juniors and seniors as well as National Honor …
Sunday, May 6, 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.
Highlighting the week that was with the best of "About Town with Mark Snyder": DROUGHT PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY: After a winter and spring with little precipitation, the Town of Stoughton is preparing for the possibility of a long, hot summer, and with it, the possibility of a drought. As a result, Selectmen on May 1 unanimously voted to approve a Drought Management Plan, initiating Phase 1, which is a “voluntary watering ban," asking residents to minimize the use of outdoor water. Read more by clicking here. *** STOUGHTON CANCER SURVIVOR FEATURED SPEAKER: Mark Leppo, a Stoughton realtor, who fought for his life against the rare and deadly Merkel Cell Carcinoma, will be featured speaker at the Celebration of Life, a full day of celebration, …
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 ›