Tuesday, July 24, 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 GOT INTO SWING OF THINGS: This past Sunday, more than 100 people came out on a beautiful evening to enjoy some delightful music that may have been decades old, but still sounded fresh! The Westwood Swing Band came by with their full 16-piece dynamic sound! Mark Rogers from the Band acted as an emcee, and introduced some of the amazing tunes of the Swing Era to the crowd. The tunes ranged from familiar ditties by the Gershwins and Glenn Miller Band, to the familiar chorus of Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody." Vocalist Gale Riley did a great job on singing some of those classic ballads of yesteryear. The Westwood Swing Band has been bringing the sound of the big band era to the people of Massachusetts and vicinity for the …
Friday, July 20, 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.
GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS: If you have missed the first couple of Concerts in the Park, sponsored by the Stoughton Lions Club, you hit a bad note. During the first couple of weeks, you missed some great performances from Political Asylum and Easy Access Band. This coming week, there's something that some of my older readers will REALLY appreciate! The Westwood Swing Band comes by with their 16-piece dynamic sound! Mark Rogers from the Band acts as an emcee, and introduces some of the amazing tunes of the Swing Era to the crowd. And, it takes a strong vocalist to deliver, and they have that in vocalist Gale Riley. The group has been bringing the sound of the big band era to the people of Massachusetts and vicinity for the past 20 plus…
Monday, July 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.
PAVING THE WAY TO SAVINGS: Stoughton is one of the first towns in the area to using a new paving method, out of New York, that recycles the asphalt already on the ground. DPW Superintendent John Batchelder told About Town, "This a new process that has been used successfully in New York and Connecticut. The western part of the state is using it, and Attleboro was the first around here." Trucks were seen on Turnpike Street on Thursday and Friday last week. The process re-uses the asphalt, which is rejuvinated in VERY high heat, mixed with oil, and rolled back into the road. Then, a light coat of micropave, a light sealer with cement additive, is added to the top as a finish. Batchelder explained that on heavily traveled roads like Turnpike …
Thursday, July 12, 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 SELECTMEN SUPPORT OVERTURNING SUPREME COURT'S "CITIZEN UNITED" CAMPAIGN FINANCING DECISION: The Stoughton Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 on Tuesday, July 10, to endorse a Moveon.org petition, presented by Steve Wilkinson of the Stoughton Democratic Town Committee, to overturn the Citizens United decision of the United States Supreme Court. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 50 (2010), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions. The nonprofit corporation Citizens United wanted to air a film critical of then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and to …
Monday, July 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.
STOUGHTON HEAVYWEIGHT WINS AT BROCKTON FAIR: Stoughton's own Sean Bettencourt won his heavyweight boxing match Saturday, July 7, at the Brockton Fair's Brockton Fairgrounds ring. Bettencourt is a four time New England Golden Gloves Champion and a one-time United States Northeast Regional Champion. Travis Demko, a former Black Knight football running back, was also scheduled to box, but his opponent pulled out of the fight. Bettencourt fought three rounds and won a unanimous decision over Worcester heavyweight Bryan Daniels. The 6'4" Bettencourt went to the Olympic trials in the light-heavyweight category (178 lbs.), but it was tough fighting at such a light weight. He said he'd "run out of gas" at the end of some of his bouts. Bettencourt…
Friday, July 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.
SENATOR BROWN CALLS WARREN "A JOB DESTROYER": About Town caught up with U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) in Sandwich, MA on Thursday, July 5. Brown, who was introduced by State Representative Randy Hunt (R-Sandwich), said that the 19 new taxes on business, included in President Obama's Universal Healthcare mandate, are "putting a wet blanket on business." His Democratic opponent, Professor Elizabeth Warren, has already said she backs "Obamacare" as it was passed. "The half a trillion dollar cut to Medicare included in the legislation will hurt seniors," according to Brown. He said that the incredible debt is destroying business, and will need to be paid for by generations not yet born. "We borrow 43 cents of each dollar we spend. When I…
Thursday, June 14, 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.
IT'S OVER! IT'S FINALLY OVER! Yes, nine was the lucky number for the 100 town meeting members who came to the Annual Town Meeting on June 13. After nine sessions, the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (finally) ended. I believe the most important thing accomplished by the 2012 Annual Town Meeting was the more than THREE MILLION DOLLARS that was added to the Town's Stabilization fund, in the middle of a deep recession. The town added a number of positions in the school and municipal sides, had no layoffs, and banked over $3 million. Now, THAT'S an accomplishment! Outgoing Finance Committee Chair Holly Boykin said the $3,007,528 added to the fund ($2,421,463 from free cash and $586,065 from the tax levy) brings it up to a grand total of $4,649,292. …
Tuesday, June 12, 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 NIGHT EIGHT: Town Meeting members plowed through half of the remaining warrant articles on Monday, June 11, 2012. Sixteen articles remain for Wednesday, June 13, which hopefully will be the ninth - and last - night of Stoughton's 2012 Annual Town Meeting. One-hundred and nine (109) members came for a meeting which was called for 7:30 p.m., and started at 7:45. Due to presentations, and a message regarding the open meeting laws from Moderator Howard Hansen, members didn't begin working on their first article of the night until 8:10 p.m. The final article discussed on Monday may have had the most impact on the future development of one end of town, and provoked passion on both sides of the argument. Article 61 would have …
Monday, June 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.
FUTURE STARS OF VARSITY SPORTS: Stoughton High School Athletic Director Ryan Donahue brought a posse of Black Knights athletes with him to O'Donnell Middle School last week to talk about the various sports teams at the High School. Athletes from each of the teams were represented, and answered questions from the crowd. Donahue says that the Athletics Department will hold its Third Annual Open House on Wednesday, June 13, starting at 6:30 p.m in the SHS gymnasium. Says Donahue, "This is a great opportunity to square away paperwork and concussion education for the upcoming fall sports season." Current eighth grade parents and students are welcome to attend. Speaking of Stoughton High sports, the Spring Sports Awards will be held on Monday…
Friday, May 25, 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.
VFW AWARDS PRESENTATION: The Michael Romanuk V.F.W. Post 1645 had their Installation of Post Officers on Sunday, May 20 at their post headquarters on Washington St, just outside the downtown. The Post, which was established March 10, 1929, is celebrating its 83rd year. Elected as Commander was Jim Kelly. Sr. Vice Commander is Brian Turner, and Junior Vice Commander is Gary Barkey. Quartermaster is Rudolph Medeiros, and Chaplain is Frederick C. Varner. Judge Advocate is Charlie Wade, and Surgeon is Jack McSweeney. The 1 Year Trustee is H. Lee Parker, 2 Year Trustee is Louis DiRusso, and 3 year Trustee is Irving Saltzman. Appointed Post Officers included Adjutant Ally Turner, Officer of the Day Amory Murray, Service Officer Robert McGarry, …
Michael Wallace
10:52 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The Solicitor General was incorrect in stating that the Government could ban books, they could only regulate electioneering that was broadcast. You have a choice with the book, you have to go to the library/bookstore and actively seek out that book. Campaign Commercials come on without any affirmative action by the viewer. Books were never allowed to be regulated, everyone knows the history of … more ›