Members of the Milton School Committee again made a point of cautioning the public with regard to the upcoming school budget. Mr. Pavlicek was blunt saying that “scenario will be as gruesome as we have ever seen it.  . . .We [may need] to squeeze out $2 million once again – we could get less than zero (i.e. less than level funding for FY2011). It is  not at all clear what revenue picture will be. . . It is not going to be pleasant. It’s going to make it a very difficult year once again.”

Other highlights from the meeting include but were not limited to:

• Tucker Principal – Marcia Uretsky, Principal of the Tucker School, and Jenny Yoon, Tucker site council member and teacher, presented the Tucker School Improvement Plan. Tucker met their AYP in English Language Arts both in aggregate and all subgroups but did not in math. Math instruction is being increased by 15 minutes which did not impact any other classes as Yoon explained. There are also going to be a “Morning Math Masters’ program and a Saturday program for additional enrichment and instruction. Reader’s Workshop, a program in place at al elementary schools , will be extended aos all grade levels. Ms. Uretsky, who is new to Tucker this year, also outlined steps to improve communication within the school (the faculty) and outreach to parents and community.

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from The Boston Globe

Milton’s treasurer-collector, James McAuliffe, said he has found that applying pressure to the biggest tax offenders works well.

“I published the names in the newspaper of the seven property owners with the largest amounts owed,’’ he said. “We collected the amounts from four, and the other three set up payment plans.’’ The effort lowered the amount outstanding in back taxes from $2.5 million down to $1.6 million, McAuliffe said. (Read the full story here.)

from WBUR

With our attention turned to Haiti, here are some resources to allow you to help out:

• American Red Cross International Relief Fund
• International Medical Corps
• Medical Teams International
• AmeriCares Help For Haiti
• Catholic Charities (Archdiocese of Boston)
• Doctors Without Borders
• UNICEF
• Partners In Health (Boston)
• Partners In Development (Ipswich, Mass.)
• Beyond Borders
• Haitian Health Foundation
• Direct Relief International
• Oxfam America (Boston)
• United Nations World Food Program
• The Salvation Army

Additionally, for those looking for information about relatives in Haiti, the U.S. State Department’s telephone hotline is 1-888-407-4747.

From American Red Cross:  How to Get Help

from Wicked Local Hanover

The Hanover Mite B2 team played Milton who is one of the top teams in the league and pulled off a dramatic 5-4 win in a huge game for the team.

Patrick McDonald was absolutely phenomenal in goal for Hanover. Patrick’s performance in goal and Owen Porter’s Hat-Trick highlighted the amazing Hanover win. (Read the full story here.)

Tonight at 7PM at Holy Cross Cathedral (1400 Washington Street – South End)

from Rep Linda Dorcena Forry

I ask everyone to pray for those in Haiti and those of us here.  All of us and all the great friends of Haiti we have in Massachusetts are affected by these horrible events.

For those of us with family and friends in Haiti- all of us are understandably upset- but we need to stay calm.  This is going to be a monumental rebuilding effort and the U.S. can and should take the lead.  This is the time to step up- especially Haitian Americans- and respond to a great human tragedy.  We have to do it earnestly and quickly, but it’s also important that our response be well-planned and carried out.

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from Wicked Local Milton

Rabbi Nathan Korff, the longtime leader of Congregation B’nai Jacob on Blue Hills Parkway in Milton, died Monday. He was 91.

Rabbi Korff served the Jewish communities in Milton and Boston for nearly 60 years, and for decades was the spiritual leader of the Milton synagogue. (Read the full story here.)

from NECN

The Fruit Center Marketplace is featured in story on impact Florida weather is having on local produce prices.

After a brief but vigorous discussion the Warrant Committee voted last night to recommend the zoning overlay article that will be on the Special Town Meeting warrant in February by a vote of 7-3.

Tom Hurley, chairman of the Warrant Committee, began the discussion by having Emily Innes of the Planning Board join them to answer some outstanding questions from the previous session. These pertained to how the current proposal compared to the Fruit Center Marketplace regarding the size of the commercial footprint and parking spaces. The Fruit Center is approximately 32,826 sq ft including both floors and has about 222 parking spaces.

• the overlay would also apply to two other properties in Milton;  St Mary’s (the school not the church) and St Elizabeth’s (on both sides of Reedesdale). These properties both satisfy the criteria specified
• this is the first change from commercial to residential to come before the Planning Board. The Fruit Center did not come before the Planning Board. It was handled by Board of Appeals.

Here is a video compilation on Tazjah, the Milton Animal League’s 3 1/2 year old pit bull mix who has been waiting too long for a home. She went on a home visit with a shelter volunteer – so here she is in a home setting. If you know someone looking for a wonderful, well behaved dog, please consider Tazjah. Thank you. Visit the Milton Animal League web site here for more information or call 617-698-0413.