Frank Schroth

Hair: Time to get over it

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A Senior Seminar Editorial by Emily Jo McKnight, MHS 2010

After reading Jenee Desmond-Harris’ article “Why Michelle’s Hair matters,” It’s safe to say that Americans spend a little too much time focused on hair. Not that hair isn’t important or time consuming- especially for African American women, as Desmond-Harris points out- rather that Americans think too much about it and place too much significance in its ‘meaning’. From blogs and websites to stereotypes of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ hair, maybe it would do US citizens good to think less about Michelle Obama’s hair and more about her work and role as first lady.

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Champions raise their banner high!

Last night the 2009 Division 2 Championship Wildcat basketball team raised their  banner before the start of the basketball season. Last year’s graduating seniors returned for the event.

Champions return

Champions return

The banner unveiled

The banner unveiled

Sustainable Milton launching bottle drive

Sustainable Milton, a local non-profit organization devoted to promoting green lifestyles, has started a campaign to encourage folks to forsake buying and drinking bottled water in favor of a much cheaper, environmentally conscious and, frankly, common sense alternative – tap water.

Here are some facts regarding bottled water:

  • The leading bottled water producers are Coca Cola (Dasani), Pepsi (Aquafina) and Nestle (Poland Springs, San Pellegrino, Arrowhead, Calistoga, Ice Mountain, Perrier, and those are only a few).
  • Bottled water is not any more or less healthy than tap water. If you are a child it is likely less healthy because it lacks flouride which is proven to prevent cavities and tooth decay.
  • Like tap water, Dasani and Aquafina come from municipal water sources. Check the label; it reads, “municipal water source.” Companies do perform processes like reverse osmosis
  • Bottled water does not taste any better than tap water.  Good Morning America and Penn & Teller (the satirists and magicians) both performed taste tests in which people  favored tap water over tap water (GMA 63%, P&T 75%).

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Milton’s Holiday House Tour – A Tradition in its 18th Year

Holiday House Tour, December 13th, 1 -4 p.m. to benefit the Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams St., Milton. Advance Tickets: $18 museum members / $20 non-members. Day of Tour Tickets: $25 for all.

Fontbonne Jazz Choir

Fontbonne Jazz Choir

Don’t miss an 18 year tradition for the holidays with the Forbes House Museum’s 18th annual Holiday House Tour scheduled for Sunday, December 13th from 1 – 4 p.m. Generous home owners will graciously deck their halls to benefit the Museum. Each year since 1991 the FHM has selected outstanding homes and worked with home owners to showcase holiday décor and to celebrate the architectural diversity of private residences and buildings throughout the town and the 2009 tour is no exception. A delightful selection of private homes in diverse design and style will be decorated in their holiday finest for you to tour. Come to be inspired, come to be nostalgic, come to enjoy the Fontebonne Jazz Choir or the Dancing Deer goodies. What ever your motivation, just come out on the 13th of December to support the FHM and to be a part of the tradition!

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East Milton-Lower Mills pipeline contract award expected this month

from The Dorchester Reporter

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is expected to award a bid for a water pipe replacement and rehabilitation project spanning from Milton to Lower Mills at its Dec. 16 board meeting.

The cost of the project, which will include the replacement of 9,200 feet of water pipe from East Milton Square to Lower Mills, has been put at about $20 million with a 3-1/2-year completion schedule, said MWRA spokeswoman Ria Convery. Depending on the weather, work could begin as early as February, she said. (Read the full story here.)

Bill White; Milton selectman ran Chevrolet dealership; 83

from the Boston Globe

Bill White was already a seasoned veteran of local politics on Nov. 7, 1960, as the biggest night of his political life unfolded in the old Boston Garden. He first ran for Town Meeting in Milton at 21, and by his early 30s was known as a Democrat who could rally voters behind candidates and causes.

His job was running the stage at the Garden, where John F. Kennedy was giving a speech the night before he was elected president, and 20,000 people had shouldered into a building designed to accommodate 13,000. (Read the full story here.)

Meeting Notes: School Committee 12.08.09 – Bierne Lovely to retire at end of term

It was at the end of last night’s School Committee meeting that Bierne Lovely announced he would be retiring from the School Committee at the end of his current term. He expressed the need for new blood and hoped to see residents step up to run for the open seat in the spring.

That was one of two important statements Mr. Lovely made. The other was that the schools will face “very significant cuts in level of service.” given the current and projected financial health of the town. He was echoing a summation from Mary Kelly who is on the Finance subcommittee. She said that the situation could be “as dire this year as last year if not more.” And that “we are in very dire straights for FY11. [It is] not going to be a pleasant experience.”

These comments came at the end of a discussion of finances. At issue is the lack of a firm number. The Warrant Committee was looking for schools to cut approximately $440,000 in anticipation of 9C cuts. However, as member Glenn Pavlicek said, the Warrant Committee has been advised by Town Counsel not to create a budget based on a projected cut. “Choosing a number is not going to fly,” Pavlicek said.

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South Shore voters back Coakley, Brown – Milton has relatively high turn out

The Patriot Ledger reports this morning that Coakley and Brown were their respective parties top vote getters down here on the south shore. on the Democratic ticket, Coakley received more than double the number of votes of her closest rival, Rep. Michael Capuano. On the Republican side, Scott Brown practically swept Jack E. Robinson which is surprising given Robinson is from Duxbury.

Milton had the highest voter turnout of all south shore towns, 34%, according to the Ledger. You can read the full story here.

Beyond the poor farm

Editorial from The Boston Globe

WHO KNEW that a Colonial act of generosity would someday divide an affluent suburb? In 1701, Governor William Stoughton willed a 34-acre parcel to the town of Milton for the benefit of the poor. Over the centuries, the land known as the Town Farm has been used for smallpox quarantines, transient housing, and an animal shelter. It also hosts three rental housing units whose modest proceeds help the poor. But the farm’s buildings are crumbling, its endowment is dwindling, and the town must decide what to do with the land, now surrounded by million-dollar homes. (Read the full editorial here.)

The Flaws of Zero Tolerance Policies

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A Senior Seminar Editorial by Colman Flanagan, MHS 2010

The overreaction of school administrations to cases of poor behavior by students has quickly become one of the biggest problems in society today. The reasons for some expulsions being handed out have left parents, as well as the students both baffled. The requirement by congress put in place in 1994 that forced states receiving federal education money to expel students who bring guns onto school property has quickly been blown way out of proportion. The zero tolerance policy can have a domino effect on a young student who gets in trouble and gets expelled from school. Many of these students will decide to just bag the whole school idea, and are much more suspect to more trouble down the road once they get involved in the juvenile justice system. This system is also subject to racism. The stats show that blacks and Hispanics are being shipped off to court at a higher rate then white students are.

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