The Milton Board of Appeals recently ruled in favor of an appeal to prevent the construction of a cell tower on property in the Blue Hills. The following was contributed by Judy Lehrer Jacobs of The Friends of the Blue Hills. You can learn more about The Friends of the Blue Hills from their web site here.

Milton Zoning Board Votes to Deny Cell Tower: Progress that you can’t see – Judy Lehrer Jacobs

During the summer of 2009, Green Mountain Communications (GMC) of New Hampshire proposed building a 140-foot cell on the triangular parcel of land on the Houghton’s Pond Exit 3 onramp to Route 128 South. The site directly abuts the Silver Brook neighborhood and could be seen by neighbors and visitors to Big Blue and Houghton’s and Ponkapoag Ponds. GMC indicated a gap in coverage for cell phone users, estimating that 2 – 3% of calls are dropped; the new tower would address this perceived lack of coverage.

At a June 16th Milton Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting, neighbors and FBH Advocacy Committee members expressed concern that the GMC had not adequately considered how the cell tower would impact views from the neighborhood or from the Blue Hills. While the company had conducted a ‘crane test’ (raising a construction crane to simulate the height of the proposed tower) in the winter, neighbors and stakeholders had not been notified. The company agreed to hold a second crane test.

FBH joined neighbors to oppose the cell tower, arguing that while only a few people would lose their calls, tens of thousands of Blue Hills’ visitors would live with the visual results. The proposal, also contradicted Milton’s master plan and bylaws. See below for testimony by FBH and others.

After hearing testimony and reviewing GMC’s analysis, the Milton Zoning Board of voted unanimously to reject GMC’s proposal. Milton Board members agreed with FBH and the neighbors, questioning the need for the tower and emphasizing the scenic value of the Reservation.

We commend the Milton ZBA for a sound decision that acknowledges the Blue Hills as a timeless treasure that we all need to help preserve.

from the Boston Globe

Thousands more people flocked early this morning to the Kennedy Library, with many coming before dawn to wait in a half-mile long line to pay their respects to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

The library opened at 7:40 a.m., allowing a constant shuffle of mourners to again file past his flag-draped casket. A military honor guard stands at the head and the foot of the senator, who lies in a room with sweeping, floor-to-ceiling views of Dorchester Bay and the Boston skyline. (Read the full story here.)

NOTE: MBTA will be running extra buses.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY SERVICE

• The Red Line will operate extra trains to JFK/UMass Station, near Columbia Point in Dorchester.
• From 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Friday, additional buses will operate between JFK/UMass Station and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library as supplemental service to the T’s regular Route 8 bus service.
• Commuter Rail will offer additional service as every Old Colony train from the South Shore will make a station stop at JFK/UMass Station.
• Heavy passenger volume is expected and customers are urged to purchase round-trip fares in advance to expedite their return trips.
• If circumstances warrant it, Red Line service will be available after the T’s regular operating hours.

The Bay State Banner has a story on Milton resident, Angela McConney regarding a trip she made to the West Bank. The Banner reports:

The West Bank is a land crisscrossed by barbed-wire checkpoints, fortified Israeli settlements and a winding, 20-foot-high militarized “separation” wall that Israelis say is designed to keep them safe from Palestinian terrorists.

In a land that’s home to one of the most bitterly contested ethnic and religious conflicts in the world, Milton resident Angela McConney sought fellowship with the people she calls the original Christians. You can read more about Ms. McConney here.

And an item in today’s Globe reports that Priscilla Livingston of Wellesley and Hally Sheldon of Milton combined to win the pairs event at the recent Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catherine’s, Ont. You can read more about Hally here.

from The Boston Business Journal

Milton Hospital recorded an operating deficit of $4.4 million during the nine months ended June 30, as it struggled with higher debt costs.

The hospital’s deficit was several times greater than the year-earlier period when it was just $461,414, financial statements show. Results were hurt by higher interest expenses and a $1.5 million non-operating loss. (Read the full story here.)

It is that time of year, full of excitement and apprehension, nostalgia over the last whispers of summer and enthusiasm for getting reacquainted with old friends and, of course for parents, it is a time of barely managed chaos. In other words, it is time to go back to school.

Milton students in grades 1 through 12 start school next Tuesday, 9/2. Kindergarten opens for business the following week on 9/8.

Here are additional key dates:

Sept 4 – no school	Sept 16 – Pierce Middle School Open House 6:30- 9:00pm	Sept 28 – Yom Kippur, no school
Sept 7 – Labor Day, no school	Sept 24 – Cunningham Open House 6:00-8:00pm	Sept 29 – Tucker Open House
Sept 15 – MHS Open House @ 7:00pm	Sept 26 – MHS Walkathon	Oct 1 – Collicott Open House @ 6:30pm

Note: There currently is no scheduled open house for Glover. You can find the full school calendar here.

Please click on the “Continue reading. . . ”  to review a collection of hopefully helpful resources and information, not the least of which are parent advocacy organizations which can use your support.

Read more

from The Boston Globe

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who carried aloft the torch of a Massachusetts dynasty and championed a liberal ideology during almost a half century in the Senate, but whose personal and political failings may have prevented him from realizing the ultimate prize of the presidency, died Tuesday night at his home in Hyannis Port. He was 77 and had been battling brain cancer. (Read the full story here.)

from Wicked Local Milton

The fire department has a new Jaws of Life tool thanks to the Copeland Family Foundation.

Chief John Grant said the $26,000 hydraulic tool used to free victims after car crashes will be assigned to Engine 4 at the Blue Hill Avenue station. (Read the full story here.)