It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
–John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

The Resolution of July 2, 1776

This is not the easiest document to read. This is what it says:

“Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and inde­pendent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

This is from the National Archives. You can learn more here.

The Planning Board recently rounded out the committee appointed to evaluate options regarding the development of the Temple Shalom property. They were seeking town residents with knowledge of mixed user development, architecture and landscape design.

Temple Shalom congregants, Buddy Packer and Rob Rosofsky, and neighborhood residents, Tammy Murphy, Joe Sloan, Beth Fleitman, and Nicholas Macke are now joined by Tom Smigliani, Lawrence Witko, Cheryl Tougias, and Christine Hodlin.

Mr. Witko is a developer and Ms. Tougias, an architect who specializes in commercial and mixed use development.

For a list of posts related to the Temple Shalom property development click here.

from Wicked Local Carver

After receiving an offer he couldn’t refuse, the school department’s chief operations and finance officer, Matthew Gillis, is leaving Carver.

According to Superintendent Liz Sorrell, Gillis has accepted an offer from Milton Public Schools. But his departure will not be immediate. His contract calls for a 120-day notice to be given in order to allow ample time to find a replacement. (Read the full story here.)

from Wicked Local Milton

As a teenager, John Grant Jr. had thoughts about becoming a firefighter just like his father. “It wasn’t something I really planned, but it was always there,” Grant, the town’s new fire chief, said Wednesday. “I knew I did want to wind up as a firefighter.”

The 49-year-old Grant, a lifelong Milton resident, was sworn in as chief on Tuesday. (Read the full story here.)

A memorial mass for Francis Walskh will be celebrated in Saint Agatha Church in Milton on Friday, July 3 at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited.

Donations in Walsh’s memory may be made to the Milton High School Athletic Fund, c/o Milton High School, Gile Road, Milton, MA 02186.

You can read an obituary on the Northeastern University web site here.

Here is an update on the status of the path the Park Department is going to improve around Turner’s Pond.

The Conservation Commission approved the Park Department’s plan for the path.

The plan calls for a redeveloped path around the pond that will enable wheelchair access, improve drainage, and, hopefully, increase and improve access for all residents.

It will not be a paved path. Along the south side of the pond (that portion that leads off to the right from the Central Ave entrance) the path will be rebuilt with stabilized stone dust. This material is permeable, organic, and is in compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). You can find a sample of this material on the bike path that head’s out toward Pope John Paul Park just before it crosses Granite Ave.

On the north side new drainage will be installed and new landscaping to improve overall holding capacity. Unstable soil will be replaced with 1/2″ processed gravel similar to what is used in the current Turner’s Pond parking lot, providing a stable level surface.

The project is funded entirely by a grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation and private donors. The contractor who was awarded the contract came in below budget and has committed to honor the price through end of this calendar year.

The Conservation Commission approved the plan, however, a group of residents whose property abuts the pond appealed the decision to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Concerns include (but are not limited to) an anticipated increase in bicycle traffic and a disruption to resident wildlife’s natural habitat.

The Park Department is compiling the information requested by DEP and expects to submit a comprehensive response before the end of July.

Assuming all questions are addressed to DEPs satisfaction, construction will begin this fall. Construction should take between 30 and 60 days.

In a tragically ironic twist yesterday, another crash involving an elderly driver in Woburn sent a woman to the hospital with life-threatening injuries while a hearing was taking place at the state house on elderly driver legislation.

Senator Brian Joyce of Milton has been advocating for more rigorous oversight of elderly drivers for some time. There have been a spate of accidents involving elderly citizens recently. Perhaps the most tragic occurred in Stoughton in which a 4 year old was killed. You can read coverage of recent incidents here. You can find coverage of yesterday’s session here.

What do you think?

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To view a NECN video interview with Transportation Committee Senate chairman Steven Baddour, click on the “Continue reading . . ” link.

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The Blue Angels precision flying team were scheduled to roar over Boston this afternoon; but weather forced cacellation of the event FAA spokesman Jim Peters said.

A Navy spokesman said there would not be another flyover of Boston.

They announced the fly over to avoid any public concerns.

Abby Park, the restaurant in East Milton that occupies the old Video to Go space is ready to open. One of the principals, Vance Walsh, sent out an email alerting people to the status of the opening. Following is the text of his email.

from Abby Park email notice

Abby Park: Opening August 3rd!

It gives me great pleasure to finally present Abby Park, a modern American full service restaurant. My team and I have been working on this project for the last two years and are proud to bring Milton a restaurant that will not only fill a great need in the community but will also rival dining establishments throughout the Greater Boston Area. The following is our first newsletter and it will give you an idea of where we are with construction and what is to come in the next few months. Stay tuned for even more updates in the coming weeks as our Grand Opening approaches!

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