Brian Kelly, host of MATV’s Talk of the Town, recently interviewed Dr. John Knight. Dr. Knight is director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at Children’s Hospital Boston and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard University.
Dr. Knight discusses how the Center came about and the efforts of the Center to address alcohol and substance abuse in teens.
You can view Brian’s interview with Dr. Knight here.
from Wicked Local Braintree
Students from Ginny’s Art School in Milton will be “painting with a star” at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Center Court of South Shore Plaza.
The young artists, age 5-11, will join Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Seymour for a watercolor painting session and will receive one of her autographed paintings for their school. (Read the full story here.)
The Governor (and Milton resident) gave his state of the State speech last night. He received a warm reception. He congratulated Scott Brown on his election victory and acknowledged Martha Coakley.
In case you missed it, you can view the speech here (courtesy of NECN).
from NECN
from The Patriot Ledger
Teenage violinist Pippa Jarvis earned the nickname Pipsqueak because she squeaked playing soccer. Fortunately, she did not squeak on the violin. Far from it. When the Milton musician performed on the classical music radio show “From the Top” in 2008, she played a lively, beautiful mazurka. She also told host and pianist Christopher O’Riley about her nickname, her enjoyment of kayaking and running, and the ups and downs of growing up with musician parents. (Read the full story here.)
from The Dorchester Reporter
. . .$212,500 grant to improve Eliot Street in Milton. Although heavily traveled by both cars and pedestrians, only two-thirds of the roadway has curbing. The funding will be used to improve signage, crosswalks, and add new curbing on the remainder of Eliot Street, Forry noted in the announcement. The street is densely-populated and there are three trolley stops in the area. (Read the full story here.)
Last night the Board of Selectmen discussed and established the order in which articles will be presented at the Special Town Meeting to take place February 22nd.
The four articles will be considered by Town Meeting in the following order:
When the School Committee agenda came to old business Mr. Huban brought up the issue of his arrest on New Year’s Day. He recounted the event and the subsequent meetings he had. He is attending meetings on a weekly basis. He reiterated that it was a personal matter. To the committee, the administration and the audience at large he said, “I am truly sorry.”
He thanked all those who have expressed their support. During Citizen Speak three individuals including former committee member Jeff Cruikshank voiced support for Huban and their desire to see him remain on the board. One individual, Dr. John Knight, Director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at Children’s Hospital, stated Mr. Huban should resign his position. In his remarks Mr. Huban said he appreciated the comments from those who said he should resign and would incorporate them “in making myself a better person.” He closed by repeating, “I am working to make myself a better person.”
In other business the School Committee heard from PAC. PAC is the Parent Advisory Committee on Special Education. PAC presented the Committee with a comprehensive letter detailing progress made and concerns going forward. Kimberly Zieselman, who has special needs twins in the schools, presented on behalf of PAC. She identified the progress made with co-taught classrooms at the elementary level, the addition of the New England Center for Children (NECC) classroom at Collicot, the improved communication such as the mention of special ed status in Ms. Gormley’s email blast of last November. Ms. Zieselman also listed a series of concerns. Chief among them were the risk of special ed initiatives being chipped away as a result of fiscal pressures on the district. She also flagged the achievement gap as evidenced by lack of AYP progress at Pierce, Collicot, and Glover. Communication while improved, could be better. For example, there was a world language committee formed but without any representation from special needs parents.
At the last Town Meeting Milton elected to impose a meals tax. Towns in the area have been wrestling with the issue. With town budgets tight, the revenue is appealing. However, some argue that increasing taxes when the economy is in a recession is imprudent. Following is an article on Braintree’s recent decsion.
from The Patriot Ledger
The town council has rejected a plan to add a local tax of 0.75 percent on restaurant and take-out meals.
Wednesday’s vote came a day after Plymouth voters overwhelmingly overturned a town meeting decision to add the meals tax.
The vote was 6-0, with three council members abstaining, saying they wanted to see more study of the plan. (Read the full story here.)
from WBUR
Coakley Brown Kennedy Milton 6,436 6,347 86 50% 49% 1%
You can find complete state results by town here.
from The Boston Globe
Boston’s Winter Restaurant Week doesn’t arrive until March, but those eager for quality culinary creations at wallet-saving prices can head to the inaugural Dorchester-Milton Restaurant Week from Jan. 17-31 (excluding Friday and Saturday nights). Visitors will be rewarded with three-course menus for $30.10 at eight participating restaurants. Among them are Abby Park and 88 Wharf in Milton, eateries that opened just last summer in a town formerly devoid of full-service restaurants with liquor licenses. (read the full story here.)