Superintendent Gormley recently published an update to her November email blast. These are thorough bulletins in which the Superintendent apprises the public of school events, achievements, developments, and initiatives. Following are some highlights from her update of November 20th. You can find the full text of the update here.

Ms. Gormely lauded the efforst of staff and students to help out the Milton Food Pantry:

• Brian Macinaw and his students will be spending several hours loading and unloading deliveries for the Food Pantry.
• Jeanne Mattaliano, in our business office, contacted her brother-in-law George Lambert of Lambert’s Rainbow Fruit, who donated enough squash and carrots for 170 families.
• Mary Ann Donnelly, advisor to the Key Club, sent an appeal to her fellow teachers to help organize food donation boxes at Milton High School.
• More than 40 teachers encouraged their students to donate, which resulted in a massive collection of food items from our high school.

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from Wicked Local Milton

Trio demanded alarm code from him, he says.

Police say a Milton man was kidnapped at gunpoint from his home, then his kidnappers robbed a Jamaica Plain convenience store where he worked. (Read the full story here.)

from Patriot Ledger

The woman alleging that Milton Deputy Police Chief Paul Nolan hit her in the face is accused of being a thief.

Laurie Kineavy, 45, is facing a charge of larceny over $250 by a single scheme in Boston Municipal Court. Suffolk County prosecutors allege that Kineavy, during a 3½-month period last year, stole about $25,000 from her then-employer, a Boston lawyer. (Read the full story here.)

The Planning Board is deliberating the commercial overlay proposal right up to the wire. An article must be submitted by 12/3 to the Board of Selectmen if it is to be included in the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held in February.

Given the impending deadline, Peter Jackson, chairman of the committee,  made a motion for a vote to be taken. Mr. Whiteside said he was not ready and Ms. Innes fell in behind him. Part of the  disagreement stemmed from the level of definition the article and zoning would contain. Mr. Jackson was advocating for a more open approach that would have some flexibility going forward. Mr. Whiteside desired greater specificity and, equally important,  stated that after all the time that had been spent in sessions, etc. more time to review and deliberate was required.  After a bit of confusing back and forth, it was decided to rewrite the article by 12/1 for review on 12/2 with the intent of a vote on 12/3.  The board will meet at 5:30pm on 12/3, take a vote, and then send the article over to the Board of Selectmen prior to their convening their 12/3 session.

In discussing the current version of the article, Mr. Duffy cited the American Heritage definition of a pharmacy. Then by way of contrast held up a CVS shopping flyer and flagged the discrepancy between the definition and the reality: there is nothing in the definition about items such as mops, radios, air conditioners, etc. It was discussed that, in essence, a CVS (or Walgrreens or RiteAid) is a pharmacy nested in a convenience store. There was agreement that the language would be modified.

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from The Dorchester Reporter

Despite the drizzly weather, it was last year around this time that the first Lower Mills Holiday Stroll surprised organizers by attracting over 300 people, many of whom later returned to patronize shops they had peeked in on.

Tonight’s more elaborate second venture promises to attract even bigger crowds with its freebies, art displays, a book-signing for the new paperback about the Baker Chocolate Company, even free trolley service to shuttle shoppers too weary to “stroll” across the bridge between Dorchester and Milton.(Read the full story here.)

Following are highlights from the School Committee Meeting of November 17th, 2009

Collicott targeting at risk students earlier – Gerard Schultz, Principal of the Collicott school, and other members of the site Council presented the initatives underway at Collicott to meet the learning needs of all their students. Of primary concern were AYP scores that showed Colliott a little behind. As a result they are implementing a response intervention to target students in the K-2 grades with initial assessment to determine who needs support. The goal is to catch them early and reduce demands that can potentially arise in the later grades. On the brighter side is an extremely well attended pre-school. There are 5 classes that meet for 1/2 a day, 4 days a week. Lastly, the site council is looking for a community member. If you are interested, please contact Principal Schultz.

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Notice from the Milton Board of Health

The Milton Board of Health is planning for the arrival of initial small shipments of H1N1 Live, attenuated (weakened) intranasal vaccine (or LAIV), commonly referred to as “mist”.  The “mist” is only available to healthy individuals without long term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, etc.  Based on CDC and MDPH recommendations, this limited supply is reserved for healthy children ages 2 through 9, healthy healthcare workers with direct patient contact, healthy household contacts of pregnant women in their third trimester, and healthy people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age.  If you fall into one of these four categories and are a Milton resident, we are requesting you call 617-898-4947 and leave your name, age, address, phone number, and priority group for which you qualify.  Appointments will be scheduled based on when the vaccine arrives and the order in which your call is received.

As supplies grow, the parameters will be expanded to include older children and young adults, especially those with long term health conditions.  Eventually, general public H1N1 clinics will be held.  In the interim, parents are encouraged to stay in contact with their pediatricians as they are receiving priority shipments of the H1N1 vaccine.

Please note that we are awaiting the arrival of additional seasonal flu vaccine.  We anticipate rescheduling the postponed clinics at Cunningham Park and the Council on Aging in early to mid December.

You can visit the Board of Health web site here.