The Globe has an interesting article on an issue that has been in the news quite a bit lately; having schools check students body mass index, a key health metric.

Several south shore schools are in the first wave of a state mandated program to screen students in attempt to address the incredible rise in obesity among children and adolescents. Milton is not included in the this phase.

You can read the full story here.

If you cannot make it to the polls on election day due to physical constraints, religious beliefs, or responsibilities that take you out of town, you can vote by absentee ballot.

Town Clerk James Mullen reminds residents that those requesting an absentee ballot need to apply by noon the day before the election.

More information is available at  the town clerk’s office in the town office building or you may call 617-898-4859. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

You can view information from the town web site on absentee ballots here.

from Wicked Local

A man robbed the Citizens Bank in Milton on Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly after noon, an approximately 6-foot-tall white man in his 20s or 30s passed a note to a teller in the bank, which is at 420 Granite Ave. (Read the full story here.)

Sue Sheible of the Patriot Ledger has written a wonderful profile of Milton resident and watercolor artist Elva Proctor. Ms. Proctor is 93 and just an amazing person and inspiration.

You can read Ms. Sheible’s article here.

Here is the Youtube video.

from Wicked Local

The crackdown on illegal apartments has spread beyond Quincy and into neighboring communities.

Building officials in both Milton and Randolph are the latest to report finding illegal apartments in their towns.(read the full story here.)

from Boston Business Journal

By the end of June, Milton Academy was already feeling effects of souring economy — months before the worst of the global credit crisis.

In fiscal 2007, the school had posted gains on its endowment of more than $25 million. But at the closing of the 2008 fiscal year that swung to a loss of nearly $5 million, which resulted in total decrease in net assets of more than $2 million.(read full story here.)

Did you know that the first pianos in the United States were manufactured here in Milton?

There is an 1915 article that appeared in the Boston Globe attesting to this. You can find that article here.

The pianos were made here in Milton by Benjamin Crehore, and you too could own one. A rare Crehore piano is among the items the Boston Public Library will offer at auction from its extensive special collection.

The BPL is not immune to the slumping economy as The Boston Globe reported yesterday.

Collecting musical instruments is not within the scope of the library’s mission. The piano will be auctioned by Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers in the coming months.

The Globe reports, “The Crehore piano, soon to be sold, now sits in a curator’s office. Though the piano no longer works, it was made by Milton resident Benjamin Crehore, who is credited with manufacturing the first piano in the United States, in the 1800s. Susan Glover, acting keeper of special collections, estimates it could fetch roughly $10,000 at auction, money she says the library would use to restore a Steinway piano.” You can read yesterday’s full Globe article here.

It was a great day for the US in today’s Boston Marathon. Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall each placed third. It is the best US finish since 1985.

Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga was a demolition man in the men’s race, and Kenya’s Salina Kosgei won the closest women’s race in the history of the event.

BUT . . .more importantly, the following Milton runners made an amazing showing. Of the runners from Milton, here are the top 10. Please see the link below the table to view all the Milton participants. CONGRATULATIONS on a great achievement!

Bib	Name	Age	M/F	City	State	Country	Official Time
1908	Renz, Justin A.	37	M	Milton	MA	USA	02:49:55
1972	Angell, Jeremy L.	28	M	Milton	MA	USA	03:04:16
9143	Ho, Wingfai B.	53	M	Milton	MA	USA	03:19:43
4046	Salmon, Morgan	40	M	Milton	MA	USA (Irish citizen)	03:23:01
9644	Falconi, Robert J.	57	M	Milton	MA	USA	03:23:09
26110	Lamoureux, Michael P.	33	M	Milton	MA	USA	03:26:32
9690	Mazzarella, Joseph	46	M	Milton	MA	USA	03:30:34
10439	Murray, Steve	45	M	Milton	MA	USA	03:31:05
11063	Feeney, Jodi M.	45	F	Milton	MA	USA	03:31:24
17154	Laneau, Leann C.	31	F	Milton	MA	USA	03:31:38

You can find more detailed data on these runners, their splits etc as well as all the other Milton runners at the official Boston Marathon site here. (Enter MILTON in the town field and MASSACHUSETTS in the state field – then at the bottom of the form select the limit you want (e.g. limit to top 500 finishers).

A weekly recap of key events and items of interest to the Milton community:

Recommendation on Temple Shalom

The Planning Board rendered a decision on the overlay proposal from Temple Shalom and their development representative, Coffman Realty. In a verdict that was not surprising, the Planning Board unaminously decided to make the recommendation to Town Meeting that the proposal be referred back to the Planning Board. The Planing Board does not believe that the proposal as presented conforms to appropriate standards and that a more complete site planning process is required. Town Meeting can dispose of this matter in the following ways: approve the proposal, reject the proposal, amend the proposal or refer the proposal back to the Planing Board. They will likely follow the Planning Board’s recommendation.

Harsh News for School Committee

The only thing that can be said with certainty is that the town’s financial picture and specifically that of the School Department is very uncertain. Further complications were introduced this past week in a letter Ms. Gormley, Superintendent of School, received from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Given the budget shortfalls introduced by the reduction in state aid among other factors, the schools had contacted the MSBA on the possibility of closing a school. Their response was essentially that closing a school was not an option. That would be a substantial change in use and would require approval from MSBA. If a school were closed the funds would need to be refunded Margaret Craven, Executive Director of the MSBA wrote:

“Unless the MSBA agrees with Milton on the parameters of a facility reuse plan, the MSBA will take steps to recoup the grant funds. Just a few short years ago, these facilities were funded in good faith by the state taxpayers at a 90% reimbursement rate, and their needs t be a compelling reason why their originally intended use and operation is no longer locally supported.”

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER HERE.

A Conversation with Charlie McCarthy

We sat down with Charlie McCarthy, candidate for Town Treasurer, last week to discuss his candidacy. You can find the conversation HERE. We also spoke with Town Treasurer candidate, Janet Lorden, that conversation is HERE. Lastly, we hope to speak with James McAuliffe. He has not yet responded to requests for an interview.