from Wicked Local Milton
A 24-year-old carpenter charged with hate crimes in the attack on a black man from Randolph allegedly told police he had been drinking enough alcohol to have “two people fail” a breath test.
Police allege that Robert Clarke of Milton hit the 45-year-old man with a wooden stake after someone in a group of white males that included Clarke yelled a racial slur at the Randolph man and demanded to know where he was going in the neighborhood. (Read the full story here.)
from The Patriot Ledger
For more than four decades, members of the Forsyth family have been cruising the waters of the South Shore and beyond in the Valhalla. The vessel’s signature green sides and top are familiar to boaters along the New England coast. Less well-known is the story behind the 57-foot sportfishing boat and what it means to a large South Shore family. (Read the full story here.)
Here some pictures of the Valhalla.
Dawna Hammers, songwriter, song leader, and music teacher will be leading a family “Drum Circle” event on Thursday July 30th from 6:00pm – 8:0pm at the Milton Town Green (525 Canton Avenue in front of Town Hall). No experience is necessary. Some drums and percussion instruments will be provided or you can bring your own.
There will also be an appearance by the renowned musician Otha Day who promotes community drumming throughout the state. All are welcome. In the event of rain, the concert will take place at the First Congregational Church.
The concert is sponsored in part by the Milton Art Museum and the Joy of Music Program. For more information , call 617-696-1145.
You can find Dawna Hammers web site here. And Otha Day’s web site is here.
from The Patriot Ledger
Milton overcomes 6-0 deficit by scoring eight runs in fourth inning
It was one inning that the Milton American Legion Post 114 baseball team will long remember and one that the Bridgewater Post 203 squad would love to forget in their South Sectional tournament game at Cunningham Park Monday. (Read the full story here.)
The MPS administration recently posted proposed fee increases on their web site.
High school athletics will increase from $200 to $250 with a family cap of $1,250. Activities will cost $50 per activity with a cap of $150 per student.
Full day kindergarten will increase from $3,000 to $3,100.
You can view a complete list of proposed fee changes here.
from The Patriot Ledger
A black man walking on a Milton street was attacked with a wooden stake and hit in the head with a metal pipe after someone in a group of white males yelled a racial slur at him, police said.
A 24-year-old Milton man has been ordered held on $5,000 cash bail after his arrest on hate crime charges. Deputy Police Chief Paul Nolan said detectives are trying to identify a second man being sought in the attack. (Read the full story here.)
Wicked Local also has a second article regarding this incident that reports on the neighborhood reaction. You can find that article here.
from the Boston Herald
A 25-year-old Milton man in a wheelchair was the first winner of a “Golden Ticket” that could net him a pair of tickets to all events at TD Garden next season.
“I didn’t think I had a chance to win,” said Philip Lussier who was among the first in line today. “I still can’t believe I won. I love the Bruins!” (Read the full story here.)
NEWS ITEMS
Operator Error, Lack Of Automated Safety Systems May Have Caused MBTA Crash – 07/15/09 – from WBUR
MBTA suspends Sudoku player – 07/15/09 – from the Boston Herald
Commuter rail to receive more than $43M in improvements – 07/10/09 – from the Boston Globe
ROAD CLOSURES
I-93 South Approaching and through Downtown: Nighttime Multi-lane Closures
Two-to-three lanes of I-93 South will be closed at night approaching and through Downtown Monday, July 20, 2009 through Friday, July 24, 2009 from 11:30 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning. These lane closures are for maintenance work.
Storrow Drive On-ramp to I-93 South: Early Morning Ramp Closure
The Storrow Drive on-ramp to I-93 South will be closed early morning (Wednesday night) July 23, 2009 from 1 AM to 5 AM the following morning.
Motorists destined for I-93 South should follow posted detour signs via Martha Road and Merrimac Street to the I-93 South on-ramp at New Chardon Street. This closure is to allow for maintenance work.
Haymarket On-ramp to I-93 South and the Callahan Tunnel: Nighttime Ramp Closure
The Haymarket on-ramp to I-93 South and the Callahan Tunnel will be closed at night Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 11:30 PM to 5 AM the following morning.
Motorists destined for I-93 South, Route 1A, East Boston, and Logan Airport should follow posted detour signs towards Leverett Circle. At Leverett Circle motorists should access I- 93 South. Those destined for Route 1A, East Boston, and Logan Airport should take Exit 24 off I-93 South. This closure is to allow for maintenance.
from The Patriot Ledger
The Massachusetts Historical Society says Milton’s town farm is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Eligibility means the town can now take steps to have the farm nominated for the National Register. (Read the full story here.)
Chris Nilan was involved in an altercation with security personnel from Lord & Taylor department store. They claimed he had shoplifted some items from the store. Nilan was with a friend, James McGettrick of Weymouth. They were eventually arrested by the Braintree police. Charges were dismissed when Nilan agreed to pay costs and not return to the store.
Wicked Local Milton reports that witnesses on the scene indicated that the security guards may have been responsible for escalating the situation. You can find their coverage here.
Despite the concerns they expressed previously about the size of the committee formed to evaluate options regarding the Temple Shalom property, the Planning Board named two more residents to the group last Thursday night. The reason for adding the members was to address the concern that “people of color” were underrepresented according to Planning Board Chair Peter Jackson.
The committee is now composed of 12 members. Two from Temple Shalom, 6 from the neighborhood, and 4 residents at large.
During Thursday’s session the board heard from Laura Cahill, a real estate agent in town. The board is in the process of collecting information and developing and vetting a variety of scenarios for development of the Temple Shalom site.
According to Cahill, the market in Milton is “red hot” for condos and single family homes priced $500K and below. The higher above $500K, the harder a sell it is. “A $1 million dollar home would be a problem.” Cahill voiced support for a commercial site with a CVS and Trader Joe’s as co-tenants. She felt a 70 unit condo development would be a burden to the area. She pointed out that it is not like Milton Landing where there was sufficient space to absorb that number of units. The area around Temple Shalom is already fairly congested.
Representatives from Coffman Realty, the Temple’s development partner, continued to advocate for consideration of commercial development and pointed to a couple of examples of recent developments, one in Pembroke and one in Centerville, which possess an architecture that would work well in this setting.
Most of the discussion centered around various options for residential units whether homes or condos. The amount that the Temple reports it needs is between $3.5 – $4 million. Joe Sloane, one of the neighbors on the appointed committee, questioned if they were only to review scenarios that met that figure. Jackson, the board chair, stated that was not the case. However, Buddy Packer, one of the Temple Shalom congregants on the committee, said, “We are not going to sell for something that does not allow us to exist.”
The board is entertaining around 14 different scenarios. Coffman has committed to provide greater detail, but they need to have the options narrowed before they can do that.
To establish a vetting process, the board divided the committee into three groups and assigned them a set of scenarios to review. Packer pointed out that since there were only two members on the committee from Temple Shalom, there would not be temple representation in all groups. Jackson had them count off by threes to establish the groups. Mr. Whiteside, a board member, expressed concern that the financial figures for the various scenarios all came from the Coffman group.
Mr. Coffman, one of the principals at Coffman Realty, became a bit frustrated, saying, “This process does not work.”
The Planning Board will meet this Thurday, July 23, @ 6:30 at Milton Town Hall.