Planning Board approves article for wind turbine

The Planning Board unanimously approved an article for the construction of a wind turbine off Randolph Avenue. Their approval is conditional on the Board of Selectmen’s approval and without any substantial amendments or revisions being made.  It is estimated that the wind turbine could eventually generate more than $700,000 in revenue for the town.

Milton has been identified as one of the most ideal locations in the state for wind power generation due to its unique environment and climate conditions.

Planning Board resumes “Citizens Speak” on Temple Shalom property development

The Planning Board re-opened the floor last night to citizen feedback on the proposed overlay for the redevelopment of the Temple Shalom property. The Temple Shalom, which is in financial straits,  has engaged Coffman Realty to develop a plan for the property. The proposal they put forth includes a pharmacy, a separate professional building that would house additional business/retail tenants, and a new, smaller temple.

Many local residents oppose the plan. The chief concerns being a) increased traffic in an area where traffic is already high and traffic management is poor, and b) the impact on property values. Blue Hill Terrace was identified by several residents as being especially problematic and a public safety issue now, never mind with the additional traffic a commercial development might bring. Many neighbors expressed a desire for the Temple to stay; but that this plan was not the solution. They feel the plan lacks definition, specificity, and that the Temple and Coffman did not seek neighborhood input early enough in the planning process.

Proponents of the development argued that having the development would provide convenience to all residents of the area. Currently, residents of the west side of town need to drive to get basic staples and sundries. A commercial area would also provide employment to neighborhood high school students . Many expressed optimism that a solution could be found if they continued to work together.

Some participants identified Mr. Whitside’s proposal as a positive step. Mr. Whiteside, a member of the Planning Board, who in the previous meeting had said the plan was “devoid of necessary standards as a matter of zoning,” reiterated that the plan had “significant problems that gave me pause.” He drafted a zoning proposal that might serve as  a “framework” in which the Temple and commercial use could work. He identified the following characteristics: a buffer zone of green space 25′ wide, a single entrance from Blue Hill Ave, 6:00AM – 10PM hours of operation, no overnight parking, buildings limited to 15,000 sq feet, and 60 parking spaces allocated for each building. Key to his proposal would be an institutional commercial committee appointed by Board of Selectmen comprised of 2 residents, a selectman, and 2 architects, one of whom would be a landscape architect.

This session of the board marked the end of public comment on the issue.  The Board will next convene on 3/26th at which time the Temple and Coffman Realty will present a response to community feedback.

RELATED LINKS:

Boston Globe Editorial

Coffman Realty web site

Milton Planning  Board web page

Temple Shalom web site

Milton Food Pantry Participating in Feinstein Foundation’s $1 Million “Fight Hunger” Challenge

The Milton Community Food Pantry is a totally volunteer-run nonprofit agency that provides food assistance exclusively to residents of Milton. The Food Pantry, which has been in operation for 18 years, is located at the the Parkway United Methodist Church, which generously donates space for the Pantry’s operation.

Remarkably, despite the abundance around us, there are 163 Milton households comprised of 513 residents, including 225 children and 37 seniors, who are authorized to use the pantry due to individual financial circumstances.

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MHS Highlights for 03.13.09

  • Milton High School’s two LifeSmarts teams took 3rd and 4th place while competing in Wednesday’s state tournament in Boston. Congratulations to Captain Ben Richman and teammates Jay Rosenberg, Christine Hui, Linda Nguyen and O’Neil Val-Pierre who finished third, and Captain Rashawn Pouchie with Ciaran Conners, Shane Grey, Tucker Kibbee and Mike Rodensky who finished fourth.
  • Attention ALL juniors and seniors!  Anyone interested in participating in Mr. Milton, please sign up in Mrs. Damiani’s room.
  • Spring Sports begin March 16 – Last day for signups – Monday from 2:30-4:30 pm in the athletic office. Students should have updated physicals, user fee check of $200 and a permission slip if they have not gone out for another sport.
  • The Key Club will be selling green carnations for St. Patrick’s Day delivery at all 3 lunches today. Send your friends a little “luck ‘o the Irish” on March 17.
  • GSA meeting after school today in room 310. Exciting opportunities abound. New members are welcome.
  • Drama meeting immediately after school today.  Auditions will be on Monday in room 224.
  • Ping Pong Club free play and tournament today. The two “new” tables are assembled and ready for play. The ladder is getting crowded. Can you hold on to your rung?

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Five offices to be contested on Milton ballot

Today’s Patriot Ledger has a run down of candidates running for office.

There are 5 posts that will be up for grabs in the next election. Chief among those is town treasurer. The three candidates who filed nomination papers by last Tuesday’s deadline are:  Janet Lorden of Brush Hill Road, James McAuliffe, a real estate broker and manager who lives on Wood Street, and former Selectman Charles McCarthy of Landon Road.

You can read the full story here.

The Milton School String Ensembles Perform “Movie Night”

As part of the  “Music in our Schools Month” celebration,  the string ensembles took us to the movies. String ensembles from the elementary, middle, and high schools all played selections from a wide variety of film scores.

There were six ensembles that took the stage: All-Elementary String Ensemble, Grade Six Strings, Grade Seven and Eight Strings, Pierce Chamber Orchestra, MHS String Ensemble, and the MHS Symphonic Orcehstra.

Mr. Jette, principal of the Pierce Middle School, introduced Ms. Ostrem, director of all the string ensembles after a warm acknowledgment of the MHS basketball team’s recent win which was loudly applauded. 

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Who’s Hoosac?

Their full name is the Hoosac Valley Hurricanes and they will play the Milton Wildcats in the MIAA division 2 final in Worcester on Saturday at 4:00 PM. And to read about them, they sound a lot like, well, the Wildcats: gritty, disciplined, defensive minded, have a good bench and have a lot of heart. Their firecracker is forward Robbie Burke; but it does not begin or end with him. They are a complete team. It will be a great match up.

You can read about Hoosac’s semifinal playoff game against St Bernard’s of Fitchburg here.

GO WILDCATS!!

Patriot Ledger Opinion: Milton vote threatens to poison wider initiative

The Patriot Ledger ran an editorial on the recent decision by the Executive Board of Milton’s teachers union to refuse a School Committee request to renegotiate their contract. It opens:

“The Milton teachers union has opted not to consider a wage freeze to reduce recession-driven layoffs and we hope its flawed reasoning doesn’t infect other labor groups considering similar requests.” (read the full editorial here.)

UNBELIEVABLE!! MILTON TOPS WOBURN 70-69 IN HEARTSTOPPER!

WHAT AN AMAZING GAME! WILDCATS PUNCH TICKET TO STATE FINALS!

Both teams sputtered a little at first; but Milton led at the end of the first period 14-9 and it looked like the game would play out like the last three games Milton played. But then the second period started and by the time it ended Woburn was up by 5,  33-28.

Milton just could not catch a break. The ball would not fall. And Woburn was good. On offensive rebounds, they were killer and #21, Hanell Valez,  was a one man wrecking ball. He could not miss . . .free throws, 3 pointers, you name it, he hit it. He was skilled, poised and on fire. Woburn’s height advantage was also proving to be a challenge.

But despite being slightly off their game; the Wildcats stayed within range. Down by 9 points they clawed back into it. With about 2 mins left and down but not out, Milton’s #50 Emanuel Hutcherson, waving his arms, brought the crowd to its feet and in that moment embodied the entire team’s heart, grit and determination. There was just no quit in this team.

Then we came to the end. Woburn, up 69 – 68, McDermott fed the ball to Rene Castro who sank a jumper with 8 seconds left.  70-69, Milton over Woburn in MIAA Div 2 semifinal.

There is going to be a championship game in Worcester against Hoosac on March 14th @ 4:00 PM. But this game, this game against Woburn was something special.

Coach LoPresti acknowledged and thanked the Milton fans, especially the maniacal Copeland Crazies.  We thank him and the team for such a thrilling run. And it isn’t over yet.

GO WILDCATS!

Find additional game coverage at; Boston Herald, Boston Globe,  and Patriot Ledger The Patrtiot Ledger has an excllent slide show with commentary from Coach LoPresti and Rene Castro .

Library seeks volunteers for re-opening of Main Branch

The Milton Public Library has a big day coming up. Actually, a big couple of days.  The schedule of public events is:

04/02/09 – Library Opening Day

04/03/09 – Children’s Celebration

04/05/09 – Dedication and Ribbon Cutting

They are looking for volunteers to assist with baked goods, library tours, clean up etc. Give them a hand and share in the celebration. You can sign up to volunteer here.