Q&A: The archdiocese’s top educator on Catholic schools’ mission, challenges

from Wicked Local Milton

Mary Grassa O’Neill, a former Superintendent from the Milton Public Schools, is currently the Boston Arhcdiocese’s secretary of education. She was interviewed by Lane Lambert of Gatehouse Media (the publisher of the Patriot Ledger and Wicked Local web sites. She discusses the state of Catholic schools and the issues that challenge them. You can find the interview here.

Congressional Candidate Responses to Questions

Earlier this week, Our Westwood, MyDedham and 02186.MyTownMatters (Milton) submitted the following questions by email to the five candidates for Congress in the 9th District:

We informed the candidates we would publish their responses after 5pm on Friday. Here are the responses we have received. (So far, only D’Alessandro has responded.)

Mtg Notes: School Committee 09.08.10 – new contract; updates on Race to the Top, Cons. Fac, and FY10 budget

What came as a bit of a surprise to many in town was a re-negotiated teacher’s contract. In short, the teachers voted in favor of a contract that will reduce their salary increase from the previously contracted 3.5% to 2.5% this year in exchange for extending the contract another two years in which they will receive increases of 2% in year 2 and 2.25% in year 3.

MyTownMatters interview with Congressman Lynch

Congressman Stephen Lynch, who is up for re-election and facing a challenge from Milton resident Mac D’Alessandro, sat down for an interview with us earlier this week. The interview will air on Milton AccessTV this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday @ 7:30pm. You can find MATV’s complete programming guide here.

You can find clips of our interview with Mac D’Alessandro, which aired previously, here.

“Historic” bargaining results in teachers taking pay cut in exchange for stability

It was practically unanimous. The teacher’s union voted to accept a contract renegotiated by their union leadership and the school committee and deferred 1% of their salary for this year. At last night’s school committee meeting (9/8) member Glen Pavlicek accompanied by Milton Teacher Union President Margaret Gibbons announced the terms of the contract and the union’s acceptance. Gibbons characterized the talks as “historic” and was lavish in her praise of the negotiations and the respectful manner in which they were conducted.

Historian of chocolate company finds village a sweet retreat

The Barnstable Patriot

Anthony Sammarco likes milk chocolate. He’s lectured about chocolate for a quarter of a century. And he has lived in Milton, where the Baker Chocolate Company in nearby Dorchester perfumed the air with its product from 1765 until 1966. So it’s no wonder that this new part-time resident of Osterville, and author of nearly 60 books on Boston-area history, has chosen Baker as the subject of his latest. Read teh full story here.)

Blue Hills hiking club starts fall season

from Wicked Local Milton

They gather every week, water bottles in hand and shoes of varying hiking sensibility on their feet. The members of the Blue Hills Adult Walking club meet on either a Saturday or Sunday every week, at 1 p.m. within the Reservation. Anyone older than 16 can join, and are lead on the free two- to five-mile walks by a park ranger or walking club volunteer. (Read the full story here.)

Forbes House Museum Releases Open Letter from Executive Director

The following open letter to the public was written by Robin Tagliaferri, newly appointed Executive Director of Forbes House Museum. As part of the search process, the Board of Trustees requested a letter from each prospective candidate.

11 July 2010

To the Residents of Milton and Greater Boston:

It is with great respect for your community that I introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the Forbes House Museum.