By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
2/26/09
The town will receive up to $65,000 in grant money from the Renewable Energy Trust, part of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, to conduct a wind turbine feasibility study.
According to a prepared statement, the RET is offering up to $50,000 in assistance for services provided to the town for work on the feasibility study, and the additional $15,000 is available for more detailed project analysis and to help the town evaluate options for ownership and development of a wind project.
(continued)

By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
2/5/09
The Board of Health will hold a public hearing Monday, April 6, to consider banning smoking at two private clubs.
At the meeting, the board will consider implementing bans at the American Legion on Randolph Avenue and the Knights of Columbus Hall on Thacher Street, the clubs where smoking is still legally allowed.
According to Health Director Michael Blanchard, the hearing will address concerns about smoking at
the clubs.
(continued)

By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
1/29/09
The Selectmen are approving a temporary sandwich board at 60 Adams St. even though the sign does not meet with the town’s zoning laws.
Originally opposing the idea at their Dec. 18 meeting, the board concluded Jan. 22 that the sandwich board does not obstruct the sidewalk and “conforms to community standards,” according to Selectman John Shields.
The sandwich board, which was first put out on the sidewalk in October, promotes the businesses
Galatea Fine Jewelry, Milton Acupuncture and Santosha Yoga, which are on the third floor of the Adams Street building.
The businesses’ owners have argued they need the signage downstairs because their location upstairs often goes unnoticed.
“We really, really need the sandwich board,” Galatea owner Kai Armstrong told Selectmen at the meeting. “We’re up on the third floor. People are always
walking by us, saying, ‘we didn’t even know you were up there.”’
Armstrong said the businesses worked with a design company to make the sign attractive and unobtrusive. She said she respects town officials and wants to work with them to find a solution.
She said she has had over 40 residents sign on in support of “some kind of signage downstairs” and said the Chamber of Commerce also has backed the idea.
“It seems clear you do need some kind of signage down there,” Selectmen Marion McEttrick said.
“I’m pretty sure there’s a solution. I don’t think we want to put you in a situation where you can’t promote
your business.”
McEttrick proposed, and the board approved, granting a three-month permit for the sandwich board contingent on the notion that the businesses continue discussing with the Sign Review Committee alternate solutions. She said a better idea may be to construct a sign on the building.
“I don’t think it’s desirable to have a string of [sandwich boards] on the sidewalk,” she said.
Shields said officials may want to consider amending the zoning laws to include options for sandwich boards, but said that topic probably won’t be broached until next year’s Town Meeting.

1/22/09
The Warrant Committee is opposing the idea of having the town treasurer as an appointed position.
The committee voted 10-2 against having the article on the Feb. 23 Special Town Meeting Warrant proposing the idea.
Chair Tom Hurley said he expects the article to be pulled from the warrant. He said it could be replaced with an article to establish a study committee exploring whether the treasurer should be appointed rather than elected.
The “opinion poll was positive”
to establish such a committee, he said. “We don’t know if it’s a good idea, frankly.”
The Selectmen’s vote recently was also split on the article. Kathy Fagan and Marion McEttrick were in favor while John Shields was opposed.

– S.M.

By Kathy Kurtz Ferrari
Staff Writer
1/15/09
The Milton Police Department is attempting to come to terms with the new status for dealing with marijuana use in its jurisdiction following the drug’s decriminalization.
The new law passed by Massachusetts voters on last November’s ballot question went into effect Jan. 2, making marijuana use a civil violation, not a criminal one. According to the state Office of Public Safety and Security web site, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, or THC, will result in the issuing of a $100 ticket for a civil violation. Those under 18 years of age will have to pay the $100 fine and attend a drug-abuse counseling course, or the fine will be increased to $1,000.
But questions remain as to the vagueness of the new law, particularly public use and how local law enforcement officials will deal with it.
“I can tell you we are not prepared for this law at the present time,” said Deputy Chief of Police Paul Nolan. “Currently, it seems to be incumbent upon each community’s department to deal with it on its own.”
Nolan said there has been little guidance offered by the state to lay down guidelines for police to deal with the law, particularly what to do in the case of public use.
“In this town, we deal with [marijuana possession] at varying rates, usually about once a month, in small quantities,” he added.
Nolan noted the department’s concern for lack of any kind of state book explaining the parameters of the new law, saying many police chiefs across the state seem to be scrambling.
“It seems to really be in an infant stage,” Nolan described the situation. “This is something we will address immediately.”

1/8/09
New signs will be appearing in Milton Marketplace soon. Two signs approved by the selectmen Dec. 18 will be placed above the entrances to the CVS Pharmacy and Fruit Center to mark the entrances to each store.
A third sign outside will be a directory to the second-floor businesses – including Marketplace Café, The Snow Goose, The Gift Garden, Earthly Possessions, the Nutshell and The Toy Chest.
The Sign Review Committee ruled Dec. 8 that the signage requests, submitted by the building owner, Vincent Mignosa, meet with current town sign and zoning standards.
The Fruit Center sign will be eight feet long by two feet high and be placed on the roof just to the right of the main entrance sign.
The CVS sign will be four feet long by one foot high and be placed on the roof directly above the entrance next to the Fruit Center.
The directory sign will be four feet long by five-and-a-half feet high and be placed next to the CVS sign at ground level. It will be dug four feet into the ground near the building’s edge, according to the plan in the application.

– S.M.

By Kathy Kurtz Ferrari
Staff Writer
1/1/09
If you were among the merry holiday revelers hoping for a white Christmas, Mother Nature surely did cooperate. The area was blanketed by two weekend storms days before Christmas that seemed to have a tag-team agreement.
By the time it was over, Milton was covered by close to a foot of snow that was topped off by a layer of ice as the snow turned to a slushy rain. As temperatures dropped, the slush hardened into a coating of ice that caused dangerous road conditions.
DPW crews were out around the clock, clearing streets from neighborhood to neighborhood, adding a layer of salt to battle the accumulating crust of ice.
“It went as good as we could expect,” DPW Director Walter Heller said of his crew’s efforts to keep the town’s roads safe. “It seemed it never stopped snowing, and then within an hour, we had a flash freeze on Sunday evening. But I think the guys did very well to keep up with it,” he added.
DPW crews spent much of the days following the storm sanding and clearing catch basins in anticipation of the rains that followed.
Across the town, cars could be seen carrying rooftops of hardened snow, as drivers rushed to finish their holiday shopping.
According to Milton police, the town survived without many incidents on the roadways. A few spinouts were reported, but according to one
officer, the town got through it “all around, pretty well.”
The storm made local skiers happy, as it was
enough to allow Blue Hills Ski Area to open 95 percent of its trails.
According to Kristin Orozovich, of Blue Hills, the slopes were a perfect diversion for many students from surrounding towns who had school cancelled after the storm.
So the first true hit of winter went fairly well,
with just a little taste of what lies ahead. Only now
it won’t feel quite so festive, since Santa has already come and gone.

12/25/08
The East Milton Parking Study’s Business and Citizen Advisory Committee (BCAC) will hold
its first public meeting Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The group was set to meet Dec. 1 but the meeting was cancelled because members weren’t properly notified by the town beforehand.
The group will meet with Jim Gallagher of the Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to discuss initial phases of the study, which will take into account traffic and parking patterns around the square, and develop improvement measures.
Town Planner Bill Clark is overseeing the project.
“Jim [Gallagher] was a colleague of mine when I worked for MAPC,” he said. “He has been very helpful in maneuvering through the process of accessing the original funding.
The parking study is fully funded by a $1 million federal earmark obtained by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch. The money is being held in an account by the Massachusetts Highway Department.
Clark added that Gallagher was selected to help because part of his job to work with MPO. He says MPO is the organization that “helps define how state and federal [grants] get coordinated and then spent.”

– S.M.

12/18/08
The Selectmen voted Dec. 4 to continue with the town’s law firm – Murphy, Hesse, Toomy & Lehane.
The cost to retain Town Counsel John Flynn will go up slightly from $52,500 to $53,500.
The hourly rate for legal services will go up from $185 to $190 per hour.
This will cover added costs for court filing fees, fees for stenographers and for deposition transactions, according to a letter sent from the law firm to Selectmen.
The agreement does not include fees for paralegal services, which are currently $90 per hour.
Selectmen John Shields said he prefers the town working with a law firm.
“I’m very happy with what John (Flynn) has been doing.
“I see no reason to change from having a law firm, and this law firm in particular,” he said. - S.M.

12/11/08
Firefighter Antonio Pickens was honored with a Medal of Valor at the 19th Annual Firefighter of the Year Awards, held Dec. 3 at Faneuil Hall.
Pickens, a 12-year department veteran, was
gravely injured last year when he was struck by a drunk driver while on duty at the scene of an accident on Blue Hill Avenue.
He was forced to retire due to his injuries.
Town Administrator Kevin Mearn, formerly the police chief, was on hand for the ceremony,
which honored two-dozen firefighters from Milton, Stoughton, Rockland and Hull for their bravery. Gov. Deval Patrick, another resident, presented Pickens with the honor.
“It was one of the most heartwarming things I’ve ever seen,” Mearn told Selectmen Dec.4, the night after the event. “He got a standing ovation for about 10 minutes. It’s amazing just to see Tony on his feet.”
Around 30 firefighters from town attended
the event, including Fire Chief Malcolm Larson, Mearn said.
He called it “a great showing for the department and the town.”

- S.M.

By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
12/4/08
The Selectmen are considering holding another Special Town Meeting in a few months to address potential local aid cuts.
They are worried that state aid cuts may still be possible and could impact the current fiscal budget.
“We won’t know anything (about state cuts) until the end of January,” Town Administrator Kevin Mearn told Selectmen Friday, Nov. 21. “The town may need to reopen its FY 09 budget depending on what happens.”
The town depends on about $10 million annually in state aid. That money has so far survived over $800 million worth of state budget cuts.
A plan by Mearn calls for a Town Meeting to meet sometime in March, after more is known about the status of state aid. But the Selectmen are already calling on departments to conserve against a five-percent cut, which would eliminate about $500,000 from the town’s budget.
Selectmen John Shields said local cuts could actually reach as high as 10 percent, but said the town shouldn’t wait to act.
“We can ask our department heads to cut five percent right now as a stop-gap measure,” he said. “If we have to make $1 million worth of cuts later on, the cuts will be much deeper.”
Selectmen Chair Kathy Fagan agreed. “It makes more sense to assume there will be state cuts and set some money aside now,” she said.
“But it’s Town Meeting that is going to make that decision,” added Selectmen Marion McEttrick.
Right now, the Selectmen plan to open and close a warrant on Dec. 18 for a Special Town Meeting tentatively set for Feb. 28. But things could still change, according to Shields.
“Right now it’s up in the air,” he said.
McEttrick said the goal of a February Town Meeting may be to guard against potential cuts next year, even if cuts don’t come this year.
“There’s an argument that we should be cutting our budget anyway to prepare for next year,” she said.
Shields agreed that fiscal 2010 may be the bigger concern.
“There’s no question we’re going
to see (state aid) cuts in FY 2010,”
he said. “If we can save now and put money into our free cash to prepare for that, it’s something we should really be looking at.”

Mary Smith, who came to Milton from Ireland at 18, turned 103 on Sept. 19.
Surrounded by family, including nieces from Florida, Virginia, and Ireland, she celebrated her milestone by attending Mass at St. Elizabeth’s Church, where the congregation sang Happy Birthday.
She received congratulations and a commemorative medallion from Mary McAleese, the president of Ireland, as well as a greeting from Willard Scott on NBC’s Today show.
Born in Roscommon, Ireland, she was the oldest of seven children. She came to Milton at the age of 18 to work for Dr. Vose.
She is the mother of the late Mary Molloy and Barbara Fitzgerald, grandmother of MaryAnn, Barbara and Sue Molloy and John and Marybeth Fitzgerald. She is the great grandmother of James, Sarah and MaryKate.

A 16-year-old girl was reported missing to police on Halloween night, Oct. 31.
The girl, from New Hampshire, went missing near Blue Hills Parkway, where she was visiting family, Deputy Chief Paul Nolan said.
Upon learning of the disappearance, police issued telephone alerts to neighbors near Blue Hills Parkway using the reverse 911 system. They sent out a report to A Child is Missing (ACIM), a missing-persons organization, notifying them of the girl’s disappearance.
The girl was tracked down within 24 hours, said Nolan, who was unwilling to comment further on where the girl had gone. He said a detective spoke with the girl and are investigating the case further.
The incident was not listed in the police log.

The Special Town Meeting voted annual pay raises of $1559 last week for Town Clerk James Mullen and Town Treasurer Kevin Sorgi.
Neither was given a raise back at annual Town Meeting in May.
Mullen earned $78,942 in the last fiscal year and Sorgi received last year’s pay, $77,942. An override budget requested in May would have given each man a $2,144 raise.
Money for these two men’s raises, $3,118 altogether, comes out of a medical account set aside for injured firefighter Antonio Pickens, who was injured by a drunk driver while on duty last year.
Town Meeting in May set
aside $150,000 to pay Pickens’ medical bills, but that money can be borrowed through 2013, according to recent
legislation. The legislation, which was signed by the governor prior to Special Town Meeting, frees the $150,000 Pickens account.

-– SM

By Moira Downes
Milton Public Schools
10/23/08
One of Milton’s most tireless advocates for full day kindergarten was honored during last week’s school committee meeting.
Ada Rosmarin, director of Milton Early Childhood Alliance, was presented with a gift and a bouquet of flowers from School Committee Chair Beirne Lovely and Superintendent Mary Gormley in recognition of her work.
“She has always been there for us,” said Lovely. “We were very lucky that she stepped up. We wouldn’t have full day kindergarten without her, and for that, she has our sincere appreciation.”
Rosmarin was instrumental in securing grants and planning the roll-out of full day kindergarten in Milton. This fall, 14 of the 15 kindergarten classrooms offer the full day experience, which translates to 96 percent of kindergarten students.
“I am grateful for the support of the school committee and the Milton Public School administration,” Rosmarin said. “They have been behind this program every step of the way.”

10/16/08
Delphi Academy recently completed a two-year building project, culminating in a 3,200 square foot, two-story addition. This addition provides the school with two new spacious classrooms, an art room and a large multi-function room for indoor fitness and performing arts.
As soon as the stamp of approval was received from the town, Delphi went to work and installed two playground systems which are built for children of all ages. The playground systems were made possible by the dedicated fundraising efforts of the Delphi parents.
Plans for the coming year include new swing sets, tether ball courts and expanded science and technology facilities.
To show these recent enhancements, Delphi will be holding an open house
on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 3 p.m.
For more information, call Jeff Rouelle at 617 333-9610, or visit www.delphiboston.org.

10/9/08
The town will be conducting its fall water main flushing program beginning Oct. 14 continuing until complete. Flushing will take place between the hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Water main flushing is a method of improving water quality and is an important part of a water distribution system maintenance program.
The flushing activity may cause discolored water due to dissolved iron.
The water may not be aesthetically pleasing but according to the environmental protection agency it is not a public health threat. The DPW will monitor water quality.
In the case of discoloration, run the cold water for several minutes until the water is clear.
If you have any questions please call the D.P.W. office at 617-898-4900 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
10/2/08
The Selectmen are beginning the search for a new fire chief.
Chief Malcolm Larson is set to retire in June and is working with the board as they begin considering candidates.
“I think we have some great candidates,” he told the board at its meeting Sept. 18.
He said the new chief – who will start work June 15 – will likely be one of the current deputies or lieutenants, but that other candidates within the department would be considered if there aren’t enough initial applicants.
“That’s usually how the process works. You move up and get promoted from within the system,” said Larson, who was a deputy before becoming fire chief in 1998.
In November, the Selectmen will appoint a selection committee of five members - three fire chiefs
from other towns and two town residents. The
committee will consider at least five candidates for
the position and present three finalists to the board
in March.
The board will interview the finalists and name a new chief by April 16, according to the plans.
Larson said he plans to stay on the job for two weeks with the new chief before retiring on June 30.
“It already feels like I’m saying goodbye,” he said. “But there’s still work to be done.”

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
9/25/08
Cable access programming faces problems as the town’s license renewal negotiations with Comcast continue.
The license, which expired in the summer of 2007, will result in the transfer of cable access control to a nonprofit MPEG Access. MPEG signed a contract with the town in the winter of 2007.
The broadcast of last week’s Selectmen meeting, for example, was “off and on” throughout the night according to Bernie Lynch, president of the MPEG board. Lynch said this is an ongoing problem for Selectmen and School Committee meetings, which commonly have issues with audio, video or the recordings for future playback.
(continued)

9/18/08

By Troop #4183’s Bronze Award Girl Scouts
Our Girl Scout Troop #4183 has learned a lot about friendship and teamwork from working on our Bronze Award. We are Maggie Boyce, Meghan Donelan, Meredith Kelly, Shannon Lyons, Lizzy McCurdy, Liz O’Connor and Melissa Richardson. In 2006, we collected coats from everyone around town and donated them to Cradles to Crayons. In 2007, we held a yard sale and donated all the proceeds to the Milton Animal Shelter. This year, we grew a community garden and donated the vegetables to help feed the homeless.
(continued)

By Scott MacKeen
Times Staff
9/11/08
Most of the issues in the public schools’ special education program have been improved to the state’s satisfaction, according to a new report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
School officials recently received a special education review from the department, with 42 areas previously identified for a corrective action plan. The report indicates that 39 of the areas have been corrected, but it lists three it says are only partially corrected.
(continued)

Coiled up in the middle of Route 28 near Chickatawbut Road recently was a reminder of how close to nature, and nature’s hazards, the town is: a deadly timber rattlesnake.
Peter Feloney was driving through the Blue Hills Reservation when he saw the four or five-foot snake slither down off a rock ledge and sun itself.
“It was sitting in the middle of the right lane,” Feloney said. “Tires were rolling over it on either side. He had no idea.”
Feloney said he stayed in the car after another onlooker warned it could jump. He hung out the window and snapped a photo.
“I’m going to think twice about hiking in the Blue Hills again,” he said.
Timber rattlesnakes do indeed inhabit the Blue Hills, according to Tom Bender, park ranger, and are endangered in Massachusetts. Bender confirmed the photo of the venomous neighbor.
The timber rattlesnake feeds mainly on small mammals, but sometimes eats birds, frogs and other snakes. Though it has long fangs and strong venom, it usually gives lengthy warnings before striking including its “rattle” sound.

–NL

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
8/28/08
A set of bond bills recently signed by the governor authorize more than $15 million in borrowing for projects that include roadwork, Trailside Museum improvements, park renovations and the proposed performing arts center.
The scope of the projects are not detailed in the legislation, as inclusion in a bond bill does not guarantee funding but gives the governor the authority to borrow money for each of the items.
“The state is limited to how much in bonds it can issue each year,” said Sen. Brian Joyce. “There is far more bonding authorized than is actually done. This is the first step to get interest in projects.”
In a general government bond bill,
$1 million was designated for design
and construction of a performing arts center and $500,000 was listed for a youth center.
(continued)

By Scott MacKeen
Times Staff
8/21/08
Gov. Deval Patrick approved a home rule petition July 29 that gives the School Committee control over the town’s Medicaid reimbursement funds.
The School Committee brought the issue to Town Meeting last fall as a way of assuring that the funds, formerly town-controlled, would continue to be used for school aid.
School Committee member Mary Kelly said the town has received Medicaid reimbursements ranging anywhere from $250,000 to $390,000 over the past five years. The figure this year is around $385,000, according to Assistant Superintendent Paul Hilton.
Under current law, that money is paid into the general fund and becomes available for use by any department at Town Meeting’s discretion.
(continued)

(Click here to see more on Scott)

By Scott MacKeen
Times Staff
8/14/08
Are you an avid Milton Times reader? If so, have you noticed a new name – Scott MacKeen – appearing at the top of some of your stories recently? You may be asking yourself some questions about this new mystery man. Where did he come from, you may wonder; why is he here and what can I expect from him?
Not to fear.
I’m here to clear up all your questions. I’ll try to, anyway.
No doubt you know my name by now: But who am I really? What’s in a name?
I’ll begin with a simple introduction. I am 24 years old and live in North Easton. I come from a large family: brothers and step brothers, aunts and uncles on all sides, and enough young cousins to make your head spin. I don’t have the space here to list them all, so I won’t begin to start. They know who they are, and I don’t need to say what kinds of support they’ve all given me.
(continued)

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
8/7/08
Town officials recently moved all Public Works (DPW) offices into what had been the school building project office.
Some residents have questioned the move’s cost.
DPW offices had been split between the second floor of town hall and the DPW yard on Randolph Avenue. With the school building project wrapping up the Gilbane company, which was managing the construction, vacated the building it occupied in the yard. Last month the DPW’s town hall offices were relocated to the building.
Some question the economics of putting another town building online and the associated energy and maintenance costs.
(continued)

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
7/31/08
Last summer the Central Avenue business district began a transformation. With $1 million from the state the road and sidewalks were redone, new trees were planted and decorative lighting was installed.
With construction now complete, the addition of two new businesses and plans for two new buildings moving forward, the location is entering a new era.
Jay Rooney, owner of the new GKR real estate office on Central Avenue in the old Towne Deli space, says he wouldn’t be surprised if people start calling the strip “Central Square” in the future.
“It was a hidden gem for a long time,” he says. “I think it will be the new frontier in Milton.”
(continued)

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
7/31/08
A late-night shooting on Randolph Avenue last weekend shocked the community and left two dead and one injured.
According to District Attorney William Keating, on July 26 at around 2:30 a.m., one vehicle pulled up to another on Randolph Avenue at Brook Road and someone fired at least 14 shots. The driver was not seriously injured and drove the car to Caritas Carney Hospital in Dorchester.
Asa Finley of Mattapan, 26, was killed in the car. Resident Rodney Almond, 37, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Another passenger was treated at the hospital but was not seriously injured. Officials are withholding the survivors’ names.
(continued)

By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
7/24/08
A meeting held at the senior center on Tuesday, July 15, to discuss park department plans to make the path around Turners Pond more accessible apparently didn’t satisfy the concerns of some abutters.
Town officials say improvements are needed to the current path, which they say has poor drainage and is not accessible to all residents, especially those in wheelchairs, on bicycles and baby strollers.
Some residents—especially those whose properties abut Turners Pond along Central Avenue and Brook Road—have come forward in recent months to voice opposition to the project. Approximately two-dozen abutters attended the meeting, which was arranged by town officials to address concerns and answer questions.
(continued)

7/17/08
Fourteen people from Milton joined about 200 others from 25 towns across the state recently for the annual Anti-Defamation League Conference and anti-biased training in Boston.
At the end of the conference, participating towns received No Place for Hate re-certification.
The delegation from Milton included Town Administrator Kevin Mearn, Selectman Marion McEttrick, Police Chief Richard Wells, School Superintendent Mary Gormley, Deborah Felton, William West, Audrey Barzey, Kristin Clifford, Ricka Marsh, Principal John Drottar, Rev. George Welles, Rabbi Alfred Benjamin, Det. Louis Bullard, Police Chief Richard Wells, School Assistant Superintendent John Phelan and Yolanda Beech.

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
7/10/08
With the start of the new fiscal year and belt
tightening, the town’s Department of Public Works (DPW) undergoes a reorganization that includes staff reshuffling and relocation of offices to the Randolph Avenue yard.
Selectmen Chair Kathy Fagan says she is concerned about the loss of two office positions because of budget cuts, but she remains optimistic about the benefits of other changes and is confident employees will step-up to the challenges.
“When you have lemons you have to make lemonade,” she says.
The positions of program manager and the director’s secretary were eliminated as part of a plan to cut more than $140,000 from the DPW budget.
“It’s very disappointing that we had to lose two positions,” Fagan says. “But we’re trying to gain efficiency and consolidate.”
DPW Director Walter Heller says department management will assume many of the responsibilities handled by the lost positions, but residents might occasionally call DPW and be directed to voicemail.
(continued)

7/10/08
Rodrick Taylor, a 37-year-old Dorchester man, was convicted last week of the 2006 murder of former Milton High cheerleader Dominique Samuels.
Taylor was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 15 years.
The six-week trial had testimony from about 30 witnesses, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office. The jury deliberated for more than five days and convicted Taylor of second-degree murder.
Samuels, a member of the class of 2004, was co-captain of the cheerleading squad. She was strangled in April 2006 in her Roxbury apartment.
Her body was dumped in Franklin Park two days later and set on fire.
Taylor was a guest of Samuels’ roommates.

7/3/08
Milton American Legion Post 114 held its sixth annual cookout for people with disabilities from WORK, Inc., a non-profit organization located in Quincy.
The organization supports people with disabilities with employment, residential help and day habilitation, according to Feona Healey, director of vocational services. Clients come from Dorchester, Milton and from throughout the South Shore.
“We’re just trying to help out,” says Bob Mahoney, a member of the Legion’s board of trustees, who was overseeing the cookout. He says more than 240 people from WORK, Inc. were expected to attend the cookout. There were over a dozen volunteers from the post preparing food and organizing the event.
Healey said her clients were grateful for the generosity of Legion members. She said that for her clients there are two main events each year: one is the Christmas dinner and the other is the cookout.
“Our people have a wonderful time here and they really look forward to it,” she said.

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
6/26/08
With ever-rising gas prices, residents can take comfort in the opportunities the town’s increasingly bike-friendly infrastructure provides.
A new Gov. Deval Patrick-backed bike path along Truman Highway could soon be added to the existing route that follows the Neponset River, the new bike racks installed across town, and plans for bike lanes on Blue Hills Parkway and Central Avenue.
The guardrail-protected Truman Highway path would be part of a proposed multi-million dollar, three-mile park along the water called the Neponset River Esplanade. The green space would end in Hyde Park at the Martini Shell, which would be renovated into a performance and activity center.
The park would also include a canoe and kayak launch as well as a headquarters building—the current Truman Highway field office at the intersection of Truman Highway and Blue Hill Avenue.
(continued)

By Conevery Bolton Valencius
6/19/08
Fifty years ago, 17 people—counting the couple and the priest—attended the wedding of Annie and George Welles.
Ten times that number gathered May 31 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church to celebrate a half-century of love, partnership, service and family.
The Rev. George and Annie Welles raised eight children and fostered countless more.
They have worked in parishes and interfaith groups in Hartford, CT, Provincetown and now Milton, where they are integral to ¡Celebrate Milton!, the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association, Milton No Place for Hate, the Milton Food Pantry, the South Shore Deanery and Old Colony Hospice.
(continued)

By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
6/12/08
Selectmen voiced unanimous support at its June 5 meeting for a proposed parks department project that would make the path around Turners Pond more accessible.
Park officials say that a new path is needed around the pond to enhance the current path that often gets waterlogged in some sections, especially on the north side.
“The goal here is to make the pond available to all town residents, not just those who are fully able to enjoy it,” said Park Commissioner Terry Driscoll, addressing Selectmen at the meeting.
Selectman John Shields spoke highly of the project, saying that he is confident that the parks department is on the right track.
(continued)

More than 200 residents gathered at the Milton Cemetery’s veteran’s memorial on Monday, May 26, to honor those who served the nation in uniform. Here are more photos from the occasion.
See our print edition for event photos.

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
6/5/08
A 19-year-old resident was arrested May 24 for possessing a shotgun after a fight at Kelly Field, according to police.
Deputy Police Chief Paul Nolan says officers discovered the loaded gun in the trunk of the man’s car, which was being towed after the altercation. The car was involved in an accident in the Kelly Field lot and was left against the tennis court fence.
When police arrived at the park, 15 to 20 residents about 18 to 20 years of age were fleeing the scene, according to Nolan. None were seriously injured.
Nolan says witnesses would not discuss who was involved in the fight, though officers learned the incident began at South Shore Plaza earlier that day and a fight was set up for Kelly Field.
The arrested man was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and receiving stolen property over $250 (the shotgun).

5/29/08
The funeral Mass for Thomas J. Flatley May 21 in St. Agatha Church filled the church with people who were touched by the generosity and drive of the man.
Mr. Flatley died of Lou Gehrig’s disease May 17 at his home.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who concelebrated the Mass gave a eulogy that summed up the life of the Irish immigrant who settled in Milton and developed a series of businesses.
The Cardinal reminded the more than 1,000 people attending the service that Mr. Flatley was a man who asked much of himself and of those around him. He spoke of the strong faith that guided his actions as well as his commitment to his family—his wife, Charlotte, their five children and 18 grandchildren.
Last fall Mr. Flatley sold his office building on Wood Road in Braintree to the Archdiocese for less than $100. Now the archdiocesan headquarters is in the process of relocating from Boston to Braintree.
(continued)

5/22/08
At the April meeting of the Milton Republican Town Committee (MRTC), Robert O’Brien and Charles Collins were named to fill vacancies.
Newly-elected members to the committee included, Janet Christensen, Joseph Cunningham Jr., Sheryl Cunningham, Janet Irwin, Jean Peterson and C. Robert Reetz.
At the meeting the group became better acquainted with the progress of the new MRTC blog. Members were encouraged individually to contribute to it. Robert Hiss got the blog up and running.
Also attending the meeting were State Committee Woman from Milton, Mimi Sundstrom, and Jim Aldred, the newly-elected State Committee Man from Randolph.
Among several decisions made at the meeting was the reinstitution of the Milton Republican Scholarship for the 2008 graduation class.
Call Richard Pilla, committee chair, at 617-696-3336 for information on joining the committee.

5/15/08
Resident Noel Schaub was surprised when his daughter, Suzanne Schaub of the 2008 graduating Fontbonne class, performed a song at Fontbonne’s annual Evening of the Arts.
Seven years ago, when his other daughter, Mary Ann, graduated from Fontbonne, he missed her performance. It was a major regret for him that he’d never forgotten. To his delight, Suzanne invited her sister, Mary Ann, up on stage with her to perform a duet of the very song he had missed, “In His Eyes,” dedicated to their father.
Fontbonne’s Evening of the Arts is a celebration of the visual and performing arts where students show their artwork. Individual students, like Suzanne, can perform instrumental or vocal selections in solos or ensembles. Like her older sister, a graduate of Emerson College and a performer in New York City, Suzanne has been very involved in dramatic arts at Fontbonne.

Jon Prestage
Editor
5/8/08
One thing that can be said about Monday night’s Town Meeting is that it was a scene-setter.
Moderator Brian Walsh, who opened the meeting by saying it would be a bit “different” than other meetings set the stage early.
While the meeting packed its own bit of noise and provided a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes maneuvering over budgets and overrides, it set the stage for a meeting on Tuesday that could decide if there will be an override ballot.
(continued)

5/8/08

Town Meeting Members-Votes
Precinct 1 (seven seats)
Marion McEttrick* 57
Joseph McEttrick* 54
Buddy Packer* 49
Julie Callahan Shields* 48
Lynda Packer* 48
Nicholas Macke* 44
Brian Scott* 42
Others 1
Precinct 1 for two years (one seat)
Edward Moss* 48
Others 0
(continued)

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
5/1/08
Although the main focus of Town Meeting is often budget issues, a number of other articles pack the 95-page warrant as well.
A dispute with Canton over a 55-year-old water-sharing agreement, repeal
of the bylaw prohibiting self-serve gas
stations, and a supplemental appropriation to the almost-exhausted reserve fund are some of the more than 51 articles under consideration at the Annual Town Meeting that begins Monday, May 5.
Of the total number of articles, about 40—mostly appropriations measures—are included in the warrant each year.
(continued)

By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
4/24/08
The principle of the GKR Residential real estate firm, Jay Rooney, understands the value of taking a step back.
Whether it’s reading a book or indulging in classical music, the tranquility helps him remain centered.
“It’s very meditative and it helps me with what I’m doing,” says Rooney about his tendency to turn to Bach or Vivaldi. “It kind of brings it down a notch and takes the stress away.”
GKR Residential—an abbreviation of Rooney’s full name, Gerard Kevin Rooney—is expanding from its South Boston home to an additional site in the former Towne Deli space on Central Avenue. Armed with a team of experienced Milton agents—Matt Freeman, Kevin Keating, Jo Wallace and Stephanie Toomey—Rooney says the realty firm’s strength comes from its ties to the community.
(continued)

By Jean Lang
Milton Junior Woman’s Club
4/24/08
Cooperative Elder Services seniors will soon get to create some of the smells and tastes of home cooking at their Brush Hill location, thanks in part to the Milton Junior Woman’s Club (MJWC).
The MJWC gave the adult day program a $1,000 grant to buy a confectionary oven and kitchen supplies for its cooking program.
“Cooking is such an important part of people’s history, the smells, the touch,’’ says Lorraine Kermond, director of development and marketing. “It makes them whole again.”
(continued)

(Click here to see more on Judy)

By Jennifer Stuck
Times Staff
2/01/07
If you’ve stopped by the Times office in the past month, you may have noticed a new face at the front desk. That’s Judy McDonough, a Milton mother of two and youth basketball coach, who joined the staff as office manager last December.
Born, raised and educated in Wakefield, R.I., McDonough is the second youngest of five children. From her supermodel stature, one could easily pin her as a former basketball or volleyball star — well, she was. She attended Providence College on a sports scholarship, but later transferred to the University of Rhode Island, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing.
Following the lead of her two older sisters, McDonough made her way to Boston after college. She took a job at Putnam Investments working on computer publishing software.
(continued)

(Click here to see more on Nate)

1/26/06
My name is Nate Leskovic. I’m new on staff, and I’ll be primarily covering town government for the Times.
Originally from Rochester and Buffalo, N.Y., I’m currently living in Jamaica Plain. My adventures once had me in Washington, D.C., where I studied government and politics, and that eventually brought me to Boston, where I studied journalism (for the rest of my exploits you’ll have to wait for the book).
I have a variety of writing experiences — Capitol Hill policy papers, political columns, Jamaica Plain Gazette features, a stint at the London Observer — and I promise I will write about Milton with equal aptitude.
When I’m not bugging my eyes out in front of a computer screen, you can usually find me checking out tunes around the city. I have a trombone-centered, experimental/minimalistic/hip-hop solo project that should get out more often, called Baby Seal Club.
As a writer, I believe passionately in delivering accuracy to readers, and I am determined to show both sides of any story. If, for any reason, you feel I am not living up to these ideals, give me a call. I welcome and desire your feedback regarding any issue.
I consider my position a service to the community, and will treat it with the seriousness it deserves.
I looking forward to meeting you all.
(Nate can be reached at 617-696-7758 x110.)