Monday, May 21, 2012
Wakefield resident Fred Rich LaRiccia writes about the latest poll results released by the Tisei campaign.
So, not satisfied that his negative, guilt-by-association, innuendo-ridden, gutter attacks (ITEM 3/15/12) against Congressman John Tierney orchestrated the desired public outrage, 'has-been' career politician Richard Tisei now releases a so-called internal campaign poll from GOP pollster John McLaughlin purportedly showing him 7 points ahead. Increduously, the poll also shows Scotty 'Etch-a-Sketch' Brown up 24 points over Elizabeth Warren in the 6th Congressional District. But wait, look again; the poll is garbage! "The GOP poll does have elevated Republican representation," McLaughlin said in an e-mail to the Salem News. The actual makeup of registered voters in the district is: 13% Republican, 30% Democrat, and 57% Independent. But …
Saturday, May 19, 2012
State Senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) writes about the importance of early childhood education and how Massachusetts is investing in early literacy.
[The following was submitted by State Sen. Katherine Clark.] Last week I co-hosted a legislative briefing on the importance of early childhood education with Arthur Rolnick of the University of Minnesota’s Human Capital Research Collaborative and a former economist at the Federal Reserve. Professor Rolnick’s research makes the economic case for early childhood education through new data and a comprehensive 40-year study. Professor Rolnick and his colleagues have quantified the returns on investment in early education: boosting labor productivity, increasing tax revenue, and reducing by up to 50% costs associated with special education services and crime. Their essential argument is that if children show up to Kindergarten ready-to-learn …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wakefield residents are choosy when it comes to grocery shopping, and they more often than not choose The Farmland, according to your votes.
The place most Wakefield residents trust for their grocery shopping needs is The Farmland, according to your votes. Out of 30 votes in our poll, The Farmland netted 21, or 70 percent of the votes. The Winner The Farmland is a small, local family owned company located on Main Street (415 Main St.) in the center of Wakefield. The market, which opened back in 1978, ago specializes in fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, baked goods, and Italian products. Opened by Giulio Pellegrini as a small produce market with an Italian deli, the store now boasts a full-service bakery, groceries, a catering service, specialty Italian cold cuts, and a butcher shop. "When you come to our deli, produce department, bakery or meat counter, we are always …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The man who gave his name to Yale Avenue was a larger than life character who drew strong feelings from his fellow citizens.
In the year 1800, a 19-year old itinerate tin peddler from Meriden, Connecticut passed through the old town of South Reading. Burrage Yale, the energetic and ambitious young salesman, must have taken a liking to the town. Within two years, he returned to make the town his home, and established a tin manufacturing business that made his fortune. It would become the town’s most important single business for several decades. His first small tin shop stood on the corner of Main and Lafayette Streets. As the business prospered, he purchased a large old home on Main Street at about the present site of the Post Office. Yale moved into the house with his young wife, Sarah Boardman, the daughter of Col. Amos Boardman who kept an inn at 18 Elm…
42.505023
-71.071565
311 Main St, Wakefield, MA
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/locations/7010709
Saturday, May 12, 2012
State senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) writes about the recently passed Valor Act and what it does to support veterans in Massachusetts.
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Saturday, May 12
[Note: The following was submitted by Katherine Clark, D-Melrose.] Last week the Massachusetts Senate passed the Valor Act, new legislation that will expand benefits and increase access to a range of services for veterans, active-duty military members and their families. The bill was sponsored by Senator Mike Rush (D, West Roxbury), a lieutenant in the United States Navy, who returned in December from a 10-month deployment to Iraq as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. As a community, we share a responsibility to honor the tremendous sacrifice and courageous service of our veterans, our servicemen and women, and their families. And, as a Member of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, one of my most solemn …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wakefield Selectman Patrick Glynn writes about why the town should choose to support building a new Galvin Middle School.
Dear Editor, It is a rare occurrence when the School Committee, the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen, are unanimous in their support of a project of this size and scale, yet that is the case with the proposed new Galvin Middle School. In fact since the November 2010 town meeting where citizens unanimously supported the expenditure of $686,400 to fund a feasibility study, in-line with the Mass School Building Authority’s (MSBA) guidelines for projects like the Galvin to receive a construction grant, there has not been one vote opposing this project from any committee having jurisdiction. The reason for this, aside from the age and condition of the facility, is that the proposed plan is fiscally responsible. Under this plan the…
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Our children are all individuals, but we can't help but notice ourselves and their fathers mixed in there too. This week, the Patch Mamas discuss the pros and cons of genetics. And let us be the first to wish the Mamas of Wakefield a Happy Mother's Day!
Tasha Schlake Festel My daughter has a ridiculously long tongue and impressively stinky feet. My son has luscious eye lashes and funny pinky toes. Other than that, my children bear no physical resemblance to me whatsoever. With their blonde hair, blue eyes, and creamy skin, I might be mistaken for the frazzled nanny when I take my children out in public. They look nothing like me with my dark hair, freckles and hazel eyes. The fact that they look just like their father might be Mother Nature’s way of ensuring that I love them and that their father knows they’re really his. Luckily, my husband is a good looking man and makes really beautiful children. I say this objectively, of course. What they didn’t get from me in looks, they did get in …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Regardless of what you want to happen, what do you think will actually happen next week?
There are a fair amount of big decisions that hang in the balance as Wakefield looks forward to next week's town meeting. In the weeks leading up to town meeting, we've been spotlighting different issues that will come up for a vote, and asking you your opinions. Now, we want to know: What's your prediction? What do you think will actually happen, regardless of what you want to happen? Vote in the polls below and leave a comment to share your predictions. For a look at the full list of town meeting warrant articles, see attached .pdf.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Wakefield's State Senator Katherine Clark writes about how the state has been examining its tax expenditures and exceptions.
[Note: The following was submitted by State Senator Katherine Clark, (D-Melrose.)] As families and businesses across the state filed their tax returns in April, the Commonwealth was completing an important tax review of its own. Last year, as part of the state’s budget process, the legislature established a Tax Expenditure Commission. The Commission was charged with studying the state’s tax expenditures – the various exemptions, deductions, and credits in the Massachusetts tax code – and recommending ways to measure their effectiveness. Tax expenditures are designed to encourage certain public policy outcomes, such as creating jobs, hiring veterans, or cleaning environmentally hazardous sites. They are also used to spur economic …
Rep. Paul Brodeur (D-Melrose) breaks down the state's 2013 proposed budget, which puts added emphasis on cities and towns.
[Note: The following was submitted by Representative Paul Brodeur (D-Melrose).] On Wednesday, April 26th, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives successfully passed a FY13 budget bill that embraces cities and towns as a top priority. The last four years have been an extraordinary challenge for state and local governments. I am happy to report that House budget for FY13 brings much-needed stability to municipal finances and public services at the local level. The House budget contains $899M to fully fund the Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA ) which municipalities rely on to balance their budgets each fiscal year. For Wakefield this translates into an additional $206,031 in UGGA from last year. Governor Deval Patrick …
Brandon Chapman
10:42 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
Who cares what polls say? The only poll that counts is the one in November....which will finally send John Tierney packing more ›