Sunday, May 20, 2012
Patch takes a look back the week's biggest stories.
Here is collection of headlines from the past week on Marlborough Patch. Follow the link to see the stories: A local man made local and national headlines after his arrest for assaulting a 6-year-old child and pouring hot sauce into his mouth. The alleged assailant has his bail revoked due to earlier criminal activity. Superintendent Anthony Pope dominated the headlines on Thursday, when the city's teacher's union took a vote of no confidence in the schools leader and Pope was in court, where a clerk magistrate cleared him of any charges in connection with an alleged shoving incident during a rally at the high schoole earlier this year. The city's community garden inititiave is proving to be extremely popular, with city officials telling…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
School board chair's written support of superintendent raises questions for letter-writer.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, May 17
To the editor: The City of Marlborough and Marlborough Public Schools have handled the very contentious situation with Superintendent Dr. Anthony Pope with the utmost class and respect over the past several months. There has been quite a bit of pressure from both sides for a decision to be made, and the School Committee has not made any drastic impulsive decisions without gathering all of the facts beforehand. However, the actions of one member of the Marlborough School Committee has certainly raised some questions about a conflict of interest and professionalism. Margaret Dwyer, a dedicated veteran member of the school committee, reportedly sent an email to parents on April 22 with a letter attached addressing Mayor Arthur Vigeant, City …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Marlborough's first foray into community gardening is proving popular with residents, prompting officials to create extra plots for the coming season.
Plots in the city's first community garden are fully subscribed for the coming season, officials said. The garden area at the Cider Knoll/Mello Family Meadow conservation land, just off Stow Road, has been divided into 43 plots, all of which are currently spoken for, said Conservation Officer Patricia Ryder. The Conservation Commission made 47 full-sized plots that measure 10 feet by 20 feet and 26 smaller plots that measure 10-feet-by-10 feet. Gardeners will pay rentals fees of $25 per season for the larger plots and $15 for the smaller areas. The fee will help defray the cost of bringing water to the site and other upkeep. The site has been fenced in and water storage containers have been brought to the site. Ryder said gardens should…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Flags are at half staff today to honor fallen Peace Officers.
An eagle-eyed Patch reader noticed that flags at Marlborough City Hall and other public buildings are flying at half-staff and inquired as to why. The answer: It's Peace Officer's Memorial Day. President Obama set May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and also designated the week of May 13 through May 19 week as Police Week. In doing so, he called on all governors to order flags to fly at half staff and encouraged all business and homeowners to follow suit. The commemoration actually dates to the early 1960s. President John F. Kennedy signed a law setting aside May 15 to honor fallen police officers and President Bill Clinton expanded the commemoration to include flying flags at half-staff. In Washington, D.C., the day was marked at …
The first Marlborough Works job fair is scheduled for June 13.
When he ran for office, Mayor Arthur Vigeant promised city voters he’d try to find ways to put more Marlborough residents to work. Along with efforts to make the city more attractive to businesses, Vigeant is now working to help connect job-seekers with existing, open positions. "Attracting and maintaining jobs and businesses in Marlborough is crucial,” Vigeant told Patch when he was inaugurated. He noted that he was one of the founders of the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation. “I have reached out to businesses wanting to expand within the city and reached out to bring new ones to Marlborough." The centerpiece of the effort to fill vacant jobs with local workers is the Marlborough Works! Job Fair planned for June 13. Local …
May 25 is the last day to get in applications, which must include a one-page essay.
College students interested in government can apply to land the first slots in the city’s new public service internship program. Proposed earlier this year by Mayor Arthur Vigeant and recently approved and funded by the City Council, the internship program is designed to give college students an inside look at city government. To be considered for an internship, students must complete an application, provide a recent college transcript and write an essay of no more than 400 words explaining why they want to intern with the city and how it could help advance the student’s academic and career goals. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 25. The application and more information are available online and at the Marlborough Public …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Several councilors leveled criticism at school officials during a review of their spending plan for 2013.
While they stopped shorting of making steep additional cuts into the proposed school budget for fiscal year 2013, members of the Marlborough City Council's Finance Committee used budget hearings to express their dissatisfaction with school leadership. Superintendent Anthony Pope said $1 million in cuts already made to his proposed budget--the school committee trimmed about $50,000 and Mayor Arthur Vigeant removed nearly $950,000 more--are “hurting us a lot.” “We have a lot more work to do” to balance the budget, Pope said. A major reason for the needed increase is rising special education costs, he added. That part of the budget alone grew 4.2 percent, including rising costs of paying for students who are placed out of district due to …
Friday, May 11, 2012
State officials are rapidly undoing ban on school bake sales, a plan based on nutritional concerns and aimed at helping to reduce childhood obesity, but one widely lambasted by parents and educators as over-reaching.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
It's as easy as putting out the mail.
Now, this drive is an easy one. As easy as putting out the mail. It's even easier, because you don't need a stamp. On Saturday, May 12, Marlborough mail carriers join in the effort to Stamp Out Hunger, a nationwide effort to combat hunger. Letter carriers pick up non-perishable donations that are left out in, or near, the mailbox on that Saturday. About 50 million Americans—including 17 million children—now live in families that lack sufficient food. The Postal Service, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Campbell Soup Company, Feeding America and other partner organizations are working together to collect food donations on May 12. It is the nation’s largest single-day food drive in local communities across America—…
President Barack Obama came out in support of gay marriage yesterday.
In the wake of North Carolina's decision to amend its Constitution to ban same sex unions, The Guardian website has created a model looking at gay rights in each state. According to the graphic, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont, along with Washington state, Iowa and the District of Columbia, have the most rights afforded to gays. Massachusetts allows: Massachusetts prohibits: Also, Massachusetts' hate crime laws include crimes committed based on gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to comparing states' level of gay rights, the Guardian graphic allows you to log in through Facebook and see what rights are afforded in the states where all your Facebook friends live.
Deb
1:10 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
Which of these are you accusing her of? Because I don't see it. Specifics would be good. more ›