December 3, 2007
WALTHAM
For the first time, the Community Preservation Act Committee next Wednesday will begin reviewing applications for grants for historical preservation, open space or recreation and community housing projects.
This is the first year that the committee has had money to award, Waltham became a CPA community in 2005 and formed the committee a year later. The meeting will give applicants the opportunity to make a brief presentation about their idea.
Approved applications are forwarded to the City Council for appropriation within 20 days.
The committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall in the City Council Chambers.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:31 AM
November 12, 2007
WALTHAM
Babe Ruth's draft card, the original "I Want You" Uncle Sam army recruitment poster, and other military treasures will be on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham in honor of Veterans Day.
The National Archives will also be offering a Nov. 13 class for amateur genealogists and military families entitled "Records Related to the 18th, 19th, and 20th Century Military Service" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will learn how to glean information about ancestors dating back to the Revolutionary War era.
Besides helping family with genealogical research, archivists are also always available to help veterans and their relatives gather information needed to claim veteran's benefits.
The archives, located at 380 Trapelo Road, are open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. They're also open on the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Nov. 13 class requires pre-registration, which can be done by either calling 866-406-2379 or 781-663-0144 or via e-mail.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 06:57 AM
October 28, 2007
WALTHAM
Traversing some commonly used streets in Waltham could be a lot more difficult this winter if a ballot question up for a vote on Nov. 6 doesn't pass.
A "yes" vote to the question would officially allow the city to clear private ways open to public use of snow and ice. A World War Two-era state law allows the city to do it, but officials apparently never put the issue to municipal voters as required and has been improperly plowing for the last 50 years.
The state Inspector General's office informed the city earlier this year that they'd have to put the matter on the ballot as soon as possible. Private ways affected include Worcester Lane, part of Second Avenue, and Summit Avenue.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 07:43 AM
October 24, 2007
WALTHAM
A New Jersey man killed Sunday when an alleged drunk driver hit his car from behind on Route 128 in Waltham was an intern in the media relations office of the New York Yankees, team officials said.
The team identified the young man as Matthew Wasser, 22, of Bernardsville, N.J. Wasser was a student at the College of New Jersey, and was set to graduate this December with a degree in communications, officials said.
"A loss of this magnitude is impossible to put into words," Yankees Director of Media Relations Jason Zillo said in a statement released by Major League Baseball. "Matt will long be remembered for his boundless enthusiasm and uplifting, selfless spirit. The Yankees family reaches out to the Wasser family during this tremendous time of grief, as we keep his loved ones and friends close to our heart."
State police said that Wasser and the driver of the car, Christian N. Ighodaro of Hyde Park, were stopped in traffic in the northbound left lane about 2:50 a.m. when a car driven by a Templeton man struck the car.
Lawrence P. Laine of Templeton, who was uninjured in the crash, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, police said. Ighodaro was taken to the Lahey Clinic in Burlington with serious injuries.
-- Ralph Ranalli
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:11 AM
October 22, 2007
WALTHAM/POLITICS
This is the first installment of three sets of candidate profiles for Waltham's School Committee, City Council At-Large, and Mayoral races in 2007. Today we examine the five School Committee candidates who are seeking three seats on the committee, which they will hold for one two-year term.
Each candidate's profile is followed by a short sound bite from the School Committee Candidate Forum held on Oct. 11.
Since 2001, the Waltham Schools have hired 40-50 new teachers each year mostly to replace retirees, according to a September interview with Waltham Assistant Superintendent Emile Rosenberg. Nationwide, districts face difficulties finding enough foreign language, math, science and special education teachers.
Listen to each candidate describe why they think teacher shortages are becoming more common, and what they think should be done to recruit and retain more qualified teachers.
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:30 AM
October 22, 2007
Harold "Jerry" Walker
Age: Will be 61 on Nov. 2
Family: Wife, Judith, and two adult daughters who attended Waltham Schools
Neighborhood: North Waltham
Education: Bachelor's degree in History from University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Master's degree in Education from Boston University
Occupation: Waltham High School history and social science teacher from 1968-2003, now retired.
Experience: School Committee member since 2003; founding member of Youth Opposed to Using (YOU), a student anti-drug and drinking group; Waltham Park and Recreation Board member since 2003; member of Waltham High School Evaluation Steering Committee for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation, 1973-75, 1983-85, 1993-95; Reagle Players Featured Performer appearing in more than 30 productions.
Key issues: Walker said he wants to find ways to encourage and enable teachers in Waltham to work through the ranks and become administrators. He thinks professional development offered to teachers should have more of a practical emphasis, and that successful master teachers within the district should be encouraged to share their methods. He also wants to make the School Department website a better tool for communicating policy, achievements and information about the schools.
What distinguishes him: "I think I wear a number of hats. Besides being a former educator, besides being a community person involved in things like the Park and Rec Board, and a parent and a grandparent... I am a stage performer, so that helps with interpersonal skills a great deal." He said his years as a teacher who created courses like AP History and Foreign Policy gave him insight into what makes an effective curriculum, and his experience as an evaluator of other school systems with NEASC helps him to better evaluate Waltham's schools.
Listen to an audio clip of Jerry Walker describing what should be done to recruit and retain more qualified teachers to Waltham.
-- Stephanie Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:25 AM
October 22, 2007
Stephen Rando, Jr. (incumbent)
Age: 63
Family: wife Barbara, four adult children, one of whom, Julie Ranucci, is a Waltham High School teacher
Neighborhood: "fringes of Cedarwood"/West End
Education: Attended Cambridge Junior College and earned Bachelor's degree in History and Sociology from Suffolk University. Also earned a Master's degree in Education from Suffolk University.
Occupation: retired principal of Jonathan Bright Elementary School
Experience: 34 years as a teacher and administrator in the Waltham Public Schools; past supervisor of the Adult Basic and Civic Education Program (which oversaw teaching English and Citizenship to foreign-born students).
Key issues: Rando said he is especially concerned with health and safety issues. He'd like to look into having dental screenings reinstituted in the schools, strictly enforce the district's anti-bullying policy, encourage walk to school programs and recess as a way of battling obesity in schoolchildren, and better train teachers in how to deal with children who have experienced traumatic events like the death of a parent. More broadly, he wants to see if there's a way to expand the district's options for gifted students. He's also doesn't want electives like arts and music to be jettisoned in favor of MCAS preparation. "Rather than eliminating some of the fine arts areas, we me may have to look into making the day longer to provide academic support in some of the other subject areas."
What distinguishes him: Rando said that his range of experience in the schools, from teacher and principal to administrator, sets him apart. "I've been there, done it all. I've seen it from the administrative side and from the teacher's perspective."
Listen to an audio clip of Stephen Rando Jr. describe what should be done to recruit and retain more qualified teachers in Waltham's schools.
-- Stephanie Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:20 AM
October 22, 2007
Lisa Limonciello
Age: 39
Family: married to husband Thomas, they have two daughters, 8-year-old Sophia and 6-year-old Ava. They attend Henry Whittemore Elementary School.
Neighborhood: South Side
Education: After graduating from Waltham High, she attended the University of Massachusetts-Lowell for two years, studying child psychology.
Occupation: Merchandise specialist for the TJX Companies in Framingham
Experience: Co-president of Whittemore Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization since 2004, cofounder and board member of the Waltham Education and Beyond Foundation
Key issues: "My priorities this go around would be the MCAS [several] schools haven't met Adequate Yearly Progress, and that's really concerning to me. I know it's a tough test, and I know it's state mandated, but we really need to stop making excuses and put our department heads on notice and start making some hard changes, and not accept mediocrity." Limonciello said she also wants to make sure the committee finds ways to mitigate large class sizes before the start of the school year, by adding teachers, aides, or volunteers. She is emphatic for the need for a better School department website that provides information for parents and touts the district's achievements.
What distinguishes her: Her corporate background and ability to put efficiency and effectiveness over politics, she says. "Some of our school committee members want to play nice in the sand with everybody. but it's about running a business and doing right by the students, and not about who you used to work with, or who you were friends with. That's not important to me. My children and their education are what's important."
Listen to an audio clip of Lisa Limonciello discuss what should be done to recruit and retain more qualified teachers to Waltham.
-- Stephanie Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:10 AM
October 22, 2007
Margaret M. Donnelly
Age: 65
Family: Single
Neighborhood: Roberts, near the Weston line
Education: Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Regis College, Masters of Education in Guidance Counseling from former Boston State College
Occupation: Middle school history teacher in Marlborough, now retired.
Experience: School Committee member 1993-2005, School Building Committee member 1996-present, Park and Recreation Board member 1996-2005, Massachusetts Association of School Committees' Legislative Advocacy Committee 1996-2006, Fundraising Coordinator for Funway Park at William F. Stanley Elementary School 2006-2007, Member of EDCO Collaborative Board of directors 2001-2005, Program Director for local AARP chapter 2001-present.
Key issues: "Now that we're finishing up the [elementary school buildings], we need to immediately start a plan for the High School renovation...We can make a plan and an application process to the [state] to get us in line to receive reimbursement. You need to be very proactive with that, or you just lose time, and time is money, with the inflation factor, and with the needs of the students at the high school. The student population has started to increase again - slightly, but there is an increase."
What distinguishes her: Donnelly said her experience with education policy-makers at the state and regional level gives her a unique perspective on things like state funding and MCAS.
Listen to an audio clip of Margaret Donnelly discussing what she would do to recruit and retain more qualified teachers for Waltham.
-- Stephanie Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:05 AM
October 22, 2007
Susan R. Burstein
Age: 49
Family: husband Richard Scales, 5-year-old daughter, Abigail, who attends James FitzGerald Elementary School
Neighborhood: Warrendale
Education: Waltham High School, bachelor's degree in Public Administration from New York University
Occupation: Chief Budget Officer for City of Newton
Experience: Waltham School Committee member since 1999 and current vice chair, former Ward 7 City Councilor from 1992-1993. Before her current job, she was a budget director for the state Department of Transitional Assistance.
Key issues: "We've had, and I think will continue to have, turnover of some leaders and educators. and finding qualified people who understand the really diverse nature of the community has been and will continue to be important," she said. She also said that the need to improve MCAS and SAT scores is important, but that the city should not have to sacrifice its advanced arts and performing arts programs to do so. She wants to better communicate the district's achievements and improve the School Department website.
What distinguishes her from the other candidates: Burstein said it's her experience in the public sector that sets her apart - as a Newton budget official, a former city councilor, and a former state official - and as one of only two candidates with children currently in the schools. "I think it gives you, albeit somewhat anecdotal, experience and knowledge of what's going on on a daily basis; how information is being communicated to parents. It gives a unique opportunity to communicate with other parents and find out what their experiences are, because obviously experiences are not uniform. "
Burstein: Listen to an audio clip of Susan Burstein talk about what should be done to recruit and retain more qualified teachers to Waltham.
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:00 AM
October 16, 2007
WALTHAM
A seven-member selection committee will interview seven candidates this week for the post of Waltham's chief of police, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said.
Of the seven candidates, four of whom are lieutenants in the department. McCarthy said a city ordinance allows lieutenants to be considered for the post if there are fewer than four internal applicants -- a situation created after a captain and deputy chief removed themselves from consideration last month.
McCarthy said she decided to allow all department lieutenants to apply after she learned that two of them had submitted applications. Captain Thomas LaCroix has been serving as acting police chief since August.
City Personnel Director Brenda Capello will serve as chairwoman of the committee, which also includes Waltham Council of Neighborhood Advocates president Doris Donovan, Council on Aging Director Marybeth Duffy, labor relations and human resources consultant Gerard Hayes, School Committee member Stephen Rando, attorney Soledad Valenciano, and Lynn Police Chief John Suslak.
The committee will give its recomendations on semifinalists for the job to McCarthy, who will make the final decision.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 11:16 AM
September 27, 2007
Waltham firefighters have been honored by the city for their bravery in fighting this July 15 fire that destroyed a popular family restaurant and an adjacent convenience store.
(Globe staff photo by John Bohn)
WALTHAM
Waltham City Councilors have unanimously approved a resolution commending the firefighters who responded to the July 15 fire that destroyed Sal's Restaurant and California Convenience on Main Street.
The resolution specifically praised Captain Anthony Capello and Firefighter Joseph L. Nelson, who were injured when one of the floors in the building collapsed into the basement, and the two men who rescued them, Lieutenant John R. Castellano and Firefighter Dwight J. Anderson.
The audience at city hall -- which included many fellow members of the department -- gave the four men a standing ovation at the conclusion of the vote.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 09:49 AM
September 21, 2007
WALTHAM
Eight affordably priced condos at the Wellington Crossing development off Trapelo Road are going up for sale by lottery.
Six of them are designated for Waltham residents, immediate relatives of Waltham residents, former residents, or employees of the city and emergency services providers. The other two are available to the general public. One-bedroom units priced at $219,900 and two-bedroom units are priced at $279,900.
Applicants are limited to a maximum household annual income of $46,300 for a one-person household, $52,950 for two people, $59,550 for three people and $66,150 for four people, officials said.
Applications and information packets can be picked up at Wellington Crossing, which is located at 106 Clocktower Drive. They must be turned in to Wellington Crossing by 5 p.m. on November 6, or mailed with a postmark no later than that date. Anyone seeking more information is urged to call the development's sales office at 781-899-3325.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 12:25 PM
September 20, 2007
WALTHAM
The City Council has rejected a local restaurant's request to use the William F. Stanley Senior Center's parking lot after hours.
During a recent meeting, the councilors voted to place the matter on file and remove it from their agenda. The owners of La Campania, at 504 Main Street, had asked for permission to lease part of the senior center parking lot at 488 Main Street for customer parking on evenings and weekends.
Councilors, however, said that doing so could preclude the Council on Aging from holding events at those times. Some councilors also voiced concern that granting the request would set a precedent where private businesses would seek to use other city-owned lots for their exclusive use.
The city's Council on Aging also opposed the request.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 09:40 AM
September 17, 2007
WALTHAM
A Waltham man charged with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy is being held on $500,000 bail on Cape Cod. Police allege that 40-year-old John Cox assaulted the boy in a Hyannis hotel swimming pool locker room over a year ago.
Cox was arrested last Friday on a child rape charge after the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab matched forensic evidence at the Hyannis crime scene to his DNA.
Cox, pleaded not guilty today during an arraignment in Barnstable District Court, is a Level 3 sex offender, considered the most likely to re-offend. he has two prior convictions.
The alleged rape occurred the morning of May 6th, 2006, when a Connecticut boy staying at the hotel was using the locker room. Police say Cox was not a guest at the hotel. The alleged victim gave police a description of his assailant.
-- AP
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 04:56 PM
September 14, 2007
WALTHAM
Capping off more than a year of planning and $177,000 worth of fund-raising, Waltham officials last week opened the new Funway Park playground at William F. Stanley Elementary School.
At a dedication ceremony attended by about 200 people, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy and the city's Handicapped Services Commissioner Jerry LeBlanc watched a crowd of shrieking children to overrun the space, which was designed to also accommodate children in wheelchairs.
Over the summer, donors managed to come through with the last $8,000 needed to add rubber surfacing to the playground, which was ready in time for the first day of school.
Susan McKinney, a member of the volunteer committee that organized to build the park, said that the only detail yet unfinished is the dedication area, which will contain a brass plaque, a garden designed by the Waltham Garden Club, and a shade tree. The committee hopes to have that finished by the end of the year or whenever they can finish the plantings.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 06:40 AM
September 10, 2007
WALTHAM
Women's clothing retailer Bon Worth, one of a dying breed that still manufactures the clothes sold in its stores, recently opened a new branch in Waltham.
The store opened last week in the River City Shopping Center on River Street. The Hendersonville, N.C.-based chain focuses on comfortable casual clothing and coordinates for the "mature woman," said the company's regional manager, Marilyn Lakin. Lakin said the company continues to control run its own manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Mexico because it keeps costs low.
Most of Bon Worth's pieces retail between $8.99 and $49.99. Lakin said that At-Large City Councilor Sarafina "Sally" Collura played an important role in bringing the store to Waltham.
"I had never met the woman, but I spoke to her several times, and she begged me the next time I came to Massachusetts to do a side trip and visit possible store [locations] with her," Lakin said from her office in New Jersey.
Lakin said Collura is a long-time customer and had hosted fashion shows featuring the store's clothing on her cable access television show in the past. The store will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 29 at 11 a.m.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 12:24 PM
September 3, 2007
WALTHAM
With this year's mayoral election coming up Nov. 6, the Waltham League of Women Voters and the Waltham Alliance to Create Housing are making a push to educate local residents about voting and the election process.
WATCH Director of Organizing Darline Jeanniton said recently the goal is to make sure everyone realizes what an important stake they have in local ballots elections -- not just presidential elections. Jeanniton said the groups also want to reach out to naturalized citizens and native-born citizens who don't vote.
The two groups will present an educational program on Sept. 13 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Chester Brook Learning Center, which is located at 22 Brookway Road off of Lexington Street. Light refreshments will be available and door prizes will be awarded.
WATCH is also planning a voter registration drive during Historic Waltham Days, which run from September 14 to 23, and Jeanniton said there are also plans to reach out to local ethnic churches and community groups to talk to members about how to register to vote.
Officials are urging anyone seeking more information to contact Jeannitton at 781-891-6689, ext. 206.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 07:46 AM
August 22, 2007
WALTHAM
Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said she hopes to have a candidate to fill a vacant election commissioner's spot by the time City Council meets on September 10.
The city has four seats, one of which is filled by the city clerk. Two seats are reserved for Republicans, and two for Democrats. One of the Republican commissioners, Hope Johnson, passed away earlier this year.
McCarthy said she'll be interviewing potential replacements in the next couple weeks. Waltham's election for mayor and city councilors' seats will be held on Nov. 6.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 04:03 PM
August 19, 2007
WALTHAM
It's been over a century, but an antique car manufactured in Waltham back in 1905 is returning to its roots.
The bright red Waltham-Orient touring car was built at the old Waltham Manufacturing Company on Rumford Avenue, and recently donated to the Waltham Museum by a collector in Florida, according to a press release from the museum.
The Waltham Museum will be naming a room after the donor, George Albright, who is considered an authority on Waltham-manufactured cars and bicycles. This model featured seating for five people, and a four-cylinder air-cooled engine with 16 horsepower.
The Waltham-Orient joins six other automobiles that are waiting to be housed in the Museum's new home at 25 Lexington Street.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 08:06 AM
August 17, 2007
WALTHAM
Captain Thomas Lacroix will serve as Waltham's acting Chief of Police for the next three months, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy announced Monday . Former chief Edward Drew retired in June.
Lacroix has been on the force since 1986, and was promoted to Captain on May 13 of this year in the department's 911 Division. McCarthy said he was chosen out of four semifinalists for the chief's position for his enthusiasm for the job and for community outreach programs.
The other three candidates, who are all members of the Waltham Police Department, are Capt. Donald Feeney, Capt. Donald Russo , and Capt. William Stanton.
McCarthy said the next step is to create a screening committee who will interview the semifinalists and forward their recommendation to her. She would then send her recommendation to the City Council for confirmation.
Lacroix can hold the acting chief designation for up to six months, but McCarthy said she wants to make a permanent appointment for chief within three months.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 11:05 PM
August 15, 2007
Joan Hanlon, a resident at the Fernald Development Center since the age of two, spends some time in the pool with staffer Linda Bonilla.
(Globe staff photo by Suzanne Kreiter)
WALTHAM
A federal judge yesterday halted the state's plan to close the Fernald Development Center in Waltham, ruling that the profoundly mentally retarded residents who have lived there for decades must be given the opportunity to stay.
US District Judge Joseph L. Tauro found there has been a "systemic failure" by the state to consider the individual needs of longtime Fernald residents by pushing its plan to close state institutions and transfer residents to community-based group homes or smaller facilities, reporter Shelley Murphy of the Globe's City & Region staff reports today.
In a seven-page ruling, Tauro said he agreed with the results of a court-ordered investigation by US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, who concluded in March that for some Fernald residents a transfer "could have devastating effects that unravel years of positive, nonabusive behavior."
Tauro said his ruling does not mean the state may never close Fernald, which currently houses about 185 residents.
"It does mean, however, that the Department of Mental Retardation must carefully assess the needs and wishes of each resident and provide a genuine and meaningful opportunity for their guardians to participate in their placement decisions," he wrote.
The state could now urge a federal appeals court to overturn Tauro's decision. It could continue to operate the facility as it is or choose to sell off part of the 190-acre property for development while continuing to care for remaining residents.
Juan Martinez, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said in a statement: "We are currently reviewing the memorandum and order issued by Judge Tauro today so that we may better understand them and decide how best to respond. In the meantime, the Patrick Administration has not made a decision on the future of Fernald."
Read more about Tauro's ruling in the online edition of today's Globe.
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 01:32 PM
August 10, 2007
WALTHAM
The intersection of School and Lexington Streets will be named for John P. McGrath, a World War II and Korean War veteran, City Councilors unanimously voted on Monday.
McGrath, who died in 2003 as a result of injuries he recieved in those wars, was a lifelong Waltham resident. He recieved both a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for his service in the second World War, and a Purple Heart and a second Bronze Star after recieving disabling wounds in Korea. After the war he volunteered for organizations serving disabled children.
A plaque marking the intersection as First Lieutenant John P. McGrath Square will be dedicated in a ceremony September 15.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:26 AM
August 7, 2007
WALTHAM
Leaving homelessness behind isn't always as easy as just moving out of a shelter.
COMPASS for Homeless Families has begun a series of seminars, called "Life After Shelter," at Sandra's Lodge in Waltham, a shelter that houses 70 mothers and children on any given day. The typical "emergency" stay lasts 444 days, and COMPASS director Lana Jackman says it can be easy for the women to sink into despair, and worry about what step to take next.
The talks focus on topics like financial literacy, navigating the healthcare system, career paths, home ownership, workforce skills and homeownership. The program is seeking volunteer speakers to give those seminars and share their personal experiences with participants.
"'Life After Shelter' has a lot of objectives in one sense, but it's really about telling the moms that this is a one-way street - once you turn this corner, you can't imagine the number of options available to you. So while you're still in shelter, you really need to be thinking about them," says Jackman.
Participation requires a one-night commitment; seminars occur Wednesday nights between Sept. 12 and Dec. 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Anyone seeking more more information is urged to contact Jackman at 781-862-4446, extension 203, or via e-mail.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:24 AM
July 30, 2007
WALTHAM
Two Brandeis University post-doctoral students were burned in a lab accident Friday morning, the Bostonchannel.com is reporting.
Officials said Waltham police and fire departments responded to a fire at the school just after 11 a.m. Police said a female student badly burned her legs, and when her male lab partner tried to help her, he burned his hands.
Both were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment. The cause of the fire was unknown.
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 11:53 AM
July 28, 2007
WALTHAM
The Waltham Council on Aging has a new director, Marybeth Duffy.
Before being appointed to the position, Duffy served as a geriatric social worker at Mount Auburn Hospital, and a medical social worker and director of social work at the now-defunct Waltham Hospital. She replaces longtime director Ruth Gately.
The Council is having a welcoming tea to introduce Duffy to area seniors on August 16, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 488 Main Street. Attendees can RSVP at 781-899-7228.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:12 AM
July 20, 2007
WALTHAM
Robert J. Waddick, who is running unopposed for the Ward 6 City Council seat he had previously occupied during the 1990s, has announced that he will resign from his post as one of Waltham's assistant city solicitors.
Waddick said his last day in the office will be July 27. His resignation will take effect on Aug. 10. He said his departure is not related to his city council bid, and that he was ethically permitted to hold both jobs.
"I made a decision to run for the Ward 6 seat only after I determined that I could serve as a city councilor and a municipal employee at the same time. The state law permits it," Waddick said.
Waddick's new job will be as assistant city solicitor for the city of Newton, an opportunity he said became available after he had decided to run for office.
Waddick has held his current position since 2006. Prior to that, he worked as an attorney for the city's Board of Assessors and Treasurer/Collector's Department for two years. He also served as David Gately's deputy mayor from 2000 to 2004, and as Ward 6 councilor from 1992 to 2000. He served on Waltham's school committee from 1986 to 1991.
"I'm looking forward to a new challenge in the city of Newton and looking forward to continued service to the city of Waltham on City Council," said Waddick. "This is my home, and this is where I'm going to stay and remain active in local affairs."
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 03:27 PM
July 20, 2007
There is apparently no truth to the rumor that the new Brandeis University fight song contains the term "cha-ching."
(Globe staff photo by Patricia McDonnell)
WALTHAM
At least 31 Brandeis University alumni must have fond memories of their years at the Waltham campus -- they all made multi-million dollar gifts that contributed to a record-breaking year for fund-raising at the school.
The former students all made contributions of between $1 million and $10 million. In total, donors to the school contributed $89.4 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30, a 10 percent increase over last year's record-breaking tally.
Brandeis, founded in 1948, is the only non-sectarian Jewish-sponsored university in the United States.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 02:04 PM
July 19, 2007
(Globe staff photo by John Bohn)
WALTHAM
The fire that destroyed Sal's Family Restaurant last Sunday was accidental, the state Department of Fire Services has said in a press release.
Investigators believe the fire started in the basement area beneath the take-out counter, probably due to an electrical problem or natural gas leak ignited by any of several sources. The damage to the site was so severe that it would be "impossible" to determine exactly what caused the spark, the release said.
The fire also destroyed a neighboring store, California Convenience.
The Waltham Fire Department, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had spent most of this week combing through the charred debris by hand.
--Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by ssiek at 07:09 PM
July 16, 2007
(Globe staff photo by John Bohn)
WALTHAM
For 41 years on Main Street, the Italian immigrant served lunchtime workers and families seeking affordable dinners, like the elbow macaroni slathered with tomato and meat sauce for $4.95 that he sold as "American chop suey."
Salvatore Pinzone -- Sal to his customers -- catered to masses, except for Thanksgiving, when he cooked for his family.
Early yesterday, that legacy was reduced to blackened beams and broken glass, when a fire damaged much of Sal's Family Restaurant and a convenience store next door, at Newton Street, Globe correspondent April Yee reports in the online edition of the City & Region section.
Waltham Fire Chief Richard Cardillo said the cause of the fire, which was reported about 5 a.m. and claimed parts of the roof, was under investigation.
"What should my next step be at 79 1/2 ?" said Pinzone, who lives near the restaurant and in a rare occasion missed his 10 a.m. Mass. "So many people have been inconvenienced."
Several city residents, including Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, said they hope Sal's reopens.
"It's inbred," said McCarthy, who came with her family for the chop suey or fish and chips at least once a week. "This was a family restaurant."
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 12:26 PM
July 13, 2007
NORTHBOROUGH-SOUTHBOROUGH
The Northborough-Southborough Regional School District will be paid $2.35 million as part of a settlement reached yesterday with Framingham-based Eastern Contractors Inc. and United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co., said a statement released by the district.
The district fired Eastern Contractors for nonperformance in December 2005 on a $60 million renovation project for Algonquin Regional High School after the project was delayed.
Eastern Contractors filed suit against the district in response. The district and the companies have now dropped all litigation in the dispute.
-- John Dyer
Posted by Martin Finucane at 04:27 PM
July 5, 2007
Waltham Deputy Police chief Keith MacPherson gives the Waltham Devil Dogs Pop Warner team a pep talk. On Monday, MacPherson will take on a new duty: acting police chief.
WALTHAM
With one simple sentence, Police Chief Edward J. Drew has ended 33 years of service with the city of Waltham - a week earlier than he had been expected to depart.
City Personnel Director Brenda Capello said that she received Drew's letter of resignation on June 29. The letter stated: "To confirm my previous conversations I am retiring as chief of police effective June 30, 2007."
Capello said she did not know why the date differed from the July 7 date for Drew's departure given to her by the city's retirement board.
The city ordinances state that when the chief of police is absent, the deputy chief, in this case Keith MacPherson, would perform the chief's duties. But MacPherson is on vacation until Monday, and the task now falls to Captain Donald Russo, the most senior of the department's captains.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 11:31 AM
July 3, 2007
Ann Romney, Governor Mitt Romney's wife, reads during story time at the Waltham Public Library
(Globe staff photo by Essdras Suarez)
WALTHAM
While other libraries are cutting back hours and laying off staff, Waltham Public Library officials have announced that they will be open on Sundays during the summer.
Library Director Tom Jewell said that beginning this Sunday, the library will be open and offering its full range of services -- making it the only one of the 35 public libraries that are part of the Minuteman Library Network to do so.
A survey done earlier this year found that library visits were heavy on weekends during the school year, and there was interest in extending weekend hours year-round, Jewell said. The new Sunday hours will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
"We're very excited about it," he said. "Other libraries, I know, have struggled, and we feel very fortunate that Waltham has - particularly through good fiscal management but also because we have a supportive business community - been able to maintain our hours."
Jewell, who has worked at the library for 30 years, said this is the first time in his memory that the library has been open on summer Sundays.
-- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 10:51 AM
June 21, 2007
Former Waltham middle school teacher Robert Dacey at his arraignment last August
(Photo by Cyrus Moghtader for the Boston Globe)
WALTHAM
Robert Dacey , the former Waltham middle school teacher and coach suspected of sexually assaulting former students, died of a possible heart attack yesterday at an undisclosed Dedham location, police said.
Waltham police arrested Dacey in August and charged him with indecent assault and battery and rape of minors. Dacey was released on $25,000 bail, put under house arrest at a family member's home, and required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. Last fall, a grand jury returned a 17-count indictment against him.
According to Corey Welford, spokesman for the Middlesex district attorney's office, Dacey had a status hearing last week in Cambridge Superior Court and was facing another hearing.
Waltham police Sergeant Brian Lambert said Dacey's attorney, Dino Colucci, notified the district attorney's office of Dacey's death. Waltham police confirmed it with Dedham police.
-- Globe City & Region staff
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at 07:09 AM
June 19, 2007
WALTHAM
A $15 million gift from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation will establish an academic center at Brandeis University that focuses on the culture, history, language and society of Israel.
The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies aims to fill a gap in scholarship about the country beyond its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a Brandeis press release.
The center will train graduate level students as well as offering learning and teaching opportunities to faculty at other universities.
The donation represents the largest single gift ever bestowed by the foundation and one of the largest ever received by Brandeis.
The non-sectarian, Jewish-sponsored university hopes the Schusterman Family Foundation's donation will be the seed of a $30 million endowment by 2015.
- Stephanie V. Siek
Posted by Ralph Ranalli at | 
