By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce will host sales expert Mark Wayshak at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton.

Wayshak is author of “Game Plan Selling” and “Breaking All Barriers” and will speak about the changing environment for sales staff.

Salespeople were in power because they had information buyers needed, but today buyers are in command because everything they need to research products, services, and companies is available on the internet, according to the chamber statement.

Wayshak’s talk is geared to help salespeople achieve success in such a climate.

The session will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Irish Cultural Centre at 200 New Boston Drive in Canton. It will run from 8 to 10 a.m. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $25 for general admission.

For more information, email Cristoff Shay at cristoff@nvcc.com or call 781-769-1126.

Dedham police issued the following checklist for residents going on vacation:

1. Notify your local police department and leave a contact number in case of emergency.

2. Stop newspaper and mail delivery or arrange for a nieghobr or friend to pick them up for you. Don’t let mail or newspapers pile up.

3. Arrange for lawn service.

4. Arrange for pet care.

5. Check you alarm system and notify the companies that monitor your fire and burglar alarms.

6. Cut shrubs below window level and trim trees away from your house

7. Purchase light timers or leave a few lights on in your home.

8. Lock all doors and windows.

9. Leave a key, itinerary, alarm code, and phone number with a trustworthy neighbor.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

Dedham police warned residents today about phone or email scam called a grandparent scam.

Police described the scam as a grandparent receiving a phone call or email from someone who identifies himself as the person’s grandson.

The person will say something like: “I’ve been arrested in another country and need money wired quickly to pay my bail. And by the way don’t tell my mom or dad because they’ll only get upset.”

The grandparent scam has been around since 2008, when the first complaints of such a scam were entered into Dedham Police’s Internet Crime Complain Center. But police warn that scam artists have become more sophisticated.

A scammer can now uncover personal information about a target through internet searches and social media.

Grandchildren, arresting officers, lawyers or doctors, military personnel, or other family members are often impersonated in the calls.

Police advise residents to resist the pressure to act quickly, try to contact another family member to determine with the call is legitimate, and never wire money based on a request made over the phone or in an email, especially overseas.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

Think learning to read is all about printed books? Not anymore.

A Dedham company dedicated to innovative education recently rolled out two free bi-lingual smart device apps aimed at teaching literacy to pre-school students and first and second graders.

FableVision announced the apps on its blog this week. The first, “Water Wonders,” teaches first and second graders about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics through the story of twin siblings Sydney and Symon.

The authors of the book the app is based upon are twins as well – Dedham residents Peter and Paul Reynolds – who are both CEOs of FableVision.

“Literacy is not just about reading, not just about handing a kid a book; there is a need to do more things – listen, talk, read, and write, or express yourself,” said Paul Reynolds, who is also a Dedham selectman.

FableVision teamed up with Reading is Fundamental and the National Writing Project, both national organizations geared toward reading, writing and literacy.

Originally, the books were produced as ordinary print books and distributed to underserved families, but in 2008, Reading is Fundamental lost federal funding and had to come up with a less expensive alternative to warehousing and distributing books, according to Paul Reynolds.

And so Reading Is Fundamental 2.0 was born, which focused on adapting the physical resources the organization put forward into the digital world, Reynolds said.

FableVision adapted “Water Wonders” as well as “Our Book by Us” about a family creating a book about themselves, which is geared toward preschoolers.

“The great thing about this is that all of these are available for free as long as people have a smart device, which are becoming increasingly ubiquitous,” Paul Reynolds said.

The apps both feature animations and games for children to interact with as they use the apps. Reynolds said the games and animations are designed to entertain, but not to distract.

They also have English and Spanish narrators. Reynolds said he was particularly proud to have Broadway actor Chester Gregory as one of the narrators.

Reynolds said that books still have their place in literacy education, but that digital apps enhance learning opportunities.

“The exciting thing about digital technology is the kids have more opportunities to express themselves and create things,” he said.

He added that the most important tool remains having an engaged adult as part of the process.

The apps are available on Google Play, the Apple App Store, and the Amazon App Store.

Fore more information, visit fablevisionstudios.com.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

The Dedham Historical Society and Museum and the Fairbanks house will present folk singer Jeff Davis in a summer performance.

Davis’s songs include Revolutionary War hero ballads, Appalachian clogging songs, sailor’s work songs, Afridan-American banjo tunes, Irish fiddle tunes, and cowboy ditties. He plays a myriad of instruments, including the nose flute and a fretless banjo.

The free performance, supported by a grant from the Dedham Cultural Council, is set for 11 a.m. on July 10 at the Dedham Historical Society at 612 High St.

Reservations are required for groups of five or more.

For more information, contact the Dedham Historical Society at 781-326-1385 or society@dedhamhistorical.org or the Fairbanks House at 781-326-1170 or homestead@fairbankshouse.org.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

The Dedham Square Improvement Project will be taking a break on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, but work will be performed early in the week.

Much of the work this construction season has taken place during the night, but project leaders reported that there will be two daytime shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The first two layers of asphalt will be installed on Eastern Avenue from CVS to High Street and the second layer of asphalt will be placed on High Street from Washington Street to Eastern Avenue.

This work will be completed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

During the same hours on Wednesday, the second layer of asphalt will be installed on Washington Street from School Street to Crossfit Craic at 355 Washington Street.

In both cases, half the roadway will be paved at a time to allow alternating traffic to flow on these roadways. No on-street parking will be allowed during work hours within those areas.

All vehicles must be moved from the area by 8 a.m. or be towed. The contractor will place signs in the areas the night prior to the work.

For more information on the project, visit dedhamsquareproject.com.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

The following incidents were taken from the Dedham police log. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Wednesday, June 19
Shoplifting: At 1:44 p.m., police received a report of shoplifting at a Dedham Mall business. The suspect fled the store after taking about $300 worth of merchandise, according to an employee. The employee confronted the suspect, who emptied her bag, threw the items in a carriage and fled. She left her car keys behind and police were able to locate her car and identify her. Police have a suspect they plan to charge for the theft.

Theft: At 1:53 p.m., police received a report of a stolen bicycle on Bussey Street.

Accident: At 3:55 p.m., police responded to an accident on Washington Street involving a car and a motorcycle. Both vehicles were traveling north and the operator of the car did not see the motorcycle when changing lanes. The vehicles collided, causing damage to both vehicles and resulting in the motorcycle driver being transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Arrest: At 4:44 p.m., police arrested Stephanie Audain, 27, of Dedham and charged her with domestic assault and battery. The arrest took place on Vernon Street.

Malicious damage: At 8:34 p.m., police received a report of malicious damage to a vehicle in the parking lot of BJ’s Wholesale Club on Providence Highway. Two customers had an argument over a parking space and one vehicle owner returned to her vehicle and found it scratched with a key.

Thursday, June 20
Attempted theft: At 9:50 a.m., police received a report of a phone scam from a Beloit Road resident. The resident said she got a call from someone claiming to be her grandson, but used the name of her nephew, and claimed to be in trouble. When she asked questions, the person hung up. The resident then received a call stating she needed to send a Western Union money order to the Dominican Republic for $2,600. The resident knew this was a scam and hung up.

Theft: At 5:26 p.m., police received a report of theft on Thomas Street. A Playstation 3 was stolen.

Accident: At 7:12 p.m., police received a report of an accident on Washington Street in which a vehicle struck a utility pole. The operator said he was on his phone at the time of the accident. He said he was unfamiliar with the area and was only there because of construction taking place in Dedham Square. The operator was transported to Norwood Hospital as a precaution and was issued a citation for being on the phone.

Friday, June 21
Arrest: At 8:26 a.m., police arrested Paul D. Shannon, 28, of Dedham on a warrant. The arrest was made on Volk Road.

Accident: At 10:10 a.m., police responded to an accident on Washington Street involving two vehicles. One vehicle was turning into Traditions Care Facility when another did not stop in time and struck it from behind. One person was transported to Norwood Hospital.

Theft: At 3 p.m., police received a report of a theft from Great Meadow Road. Two rings were taken.

Theft: At 8:29 p.m., police received a report of a telephone scam from a Bullard Street resident. The resident received a call that her grandson had been arrested and needed bail money. The resident sent $2,920, and later called police thinking it could have been a scam.

Saturday, June 22
Arrests: At 9:59 a.m., police responded to a report of a strange vehicle on Providence Highway. Police arrested Barry Bartel, 40, of Qunicy and charged him with receiving stolen property greater than $250 and operating a vehicle with a revoked license. Police also arrested Paul Zangla, 47, of South Boston and charged him with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Arrest: At 12:04 p.m., police received a report of a shoplifter at Legacy Place. A loss prevention officer had determined a suspect had taken $519.42 worth of merchandise from the store. Police found a suspect, who gave a police officer a false name. Police arrested the person, who was determined to be Lynda Bowater, 35, of Dorchester and charged her with larceny over $250.

Sunday, June 23
Assault: At 11:49 a.m., police received a report of an assault on Charles Street. A resident was approached by an elderly man who kissed her hand and then attempted to kiss her on the cheek.

Theft: At 9:50 p.m., police received a report of a light towing vehicle stolen from the lower parking lot of 510 High Street. The vehicle was rented.

Monday, June 24
Theft: At 6:59 a.m., police received a report of an iPad taken from a backpack on Whiting Avenue.

Tuesday, June 25
Housebreak: At 9:07 p.m., police received a report of a housebreak on Colburn Street. The hinges are off of the rear door and a neighbor reported seeing someone enter the house and leave with items in a vehicle.

Spending on police per person, fiscal year 2012

By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe | June 27, 2013

Click here to see a larger, interactive version of this chart.
Additional town-by-town snapshots.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

Dedham supported Edward Markey by a hair, while the state overall elected him as the nex US senator from Massachusetts by a large margin.

Fewer than 40 votes separated Markey, a Malden Democrat, from his Republican opponent, Gabriel Gomez, out of 5,777 votes cast in Dedham.

Voter turnout was about 29 percent, according to Dedham Town Clerk records. For full results, visit www.dedham-ma.com.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

Dedham Square’s District Convenience will have to live without its alcohol license for now.

A Norfolk County Superior Judge denied the convenience store’s request for injunctive relief on Monday, writing that an appeal was still pending with the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Comission.

Justice Thomas A. Connors further wrote that the appeal was unlikely to succeed, as District Convenience owner Perry Makarios waived the right to appeal in a Jan. 31 agreement with selectmen in the event the license was revoked.

Selectmen voted to revoke the license at a hearing on June 5.

The license was awarded in June of 2010, but the store had not opened for nearly a year and then was open for only about four hours per day when Makarios had agreed with town officials to be open 70 hours per week.

Selectmen previously revoked the license in October 2012 for not being open during agreed upon hours. Makarious appealed the decision shortly thereafter, but made an agreement on Jan. 31 to be open for 20 hours per week, then gradually increase that number over time.

Makarios was also required to submit the hours that the store was open to selectmen on the first of each month. Selectmen said the March and April reports were late, and revoked the license on that basis.

Makarios’s attorney, Michael Ford of Boston, filed a complaint on Tuesday, June 18.