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.

By John Swinconeck, Town Correspondent

WESTBOROUGH -- The head of the state's Gaming Commission said applicants looking to build one of three resort casinos in the Commonwealth need to have something “more” than a windowless facility that draws in visitors and makes it hard for them to leave.

Stephen Crosby made his remarks during the 495/MetroWest Partnership’s annual meeting on Tuesday in Westborough.

“We have made a major priority … of breaking the old model, which is a box in the middle of a space, that has no windows, no way to get out, no clocks, you bring everybody in and make sure they don’t go outside,” Crosby said.

He said the commission is looking to avoid casinos that “suck all the money you possibly can out of the community into your big enclosed box.”

“These have to be outward facing facilities. These have to be facilities that incorporate and enhance the rest of the community,” Crosby said, and help promote local tourism and businesses.

The Commonwealth is seeking applicants whose designs manifest an appreciation for “the existing Massachussets brand,” such as the Commonwealth’s history of economic regeneration.

Crosby said the applicant needs to ensure the development would be a “destination resort” casino, not a “convenience” casino.

“I refer to it as the ‘wow category,’” Crosby said.

In nearby Milford, off Interstate 495, Foxwoods has proposed a gambling resort consisting of low-rise buildings around a town square green. Its suburban location, about 35 miles from Boston, makes it unique among the contestants in the three-way fight for the sole Greater Boston casino ­resort license.

Foxwoods is competing with two urban proposals: Suffolk Downs in East Boston, which has proposed a casino at the horse track with partner ­Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts, which has ­released plans for a hotel and casino on the Mystic River water­front in Everett.

We're obsessed with coffee over at Boston.com, so wanted to put together Coffee Week to celebrate all things java!

New interactives, maps, and galleries for the caffeine-obsessed will be unveiled each day this week. On Sunday, we wrote and mapped out how Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks are battling for coffee supremacy in Massachusetts. Today, we took a look at the national trend.

We wanted to find a way to feature local independent shops that have also developed a passionate following. Sadly, we still couldn't fit everyone in (but we've got something Wednesday that might go toward fixing that). We didn't want to leave anyone out.

By Dave Eisenstadtler, Town correspondent

The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a reception for business leaders and members of the public to speak to their legislators in Dedham.

The event will be held at the Endicott Estate from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23.

The cost of attendance is $15 for members, $25 for non-members, and $10 for Facebook fans of the chamber.

There will be no formal speaking program; instead participants can mingle and network with one another and with legislative and business leaders in the community. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and other refreshments will be available.

Registration is required at nvcc.com or by calling 781-769-1126.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

Norfolk County’s sheriff is looking for volunteers to mentor prisoners at Norfolk County House of Correction in Dedham.

Mentors are paired with inmates while they are in prison, and they continue to meet after the release from prison, according to Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti, who began the program in 2011.

“The idea is to help the inmates stay on a productive, law-abiding path after they leave our walls,” Bellotti said.

Prospective mentors are interviewed and screened by Norfolk County Sheriff’s office staff to determine how well they will fit the program, but Bellotti said people from all walks of life could make good mentors.

About 40 mentors have been paired with inmates since the program began.

Funding in 2011 came from a US Justice Department grant received by the non-profit organization Volunteers of America, which partnered with the sheriff’s office to administer the program.

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can contact Assistant Superintendent Patty Spataro at 781-751-3416.

By Dave Eisenstadter, Town Correspondent

Norfolk County’s register of deeds will host a free informational seminar about using computers to research property records.

William P. O’Donnell will hold the seminar at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds at 649 High St. in Dedham on Thursday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m.

The seminar is intended for both real estate professionals and the general public, and will include a presentation, written handouts, and hands-on exercises.

Computer assisted land records research is currently available both at the registry and on the Internet at www.norfolkdeeds.org.

The seminar is free, but anyone planning to attend should register by contacting Alicia Gardner at 781-461-6104 or agardner@norfolkdeeds.org, and providing name, address, e-mail, and a daytime phone number.

The following was submitted by Regan Communications Group: 

The One Mission organization’s “call to action” via their third annual Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off takes place at Gillette Stadium on June 9^th. Hundreds of children, women and men will join football’s finest, Rob Gronkowski, in “buzzing” their heads to help honor and support the many brave and hopeful children that struggle with pediatric cancer every day.

As we know – and some have very unfortunately experienced – nothing is more devastating than having your child diagnosed with cancer. In 2013, more than 10,000 children will heartbreakingly suffer through this statistic. Medford resident Eric Falcone, age 26, has pledged to courageously shave his head this year at One Mission’s Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off in order to show solidarity for children that have undergone pediatric cancer-related treatments. Eric is the son and grandson of women who were affected by breast cancer which makes the greater cause hit close to home and he is committed to making a difference however he can. Eric’s mother very fortunately survived her diagnosis though his grandmother sadly succumbed after a long and hard fight. Eric will be joined by fellow “buzzee,” Rob Gronkowski, and many other caring families, friends and supporters who have been both directly and indirectly affected by pediatric cancer.

One Mission, a childhood cancer foundation, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families. The foundation provides help, hope, care and support to children and their families touched by pediatric cancer. One Mission’s goal is to help children and their families cope with the many physical, emotional, and financial challenges associated with this disease.

In three short years, the Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off has raised nearly $1 million to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital’s pediatric cancer patients and their families. The goal of this year’s event is to shave 800 heads while raising $1 million more dollars and we humbly ask for your help in raising awareness of this year’s “call to action” in order to help recruit more “buzzees” and raise support for these incredibly worthy children and their families. One Mission, one of the largest community supporters of Boston Children’s Hospital, graciously funds over 60% of the programs and services offered including hosting activities such as yoga, meditation and game nights as well as providing financial assistance to their parents.

A few links that explain what kind of support the One Mission organization is seeking for this year’s Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off:

“Buzzee” Participation (people who pledge to shave their head at Gillette Stadium on June 9^th)

Sponsor a Participant (making a donation to support an individual or a team)

General Donation (a personal donation or one on behalf of an organization)

Event Sponsorship (five levels available from $5,000 - $50,000)

The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the participants of the 14th annual Flavors of Neponset Valley tasting event.

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 20, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Patriot Place in Foxborough. Tickets are $40 or $375 for 10.

For more information, visit www.nvcc.com or call 781-769-1126.

Restaurants and beverage companies include:

Angry Cookie
Aquitaine Bar a Vin Bistrot
Atlantic Coffee
Bertucci's – Norwood/Canton
Off the Vine Catering
British Beer Company
Burke Distributors
CBS Scene
Chili's-Walpole
Dave & Busters
Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse
Dancing Deer Bakery
Easton Country Club
Edible Arrangements of Foxboro
Ever So Humble Pie Company
Harrow's
Harpoon Brewery
HESSCO Elder Services
J&L Catering
Jalapenos Grill
JP Licks at Legacy Place
Kendall Jackson/M S Walker, Inc.
Kings at Legacy Place
Konditor-Meister
Lemate Cocktail Mix
Mayflower Brewery
Mai Pearl
Meat House
Narragansett Brewing Co./Colonial Wholesale Bev.
Norton Country Club
Olivadi
One Bistro
Quality Beverage
Raes Fresh
Raven's Nest
Salem Food Market
Showcase
Skipjack's Seafood Emporium
Summer Shack
Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro
Tavolino Resturant
Texas Road House
Twenty8 Food & Spirits
Twist Bakery

Snow fall totals for communities in Norfolk County cleared 30 inches in Quincy and hit 26 in Weymouth, according to a list of reports from the National Weather Service.

Here is a chart with the community name, the number of inches, when it was recorded and by whom.

QUINCY 30.0 104 PM 2/09 GENERAL PUBLIC
1 NW WEYMOUTH 26.0 800 AM 2/09 COCORAHS
WEYMOUTH 26.0 911 AM 2/09 HAM RADIO
WRENTHAM 26.0 702 AM 2/09 HAM RADIO
BROOKLINE 25.5 1125 AM 2/09 NWS EMPLOYEE
NORWOOD 25.4 1233 PM 2/09 NWS EMPLOYEE
FOXBORO 24.5 1200 PM 2/09 TRAINED SPOTTER
RANDOLPH 24.4 947 AM 2/09 TRAINED SPOTTER
BRAINTREE 24.1 951 AM 2/09 MEDIA
1 NW NORWOOD 24.0 700 AM 2/09 COCORAHS
WEST WALPOLE 23.8 1150 AM 2/09 HAM RADIO
WELLESLEY 23.5 746 AM 2/09 HAM RADIO
SOUTH WEYMOUTH 23.0 128 PM 2/09 MEDIA
WALPOLE 22.0 707 AM 2/09 HAM RADIO
DEDHAM 22.0 1000 AM 2/09 NONE
MILLIS 22.0 655 AM 2/09 TRAINED SPOTTER
HINGHAM 21.5 924 AM 2/09 NONE
FRANKLIN 20.9 704 AM 2/09 HAM RADIO

By Michele Morgan Bolton, Globe Correspondent

A veteran Foxborough police detective has been assigned the full-time job of reaching back into the town’s past to see how a former teacher and scout leader was able to sexually abuse dozens of children over decades without being stopped or reported.

At least 28 men have come forward since September to accuse Willieam E. Sheehan, 74, of rape and sexual abuse from 1961 when he began teaching to 1981, when the well-known resident left town abruptly for a job in Florida. A handful of men say they also reported the alleged abuse to Foxborough police in 1998.

Some of the victims came forward at an emotional meeting of the Foxborough selectmen Tuesday night to tell their stories of abuse, as many in the audience cried openly.

“There is no doubt in my mind that it happened ... and it turns my stomach,’’ said Selectmen Chairman James DeVellis, visibly shaken by the stories he heard. “If people at that time were trying not to embarrass the town, or their friends,” by not reporting Sheehan, “it was an incredible misstep.”

The job now, DeVellis said, is to find answers: “How did we let that happen?’’

Foxborough police Det. Thomas Kirrane will investigate the case. And, following an impassioned plea Tuesday from the self-described victims, selectmen pledged to hire an outside assistant for Kirrane, if needed, to avoid potential conflicts because some current town police officers and their relatives were involved with Sheehan’s now-defunct Boy Scout Troop 70.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Kevin Corliss, 56 and a 30-year school maintenance employee, was comforted by members of a survivors group as he choked out a wrenching story of abuse that began at age 8 in Sheehan’s classroom in the former Lewis School, and extended to scouting meetings and events, and a summer swimming program.

“At the park he would take you off into the woods and rape you, and if you were able to get away he would chase you down,’’ Corliss said. “He always seemed to come out of nowhere and attack you. There was no way to get away. After a while it was quicker and less painful to just let it happen.”

Sheehan lives in a Fort Myers, Fla., nursing home in the late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Because of his advanced illness, the elementary and middle-school teacher who also directed the swimming program at the former Cocasset River Park may never be prosecuted.