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Medford man indicted in attempted ATM robbery

June 19, 2013 11:02 AM

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

A Medford man who allegedly attempted to break into a Boston ATM last year and led investigators on a brief chase through a building has been indicted on a bank robbery charge, according to court documents.

Terry K. Leigh, 44, was arrested at 465 Columbus Ave. on Aug. 11, 2012 after a surveillance team from the FBI Violent Crimes Task force watched him pry open the door to a Bank of America ATM machine there, then saw sparks emanating from underneath the ATM's access door. Leigh was wearing a fake beard, track pants, a long-sleeve shirt, a messenger bag and gloves when he entered the ATM at about 9:45 p.m., according to court documents.

Investigators said when they approached the ATM, Leigh fled up a stairwell at 465 Columbus Ave., and he was eventually found hiding on top of a ventilation shaft on the roof, where they also found a disassembled cellphone.

The messenger bag was found stuffed behind the heat shield of a radiator on the sixth floor. Saw blades, a grinder, other tools and the fake beard were found inside the bag, according to investigators. Rubber gloves and a hat were found in the building's basement incinerator, which is connected to the ventilation shaft on the roof where Leigh was found.

An inspection of the ATM found grind marks on the hinges of the door that protected the money trays, and debris from the ATM and grinder on the ground.

A complaint was filed against Leigh in US District Court in Boston in April. He was indicted by a grand jury June 18.

Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.

Circle the Square opens June 20

June 19, 2013 10:20 AM
The following was submitted by Circle the Square: 

Our new season kicks off on the 3rd Thursday of the month, June 20, from 3-7 pm, with a wide variety of free music, dance, artwork, and activities for all ages throughout Medford Square, as well as activities and discounts at many area businesses. Join in the fun! There is so much to do and see at our first event of the season!

Come enjoy musical performances at the Salem Street Burying Ground from Michael Allen & Friends, Gus and Georgia, Out with the Cat, and an ensemble from GS Music Center. At Shipyard Way, there will be pizza and music from the Gentlemen Outfit, as well as a Beer Garden with beer and appetizers on the patio by the footbridge, all provided by Salvatore’s Restaurant (proceeds from the sale of pizza and appetizers to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Medford).  In Sloane Square, join in All Hands Drumming from Century Bank and Sumi-e Brush Painting with Artwork In2Shades.  Over by City Hall, bounce in the moonbounce provided by Brookline Bank, learn to hoop dance with Pinto Bella Hoops, and enjoy athletic play with Knucklebones.  On Salem Street, performers will give you a taste of Peter Pan the Musical by Spotlight Production, which will be playing at the ChevalierTheater.  At Members Plus, we’ll have the music of Alastair Moock, circus fun with Open Air Circus, plus magic with Joe the Magician.  Bestsellers Café will feature their Music Coffeehouse with Vicky Tamburini and JagiaTamburini, Sound Pilot, and Jacob Taejin, and author events with Christine Koh and Mary Jane Begin.

We’ll have local artists and artisans displaying and selling their work, including photography by Claire Ghiloni, oil paintings by Bob Marcellino, quilted accessories by Beverly Hinckley, beaded jewelry by Jeanette Dion, handbags by Chikako Mukai, and goats milk soapby Andrea Corkum.  And stop by the Mystic Art Gallery to make a beaded bracelet, with proceeds to benefit One Fund Boston.  At the Medford Historical Society, make an origami crane to participate in the 1,000 Crane Project for the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan sponsored by the Medford Public Library, Medford Family Network and the Rotary Club of Medford.

Get ready for summer by relaxing with massages from Elements Therapeutic Massage and Sea Spa, exploring the Square by walking a mile with Fitness Together, planting your own “Teddy Bear” sunflowers with Medford Family Network, and picking up fresh fruits and vegetables at the Medford Farmers Market accompanied by music from the Party Band.

Enjoy Island Creek Oyster shucking at Carroll’s, summer solstice beer tasting and a cocktail demo at Grapevine Travelers, VESTA Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza at Hyatt Place, cupcake decorating at Modern Pastry, and summer treats from Medford Square Diner.  And catch a performance by The Ways and Means Committee at Mystic Coffee Roaster while sampling their new smoothie flavors and coffee.

There will also be a Zumba demonstration, as well as demos of martial arts from Oom Yung Doe and Xtreme Ninja, demos of energy saving options from Next Step Living, and numerous discounts at Medford Square eateries and shops.

Sow the seeds of summer fun with our scavenger hunt. We’ll be hiding packets of flower and vegetable seeds all around the Square.  Find the packets with the silver stars to win fun gardening accessories, and find the packet with the gold star to win a $25 gift certificate to John Brewer’s Tavern.  Either way, you’ll go home with some seeds to start your own summer garden.

Schedules, maps and scavenger hunt game cards will be available at the Circle the Square Welcome Table at the corner of Riverside Avenue and River Street.  Visit our web site www.circlethesquare.org for more information about our schedule of events, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.Public transportation, walking, and biking to the square are encouraged. Parking can be found in the commuter lot by Springstep, behind City Hall, along Clippership Drive and the adjacent parking lot, and the lot off of Governor’s Avenue.  

Circle the Square is supported in part by the Medford Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund, as well as the sponsorship of RE/MAX Andrew Realty and Carroll’s Restaurant.

Four Malden Catholic seniors chosen as representatives for 2013 Massachusetts American Legion Boys State Program

June 19, 2013 10:20 AM
The following was submitted by Malden Catholic: 

Malden Catholic is pleased to announce that four seniors were chosen to represent their community at the 2013 Massachusetts American Legion Boys State Program. Jack D’Errico of Melrose, Anthony Palazzo of Bedford, Nico DeFlorio and Christopher Sparages, both of Saugus, were selected to participate in the state program which is concentrated in the political arena. The curriculum is an intensive study of democracy. Students not only learn about government but also about people and leadership.  The main goal of the Massachusetts Boys State Program is to teach government and principles of democracy from a unique perspective. Thestudents learn to appreciate that, in our American system of Democracy, the character and success of the government relies on the interest and participation of the citizen.  The lessons learned at Boys State serve as the first glimpse of issues that students will face on a much larger scale as they grow as citizens. 

Held at Stonehill College, each student is responsible for political speeches and presentations, educated in current poll questions that are being proposed in the legislature and are required to participate in debates.  The debate will be an opportunity for young men to put to work some of what they have learned throughout the week. The opportunity for these exemplary young men to participate in the American Legion Program is a reinforcement of the competitive activity that simulates the Massachusetts Court System. 

All four young men,D’Errico, Palazzo, DeFlorio and Sparages, are active in the mock trial program at Malden Catholic under the guidance of Brother Timothy Hoey. Throughout the school year, studentson the Mock Trial team study casesand prepare to debate each side of a case. The Malden Catholic team competes against teams from other schools in trials that take place in real courtrooms before real judges.

About Malden Catholic
Malden Catholic High School maintains an 80-year tradition of leading students to achieve academic excellence in a Catholic, familial atmosphere. Annually, 99 percent of Malden Catholic graduates attend college. The Class of 2012 applied to 259 colleges and universities distributed across forty states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Graduates last year received college scholarships with a four-year value of more than $17 million. Recognized for its dedicated faculty, challenging curriculum, spiritual guidance, social outreach, and championship caliber athletic programs, Malden Catholic educates young men from more than 40 communities surrounding Boston. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Further information on the school may be found at www.maldencatholic.org 

Medford resident joins international justice mission for victims of human trafficking

June 19, 2013 10:20 AM
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The following was submitted by Dianna Sawyer: 

Medford resident, Dianna Sawyer, along with her sister, Lynnfield resident Angie Weyler, returned home late Tuesday evening from Washington D.C. after meetings with the Massachusetts Congressional delegation. Dianna was among 250 individuals from 40 states who took part in a day of advocacy organized by human rights agency International Justice Mission (IJM).  Participants met with more than 210 Congressional offices to build support for strong U.S. policies to combat trafficking and slavery at home and abroad.  
 
Sawyer and fellow advocates from Massachusetts advocated for passage of the “Human Trafficking Prioritization Act,” which elevates the authority of the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Office—a U.S. government agency dedicated to combating human trafficking.  U.S. citizens’ interest in eradicating slavery has kept the issue high on the political agenda in Washington for the past decade.  In recent years, the existence of proven anti-slavery models has equipped advocates with data and success stories to encourage Members of Congress and Senators from across the political spectrum to support increased investment in anti-trafficking programs.
 
“When I learned that there are 27 million people in slavery - more than any other time in history - I was shocked. Living in the Boston area, I’ve always been proud to be so near to the cradle of independence, a place where our forefathers fought tooth and nail for freedom. As a nation that prides itself on being ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave,’ we have a moral obligation to continue the fight against slavery, an issue that we believed we had overcome after the Civil War. The successful rescue operations of IJM prove that eradicating slavery in our lifetime is not only possible, but required of us as human beings,” said Sawyer.  
 
All government agencies have faced budget cuts in the face of sequestration, making citizen support for US government programs to combat slavery more important than ever. “When it comes to fighting human trafficking, a relatively small amount of money goes an extremely long way,” said Holly Burkhalter, vice president of government relations at IJM.  “The State Department’s Trafficking in Persons office makes grants that save lives and build international capacity to end human trafficking. The office should be made a full-fledged State Department Bureau, in order to best represent the interests of the most vulnerable people in the world – slaves and trafficking victims.”  
 
Organizations like IJM are seeing significant improvements in public justice systems protecting the poor and preventing slavery, even over short periods of time.  In just four years of collaboration with local authorities in Cebu, the Philippines, IJM has seen the number of minors available in the commercial sex trade reduced by 79 percent. Private investment by Google.org for IJM’s anti-slavery work in India has enabled a dramatic expansion of the organization’s work there from 9 to 50 states in the country, resulting in the freeing of nearly 1,000 bonded labors in just ten months.
 
“There is much work to be done, and this urgent, transformative work is worthy of U.S. government investment,” said Sawyer, who has been volunteering with local nonprofits as a writer, editor, and social media consultant since 2006. “Being on Capitol Hill was a way to demonstrate and exercise my own freedom, on behalf of those who have never known it. It’s time for Washington to not only reach across the aisle, but reach across the world, recognizing that the issue of slavery is neither liberal nor conservative, Republican nor Democrat. It’s simply human,” said Sawyer.
 
IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals secure justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. In the past year alone, IJM has brought rescue to more than 2,400 victims of violence and injustice. For more information about International Justice Mission visit www.ijm.org.

Medford to host road race for dogs

June 19, 2013 10:04 AM

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

Organizers hope to fill Mystic Riverbend Reservation Park in Medford with as many as 1,000 dogs at a road race event June 29.

Dogs that finish the 5k and 2k races will receive a certificate and a bandana when they complete the Doggy Fun Run, as well as other prizes for race winners, according to event organizers.  There will also be on-site vendors, live music, and a "doggy dress" contest.

The event is being coordinated by Boston Volunteers, a nonprofit that helps connect organizations with volunteers. Over 60 people will be on hand to help with the race. In an announcement last week, Mayor Michael McGlynn said 500 to 1,000 dogs were expected for the races. Money raised will go toward developing a dog park in Medford, he said.

Information on registration, course maps, and parking can be found on the event's website.

Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.


Tewksbury man pleads guilty to rape, extortion charges in Medford case

June 19, 2013 09:50 AM

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

A Tewksbury man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from tricking  teenage girls into sending him nude images, and in some cases using them to blackmail the victims into having sex with him, according to prosecutors.

hutch.jpegThomas Hutchinson, 21, was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to over 50 charges, including rape of a child by force, two charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, extortion, and 17 counts of possession of child pornography, according to an announcement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Hutchinson was arrested in July 2011 after a 15-year-old Medford girl turned to authorities for help. The girl had met Hutchinson through MyYearbook.com, since changed to www.meetme.com, where he used multiple aliases to lead her to believe he was in the modeling industry and eventually convinced her to send him nude photos, prosecutors said.

In an e-mail exchange, Hutchinson told the girl the photos would be published online and she would be raped if she didn't agree to have sex with his "friend," prosecutors said. 

He used another e-mail account and arranged to pick her up at her home in Medford, and forced her to perform a sex act on him in his car, according to prosecutors.

A search of Hutchinson's home computer uncovered illicit photos and videos of dozens of girls who appeared to be under 18, which led prosecutors to additional victims. There were several other instances where Hutchinson used the images to force the victims into having sex with him, according to prosecutors.

"This defendant, hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet, gained access to and exploited unwitting young people," Ryan said in a statement. "Not satisfied with only deceiving and manipulating these victims online, he then tried to extort some of them with threats of disclosing their activities online and assaulted others when he forced them to meet with him in person. This case is a stark reminder of the potential dangers of predators who manipulate the relative freedom of the internet for their own ends."

In addition to the prison sentence, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Edward Leibensperger ordered Hutchinson to 15 years of subsequent probation; to have no contact with any of the victims; no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18; comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registry; undergo sex offender treatment; refrain from use of the Internet or any computers or smart phones; and be subjected to GPS monitoring.

In all, Hutchinson pleaded guilty to the following charges: Rape of a child by force; rape; assault with intent to rape a child; two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14; four counts of attempted extortion; child enticement; 17 counts of possession of child pornography; 10 counts of posing a child in a state of sexual conduct; 10 counts of posing a child in a state of nudity; three counts of dissemination of visual matter of a child in sexual conduct; dissemination of visual matter of a child in a state of nudity; two counts of dissemination of matter harmful to a minor; and carrying a dangerous weapon.

Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.

Ambassador to Spain to become Tufts' Tisch School dean

June 19, 2013 08:35 AM

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

The US ambassador to Spain and Andorra has been named the new dean of Tisch College at Tufts University, according to an announcement from the school.

solo.jpgAlan D. Solomont, a Tufts alumnus and trustee emeritus and the founding board chair of Tisch College, will take over as dean on Jan. 2, 2014.

Solomont, a Lowell native who received a bachelor's degree in political science and urban studies from Tufts in 1970, has served as ambassador to Spain and Andorra since 2010 and previously chaired the Corporation for National Community Service. He served as the finance chair for the Democratic National Party in 1997 and 1998.

"For me, returning to Tufts as the dean of Tisch College is coming home to an institution I love and that has meant so much to me and my family," Solomont said in a statement. "I am excited to lead one of Tufts' signature initiatives and to apply my passion for active citizenship and civic engagement to build on Tisch's solid foundation and to propel it to new heights."

Solomont succeeds Nancy Wilson, who has served as interim dean since Rob Hollister stepped down in June 2011.

Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.

Severe thunderstorms strike Boston area

June 17, 2013 06:10 PM

Forecasters issued severe thunderstorm warnings Monday for various areas of Massachusetts as powerful storms swept east across the state.

Here are some images of the storm shared on Twitter by Boston-area residents.

Medford seeking $400k grant for park

June 17, 2013 01:42 PM

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

The City of Medford is applying for a $400,000 grant to overhaul McNally Park on Webster Street.

Mayor Michael McGlynn has submitted a request to the City Council to submit an application for a Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant to fund the project, according to city records. The council will consider the request in a meeting Tuesday night at City Hall.

The park was donated to the city in 1936 and is named after Patrick McNally, who was on the city's Parks Commission at the time.

Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.

Walk for Krystle Campbell Fund in Medford June 23

June 17, 2013 09:53 AM

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

A walk and fund-raiser will be held for a memorial scholarship fund in the name of Boston Marathon bombings victim Krystle Campbell Sunday in Medford. 

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The event, which can be walked or run, will be held at Hormel Stadium June 23 to raise money for the fund, set up by the Medford Public Schools. 

Organizers are asking participants to either make donations on the day of the event or collect pledges for each lap they can walk or run around the stadium's track. The event will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Campbell was one of three people killed in the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. She was 29 years old. 

Medford schools are also selling "Medford Strong" T-shirts with "Krystle" on the back to raise money for the scholarship fund.

More information on the event can be found on the school department website.

Jarret Bencks can be reached at bencks.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @JarretBencks.


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