By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

Milton Police Chief Richard Wells says certain parking restrictions and procedures will be in effect this weekend as the town continues celebrating its 350th anniversary with fireworks at Milton High School Friday night, a parade Saturday, and a townwide picnic and concert Sunday.

On Friday the Police Department anticipates that the Milton High School parking lot will fill quickly. Once all spots are filled, Gile Road will be closed to all traffic. Once Gile Road closes, the town will begin running shuttle buses from the Ulin Rink parking lot on Unquity Road, Town Hall on Canton Avenue, and Pierce Middle School on Central Avenue. The buses will drop attendees off on Gile Road and run continuously between all lots and the high school.

On Saturday the town parade will leave Milton High School at 2 p.m., and the following closures and detours will be in place by 1 p.m.:

Blue Hills Parkway at Canton Avenue
Blue Hills Parkway at Gile Road
Thatcher Street at Central Avenue
Brook Road at Reedsdale Road
Brook Road at Canton Avenue
Brook Road at Randolph Avenue
Brook Road at Centre Street
Randolph Avenue and Centre Street
Brook Road at Pleasant Street
Randolph Avenue at Reedsdale Road
Randolph Avenue at Pleasant Street
Randolph Avenue at Chickatawbut Road
Otis Street at Edge Hill Road
Boulevard and Bryant avenues
Edge Hill Road and Bryant Avenue

In addition, all side streets along the parade route will be closed and barricaded.

Public parking for the parade will be available at the following locations:

Ulin Rink, Unquity Road
Town Hall Rear Lot, 525 Canton Ave.
Council on Aging, Walnut Street
Milton Academy Lot, Randolph Avenue, across from Gunhill Street
St. Elizabeth’s rear lot, Reedsdale Road
Milton DPW Yard, 629 Randolph Ave.
Cunningham School/rear lot, Edge Hill Road
Collicott School/rear lot, Edge Hill Road
Cunningham Foundation, Edge Hill Road

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

Co-valedictorian Rebecca Liberman speaks at Milton High School's graduation. Photo by Natalie Feulner

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

Friends and families filled the Milton High School fieldhouse Sunday to congratulate the school’s 142nd graduating class of nearly 250 students.

The mood was celebratory, and speaker after speaker encouraged the seniors to focus their attention on what lay ahead and the path they each will take during the coming years. However, they also urged the students to enjoy an evening.

“There are very few times in life you get to have a day off,” School Committee Chairman Glenn Pavlicek said. “So, take today off and enjoy it.”

Co-valedictorians Laura Hess and Rebecca Liberman told their classmates to celebrate the day, pave their own paths in life, and to always remain open to change.

“We have every reason to be proud,” Hess said.

Liberman, after cracking a few jokes about old milk, wearing hats, and the morning announcements turned her speech more serious. She explained that despite criticism she received about her decision to study music after high school, she was accepted to and will attend Berklee College in the fall.

“Do not follow stereotypes or let others say what you should do," she said with a big smile. "Lay your own destiny and lay it with bricks of happiness"

Class President Derek Curley garnered a big applause when he pointed out that the class of 2012 was the first graduating class to have seen all of Boston’s professional sports teams in league championships.

However, it was Principal Joe Arangio who pulled off the most laughs from students and parents alike as he read through his 22 tips for life - some funny, others serious, but all with a little tongue and cheek.

A few included: “Don’t worry so much about appearances - a mule dressed in a tuxedo or a ballgown is still a mule;” “Be nice to nerds because chances are you will end up working for one;” “Always be diplomatic - when your parents ask you how long you plan on living with them - lie;” and “Recycle, vote, pay your taxes, and replace your parents gas when you use the car.”

And with that, the presentation of diplomas began and each red or white clad student, always bearing a smile, walked across the stage and shook hands with the principal.

And with Arangio’s final declaration of their graduation, the hundreds of students threw red and white caps into the air, stood and cheered on chairs, and hugged one another in joy to the band’s rendition of James D. Ployhar’s “Fanfare and Recessional.”

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

Here are some recent incidents reported to the Milton police. A full list is available at police headquarters, 40 Highland St.

On May 26 at 3:30 a.m., a caller near Meadowview Road reported a truck had hit a telephone pole. Officers on scene reported that the driver fled the vehicle prior to their arrival. Police notified Verizon.

Then at 10:22 a.m., a caller on Randolph Avenue near Heather Drive reported a five-car accident. Blue Hills Towing was called to remove two vehicles from the scene; no injuries were reported.

On May 27 at 4:14 p.m., a resident walked into the station to report a past hit-and-run on Blue Hill Avenue.

On May 28 at 7:10 p.m., a driver on Dyer Avenue reported that her vehicle had been egged while she was driving.

Later that night at 10:44 p.m., a resident on Canton Avenue reported that when she returned home, she found her TV missing.

On May 30 at 7:06 a.m., a caller on Pleasant Street reported a truck that may have taken down wires. The responding officer reported a downed wire, and police notified Comcast of the incident.

Later that day at 2:21 p.m., the town’s animal control officer reported that she had found a set of keys on Brook Road. Police placed the keys in the department’s lost and found.

Then at 5:13 p.m., a caller at Milton Gas on Granite Avenue reported a customer who left the station without paying for gas.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

Dedham and Milton were among 84 Massachusetts communities presented with 2011 Tree City USA Awards Thursday at the Ocean Explorium in New Bedford.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation gives the awards to communities that demonstrate a commitment to urban forestry.

To receive a “Tree City” designation, a municipality must show that it has a department devoted to tree care, spends at least $2 per capita per year on urban forestry, enforces laws protecting public trees, and hosts an Arbor Day celebration, a news release said.

This year, the DCR also recognized the work done to restore trees after damage done during last year’s storms.

“DCR is proud of the cities and towns across the Commonwealth that have devoted so many resources to planting and caring for their trees,” DCR Commissioner Edward M. Lambert said in a statement. “It is a special year to honor arborists statewide following the damage done to trees during the unusual weather events in 2011.”

This was the sixth year Milton was recognized as a Tree City and the third year Dedham was named.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

By Patrick D. Rosso, Town Correspondent

Nature advocates will be hiking along the Neponset River this weekend as they eagerly wait for the U.S. Department of Transportation to announce the recipients of a Tiger grant, which could provide money to complete portions of the trail.

The federal money matched with local funds would be a big boost for the Neponset River Greenway, which is widely used among residents, although portions of the trail in Hyde Park, Dorchester, and Mattapan/Milton are not yet completed.

With the application the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Massachusetts Department of Transportation, a partner with DCR on the project along with the Boston Natural Areas Network, hope to get the funding to complete the trail that connects a network stretching from the Boston Harbor to Hyde Park.

FULL ENTRY

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

Milton artist Beth Neville wants local students interested in art to sign up for her July classes, designed to both teach art and raise money for a proposed fitness path around Kelly Field and Pierce Middle School.

Students ages 11 to 18 will learn to paint flowers, create a cartoon character, draw the ducks at Turner’s Pond, and paint with oils, among other projects. The only requirement? An interest in art.

Each year, Neville teachers the summer art classes to raise money for causes and projects around Milton. One year, money raised went toward a Milton Garden Tour that in turn helped fund Pierce Middle School’s outdoor classroom.

Classes meet from 9 a.m. until noon, five days a week, from July 9 to Aug. 3. The fee is $160 per week, supplies included. Class size is limited to the first 10 students.

Samples of work done by students in previous years and a registration form is available online at www.TeenArtClasses.NevilleArt.com.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

The Milton Public Library will host a photography exhibit called “My Neighborhood: 350 Years Later” during the month of June.

Images included in the exhibit were taken by local amateur photographer Deborah Milbauer in honor of the town’s 350th anniversary. Many of the photos include scenes of families in her neighborhood and attempt to show Milton’s diversity.

“I live in an incredible Milton neighborhood,” Milbauer said in a statement. “I have always been amazed at the sheer breadth and range of cultures, traditions, and languages among our neighbors.”

The exhibit is located on the lower level of the library in the lobby outside the Keys Community Room and is available during regular library hours.

An opening reception will be held June 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include an international potluck. Attendees are encouraged to bring a favorite dish.

For more information, call Jean Hlady at 617-698-5757.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

Flags wave in the breeze at Milton Cemetery following a Memorial Day service attended by Milton residents.

To view more photos from the day's celebrations click here.

NEWS RELEASE

The final lecture in a series presented by the Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust on the history of one of Milton’s founding families will focus on the collections and material culture of the generations of Miltonians who lived at what is today known as the Wakefield Estate.

The lecture, titled “The 'Stuff’ of History: The Material Culture of a Milton Founding Family,” will take place at the Milton Public Library in the Keys Community Room on Wednesday, June 13, at 7:00pm.

As a kind of "Histories Mysteries” tour, this lecture will look at items collected and owned by the families who have occupied the estate for the past 250 years. The talk will explore what information we can gain by exploring the objects -- books, art, furniture, and personal items -- that people own and collect.

This lecture will be presented by Valarie Kinkade and Rachel Salmond, both of whom have overseen the work of students over several years documenting and inventorying the vast collections, including furniture, art, documents, book, textiles, and personal items.

During the months of May and June, The Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust will exhibit at the Milton Public Library a collection of historic documents, artifacts, books, and personal items that help reveal the long history of these early Miltonians.

Kinkade is the owner of Museum and Collector Resource, a consulting firm that provides curatorial and collections management services to museums and private collectors nationwide.

Salmond is a librarian and bibliographer with extensive experience in managing collections of early printed books. Recently, she has been listing approximately 4,500 books that the Wakefield Estate families accumulated over 250 years.

This talk is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jean Hlady, adult services librarian, at 617-698-5757.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

Here’s a quick look at events and happenings taking place in Milton this week.

Memorial Day: The library, public schools, and town offices will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. In addition, “customary ceremonies” will be held at the Milton Cemetery on Centre Street starting at 10 a.m.

Bootcamp: "Milton Bootcamp" will meet Monday at 5:45 a.m. at the high school, 25 Gile Road. Advance registration is required and more information is available online at http://ultimatebootcamp.

Health Information for Seniors: The Milton Council on Aging will hold a “Serving Health Information Needs of Elders” session Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the center, 10 Walnut St.

Dietary Information: A registered dietitian will meet with Milton residents Thursday at 11 a.m. at Fruit Center, 10 Bassett St. An appointment is not necessary and the event is free.

Historic Photos: The Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Ave., will display historic photos of Milton from 1870 to 1962 all day Friday.

Yard Sale: Multiple Families along Braeburn and Hillcrest roads will hold a yard sale all day Saturday starting at 9 a.m.

Bike Recycle: St. Mary of the Hills, 250 Brook Road, will hold a bicycle recycle drive Saturday at 9 a.m. All bikes will be accepted at no cost and given a new home.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.