Friday, May 11, 2012
Town Meeting came to a close on Thursday.
Town meeting came to a close on Thursday evening. A majority vote from Town Meeting members authorized purchase of two parcels of land from Winning Farm on Article 23. The town had the option to purchase 15,142 square feet of land in one area and 69,627 square feet and another plot from Winning Home, Inc. for one dollar. The site was a former solid waste area, which has been given a certificate from the DEP signifying the cleanliness and safety. Here is how Town Meeting voted on the remaining issues on Thursday: Article 17: A two-thirds vote created/appropriated money to stabilization fund for Special Ed to determine if the money shall be provided by tax levy, by transfer from available funds, a combination of the two methods or any …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Five states and the District of Columbia offer a full gamut of rights to gay people, according to The Guardian.
In the wake of North Carolina's decision to amend its Constitution to ban same sex unions, The Guardian website has created a model looking at gay rights in each state. According to the graphic, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, along with Washington state, Iowa and the District of Columbia, have the most rights afforded to gays. Massachusetts allows: Massachusetts prohibits: Also, Massachusetts' hate crime laws include crimes committed based on gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to comparing states' level of gay rights, the Guardian graphic allows you to log in through Facebook and see what rights are afforded in the states where all your Facebook friends live.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Increased school budget will pay for textbooks and materials for students in the town's five elementary schools.
Town Meeting resumed on Monday evening in the Winchester High School auditorium. The first topic of discussion was the line-by-line voting on Article 9, the 37 motion-long Operating Budget. After some minor tweaking of the language in motions and clarifications, the Fiscal Year Budget for 2013 passed. Town Meeting members voted to appropriate $37,884,688 to the school district, which was an increase of $107,297 over what was suggested by the Finance Committee. Superintendent Bill McAlduff said the increase will pay for new textbooks and material supplies for the students of the five elementary schools, McCall Middle School, and Winchester High School. Some $71,000 will be used for middle and high school textbooks and about $36,000 will …
Sign up and pledge a few hours to clean up the Aberjona River.
Join the volunteer groups in their cleaning efforts on May 12 for the Aberjona River (and other areas) Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon. The Conservation Commission will distribute trash bags and gloves behind the Town Hall to volunteers, and DPW pick up spots will be at the road intersections and the river. “We’ve been doing it since 1988. Each year, we select areas around the river to clean up trash and invasive plants. We provide gloves, trash bags. We ask people where long sleeves, pants, durable shoes,” conservation administrator Elaine Vreeland said. “Volunteers should meet behind Town Hall.” In the past, groups from Churches, high schools and boy scouts have made major impacts in the cleanliness of the river. “Last year, there were…
42.453143
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Winchester Town Hall
71 Mount Vernon St, Winchester, MA
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Monday, May 7, 2012
Body to meet Mondays and Thursdays at the high school until every issue is voted on.
Town Meeting will resume tonight at the Winchester High School Auditorium. On the agenda for the evening, the Fiscal Year of 2013 will be presented. During the last Town Meeting, four issues have already been voted on, two of which (Article 4 and 5) were postponed for tonight’s meeting. Article 4 addresses the shade tree bylaw. Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 87, municipalities may adopt local shade tree bylaws or abide by the language in Chapter 87, which can be ambiguous. The proposed bylaw is intended to clarify Chapter 87, addresses tree planting, maintenance and removal on local streets. Article 5 is a request for Chapter 2 of the Code of By-Laws to be amended to allow electronic distribution of committee reports and warrant…
42.455826
-71.135399
Winchester High School
80 Skillings Rd, Winchester, MA
/articles/town-meeting-resumes-tonight
1239449
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Thursday, May 3, 2012
It’s been an interesting week in the U.S. Senate Race between Democrat Elizabeth Warren and incumbent Republican Scott Brown.
First it was revealed that Harvard University once touted Warren’s marginal Native American heritage as proof of their faculty’s diversity. That story was followed up with another revealing one that Warren had listed herself as a minority professor between 1986 and 1995 in the Association of American Law Schools desk book, a major reference for legal professors. On Tuesday it was revealed that Brown, who ran for office vowing to kill President Obama’s health care law (and who has since voted three times to repeal it) took advantage of a key provision in it: the provision that allows him to keep his elder daughter on his congressional health insurance plan. Meanwhile, both candidates downplayed their wealth this week as they revealed …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Moody's ratings provide investors with a grade system which gauges the creditworthiness of borrowers.
Moody’s Investors Service has assigned an AAA rating to the town of Winchester’s $8.8 million General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2012 Bonds on April 30. According to Moody’s Investor Service website, the rating reflects the town’s affluent, suburban Boston tax base, a sound financial position with strong reserve levels and a below average debt rating. The strengths of the town, listed on Moody’s, are a “wealthy tax base, favorably located outside Boston, sound financial position enhanced by strong reserve levels and conservative fiscal management.” Moody’s highlights the challenges Winchester faces as “Historical reliance on free cash appropriations for operations, declining state aid revenue, continuing budget pressure from …
42.453143
-71.133841
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mount Vernon St, Winchester, MA
/articles/winchester-earns-aaa-rating-from-moody-s
1301615
/locations/6917413
Friday, April 27, 2012
A tour of the town's storm water system and a discussion with the Mystic River Watershed Association about protecting our watershed.
On Wednesday evening at the Winchester Public Library, Sustainable Winchester hosted "Above & Below: Our Watershed, Our Storm Water." Winchester Town Engineer Beth Rudolph and Beth MacBlane of Mystic River Watershed Association spoke about the efforts being taken to protect our watershed. Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) Outreach coordinator, Beth MacBlane provided a broad overview of the Mystic River Watershed. “The Mystic River Watershed spans 22 communities and 76 square miles,” MacBlane said. “We monitor spots in the river for sewage, chemical and other industry related waste once a month. We are hoping to work with local, state and federal agencies to improve the water quality.” “Last year, the Mystic River was safe to …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The town and the New England Rain Barrel Co. offer two tools to help residents save water and compost yard waste naturally.
Since 2007, The New England Rain Barrel Co. has been working with the Town of Winchester to distribute rain barrels and compost bins to residents. The Bio-Orb compost bins can hold a capacity of 13 cubic feetand are made of recycled black plastic to absorb heat. The rain barrels range in capacity from 55 to 60 gallons and attach to the downspouts and gutters to collect and store rain water for the summer months. According to the public info flyer released by the town from the New England Rain Barrel Co., the average homeowner uses approximately 40 percent of their annual water consumption out doors. The use of compost can reduce or eliminate the need to for chemical fertilizers. “These are beneficial for residents to use extra water for …
All vehicles must be off the street and out of driveways by 7 a.m.
The town has announced the Department of Public Works has rescheduled paving on Swan Road to tomorrow, Friday, April 27 due to weather. All cars have to be off the street and out of driveways by 7 a.m.
Harry C.
10:33 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
I can see you have put a lot of thought into your on-line contribution. In doing so you have raised the level of political discourse and should be commended. I think Bill O' and Rush would be proud of you. more ›