Monthly Archives: November 2012

Veterans Day Assembly

Posted on November 9, 2012 | Comments Off on Veterans Day Assembly

Blake Middle School held a truly remarkable assembly this morning to honor all veterans, but especially Vietnam era veterans.  The new Vietnam Veterans Plaque was unveiled at the end- see the photo.

Principal Nat Vaughn presided with just the right touch to keep things moving along and to keep them profoundly emotionally moving at the same time.

About to be Eagle Scout, Sam Marble both lead the pledge of allegiance and also described how he created, permitted, and built the new patio that will eventually house the plaque in front of the school.

Former teacher John Parsons presented the gift of a flag that he had flown in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He was assisted by BMS head custodian and Vietnam vet Bob Kadehjian.  What a wonderful experience for the students to both hear from a former teacher and to see Bob through the lens of a different light.

Frank Iafolla delivered an extremely poignant speech recounting his first hand experiences graduating from MHS in 1967 and going into the Marines during a war that was not popular with many.

The town’s stellar Veterans Service Officer, Ron Griffin, woke up and energized the students with a loud greeting a la Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam.  Ron delivered moving explanations of the names on the plaque, the two 19 year olds who were killed in Vietnam (Stephen Hinkley and Peter Kristof), and the many who have since died.   Ron reminded each class of the other dedications of plaques to veterans of which they have been a part, and he had them literally talking back to him as they recalled each.  He was having a personal conversation with all 700 students in the gym at once.  Ron handled his talk with verve, solemnity, and mastery of the task.  Most importantly, he had those gathered acknowledge and honor the veterans who were present.  There about a dozen Vietnam vets and about two dozen other vets attending.

The final speech was by BMS teacher Deb Manning, who shared the story of her father, an Air Force pilot killed in Vietnam when she was a toddler.  Her account was incredibly moving and heart  wrenching at the same time.

The students and all present were treated to a remarkable event.  We were all reminded that freedom is not free, not without a cost, a cost paid by our veterans, and that we have our veterans to thank for that freedom.
Medfield TV recorded the assembly, and you are encouraged to seek it out.  It was a moving experience.

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Posted in Events, Schools, Veterans

Fewer ticks reported

Posted on November 9, 2012 | Comments Off on Fewer ticks reported
Blake Middle Schoolteacher Mike Gow reports fewer ticks this year in his email to Chris Kaldy, the chair of the Lyme Disease Study Committee.
From: “Mike Gow”
Subject: Tick Update
Date: November 7, 2012 8:11:06 AM EST
To: Chris Kaldy
Hi Chris,

I have been walking with kids on the Cronin property for 10 years now and I have never seen so few deer ticks in all that time.  Honestly, I can
count on one hand the number of ticks students and I have found on our
clothing since the intramural began in October.  The ticks were extremely bad last year but nearly none this year.

Through my anecdotal eyes, the selective hunts are working.  Please share my observations with whomever will listen.  Thanks.

Michael

Michael Gow
Social Studies Teacher and Koala Cluster Leader
T.A. Blake Middle School
Medfield, MA
(508) 359-2396

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Posted in Wildlife Management & Lyme disease

New superintendent search process

Posted on November 9, 2012 | Comments Off on New superintendent search process

Letter today from the School Committee –

SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Town of Medfield, Massachusetts 02052
November 9,2012
Dear Parents,

As you may know, at Monday’s School Committee meeting, Bob Maguire announced his intention to retire as Medfield’s Superintendent of Schools at the conclusion of this school year. Suffice it to say, there is no single individual who is more responsible for developing the Medfield school system into one of the highest performing districts in the state than Bob. His contributions on behalf of Medfield’s school
children will be sorely missed.

In our role as School Committee, it is our responsibility to hire the next Superintendent of Schools. It is our intention to do so in an open and transparent manner seeking the input of all the constituencies involved with the schools – parents, staff, community members, and students. Typical of Bob’s concern for Medfield, he has timed his announcement to provide us with the best opportunity to attract the strongest field of candidates as possible. It is our intention to hire the very best of that field.

While the details of the search process have not been finalized, we have decided to utilize a professional search firm and will commence interviews of several firms at upcoming School Committee meetings on
November 19, December 3’d and possibly December 17th.   The  interviews will be held in the TV Production classroom at the high school where the school committee meets starting at 7:30 pm. Our
goal is to complete the search firm interviews and retain a firm by December 31,2012.

We will endeavor to keep you informed of critical dates in the search process as they develop. In the meantime, we would welcome any thoughts you have about either the process or the qualities you’d
like to see in our next Superintendent. Please feel free to e-mail the committee at schoolcommittee@medfield.mec.edu. Thank you.

Debra M. Noschese – Chairperson
Tim Bonfatti – Vice Chairperson
Christopher Morrison – Recording Secretary
Maryanne Sullivan – Financial Secretary
Eileen DeSisto – Member

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Posted in Schools

Medfield State Hospital mediation report

Posted on November 8, 2012 | 2 comments

The report on the MSH environmental  clean up of the hazardous materials was presented by John Thompson, chair of the town's SHERC, and Commissioner Cornelison.

Seven sessions of mediation have been held and more are still needed.  The goal to date has been to better define the facts.

To that end, new testing has been jointly determined as being needed, and was recently conducted.  The new testing included:!
1 – test pits checking for asbestos in the C&D area
2 – tests for other hazards in the C&D area
3 – testing in the river to determine the best way to remove the oil that is there.

Those test results are not back as yet.

John Thompson opined that the process of dealing with the MSH clean up is at a point equivalent to being in the fourth quarter of the game.  John says that they have moved beyond the disputes, to the area of solutions.

2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

MHS girls soccer advances in tournament

Posted on November 8, 2012 | 1 comment

The Medfield High School girls soccer team has advanced in the state tournament, per ESPN, with a win over Dedham.

 

1 Comment

Posted in Schools, Teens

Buget season began

Posted on November 7, 2012 | Comments Off on Buget season began

Mike Sullivan handed out his initial budget projections last night at the Board of Selectmen’s annual budget meeting, which is held jointly with the Warrant Committee and the department heads.  The basic assumptions contained in this initial budget is that town budgets will increase 2%, except for employee benefits which go up 7% (for health insurance and pensions).

Warrant Committee chair Gus Murby noted that while this is the year to budget for those things that have been deferred in the past several tough budget  years, where the financial pressures are not expected to be as great this year as they have been in recent years, Gus still noted the need to keep budgets lean due to expected town expenditures related to special situations.  He listed the DPW garage, the Gatehouse 40B, and the Medfield State Hospital as the examples.

The budget meeting is the opening of the town’s annual budget season, that next has each department preparing its own individual budget requests, then defending those to both the Board of Selectmen and the Warrant Committee, and culminates with the passage of the budgets at the annual town meeting (ATM) the last Monday in April.

The Building Committee has indicated that it intends to ask the town to vote to build a new DPW garage at the ATM.

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Posted in Budgets

Bob Maguire announces his resignation

Posted on November 7, 2012 | Comments Off on Bob Maguire announces his resignation

Letter from Bob Maguire –

November 6,2012
Dear Parents:

I am writing to you to inform you that I discussed my plan to retire from my position as superintendent of schools at the conclusion of the school year with the Medfield School Committee last evening. I have been discussing this option with my wife for some time now and have come to the conclusion that this is the right decision for us at this time. After 22 years in Medfield I am looking forward to a different pace and the opportunity to spend more time with my family. I am also excited about the chance to experience new opportunities in the time ahead.

As you may imagine this was not an easy decision for me. I have had the
opportunity to be a principal and superintendent in one of the best school systems in the nation. Over these many years I have been supported by a tremendous group of professional educators and support staff. I have also benefited from an extraordinary level of support from Medfield parents and community members to build a strong future for the children of Medfield.

Personally I would have preferred to make this announcement to you and the community next June. I have chosen to make the announcement at this time to allow the school committee maximum flexibility to schedule a process to secure my replacement. I have the utmost respect for this school committee and I have confidence they will conduct a thoughtfully structured search process in the months ahead.

Over the next months we have a number of specific initiatives including the new requirements for evaluations, world language expansion, implementing of technology tools for instruction, facility needs at Dale Street School and the ongoing challenges of achieving an acceptable school budget.

I look forward to continuing to achieve success in these and many other important areas that will support our efforts.

Sincerely,
Robert C. Maguire
Superintendent of Schools

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Posted in Schools

Kennedy back Sunday

Posted on November 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Kennedy back Sunday

Joe Kennedy is going to be in Medfield again this Sunday night, 5:45pm at the Noon Hill Grille

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Posted in Elections

BoS agenda for 11/6/12

Posted on November 2, 2012 | Comments Off on BoS agenda for 11/6/12

7:30 PM FY2014 Budget Meeting/Warrant Committee/Town Departments

ACTION
Vote to award medicare proposals to MIrA and Tufts Health Plan

Vote to sign Amendment No.1 to Town Agreement with Daedulus Projects, Incorporated for Project Manager Services relating to Project Works Project and Dale Street Master Plan

LICENSES & PERMITS
Request from resident for a wine and malt beverage permit for event to be held Saturday December 8, 2012 at the CENTER

MEDFIELD STATE HOSPITAL STATUS UPDATE
Mediation Committee to present their update to the public Thursday November 8 at 7 :00 PM In Town Hall

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Posted in Select Board matters

Last call for Angel Run tee shirts today!!

Posted on November 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Last call for Angel Run tee shirts today!!

Medfield Foundation Angel Run Pre-Registration Deadline is Today

Receive a free 2012 Angel Run T-shirt by submitting paid registration by today for the Medfield holiday season 5K family fun run/walk

MEDFIELD, MA, November 1, 2012.  Anybody who would like to receive a free 2012 Angel Run T-shirt must submit their paid registration of $20 for the Medfield Foundation Angel Run by the end of the day today. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Angel Run website, www.angelrun.org, and mailed to P.O. Box 745, Medfield, MA 02052. All entries must be postmarked by today, November 2nd to receive a free T-shirt.

The Medfield Foundation Angel Run race registration remains open until the day of the race for a $25 fee. Those who register after the November 2nd deadline will not receive a T-shirt but are encouraged to run and enjoy the festivities.

The 2012 edition of the Medfield annual holiday season five-kilometer family fun run/walk will be held Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ralph Wheelock Elementary School. It will be the seventh in the series, but the first organized by the Medfield Foundation Inc. (MFi). As in past years, proceeds of the event will benefit local families in need.

We are always looking for volunteers to assist us:  manning a water station, helping decorate a segment of the race route, or bringing a baked good to the post race festivities. Please contact Kelly McDermott (khmcdermott@comcast.net, (508) 359-9147) for details.

Message from Annie and David Domeshek

I am sure that most of you know that the Angel Run began in 2006 in memory of Natasha.  After 6 very successful years, we have turned over the Angel Run to the Medfield Foundation.  While David and I are not directly involved in organizing the Run this year, we are very much committed to its cause.  Monies raised will continue to be directed to families in need.

In order to receive your long sleeved t-shirt (yes that tradition will continue) your registration form must be mailed by 11/2.  Forms can be downloaded by visiting angelrun.org.

We look forward to seeing you on December 2nd. This community event will continue to be a festive way to kick off the holiday season.

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Posted in Medfield Foundation