Duke wins NCAA Div 1 lacrosse championship

5 Seconds! That is how long the sudden death overtime lasted after Duke and Notre Dame ended the regulation game in a tie. Duke's CJ Costabile won the face off to start the overtime and headed straight for the goal. 30 yards later, the ball was in the net. 5 seconds off the clock.
Yesterday, the Tufts Jumbos became the NCAA Division 3 champ beating Salisbury State 9-6. Yes, that Tufts, ...
... the one in Medford, MASSACHUSETTS. This is Tufts first lacrosse championship and the school's first NCAA championship. Click here to read on!

Can you spell IRONY?

While currently suing the town, claiming that the process for granting Special Permits for municipal wind turbines is flawed, Ms. Nesto now wants the process retained. This is a link to her letter to the editor in the Standard Times. Isn't it ironic,...
...don't you think?
Her assertion that there are many possible sites for wind turbines is just not correct.
The municipal wind turbine bylaw being proposed requires the installations to meet all the conditions of the commercial wind turbine bylaw. The residential and commercial wind turbine bylaws will remain unchanged.
No, really, what do you think? Tell us in comments. Click here to read on!

Senator Brown on his financial reform votre

Senator Scott Brown explains his financial reform bill vote in this post over at Red Mass Group.
I think he did the right thing for his constituents. Read the comments on his post. Even most of the Red Mass readers seem OK with it Click here to read on!

Faunce Corner - Route 6 congestion

At last night's Select Board meeting, we heard from representatives of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) on a study which they conducted to relieve congestion in the Faunce Corner Road and Route 6 corridors.
Specifically, SRPEDD recommended realignment of Tucker Road across from the terminus of Hathaway Road on Route 6. You can link to the report here.
The plan calls for a traffic light to be installed at the newly created intersection and removal of the light at Tucker Road. This alignment will allow travelers from Hathaway Road to turn onto Route 6 at a light and will help relieve traffic which backs up on Route 6 from the Tucker Road light into the intersection with Faunce Corner Road, blocking travelers from Old Westport Road and those traveling along Route 6. It will also reduce the number of accidents at Tucker Road and Hathaway Road which are dangerous intersections with frequent collisions.
The Select Board decided to hold a public hearing ...
... on the plan at our June 7th meeting. The proposal will be expensive and will require taking of some lands and buildings. One possibility to reduce the expense would be to route the realignment of Tucker Road through the North Dartmouth Library property. This would require that the library be demolished to make way for the roadway.
I support this proposal and would like to see it done. The traffic snarls at Route 6 and Faunce Corner Road and the accidents are going to get worse and soon. Traffic is already to the point where the backups occur almost daily with normal traffic and are horrendous from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The net result is that it makes the area less attractive to business because travelers are going to avoid having to deal with it and go elsewhere.
It is not that I do not want a library in North Dartmouth, I do. But given the choice between gridlock and the present library, I would choose the new road. There was a proposal a few years ago to build a new library building on Cross Road on land adjacent to Potter School. The town owns the land. I would like to see that done along with the road realignment. I see the building as a multi-use facility with a library, senior center, and perhaps a police substation. There is plenty of room on the site. Why not have a playground there as well?
If you would like to put your two cents worth in at the public hearing, please attend the Select Board meeting on June 7th.
See you there.
Click here to read on!

Dartmouth Community Park

I have decided to support Article 6 in the Annual Town Meeting warrant, which is Community Preservation (CPC) funding for the Dartmouth Community Park between Cushman school and Southworth Library, and Article 5 of the Special Warrant which designates the area as a public park . Initially, I had concerns about the safety of school children if the park was open to the public. I am satisfied that access can be restricted sufficiently to provide security.
The park will also provide a bus circle that will allow the children to board buses more safely.
The use of CPC funds is restricted. See this link for details. However, I am not sure why the land is being designated to the park department since it seems from the CPC website that a school playground would be an allowed use of the fund. See this link (Fourth question under the heading of Recreation).
What I found was that public access to public lands is a complicated issue. The government can and does regulate the use of public land, such as parks. Generally, the courts have held that the public has a restricted right to use of those lands. It may be important, if there is a future challenge about the use, to clearly state how the town intends the land to be used. I am not sure that intention has been addressed to date. As I see it, unrestricted public access can occur during periods that the park is not in use for school purposes. I think in this case, a fair accommodation can be reached.
Update - Curt Brown's Standard Times article about the park can be found at this link
What are your thoughts? Click here to read on!

Senate Ways and Means budget mirrors House 4% cuts

From the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, this link is a preliminary analysis of the state Senate version of the Commonwealth's budget.
This budget closely folows the House's version and contains 4% cuts in local aid and Chapter 70 school aid. Not great news ... ...but there is no good news given the status of the state's revenues. The Senate may not propose new revenue or spending in accordance with our constitution. Click here to read on!

Will the Tea Party turn out for Senator Brown again?

Here's what David at BMG has about our junior US Senator http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/19841/from-41-to-60-the-curious-adventures-of-senator-scott-brownHow do you seee our newest Senator? Click here to read on!

Massachusetts job numbers looking better

David has this post at Blue Mass Group about employment gains in the Bay State.

Largest job growth in 17 years.

We are leading the nation to recovery Click here to read on!

State Executives visit the area

Governor Patrick was in the area on Saturday and again Monday. Lieutenant Governor candidate TIm Murray will be here tomorrow.
I can't remember a time when this area received as much attention.
The commuter rail on the agenda, the UMass Dartmouth law school, the state ocean management plan.
I think the South Coast has a friend in Boston, ......one who visits from time to time. Click here to read on!

Bait and Switch?

RyePower12 has this post over at Blue Mass Group about the Fall River biotech park/casino.

Hey!, Dartmouth and New Bedford have land available ...
... in an industrial park. Sounds like an opportunity!
Which would you prefer a casino and service jobs or a biotech park with engineers, scientists and technicians.? Click here to read on!

Police seize suspected marijuana farm

Advisory Message has been issued by the Dartmouth Police Department.
Wednesday May 19, 2010 2:25 PM EDT
MAN CHARGED WITH CULTIVATION OF MARAIJUANA

On Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at approximately 1:10 P.M., Dartmouth Police received a phone tip of a suspicious male parked in the area of the Hope Evangelical Church, located at 88 Hathaway Rd. The tipster reported that this male was observed walking back and forth into the wooded area behind the church. The tipster stated that the male was holding something in his hand.
Plainclothes Dartmouth Police Officers, David Oikarinen and Derek Kenney were first to respond on scene. Officers Oikarinen and Kenney found this male, later identified as 26 year old Kenneth Dacamara from 30 Beech St. in Acushnet, walking from the rear of the vehicle (carrying a black bag with both arms) into the wood line. After the officers identified themselves to Dacamara, he fled into the wooded area ignoring police commands to stop. Additional units were called to assist including a K9 unit. Dacamara was apprehended a brief time later on Oakum St. without any struggle.
During the initial search, officers found a clearing in the wooded area approximately 400 yards back from the church parking lot. A small field was located with ten holes dug in the ground.
In the parking lot, officers found bags containing plants believed to be marijuana inside of Dacamara’s 2001 Volkswagen Jetta.
Dacamara faces charges of possession of marijuana and unlawful manufacturing, distribution, cultivation and dispensing of marijuana.
Dacamara will be arraigned in Third District Court on Wednesday.

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/2233965/.

If you subcribe to Nixle, you can get these advisories automatically Click here to read on!

Police seek help with recent house breaks

From the Dartmouth Police via Nixle advisory service

Advisory Message has been issued by the Dartmouth Police Department.

Monday May 17, 2010 9:27 AM EDT

Rash of House Breaks in Dartmouth, Police Seek Help and Offer Valuable Safety/Preventative Tips

The Dartmouth Police Department is asking for the public’s help with a recent rash of house breaks. Several breaks have been reported since the end of April and police are asking town residents to be aware of any suspicious activity or strangers in their neighborhoods. Residents are encouraged to contact us with any license plate numbers, vehicle and person descriptions of anything they deem to be out of place. These pieces of information can be quite important to any police investigation.
Residents are encouraged to document serial and model numbers on high priced items. We also suggest that residents should photograph valuable items such as jewelry and keep these pictures in a hidden place or in a safe deposit box. This information could later assist law enforcement in the identification of these items if they are recovered.
Residents are reminded to call the tip line at 508-997-9900 or the Dartmouth Police Department’s Detective Division at 508-910-1775 with any information. This is part of an ongoing effort to devise innovative ways to further reduce criminal activity and nurture a partnership with the community. All tips (anonymous or not) are taken seriously and will be reviewed and followed up by the Dartmouth Police Dept.

Please call Det. Robert Levinson with any questions you may have – 508-910-1755

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/2207037/.

Sign up for a Nixle account and you can receive this and other notices in your email Click here to read on!

Annual Town Meeting info

The annual Town Meeting will take place at the Middle School on June 1, 2010 at 9AM.
The town budget summarized in Schedule A of the warrant can be found on the Town Clerk's webpage here. The Schedule A budget posted here is not official. Only the Town Clerk can issue official Town Meeting documents.
A draft copy of the warrant for the Town Meeting can be found here. Again this is not an official copy, only the Town Clerk can issue an official warrant.
I will vote against Articles 3,8 and 20 on this warrant and in favor of all the other articles.
I may also vote against Article 6 ...

... but I have some more research to do on that.
June 1 will also have a Special Town Meeting.
The draft warrant for that meeting is here. Again, unofficial, only the Clerk has the official warrant.
I will probably vote against Articles 5 and 8 on this warrant and in favor of the other articles. I have some more to find out about Articles 5 and 8 before making a final decision. Click here to read on!