Talking Stoneham - Recent Comments

cell tower

lornadoone38 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:47:54 GMT

I live across the street from the st. patrick's cemetary that certain individuals would like to see a cell tower installed. I am disgusted that people in this town would want to desecrate such sacred burial grounds , let alone , harm the many children and our senior citizens who play ball and walk and enjoy the park with this harmful attrocity.
Thank you,
Lorna Walker

Martin Luther King

my3kids — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:37:25 GMT

Very nice article Randy.
Here is a little poem
by Sara Ting

"Are you greater than the sun, that shines on everyone,
black, brown, yellow, red & white,
the sun does not discriminate"

Projects in this town....

jp214 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:22:20 GMT

Boston.Com reports banking acquisition:

Eastern Bank just bought MassBank. The Massbank in front of the middle school may be another empty lot in Stoneham probably by the end of the year...I wouldnt assume there would be two Eastern Banks within a quarter mile of each other...

"When the transaction closes in the second half of the year, Eastern will begin converting MassBank branches to the Eastern Bank nameplate."

http://www.boston.com/business...

I would probably guess somewhere down the line that Dunkin Donuts may buy Honeydew and we will have five DD shops in town. Lovely town planning we have in this town. Reminds me of the Walgreens/RiteAid fiasco in Melrose. Why can't this town attract business with demographics instead of thinking with their wallet. Demographics rules all with businesses in Eastern MA. Best Buy...Best Buy is nowhere to be seen other than Danvers, Cambridge, Saugus, and Watertown, none on the 128 corridor from Danvers to Watertown. Why do we talk "Home Depot", "Dunkin Donuts", itty bitty businesses that probably won't be able to make the rent, and things that plain don't fit. I wish the "leaders" of this town would use their brains for a change.

Selectmans meeting - February 19, 2008

joanmcd — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:59:53 GMT

I am tired of a certain select person blaming special interest groups for lack of revenue. We can not fit a quarter into a nickel. Had the projects been downsized they would be up and running and making the town revenue as we speak.

Appologies to Stoneham from one in Melrose

MadinMelrose — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:11:11 GMT

I sat in the audience of the latest Melrose School Committee meeting and listened to an update from the athletics director. In a somber but clearly non appologetic tone, she informed the committee and the Superintendent that on behalf of the Athletics Department she was withdrawing a previously extended offer to the Stoneham Girls Field Hockey team.

Frankly I'm disturbed by this and embarrassed. Money was not given as a reason just a very weak reference to the desires of the community and parents of the Melrose team not to have the Stoneham kids play in our league.

As a Melrose parent I'd like to appologize to those girls who will be unable to play. I'd like to appologize to the parents of these children that an offer of help was made by our City and then unceremoniously withdrawn without so much as a decent excuse.

In trying financial times as these I believe we have an ethical and moral responsibility to help our surrounding neighbors. This seems to me a perfect way of extending help to a fledgling girls team with the possibility of building good will between our two communities and supporting our athletes together. If the offer was extended then there couldn't have been any MIAA rules that would have been violated and none of this was brought up by the director. Maybe someone could fill me in.

If I was a Stoneham parent and this happened to my child I'd be very angry. Please know that not all in our community either know about this or would condone it if they did. Again....my appologies.

MadinMelrose

I'm an EX WRITER with The Stoneham Sun : 'Frankly Speaking'

savethefells — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:53:07 GMT

All of you know by now, I have quit writing in the Stoneham Sun....I believe an 'ugly head' has been raised...

It took the Susan Lacy, managerial story and my belief she should still be there that revealed to me that I was in the wrong place.

I wrote a well thought out, and thoroughly researched column timed to be read 'before' the School Committee discussed or voted on this so called 'decision'.. of Chartwell's..coming in to 'manage' the Cafeteria in the schools... I also gave 'MY' OPINIONS... TO 'MY' FELLOW CITIZENS....

I received a memo from Ms. Jesse Kawa.. that 'she' decided my column 'should be published' 'next week'...!! Along with 'her' story...about Susan Lacy and the Cafeteria....

I asked Ms. Kawa.. and actually pleaded with her to publish it this week, so the parents, and other townspeople will attend the meeting.

After an 'angry' give and take...She started to mention.. 'the legal responsibility', of the newspaper...This was 'after' she mentioned my column 'would be published next week'...She didn't mention leaving any parts out, or parts she would be 'concerned about..;

Every column I have written with the Sun, was alwasy edited, and always changed to some extent... That is normal... But to 'eliminate' a whole column, without elaborating on any parts of the column...I had to 'rethink' why the Sun would not print it...

I then realized, in my own 'cynical' mind.. that she was probably 'protecting' the schools... I saw her 'applauding' the 'results' (as others did).. of the override 'success' at town meeting, allowing the ballot vote... She has also depended on the schools voluminous stories, etc..I understand that...She has also done some work , and real well, as a 'mentor' at the schools, and thus spent a lot of time there...

I add here.. that Ms. Susan Lacy, 'after' the Sun printed an Editorial on the Lunch Program, was 'NEVER' contacted for her side of the story...at all...Why ??? why??? why???

The school committee meeting came and I watched... A very quiet, smooth,'move' was made by the Chair'person' Soley to 'o.k.' the Chartwell's contract... No discussion, no facts, no reasons, for the General Public...which definitely involved their children.

This cafeteria service, is an 800,000 dollar per year business...At least Chartwell's and their operation should have come before the parents as any important decision...shouldn't it..?

The schools use the Finance Board's strong capabilities for all kinds of analysis... Why didn't this one come up before them ?... Just why is Ms. Susan Lacy being singled out...??

Is it somethings she knows...? Is it something in the past records, or papers, in that office that must be 'silenced'....This my fellow to me...is worth these 'inquisitions'.. as there IS NOTHING...NOTHING.. MATHEMATICAL... THAT HAS 'EVER' BEEN REVEALED...BY ANY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL DEPT....

Even the papers Dr. Olsen and the Business Manager 'sent me' on emails... which 'was' the 'basis' of the Chartwell's decision.. had on 'top' 'ESTIMATES'...!!!!!!

AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE 'ESTIMATES'....HERE'S WHAT THE SHOCKER IS.....

The school dept.. has 'slightly' boosted up sales... HOW IN THE WORLD DO THEY KNOW... THAT CHARTWELLS IS GOING TO RECEIVE 'ANY MORE' THAN SUSAN LACY... 'THEN'... They say.. WE ARE STILL USING.. .'OUR EMPLOYEES'.... WE ARE STILL USING 'OUR FOOD'... The only thing that is gone.. is... SUSAN LACY...!!!!!! Who made a wonderful, clean, and wholesome video... (see Parentsagainstjunkfood.com)...then scroll down.. to 'not your ordinary lunch lady'... You'll be so proud , your chest will burst...

Now, back to the 'estimates' of the 'basis' for Chartwell's... When I took the comparisons which Dr. Olsen 'made'...as 'nothing was official'.. according to his own words... I LOOKED AT THE SALES... AND THEN THE COST OF FOOD....EVEN USING 'HIS' FIGURES.. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUSAN LACY'S ALLEGED FIGURES (OF DR. OLSEN)... AND THE 'NEW' CHARTWELL'S 'RESULTS... was...........ONLY 25,000 !!! .... REMEMBER...THERE WAS 'NO'.... 'EVER'... ANY PRESENTATION OF THESE ESTIMATES....GIVEN TO ANY ONE IN THIS COMMUNITY....

In comparing Ms. Lacy's figures...of her sales.. 'missing' from Dr. Olsen's figures were a few sales (about 70,000) from St. Patricks' and others...
Ms. Lacy, as many of you know... is heartily recommended for her professional stance with our children in her work with Family Consumer Science and Nutrition...over the years...

When she took the job.. to 'aid her school'...NO ONE.. NO ONE AT ALL.. TRAINED HER... GAVE HER ANY GUIDANCE... NOT FOR ONE DAMN MINUTE ! SHE LEARNED ALL THE PAPERWORK, STATE AND FEDERAL PAPERWORK, SANITATION LAWS... SUPERVISION... PAYROLL..... FROM DAY ONE.....

My column 'would have' covered many of these points...

ANOTHER POINT... Remember, I mentioned.. Ms. Kawa of the Sun.. 'said'.. the column and a story of the Cafeteria would be in 'this week's paper'... NOTHING !!

FURTHER... I submitted my column to the Independent...to Joseph Haggerty...who said to me "Frank, thanks.. but I've wanted to cover this anyway...and he himself wrote an article... without mentioning any of my thoughts or figures.....He didn't mention my thoughts, last week.. or even this week....but he did publish another lady's letter...

I and others, have over the years...many of us former selectmen, and other officials..seem to have 'trouble' getting anything published in the Independent.... I think many of us need to sit down with the editor...and 'clear the air'..and see if 'we have a problem'...once and for all...

The important thing right now.. if for all of you who know Ms. Lacy...who understandably wants just to 'settle down'...and raise her family.. and let this 'die'...and go on...

I respect that...as I do her...But this no longer is about Ms. Lacy...it's about all of us.. who yearn to have a fair, and honest government...and responsive to our questions and wishes.....

Our hearts and minds... need to 'speak ' with each other...do our research...and if we can't agree with each other... at least be honest with each other.. and 'know' our 'views' will be chosen for publication ...or 'exempted' based on 'honest' words...which are real'.....

I don't think we have that ... We must take to the local Tv Stations and beyond.....

If any of you reading this are from any State office...or Attorney concerned with 'Wrongful Termination'...(which is a punishable offense)...please help our community in any way you can...This termination...could be a lot more than the surface we are being 'shown'....

I truly believe that...

Frank Pignone

Sports

my3kids — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:22:26 GMT

That's how they try to scare us into voting for
an override. Unfortunately, most parents
care more about sports than their children's
education.

Maybe they think they little Johnnie is
going Pro and going to make a fortune!

I am not sure if parents understand that
our children are competing with the
entire world for jobs. Everything is
global. Chances are that when my young
kids grow up they may have to move out
of the US for a decent job. It is a lot
tougher to get into college now, but boy
if you can throw a touch down we might
have something!

I am listening and so are other Massachusetts citizens

smanty — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:13:11 GMT

Little Johnnie can't read but he sure knows how to play with pig skin. Stoneham is not the only town listening to the sports whining. We hear it in Templeton and right now Westminster/Ashburnham - that superintendent said he will lay off teachers so the sports fees will not increase!! How wonderful!! LITTLE JOHNNIE CANT READ BUT...

Stoneham

smanty — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:05:09 GMT

I signed up for with your site although not a Stoneham resident. I see that towns across Massachusetts have the same problem: Schools sucking up a ton of the cash. When they don't get their override money - whining about sports begins - no wonder little Johnnie can't read or subtract. If we cut back on the out of control salaries for directors and administrators in the school system, we might have enough for teachers and building maintenance. School committees are a big joke - puppets controlled by the puppet master (Superintendent). All cities and towns need to say enough is enough!!! No more overrides or back door money grabs.
Templeton Ma resident

STONEHAM, MASS. CAFETERIA MGR. MAKES $ 400,000 AND IS FIRED !!!??? POLITICS ?

savethefells — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:05:25 GMT

Doesn't this show you something?

One: Jesse Kawa takes my weekly column 'Frankly Speaking' which this week 'was supposed' to speak of Susan Lacey's record, 'true numbers' 'right from the books'...You all know How I am of those things.....and 'decides' she wants to 'print it' 'after' the thursday meeting when they are going to make a decision on the cafeteria service... WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT ACCOMPLISH... Except..for the fact... that she does not...want to go against the schools...as she most likely feels she may not have their 'arms open' policy toward her to espouse their wishes....

They explained to me... Her and that Peter Chianca who thinks writing about hot dogs... is more important than Community issues...A joke...childish...with so many important issues.. as this one...
Thank God, Joe Haggerty picked up on the story when I sent my letter and wrote a decent 'true' story covering Susan's points and history as well as the mess she found there...

I still will distribute a thousand copies of my research and Susan's all over town to all the key school people....They all should be 'knowing' what is 'happening' but don't because there never was a public hearing.. or even a 'bidding' process...!!

THIS FOOD IS GOING INTO THE MOUTHS OF OUR CHILDREN...AND WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING CHANCES WITH AN OUTSOURCE.. WHEN SUSAN MADE A GROSS PROFIT OF $ 400,000....

FOR GOD'S SAKE..PEOPLE... FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILDREN.....!!!!
FIGHT FOR A CAFE MANAGER WHO LOVES YOUR KIDS.. HAS A KID IN OUR SYSTEM... WON AWARDS...AND GETS A PINK SLIP...FROM A FORMER 'DICTATOR'....WHO 'RAN' THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE..

LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENT HEADLINES... SCHOOL FIGURES... CANNOT EVEN FIGURE THEM OUT..!!!!!!!!!!!!!THEMSELVES...
AND THEY ARE FIRING SUSAN LACEY ??????

SHE PAID, NOT ONLY FOR THE FOOD... BUT ALSO THE EMPLOYEES...SUBSTITUTES WHILE OTHERS WERE SICK.. BUT ALSO THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE !!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU PEOPLE WANT.......HER BLOOD ???

JUST AS YOU ORGANIZED FOR CHAPTER 70,, ORGANIZE FOR SUSAN... YOUR LIVES WILL BE BETTER OFF FOR IT...

ASK DR. TOM RYAN, OR JOHN STRANGI... WHAT THEY THINK OF SUSAN LACY...

CHARTWELL'S HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB.... WHY TAKE A CHANCE...? WHEN YOU HAVE A SURE THING....

School Committee website - What School Committee website

savethefells — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:53:00 GMT

There is 'nothing' on the school committee website...same 'secret society'.... No email that gets back with you...Only the Asst. Super and Super (new) have at least tried to respond...but Soley.. and her gang..may as well be in the sahara...Not responding to consitituents....

DOES ANYONE OUT HERE WANT AN OUTSIDE LUNCH SERVICE...AND WHY ?...BE THOROUGH....

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HASN'T EVEN DISCUSSED THE 'DISADVANTAGE' OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM... BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE...SUSAN LACY HAS SERVED YOU WELL.. WITH LOVE..AND PROFIT... GET ON HER SIDE... YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE GETTING...

schoolcommittee@stonehamschools.net

my3kids — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:56:40 GMT

This is on the school website.
Don't know if they ever look at it
Good Luck!

Thank you for your comments..'Charter' Change HAS begun !

savethefells — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:54:56 GMT

Hello 'Reality Check' and others interested in 'change'... I now have gathered the 'votes' as a majority of the Board of Selectmen to begin a petition for a new Charter Commission to be appointed by the Selectmen....It's now begun.. This present system of 'insiders'...of 'loving' the 'government' as a 'separate' institution from the taxpayers has gone on too long....

Many of the powers of the School Committee, and especially Superintendent were 'taken' away in the original charter...
AND NOW, Ms.SUSAN LACY, is being 'dismissed' ??? THE ABSOLUTE BEST TOWN EMPLOYEE WE PROBABLY EVER HAD... ! Dr. Connelly has 'personally' taken away her 'profit' MADE AGAINST ALL ODDS...! Dr. Olsen, if you are reading this or it is sent to you.. YOU ARE ABOUT TO MAKE THE BIGGEST, MOST STUPID DECISION BY GOING TO 'CHARTWELL'S OR WHOEVER... WHEN MS. LACEY MADE OVER $ 400,000 IN 'Gross Profit..' and PAID 'INTO YOUR BUDGET FOR FY 08.. OVER 130,000 FOR HEALTH INSURANCE ..........Which was 'never' a 'charge' of past Cafeteria Supervisors... SHE ALSO WON MANY AWARDS.. AND 'NEVER WAS ALLOWED TO SEE THE BOOKS.'....!! WHAT IS THIS SIR,,, RUSSIAN COMMUNISM DICTATORSHIP ?

This 'Charter commission is 'GOING TO CHANGE' 'WHO' HIRES THE CAFETERIA SUPERVISOR...AND WHAT ITEMS SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR...

********ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT ON THE SCHOOL COMMITEE'S WEBSITE....SEC. 4.4 OF 'SCHOOL POLICIES...REGARDING 'CAFETERIA SUPERVISOR AND STAFF'.. HAS BEEN 'CUT'???????? So a person as myself cannot 'analyze' and comment..? Not one sentence of the budget of the schools on their website... and the emails are not being answered..! MS. SOLEY...IS FOLLOWING IN THE SAME FOOTSTEPS... I have mentioned this 'email malfunction' to Dr Olsen...maybe he can get it 'repaired by Max French'....Saving us 2 dollars by spending 10...Hard job..

Ms. Lacey makes 400,000 and then Connelly keeps, should I say a 'questionable' office person...while getting rid of an 'award winner'...who WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST..!!!!!! AND CAN BE PROVEN...!!!! by DR. JOSEPH CONNELLY...
Do YOU ALL KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES LEFT HIM.. SINCE HE CAME HERE???? HOW COME NO ONE CAN WORK FOR HIM ...WHY?...

DR. OLSEN... IF YOU GO WITH AN OUTSIDE VENDOR.. WITHOUT THE PUBLIC 'KNOWING' THE FIGURES...YOU WILL MAKE A VERY LARGE PROFESSIONAL MISTAKE....VERY LARGE...

Also: Who.. is writing the 'specs' for an outside vendor.. The present business manager does not have the acumen to write up... a professional 'bid' for a food service..as he does not have the background.. or the numerical value 'experience' to do so...THIS IS 'VERY SUSPICIOUS'....

I WILL WRITE FOR THESE FIGURES UNDER THE TEN DAY RULE...AND SEND IT CERTIFIED MAIL...I WANT ANSWERS... WHEN SOMEONE MADE 400,000 AS GROSS PROFIT.. AGAINST TWO MAJOR PRICE INCREASES...!! WITH TONS OF 'LOW INCOME REDUCED LUNCHES'... WINS 3 AWARDS...PLUS A MAJOR GRANT...AND IS 'NOTED' BY PARENTS FOR NUTRITION' AND MAKES A VIDEO WHICH IS GOING TO 'WASHINGTON'....

DR. CONNELLY, REMEMBER THE DAY YOU STUCK YOUR FINGER IN MS LACEY'S FACE...?? DO YOU..? THAT DAY , YOU ALSO STUCK IT IN MY MINE...!! FOR SHE IS 'OUR FRIEND'...AND NO ONE STICKS HIS 'BUREAUCRAT' FINGER IN THE EYES OF SOMEONE AS MS. LACEY AND DOESN'T ANSWER FOR IT... AND THROUGH THE STATE OFFICES.. YOU MOST LIKELY WILL... Unless you have friends in those offices as you evidently do in the D.O.R....to change 'laws' without a legislative hearing....Thank God... You are gone... By the way.... 504 dollars a day is an amount equivalent to $ 183,960 per year.. It is said 'this figure 'was' the 'same' you were making ?...I don't think so sir..I don't think so...You started with 99,000 in 1999.

I'll put all this in my column...We are not going to put the Susan Lacey 'saga' 'on ice'....(if you don't mind that term sir.)

$ 500,000 PROFIT ...YES ! $ SALES- LESS 'COST OF FOOD'..YES..!

savethefells — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:12:06 GMT

And the 'sales' came 'hard.'...! Higher cost of meals..also meant less demand... higher also on low cost or free meals !...She actually 'hand made' many of her own dishes..like pizza etc.. the kids loved...!...
Connelly 'counted' the Custodian..and over $ 130,000 as 'expenses'...!! to give 'himself' more room on the budget... just as he did recently as putting the 'nurses' all on the Special Ed. Budget...

He's been doing 'this moving around' with the money since he's come here.. I have a newspaper quote...(many of them) which he states to a reporter: " The more we can have of money which is kept away from the 'budget' the better off we are'....!...

In a couple of weeks, when I actually print the results of 'his' audits in the business office.. of improper journal entries...which never 'came out'...the town will then see...

Get rid of a person as this?....If I had a daughter, which God didn't grant me...if she was half the lady, and had half the integrity of Ms. Susan Lacey, I would be a proud Dad indeed....Quote me...

Frank Pignone

Why did I vote No?

stonehamcitizen — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:29:14 GMT

I voted no.

I have one child who is college and 1 still in the school system but soon to be in college as well. The truth is I can't afford the increase. Blue Cross Blus Shield is the carrier of the Mass Health Plan (where everyone who resides in MA is now covered with health insurance) and as a result our family health insurance went up $330/month for a family plan. Reason being we pay for our health insurance ourselves. If it comes down to either an increase of my taxes or my health insurance....which one would you choose? I had to vote no because I knew the increase on our health insurance took effect June 30.. .and mind you it's less of a plan than we had 30 days ago. Our co-pay is more and our prescription coverage is less..... go figure.

I understand the town's plight, but I think the leaders of this town need to find other alternatives of income to support the growing pains of this town.

Example: (and this may already be in place)

Juniors/seniors in the high school have to have a parking permit to park @ the high school... maybe a $10 fee/year? Say there are 200 kids in each class.....and 75% of them drive......times $10... thats $3,000.

Example: (and again this may already be in place)

After school programs at the elementary schools-

(I'm not sure if there are any after schoool programs in any of the elem. schools as I do not have any elementary school age kids in my house)

Charge for after school programs. However........ recruit Juniors/Seniors in the high school interested in childhood development. Instead of paying them.....the Junior/Seniors could work as a work-study program, or get some kind of credits towards a child caring course if they complete 2 semesters worth of work. Sort of a "hands on" kind of course.

Sometimes students can get into places at a discount if they show their "Student ID." High School Students could be charged $5 for a Student ID should one be needed.