Saturday, July 28, 2007

Override Tally - updated


Scheduled Proposition 2 1/2 override votes


(updated 7/28/07)









R Community Date Amount Result
15 SAUGUS 24-Apr $5,200,000 LOST
20 SHREWSBURY 1-May $5,000,000 LOST
5 RANDOLPH 27-Mar $4,100,000 LOST
1 CANTON 23-Jan $3,950,000 LOST
6 WALPOLE 31-Mar $3,900,000 LOST
46 NORTH READING 5-Jun $3,900,000 LOST
42 WEST BOYLSTON 24-May $3,100,000 LOST
51 STONEHAM 19-Jun $3,000,000 LOST
50 BRIDGEWATER 16-Jun $2,871,093 LOST
43 MIDDLEBOROUGH 2-Jun $2,584,000 LOST
18 AMHERST 1-May $2,500,000 LOST
30 ASHLAND 15-May $1,998,111 LOST
41 NEWBURYPORT 22-May $1,580,000 LOST
31 DENNIS 15-May $1,348,150 LOST
10 EAST BRIDGEWATER 7-Apr $1,250,000 LOST
28 GEORGETOWN 14-May $1,061,822 LOST
54 NORTON 26-Jun $996,177 LOST
39 GROTON 22-May $937,570 LOST
25 ROCKPORT 8-May $781,576 LOST
8 DARTMOUTH 3-Apr $750,000 LOST
29 SOUTHBOROUGH 14-May $696,000 LOST
13 ROCKLAND 14-Apr $675,000 LOST
47 MONSON 11-Jun $611,472 LOST
27 RUTLAND 14-May $500,000 LOST
19 YARMOUTH 1-May $499,094 LOST
48 ASHBURNHAM 12-Jun $498,603 LOST
36 GILL 21-May $300,000 LOST
38 OTIS 22-May $150,000 LOST
21 TOPSFIELD 3-May $78,277 LOST
37 DUNSTABLE 21-May $675,336 LOST*
7 SCITUATE 31-Mar $3,341,729 SPLIT
14 TISBURY 24-Apr $491,081 SPLIT
53 MENDON 19-Jun $424,219 SPLIT
45 LEXINGTON 5-Jun $3,900,000 WON
32 SHARON 15-May $2,900,000 WON
16 WESTWOOD 24-Apr $2,780,000 WON
40 FRANKLIN 22-May $2,700,000 WON
3 SUDBURY 26-Mar $2,500,000 WON
52 NORTH ANDOVER 19-Jun $1,650,000 WON
11 KINGSTON 9-Apr $1,600,000 WON
2 WINCHESTER 13-Mar $1,300,000 WON
12 NEEDHAM 10-Apr $1,128,670 WON
9 HARVARD 3-Apr $763,000 WON
24 ROWLEY 8-May $590,000 WON
44 MEDFIELD 4-Jun $524,000 WON
34 HAMILTON 17-May $461,703 WON
33 BOXFORD 15-May $401,926 WON
4 LINCOLN 26-Mar $350,000 WON
23 SALISBURY 8-May $350,000 WON
26 CARLISLE 8-May $245,000 WON
35 WENHAM 17-May $154,817 WON
22 MERRIMAC 7-May $77,700 WON
17 MARSHFIELD 28-Apr $2,000,000 WON*
49 WESTMINSTER 12-Jun $729,309








Average request




$1,608,434










*List does not include scheduled votes for debt-exclusion or capital-exclusion overrides.

*List may not be exhaustive as towns are not required to report when they schedule a vote.

Sources: Globe research, Massachusetts Municipal Association, municipal websites

Original source, Boston Globe article; subsequent updates from online newspaper info and municipal websites






Friday, July 27, 2007

Let's help Charlie!

A fellow Franklin commuter has started a new blog to complain about the service on the MBTA, in particular on the 715, or the 4:10 PM out of Boston heading to Franklin.

Charlie writes:

I've been riding the Franklin line daily for years, and all that time there has been terrible overcrowding on the homeward #715 train, departing South Station at 4:10 PM. I get on at Ruggles, and haven't been able to get a seat more than a few times a year. Nor am I the only one forced to stand - there are usually quite a few of us.

I've emailed the MBCR about the issue over and over. The response is always that there's more than enough seating, or that the train was short a car for some reason (in which case I get an apology - I've come to consider those worthless, though).

On Friday, 7/13/07 I counted 33 people standing in a single-level coach. A woman in the next coach had a medical emergency and passed out; unfortunately there were no conductors around, and it was so crowded that passengers were completely unable to pass down the aisle in search of a conductor. We ended up trying to pass the word down the aisle by shouting. It wasn't very effective; we couldn't reach a conductor for several long minutes.

Fortunately the ill woman's condition apparently wasn't critical. But if it had been, the delay caused by the overcrowding could have had serious consequences.

If I am catching an early train, I generally take the 4:30 to avoid the 4:10 for some of the same reasons. It is always crowded. It is an older train (so less comfortable). And a local version rather than the express that runs at 4:30.

He is soliciting for help in writing about the problems on the Franklin line. Charlie writes:

This is an open blog for comments from passengers on the Massachusetts commuter rail system (administered by the MBCR under the auspices of the MBTA). It is unofficial and in no way endorsed by or connected with the MBTA, MBCR, or any other organization.

All contents are the property of the author(s). If you want posting privileges, please comment and I'll add you to the list of authors.

Read Charlie and consider writing there as well!

What a day?

Visit this site

Trust me, it's worth it

Enjoy the artwork

Be sure to read the comments

Priceless!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Troy is looking for your help

Troy Worman, one of the original Hitchhikers, co-conspiritor of the Blog Synergy, the guy behind the every changing template at Orbit Now has a request:

Orbit Now! has been in a constant state of flux from the onset, but this summer the situation deteriorated into a state of hyperflux… to the point of being counter productive.

So, I am asking for your help. If you are so inclined, please respond to the following 3 questions.

1. What do you like most about this blog or what would you like to see more of here?
2. What do you like least?
3. What would your recommend for a new name and tagline?

Please click on over to his blog, check it out and provide an answer to his questions.

Thank you!

Jerry's Story

One of my new projects is recording the oral history of my father and his life in the middle of the Sherlock clan in Pawtucket. Growing up, I heard many of these stories but now I have the chance to hear new ones and to record them all for you to listen to.

Each recording is generally around 4-6 minutes. The longest thus far has been 10 and we have had a couple in just over a minute. We create the break at an appropriate spot in the conversation with Dad.

Take a listen. Got to Jerry's Story.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Lowell Folk Festival on Saturday!

Only a couple of days away!

Lowell Folk Festival - Schedule


The schedule for Saturday (and the complete festival) is now available online. I am looking forward to this:

Boarding House Park:
12:00 – 12:45 Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul
1:00 – 1:45 The Lee Boys
2:00 – 2:45 Dorado Schmitt & All Star Band
3:00 – 3:45 Forró For All
4:00 – 4:45 Lost Bayou Ramblers
5:00 – 6:00 Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy

Monday, July 23, 2007

Franklin: Free Stuff on Summer St


Franklin_FreeStuffonSummerSt
Originally uploaded by shersteve
Dolores and I did our "long" Sunday walk along King St, Summer St, Mount St, Upper Union and back to King St stopping at Dunkin Dounts for coffee to power the last half mile.

This bunch of free stuff is at the last house on the right as you go up Summer just before the I495 bridge.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Proulx Daughters: in good hands


ProulxDaughters_ingoodhands
Originally uploaded by shersteve
3 of the 4 Proulx daughters got together for dinner on Saturday night. We went to 3, the new restaurant here in Franklin and had a great meal.

Left to right: Dolores & moi, Joanne & Barry, Cathy & Bruce

Ah, that's what he was doing

On Wednesday night, leaving the train station about 6:25 PM, driving home, I came around by the old town hall turning onto W Central St, I was surprised to see one gentleman, business casual dress holding a placard that read "Liar, Rep Vallee".

I wondered what that was about.

Today I had time to check back into the Milford Daily News to find this article.

Ah, that's what he was doing.

Amesbury considers an "underride"

Yes, someone in Amesbury thinks they can afford it. More power to them if they can.

This marks the second time Amesbury has considered an underride. In 2001, a $1.5 million underride proposal lost by 19 votes at the polls.

The state Department of Revenue has on record only 14 underrides -- 13 of them successful -- since the advent of Proposition 2 1/2 in 1981.

From the Boston Globe's Override Central section, comes this article from the North Regional edition (free subscription maybe required)

Special Education Costs

I copied the listing as published by the Boston Globe and then sorted in declining dollar value to provide the following two lists (one in alphabetic order by district, the second by dollar).

I have also loaded this file to Google documents and shared it for anyone to view. You can find it here.

Alpabetic Sort by school district
District Special Education
Abington $12,519
Acton $13,470
Acton Boxborough $15,118
Acushnet $14,902
Adams Cheshire $12,806
Agawam $13,651
Amesbury $14,744
Amherst $23,260
Amherst Pelham $14,496
Andover $15,386
Arlington $15,020
Ashburnham Westminster $10,563
Ashland $15,714
Assabet Valley $16,889
Athol Royalston $14,251
Attleboro $10,325
Auburn $13,607
Avon $15,710
Ayer $18,086
Barnstable $15,343
Bedford $18,531
Belchertown $13,866
Bellingham $16,154
Belmont $16,527
Berkley $13,418
Berkshire Hills $21,439
Berlin $17,331
Berlin Boylston $15,382
Beverly $13,300
Billerica $12,568
Blackstone Millville $12,339
Blackstone Valley $17,793
Blue Hills $16,668
Boston $22,974
Bourne $17,083
Boxborough $18,451
Boxford $13,757
Boylston $15,971
Braintree $13,020
Brewster $27,763
Bridgewater Raynham $9,819
Brimfield $12,564
Bristol County $20,734
Bristol Plymouth $14,307
Brockton $13,791
Brookfield $12,631
Brookline $19,507
Burlington $18,712
Cambridge $18,528
Canton $13,964
Cape Cod $16,676
Carlisle $22,149
Carver $12,755
Central Berkshire $13,604
Chatham $22,803
Chelmsford $11,816
Chelsea $11,951
Chesterfield Goshen $14,047
Chicopee $13,690
Clarksburg $16,411
Clinton $14,175
Cohasset $25,820
Concord $18,775
Concord Carlisle $20,932
Conway $16,541
Danvers $11,859
Dartmouth $10,442
Dedham $18,287
Deerfield $19,450
Dennis Yarmouth $13,650
Dighton Rehoboth $17,174
Douglas $11,272
Dover $18,483
Dover Sherborn $23,116
Dracut $12,736
Dudley Charlton $14,816
Duxbury $12,938
East Bridgewater $13,665
East Longmeadow $13,209
Eastham $26,293
Easthampton $13,538
Easton $11,230
Edgartown $23,751
Erving $23,939
Essex County $14,527
Everett $14,788
Fairhaven $20,484
Fall River $15,399
Falmouth $15,057
Farmington River $22,682
Fitchburg $8,881
Florida $10,874
Foxborough $12,054
Framingham $14,485
Franklin $14,345
Franklin County $16,224
Freetown $13,737
Freetown Lakeville $14,585
Frontier $13,887
Gardner $11,729
Gateway $15,542
Georgetown $14,323
Gill Montague $16,917
Gloucester $14,539
Grafton $15,843
Granby $12,458
Granville $18,759
Greater Fall River $13,350
Greater Lawrence $15,819
Greater Lowell $12,944
Greater New Bedford $13,578
Greenfield $19,991
Groton Dunstable $17,506
Hadley $12,110
Halifax $14,124
Hamilton Wenham $17,615
Hampden Wilbraham $14,611
Hampshire $11,212
Hancock $20,751
Hanover $11,598
Harvard $9,312
Harwich $15,611
Hatfield $12,474
Haverhill $13,029
Hawlemont $14,304
Hingham $12,630
Holbrook $16,781
Holland $13,033
Holliston $13,043
Holyoke $13,846
Hopedale $13,312
Hopkinton $14,812
Hudson $11,872
Hull $15,878
Ipswich $13,706
King Philip $12,960
Kingston $14,438
Lakeville $11,036
Lanesborough $14,862
Lawrence $13,547
Lee $16,484
Leicester $11,413
Lenox $20,176
Leominster $7,911
Leverett $19,427
Lexington $18,244
Lincoln $19,692
Lincoln Sudbury $18,155
Littleton $16,420
Longmeadow $12,773
Lowell $13,523
Ludlow $14,386
Lunenburg $9,658
Lynn $13,394
Lynnfield $19,310
Malden $17,057
Manchester Essex $16,813
Mansfield $12,403
Marblehead $18,976
Marion $17,716
Marlborough $16,434
Marshfield $14,974
Marthas Vineyard $18,157
Masconomet $12,452
Mashpee $17,767
Mattapoisett $21,267
Maynard $16,942
Medfield $12,388
Medford $14,462
Medway $13,330
Melrose $12,491
Mendon Upton $16,053
Methuen $12,696
Middleborough $11,865
Middleton $12,518
Milford $17,615
Millbury $11,439
Millis $12,616
Milton $11,616
Minuteman $20,413
Mohawk Trail $14,865
Monson $13,144
Montachusett $14,894
Mount Greylock $17,814
Nahant $16,923
Nantucket $30,760
Narragansett $13,180
Nashoba $18,248
Nashoba Valley $12,305
Natick $13,386
Nauset $15,938
Needham $18,448
New Bedford $14,883
New Salem Wendell $20,420
Newburyport $14,274
Newton $18,598
Norfolk $12,999
Norfolk County $17,310
North Adams $14,272
North Andover $16,716
North Attleborough $13,043
North Brookfield $10,933
North Middlesex $13,283
North Reading $11,941
North Shore $15,288
Northampton $15,805
Northampton Smith $14,444
Northboro Southboro $11,348
Northborough $15,888
Northbridge $13,853
Northeast Metropolitan $13,408
Northern Berkshire $13,389
Norton $11,644
Norwell $12,660
Norwood $12,800
Oak Bluffs $19,393
Old Colony $16,028
Old Rochester $19,553
Orange $11,692
Orleans $24,654
Oxford $10,958
Palmer $8,982
Pathfinder $17,286
Peabody $13,676
Pelham $16,219
Pembroke $12,966
Pentucket $13,187
Petersham $18,768
Pioneer $14,149
Pittsfield $13,049
Plainville $11,042
Plymouth $13,151
Plympton $11,705
Provincetown $26,003
Quabbin $11,209
Quaboag $9,337
Quincy $14,558
Ralph C Mahar $15,205
Randolph $9,337
Reading $13,346
Revere $14,089
Richmond $33,597
Rochester $15,924
Rockland $11,930
Rockport $14,859
Rowe $22,463
Salem $17,597
Sandwich $17,071
Saugus $16,184
Savoy $21,746
Scituate $12,324
Seekonk $16,407
Sharon $19,187
Shawsheen Valley $16,490
Sherborn $15,291
Shirley $11,446
Shrewsbury $11,199
Shutesbury $28,171
Silver Lake $10,759
Somerset $18,487
Somerville $16,538
South Hadley $14,491
South Middlesex $20,412
South Shore $11,438
Southampton $14,417
Southborough $16,906
Southbridge $14,279
Southeastern $10,972
Southern Berkshire $24,344
Southern Worcester $13,839
Southwick Tolland $13,299
Spencer East Brookfield $11,757
Springfield $12,453
Stoneham $13,864
Stoughton $12,170
Sturbridge $14,708
Sudbury $14,049
Sunderland $14,779
Sutton $10,987
Swampscott $14,058
Swansea $10,247
Tantasqua $10,203
Taunton $11,019
Tewksbury $12,714
Tisbury $24,251
Topsfield $14,832
Tri County $13,267
Triton $17,250
Truro $28,308
Tyngsborough $14,708
Upisland $27,285
Upper Cape Cod $13,041
Uxbridge $18,466
Wachusett $13,106
Wakefield $14,671
Wales $14,257
Walpole $13,925
Waltham $14,555
Ware $13,419
Wareham $13,911
Watertown $19,238
Wayland $18,185
Webster $14,128
Wellesley $16,513
Wellfleet $33,225
West Boylston $20,708
West Bridgewater $19,015
West Springfield $12,898
Westborough $18,908
Westfield $12,896
Westford $15,568
Westhampton $11,372
Weston $19,134
Westport $12,966
Westwood $17,390
Weymouth $13,129
Whately $19,778
Whitman Hanson $10,770
Whittier $13,991
Williamsburg $14,294
Williamstown $17,738
Wilmington $14,064
Winchendon $10,361
Winchester $14,886
Winthrop $9,966
Woburn $17,744
Worcester $12,002
Wrentham $12,708
State Totals $14,643


Sorted by declining per pupil cost
District Special Education
Richmond $33,597
Wellfleet $33,225
Nantucket $30,760
Truro $28,308
Shutesbury $28,171
Brewster $27,763
Upisland $27,285
Eastham $26,293
Provincetown $26,003
Cohasset $25,820
Orleans $24,654
Southern Berkshire $24,344
Tisbury $24,251
Erving $23,939
Edgartown $23,751
Amherst $23,260
Dover Sherborn $23,116
Boston $22,974
Chatham $22,803
Farmington River $22,682
Rowe $22,463
Carlisle $22,149
Savoy $21,746
Berkshire Hills $21,439
Mattapoisett $21,267
Concord Carlisle $20,932
Hancock $20,751
Bristol County $20,734
West Boylston $20,708
Fairhaven $20,484
New Salem Wendell $20,420
Minuteman $20,413
South Middlesex $20,412
Lenox $20,176
Greenfield $19,991
Whately $19,778
Lincoln $19,692
Old Rochester $19,553
Brookline $19,507
Deerfield $19,450
Leverett $19,427
Oak Bluffs $19,393
Lynnfield $19,310
Watertown $19,238
Sharon $19,187
Weston $19,134
West Bridgewater $19,015
Marblehead $18,976
Westborough $18,908
Concord $18,775
Petersham $18,768
Granville $18,759
Burlington $18,712
Newton $18,598
Bedford $18,531
Cambridge $18,528
Somerset $18,487
Dover $18,483
Uxbridge $18,466
Boxborough $18,451
Needham $18,448
Dedham $18,287
Nashoba $18,248
Lexington $18,244
Wayland $18,185
Marthas Vineyard $18,157
Lincoln Sudbury $18,155
Ayer $18,086
Mount Greylock $17,814
Blackstone Valley $17,793
Mashpee $17,767
Woburn $17,744
Williamstown $17,738
Marion $17,716
Hamilton Wenham $17,615
Milford $17,615
Salem $17,597
Groton Dunstable $17,506
Westwood $17,390
Berlin $17,331
Norfolk County $17,310
Pathfinder $17,286
Triton $17,250
Dighton Rehoboth $17,174
Bourne $17,083
Sandwich $17,071
Malden $17,057
Maynard $16,942
Nahant $16,923
Gill Montague $16,917
Southborough $16,906
Assabet Valley $16,889
Manchester Essex $16,813
Holbrook $16,781
North Andover $16,716
Cape Cod $16,676
Blue Hills $16,668
Conway $16,541
Somerville $16,538
Belmont $16,527
Wellesley $16,513
Shawsheen Valley $16,490
Lee $16,484
Marlborough $16,434
Littleton $16,420
Clarksburg $16,411
Seekonk $16,407
Franklin County $16,224
Pelham $16,219
Saugus $16,184
Bellingham $16,154
Mendon Upton $16,053
Old Colony $16,028
Boylston $15,971
Nauset $15,938
Rochester $15,924
Northborough $15,888
Hull $15,878
Grafton $15,843
Greater Lawrence $15,819
Northampton $15,805
Ashland $15,714
Avon $15,710
Harwich $15,611
Westford $15,568
Gateway $15,542
Fall River $15,399
Andover $15,386
Berlin Boylston $15,382
Barnstable $15,343
Sherborn $15,291
North Shore $15,288
Ralph C Mahar $15,205
Acton Boxborough $15,118
Falmouth $15,057
Arlington $15,020
Marshfield $14,974
Acushnet $14,902
Montachusett $14,894
Winchester $14,886
New Bedford $14,883
Mohawk Trail $14,865
Lanesborough $14,862
Rockport $14,859
Topsfield $14,832
Dudley Charlton $14,816
Hopkinton $14,812
Everett $14,788
Sunderland $14,779
Amesbury $14,744
Sturbridge $14,708
Tyngsborough $14,708
Wakefield $14,671
State Average $14,643
Hampden Wilbraham $14,611
Freetown Lakeville $14,585
Quincy $14,558
Waltham $14,555
Gloucester $14,539
Essex County $14,527
Amherst Pelham $14,496
South Hadley $14,491
Framingham $14,485
Medford $14,462
Northampton Smith $14,444
Kingston $14,438
Southampton $14,417
Ludlow $14,386
Franklin $14,345
Georgetown $14,323
Bristol Plymouth $14,307
Hawlemont $14,304
Williamsburg $14,294
Southbridge $14,279
Newburyport $14,274
North Adams $14,272
Wales $14,257
Athol Royalston $14,251
Clinton $14,175
Pioneer $14,149
Webster $14,128
Halifax $14,124
Revere $14,089
Wilmington $14,064
Swampscott $14,058
Sudbury $14,049
Chesterfield Goshen $14,047
Whittier $13,991
Canton $13,964
Walpole $13,925
Wareham $13,911
Frontier $13,887
Belchertown $13,866
Stoneham $13,864
Northbridge $13,853
Holyoke $13,846
Southern Worcester $13,839
Brockton $13,791
Boxford $13,757
Freetown $13,737
Ipswich $13,706
Chicopee $13,690
Peabody $13,676
East Bridgewater $13,665
Agawam $13,651
Dennis Yarmouth $13,650
Auburn $13,607
Central Berkshire $13,604
Greater New Bedford $13,578
Lawrence $13,547
Easthampton $13,538
Lowell $13,523
Acton $13,470
Ware $13,419
Berkley $13,418
Northeast Metropolitan $13,408
Lynn $13,394
Northern Berkshire $13,389
Natick $13,386
Greater Fall River $13,350
Reading $13,346
Medway $13,330
Hopedale $13,312
Beverly $13,300
Southwick Tolland $13,299
North Middlesex $13,283
Tri County $13,267
East Longmeadow $13,209
Pentucket $13,187
Narragansett $13,180
Plymouth $13,151
Monson $13,144
Weymouth $13,129
Wachusett $13,106
Pittsfield $13,049
Holliston $13,043
North Attleborough $13,043
Upper Cape Cod $13,041
Holland $13,033
Haverhill $13,029
Braintree $13,020
Norfolk $12,999
Pembroke $12,966
Westport $12,966
King Philip $12,960
Greater Lowell $12,944
Duxbury $12,938
West Springfield $12,898
Westfield $12,896
Adams Cheshire $12,806
Norwood $12,800
Longmeadow $12,773
Carver $12,755
Dracut $12,736
Tewksbury $12,714
Wrentham $12,708
Methuen $12,696
Norwell $12,660
Brookfield $12,631
Hingham $12,630
Millis $12,616
Billerica $12,568
Brimfield $12,564
Abington $12,519
Middleton $12,518
Melrose $12,491
Hatfield $12,474
Granby $12,458
Springfield $12,453
Masconomet $12,452
Mansfield $12,403
Medfield $12,388
Blackstone Millville $12,339
Scituate $12,324
Nashoba Valley $12,305
Stoughton $12,170
Hadley $12,110
Foxborough $12,054
Worcester $12,002
Chelsea $11,951
North Reading $11,941
Rockland $11,930
Hudson $11,872
Middleborough $11,865
Danvers $11,859
Chelmsford $11,816
Spencer East Brookfield $11,757
Gardner $11,729
Plympton $11,705
Orange $11,692
Norton $11,644
Milton $11,616
Hanover $11,598
Shirley $11,446
Millbury $11,439
South Shore $11,438
Leicester $11,413
Westhampton $11,372
Northboro Southboro $11,348
Douglas $11,272
Easton $11,230
Hampshire $11,212
Quabbin $11,209
Shrewsbury $11,199
Plainville $11,042
Lakeville $11,036
Taunton $11,019
Sutton $10,987
Southeastern $10,972
Oxford $10,958
North Brookfield $10,933
Florida $10,874
Whitman Hanson $10,770
Silver Lake $10,759
Ashburnham Westminster $10,563
Dartmouth $10,442
Winchendon $10,361
Attleboro $10,325
Swansea $10,247
Tantasqua $10,203
Winthrop $9,966
Bridgewater Raynham $9,819
Lunenburg $9,658
Quaboag $9,337
Randolph $9,337
Harvard $9,312
Palmer $8,982
Fitchburg $8,881
Leominster $7,911

SOURCE: Department of Education via Boston Globe