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Friday, May 18, 2012

Court Strikes Down Portion of Drunk Driving Law

Sen. Bruce Tarr called court's decision “deeply concerning and undermines the effectiveness of a major law that protects our public safety.”

The state Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday removed a portion of a law that targeted drunk driving, known as Melanie’s Law. The court Thursday disallowed the portion of the law that allows the Registry of Motor Vehicles to increase sanctions against those who admit to driving drunk, but whose cases are later dismissed, reported the Boston Globe. The issue is that when lawmakers changed the state’s drunk driving law, they did not change what a “conviction” means. Supreme Judicial Court Justice Margot Botsford wrote in the unanimous decision that the law did not “explicity include cases that are ‘continued without a finding’ in its list of what can be considered drunk driving convictions,” reported the Globe. The court decision did not …

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tisei Team Takes Heat Over Poll That Shows Him Up by 7 Points

A GOP poll that showed Richard Tisei in the lead in the Sixth District Congressional race may have not been what it seemed, according to Team Tierney.

Republican Congressional candidate Richard Tisei released polling results to the media this week that showed the Republican challenger with a 7-point lead over incumbent Congressman John Tierney, D-Salem. Tierney and Tisei, of Wakefield, are both seeking the Sixth Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives currently held by Tierney. The district includes Hamilton and Wenham, plus most of the North Shore. The polling data in the latest poll, compiled by GOP pollster John McLaughlin, may not be accurate. As it turns out, the poll dramatically over-represents Republicans. The same poll had Sen. Scott Brown with a 24-point lead over Elizabeth Warren (in most other polls statewide those two are in a statistical tie). Blue …

Police Log

Man Issued Summons After Allegedly Shoplifting at Crosby's

A roundup of activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department for May 14-15. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Monday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 15. Monday, May 14 9:29 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Tally Ho Drive. 10:52 a.m. Somebody was injured after a call for assistance from Miles River Middle School. 11:06 a.m. An animal call was handled at the station. 12:25 p.m. Community policing was conducted at the station. 2:26 p.m. A 911 hang-up or wrong dial call came from a Lake Drive address. 2:27 p.m. An animal call was handled on Highland Street. 2:30 p.m. Animal control was called to a Northedge Road address for an animal call. 4:46 p.m. A report was written after assistance was rendered at Hamilton-Wenham …

Police Log

Two Early Morning Suspicious Vehicles in Wenham

A roundup of activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department for May 9-13. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Monday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 15. Monday, May 14 12:11 a.m. A verbal warning was issued after a car stop on Route 128 northbound north of exit 17. 1 a.m. A suspicious person was reported on the Route 128 overpass. 2:19 a.m. A car stop was conducted on Maple Street. 8:45 a.m. Assistance was rendered at a Cherry Street address. 1:05 p.m. An animal call on Monument Street was given to Wenham police. 1:48 p.m. A well-being check was conducted at a Mayflower Drive address. 2:19 p.m. A disabled vehicle was assisted on Main Street. 10:34 p.m. A report was written after a larceny was reported at a Cherry Street address. …

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

School Committee: 'Secret Negotiations' Helped Avoid Budget 'Food Fight'

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee ratified the fiscal 2013 budget number that was approved by Hamilton Town Meeting on Saturday.

The Hamilton-Wenham School Committee voted 7-1 Tuesday night to OK the 2013 budget that was approved by the Hamilton Town Meeting on Saturday The decision, though, came after a lengthy discussion on how "secret negotiations" before the meeting avoided what member Larry Swartz called “a war” that might have broken out in the high school auditorium. Several current and former members of the School Committee criticized the negotiations by three members – Chairman Alexa McCloughan, Vice Chairman Roger Kuebel and Swartz – which were kept from the other committee members prior to Saturday's Annual Town Meeting in Hamilton. However, most critics also said that the result of the "secret negotiations" was good for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional …

HFD

12:04 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

The infamous Marchand case needs to become this town's (sordid) past or we as a town will never heal. It showed a very ugly side of Hamilton that hurt our trust in town police and town boards. Something positive did result however, it uncovered wrongdoing and publicly showed the awful actions by some individuals of our town government. Those people (with exception of town attorney Donna MacKenna …   more ›

Tea House's Liquor License Works Through 'Technical Corrections'

A previous package store license issued to the Wenham Tea House needs to be "freed up" before state legislators can approve a new pouring license.

There can’t be two liquor licenses in one place. And with that in mind, the Wenham Board of Selectmen on Tuesday OKed action by Interim Town Administrator Mark Andrews to submit “technical corrections” to pending legislation that will grant a liquor license to the Wenham Tea House. In February, 130 voters met in a Special Town Meeting to unanimously support starting the process of a home rule petition for a “pouring license” for the Tea House, which reopened under new management in late March. It is now operated by the owner’s of Henry’s Fine Foods of Beverly, whose owner John Keohane sought a pouring license as part of his takeover of the operation. The previous operator, Emma Roberts, had a package store license that allowed the Tea …

John Keohane

11:02 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Robert, THANKYOU for your article,thinking that I would be informed of any issues pertaining to the Wenham Tea house, I am thankful for your efforts of informing the General population. John Keohane Henry's Fine Foods   more ›

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

You Ask...Patch Answers

Why Are Flags at Half Staff?

Some people have asked why many flags are at half staff on Tuesday.

Flags at government buildings are at half staff on Tuesday in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week. In Hamilton, Police Memorial Week will be observed on Sunday, May 20 at 9 a.m. with a observance at the Hamilton Police Memorial in Hamilton Cemetery, according to Hamilton Police Sgt. Stephen Trepanier. The observance is being organized by the Hamilton Police Relief organization and the guest speaker will be Dr. Timothy Johnson, the headmastere at Pingree School. "Police Officers Memorial Day honors and remembers police officers who gave their lives while on duty and those who served the town of Hamilton," Trepanier said in announcing the observance. In his note to local governments, Gov. Deval Patrick's note reads: "Please …

Comment_arrow

A Cop

10:26 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

As a response the the issue of the Hamilton police I feel it necessary to say a few words as I have followed this contemptible police department for years now as I work in another department nearby. The issue of if HPD is good or not should not be in a forum about police week because that honors heros and HPD has not one hero left in the ranks. It should be in an article that tells about the …   more ›

Sandler's 'Grown Ups' Not Slated for Return to Chebacco

At least half of the upcoming Adam Sandler film 'Grown Ups 2' will be shot in Marblehead this summer, but there have been no plans revealed for filming any scenes on Chebacco Lake, where some scenes were shot for "Grown Ups" three years ago.

The majority of the star-packed Adam Sandler movie "Grown Ups 2" will be shot in Marblehead this summer, with filming expected to take place at several local schools, a home on Marblehead Neck and on Atlantic Avenue. But a reprersentative for the film's casting company and a member of the Chebacco Lake Association both say there's been no talk about returning to Chebacco Lake, where several scenes in "Grown Ups" were shot in 2009. The film's Location Manager, Charlie Harrington, appeared before the Wenham Board of Selectmen at Abbot Hall last month and asked for its permission to film "a large portion of the movie" in Marblehead over the next four months. "This is basically the town in the movie and we will be pretending everything else we…

Police Log

Vandalism at Cutler and Ipswich Woman Allegedly Driving with Suspended License

A roundup of activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department for May 6-8. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 13. Friday, May 11 8:13 a.m. A ticket was issued after a car stop on Bay Road. 8:26 a.m. Somebody was taken to the hospital after an ambulance call to a Highland Street address. 9:53 a.m. A child seat info or check was completed at the station. 2:01 p.m. A ticket was issued after a car stop on Highland Street. 2:18 p.m. A ticket was issued after a car stop at Essex Street and Miles River Road. 2:33 p.m. A ticket was issued after a car stop on Bay Road. 2:45 p.m. A ticket was issued after a car stop on Bay Road. 5:32 p.m. A verbal warning was issued after a car stop on Chebacco Road. 5…

Police Log

Four People Taken to The Hospital After Rear-End Crash

A roundup of activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department for May 9-13. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Wenham Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Wednesday, May 9 through Sunday, May 13. Wednesday, May 9 1:56 a.m. Somebody was transported to the hospital after an ambulance call to Rodger Reception Center at Gordon College. 11:05 a.m. A suspicious vehicle reported on Main Street was gone when officers arrived. 2:45 p.m. Assistance was rendered at a Larch Lane address. 4:03 p.m. Assistance was rendered at a different Larch Lane address. 4:10 p.m. A problem involving phone calls was reported at the fire station. 4:45 p.m. An ambulance was called to Grapevine Road. 6:03 p.m. No police services were needed after a 911 hang-up or wrong dial call from a Grapevine Road …

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