Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on April 16: Gomez Visit Rescheduled

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, April 16. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Sun: Tuesday is expected to be a sunny day with the temperature getting close to 60 degrees. The wind will also increase out of the south up to 20 miles per hour in the afternoon. 2. Gomez: U.S. Senate candidate, Republican Gabriel Gomez, had planned to visit Hamilton and Wenham on Tuesday but that visit has been postponed because of Monday afternoon’s bombings in Boston and his visit will be rescheduled. 3. Meteor: The Lyrid Meteor Shower will be able to be seen in the sky, starting on Tuesday night. 4. Andrews: Exactly one year ago on Tuesday, Wenham Interim Town Administrator Mark Andrews started on the job, taking over for Jeff Chelgren, who …

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Patch Facts

5 Things To Know on March 5: Understanding Suburbia's Biggest Predator

A great way to start the day with a quick look at the events and happenings in the two towns.

Welcome to “5 Things,” your daily source for community events, happenings in the two towns and other little tidbits of information. Here are five things you need to know on Tuesday, March 5. 1. Warmer: Clouds will still linger on Tuesday but the temperature will get a little higher than Monday – up to the mid-40s.  There’s an outside chance of a morning shower and there will be a light north wind. 2. Howls: The mystery of suburban coyotes is explained in an evening program on Tuesday night at Hamilton-Wenham Library. Dr. Jon Way will talk about how eastern coyotes have increase its range in the past 100 years and are the top predator in New England. The program runs from 7-9 p.m and is free and open to the public. 3. Blogs: Have you …

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Bay Road Horse Farm Plans to be Divided into Six Lots

Aquilla Farm has plans before Hamilton town officials to divide the 80 acre property into six lots.

The owners of Aquila Farm plan to go before the Hamilton Planning Board on Tuesday night with a plan to divide the 80-acre property into six lots. It was unclear on Monday what the exact plan is for the six lots. Both the attorney listed on the application submitted to town officials, Jim Kroesser, and the real estate agent that has the property listed for sale, Lanse Robb, could not be reached for comment on Monday. The entire property has been listed for sale and on Monday it changed its status to "under agreement." The entire estate was listed for $3.995 million. It is described in the listing as "one of the few authentic and fully operational equestrian estates on the North Shore." The entire property is about 85 acres at 641 and 643 …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Nov. 20: Rockin’ the ‘Nut

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 20. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Streak: By continually mentioning all of our great weather hopefully we are not jinxing us, but we’re happy to report that another spectacularly beautiful fall day is in store for Tuesday, with partly sunny skies forecasted along with temperatures into the low 50s. 2. Craft Time: Green Meadows Farm hosts craft time on Tuesday at the farm. The farm educator gathers items from the farm “and magically creates some beautiful pieces for you all to take home.” Best of all, its free and open to the public. There are two sessions, one at 10:30 a.m. and another at 3:30 p.m. 3. Unemployment: The state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: Sept. 18

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 18. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Wet: By Tuesday evening, a rainstorm with gusty winds is expected to move in. Before that, it will be cloudy with temperatures in the 70s with a chance of a shower on Tuesday. 2. Gas: Gas is selling in Hamilton for three cents less than the area average. A gallon of regular gas is selling for an average of $3.92 in the area, and three gas stations in Hamilton – G & M Motors, Hamilton Convenience and Oliver Gulf – were all selling a gallon of regular for $3.89 per gallon on Monday. At Fallon’s Auto in Wenham, gas is selling for $4.09. 3. Girls Soccer: The Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School girls’ soccer game that was originally scheduled for Monday has been moved to …

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Mike's Nears a Likely OK for Used Car Sales

Mike's Auto is getting closer to a final decision about whether used cars can be sold at the Bay Road business.

The proposal to sell used cars at Mike's Auto Repair in downtown Hamilton will go before the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday night - a board that last month showed interest is allowing a scaled back used car sales area. Board members told owner Michael Holland and his attorney, James Kroesser, they were open to approving a plan that would allow seven spaces in front of Mike’s where used cars could be sold. “This is something of a negotiation,” said Chairman Bill Bowler said, noting he sensed that the board was open to allowing used car sales at Mike’s but that the number of parking spaces proposed was too many. Jane Lyman, a board member, said she would be OK with seven spaces in front, although “it seems tight.” “I’m OK with…

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Pingree Unveils Plans for New Athletic Center, Arts Addition

A new athletic building and arts addition is planned at Pingree School.

Pingree School unveiled plans on Tuesday to build a new athletic building and expand its arts wing. The new 35,000 athletic building will go in space that is now a parking lot across the driveway from the hockey rink. Ultimately, the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals will be asked to grant the permits. But on Tuesday night, the Planning Board took an initial look at the plans. This summer, Pingree built a new septic system under the hockey rink parking lot. “We wanted to get that out of the way ahead of time,” said Jock Burns, Pingree’s Director of Finance. The school hopes to break ground on the new athletic building and arts addition in spring 2013. The total cost of all the work is estimated at $10 million, according to an application …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: Aug. 21

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 21. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Even Nicer: Tuesday is forecasted to be a sunny day, with temperatures expected to get a bit higher than Monday and into the 80s. As icing on the cake, the humidity will be low. 2. Gas: The least expensive gas in the two towns on Monday was at G & M Motors, where a gallon of regular was selling for $3.69 per gallon. A gallon was $3.75 at Oliver Gulf and Hamilton Convenience and $3.89 at Fallon’s Auto. 3. Pets: Have a cute dog or cat? Or do you like to look at cute pets? Tuesday is the final day to enter and vote in Hamilton-Wenham Patch’s Pet contest. Upload a photo to enter or click through the photos and vote in the comments section. Voting closes on Tuesday at noon and…

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Town Counsel's 'Privileged and Confidential' Memos Draws Ire of Planning Board Member

A Planning Board member has objected to some legal advice provided to the board.

One member of the Hamilton Planning Board does not think the board should be accepting documents from the town attorney labeled “privileged and confidential.” “I don’t believe this board should be accepting any privileged and confidential memorandums from Donna Brewer or anyone else,” said Planning Board member Ed Howard. Howard made a motion for the board to not accept the memo at a meeting last week at Hamilton Town Hall. Another board member did not second it. Howard is one of 20 Hamilton residents who signed a letter earlier this month, asking that Town Counsel Donna Brewer not be reappointed as town counsel. Brewer's reappointment as town counsel is in the hands of Town Manager Michael Lombardo and is not in the hands of the Planning …

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Ron Powell

3:27 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012

There's a gray area in the Open Meeting Law that the Massachusetts Legislature needs to address. While the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in Suffolk Construction Co., Inc. v. Division of Capital Asset Management, has affirmed the existence of the attorney-client privilege protecting communications between public boards (such as the Planning Board) and their counsel, it has also struck down…   more ›

Mike's Auto - a 'Hot Potato' - to Face More Questions About Used Car Sales

The Hamilton Planning Board still has questions about a proposal to sell used cars at Mike's Auto in downtown Hamilton.

The Hamilton Planning Board wants another chance get answers to its questions about plans to sell used cars at Mike’s Auto Repair in downtown Hamilton. Mike’s is looking for a permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals to allow used car sales at the business on Route 1A, just north of the Wenham town line. While the ZBA will make the final decision, the Planning Board also has a say through the site plan review process, which includes review of things such as parking and site layout. Initially, a plan outlining how the used cars will be arranged on the property was hand drawn by Mike’s attorney, Jim Kroesser of Hamilton, but the Planning Board said that was not good enough. The Zoning Board later said it, too, wanted a plan drawn by a …

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