Governor Says He Will Sign Hill's 'Three Strikes' Bill

The killing of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire helped gain support for Melissa's Bill, which limits parole eligibility for convicted violent repeat offenders.

With the fate of Melissa's Bill solely in Gov. Deval Patrick's hands Tuesday, the governor made a decision at 2:30 p.m. "I will sign this bill," he said. Melissa's Bill, named for Melissa Gosule who was killed by a violent repeat offender who was out on parole, has been in the works for more than a decade. But it was the killing of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire on Dec. 26, 2010 that spurred more support for the bill. The bill was initially sponsored 13 years ago by state Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, who represents Hamilton and Wenham. "Thanks to Rep. Brad Hill and DA Gerry Leone, the original sponsors of this legislation who stood with me when few others did," Les Gosule, Melissa's father, said in a prepared statement on Tuesday. …

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Hamilton-Wenham Local Election Guide

A one stop place to go to get information about the candidates and issues that voters will decide in the voting booth in November.

As the November general elections gets closer, Hamilton-Wenham Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about the decisions you will make on the ballot. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates. U.S. Rep. John Tierney: The incumbent Salem Democrat and Hamilton and Wenham representative on Capitol Hill blogs on Patch and has engaged in a live chat with readers. Richard Tisei: The Republican former state Senator from Wakefield and local business owner is challenging Tierney for the 6th Congressional District and has also engaged in a live chat with readers. State Senator Bruce Tarr: The Republican from Gloucester is runing unoppossed for the Senate …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 19

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

Today is Monday, March 19. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Cooler: We’ll be closer to normal with the temperatures on Monday, with the forecast calling for high temperatures close to 60 with a northeast wind keeping things cooler than Sunday. There’s a chance of some clouds and rain but the sun should also poke through. 2. Trash containers: Last week, the green organics collection bins were delivered to every home in Hamilton and Wenham in advance of the start of the new trash collection program on April 2. This week, it will be the new trash bins. Delivery of the new trash bins are scheduled to begin on Monday. 3. Wenham candidates: Do you want to be a candidate for publicly elected office in Wenham? Monday is the final day to “…

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Michelle Bailey

2:58 pm on Monday, March 19, 2012

Idlewood Park is a sliver of town owned land that contains the granite stairs that complete the popular walking loop of Lake Dr, Pleasant, Monument, Main St, and Arbor/Highland. Residents of Hamilton and Wenham would be adversely affected if it were sold to a private party. Please support the effort to keep Idlewood Park publicly owned and accessible.   more ›

Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 6

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

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 6. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Warmth: Temperatures will get into the 50s again on Tuesday, continuing an unseasonably warm streak of weather. The sky with be cloudy with occasional showers. 2. Brad Hill: State Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, will be in the two towns for office hours on Tuesday. Hill will be at Hamilton Town Hall at 9 a.m. and at Wenham Town Hall at 10:15 a.m. 3. Turkeys: On Friday, we told you about a friendly lunch bet between the chairmen of the Hamilton and Wenham Boards of Selectmen had with Bourne Board of Selectmen Chairman Don Pickard had about the high school Super Bowl game. And since Bourne won 16-14 on Saturday, Pickard said he wants five turkeys from both chairmen – Jennifer …

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Another $67K in Local Aid Headed to Two Towns

A supplemental state budget signed into law last week will send $67,000 to Hamilton and Wenham in additional local aid money.

Hamilton and Wenham will be getting, combined, nearly $70,000 in additional state money from a $169 million supplemental budget passed last week. State Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, said the fiscal 2011 Final Deficiency Supplemental Budget includes $65 million in one-time money to cities and towns and, within that, is $41,088 for Hamilton town government and $26,196 for Wenham. The payments are known as “reversion money.” The supplemental budget was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick last Thursday. “At a time when local aid was cut, it was imperative that any excess revenue collected by the Commonwealth go back to our cities and towns,” said Hill in a written announcement. “In addition, it is my hope that this will allow our communities to take …

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Hamilton and Wenham Stay Together, Join Topsfield and Rowley in Proposed New House District

Proposed new districts for House of Representatives seats were released on Tuesday and Hamilton and Wenham would stay together with Ipswich in the 4th Essex district under the proposal.

Hamilton and Wenham would stick together in a proposed new House of Representative district released on Tuesday. The district also keeps the two towns together with Ipswich, where sitting state Rep. Brad Hill resides. “There was never any talk of splitting them up,” Hill said. But it pulls Rowley and Topsfield in with Ipswich, Hamilton, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Wenham to be part of a newly constructed 4th Essex District. “My district changed quite a bit,” said Hill, a Republican who sat on the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting that came up with the proposal. It takes two Boxford precincts and a Middleton precinct out of the 4th Essex district. The proposed new district consists of the entirety of six towns. “What is offered today …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Oct. 18

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

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 18. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Gas Prices: The least expensive gallon of gas in the two towns on Monday was $3.37 per gallon at Hamilton Convenience. Across the street at Oliver Gulf and at the other end of Asbury Street at G & M Motors, both stations were selling a gallon of regular for $3.39. Fallon’s had a gallon of regular priced at $3.79. 2. Redistricting: At last check, word was that we could see maps that outline the new state House and Senate districts on Tuesday at a hearing on Beacon Hill. State Rep. Brad Hill, R- Ipswich, who represents Hamilton and Wenham, sits on the joint committee that has worked to come up with the new districts based on the 2010 census. 3. Field Hockey and Rain: There’…

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Hill Joins GOP Jobs Tour to Push Responsible Legislation

Several GOP legislators from north of Boston, including state Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, visited Andover on Monday night to discuss how to create jobs and cut costs for both small business owners as well as larger employers in the state.

State Rep. Brad Hill joined several other Republican state representatives who spoke with small business owners at Memorial Hall Library in Andover  on Monday to discuss what can be done about the lack of jobs and healthy business throughout the state. Andover was one of the last stops on the GOP jobs tour, which had already been down on Cape Cod as well as the South Shore. Many business owners, including state Rep. Jim Lyons, stated how a laundry list of fees, taxes and permits must be dealt with in order to run a business in Massachusetts. Legislator at the forum in addition to Hill, R-Ipswich, who represents Hamilton and Wenham, included Lyons, R-Andover, Paul Adams, R-Andover, House Minority Leader Brad Jones, R-North Reading and …

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Hill Sponsors Bill Requiring ID at Polls

State Rep. Brad Hill has submitted a bill that would require voters to show identification at the polls, spurred in part by concerns that seasonal residents in Essex could possibly vote in two places.

Remembering Sept. 11

VIDEO: 'Our Collective Wound' to be Honored at First Church on Sept. 11

The community is invited to a service at First Church in Wenham on Sunday to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2011.

First Church in Wenham will open its door to the community, in conjunction with Hamilton and Wenham town officials and public safety responders, on Sunday to honor the victim of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2011. Rev. Michael Duda said that anyone, from any faith - or even those with no faith at all - are invited to remember the victim from the terrorist attacks 10 years ago in a special service at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday. The service wil begin at the Wenham Fire Department before moving across the street to the church, Duda said.

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