Week in Review: Town, State Election Seasons Begin
A look at some of the top news stories on Needham Patch last week.
Selectman Jim Healy speaks out at a selectmen's meeting held this summer at the Public Services Administration Building. Healy has announced plans to resign after less than a year of his three-year term on the board.
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Photos
Life gets busy, and we at Patch certainly understand that. So with that in mind, here are a few stories you might have missed on Needham Patch this week.
1. Healy Discusses Plan to Resign: Needham Selectman Jim Healy announced in a letter submitted to local media that he will be stepping down from his position this spring, in part because of several incidents of vandalism on his property.
2. Needham Schools’ New Sex Ed Program Reviewed: Needham Public Schools staff discussed feedback received from teachers and students regarding the district’s new sex education curriculum that was piloted in fifth and ninth grades.
3. Paulson To Conclude School Committee Service: School Committee member Bill Paulson said he will not seek re-election to a second term this spring.
4. Photo Gallery: Needham Rings in New Year: The annual New Year’s Needham celebration included a full day and evening of events on Dec. 31. See images from the day’s festivities in our online gallery.
5. NRC’s New Year’s 5K Starts Year Off Right: The Needham Running Club’s annual Jan. 1 race drew the largest crowd ever, with 373 runners participating. See which local runners came out on top in the event.
6. Needham Guide to a Healthy 2012: Start 2012 out on the right foot with our quick guide to gyms, personal trainers and other local businesses that will help you have a healthier year.
7. Rockets Review: Big Wins Close 2011: The Needham High School boys hockey team stunned Catholic Memorial, the girls basketball team won their holiday tourney and the dance team was set to perform at the NCAA Orange Bowl halftime on Jan. 4.
8. Candidates plan bid in 2012 race for Fourth Congressional District: Two candidates have announces they may run for Barney Frank’s Fourth District seat, and now that Needham is part of the Fourth District, following statewide redistricting, local voters will want to keep an eye on this race as it develops. First, Newton resident Herb Robinson announced his bid for U.S. Congress. Then Joe Kennedy suggested he, too, might join enter the race.
9. Raising Needham: Back to Basics: This week, parenting columnist Audra Myerberg offers tips for helping kids get back into a schedule and house rules with the new year.
10. Cooking With Sheila: Ring in the New Year With Rosemont Street Stuffed Mushrooms: Needham Patch introduced a new cooking column.
11. In this week’s police reports: A Needham man was charged with OUI drugs after crashing into a telephone pole; a Dorchester man was arrested in two Dec. 5 house break-ins in Needham and Westwood; a woman’s cell service was canceled after someone opened a fake account in her name; and an iPod and a carton of cigarettes were taken from a vehicle on Lincoln Street.
THIS WEEK IN POLLS
Each week, Needham Patch asks readers to weigh in on a few topics through polls. Below is a look at the results of any polls run this past week. If you missed the questions, click on the links below to add your two cents.
POLL: Will Starbucks' Price Hike Change Your Coffee-Drinking Habits? (9 votes)
- Just a 1 percent increase—are you kidding me? No, their brew is worth it; I will keep drinking. … 33 percent
- I’ve had enough of these incremental price hikes everywhere I look; I’m drawing the line and switching to a cheaper brew. … 33 percent
- I won’t change now, but I’m close to drawing the line and making all my coffee at home. … 22 percent
- Time to quit caffeine. … 12 percent
Did we miss something? Got a great story idea or photo op coming up? E-mail Becca.Manning@patch.com or call 781-217-4233.
