Needham Firefighters Celebrated on September 11

The promotions of two town employees were recognized Tuesday during the selectmen's meeting.

On a day when communities throughout the United States are reminded of the sacrifice and duty of their public safety officers, in light of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Needham quietly celebrated two of its own. Firefighters Dennis Condon and Peter Cosgrove received promotions in June and were recognized at Tuesday’s meeting, following a moment of silence for the first responders and other victims of the 2001 attacks. “If 9/11 taught us anything, it’s how much police and fire are on the front lines and how much you do on behalf of the community,” Selectman Jerry Wasserman told Condon and Cosgrove, who attended the meeting along with Needham Fire Chief Paul Buckley and Police Chief Phil Droney. Buckley agreed that, while it was a …

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Patch Asks: Where Were You on September 11?

Share your story in the comments.

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and people around the region, the country and the world will be remembering that day in a variety of ways. Many people can recall exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the attacks. Today, Needham Patch wants to hear your story. Where were you on 9/11? Do you remember how you first heard the news? What were you doing? What was your reaction to the news? And how do the events of that day continue to impact your life today? Tell us your memories and stories in the comments below. And click on the PDF at right to read about Needham Patch Local Editor Becca Manning's memories of the 2001 attacks.

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Needham Police, Fire To Mark September 11 Anniversary

Local officials will hold a moment of silence in memory of the people who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Needham will remember 9/11 quietly this year, on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that shook the nation and took the lives of at least three Needham residents. Last fall, the town held a special ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks. No major events are planned in Needham for this year; however, members of the Needham Police and Fire departments will be marking the date with special ceremonies, according to Sandy Cincotta, assistant to the town manager. Members of the Needham Police Department Honor Guard will be participating in a short service on Friday, Sept. 7 at the 9/11 Memorial at the State House in Boston. On Tuesday, Sept. 11, the Needham Police Department will remember the 2001 attacks with a …

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Week in Review

Hazmat Plans, 9/11 Remembrance and Vehicle Break-Ins

A look back at the week’s most notable stories.

Needham officials this week discussed the City of Boston’s plans to curtail vehicles carrying hazardous materials out of the city and onto Route 128. The problem with the plan, according to those in Needham, relates to an ongoing Add-a-Lane project, which they believe could create more accidents and not be appropriate for hazmat vehicles. The beginning of the week found residents continuing to pay their respects to those killed on Sept. 11, 2001. Patch was in town for weekend ceremonies and you can find images from the moving events here. Additionally, resident Louise Miller shared a letter that states that the 9/11 events were an attack on the American way of life. Meanwhile, Selectmen Dan Matthews and Jerry Wasserman shared their …

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Selectmen Appoint Fire Lieutenant, Open up About 9/11

Dan Matthews and Jerry Wasserman sat in the Selectmen Meeting Room the evening of Sept. 11, 2001.

While the world was still digesting the morning events of Sept. 11, 2001 that evening, the Needham Board of Selectmen decided to conduct their scheduled meeting, sending a message of hope and perseverance in the process. Current selectmen Jerry Wasserman and Dan Matthews sat in the Selectmen Meeting Room of Needham Town Hall on that fateful night. “For me,” Wasserman said at Tuesday night’s meeting, “the fact that we had a meeting that night was a demonstration of our town’s determination to move forward.” A look at the agenda for that night’s meeting shows that things certainly were business as usual. A public hearing was held on the town’s AT&T contract, selectmen approved a transfer of license to a new manager at Mandarin Gourmet, and …

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Beyond the Bike Ride 'an Amazing Experience'

Needham bicyclists returned home Sunday after a three-day, 270-mile trek in memory of 9/11.

For Needham rider David Goldberg, the most powerful moment in his recent three-day, 270-mile trek from New York City to Boston came on the final day, Sunday, Sept. 11, with about 20 miles yet to go. As the 50 bicyclists participating in the Founders Ride neared Dover-Sherborn High School to meet up with about 150 additional riders for the last leg of the journey, they were greeted by a band playing and a crowd of people. “I think the most powerful moment of the trip was actually riding in there and the band playing and people cheering and screaming,” Goldberg said. “Even though we still had 20 more miles to go, I really felt like that was it. That was the moment.” The 2011 Beyond the Bike ride, which began Friday, Sept. 9 at Ground Zero in…

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Letter to the Editor: 9/11 Was an Attack on the American Way of Life

Needham resident Louise Miller shares her thoughts on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Across the country and around the world, remembrances of the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place. The names of those who were killed that day 10 years ago were read. Thousands of names. What we must remember is why they died. On Sept. 11 2001, the United States suffered a purposeful attack on American soil. What was under attack was the American way of life, the American ideals of economic and individual freedom. All those who died represent those American ideals. Let us also not forget the other lesson of 9/11: that in this age of globalization and multiculturalism, not everyone shares the American dream. So, we must remember all those who have fought and who still fight so that each one of us in America has the chance to live an American …

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Wendy Schapiro

11:34 am on Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Does that mean that those who do not worship the same G'd we do do not deserve the same rights/freedoms? The Founding Fathers laid the foundations for our country on the ideal that ALL men (people) are created equal, and they did so in response to religious oppression. If we cannot afford others who do not share our beliefs the freedom to be both patriotic AND agnostic/atheist, polytheistic or …   more ›