News
Postal Pantry Counters Government Cuts
By Ann Needle
Could you feed yourself — or your child — on $6 per day? Take away $1, and what food would you cut out? That is the dilemma many people wrestle with daily. And, come next month, recipients of SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will see their budgets shrink even further.
For the Stow Food Pantry, this is the reality it tries to make a bit less daunting. And, its annual Postal Pantry Share the Bounty Food Drive, October 7 to 12, is the food bank’s biggest source of items and financial donations every year, according to Food Pantry President Amanda Bennett. Now that most SNAP recipients will see their benefits reduced by November, the Pantry must use this drive to help gear up for an expected increase in clients.
Peaceful Turnout for Gun Violence Forum
By Ellen Oliver
A public forum “Gun Violence: Nine months after Newtown: What has changed?” was held by the Stow Democratic Town Committee on September 18 at Hale School. The forum was originally scheduled to be held in May, but was postponed due to concerns about the potential size of the turnout and need for increased security measures, according to the SDTC.
The panel members for the forum, some different from the ones scheduled for May, included John Rosenthal from Stop Handgun Violence, Angus McQuilken from the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and StateRepresentative Michael Brady, who is on the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. James Wallace from the Gun Owners Action League, was also scheduled to appear, but withdrew the day before due to illness.
Nashoba MCAS Scores Healthy
By Ann Needle
With the school year still new, the Nashoba School Committee got a first look at last spring’s MCAS scores for the district at their meeting Tuesday night, and heard reflections from Nashoba Regional High School’s principal, after his first year of service, on what is needed at the school. Much of the rest of the Committee meeting was devoted to reviewing and approving new and existing policies, including a new teacher evaluation system.
Looking at the spring MCAS results, the district continued to fare well. Compared with other grades across the state, each Nashoba school placed at least in the top third of each grades’ Math, Science, and English Language Arts tests, according to calculations released by The Boston Globe. Students take the exam in grades 3 through 8, as well as in grade 10. The tests’ rankings are listed (highest to lowest) as Advanced, Proficient, Needs Improvement and Warning/Failing.
Intel Closing Impacts Region
By Nancy Arsenault
Late last week, word reached the public that international semi-conductor giant Intel will be shutting down their chip manufacturing facility in Hudson. The shut down will slash 700 positions by the end of 2014. The first round of layoffs, affecting 100 people, is expected to take place over the next few months. When the entire layoff concludes, the Hudson workforce will have been cut nearly in half.
“Intel has informed its employees that it plans to cease manufacturing operations at its wafer fabrication facility in Hudson, MA,” confirmed Ann Hurd, Manager of Corporate Affairs Intel East Coast, speaking to The Stow Independent on Friday. She said Intel is developing plans to offer other manufacturing positions within the company to laid off employees, but none of those positions are in Massachusetts. “Our other factories are in Arizona and Oregon,” said Hurd of the relocation options.
Reduced School Year Assessment for Stow
By Ann Needle
As plans were laid out for the new school year, Stow taxpayers received some good news at the Nashoba School Committee’s first meeting of the 2013/14 year held on Tuesday night.
In sum, Superintendent Michael Wood noted that new state accounting rules and corrections made to enrollment numbers mean Stow’s assessment is about $150,000 less than its original 2013/14 calculation. Lancaster sees an $85,000 drop, while Bolton’s contribution ticks up by $200,000.
Police Impersonator Pulls Woman Over
By Nancy Arsenault
Stow and Maynard police are issuing a warning to local motorists to be on the lookout for a “police impersonator”. A young woman from Stow reported to police on August 22 that a car was following closely behind her as she traveled through the eastern towns on Rt. 117, heading to Stow after work, around 12:45am. Near Erikson’s Ice Cream, the car activated a blue flashing light, and thinking it was the police, the woman pulled over.
What’s New at Nashoba
By Ann Needle
As Nashoba Regional High heads back to school today, many Stow students will be adjusting to a number of changes in personnel and facilities at both Nashoba Regional High School and the central District office.
At NRHS, perhaps the most visible new face belongs to Kerry O’Donnell, who has taken over Tracy Calo’s position as assistant principal, announced Principal Dr. Parry Graham. “She is a rock star, she will be wonderful,” Graham enthused.
West Nile Virus Found in Adjacent Towns
By Ellen Oliver
Last week, mosquitoes with the West Nile Virus were discovered in surveillance traps set in Boxborough and Maynard. Central Mass Mosquito Control Project Executive Director Tim Deschamps confirmed the CMMCP captured a Culex mosquito with the West Nile Virus in Boxborough in the Meadow Lane area.
Deschamps explained that although the area in Boxborough where the mosquito was found is near the Stow border, there is a large expanse of wooded areas along the border and the characteristics of the type of mosquito that was infected made the risk to Stow very low. “The Culex mosquito is not an aggressive biter,” explained Deschamps. “They aren’t strong fliers either, but are seen as amplifiers, which means they will transfer the virus to birds.”
Joint Discussion on Marijuana Proposed
By Nancy Arsenault
The Planning Board hopes to gather Selectmen and the Board of Health to discuss Stow’s approach to medical marijuana facilities locating here, as Bolton looks at a multi-faceted facility proposed for Rt. 117 in that town
New Floodplain Maps Impact Properties
By Ellen Oliver
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Stow, reshaping the areas considered in and out of floodplains. In a joint presentation with Bolton on July 29 at the Stow Town Hall, Stow’s Assistant Town Planner Jesse Steadman gave an overview of the detailed, and often confusing, issues related to the proposed maps.