Articles from the Neighborhood Newsletter

By Donna and Chris Wren (Hillsdale Road)

On a warm sunny morning in May our family found ourselves surrounded by scores of people, ankle deep in the Lower Mystic Lake. Hundreds of herring swam around our feet and it was our job to catch them gently and place them in buckets. As the water poured from the dam between the two lakes we stood in the current and sat our borrowed nets in the water, waiting. Every once in a while we were rewarded with one or two fish in our nets. Into the buckets they went, to be peered at suspiciously by our 2 year old daughter. “Fishies?”

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by Mary Cummings (Jason Street)

Weathering winter in the neighborhood is described as a pleasure or a test of endurance depending on whom you ask. Age is certainly a factor when snow is involved and icy streets complicate all our lives but, overall, we seem able to make the best of the cold, dark season. Hill’s Pond becomes an animated Currier and Ives scene every year but this year, the skating extended from the pond onto the paths with the Jason Street path being glacial from the first snow fall in December to today (2/21/08). I was glad to see some of it melting in the recent heavy rains until I noticed that it was melting into my basement!

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by Karen Nichols (Gray Street)

Have you noticed the wonderful new garden at the corner of Endicott and Gray Streets? The town redesigned the intersection to slow traffic and make crossing safer. Instead of just planting grass, Susan Vik and Dan Sheehy (both of Gray Street) asked for and received the town’s permission to plant flowers and ornamental bushes. Dan dug out rocks and old roots, and Susan put her horticultural talents (and hands) to work. Now we can all enjoy colorful foliage and blossoms through the seasons. Another beautiful spot in our neighborhood provided by one couple’s initiative. Thank you, Susan and Dan!

Congratulations to young artist Gabriella Hakim, of Jason Street and the Ottoson school, who received a Gold Key prize in the Boston Globe Scholastic Arts Awards. The Globe sponsored the state-wide competition in cooperation with the Massachusetts Art Education Association, and the winners were displayed in the Transportation Building Gallery in Boston throughout February. Gold Key winners (the highest award) now go to New York City, for national competition and a late spring exhibit during the National Awards Celebration.

Do you know someone who deserves recognition? Anyone graduating, being promoted, or making praise-worthy progress? Let us know so we can congratulate them this spring.

by Steve Johnson (Jason Street)

People who don’t clean snow from the roof of their cars. Or those who don’t clean more than a peephole from one window. Come on, you can do it. Everybody’s in a hurry; think about safety and visibility! Legislation was introduced last year to require drivers to remove ice and snow from their vehicles before hitting the road, by State Rep. Cleon Turner of Dennis. A previous attempt by State Rep. Brian Knuuttila (Gardner) called for a fine of $500 and up to six months in jail for failure to clean. Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and several provinces of Canada have all proposed similar measures to make driving a snow fort a punishable offense. Right now, it is a penalty of insurance liability (you spray, you pay). Hopefully the oversight will extend to truckers who don’t cover their loads.