Medford Blog

When Lily met Gus

Posted on July 24, 2008 by ncoakley
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Sometimes, newspapers can bring people together…but in this case, it was two pot-bellied pigs.

A few weeks ago, we did a story on Lily, a little black pig who changed the animal laws in the city after a daring afternoon escape. Reunited with her owner, Erica Wilson, Lily’s been a bit of a media darling lately, with a FOX News story.

But it was the fact that she was on our front page that brought her to the attention of Gus…or, at least his owners, who saw the story and asked us to put them in touch with Wilson.

And so a playdate was arranged, with both pigs finally meeting. Check out what the encounter was like. When Lily met Gus

Unusual animals

Posted on July 8, 2008 by ncoakley
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With Lily the pot-bellied pig changing an outdated law that now allows her to live within the city limits, we were wondering what other sort of pets people have out there?

Got a ferret, a snake, a pot-bellied pig like Lily? Let us know or better yet, send us a photo of your cutie so we can post it right here!

VOTE: Local couple wants to win dream wedding

Posted on July 2, 2008 by ncoakley
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They’re in the top 3 and now they need your help to win Us Magazine’s Dream Wedding contest.

Michael McCormack and Tammy Biggins beat out 400,000 couples to score a place in the top 20. And just this week they found out they were now in the final 3 — but they still have to beat out two other couples and the competition is strong.

So the couple is asking you to vote for them. Just click here and this link will take you to the finalists page at Usmagazine.com. Scroll down to the bottom and vote. You can only vote once!

POLL: Civilian dispatchers?

Posted on July 1, 2008 by ncoakley
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Budget cuts have forced many city officials to think outside the box when it comes to spending money creatively.

One way, think some officials, is to look at taking cops and firefighters off inside desk jobs and send them back to the streets. Those jobs would then be filled by civilian dispatchers.

Union reps argue that those jobs are part of bargaining agreements and once they’re gone — even if times are good — they’re gone.

But are civilian dispatchers the way to go???

Medfordite on TV show

Posted on June 26, 2008 by ncoakley
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If you were watching carefully on ABC Tuesday night at 9 p.m., then you saw her — Medford’s own Olga Medvedev — competing on the brand new summer reality show “I Survived a Japanese Game Show.”

For an episode recap, profiles and more, click here for the rundown and cheer on Olga:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/isurvivedajapanesegameshow/index?pn=index

A Hail Mary save for the budget

Posted on June 24, 2008 by ncoakley
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You could call it an 11th hour miracle. You could call it the Hail Mary save of the season.

Critics are calling it typical of the city’s administration.

With negotiations between the mayor and some unions stalled out this week over the split in healthcare proposal that would save the city tons of money, it’s amazing to see that the city was able to find money in other places to make up for the deficit. But that didn’t come as a surprise to some union officials who this week told us to expect the maneuver — and they were right.

The budget process is difficult and it causes a lot of sleepless nights for some people, who struggle with the idea of keeping their job or causing another person to lose their job or…well, you get the picture.

In the end, it probably would have been a good idea to sit down with union officials and ask where they thought they could cut corners and still maintain services. After all, Firefighters 1032 President Rick Jordan made some good suggestions that instead of causing demotions within the ranks would actually loosen up some cash. Eventually, this is what the mayor did.

Scaring people with talk of layoffs and demotions does nobody any good. Maybe it’s time for the city and unions to actually start working together…let go of the harsh feelings, finger pointing and mudslinging…and really put Medford and its residents first. After all, they’re the ones who are going to find themselves without police when they need help, firefighters when their house is burning down and children flunking out because there are no teachers and class sizes are too big.

There are ways to be productive and if the budget process keeps going the way it is…well, nothing will be accomplished.

Unions holding back

Posted on June 20, 2008 by ncoakley
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With the city budget stretched thin, the administration is once again looking to the unions to ante up and take on more of the burden for healthcare.

The city says the money saved could be enough to stave off layoffs and cutbacks in services.

This is the same thing the city said a few years ago.

But is it fair to keep going back to the unions? Some unions say it’s a form of blackmail: Want to keep your job? Agree.

So it comes as no surprise that some union officials are saying no to the administration. Both the police patrolmen’s union and the fire union reportedly took votes in the last 24 hours about the healthcare option, both of which firmly said no.

The ball goes back to City Hall, where the mayor is looking for those last minute changes that could possibly save jobs and services before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

What do you think? Should the unions get on the bandwagon or should they stand their ground???

Budgetary woes

Posted on June 18, 2008 by ncoakley
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Medford is $2.4 million in the hole and it looks like this could possibly be the scariest budget season yet. Positions are in danger of being cut, leaving the city with fewer services.

Tonight, June 18, begins the first of two budgetary meetings between the administration and the City Council. The second is scheduled for Thursday, June 19 at 6 o’clock.

There will have to be some tough choices made…the question we pose to you on the eve of a harsh fiscal year is this: What possible remedies or ideas do you feel might help the city survive the struggling economy?

Let us know…

What would you do for Celtics tickets?

Posted on June 11, 2008 by ncoakley
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It used to be an ordinary person could score playoff tickets. You might have to camp out overnight, but there was always the hope that you could end up seeing that one play or game that would go down in history. And you could tell your grandchildren, “I was there.’

These days, scoring any sort of tickets for a major event involves (1) a lot of money; (2) praying that Ticketmasters’ Web site doesn’t freeze up on you; or (3) knowing someone who knows someone who maybe can get you something in the upper bleachers.

The fun has gone out of a lot of professional sports….and unfortunately, the true fans are the ones who get left out.

Medford resident Kyle Carter was willing to trade a night with his wife on Craig’s List (sorry, we couldn’t score photos of her either) just to see his favorite team in action. Whether he’s wrong or right, well, that’s between him and his wife.

Tell us what you would do for playoff tickets…

Graduation shout outs!

Posted on June 6, 2008 by ncoakley
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Congratulations to not only the Medford High School Class of 2008, which graduated June 5 at the Gantcher Center, but to all graduates who are celebrating their big achievement.

We invite community members to give a shout out to their grads by uploading photos to our site or just leaving grads a comment here!

For example, I’d like to personally give a congratulatory shout out to my niece, Miss Ashley Vieira, who graduated on June 2 with the Class of 2008 in Somerville!

Way to go, Ash…we’re very proud of you!

Hey, let us know who your grad is and where they’re graduating from!

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