Bedford Santa Program ~ An Important Reminder and Announcement
Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
The Bedford Santa program is the Town’s longest-running volunteer program, begun more than 50 years ago and available to all families with children (or grandchildren) in Bedford on Christmas Eve.
Any child in Bedford can be visited by Santa on Christmas Eve and be presented with a special Christmas gift. Expenses are covered by donations, not town funds and volunteers make this special evening a success. For more information about the program, please visit bedfordsanta.com or visit the program’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BedfordSanta/ (Live links in the body of the story)
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First Parish Solar Panel Litigation Settled
Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
The Town of Bedford shared the following statement regarding the resolution of a legal case brought by First Parish in Bedford, Unitarian Universalist, to permit the installation of solar panels on their meeting house.
The Bedford Citizen then reached out to First Parish, the Selectmen, and the Historic District Commission for their comments.
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Cong. Seth Moulton to Host a Digital Town Hall ~ TONIGHT, December 12 at 6:40 pm
Submitted by Congressman Seth Moulton
I’m hosting a live telephone town hall to speak with my constituents tonight – December 12 – at 6:40 PM ET.
I’ll be answering questions and discussing issues that matter to YOU.
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Michael E. McAllister Will Not Pursue a Third Term on the Bedford School Committee
By Michael E. McAllister
It was with mixed emotions today that I submitted a letter to School Committee Chair Dan Brosgol and Superintendent Jon Sills informing them of my decision not to pursue a third term on the Bedford School Committee. My current term – marking 6 years in total (including 3 years as Chair) – expires on March 9, 2019.
This decision was not an easy one to make. I continue to be genuinely engaged by the work of the School Committee and am proud of what we have accomplished, including:
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Holiday Tree Lighting: Bedford’s Stars Hollow Moment
By Brooke Shamon
If I am being honest, living in a small town like Bedford was never my favorite thing growing up. Everyone knows who you are; everyone knows your business when you just want to get through the supermarket quickly and unnoticed. However, after being introduced to The Gilmore Girls (Netflix TV) of fictional Stars Hollow, Connecticut I have begun to see how lucky I am to live in this small, quirky town.
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Virginia & James F. Comley Celebrate an Anniversary, a Lifetime in Bedford, and Honors at UMass Lowell
Special to The Bedford Citizen
Virginia and James F. Comley celebrated their 88th birthdays in 2018, year along with their 65th wedding anniversary on November 28.
The couple was recently feted at UMass Lowell where Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney announced a major scholarship in their name. At the university’s Celebration of Scholarship, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney presented the first Virginia and James Comley Scholarship to Abdi Shariff-Hassan ’21, a business administration major, and recognized the Comleys as honorary UMass Lowell alumni.
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Getting to Know Bedford’s Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veteran’s Hospital: The Behavioral Addictions Clinic
By Lee Vorderer
The Director of the Bedford VA, Dr. Joan Clifford, defines the aim of the Medical Center as serving the whole person who comes to the VA for services. This means looking at the whole health picture, offering a wide range of traditional and non-traditional physical and mental health care therapies as needed, and doing it with the Veteran as part of the team. (Click this link to read about upcoming Introduction to Whole Health events.) It means providing comprehensive outpatient services, extensive mental health services, and wide-ranging and cutting-edge geriatric and extended care services. Research plays a vital role in the VA’s activities, too, and we’ll examine some of that work throughout the series.
Editor’s Note: The second in The Bedford Citizen’s series of articles about Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital (the Bedford VA). (Click this link to read the first story in the series) focuses on one of the ways the hospital’s mission becomes a reality for those who have gone to war.
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Town Hall Open House Kicks-Off New Schedule
By Elizabeth Hacala
On Monday, December 3, members of many of the town’s departments and boards were on hand to talk with residents as Town Hall kicked off new Monday night hours. In addition to learning about the town, residents were treated to a trivia game with the Town Historian Sharon McDonald, hot cider, cookies, and festive seasonal decorations.
Starting December 3 Bedford residents can now conduct business in Town Hall on Monday nights until 7 pm, making it easier for people who may be out of town during normal business hours. Town Hall will now close at 1 pm on Fridays.
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Short Takes from the Bedford Housing Partnership
By Dot Bergin
Developer Sid Gehlot and members of his team came before the Housing Partnership on December 6 to present updated site plans and to designate affordable units in the two additional buildings he wants to build at the Village at Bedford Woods, Albion Way.
The Housing Partnership, which has been working with Gehlot since August, offered recommendations for the distribution of the proposed 10 affordable units in each of the 40-unit buildings. Affordable units are distributed on each level of the three-story buildings and include one, two, and three bedroom units. The Partnership also reminded the developer that finishes and appliances in the affordable units should be comparable to those in market-rate units.
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Superintendent Sills Reflects on Race Matters in the Bedford Schools
By Julie McCay Turner
Superintendent of Schools Jon Sills shared reflections on matters of race with the Bedford School Committee on Tuesday, November 27 and in a later email exchange with The Bedford Citizen. His remarks came after a pair of letters were sent to parents and subsequently posted in The Bedford Citizen on November 12 and on November 19.
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