Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):
[Editor's note: There were 14 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, April 25
8:12 a.m. Person requesting escort to high school, Main St.
8:41 a.m. Identity theft, Main St.
10:49 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, Steele St.
11:19 a.m. Protesters at post office, Main St.
4:30 p.m. Multiple calls regarding erratic driver, Quinapoxet St./Fairview Ave. Operator pulled into driveway, urinated and then backed into trash cans and sped off
Tuesday, April 26
12:57 a.m. Loud bang from house, Shrewsbury St.
10:11 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, Laurel Hill Ln./Quinapoxet St.
10:18 a.m. Bones found by railroad tracks, unknown if human, Cutler Rd.
Wednesday, April 27
12:34 a.m. Sawhorses and other equipment in Holden St.
7:10 a.m. Suspicious vehicle outside of home, Brattle St. Found to be FBI agents looking for someone
Thursday, April 28
9:36 a.m. Person at station reporting seal coating scam, Main St.
9:55 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer about previous incident, Main St.
9:59 a.m. Gang member supposedly holding his family hostage, Quinapoxet St.11:34 a.m. Male with disheveled appearance pushing kid’s bike, Lovell Rd.
2:56 p.m. Someone went through caller’s house, lights on in basement and things tipped over, Highland Ave.
4:37 p.m. Trailer truck versus railroad bridge, Main St.
Friday, April 29
12:40 a.m. Male yelling and acting strange, Main St.
2:49 a.m. W. Boylston PD located stolen vehicle on Laurel St. Two individuals fled into woods;
Holden PD to assist looking for individuals
5:08 a.m. Vehicle rear-ended, Laurel St.
9:46 a.m. Sports car racing up and down Lee Ln.
12:45 p.m. Person at station with bad check, Lynnwood Ln.
4:54 p.m. Officer out with four youths behind business, Main St.
8:13 p.m. Police out with several youths from dance at school, Shrewsbury St.
11:29 p.m. Report of individuals in car at school, Jamieson Rd.
Saturday, April 30
3:13 a.m. Police check on suspicious light in classroom, Bullard St.
2:35 p.m. Sick-looking fox approaching vehicles when they stop, Greystone Dr.
7:19 p.m. Follow-up investigation regarding motorcycle, Main St.
7:54 p.m. Parties in lobby regarding motorcycle being held, Main St.
9:53 p.m. Group of youths hanging around business, Shrewsbury St.
Sunday, May 1
5:55 p.m. Kids in road making it difficult for motorists to pass, Holt Rd.
7:41 p.m. Neighbor cutting down vegetation on caller’s property, Sandy Glen Dr.
9:28 p.m. Police check out suspicious vehicle in lot at school, Mountview Dr.

Paxton

Monday, April 25
8:42 a.m. Dead deer, Rockland Rd.
10:43 a.m. Caller reports dog bite that occurred in Jamaica Plain. ACO advised
11:10 a.m. Complaint about several unleashed dogs in neighborhood, Crestwood Rd.
Tuesday, April 26
1:04 p.m. Report that dog chased two females into house, Camp St.
3:38 p.m. Erratic driver, Grove St., Mary Ln. Driver not feeling well
6:57 p.m. Male at station to speak with officer regarding dog that caused him to fall off his bike, Pleasant St.
8:52 p.m. Two black bears in yard, Laurel St.
Wednesday, April 27
1:32 p.m. Man at station asking for taxi to bring him to Worcester, Pleasant St.
5:53 p.m. Report of gun shots in yard, Marshall St.
Thursday, April 28
12:42 p.m. Male with a child taking photos of home, Nipmuck Rd.
1:01 p.m. Two trucks in woods, Suomi St. Person picking up scrap metal
9:20 p.m. People walking on private property, Wilde Wood Dr.
Friday, April 29
4:00 p.m. Female believes drug deal took place, basketball courts, recreation area
Sunday, May 1
4:28 p.m. Report of male smoking marijuana in supermarket parking lot, Pleasant St. No one found

Princeton

Wednesday, April 27
9:28 p.m. Hubbardston PD requests transport of Princeton resident to residence on Hubbardston Rd.
Thursday, April 28
9:47 p.m. Police stand by with vehicle having mechanical problems, Rte. 140 N
Friday, April 29
7:02 p.m. Dirt bike in road, Westminster Rd.
Saturday, April 30
10:39 a.m. Caller reports solicitors in area of Stagecoach Rd.
7:20 p.m. Person’s mother went for mountain hike and is now lost, Mountain Rd.; later found
Sunday, May 1
2:36 a.m. Police remove debris from Worcester Rd.
9:46 a.m. Report of woman lying by side of road, Thompson Rd.

Rutland

Monday, April 25
5:24 p.m. Person reports two kids attempted to clog drain on Oakridge Dr. Police find people
clearing trail, no damage to drain
6:01 p.m. Caller spotted yellow Lab on Glenwood Rd.; thinks it might be Bailey
Tuesday, April 26
9:10 a.m. Person wants car seat installation checked, Main St.
12:02 p.m. Report of previous resident pitching tent on his land, Prescott St.
1:03 p.m. Dog killed raccoon, Whitehall Rd. Animal control officer will have raccoon tested for rabies
6:51 p.m. Police speak with two juveniles regarding driving lawn tractors on Main St.
Wednesday, April 27
1:26 p.m. Dead deer, Rte. 68
3:10 p.m. Caller reports dead deer at end of his driveway, E. County Rd.
4:02 p.m. Suspicious person sitting in dugout
watching track members. Arrest: --- warrant
9:00 p.m. Group of kids at intersection, Man St.
9:24 p.m. Bear in bee hive, Sunset Trl.
Thursday, April 28
12:55 p.m. Suspicious male in yard crawling over fence with two other males, Johnson Way
8:11 p.m. Caller requests to speak with animal control officer about dog running loose and
bothering her dog, Marjorie Ln.
Friday, April 29
12:39 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, Crawford Rd.
7:13 a.m. Raccoon hit by vehicle, injured, Main St.
4:25 p.m. Caller advising police he broke lock at former home to pick up belongings, Joanna Dr.
5:00 p.m. Caller’s home broken into, Joanna Dr.
5:53 p.m. Person reports wolf on her property, Charnock Hill Rd. Found to be neighbor’s dog
7:35 p.m. Caller has black Lab in her yard, Naquag St.
7:58 p.m. Person at station to pick up ammunition, Main St.
10:03 p.m. Suspicious vehicle at baseball field, Main St.
Saturday, April 30
10:41 p.m. Elevator stuck, Main St.
10:58 a.m. Officer requested, person found doors bolted in his basement, same as previous
incident, Crawford Rd.
12:30 p.m. Fraud report, Main St.
2:59 p.m. Suspicious white van, Joanna Dr.
8:34 p.m. Bear in yard overnight, Emerald Rd.
10:17 p.m. Police find two people at rear of school, Glenwood Rd.
Sunday, May 1
7:41 p.m. Police check on vehicle. Found to be person watching sunset, Sunnyside Ave.

Sterling

Monday, April 25
5:31 p.m. Police stand by with disabled vehicle, Upper N. Row Rd.
7:43 p.m. Missing German shepherd puppy, Redstone Hill Rd.
8:13 p.m. Caller reports male looking for gas, Clinton Rd.
Tuesday, April 26
9:33 a.m. Two pit bulls running on Worcester Rd. near Greenland Rd.
3:17 p.m. Suspicious vehicle parked at intersection for long time, Beaman/ S. Nelson Rds.
Wednesday, April 27
12:23 a.m. Large black bear and cubs in yard, Elliott Rd.
3:51 p.m. Vehicle parked at athletic field, male with binoculars, Griffin Rd. Person working on his
Blackberry
7:14 p.m. Three dogs loose and running on property, Worcester Rd.
10:45 p.m. Suspicious vehicle with spotlight behind school, Boutelle Rd.
Thursday, April 28
9:08 a.m. Vehicle in parking lot with sleeping male, Main St.
11:19 a.m. Suspicious male came out of woods, Squareshire/Chace Hill Rds. Appears to be jogger
4:23 p.m. Cat left for two weeks, caller concerned, Redemption Rock Trl.
8:12 p.m. Four males walked across property, Beaman Rd.; joggers
Friday, April 29
2:30 a.m. Assist West Boylston PD looking for vehicle taken without permission from Rutland,
Laurel St. Mass State Police dogs unable to find individuals that fled
9:22 a.m. Suspicious male dressed in camouflage, possibly carrying weapon, Justice Hill/Justice Hill Cutoff Rds. Turkey season
3:23 p.m. Request for officer after heated  discussion about cutting trees close to neighbor’s
property, Linda’s Way. Civil issue
4:59 p.m. Abandoned animal, Redemption Rock Trl.
Saturday, April 30
6:33 a.m. Hunters shooting on property, Maple St.
1:17 p.m. Complaint about neighbor’s dogs, Justice Hill Rd.
7:50p.m. Lost dog, Mortimer Rd. Dog found
10:40 p.m. Complaint about loud music, Leominster/N. Row Rds.
Sunday, May 1
1:17 p.m. Assist animal control officer, Worcester Rd.
3:30 p.m. Several people on Sterling Inn roof, Worcester Rd.; OK, inspecting condition
7:26 p.m. Loose yellow Lab in yard, Stuart Rd.

Don't let education go to your head

Today is the last day of classes for me at Mount Wachusett, a college career that meanders through six decades. For all of the changes in education, society, and me, what was best then is still the best now.

• The best teachers are the ones who know their stuff, know their students, and can calibrate their teaching methods to match the requirements of the material with the needs and circumstances of the students.
• Everyone has a story about where they've been, why they're here, and where they're headed. If their experiences are anything like mine, all three will change. 
• They'll think differently about where they've been.
• They'll appreciate the college time as more than something to get through on their way to their goals. 
• Where they're heading will change as the result of the college experience.

What's ahead for me? Well, I have finals next week, some consulting work queued up, and a bunch of ideas.There are a lot of things to be afraid of, but, today, the future isn't one of them.

When the going gets tough

They used to say that Steve Jobs had a reality distortion field around him, that light,gravity, and reason took on characteristics of the event horizon that happens at the end of a black hole.
Now that Apple is making more money than Microsoft, we do have to wonder whose reality is or was bent the most.
Or, we could just read the news. I am not making this stuff up:

• John Ashcroft is now in charge of "ethics and professionalism" for Blackwater.
• When you thought that things couldn't get worse for the tornado survivors of Alabama, Charlie Sheen shows up to help.
• The photographs of Osama bin Laden that Sen. Scott Brown said shouldn't be released were fakes.
• Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando fled New York together in a rental car after 9/11,

This afternoon, I had an appointment at the Fallon Clinic on North Lake Ave. As I parked the car, I noticed another guy getting fishing gear from his car. He locked the car, walked across the street, stepped over the railing, and went down the hill. A light rain was falling. He was under the I-290 overpass.

Enough, as they say, is enough.

Mr. Hakkarainen goes to Helsinki

[This post is one of a series about Teuvo Hakkarainen, the newly elected True Finns Party MP from Viitasaari. For the record, my grandfather was born in Viitasaari.]

Teuvo Hakkarainen
[Photo credit Sami Kero from Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition]

MP Hakkarainen recently urged that refugees who were denied asylum in Finland should be sent on their way. Except that he referred to the asylum seekers, many from Somalia and other parts of Africa, as niggers. “I didn’t know that it was an abusive word. It came naturally to me,” he said. He was surprised that his comments drew a lot of attention. He is from a small town in the country where people speak plainly, he noted, characterizing his choice of words as "a little mistake".
Hakkarainen was chastised by True Finns leader Timo Soini. For our American readers, this is the equivalent of Rep. Michele Bachmann telling someone in the Tea Party to tone it down.