Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, July 27

8:30 a.m. Call regarding tenant situation
8:57 a.m. Loose pit bull on Chapel St.
10:27 a.m. Large group of youths dispersed from behind Main Street business
12:06 p.m. Recliner in the middle of the highway; state police notified
2:59 p.m. Driver reported lost child at Pinecroft; West Boylston PD advised
7:24 p.m. Resident reports business card found in rear door of residence
8:28 p.m. Mother reports dispute with teenage daughter, who left residence; expects another dispute when she returns home

Tuesday, July 28

7:55 a.m. Mother reports daughter causing disturbance
7:56 a.m. Pothole on Main Street
10:20 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on River St.
11:07 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Main St.
11:12 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Main St.
11:45 a.m. Jewelry reported missing
2:54 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout on Reservoir St.
7:45 p.m. Report of several parties using marijuana on Powers Rd.
10:03 p.m. Teens in parking lots on Main St.

Wednesday, July 29

12:31 a.m. 911 Report of two motor vehicles driving erratically on Scenic Dr.; person stopped and urinated on fire hydrant
1:30 a.m. Suspicious females walking on Main St.
2:08 a.m. Four suspicious individuals on Sycamore Dr.; sent on their way
4:35 a.m. 911 Report of foul smell and haze on Rte. 122A; due to asphalt production
9:56 a.m. Car hit basketball hoop on Mountview Dr.
10:19 a.m. MassHighway notified due to pothole on Main St.
1:36 p.m. Tree limb removed from roadway
2:32 p.m. Ten to fifteen children outside senior center; caller concerned about possible fight
11:31 p.m. Limb down on Northbound lane of Rte. 31

Thursday, July 30

8:26 a.m. Woman reported wounded turkey; advised to leave it alone
9:42 a.m. Herd of sheep in road on Salisbury Street
11:10 a.m. Trailer in road on Walnut St., doing some kind of logging
12:07 p.m. Suspicious calls regarding delivery on Wachusett St.
12:35 p.m. Truck soliciting on Manning St.
2:16 p.m. Dog returned home, found in road
2:39 p.m. UPS driver reports finding money
4:08 p.m. Inquiry regarding lost license
4:45 p.m. Live skunk trapped in garage on Shrewsbury St.
4:48 p.m. Two youths advised not to ride bicycles in traffic on Shrewsbury St.
5:48 p.m. Caller about surrendering cat

Friday, July 31

6:38 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle with person sleeping inside at watershed property on River St.; sent on his way
7:51 a.m. Lost cat reported
2:13 p.m. Motor vehicle accident on Main St.
3:56 p.m. Multiple calls regarding tree limb down in road on Newell Rd. blocking traffic in both directions
3:56 p.m. Tree limb in road on Putnam Rd.
4:04 p.m. Light meter shorting out on Reservoir St.
4:17 p.m. Caller says boyfriend has her furniture and won't give it back; advised it's a civil matter
4:39 p.m. Caller to report substantial traffic on Newell Rd.
5:15 p.m. Tree limb removed from Newell Rd.
5:22 p.m. Caller reports husband taking belongings without her permission; advised it is civil matter and to contact police if there are disturbing-the-peace issues.
6:35 p.m. Report of erratic driver swerving, putting hazards on and off and beeping horn on Main St.
8:00 p.m. Breach of peace reported on Reservoir St.

Saturday, August 1

9:08 a.m. Rising water levels reported on Salisbury St.
10:15 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle parked in front of driveway on Mason Rd. blocking him in
1:25 p.m. 911 Rabid fox walking in circles on Lexington Circle; no contact
2:35 p.m. Parents and child having argument in police parking lot
7:35 p.m. Male at center lights with two teens soliciting with buckets; parties advised to stop, say they were given permission
7:56 p.m. Cat injured on Main St.
9:02 p.m. Light flashing on pump station
10:10 p.m. Report of loud party on Paugus Rd.; told to keep noise down and disperse
10:19 p.m. 911 Multiple reports of gunshots or similar noise on Lovell Rd.

Sunday, August 2

3:11 a.m. 911 Three women reported trying to break down door on Newell Rd.; girls' night party, all parties invited but now leaving
9:24 a.m. Transformer blown on Main St.
1:54 p.m. Solicitor from church group reported in center of town
2:49 p.m. Several complaints regarding church groups collecting money in center of town
4:09 p.m. 911 Person sitting on top of bridge over I-190 on West Mountain St.; State police will follow up
7:32 p.m. Skateboarding on Main St. reported
9:54 p.m. Report of loud drums on Armington Rd.

Paxton

Monday, July 27

7:44 p.m. Report of elderly, naked person going through the trash on Maple St.
11:00 p.m. Report of possibly drunk male passed out in the intersection of routes 56 and 122. Second caller said male subject woke up and headed toward the center of Paxton.

Tuesday, July 28

10:57 a.m. Dirt bikes operating in the road, Suomi St.
5:00 p.m. Person came to station with a pocket knife they found, West St.
5:20 p.m. Summons served, Crowningshield Dr.

Wednesday, July 29

4:07 p.m. Person brought dog to station that she picked up on West St. Ongoing issue
10:13 p.m. Caller wants advice on what to do with a bat he caught in his home, Maple St.

Thursday, July 30

4:51 p.m. Caller reports seeing multiple bottles being thrown from vehicle that was operating at a high rate of speed on Pleasant St.
4:51 p.m. Suspicious vehicle in parking lot between Dunkin Donuts and Paxton Garage, Pleasant St.
5:36 p.m. Suspicious truck at cemetery near the Congregational Church, Richards Ave.
7:59 p.m. Report of a deer running through the center of town
9:06 p.m. Dispatch received multiple calls about a naked man walking down Pleasant St.

Friday, July 30

3:27 a.m. Report of horse and donkey walking down Grove St. toward Rte. 31
2:11 p.m. Report of possible rabid raccoon, Sunset Lane

Saturday, August 1

5:21 p.m. Unwanted animal, Knollwood Rd.
7:31 p.m. Caller reports an animal is in her oven, a bird or a bat, wants an officer to help, Pleasant St.
8:05 p.m. Report of someone riding up and down her street on ATV, Orchard Dr.
9:01 p.m. Report of loud explosions behind house on Keep Ave. Wants officer to investigate
10:20 p.m. Report of suspicious male in parking lot at Big Y in Holden. Holden Police advised

Sunday, August 2

No calls for service

Princeton

Monday, July 27

6:29 a.m. Request for light department, Hobbs Rd.
3:38 p.m. Person came to station with item found on Connor Lane
5:45 p.m. Request for light department, Esty Rd.
7:28 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Oak Circle

Tuesday, July 28

9:05 a.m. Property found, Boylston Ave.

Wednesday, July 29

1:14 a.m. Lost/missing person, Hubbardston Rd.
5:12 p.m. Public service, Houghton Rd.
10:02 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Mirick Rd.,

Thursday, July 30

6:35 a.m. Assist light department, Main St.
7:09 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Pine Hill Rd./Pine Hill Lane
10:20 a.m. Public service, Worcester Rd.

Friday, July 31

4:33 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Rhodes Rd.
6:04 p.m. Motor vehicle violation, citation issued, Rte. 140 North
10:03 p.m. Motor vehicle violation, citation issued, Main St.

Saturday, August 1

1:02 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Rhodes Rd.
8:33 a.m. Assist light department, Rte. 140 North
9:00 a.m. Assist light department, Gleason Rd.
10:57 a.m. Safety/traffic control, Merriam Rd.
4:57 p.m. Assist fire department, Clearings Way

Sunday, August 2

2:00 a.m. Request for light department, Bullard Rd.
1:06 p.m. Request for traffic control, Mountain Rd.

Rutland

Tuesday, July 28

3:55 p.m. Person came to station to speak with officer, Main St.
9:17 p.m. Report of person walking into Paxton. Maple Ave.
9:44 p.m. Disabled motor vehicle, Main St. Person stopped to move snapping turtle out of road
10:04 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about legal advice, Victoria Ave.

Wednesday, July 29

8:09 a.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about traffic concerns, Campbell St.
9:50 a.m. Person found a brown Labradoodle
10:40 a.m. Person wants to speak with officer about a citation issued to her son, Main St.
1:11 p.m. Person asking why an officer was in his apartment, Main St.
3:53 p.m. Domestic situation, Wildbrook Dr.
5:21 p.m. Summons served, Brintnal Dr.
5:39 p.m. Summons served, Athens Ave.
5:43 p.m. Summons served, Athens Ave.
7:38 p.m. Summons Served, Main St.

Thursday, July 30

6:55 a.m. Caller complaining about trucks going up and down the road all during the night, Pleasantdale Rd.
1:08 p.m. Larceny, person drove off without paying for gas, Main St.
1:38 p.m. Person came to station to speak with an officer, Main St.
10:24 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer regarding a suspicious male in area of Valley View Circle

Friday, July 31

4:52 p.m. Tree blocking road, Hillside Rd.
7:22 p.m. Report of suspicious phone call from store where individual just used credit card, Juniper Lane

Saturday, August 1

2:50 p.m. Complaint about a water break on Maple Ave.
7:18 p.m. Caller wants advice from animal control officer about how to get rid of snakes under porch, Brunelle Dr.
8:05 p.m. Report of suspicious male on Valley View Circle
9:24 p.m. Report that someone set off fireworks at end of driveway on Barrack Hill Rd then sped off
11:50 p.m. Suspicious male rang doorbell of home looking for ride, Glenwood Rd.

Sunday, August 2

10:52 a.m. Person came to station to speak with officer, Main St.
2:28 p.m. Holden Police advising of erratic operator, all over the road, heading on Main St. toward Rutland
7:36 p.m. Report of group of youths gathered, Glenwood Rd.

Sterling

Monday, July 27

1:58 p.m. Report of someone putting something into mailboxes on Worcester Rd.
7:03 p.m. Report of people trying to get a turtle across the road causing a traffic backup, Leominster Rd.
10:15 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about ongoing issue with kids who have done vandalism and blocked his vehicle in his driveway, North Row
Rd.

Tuesday, July 28

9:12 a.m. Funeral escort services, Worcester Rd.
10:40 a.m. Graffiti on play structure at the elementary school, Boutelle Rd.
4:38 p.m. Dirt bikes in the roadway, Upper North Row Rd.

Wednesday, July 29

11:43 a.m. New graffiti on playground equipment, Boutelle Rd.
5:40 p.m. Missing short-haired chocolate Labrador, Greenland Rd. Dog later returned

Thursday, July 30

7:26 a.m. Assist while limbs are removed from wires, Redemption Rock Trl.
11:31 a.m. Report that rock flew from truck and struck windshield of vehicle on Rte. 12
2:26 p.m. Report of people going house to house, peering into windows, Matthew Lane/Redstone Pl.
4:40 p.m. Small bobcat running through yard on Stuart Rd.
6:43 p.m. Loose husky, Village Lane

Friday, July 31

7:39 p.m. Suspicious activity, White Oak Way

Saturday, August 1

12:30 p.m. Dog in yard, possibly a Bichon, no collar, tags, North Row Rd.
1:17 p.m. Property owner found half-barrel on his property. Concerned it might be used for a fire, wants police to check area, Acorn Way
1:52 p.m. Stray dog, no tags and is very thin, Upper North Row Rd.
4:13 p.m. Caller reporting missing dog, Justice Hill Cutoff
7:37 p.m. Stray dog, Redstone Hill Rd.

Sunday, August 2

7:01 a.m. Possible rabid raccoon, Osgood Rd.
7:41 a.m. Caller reports hearing grinding noises at storage center, Redemption Rock Trl.
11:08 a.m. Two loose dogs running around Holden Rd.
4:53 p.m. Extremely drunk male in lobby, unable to stand, taken into protective custody, Leominster Rd.
5:59 p.m. Dog picked up by animal control officer and brought to police station, Leominster Rd.

Fribbles at the speed of light

I worked for Friendly's back way back when Hector was a pup. When people learned where I worked, they'd invariably have a complaint about how long it took to get their lunch. They'd be nice and not complain about the shop where I worked, always about some other place. People who had a 30-minute lunch break couldn't get served in that amount of time.
Fast forward to 2009. Friendly's realizes that it need to make changes and so introduces Friendly's Express:

Friendly's Express offers customers everything they love about Friendly's, made faster - an average of 25 minutes per visit, versus 45 minutes at a traditional Friendly's.

OK. That's good. And how will they do this?

The short service time (an average of six to eight minutes from ordering to service) makes Friendly's Express perfect for quick but satisfying office lunch breaks, and easy for moms out running errands with their children.  While guests will place orders at the counter, food will be delivered to each customer's table, eliminating the need for moms to juggle food, kids and shopping bags when picking up food at a counter. When guests are ready for ice cream, they can place a numbered tag on the edge of their table and a food runner will bring them their desserts.

Be ever grateful, moms, that a food runner is there to help you. BTW, here's what a food runner can expect to earn in the Worcester area:

via CBSalary.com

You can find out more about being a food runner by checking out the Food Runner Job Guide (PDF).
So, good luck to Friendly's.
One more detour. Old-timers may remember when Friendly's offered a thick shake called the Awful Awful®. Legend has it that (and I've not been able to locate court reports on this) Newport Creamery asserted its trademark rights on the name, forcing Friendly's to rename its product to Fribble®.

What did you do at work today, Daddy?
I named something a Fribble.
That's scary, Daddy.

Through rain, hail, and, wait, where the heck are we?

It's looking less likely that Phillipston will get its own ZIP code, let alone a post office. A few years ago, there'd been a petition to request that the town of 1800 obtain a ZIP code of its own. Currently, the town shares 01331 with Athol and South Royalston. (You can find out more about ZIP codes here.)
The Postal Service is in trouble with revenues in free-fall. They are talking about eliminating Saturday deliveries and have identified nearly 700 office locations as candidates for closure. (Total USPS volume of mail has dropped by 2.5% since 2000, the year that my mother died.)
It's also not helping that the USPS can't even locate the one blue pickup box in the center of town.

To their defense, they used Microsoft's Bing to locate the address. You still need to go to Google Maps to find the right location.
Oh, snap.

RoasterBoy's Law of Conservation of Stuff

If you start out with three boxes of stuff,throw out one boxful,

have another ready to throw out,

you'll still have three boxfuls of stuff.

These are boxes of stuff that I've casually regarded as "my mother's stuff" for the nearly 10 years that she's been gone. On closer inspection, it is, by law and by fact, my stuff. Well, all except for an arithmetic worksheet from a kid named Barry from the first grade. 

There are lot of interesting items in this trove, stuff that I'll be scanning and posting in the coming weeks. One gem is a newsletter written by my first grade teacher, Mrs.  L'Ecuyer. I learned that I had a ball point pen on my birthday. (There were five kids with the same birthday in this little town's school.)

In case you're wondering, yes, I think about about  George Carlin's riff on stuff (YouTube link) all of the time that I'm going through this, um, stuff. I'm grateful to my mother for many things, including saving these bits of my history. It's humbling to know that then, as now, I would be characterized as untidy.

OntheCommon.com - not even for ducks

OntheCommon.com: "Around six in the morning, you can hear the planes as start to follow Route 2 on their approach to Logan Airport. On Sunday morning, we couldn't see them, though. We couldn't even see Queen Lake's other shore, the fog was so thick."