Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

[Editor's note: There were 9 suspicious items this week.
In addition, there were 22 reports of stuck vehicles and numerous other snow-related traffic challenges (not all included here).]

Holden
Monday, January 31
1:01 a.m. Rutland PD requests assistance with motor vehicle stop, possible road rage, Fishermans Rd.
5:39 a.m. Suspicious vehicle parked in front of home, Farragut Way
6:16 a.m. Ceiling alarm at business, Reservoir St., probably due to snow removal
7:52 a.m. Car buried in snow causing hazard for traffic and plows, Glenwood St.
1:14 p.m. Snow plowed into Shrewsbury St.
2:42 p.m. Vehicle parked in roadway while owner walking dog, Harris St.
5:52 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Adams Rd.
7:32 p.m. Caller reports renter refusing to give back keys to residence
Tuesday, February 1

8:33 a.m. Well-being check on two dogs left outside, Parker Ave.
9:29 a.m. Bus requiring assistance navigating hill, Reservoir St.
11:01 a.m. School bus assisted at fork, Wachusett St.
12:03 p.m. 911; child playing with phone, Wachusett St.
2:04 p.m. Bull Run resident reports stranger came to borrow snow blower; said he knew husband; husband doesn’t know him
3:42 p.m. 911 caller from Chapel St. with phone question
6:29 p.m. Residents depositing snow in roadway, Main St.; advised about possible fines
Wednesday, February 2
9:32 a.m. Person plowing snow across Quinapoxet Ln.
10:15 a.m. Walk-in for advice on removing person from home
11:43 a.m. Vehicle lockout with child in vehicle, Brentwood Dr.
12:31 p.m. Caller reports two plows making mess of Arizona and Shrewsbury streets
1:42 p.m. Report of snowmobile traveling in excess of 60 MPH, Bullard St.
4:39 p.m. Neighbor’s plow pushed snow into caller’s yard, Salisbury St.
Thursday, February 3
6:49 a.m. 911 caller reports state police vehicle tailgating; inappropriate driving given poor road conditions; message passed on
8:08 a.m. Caller asking for assistance with dog lying in driveway, possibly deceased
10:51 a.m. Assist with transfer of children from one vehicle to another after vehicle disabled
10:53 a.m. Party reported snow blowing into street, Cimarron Ln.
4:24 p.m. Caller concerned for safety of individuals digging out motor vehicle, Highland St.
10:09 p.m. West Boylston PD asks for check on individual on Shrewsbury St. for domestic issue; called back to disregard
11:11 p.m. Disoriented wolf, Parker Ave.
Friday, February 4
8:46 a.m. Excessive snow on roof and excessive water pouring into residence, Salisbury St.
10:10 a.m. Police required to keep peace while roommate retrieves belongings
12:49 p.m. Neighbors shoveling snow onto sidewalks after DPW cleared them, Shrewsbury St.
3:43 p.m. Suspicious person opening mailboxes, Main St.; apprehended but no mail on him
4:54 p.m. Auburn PD reports small car by side of Main St., all banged up
6:09 p.m. Verbal disturbance between couple, Main St.; husband blocking driveway
6:51 p.m. Caller complaining about Worcester PD
7:28 p.m. Mattress thrown over snow bank, Rte. 68; owner will remove
10:10 p.m. Repossession of vehicle, Shrewsbury St
10:11 p.m. Vehicle pulled into driveway and opened mailbox, Bailey Rd.
11:21 p.m. 911 caller unsure what to do about leaking roof; advised to contact snow removal professional
Saturday, February 5
12:51 p.m. Well-being check on Village Way resident; no one home
2:17 p.m. Kids sledding into road near WRHS, Main St.
2:31 p.m. Truck pushing snow into Reservoir St.; advised to keep it neater; clearing fire hydrant
6:14 p.m. Caller reports gutter fell off apartment building and hit car; advised to contact insurance company and landlord 
Sunday, February 6
11:53 a.m. Wife reports husband won’t give her keys to drive
1:47 p.m. Caller’s washing machine leaking; cannot find shutoff, Anderson Ave.
3:22 p.m. Caller concerned that person consumed six alcoholic beverages and is trying to drive
5:14 p.m. Injured/dead raptor, Reservoir St.
6:05 p.m. Wachusett St. resident wants streetlight fixed; dangerous pulling into traffic
6:41 p.m. Caller’s wife took his motor vehicle without permission
9:33 p.m. Resident calling from New Orleans about Waltham resident making suspicious posts on Facebook, including violent claims and prophecies about government
10:22 p.m. Roof collapse, Main St.
Paxton
Monday, January 31
6:10 a.m. Caller reports “extra” smoke in area, Marshall St.
3:48 p.m. Assist with possible arrest in conjunction with FBI, Sunset Ln.
8:11 p.m. Suspicious vehicle parked in front of house, Eugenia Ln.
Tuesday, February 1
5:10 p.m. Black dog running around Lancelot Dr.
7:24 p.m. Large puddle in roadway, possible water main leak, Walbridge Rd.
Friday, February 4
7:34 a.m. Loose boxer in area of sports center, Pleasant St.
8:33 a.m. Complaint that neighbor plowed snow from his driveway into Camp St. and road is now down to one lane
9:13 p.m. Female requesting transport from police; vehicle ran out of gas
Saturday, February 5
11:12 a.m. 911 hang-up; child playing with phone
Princeton
Monday, January 31
11:06 a.m. Delivery truck stuck in driveway, Ball Hill Rd.; operator making holes in pavement, trying to get out
Thursday, February 3
10:45 a.m. Young male walking to school after missing bus, Mirick/E. Princeton Rds.; police transport to school
Friday, February 4
5:20 p.m. Assist Sterling PD looking for suspended vehicle, Justice Hill Cutoff, Sterling
Saturday, February 5
10:00 a.m. Assist fire dept., Main St.; wire arcing and on fire
10:52 a.m. Dead deer near entrance to Echo Lake Trail head, Mountain Rd.
Sunday, February 6
8:35 a.m. 911 call, child playing with phone, E. Princeton Rd.
12:08 p.m. Caller found remains of deer, Mountain Rd. Deer is from call on Saturday
4:40 p.m. Saab key found at Krashes Field turned in
5:06 p.m. Caller picked up 10-foot ladder from middle of Mountain Rd.
6:00 p.m. Yellow Lab walking down railroad tracks, Hubbardston Rd.

Rutland
Monday, January 31
11:10 a.m. Property owners asked to knock down snow banks for visibility, Main St.
Tuesday, February 1
12:00 p.m. Car on top of snowbank, Pommogussett/Sassawanna Rds.
1:16 p.m. Bus full of students slid across road and is stuck, E. County Rd.; caused by property owner shoveling snow into road
7:01 p.m. Caller leaving his car at town beach
7:25 p.m. Transport male to Worcester, Kenwood Dr.
Wednesday, February 2
7:46 a.m. DPW superintendent to speak with resident about putting snow in roadway
12:49 p.m. Complaint of private plow operator plowing across road, Summerhill Dr.
4:00 p.m. Caller notes cars parked on Athens Ave. will make plowing hard
5:17 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout; engine running, Maple Ave.
5:41 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, engine running, Maple Ave.
Thursday, February 3
10:08 a.m. Caller reports car parked by buried hydrant, Athens Ave.; officer finds car not near hydrant
12:09 p.m. Suspicious persons reported in Valley View Cir. area; may be Charter Communications workers
4:18 p.m. Caller with road condition complaint, Brintnal Dr. DPW superintendent says it’s due to people shoveling out their driveways, not snow drifts
5:30 p.m. Walk-in to request background on potential hire
9:32 p.m. Party heard loud noise and thinks roof collapsed, Lewis St.
Friday, February 4
12:41 a.m. Suspicious auto, Barre Paxton Rd.
2:20 p.m. Caller complaining highway dept. is dumping snow in his walkway
10:20 p.m. Caller reports door to post office ajar; ice preventing it closing
Sunday, February 6
3:30 p.m. Caller requesting information about disturbing the peace, has noise problem with neighbors, Memorial Dr.

Sterling
Monday, January 31
2:57 p.m. 911 hang-up, child playing with phone, Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
3:25 p.m. Black and white collie loose, Worcester Rd.
4:41 p.m. Assist citizen installing car seat, Leominster Rd.
5:26 p.m. Caller reporting unknown female in her home. Found to be health care worker, Justice Hill Cutoff Rd.
Tuesday, February 1
6:44 a.m. School bus requests assistance getting across railroad tracks, Newell Hill Rd.
4:20 p.m. Snowmobile going up and down Albright Rd.
6:46 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about ongoing property issue, Upper N. Row Rd.
Wednesday, February 2
3:12 p.m. DPW requests officer for someone plowing snow into roadway, Redstone Hill Rd.
Thursday, February 3
8:15 a.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about person who plowed snow into roadway, blocking Sherwood Dr.
9:11 a.m. Vehicle driving up and down street, then went to rear of building, Laurelwood Rd.
11:46 a.m. Person snow-blowing into roadway, Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
5:33 p.m. Caller requesting assistance finding female who left house wearing no coat and taking cat; later returned without cat
Friday, February 4
8:51 a.m. Threats, Park St.
10:25 a.m. Truck putting snow in roadway and trucks blocking roadway, Walter Way
11:20 a.m. Two stray dogs, Spratt Technology Way/Pratts Jct. Rd.
4:09 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about suspicious phone call, Maple St.
5:18 p.m. Suspicious vehicle and people walking around home, Justice Hill Cutoff Rd.
Sunday, February 6
3:05 p.m. Black Labrador wandering in traffic, Pratts Jct. Rd.
6:37 p.m. Males possibly throwing snow at cars, Muddy Pond Rd.

Missing Telegram columnists

It seems as though the Telegram's featured columnists are writing less frequently. Nick Kotsopoulos has not had a byline for a couple of months. Dianne Williamson and Clive McFarlane miss days here and there.

Jeff Barnard used to tease the columnists for their light workload. They are still capable of very fine work, such as Clive's piece, Bookstore opened paths to unexpected, a couple of weeks ago. The columnists give us insights into life in the city that may not always surface in the daily news reports. We might not always agree on substance or style, but we still need their commentary.

So I sez to myself, "Student, meet your teacher."

This course, Social Networking - the 21st Century Village, starts this afternoon at Assumption College's Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE). We get to glue several of my favorite ideas into a five-week course (weather permitting).
We'll talk a lot about Facebook because that's what comes to mind first. The idea for this course came about in a discussion that took place in Amherst last summer. David Kirkpatrick was talking about his book, The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World. During the presentation and in a later sidebar chat, I started to wonder if we're seeing something truly new or an extension of our former communities, but just bigger, faster, and virtual.
I don't have a crisp answer for that yet and look forward to the class discussion to move the ideas forward. Clay Shirky contends that there is no metaphor for Facebook, implying that it is a new phenomenon.
It's been a while since I've been in front of a classroom. Most of my experience is in business, providing technical training. This is explicitly not technical training. We won't be setting up Facebook or Twitter accounts or learn how to use RSS feed or other firehose-mitigating tools. I am eager for the discussion. The good thing about adult education programs is that the students want to talk. They bring their own questions, their own experiences, and do not just take the teacher's word for anything.
Next week, I'll be leading another course, this time at Mount Wachusett. It's a seven-week non-credit course for legal studies and business students. We'll cover intellectual property law - patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related threads. I'll write more about that course later this week.
And, I'm still taking two courses in the hopes of completing my paralegal studies degree this semester. I realized recently that I've been in college in each of the past six decades. It also means that I'm more than twice the age of the people I people I wasn't supposed to trust. That just might me me sneak around to the back door for another chance.