MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

I hope everyone had a really nice Christmas. I know the economy is putting a damper on how some celebrate regarding presents etc., but when economic conditions are not great Christmas itself can be a lot better. Presents may cost less and be fewer but also tend to be more thoughtful. More emphasis can be placed on time spent with the ones we care about instead of how much money we spent on them.
Let's hope this New Year brings joy and happiness and peacefulness to all. 

Get Your Hands Into the Cookie Jar !

Jack's Cookie Jar that is! I got a great surprise at the teacher meeting for CCD at ST. Joseph's yesterday. There were a few different kinds of cookie for us to try. You never know where or when a really great thing will cross your path. Jack's Cookie Jar is a home based business run by Jack Walsh from Brookville. The business was started just this year and already the buzz is making people take notice! I asked Jack what made him start this business and he said he just loves to make cookies and his wife suggested he turn that into a business, so he did. The cookie I tried was a pumpkin shortbread and nut creation that melted in my mouth. My sister Joan had the traditional chocolate chip and said it was delicious. Jack says he makes all kinds and uses specialty sugars and decorated sugars as well as different custom creations for all occasions from weddings to showers and all the holidays of course. He can be found every Saturday at the Braintree Farmers Market in front of the Braintree Town Hall from 9am to 1 pm. He is scheduled to be at the Norfolk Aggie Craft Fair on Nov 14th at the school in Walpole. Watch his website at www.jackscookiejar.net  for additional dates and times and to order whatever your heart desires ... you will be glad you did !

Wake Up Holbrook

It seems our neighbors are not at all happy with the idea of trash trucks coming through their areas to get to the transfer station. Too bad you say?? Not so fast!  Their elected officials are right in step with them. Especially in Braintree they will not let the trucks use South St (or our Center St). What will that mean for Holbrook? It means that the trucks you thought would be hidden from view and from smell will go right down No Franklin St, take a right on Union and head on down to the tracks. If the Randolph opponents are successful then the trucks won't come from So Main St to the Lynwood and around the corner to the industrial park like they planned, oh no they will go down the length of South St, over the tracks and then around the corner as planned before.
I am sure that some people voted for the transfer station because they thought they wouldn't be impacted by it. I wonder if this will make you think twice. Have you ridden behind a trash truck lately? With the windows open? By the way who can guess what the latest contract for solid waste was? ( a hint on this one; it was no where near $1.5 mill)

Democracy In Action!

I have been watching the town meetings with various elected representatives with great interest. Haven't you?? I am so glad to see regular everyday Americans sitting up and paying attention to issues and going right to the source to speak their minds to their elected officials.
I do find it scary that the Obama administration has called for individuals who get emails against his policies to send them on to the White House!!!!! WOW imagine what other countries think when they hear that? It seems like actions like these have shaken the population and made them take notice to what is going on. That brings me to the issues here in Holbrook. I have been guilty as the rest of the town for just doing my thing trying to stay above water and not paying much attention to town hall at all. I guess I have to get out and try to make a difference myself or be just like the ones who bitch and complain but do nothing. So tonight is a meeting with the Zoning Board regarding the trash transfer station. I kind of thought we were stuck with it so I put it out of my head, until I followed a trash truck up the street! EEUUUEEOW nasty! Then i thought of over 100 of them on a hot day like today. Oh great!! There is one dubious advantage to having a car without AC, you notice smells, like when a trash truck compacts his load as he is making his runs, and the juice drains out GROSSS ! The smell doesn't go away very soon either. The next day if you drive over it you can still smell it strong! Hmmm... 100 or more of them every day.....our trash budget amount is shrinking so what is the benefit again????? To the town I mean.?

Summer is Finally Here

We wait all year for the warm weather then we complain, not me! I love the heat. I love that many people are gone to their vacations and now it doesn't take any time at all to get out of the driveway or through the square.
If you keep your eyes open you'll see some truly beautiful sights here in beautiful downtown Holbrook. Soon I'll add a new feature with pictures taken at selected spots and see if people can guess where they are. You will be surprised I think.

Flag Day Celebration

Once again Holbrook showed it's pride in our country by having a wonderful, well attended Flag Day Program at the Kennedy School. The kids did a great job and the teachers who put it all together obviously worked hard to make it a success. I'm a little extra proud of my niece Carli Brown who did what sounded like a fearless rendition of the National Anthem. Great Job Carli! The talent show the parent group runs each year obvioulsy has an effect. Who knows what that experience will prepare someone for in the future? If anyone has a video i don't know if it will work but i'll try to get it on.
I am glad to hear that the new principal will be the superintendent too. He is young and may have the spark we need to get the high school back on track. Let's hope that's what happens.

Celebrate With Us!

The repairs to the gazebo are complete ! As a way of saying Thank You to all who helped we've scheduled a concert for May 24th. That's this Sunday on Memorial Day Weekend. Lionel and the Big Trains will play. They did the music for the fundraiser so we asked them to do the first concert of the season. They are a professional band whose members are willing to help out in worthy causes so come out and enjoy their blend of jazz, blues, standards and fun!
Now that we've accomplished the goal of the gazebo I am hoping to piggy back onto helping the library. A group of us have started an effort we've called Hearts for Holbrook. We're raising money to help the library. At first it was to try and match the possible grant to repair and expand the building itself. Now we don't know about that since the financial news isn't that great, we may need to put whatever we raise just into the actual existing needs. In any case wherever the help ends up it will benefit the library and ultimately all of the town. So when you come to the concert we 'll have some snacks and drinks and coffee mugs and possibly other things that will go in to that effort. Bring your kids, if you have visiting friends or relatives bring them too! It will be a nice way to showcase some of the good things we have here. One of the best things I think we have is actually the heart or spirit of the people of this town. Not having lived any place else I have no means of actual comparison but we really do come together when we want to don't we? Let's celebrate and pull together again.
While some will see what we don't have I say look what we do have. We fixed the gazebo , the Sean Joyce friends have made the great fields and facilities, and all because as a town we've cared and done something about it. No need to stop now, see you there!!

The Republican Party or Not?

I'm wondering what we will do as a society not just Holbrook, but all of America when we finally realize what a colossal error has been made in electing Barack Obama. I was a guest at the Republican Committee meeting last night. I agree with many if not most of thier thoughts but when I asked as an unenrolled voter what they thought could be done to attract more members to the Party it didn't seem to me that they wanted any. I mean they said they did but I didn't feel like they get it yet. I don't know if they will. I asked if they thought that an opportunity existed now, since the Tea Parties, for people to focus on making a change and possibly a c0mmitment to the Republican Party. I waited for a response and it was less than luke warm I'm surprsed to say. So I posed the question that maybe if they weren't ready to go after these people that they may just start a new party on their own. No reaction. I guess maybe they don' t think it could happen? I bet that's how the Whigs felt too. Does anyone remember them? Not so much!

Derricks Roast Beef yummmm.......

Derricks Roast Beef has opened at 228 Union St across from the alleys. Deb Chiasson and her two sons Derick and Ricky along with some helpful family members are making delicious subs, salads, and kabobs, on fresh. fresh breads and rolls. They have many more kinds of cheeses than i have ever noticed anywhere before. Deb says they wash their salads 3 times and you can tell the difference. They cook their turkeys right there and make great gobbler subs too. I ordered the roast beef since that's their specialty. It was very good..!!! We're so glad to have a new neighbor who will do a great job and enhance the area as we wake back up from a long, long rip van winkle nap around here. Great job on the renovations Big Russell Callahan ! Good luck Deb, Derick and Rick !!!

Maybe Some New Hope??

My husband Steve was at the alleys today waiting for Jake our younger grandson to finish bowling and he had the most interesting conversation with a Dad who was waiting for his son. This man had some ideas that I have been wishing we could use for Holbrook. He works at a company that does environmental and green thngs like solar and wind projects. We have a constant wind at different spots in town, there are tall buildings that we own like Town Hall. He told of new ways that are much smaller and less obtrusive looking that can catch the wind and generate electricity. What if it saved a few thousand dollars a year every year for the forseable future? We have the train which can attract positive thinking people and maybe new types of businesses near it. We should have taken advantage of the rail transit district years ago but it seems Gov Patrick is still thinking of pursuing that idea so maybe we haven't lost out entirely yet. I was just glad to hear that someone was thnking beyond oh woe is me for once. call me crazy but i don't see any advantages to giving up and accepting the same old same old forever. do you?

Candidates Info .....?

Brinsley Fuller sent out a very nice flyer in the moneysaver. I know that cost some money to do and i appreciate his effort. As a voter i wish we had more info from all the candidates for whatever office they are attempting to achieve. Articles in the Sun cost nothing but effort. What do they think of the issues? What is the most important task they want to tackle? How about their vision for the next 3 years? Maybe in the next few days before the election we'll get some answers; i hope so. This is not much to ask of someone who will hold the future of the town in his or her hands.

Kris Carew Gazebo Progress!!!!

Hi I am so excited to announce that the repairs are going really well. Mr Ed Federico and his sons Gary and Brian did a fantastic job on the cement benches. It will be about another 10-12 days before they are ready for use but they look great! It was a lot of work and I know we all appreciate their efforts.
Cliff Crockett has installed 2 of the 7 sections of railings. He has at least 3 that i saw done at his shop on South St. Soon they will be in too. He has made them so that they are set into the cement at the center. Let's hope there will be no more damage done. These guys really stepped up and did a great service. If anyone needs welding I hope you'll remember him and let him know you appreciate his help.
We took pictures and will try to get them up for all to see.
While we were up there a group of 5th grade boys came over. They were asking about what we were doing and are eager for some music and a party when it is finished. They are a nice group of kids.

Who are the Candidates and Why are they Running?

I would love to know about Mr Pransky for the School Committee. What is his issue and why is he running? Mr Hathaway is a known commodity, but he is still welcome to write in his agenda. I think I would be extremely likely to vote for a new person but not if I have no idea what he or she is about. If the current level of information stays the same i will be voting for BLANK. not leaving it blank but actually filling in the blank spot. What a sad commentary that BLANK could win the election.

Candidates are invited to use this space

I am opening up this space for any candidate who wishes to take advantage of it. Although I haven't been using it myself for a while, it can be a way to get your message out at no cost to you or the people who you want to vote for you. As long as it is used responsibly i will take off all restrictions and blocks to posts. Running debates are welcomed as long as they are done with mutual respect. Others can write in to support or offer opinions too.

TIGER LILY HAIR STUDIO

Tiger Lily Studio and Spa has been serving clients here in Holbrook for 4 years. Owner Debra Weidner started the business on Union St at Wade's old location. She relocated to her beautiful new shop at 48 Plymouth St in George Byl's lovely yellow house, which she purchased, a year and a half ago. You should stop in and see what she has done to the place. The colors are welcoming and soothing. I love the old floors. They are obviously old but in beautiful shape. The whole house is in great shape.
Deb is a board certified hair colorist from the American Board of Hair Colorists. There are only 800 such people in the world. The services she offers are not limited to hair alone. They are a full service salon with 8 Stylists, 1 Massage Therapist, someone who does Nails,and they offer Facials and Tanning.
Their web site is www.tigerlilyhair.com . Sign up for their free monthly newsletter too. Next time you're in the market for any of these services see Deb and the girls at Tiger Lilly; you'll be glad you did!

Stanney's Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe

Stanney's is a great family friendly comfort food kind of place. The food is fresh and tasty. The serving sizes are ample and priced right. They have a great breakfast business and on weekends especially Sunday most of the seats are taken and turned over all morning. Lunch is always good and they have specials that change all the time. On fridays i love the fish. Ummm big pieces of flaky white perfectly cooked fish or scallops, or clams....... If you're in the mood for ice cream this is the place. Their H Bomb is famous although it's so huge i can't imagine really ordering one! I love their sundaes, their frappes are excellent too. We stopped down the Cape for lunch and what did we see? They served Stanney's Ice Cream! Stop in and try them out. If you're new to Holbrook you will like it i'm sure. If you're a Townie you can walk down memory lane as it looks pretty much like it did when we were kids! Pink booths and all!

Excellent News

Since the successful fund rasier we have had more donations made to the account at Randolph Savings. At this time we have $2,300 available for repairs!! Although we don't have an accurate estimate today, since we probably have enough i feel confident that within this week we will know an exact number and can commision the work. Thanks so much to all the people who helped in this project that is so close to so many hearts. Watch for updates here and in the Sun.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello, This year should be very interesting. One thing is for sure it will require everyone working together or things will be extremely difficult. One way I thought might help a little is to profile a Holbrook Business every week or so. This week we'll start with www.southshorewoodpellets.com . They are located on South St at the rear of the old Barcolene building. It is located across from Beach Rd the entrance to the Grove off South St. As I was told all the items they sell are American made and of very high quality. You can get a large or small quantity whichever you choose. They deliver or you can pick up. What a nice way to heat your space and help the environment at the same time. Read their website and get the details they explain it far better than I can. Stay warm!