Senator John Kerry is pictured at left speaking at the dedication of Medford’s veterans’ memorials in October of 2007. Photo by Alexander Svirsky.

Bipartisan Group of Senators on Fact-finding Mission

US Senator John Kerry (D-MA) will join outgoing Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Vice President-Elect Sen. Joe Biden later this week on a fact-finding trip to Southwest Asia.

The bipartisan trip also includes Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

Sen. Kerry, the incoming Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, recently traveled to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Georgia and India, in December and met with Presidents Asif Ali Zardari, Hamid Karzai, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, among other top officials.

In the 110th Congress, Kerry served as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs.

- InsideMedford.com

Galebach Receives Keys to the City for Outrunning Competition

Star Medford runner Phil Galebach took a quick break from logging more miles to receive an honor from the mayor on Monday afternoon.  Mayor Michael McGlynn presented Galebach with keys to the city in recognition of his outstanding running career at Medford High School.  Galebach capped off an undefeated fall cross-country season with a state meet win and was the first Medford runner to qualify for the national cross-country championships in recent memory.  Galebach is pictured above with his parents and his cross-country coach, Lou Ruggiero.

City Councilor Paul Camuso, Hank Morse, Others Take Winter Dip in Ocean

City Councilor Paul Camuso was among several brave Medford residents who took an icy dip into the ocean on New Year’s Day to raise money for charity. Photo courtesy Steve Eliopoulos.

Medford City Councilor Paul A. Camuso joined Medford’s own Hank Morse from 105.7 WROR and several Medford residents on New Year’s Day for an icy plunge into the ocean with the L Street Brownies.

The brave group swam to raise money for the Declan Shea Foote Foundation. Declan was just three months old when he died of SIDS in July of 2004. His parents, Charlie and Amy, started the foundation in 2005 to raise money to train new parents and day care providers about the dangers of SIDS. Funds are also used to train first responders on how to handle SIDS cases. The funds also help needy families who have lost a child receive proper grief counseling.

“I was thrilled when Hank Morse asked me to get involved and raise money for such a great cause. As I ran in the water on this 11 degree day I imagined to myself the loss that Declan’s parents experienced,” said Camuso.

Radio personality Hank Morse has been raising money for the last 2 years for the charity.

“Charlie and Amy Foote have been friends for years and suffered am unimaginable loss. This is a fun way to honor their son’s memory,” said Morse.

Many Medford residents joined Declan’s swim team. They are Jim Henry, Abby Morse, Charlotte Morse, Chuch Roach, Tayla Pynn, Chris McGovern, Mark Breen, Natalie Breen, Dave Mortelite, Steve Eliopoulos, Stella Eliopoulos, Tom Aliberti, Kevin Aliberti, Scott Frasier, Jim McQuethy, Dana Gallup, Hannah Gallup, and Hailey Massa.

“It was great! I could’ve stayed in for even longer…the water was a balmy 42 degrees…now i’ll never again complain if the Tufts pool is a little cold!” said Steve Eliopoulos, a competitive swimmer in high school and at Tufts University.

- InsideMedford.com

Bistro 5, at right, is located at 5 Playstead Road in West Medford Square. Courtesy photo.

Boston Magazine Awards Bistro 5 43rd Rank on List

Fine Italian restaurant Bistro 5 has been recognized as a top-50 restaurant by Boston Magazine in its January 2009 issue.

The restaurant, located in West Medford Square, earned the 43rd spot of a top-50 list that ranks the best restaurants within Route 128.

Boston had this to say about the restaurant:

“Chef Vittorio Ettore has earned a cult following with his lively ingredient combos, such as acorn squash tortelloni with cabrales and pears. The Medford restaurant is expensive for the suburbs; it’s also waaay better than Bertucci’s.”

The magazine also suggests ordering the veal milanese.

According to the magazine, the list was compiled by pulling together reviews from several sources, including newspapers and websites, and using that information to create a weighted ranking system.

Chef/owner Vittorio Ettore, a native of Italy, opened Bistro 5 in May of 1999.

- InsideMedford.com

More….

What are your favorite places to eat in Medford?  Click “Comment” below to leave a response.

Four to Eight Inches of Snow Expected in Medford, Area

Four to eight inches of light, fluffy snow are expected to fall in Medford and the area between 8AM and 8PM Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the area. Snow is expected to fall the most heavily between 11AM and 5PM, up to one to two inches per hour. The snow will likely taper off by the evening.

Wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour are expected on Wednesday, with wind chill values in the single digits during the day and the negative single digits at night, so bundle up for those New Year’s Eve activities!

This is this month’s second storm.  The last storm dumped over a foot of snow on Medford.

- InsideMedford.com

Green Line station locations, including the end of the line, are expected to be announced in early 2009. At right, a Green Line train at Cleveland Circle. Photo by Alexander Svirsky.

What Will be the Big Stories in Medford?

Tough Times Forecast for City’s Budget
A slumping economy and a warning from the governor that local aid could be cut by 10% will no doubt force the city to make some tough decisions come budget-time. Last year’s budget was one of the toughest in recent memory and this year could possibly be worse.

Green Line Stations to be Finalized
State officials have been promising for months to make a final call on where stations will be located in Medford and where the line will end, either on Boston Avenue near Tufts University or at Route 16. The latest word is the project’s terminus could be announced in January and the engineering phase is supposed to begin in early 2009.

Decision Expected on TV3 Future
After two public performance evaluation hearings this past fall, Judge Marie Jackson is expected to make her recommendations to the mayor shortly. A financial audit of the station should also be completed and made public in early 2009.

New Coaches for Medford Mustangs
Several new coaches are expected in 2009, including softball and football. All eyes are on the administration’s search for a new football coach. The new coach will have to turn around a team that did not win a single game in 2008 and that suffered the fallout of a criminal investigation surrounding the head coach for two straight seasons. Fair or not, the strength of a school’s athletic program is judged by the performance of its football team, and hopefully the Mustangs will have a much better 2009.

Municipal Elections in Fall 2009
Medfordites will head to the polls in November 2009 to select candidates for Mayor, School Committee, and City Council. No new candidates were elected in 2007 and it will be interesting to see if any challengers emerge. Mayor Michael McGlynn will be up for re-election to his twelfth consecutive term.

Politics Tops the List of Most-Read Stories 

Nearly 63,000 people visited InsideMedford.com in 2008.  The site experienced its most visitors to date- 6,801- in December.  Thank you to everyone who has visited InsideMedford.com, commented on stories, told friends about the site, submitted story ideas, and advertised on the site.  Your support is very much appreciated and we’ll see you in 2009!

Senator Jehlen to Hold Budget Forum, Notice, March 11, 2008
6,202 views

School Committee Candidates Speak out at Forum, Allison Goldsberry, October 3, 2007
4,097 views

Why I Support Hillary Clinton for President, Audrey Roth, January 28, 2008
3,259 views

State Rep Candidate Forum Tuesday Night, Notice, January 29, 2008
3,241 views

Chamber’s Duck Race Makes a Splash, Allison Goldsberry, September 8, 2007
2,741 views

Cheerleaders Head to National Competition, Allison Goldsberry, December 5, 2007
2,697 views

Medford Dems Hold Council Candidate Forum Tonight, Notice, September 26, 2007
2,074 views

Medford Woman Dies During C-Section, Allison Goldsberry, October 22, 2008
1,330 views

Police: Don’t Leave GPS Unit in Car, Notice, November 21, 2007
1,171 views

Champions Again!  Allison Goldsberry, March 24, 2008
1,139 views

Editor’s Note- The number of views for the stories from 2007 are only the number of views the story received in 2008 and does not include views from 2007.

This is the third in a series of several pieces that will look back at the most notable events and people in 2008 in Medford. Today’s focus is people.  Click here to see the other features.

State Senator Jim Marzilli is pictured at left in court recently with his lawyer, Terrence Kennedy. Photo courtesy Gatehouse Media.

Marzilli Indicted for Allegedly Accosting Four Women
Jim Marzilli, a former state senator and state representative for Medford and Arlington, is accused of attempting to sexually assault four women in Lowell one summer afternoon after the District Attorney declined to pursue another alleged assault case against the senator due to a lack of evidence.

DA: Coach Withdrew Team Cash at Strip Club
Former Chelsea and Medford football coach James Atkins is accused by Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley of using Chelsea booster football funds for personal use, including at a Revere strip club.

Buonomo Arraigned for Alleged Theft of Public Money
Middlesex County Register of Probate John Buonomo is caught on video allegedly stealing cash from copy machines and money machines in the Office of the Register of Deeds.

Tufts Staffers Arraigned for Stealing Nearly $1 Million
Two Tufts employees are accused of raiding student activities funds and using the money on fancy trips and clothes in two separate schemes.

Tufts Loses $20 Million in Madoff “Ponzi Scheme”
Disgraced Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff allegedly rips off Tufts University to the tune of $20 million.