To the Editor:  On February 15th our community honored the Medfield institution, Lord’s Department Store, in a wonderful celebration that took place at the store and will be remembered for years to come. Lord’s will close its doors for the last time on February 28th. I want to thank the following people and groups for their contributions and for giving so many people the gift of closure as we bid our beloved Lord’s farewell: The Celebrate Lord’s Committee members who answered the call without hesitation to organize the event: Brandie Morris, Colleen Sullivan, Chris McCue Potts, Jo Ellen …

Dear Editor: I have a suggestion for all those who are lamenting the closing of Lord’s Department Store in Medfield and are looking for ways to honor the store and its owners, its tradition and its memory: Stop shopping at the big box stores. Make no mistake about it: of the many factors that I'm sure went into Tom's and Nancy's decision to close, there can be little doubt that competition from chain stores at the malls and especially the huge-volume players like Walmart may have been the biggest. But if you ever find yourself complaining about the way those stores make you feel as a customer…

To the Editor:  On November 6th, Medfield and all towns in Massachusetts will vote for or against the legalization of marijuana as “medicine” – Ballot Question 3.  This proposed law was not written to provide compassion to our friends and loved ones who are chronically ill, suffering from debilitating pain, or dying. This legislation, if passed, will pose a vital Public Health risk to our youth through increased access to marijuana, decreased perception of risk, and an increase in drugged driving incidents -- all clearly documented in data from states that have approved this legislation.  The…

Dear Editor, Having recently completed my 10th Relay For Life event, I am pleased and honored to thank my many Medfield friends, family members and everyone who once again supported my fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society.  I am also very proud to be one of the top three individual fundraisers at this year’s 2012 event; an event that I am passionate about and dedicated to. In 2003, the first year the American Cancer Society brought this event to Medfield, I was intrigued as I had never heard of the Relay For Life so I went to an informational meeting.  Today, as I write this …

Flag Day, neither a federal nor state holiday, is still celebrated throughout America on June 14.  That celebration is the least commercialized and occurs quietly as citizens usually just display their flag. Our president will issue a proclamation encouraging all citizens to fly their flag all week as National Flag week. There are some celebrations, perhaps one of the oldest being in nearby Quincy.  They have been celebrating Flag Day for 60 years. So if you’re so inclined, head over to Quincy on the evening of June 16 for a parade followed by fireworks. Perhaps my favorite Flag Day quote on …

To the Editor of Patch, I am writing in response to comments made on the Medfield Patch article, “Senator Timilty Takes Medfield State Hospital Issue to Governor” on May 1, 2012. Paul, Alden, and Lee Ann are trying to politicize this issue. The state hospital remediation and renovation should not be an election issue between Senator Timilty and Jeff Bailey. They both support the cleanup of the C&D site. There is far more at stake than that. I think we can all agree that up until this point in the project, it was not necessary to get our elected officials involved, but we are trying to prevent…

To the editor,   The article, "Mediation of State Hospital Cleanup a Hot Topic at Tuesday's Selectmen Meeting," does not mention that Ann Thompson, after hearing formal reports on the state hospital cleanup, tried to limit the public’s ability to voice concerns about what was presented and ask questions, and only allowed discussion when Pete Peterson stepped in to let people talk and discuss their concerns about the upcoming mediation. When you have leaders in your town that refuse to listen to their constituents' concerns at a public meeting, then I think, with all due respect to Mike …

Dear editor, I wanted to clarify SHERC chairman John Thompson's April 13 comment in Medfield Patch on the cost comparisons of full removal of hazardous waste at the Medfield State Hospital property's Construction and Demolition area (C&D) versus DCAM's selected partial removal of the hazardous fill in the C&D Area. Thompson's comment appears in the April 12 Medfield Patch article, "Public Meeting with DCAM Tonight to Discuss Cleanup of Medfield State Hospital Site." The numbers John provided are DCAM's estimates of cleanup item costs, but are not what DCAM has proposed as the total cost for …

To my fellow Medfield citizens,   Please accept a warm, heartfelt thank you for supporting me in the recent election for Medfield selectman. Although I fell short of my final goal, campaigning was an amazing experience that I won’t soon forget. 590 citizens supported my candidacy and to those supporters I say thank you. My supporters recognize the need for a board that can achieve results – and I hope the election results will be a wake-up call to my opponent. Medfield has some important issues to tackle in the near future and by working together, the selectmen can produce the best results …

Dear Editor, I am writing on behalf of Nick Athanasiadis. Having been a Medfield resident for over 15 years now, I have watched how this town has changed. One of  the things that drew us to the town, was the sense of community. Medfield has been a source of support and friendship to our family amidst good times and times of tragedy. But of key value to our family has been the overwhelming sense of people working together to accomplish great things. Medfield Day, Angel Run, Medfield Angels, town hall, library and school renovations, and the value of volunteering for the greater good. Our …

Dear Editor, WE NEED NICK. The fact is, that while serving as Selectman, Pete Peterson was also chairman of Medfield Day for a few years, something he refers to on his blog and campaign materials as among his major achievements and contributions to the Medfield community. The fact is, when he left MEMO, he started consistently voting against issuing an event permit to MEMO for Medfield Day under his complaint that Medfield Day was an inordinate expense and burden to the Town. The fact is, that he didn’t have a problem with Medfield Day when he was chairing it. Aside from the fact that MEMO …

Dear Editor: Medfield needs a Selectman who is involved in and knowledgeable about the town and its issues, and Medfield deserves a Selectman who is genuinely committed to the town's best interests. Pete Peterson is that person.   Medfield Voting and Town Attendance records, located at the Town Clerk's office, show that Pete has attended every Town Meeting and has regularly voted in state, federal, and town elections since at least 1998, the date the electronic records started recording attendance and voting in Medfield. Pete's voting record, combined with his extraordinary record of public …

To the Editor: On this coming Monday, March 26th, the voters of Medfield have the opportunity to retain Pete Peterson as one of our prized selectmen. The Chapin family  will be casting our three votes for him. Pete has been an asset to the board for the past 12 years. Prior to that, he was engaged in many aspects of our town. In fact, since he moved to Medfield, he has been an active member of our community. Consistency is key. The experience that he has attained throughout his service as selectman is undeniable. His devotion to his job is obvious. His effect has been to continue to make …

Dear Editor, I am writing to endorse the candidacy of Nick Athanasiadis for Medfield Town Selectman. My husband and I have lived in five states but the friends we have made in Medfield are truly the best. Among those friends is Nick Athanasiadis. Our initial contact began because both of us have sons with special needs. The bond Nick has with his son is incredible. As our friendship grew, I got to see how intelligent and insightful a person he is. "Hard-working" is Nick's middle name! Not only does he have a job as a software engineer, but he also is part owner of The Math Connection, a local…

Dear editor, I am writing in support of Nick Athanasiadis for Selectman for the Town of Medfield. I have known Nick for over 15 years, as a neighbor and as a friend. We moved into Medfield at the same time and raised our families alongside each other. Nick is an incredible family man; passionate about always improving his childrens' lives. He was supportive of our neighborhood and our homeowners association of 23 houses. He had great improvement ideas and was ready at any time to jump in with his support to implement our ideas. He is a hardworker and put his vast  intellectual knowledge to …

Dear Editor, I’d like to endorse the reelection of Pete Peterson for Selectman on March 26.  Pete was the driver behind organizing the Medfield Lyme Disease Study Committee of which I’m chair of. After hearing me speak about Lyme disease prevention to a group of soccer coaches, he immediately contacted me to learn more. Pete clearly understood it to be a public health issue for Medfield and initiated the formation of a citizen’s study committee.  The committee has several initiatives to help reduce the incidence of Lyme disease in town. Our approach is through education on ticks and personal …

Dear Editor, We are writing to urge Medfield voters to reelect selectman Pete Peterson. Pete's record as a selectman is commendable. Medfield has weathered the financial storms of the last several years without disastrous cuts in town services and Pete is part of the reason for that. He has also shown a concern for, and worked hard to address, long term issues that face us, from affordable housing to the state hospital to the declining commercial base. He has worked to bring new ideas to the Board of Selectmen discussion on these and other issues. He has been outfront on the 40B issue, …

To the Editor, I wholeheartedly endorse Pete Peterson for selectman. Pete continues to be the best choice for the Board of Selectman seat he now holds.  For those of you who are new to the town of Medfield, I recommend that you review Pete's credentials and accomplishments over the past decade. His efforts and hard work make Medfield a desirable place to live and work. Please endorse and vote for Pete at the upcoming town election.   Sincerely, Patricia PattGreen Street, Medfield

With the selectman election quickly approaching, we would like to express our support for Osler “Pete” Peterson for reelection. Among the many attributes that have made him such an extraordinary selectman for the past 12 years are his vast know-how of financial and legal affairs, his ability to ask the right questions and make informed decisions, and the measures he has implemented in keeping citizens informed. Just as important are his strength of character and his enthusiasm towards local community involvement which we witnessed first-hand. A few years ago, while co-chairing a town-wide …

Dear Editor, I am writing to encourage my fellow Medfield citizens to join me in voting on March 26th to reelect Pete Peterson as Selectman. I confess I can be a bit of a political cynic and probably would not be writing this endorsement had I not had the recent opportunity to work with Pete on a project near and dear to my heart. The Medfield Foundation Volunteer of the Year Awards were initiated by Pete in 2008 to recognize the generosity of time and spirit so prevalent in Medfield. In the years since - and nearly single-handedly - he has worked to shed a light on the unique giving …