In Other News

Accused Arsonist to Stay Behind Bars

Melissa Brown has been indicted by a Norfolk County Grand Jury. She was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court on June 3 and pleaded not guilty to one count of Arson of a Dwelling House Ch. 266 Sec. 1 and three counts of animal cruelty Ch. 272 Sec. 17.  During a dangerousness hearing, arguments were heard by Judge William F. Sullivan on the Commonwealth’s motion to keep the defendant in custody without bail under the dangerousness statute. The judge took the matter under advisement. The defendant is being held in jail without bail pending a ruling by the judge. Her case was continued to June 11 for a status conference.

State Privacy Bill Advances

The Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act H.5472 (formerly H.4746) has passed unanimously in the House, marking a significant step forward in strengthening privacy protections for Massachusetts residents. This legislation includes a ban on the sale of precise geolocation data and establishes stronger safeguards for personal information. These robust protections are particularly important for communities that may face targeting or harassment, including religious communities, by limiting the misuse of sensitive location data. The bill now moves back to the Senate for a vote on the amended version.

$1 million prize won on ticket purchased in Wrentham

George Zakhary of Bellingham is the winner of a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “$4,000,000 Bonus Bucks” instant ticket game. Zakhary chose the cash option on his prize and received a one-time payment of $650,000 (before taxes). He plans to put the winnings towards his mother’s retirement.  The winning ticket was purchased at Hotshot, 60 South St. in Wrentham. The store receives a $10,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket.

Beaver Street Interceptor Update

Construction Updates ~ Monday (6/8) through Monday (6/15)

RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert: Monday (6/8) through Friday (6/12) 7 AM to 3 PM.

The Contractor will be working on resetting curbing and sidewalks within RT. 140 (West Central Street). The work will be contained within the southbound lane from Burger King to Beaver Street. During this time there will be lane closures on RT. 140. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Beaver Street Lane Closure: Tuesday (6/9) – Thursday (6/11)

From Tuesday (6/9) through Thursday (6/11) between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., the contractor will work on Beaver Street near the MBTA tracks. During this time there will be a lane closure on Beaver Street around this area. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

24/7 Road Closure: Saturday, June 13 – Monday, June 15

Starting at 12:00 AM on Saturday, June 13, Beaver Street will close at the MBTA train tracks. This area will remain closed 24 hours a day until Monday, June 15, at 4:00 PM. A detour will be in place during this time.

Access Details:

- Via Rt. 140 only: Access to 242 through 290 Beaver Street, including Franklin Glass, and Franklin Recreation.

- Via Grove St. only: Access to all other locations on Beaver Street, including the Town of Franklin Recycling Center, Beaver Street Recreation Area, and businesses on Master Drive.

MBTA Service Notice:

MBTA Commuter Rail service to Forge Parkway and Dean College (Downtown) Stations will be suspended on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14.

June 14 - Eddie Grant Kickball Tournament:

For attendees of the Eddie Grant Kickball Tournament on June 14th, please note that you will need to access the Beaver Pond Recreation Area via Grove St. See their Facebook Page for more information.

Needham Park & Rec Official Arrested

According to a report in Needham Observer, Christopher Gerstel, chair of the Needham Park & Recreation Commission, pleaded not guilty in Federal Court to 17 counts relating to wire fraud, filing false tax returns and failing to file tax returns after allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from Needham Baseball and Softball.