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Wellesley Educators Association votes no confidence in superintendent, School Committee

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

The Wellesley Educators Association has announced a no confidence vote in the town’s superintendent and school committee as teachers continue to work under an expired contract.The teachers say they’ve demanded more funding and they’re working under a contract that expired in July.They’re asking for better staffing, more pay, and a parental leave agreement.In a statement, Wellesley School Committee member Catherine Mirick, who is a member of the bargaining team, said, “The School Committee has been bargaining in good faith for more than a year with the Wellesley Educators Association.  We have agreed to 34 of the proposals that the WEA brought forward and, in the month of February, we offered more concessions.  Despite all of this movement, including an unprecedented financial package, the Committee has seen no similar movement from the WEA.  Negotiations require both parties to find common ground and compromise and, thus far, the WEA has ...

Division 2 state girls basketball championship results

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

DIVISION 2 STATE FINAL1976 – Hampshire 40, Bishop Fenwick 351977 – Hampshire 45, Winthrop 311978 – Drury 42, Westwood 411979 – Westwood 57, Ipswich 54 (ot)1980 – Amherst 43, Ayer 361981 – Abington 57, Ayer 431982 – No state final1983 – No state final1984 – Walpole 56, Monument Mountain 241985 – Westwood 65, Oakmont 541986 – Monument Mt. 55, Walpole 541987 – North Attleboro 70, Athol 611988 – Wakefield 63, Monument Mt. 481989 – Walpole 54, Monument Mt. 451990 – Milton 76, Oakmont 571991 – North Attleboro 59, Southwick 321992 – Oxford 59, Seekonk 511993 – Oxford 58, Masconomet 401994 – Walpole 49, Bartlett 411995 – Walpole 54, Bartlett 481996 – Masconomet 78, Monument Mt. 581997 – Wakefield 75, Monument Mt. 531998 – Duxbury 69, David Prouty 471999 – David Prouty 68, Salem 522000 – Monument Mt. 69, Melrose 452001 – Concord-Carlisle ...

Yankees Notebook: Aaron Boone sees Anthony Volpe hitting high in the order … down the road

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Anthony Volpe has been a consistent presence atop the Yankees’ lineup this spring, but don’t expect the franchise’s No. 1 prospect to occupy the leadoff spot regularly whenever he cracks the big league roster.With Volpe once again penciled in first for the Yanks’ spring contest against the Blue Jays on Saturday, Aaron Boone discussed the 21-year-old’s future presence in the order. But the manager also said that he plans on filling the one-hole with a veteran in the short term.“His future lies in hitting at the top or the middle of the order. He controls the strike zone. Obviously a really good hitter. In his case, a really good base runner, base stealer,” Boone said of Volpe. “So I envision him as a future top or middle of the order [hitter], but I envision DJ [LeMahieu] leading off.”LeMahieu, 34, has been the Bombers’ go-to leadoff hitter when healthy since joining the club in 2019. But the Yankees ha...

Nestor Cortes hit hard by Blue Jays as Yankees lefty makes spring debut: ‘Not a nasty start’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Blue Jays refused to take it easy on Nestor Cortes in his spring debut on Saturday.The Yankees southpaw, sidelined up to this point by a hamstring injury, faced an Opening Day-esque Toronto lineup in his return to the mound. That combination resulted in Cortes allowing five earned runs, including homers to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Whit Merrifield, over 3.1 innings of work. Cortes also walked three and struck out four.“Not a nasty start,” Cortes said after the game, a nod to his nickname. But considering the hamstring injury and the groin issue that led to a premature playoff exit last October, Cortes was happy with his command and thought his stuff was better than he expected in his first game action of 2023.His manager agreed.“I thought he was all right. I liked the life on his fastball,” Aaron Boone said. “Got some swing and miss with it. Made a couple mistakes probably cutter-, slider-wise.”Boone would have preferred ...

Taconic boys hand David Prouty first loss en route to title

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

LOWELL – Taconic boys basketball coach Bill Heaphy has seen his bench step up all season long and Saturday was no different as the top seeds survived a fierce charge from undefeated David Prouty to win the Div. 5 state championship, 53-51, in a wild one.“I was just praying that the clock would tick a little faster, but we managed,” said Heaphy, who saw three starters foul out in the final quarter. “The (bench) has been like that throughout the tournament.”Christian Mateurvitch (11), Tayvon Sandifer (13) and Maimoudou Bamba (12) were all left to watch from the bench as Prouty’s last-second shot to tie, rolled off the rim ensuring Taconic its first outright title in school history. The Thunder shared the crown in the Covid-shortened season in 2020.“The first one we didn’t really get to get there because of Covid,” said Sandifer, who scored seven straight points in a pivotal third quarter for Taconic. “We came here and we finished the mission.”Trailing 51-42 with 5:01 left, the Panther...

UN commission calls for closing the gender digital divide

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N.’s premiere global body fighting for gender equality on Saturday called for wide-ranging efforts to close the gap between men and women in today’s technology-driven world and urged zero tolerance for gender-based violence and harassment online.In a document approved by consensus after all-night negotiations at the end of a two-week meeting, the Commission on the Status of Women expressed grave concern at the interrelation between offline and online violence, harassment and discrimination against women and girls — and it condemned the increase in these acts.It called for a significant increase in investments by the public and private sector to bridge the gender digital divide. It also called for the removal of barriers to equal access to digital technology for all women and girls, and new policies and programs to achieve gender parity in emerging scientific and technological fields.Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, an entity of the United Nati...

Serbia, Kosovo agree on how to implement EU plan, envoy says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

OHRID, North Macedonia (AP) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have tentatively agreed on how to implement a European Union-sponsored plan to normalize their relations after decades of tensions between the two Balkan wartime foes, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Saturday after chairing talks between them.Speaking at a news conference after nearly 12 hours of talks in the North Macedonian lakeside resort of Ohrid, Borrell told reporters that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti ” have reached an agreement on how to do it.”They agreed last month to the wording of an 11-point EU plan to normalize relations following the neighbors’ 1998-1999 war and Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.“Objective today was to agree on how to implement the agreement accepted in the last high-level meeting,” Borrell said. “This means practical steps on what has to be done, when, by who and how.”Both countries hope to join the E...

Snowy Michigan pileup ensnares up to 100 vehicles

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Up to 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 during white-out conditions, Michigan police said. There were reports of injuries that do not appear to be serious, police said on Twitter. Early reports said 50 to 100 vehicles were in the Saturday crash near Portland, a city over 100 mile (over 161 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.Officials posted photos of cars backed up along the frigid roads after the crash and said part of the interstate was closed. The weather has since cleared, police said, though it’s unclear when the interstate will reopen. The Associated Press

5 injured, 1 critically, in single-car crash in Arlington Heights

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Five people were injured, one critically, in a single-car crash Saturday afternoon in Arlington Heights, according to police.According to a news release from the Arlington Heights Police Department, a driver crashed into a sign for a credit union around 1:15 p.m. near Arlington Heights Road and East Magnolia Street. Suburban doctor indicted on health care fraud scheme A 71-year-old woman, of Chicago, suffered a serious head injury and was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in critical condition, police said.The driver, a 32-year-old woman, of Elmwood Park, and three women, 62, 73, and 72, all of Chicago, were taken to Northwest Community Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. First major US railroad merger in 2 decades will go forward As of now, alcohol and drugs aren't suspected of being factors in the crash, police said.Arlington Heights police and the Major Case Assistance Team Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction unit a...

Sunset Hills dentist first in Missouri to use FDA-approved robot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:04 GMT

SUNSET HILLS, Mo. - One St. Louis-area doctor has an extra helper to make the process for dental implants faster and safer. Chances are, you won't find it much elsewhere. Dr. Justin Schlaijker is a periodontist who has served the Sunset Hills community since 2011. Last year, he got the green light to use the only FDA-approved dental robot for implant surgeries. Schlaijker's team is the first in Missouri to use the Yomi Robotic Dental system from Neocis Inc. Yomi is a computerized navigational system that provides guidance and assists doctors with planning and surgical phases of implants. Trending: New highway from south Illinois to St. Louis? Maybe! Dr. Justin Schlaijker is a periodontist who has served the Sunset Hills community since 2011. Last year, he got the green light to use the only FDA-approved dental robot for implant surgeries. "The whole purpose is to ensure that the patient care is as optimal as possible," said Dr. Schlaijker. "It largely hasn't been much of a marketi...