UpdatedTue, May 11, 2021 at 2:36 pm ET
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If you noticed trains sounding off in Waltham more than usual, that s because Waltham was among a handful of communities that had its status as a Quiet Zone revoked. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)
WALTHAM, MA If you noticed trains sounding off in Waltham more than usual or at all that s because Waltham was among a handful of communities that had its status as a Quiet Zone revoked.
According to a spokesperson at the Federal Railway Administration, during the week of April 26, the federal body determined that city crossings lacked required supplemental safety measures that the city was requested to have going back to 2008, and thus no longer qualified as a quiet zone.
Kerry Feltner ; Eli Sherman
kfeltner@gannett.com
For 41 years, Keith MacPherson has served as a Waltham cop, rising through the ranks from patrolman to chief of the force.
Last month, Chief MacPherson retired, marking the start of a new chapter for the WPD.
MacPherson first assumed the role in 2012 for a year as interim chief. Two years later he was officially appointed to the position. He has served as chief for nine years.
Kevin O’Connell, 27-year veteran of the department, is now the acting chief of the WPD.
“It has been an honor serving under Chief MacPherson and we all wish him the very best in his retirement,” O’Connell said in a statement. “I look forward to leading the department through this transition period as we continue our work with each and every member of our community in making the City of Waltham a great place to live, work, and play.”
UpdatedTue, Mar 2, 2021 at 2:12 pm ET
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The lawsuit has prompted the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which was paying some $118 million of the $375 million project, to pause payments. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)
WALTHAM, MA A group of abutters to the new high school project under construction filed a lawsuit in the Middlesex Superior Court in December accusing the Waltham Zoning Board of Appeals of improperly approving zoning variances and the city of violating private property rights.
The lawsuit has prompted the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which was paying some $118 million of the $375 million project, to pause payments. In accordance with MSBA policy, and pursuant to section 4.13 of the Project Funding Agreement for the Project. the MSBA is placing reimbursements for the Waltham High School project on hold at this time because of the Pending Litigation, MSBA Executive Director John McCarthy told Mayor Jeannette McCarthy in a letter dated Jan. 14,
Mayor McCarthy: Waltham s vaccine rollout plan
Wicked Local
It is a new year, there is a new administration in place, but there is one old problem: controlling the deadly coronavirus, a pandemic that has taken the lives of over 410,000 Americans, nearly 14,000 Massachusetts residents, and 104 Waltham residents.
Waltham remains in a red zone, designated as a high risk community, regarding the spread of the coronavirus. As of Jan. 21 the city had 4,018 positive cases, 3,382 recovered cases, and 104 deaths from the disease.
There have been a total of 236 cases of COVID-19 in the Waltham Public School district since Oct. 9, 2020.
But there is hope in sight: vaccines are coming.