Joe Angelo's, Patriot Convenience Not Alone In Alleged Video Gambling

Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Patriot Convenience and Joe Angelo's are not the only Brockton businesses who have had allegedly illegal gambling video games.
Code Enforcement Officer Scott Uhlman said in an email that suspected illegal games were found at Table 22 restaurant on 22 Main st and Prestige Gas station at Warren ave and Myrtle St.
They have also been found at the Enterprise club on Perkins Av.
According to Uhlman, Patriot Convenience and the Enterprise Club had their machines seized.
Uhlman said businesses who have not had the games seized by the city have 48 hours to remove them or he will file criminal charges in district court.

None of the businesses have licenses for the machines, Uhlman said, however Joe Angelo's Cafe owner Joe Angelo's told BrocktonPost.com his machines are legal, but will remove them anyway.
Uhlman said the games are either video poker machines, "Phone Card" sweepstake machines or 25 cent ledge game.
Uhlman said he found the Phone Card type of games at Patriot Convenience and Table 22.
Phone card gambling allows the player to win prized by playing a lottery, sweepstakes, or other games like slots or poker.
The player buys a phone card for a certain amount of minutes of phone calling which gives the player a receipt or ticket stub. The customer then uses the phone card, inserts into a video game that have surfaced at bars and convenience stores across the state. Any winnings can be redeemed for cash.
Each Brockton business will get a $300 fine for a violation of city ordinance because they are not licensed, Uhlman said.
In June the state Attorney General's Office cracked down on so-called "Phone Card" gambling and internet gambling cafes and passed a regulation that banned the games and made them illegal.
The new regulations were prompted after numerous such video gambling operations were found in Bristol and Hampden counties.

Police Charge Brockton Businesses With Illegal Video Poker Games, License Hearings Expected

By Lisa E. Crowley

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Two Brockton businesses—Patriot Convenience and Joe Angelo’s Café--will face possible license and criminal penalties after Brockton Police said they found illegal gambling video machines at both locations during License Commission inspections.
“We are pursuing these violations both at the state and local level,” said Capt. Manuel Gomes.
Gomes said Code Enforcement Officer Scott Uhlman spotted the video gaming machines in rear rooms of each establishment, and police believe they may have been used for illegal gambling.
“We’re told all the time they;re for entertainment purposes,” Gomes said.
Gomes said he couldn’t say if much, or any, money was gambled via the video games.
Gomes said a full report of the video games will be forwarded to the License Commission, who are expected to hold a disciplinary hearing on each business, if not next month, sometime in the future.
“Penalties could run the gamut of fines, suspension, and even the revocation of the license,” Gomes said.
Gomes said the state Attorney General’s Office would also be contacted for potential criminal charges, however, Gomes said, under most circumstances the penalties that can be inflicted at the local level are often more harsh.
“They can pull the license,” Gomes said.
Joe Angelo, owner of Joe Angelo’s Café on Main and Crescent Streets, said his four video poker games have all the required state licenses and are legal.
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Brockton Promise Mentors Rally, Seek Recruits Tonight

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Brockton’s Promise will hold the 4th Annual Mentor Recruitment Rally, in conjunction with the City of Brockton’s Celebration for being named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young people on Thursday, Jan. 26th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Shaw’s Center.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Edward Jacoubs, Director of Grants and Sponsored Projects at the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.
The evening will also feature the presentation of the Promise in Action Award for Exceptional Mentoring, free dinner, raffles, and more.
There is no admission, but pre-registration is required. Pre-register online at http://www.2012rally.eventbrite.com or by calling (508) 894-2516 or emailing brocktons.promise@gmail.com.

Brockton Businesses, Sports Boosters Warned Of Scam

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Brockton school officials are warning residents and businesses not to fall for a scam where an Illinois company is allegedly sending bills and advertising brochures for a fictional Brockton High School sports calendar.
“We are working with the Attorneys General in Illinois and Massachusetts to get this company to cease and desist,” said Superintendent of Schools Matthew H. Malone in a prepared statement. “It’s offensive that they are trying to capitalize on good businesses who support student athletes,” he said.

Officials said many businesses and high school sports boosters have received bills from a company called GCQ purportedly for their “business sponsoring an advertisement” in a fictional Brockton High School Sports Calendar.

The Brockton Public Schools and Brockton High School Athletic Department are not running any advertising campaigns or seeking donations for a calendar of any type, officials said.
Those who receive the bills from GCQ, which ask for a $129 payment, should ignore them.

Brockton Police Log Updated...

to Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. To view, click on Brockton Police patch at right or click here...

THIS WEEK IN BROCKTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24

Davis: P.T.A. Meeting, Café 6 p.m.

George: Title One ~ Family Book Bag – Gr. 2 Mrs. Holmes 9 a.m.

South: School Improvement Council Meeting Principal’s Office 5:30 p.m.

South: P.A.C. Meeting Café 6 p.m.

ClICK HERE FOR MORE...

Independence From Addiction Goal Of Brockton's New Recovery High School

By Lisa E. Crowley

BrocktonPost

BROCKTON—When Independence Academy celebrated its grand opening and an alternative path of education for high school students suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, among those in the crowd was 21-year-old West Bridgewater resident Ashley McDonnell whose battle with addiction began at Taunton High School when she was 14.  

“I think it’s a great idea. I wish I had this option. I never knew there was a way out,” McDonnell said Thursday night during the grand opening at the recover high school’s location at 460 Belmont St. in Brockton.  “I never would have been able to become sober surrounded by all of the same people doing the same things,” she said.

Young adults like Ashley McDonnell are exactly why officials at North River Collaborative and Brockton Public Schools got together almost 2 years ago to gain support for the idea of opening the state’s fourth so-called “recovery high school” for teenagers suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.

The other specialized high schools are located in Boston, Beverly and Springfield, and until Independence Academy opened its doors in Brockton in December, there was no such option for high school-aged students to continue high school separated from the friends who had been a part of their addictive behavior and lifestyle in the first place. Click here for more...

Menino, 75 Mayors Support Same-Sex Marriage

BrocktonPost

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and a host of other mayors from across the U.S. were expected to make an announcement Friday, Jan. 20 during the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, D.C. to show support for Freedom to Marry, a nationwide campaign to win marriage rights for same-sex couples.

More than 75 Republican, Democrat and Independent mayors from cities across the country have pledged to support gay and lesbian couples' freedom to marry, according to a prepared statement issued by the Freedom to Marry Coalition.

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Don't Get Towed! Get Your Car Off The Street

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--The City of Brockton has declared a SNOW EMERGENCY beginning at 9 a.m. TODAY, Saturday, Jan. 21 in the City of Brockton until further notice.

There will be no parking allowed on either side of the street, on any street, throughout the city.
Please park vehicle(s) in off-street locations to allow DPW crews to clear streets.
Cars parked on the street will be towed. Police and other city officials will try to locate a vehicle's owner, but if one can not be found, the city will tow vehicles.
For those who need an alternative, the James J. Adams Parking Garage, located at the corner of Main and Crescent streets, will be open for residents to park their cars beginning at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20.
There will be no charge for use of the garage.
All vehicles must be removed from the garage by 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 23.
Trash service will not be impacted.

Snow Delays School Openings This A.M.

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Overnight snow has pushed school openings one hour late.
This includes all Brockton Public Schools, Cardinal Spellman High School and Trinity Catholic Academy.

Prove City Property Tax Assessment Wrong, Says Brockton's Head Assessor

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Homeowner Bill Russell and more than 30 other residents met Wednesday night to hear the numerous steps and research they must complete to possibly reduce their property tax bills—in some cases which have jumped $15,000 to $20,000 this quarter.
One resident, Bill Russell, who lives at 39 Grinnell Road, adjacent to Deanna Road where many residents have issues, showed his latest tax bill that went from $159,000 to $180,900—a more than $21,000 difference and wondered even if he went through the process to gain an abatement, or a decrease of the tax assessment, if the city assessors would lower his bill.
“You know they’re not going to do anything,” Russell told the crowd that gathered Wednesday at the Arnone Elementary School.
Ward 2 City Councilor Thomas Monahan organized the meeting because he has received dozens of calls, as has his fellow councilors, about the jump in residents’ tax bills that came during this quarter, but are for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
Nearly 50 residents attended. Residents must file an abatement petition by Feb. 1 in order to have the city officially review the assessed value.
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BrocktonPost BROCKTON--Ward 2 City Councilor Thomas Monahan will host a Real Estate Tax Abatement workshop today, January 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Arnone School. Bill Bearce from Bearce Insurance will put on a presentation along with Bernie Hassan from Briarwood Real Estate and Paula C. Odierno of Copperwood Real Estate. Registrar of Deeds, John Buckley and Attorney Jake Creedon will also be there. Abatement forms will be available. Anyone who is seeking relief from the city's property tax valuation must request an abatement by Feb. 1, 2012 to begin the process. Applications after that date will not be heard. Officials will try to answer any questions and help fill out abatement forms. These people are donating their time and it is greatly appreciated. This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the right of asking for an abatement of your home values.

Brockton Police Log Updated...

to Friday, January 13, 2012. To view click on Brockton Police patch at right or click here...

BrocktonPost
BOSTON--Attorney General Martha Coakley has proposed a regulation that, if adopted, would clarify the standard for a finding by the AG’s Office of an intentional violation of the Open Meeting Law.

The regulation would define the term “Knowing or Knowingly” used in the Open Meeting Law. A public body that “knowingly” violates the Open Meeting Law is subject to a $1,000 fine per violation.
A public hearing on the proposed regulation is scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 3 to 5 p.m. at One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Boston.
An “intentional violation” of the Open Meeting Law, as defined under G.L. c. 30A, § 18, is “an act or omission by a public body or a member thereof, in knowing violation of the open meeting law.”
The proposed regulation would read as follows....CLICK HERE FOR MORE...

MLK Day Events In Brockton

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Events in celebration of Martin Luther King Day will be held at several venues around Brockton this holiday weekend. These include:
*The Brockton Area NAACP will host the 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Saturday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Shaw’s Center, 1 Lexington Ave., Brockton. For more information, call 508-587-0502.
*Temple Beth Emunah Brotherhood and Sisterhood, in conjunction with area churches will host its 17th annual luncheon honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, Jan. 15 from 1:15 - 3 p.m. at Temple Beth Emunah, 479 Torrey St. Call 508-583-5810 for reservations.
*Massasoit Community College will host its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 16th from 2-4 p.m. in the Buckley Performing Arts Center on the Brockton Campus, 1 Massasoit Blvd. The event is free and open to the public.
City Hall will be closed Monday, Jan. 16 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. City Hall will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

MetroSouth Chamber Heads To Cuba

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--The Metro South Chamber of Commerce, with Chamber Explorations will host an information meeting to talk about the chamber's upcoming trip to Cuba, a country that until recently has been all but closed to American travel.
information session on Tuesday, January 31 at 6pm at the West Bridgewater Public Library, 80 Howard St., W. Bridgewater.
The chamber has been issued a specific license by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which authorizes registered guests of the program to visit Cuba legally.
Metro South Chamber will offer a 9-day trip to Cuba on May 3. The trip, departing from Miami, is priced at $3,399.
For more information call, 508-586-0500 x 222.

Name The Library's Visiting Hawk

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Brockton Public Library is holding a "Name The Hawk" contest for residents, patrons, officials and all other members of the public to help give the visiting hawk a nickname.
New Director Elizabeth Marcus Wolfe said the hawk has been spotted countless times over the last few months visiting the surrounding area and especially roasting in a tree at the rear of the libray's parking lot on White Avenue.
Wolfe said she can often see the red-tailed hawk from the second-floor window of her office and patrons and employees are enjoying looking for its visits.
Anyone who has an idea for the hawk's name can fill out a suggestion form at the main circulation desk or children's department desk, or email Sandy Reed at sreed@cobma.us. The library will pick a winner on Tuesday, Jan. 17 after Martin Luther King Day.
(Photo courtesy Brockton Public Library)

Brockton Police Log Updated...

to Monday, January 9, 2012. To view click Brockton Police patch at right or click here...

3rd Floor Fire Leaves Dozen Residents Homeless

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—A blaze at a Johnson Court three-story apartment house has left more than a dozen people without a home after firefighters knocked out a fire that began on the third floor.
“The third floor and the roof were heavily involved,” said Fire Chief Richard Francis Monday morning.
He said he believed 14 people living in the building are now looking for a place to stay.
Francis said the Friday night fire, which began at about 9:17 p.m., is believed to have started when a man on the third floor made French fires in a pan full of grease.
Francis said the man told fire officials he made the French fries and believed he had turned off the pan on the stove when he went to eat them.
However, his snack was interrupted when the kitchen filled with smoke and a roaring fire began to spread through the top floor of the house at 10 Johnson Court.
Francis said one occupant was transported to an area hospital and suffered smoke inhalation. He said she is believed to be fine.
The second and first floors were evacuated and otherwise no one was hurt.
“Anytime you can contain the fire to the house or floor where the fire is, you’ve done a good job,” Francis said.
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THIS WEEK IN BROCKTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MONDAY, JANUARY 9
Registration for Grade 6 September 2012 Assignments begin
Brookfield: P.T.O. Meeting. Café, 6:30 p.m.
Hancock: P.T.A. Meeting. Library, 6:30 p.m.
Gilmore: P.T.A. Meeting. Café, 6 p.m.
North: Blue Dog Shelter Blanket Collection runs through 1/13. Main Office.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10
Angelo: P.T.A. Meeting. Café, 6 p.m.
Arnone: P.A.C. Meeting. Teachers Lounge, 6 p.m.
Davis: Title One ~ Book Talk Pizza – Gr. 4 - Ms. Amber, 10:30 a.m.
George: P.T.A. Meeting. Café, 6:30 p.m.
Huntington: Citizen of the Month Awards. During School
Click here for more...

Brockton Police Log Updated...

to Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. To view click Brockton Police patch at right or click here...

Brockton Police Log Updated...

to Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. To view click Brockton Police patch at right or click here...
We're working on catching up!!
Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!!!

New Director, New Changes At Brockton Libraries

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Brockton Public Library advocates are not only looking forward to the new year, they are waiting with anticipation for 2012’s first Friday the 13th when the main branch library will open its doors on a Friday for the first time in years.
“We are really excited about it,” said Elizabeth Marcus Wolfe, Brockton Public Library’s new director. “There are lot of people to thank for making this happen,” she said.
Starting on Friday, Jan. 13 the main branch library will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also, the hours at the West Branch and East Branch libraries will be expanded.
The West will open at 2 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. beginning Jan. 11 and the East will open at 2 instead of 3 p.m. on Thursdays, starting Jan. 12.
The extra hour for each of the branches coincides with the 2 p.m. closing of the high school and middle schools near the two libraries.
Wolfe said students for years have walked past the libraries at 2 p.m. instead of walking in to complete homework or divert from other activities afterschool that might not be of a positive nature.
“We want to capture that student population—junior high and high school students,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe, who took over three months ago, said it was the library’s staff who are making the new hours possible by their willingness to take on different roles and responsibilities, including administrative staff manning the public desk on Fridays at the main branch.
She said the library’s employee schedule is very complex, and very tight, and a lot of work went into extending hours, and appreciates everyone’s hard work to bring a much-desired result.
Wolfe said the staff is “stretching its resources” and although the main branch at 304 Main St., will be open 8 additional hours, some services such as extensive research or special events or children’s programs will not be available, but overall opening the main branch on Fridays and adding an extra hour each at the branches is a step in the right direction.
“All felt it was the right thing to do,” Wolfe said.
On the job for about three months, Wolfe said she has had the chance to meet with the library’s directors, patrons and members of Friends of Brockton Public Library, get a preliminary view for the future.
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Post Office Closing Hearing In Brockton Tonight

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--United States Postal Service officials and employees will meet tonight in Brockton for one of several meetings across the region for the U.S. Post Office to take comments from the public about a feasibility study that could close area distribution facilities, including one in Brockton.
Information from the U.S. Post Office's website is as follows:
What:
Postal Service Managers will give an overview and listen to community input regarding a proposal to move mail processing operations from the Brockton, MA Processing and Distribution Facility to the Providence Rhode Island Possessing and Distribution Facility.
Who:
Postal Officials from the Greater Boston Postal District will be in attendance to make a presentation and field comments and questions.
When:
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where:
West Middle School--Cafeteria
271 West Street
Brockton, MA
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Tax Bill Problem Clerical Mistake Balzotti Says

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Mayor Linda M. Balzotti issued a press release about wrong information on the latest tax bills that numerous people have said the land acreage of their homes was wrong.
Here is the statement:
Mayor Linda Balzotti today (Wednesday, Jan. 3) investigated concerns about the most
recent property tax bills issued by the City of Brockton.
The acreage amount listed on the tax bills was misprinted. Taxes owed and property
value were correct.
“Kelley & Ryan Associates failed to adjust their printing program for a change in the
MUNIS acreage field,” said Mayor Balzotti.
The upgrade, completed by the city in October 2011, increased the number of digits that can be listed after the decimal point in the acreage content field.
Kelley & Ryan was notified of the MUNIS upgrade in November of 2011. Tax bills for the third financial quarter of FY ’12 were not printed until the tax rate was set by the City Council.
James J. Broduer, Jr., Vice President of Operations for Kelley & Ryan Associates said
the company had been notified by the City of Brockton’s Information Technology
Department in November, but failed to make a change to their printing program.
The required change has since been made. Broduer also said this error was in no part due to the file sent by the City of Brockton.
Once the problem was identified, city officials immediately contacted the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
The DOR is the overseer of all property taxes issued in the state.
On Monday (Jan. 3rd), the DOR advised the city that, “the errors in the third quarter
actual tax bill are limited to the acreages included in the property descriptions, increasing them by a factor of 10, and there were no misleading errors in the value, tax, due date, or abatement guidelines…The bills would be considered valid for all important purposes.
In addition, when the city issues any fourth quarter bills, the error should be corrected and an explanation of the change from the third quarter bill should be included.”
Kelley & Ryan has handled the printing of city bills for at least the last five years.
The City of Brockton issues more than 20,000 property tax bills each quarter.
The City of Brockton Tax Collector electronically sends information to Kelley & Ryan for inclusion on tax bills. A random sample of property tax bills – both residential and commercial – are sent to the city for review each financial quarter. T
he samples are checked by both the Tax Collectors’ and Assessors’ offices for calculation errors – value, tax rate, total tax, and date. The city then approves the sample bills before they are mailed.
To avoid a recurrence of this issue, Mayor Balzotti said that moving forward city staff will review each and every data field on the property tax bill samples prior to approval.
A mass-mailing explaining the misprint will be sent out to all Brockton property owners the week of January 10, said Mayor Balzotti.
Kelley & Ryan will cover the cost of the mailing.
For more information about this issue, please contact the Assessors’ Office at 508- 580-7194.