Teacher Appreciation Week is this week, May 6-10, so take a moment and show your children's teachers how much they mean to you ... but please follow the rules. Weston Public Schools generally discourages personal gifts to teachers, but does have a policy in place for gift-giving that draws from the state Conflict of Interest Law. Before you head out and purchase that extravagant "Thank you" gift, take a look at the guidelines. In general, per year: - Think in terms of a $50 maximum. Teachers cannot accept a single gift or several small gifts that value more than $50 from a single individual …

Tuesday's special state primary brought 1,547 Weston voters to the polls across the town's four precincts, and the majority the voters who came out put their support behind the men who carried the Democratic and Republican votes across the state. According to the final Weston numbers, Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) garnered 854 Weston votes. Markey's opponent, Stephen F. Lynch, earned just 179 votes across Weston's four precincts. While far fewer voters cast Republican ballots, those who did put their support behind Gabriel Gomez. In Weston, Gomez earned 331 votes. His opponents, Michael J. …

Every week we set out to answer a question important to residents of Weston as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers feature. This week, we're taking a look at the upcoming Weston Annual Town Meeting ... and how, exactly, you're supposed to participate if you have young children at home. Good news: There's childcare available. The Weston High School Chapter of the National Honor Society will be on hand to provide childcare during the first session of Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 13. From 7 p.m.-10 p.m., childcare will be available from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. in the Weston High School cafeteria. …

With the 2013 deadline to license Weston's dogs just days away, it seems there are several fewer pooches in town this year than last. According to Weston Town Clerk Deborah Davenport, her office had licensed 847 dogs as of Tuesday morning, just a week before the April 30, 2013 deadline for all dogs in town to be licensed. That number represents more than 120 fewer pooches than the town licensed in 2012 when it issued 970 licenses, Davenport said. Each year, state law requires that all dog owners obtain licenses for each dog over 6 months old in their household. The issued licenses represent …

By the end of the month, you're going to need to have your canine companion up-to-date on shots and fully registered in the Town of Weston. Weston requires that all dogs be registered by April 30 of each year; the registration period covers Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of each year. The process itself is fairly simple: 1. Make sure your dog is current on its rabies vaccination. 2. File proof of vaccination with the Weston town clerk's office. This can be done in person at Weston Town Hall or by mailing a copy to: Town Clerk's Office, Town Hall, P.O. Box 378, Weston, MA 02493. 3. Complete the …

Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers feature. This week, we're taking a look at some upcoming voter deadlines you need to know about. On April 30, Massachusetts will hold a special election primary in order to determine who will be on the special election ballot in June to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry. The last day to register to vote in the Special State Primary is Wednesday, April 10, 2013.  After that election, it's time to think ahead to Weston's Annual Town Election on May …

Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers feature.  This week we're looking at which Weston residents are running the 2013 Boston Marathon. Marathon Monday is fast approaching, and we're working to compile a list of all those Weston residents running on Patriot's Day. According to the Boston Athletic Association, there are currently 17 runners from Weston registered to run the 2013 Boston Marathon:    Bib Wave/Corral Name Age M/F   22525 3/5 Avery, Mark W. 53 M   24785 3/9 Ayer, David A. 52 M   25296 3/9 Bechtol, Hailey …

Punxsutawney Phil was wrong. Winter definitely decided to linger this year. But it didn't just take a toll on drivers' patience, it hit Weston's pocketbook as well. Weston Department of Public Works Director of Operations Bob Hoffman said Weston went right through the $253,000 allocated to the Fiscal Year 2013 snow budget. In fact, Hoffman said, the department is probably over that amount by $270,000, which would bring the total snow expenditures to $523,000 for the fiscal year. The extra cash was allocated from the town's free cash reserves. Still, Hoffman said, that's nothing compared to …

Perhaps the "snow days" that were actually "hurricane days" back in October should have been considered a warning: Weston Public Schools were in for a rough year of cancel-classes, make-them-up-in-June. With the latest school closing on March 19, the fifth of the school year, Weston Public Schools are now scheduled to remain in session until Friday, June 28. And, while it's still early, the WHDH forecast for next Tuesday, March 25, currently calls for "snow, rain & wind." Could there be another snow day in Weston's future? We shall see ...

If you drove past Weston Town Green earlier this week, you might have noticed an explosion of carrot noses, stick arms and button eyes. WHDH reporter Brandon Gunnoe tracked down the reason behind Weston's new snowman population and found it all went back 300 years. According to Gunnoe's report, the Weston Children's Community Association decided to build 300 snowmen in celebration of the town's 300th anniversary this year. "My grandparents grew up in Weston, my parents are still here. It's a town people come back to,” a parent, Caroline Balz, told Gunnoe. WCCA President Michele Schuckel told …

When Weston residents head to the 2013 Annual Town Meeting on May 13, they could be voting on some substantial changes to the intersection of Newton and Wellesley streets, otherwise known as Case's Corner. Tonight, Weston's Traffic and Sidewalk Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Case Campus Master Plan Committee to allow residents the opportunity to hear more about a proposed roundabout for Case's Corner, ask questions and generally learn more about the project. The meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. at Weston Town Hall. A Case Campus Master Plan Report was recently completed with a …

Weston is set to receive $1.3 million more from the state in Fiscal Year 2014 than it is estimated to receive in FY13 under Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed budget. In addition to the increase in aid, Weston's assessment is set to decrease by $14,022, from $289,019 in FY13 to $274,997 in FY14. The bulk of the state aid increase for Weston can be found under the Chapter 70 line item. Weston's Chapter 70 funding is slated to increase from $2.5 million in FY13 to $3.8 million in FY14. The small other increase comes in the school lunch reimbursement line item. The House and Senate will next propose …

Weston residents will vote to fill a variety community offices during the annual town election on May 11. The following boards have vacancies, the number in parentheses, to fill in the election: - Board of Assessors (1)- Board of Health (1)- Board of Library Trustees (2)- Board of Selectmen (1)- Commissioners of Trust Funds (1)- Measurers of Lumber (3)- Moderator (1)- Planning Board (1 + 1 [4 yr. term] to fill recent vacancy)- Recreation Commission (2)- School Committee (2) Are you considering throwing your hat in the ring to fill one of these vacancies? Town Caucus Option The Town Caucus …

The Massachusetts open burning season begins Jan. 15 and continues until May 1, and the Weston Fire Department is currently issuing permits. There is no cost to obtain an open burning permit, but residents must obtain one annually in order to legally burn. Residents should print the permit application (available as a PDF with this article), complete it and bring it to the Weston Fire Department. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulates open burning and it is enforced by local fire departments. Burning is regulated through a two-step process that involves residents …

Next weekend the Weston Town Green will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the Weston300 Winterfest, the official kickoff event for all the festivities planned to celebrate Weston's 300th anniversary. Winterfest will largely take place on Saturday, Jan.12, but there are events schedule on Sunday, Jan. 13, as well. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the fun. Check out the schedule below, courtesy of Weston300, for details. Don't forget to upload your images from the event to the Weston Patch Pics & Clips Gallery. Saturday, January 12, 2013 - 10:00 am-4:00 pm 10:10 am Winterfest officially …

As 2013 begins, property tax rates are increasing for residents across Massachusetts, including in Weston — so how does that compare to surrounding communities? Out of 19 communities in the area, Weston's 2013 residential tax rate lands among the lower rates, according to rates compiled by Patch through the state Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services. The Weston Board of Selectmen voted on the 2013 rate at a tax classification hearing last month. The residential and commercial/industrial rate is $12.40 per $1,000 of assessed value. With Weston's average home assessment of about $…