Thomas D. Monahan Ward 2 City Councilor

The Council Chords

The Council Chords will be preforming ( well,trying to preform ) at Joe Angelo's café after the March 10 St Patrick's Mass at noon along with Peter Joy.Also we will be entertaining at the Council on Aging on March 14 at noon ( because they really like us and can't really hear us anyway ) so stop by and say hi ,please no rotten tomatoes allowed ! Council Chord include , Paul Studenski, Tim Cruise, Todd Petti, Tom Brophy, Mike Brady, Chief Conlon, Jass ( I really am Irish ) Stewart, Tom Monahan, Bob Sullivan, Jim Larkin and Tony Donegan.

Brockton Water Rate Hearing

The Brockton Water Commission will hold a public rate hearing on Thursday February 16 at 7 PM in the GAR room in City Hall

Mayor Balzotti appoints interim Police Chief

City of Champions Linda M. Balzotti- Mayor Contact: Lauren DeFilippo Government and Communications Specialist Phone: (508) 580-7123 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2012 MEDIA ADVISORY Mayor Balzotti appoints interim Police Chief Veteran Captain to take over for retiring chief WHAT: Swearing in of Interim Police Chief Emanuel Gomes WHERE: City Council Chambers 2nd Floor City Hall 45 School St. WHEN: Friday, Feb. 10th - 11 a.m. “The position of Police Chief is one of the most, if not the most important job in the city,” said Mayor Linda M. Balzotti. “Captain Gomes has the experience and knowledge to continue the successful work being done by the Brockton Police Department.” Captain Gomes will take over for William Conlon, who will be retiring after six-and-a-half years as Chief, and 26 years with the department. “A lot of very good things are going on in the Brockton Police Department, and we want to continue being a full service police department,” said Gomes. “I intend to continue the good things Chief Conlon has put in place and maintain those standards.” A 25-year veteran of the Brockton Police Department, Gomes began his career as a patrolman in April of 1986. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in April 1997. Gomes became a Lieutenant in July 2000, and promoted to Captain in April 2002. Gomes has overseen operations of the department on several occasions in the Chief’s absence. Gomes was born in Portugal and moved to Brockton’s Campello section at the age of 8. He attended the Huntington School and South Junior High. He is a 1981 graduate of Brockton High School. Following his graduation from Brockton High School, Gomes earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Massasoit Community College. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University.

Brockton Public Library presents: Cupcake Decorating Contest 2-21-2012

Brockton Public Library presents: Cupcake Decorating Contest 2-21-2012 Come join Brockton Library Foundation during school vacation week for a Cupcake Decorating Contest on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 6 p.m. at the main library. This is a contest for kids to see who can make the most beautiful cupcake. Judges will give small prizes for several categories of best cupcake decoration. Of course, we'll have cupcakes for you to eat, too. For more information and schedule of events, check our online calendar at www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org, or contact Ann Beauregard at 508-584-6969, greenbeachab@yahoo.com. Brockton Public Library is located at 304 Main Street, Brockton, Mass. 508-580-7890. All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. You do not have to be a resident of Brockton to attend. We are a member of Old Colony Library Network (OCLN.) Any resident of Massachusetts can register for a free Brockton Public Library card; bring photo ID and proof of current address to the main circulation desk. For more information, call 508-580-7890 x101. For branch hours and locations, calendar updates, and online/downloadable products, check out our website at www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org; Twitter at brocktonlibrary; Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/brocktonpubliclibrary. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elizabeth Marcus Wolfe, Director Brockton Public Library 304 Main Street Brockton, MA 02301 508-580-7890 x101 508-580-7898 fax www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org

2010 Property Sales for Jan 18th Abatement Meeting

Recorded Sales Jan 1, 2010 to Dece 31, 2010
Number	Street		Price
43	11th	Ave	$215,000
37	11th	Ave	$150,000
31	11th	Ave	$160,000
73	11th	Ave	$1
53	12th	Ave	$176,900
68	12th	Ave	$1
35	12th	Ave	$1
52	1st	St	$175,000
24	3rd	St	$93,000
40	Abbott	Pl	$110,000
17	Acton	Ave	$1
65	Addison	St	$1
43	Addison	St	$230,000
94	Addison	St	$205,000
60	Addison	Ave	$1
21	Agnew	Ave	$1
85	Albert	St	$219,000
11	Albert	Ave	$71,000
20	Alexander	St	$250,000
68	Alger	St	$110,000
224	Alger	St	$307,500
160	Algonquin	St	$166,000
35	Almon	Ave	$1
147	Ames	St	$225,000
71	Ames	Rd	$175,000
11	Anita	Rd	$185,000
5	Annadea	Rd	$210,000
20	Anne Marie	DR	$193,000
111	Anne Marie	DR	$244,000
16	Annette	Rd	$180,000
56	Annette	Rd	$1
81	Annette	Rd	$195,000
35	Annette	Rd	$1
8	Annis	Ct	$95,000
2	Annis	Ct	$270,000
15	ANNNE MARIE	DR	$1
22	Arch	St	$89,900
25	Arch	St	$165,000
15	Arch	St	$1
128	Ardsley	Cir	$174,000
144	Ardsley	Cir	$177,000
66	Ardsley	St	$220,500
46	Armiston	St	$1
78	Armiston	St	$1
26	Arthur	St	$1
456	Ash	St	$114,000
707	Ash	St	$163,000
662	Ash	St	$181,500
734	Ash	St	$170,000
776	Ash	St	$200,000
461	Ash	St	$252,000
247	Ash	St	$1
374	Ash	St	$153,000
381	Ash	St	$1
87	Ashfield	Dr	$194,900
92	Ashfield	Dr	$182,800
40	Aspen	St	$1
153	Auburn	St	$200,000
129	Auburn	St	$90,400
101	Auburn	St	$179,900
22	Auburn	St	$1
41	Augusta	Ave	$165,000
11	Auna	Dr	$63,000
21	Auna	Dr	$77,000
16	Backlund	Dr	$159,500
57	Baltic	Ave	$235,000
69	Banks	St	$1
154	Bartlett	St	$209,100
173	Bartlett	St	$150,000
124	Bartlett	St	$195,000
209	Bates	Rd	$260,000
154	Bates	Rd	$164,000
248	Bates	Rd	$135,000
16	Bates	Rd	$1
94	Bates	Rd	$80,000
126	Bates	Rd	$167,500
103	Bates	Rd	$1
424	Battles	St	$285,000
100	Battles	St	$1
87	Battles	St	$132,500
99	Battles	St	$118,500
49	Beach	St	$160,000
13	Beaumont	Ave	$178,500
24	Beaver	St	$1
27	Bedford	St	$1
47	Belair	St	$1
68	Belair	St	$219,000
156	Belair	St	$174,500
272	Belair	St	$72,900
121	Bellevue	Ave	$1
230	Belmont	Ave	$175,000
229	Belmont	St	$126,000
235	Belmont	St	$315,000
19	Benham	St	$200,000
18	Berglund	Ave	$222,000
32	Berglund	Ave	$261,000
11	Berkshire	Ave	$200,000
14	Bernard	Rd	$1
95	Bigney	Ave	$245,000
20	Bigney	Ave	$200,000
18	Birch	Rd	$1
124	Birchview	Ave	$179,000
52	Blaine	St	$65,000
6	Bolton	Pl	$110,000
26	Bolton	Pl	$179,900
116	Boundary	St	$147,000
122	Boundary	St	$175,900
10	Boundary	Cir	$185,000
21	Boundary	Cir	$135,000
50	Bourne	St	$1
126	Bourne	St	$250,000
85	Bourne	St	$220,000
21	Bower	Ave	$323,000
28	Boyden	St	$193,000
37	Boyden	St	$170,000
24	Boyle	Rd	$1
69	Boyle	Rd	$1
78	Boyle	Rd	$147,500
249	Boylston	St	$140,000
27	Boylston	St	$220,000
164	Boylston	St	$1
176	Boylston	St	$1
190	Boylston	St	$249,900
173	Boylston	St	$240,000
327	Boylston	St	$230,000
34	Bradford	St	$140,000
183	Braemoor	Rd	$1
36	Breer	Cir	$208,000
42	Breer	Cir	$270,000
45	Breer	Cir	$180,222
19	Breer	St	$217,000
56	Breer	St	$99,000
60	Brentwood	Ave	$182,000
94	Brentwood	Ave	$229,900
55	Brentwood	Ave	$194,900
22	Brett	St	$1
39	Brewster	Rd	$200,000
12	Brian	Dr	$1
51	Briarcliff	Rd	$1
11	Bristol	Ave	$160,000
24	Broad	St	$33,000
189	Brook	Street EXT	$155,000
59	Brookfield	Dr	$211,000
99	Brookside	Ave	$167,000
78	Brookville	Ave	$185,000
15	Brunswick	St	$130,000
26	Bryant	Ave	$1
63	Budd	Ave	$179,900
21	Burkeside	Ave	$267,000
52	Burkeside	Ave	$217,500
50	Burroughs	Rd	$1
45	Burroughs	Rd	$1
9	Burton	St	$233,000
56	Byron	Ave	$1
65	Cabot	St	$329,900
23	Cabot	St	$1
4	Cairn	Rd	$1
5	Calbert	Rd	$227,000
33	Calmar	St	$175,000
66	Calmar	St	$165,000
58	Calmar	St	$1
96	Calmar	St	$162,500
47	Calmar	St	$260,000
14	Cambo	St	$147,000
195	Cambo	St	$200,000
229	Cambo	St	$1
177	Cambo	St	$237,900
57	Cambo	St	$194,000
23	Cambo	St	$152,500
13	Cambo	St	$195,000
69	Candy	Ln	$1
91	Candy	Ln	$1
32	Canton	St	$76,500
49	Carl	Ave	$196,000
150	Carl	Ave	$130,000
5	Carleton	Ave	$1
4	Carleton	St	$249,000
81	Carroll	Ave	$151,000
13	Carroll	Ave	$1
70	Central	St	$1
15	Central	St	$1
306	Centre	St	$1
872	Centre	St	$1
974	Centre	St	$160,000
147	Centre	St	$85,000
147	Centre	St	$85,000
147	Centre	St	$101,000
147	Centre	St	$59,850
147	Centre	St	$90,000
401	Centre	St	$170,000
334	Centre	St	$1
136	Channing	Ave	$1
162	Channing	Ave	$180,000
172	Channing	Ave	$197,000
10	Charlotte	St	$201,000
100	Chatham	Rd	$270,000
26	Cherry	St	$1
46	Cherry	St	$1
22	Chestnut	Ln	$235,000
21	Circle	St	$1
60	Clara	Rd	$146,000
103	Claremount	Ave	$1
47	Clarendon	Ave	$145,000
16	Cleveland	Ave	$1
67	Clinton	St	$54,000
110	Clinton	St	$150,000
28	Clinton	St	$180,000
119	Clinton	St	$203,000
181	Coe	Rd	$170,500
241	Colonel	Bell	$1
87	Colonel	Bell	$45,000
81	Colonel Bell	DR	$39,000
207	Colonel Bell	DR	$119,900
103	Colonel Bell	DR	$59,000
50	Colonel Bell	DR	$121,500
103	Coloney Bell	Dr	$1
25	Conant	Dr	$1
178	Concord	St	$1
130	Concord	St	$1
62	Copeland	St	$203,000
294	Copeland	St	$180,000
298	Copeland	St	$178,000
15	Corcoran	Rd	$226,000
27	Cottage Grove	Ave	$1
6	Country club	DR	$210,000
217	Country club	Club	$247,000
100	Country club	Club	$1
172	Country club	Ln	$245,000
279	Court	St	$165,000
793	Court	St	$176,400
949	Court	St	$167,500
893	Court	St	$1
1010	Court	St	$174,375
1079	Court	St	$150,000
806	Court	St	$1
591	Court	St	$1
640	Court	St	$1
226	Court	St	$147,000
146	Court	St	$118,900
419	Court	St	$1
256	Court	St	$240,000
123	Coventry	Cir	$75,000
130	Coventry	Cir	$105,000
980	Crescent	St	$1
28	Crescent	Ave	$165,000
963	Crescent	St	$130,000
477	Crescent	St	$1
876	Crescent	St	$1
382	Crescent	St	$220,000
80	Crestfield	Ter	$265,000
112	Crestfield	Dr	$202,000
42	Crickett	Rd	$1
7	Crickett	Rd	$163,800
35	Crocker	Ave	$235,000
118	Cross	St	$121,800
45	Cumberland	Dr	$326,000
46	Cushing	Ave	$1
28	Custer	St	$165,000
48	Dagmar	Dr	$1
80	Dagmar	Dr	$165,000
15	Dana	Pl	$85,000
27	Dandy	Rd	$280,000
43	Darby	Rd	$200,000
7	Darren	Dr	$1
45	Dartmouth	Ter	$225,000
74	Dartmouth	Ter	$1
77	Dartmouth	Ter	$1
29	Davids	St	$257,000
55	Deanna	Rd	$1
56	Deanna	Rd	$224,000
90	Deanna	Rd	$216,000
48	Debbie	Rd	$60,000
5	Debbie	Rd	$160,000
28	Deed	Cir	$1
12	Della	Ave	$1
59	Delmar	Rd	$158,000
52	Denton	St	$161,350
84	Denton	St	$165,000
111	Division	St	$140,000
28	Dix	Rd	$205,000
35	Dixon	Rd	$1
137	Dixon	Rd	$240,000
35	Dodge	Rd	$151,000
21	Donald	St	$195,000
58	Donna	St	$180,000
132	Dover	St	$1
110	Dover	St	$1
79	Downey	Rd	$220,000
46	Downey	Rd	$1
140	Drew	Ave	$195,000
189	Drew	Ave	$155,000
35	Dunham	St	$1
17	Dyer	St	$185,000
290	E Ashland	ST	$1
127	E Ashland	ST	$145,000
815	E Ashland	ST	$200,000
574	E Ashland	ST	$1
85	E Ashland	st	$263,125
45	E Main	St	$252,000
25	Eagle	Ave	$75,900
36	Earle	St	$215,000
139	Earley	St	$147,900
710	East	St	$1
421	East	St	$240,000
532	East	St	$205,000
351	East	St	$171,351
102	East	St	$204,000
38	Eaton	St	$1
96	Echo	St	$1
1	Edson	St	$170,000
138	Edson	St	$212,000
152	Edson	St	$163,000
36	Edward	St	$114,900
53	Ellen	Rd	$212,000
39	Ellen	Rd	$183,500
178	Elliot	St	$1
31	Ellsworth	Ave	$240,000
63	Elm	Ave	$65,000
32	Elm	Ave	$145,000
50	Elm	Ave	$1
13	Elmside	Rd	$1
37	Elmwood	Ave	$1
20	Elsie	Rd	$1
46	Elsie	Rd	$224,900
94	Elsie	Rd	$205,000
253	Elsie	Rd	$220,000
22	Emerson	Ave	$206,000
60	Emory	St	$1
123	Emory	St	$220,000
111	Emory	St	$1
45	Enterprise	ST	$115,500
45	Enterprise	St	$85,000
20	Enterprise	St	$1
66	Errol	Rd	$170,000
162	Errol	Rd	$200,000
180	Errol	Rd	$190,000
139	Errol	Rd	$159,900
266	Ettrick	St	$152,000
189	Ettrick	St	$205,000
59	Ettrick	St	$170,000
42	Fairmount	Ave	$236,000
102	Fairview	Ave	$1
205	Fairview	Ave	$175,000
175	Fairview	Ave	$330,000
117	Fairview	Ave	$320,000
69	Falconer	Ave	$1
45	Falconer	Ave	$222,500
138	Falconer	Ave	$278,000
78	Farrington	St	$249,000
50	Farrington	St	$1
45	Farrington	St	$1
23	Father Kenney	Way	$125,000
29	Faxon	St	$220,000
10	Felton	St	$101,000
10	Felton	St	$105,400
10	Felton	St	$110,100
30	Fern	St	$245,000
17	Fern	St	$175,000
21	Fern	St	$242,000
307	Field	St	$1
297	Field	St	$245,000
286	Field	St	$1
24	Field	St	$135,000
15	Fieldstone	Dr	$1
5	Fitzpatrick	Ave	$1
100	Fitzpatrick	Ave	$110,000
19	Fitzpatrick	Cir	$1
135	Florence	St	$115,000
88	Florence	St	$132,000
44	Florence	St	$1
74	Florence	St	$255,000
98	Ford	St	$128,000
85	Ford	St	$248,000
122	Forest	St	$1
255	Forest	Ave	$75,000
94	Forest	Ave	$190,000
65	Forest	Ave	$205,000
84	Forest	Ave	$140,000
192	Forest	Ave	$1
82	Forest	st	$120,000
109	Foster	St	$125,001
23	Foster	St	$57,000
139	Foster	St	$1
87	Frankton	Ave	$190,000
56	Frankton	Ave	$1
95	French	Ave	$1
24	Fuller	St	$241,000
15	Fulton	St	$123,000
44	Galen	St	$1
43	Galen	St	$175,000
31	Galen	St	$1
32	George	St	$1
46	Geralynn	Dr	$193,000
64	Gifford	St	$205,000
36	Gladstone	St	$165,000
39	Gladstone	St	$50,000
47	Globe	Rd	$1
141	Gloucester	St	$210,000
70	Goldfinch	Dr	$295,000
42	Gordon	St	$1
54	Gordon	St	$235,000
149	Grafton	St	$1
170	Grafton	St	$220,000
302	Grafton	St	$214,900
55	Grafton	St	$1
12	Grand	St	$1
16	Grand	St	$1
25	Grant	Ave	$95,600
297	Green	St	$119,500
291	Green	St	$1
249	Green	St	$164,200
79	Greenbriar	Rd	$319,900
8	Grinnell	Rd	$1
31	Grinnell	Rd	$165,000
234	Grove	St	$204,000
263	Grove	St	$59,500
90	Grove	St	$95,000
259	Grove	St	$95,000
16	Guild	Rd	$220,000
93	Guild	Rd	$235,000
41	Hall	St	$130,000
4	Hamilton	St	$158,000
30	Hamilton	St	$205,000
24	Hampton	Rd	$280,000
10	Hancock	St	$221,000
12	Hanson	St	$172,000
68	Harlan	Cir	$1
35	Harlan	Cir	$1
55	Hartley	Ave	$223,000
28	Harwich	Rd	$260,000
35	Haskell	St	$249,900
21	Haskell	St	$1
59	Hawley	St	$200,000
71	Heath	St	$225,000
15	Heath	St	$1
4	Hemlock	St	$143,900
54	Henry	St	$130,000
56	Henry	St	$118,458
136	Highland	St	$1
26	Highland	St	$200,000
60	Highland	St	$70,000
232	Hillberg	Ave	$175,000
289	Hillberg	Ave	$1
277	Hillberg	Ave	$220,000
254	Hillberg	Ave	$199,000
65	Hillberg	Ave	$265,000
105	Hillcrest	Ave	$259,900
45	Hope	St	$189,500
27	Hope	St	$1
72	Hopkins	Rd	$210,000
156	Hovendon	Ave	$1
68	Hovendon	Ave	$1
131	Hovendon	Ave	$214,000
176	Howard	St	$95,000
419	Howard	ST	$118,500
196	Howard	St	$1
90	Howland	St	$108,513
77	Howland	St	$185,000
47	Howland	St	$1
41	Hudson	St	$1
62	Hudson	St	$1
26	Hunt	St	$140,000
36	Hunt	St	$177,000
53	Huntington	Ave	$1
49	Huntington	Ave	$160,000
86	Huntington	St	$1
29	Huntington	St	$100,000
11	Huntington	St	$44,000
36	Huntington	St	$217,200
20	Huntress	Ave	$1
47	Huntress	Ave	$268,000
41	Ida	Ave	$123,257
20	Ida	Ave	$1
139	Intervale	St	$1
111	Irma	Rd	$185,000
39	Irvington	St	$1
22	James	St	$150,000
11	Johnson	St	$1
8	Johnson	Ct	$174,000
225	Jon	Dr	$164,000
206	Jon	Dr	$1
220	Jon	Dr	$1
38	Jordan	St	$145,000
46	Jordan	St	$217,000
24	Juneau	Rd	$1
194	Kathleen	Rd	$210,000
78	Keene	St	$170,000
94	Keene	St	$1
183	Keith	Ave Ext	$1
24	Keith	Ave	$160,000
3	Kelloch	Ave	$134,000
16	Kenneth	Ave	$1
5	Kent	St	$133,000
26	Keri Anne	Dr	$151,700
54	Keswick	Rd	$141,300
197	Keswick	Rd	$170,000
147	Keswick	Rd	$175,000
141	Kevin	Rd	$155,000
21	Kingman	St	$1
48	Kingman	Ave	$180,000
32	Kingman	Ave	$164,000
11	Kingston	St	$1
46	Lafoye	St	$118,000
31	Lansdowne	St	$1
55	Lawson	Ter	$1
47	Leah	Dr	$1
65	Leahy	Rd	$145,000
51	Leavitt	St	$1
73	Leavitt	St	$130,000
21	Lebanon	St	$225,000
5	Lester	Rd	$1
38	Lewiston	St	$167,900
16	Lexington	St	$265,000
48	Leyden Park	Rd	$155,000
90	Leyden Park	Rd	$160,000
11	Linda	Ave	$210,000
12	Linnea	Ave	$218,100
30	Linwood	St	$100,000
120	Linwood	St	$260,000
279	Linwood	St	$210,000
25	Linwood	Park	$1
322	Linwood	St	$252,500
92	Lisa	Dr	$1
48	Litchfield	Ter	$273,000
61	Locust	St	$150,000
20	Longo	St	$115,000
131	Longwood	Ave	$170,000
96	Longwood	Ave	$1
4	Longworth	Ave	$160,000
10	Longworth	Ave	$75,000
9	Longworth	Ave	$87,500
9	Longworth	Ave	$56,000
9	Longworth	Ave	$1
23	Loring	St	$220,000
12	Lorraine	Ave	$245,000
12	Louis	St	$1
65	Louis	St	$1
46	Lowell	St	$184,000
49	Lyman	St	$1
24	Lynn	Rd	$215,000
30	Lynn	Rd	$1
243	Lynn	Rd	$200,500
1	Madrid	Sq	$1
1	Madrid	Sq	$110,000
3	Madrid	Sq	$85,000
4	Madrid	Sq	$108,500
7	Madrid	Sq	$81,900
10	Madrid	Sq	$92,000
10	Madrid	Sq	$110,000
14	Madrid	Sq	$90,000
22	Madrid	Sq	$65,000
14	Madrid	Sq	$85,000
18	Madrid	Sq	$65,000
20	Madrid	Sq	$100,000
25	Madrid	Sq	$120,900
26	Madrid	Sq	$103,000
181	Magoun	Ave	$1
65	Maguire	Rd	$134,900
7	Main	St	$161,500
1180	Main	St	$1
211	Manley	St	$1
47	Manners	Ave	$150,000
135	Manomet	St	$170,000
92	Manomet	St	$167,670
85	Maplewood	Cir	$160,000
90	Maplewood	Cir	$219,000
38	Marie	Ave	$1
24	Marion	Ave	$1
15	Marion	St	$260,000
191	Market	St	$160,000
222	Market	St	$180,000
236	Market	St	$262,000
62	Market	St	$100,000
21	Marsden	St	$114,700
20	Martin	St	$42,000
70	Martland	Ave	$1
47	Massachusetts	Ave	$1
12	Massasoit	Ave	$1
15	Massasoit	Ave	$1
37	May	Ave	$215,000
3	Mcgrath	Ave	$184,500
48	Mellen	St	$225,000
76	Mellen	St	$196,500
87	Mellen	St	$1
16	Melrose	Ave	$174,900
20	Melville	Ct	$195,000
145	Menlo	St	$165,150
121	Menlo	St	$120,000
278	Menlo	St	$1
216	Menlo	St	$230,000
97	Menlo	St	$153,025
17	Mercedes	Rd	$1
72	Mercedes	Rd	$1
35	Merton	St	$1
26	Mesa	Rd	$1
10	Midland	St	$225,000
18	Miller	Ave	$175,000
31	Milton	St	$1
10	Milton	St	$229,900
688	Montello	St	$79,000
1134	Montello	St	$100,000
1141	Montello	St	$200,000
21	Montello	Street	$205,000
537	Montello	St	$226,000
809	Montello	St	$160,000
818	Montello	St	$260,000
28	Moody	St	$195,000
443	Moraine	St	$216,000
429	Moraine	St	$257,000
426	Moraine	St	$219,900
36	Moraine	St	$105,000
81	Moraine	St	$250,000
45	Moraine	St	$105,000
258	Moraine	St	$185,000
396	Moraine	St	$1
20	Moreland	St	$1
5	Moreland	St	$1
13	Morgan	St	$1
29	Morrison	Rd	$160,000
109	Morse	Ave	$220,000
33	Morse	Ave	$230,000
52	Morse	Ave	$1
37	Morton	St	$192,500
93	Myrtle	St	$180,000
106	Myrtle	St	$100,000
61	N Ash	ST	$230,000
3	N Bassett	RD	$207,000
31	N Belcher	ST	$310,000
541	N Cary	St	$1
704	N Cary	St	$1
442	N Cary	ST	$160,000
415	N Cary	ST	$1
1105	N Main	ST	$168,500
633	N Main	Main	$173,000
932	N Main	ST	$1
789	N Main	ST	$67,000
1129	N Main	St	$200,000
607	N Main	ST	$135,000
587	N Main	St	$1
42	N Manchester	ST	$225,000
55	N Manchester	ST	$1
870	N Montello	ST	$20,000
870	N Montello	ST	$1
870	N Montello	ST	$17,900
770	N Montello	ST	$108,000
731	N Montello	St	$85,000
429	N Montello	ST	$144,000
430	N Montello	ST	$160,000
520	N Montello	St	$150,000
908	N Quincy	ST	$200,000
182	N Quincy	ST	$1
372	N Quincy	ST	$210,000
429	N Quincy	St	$1
367	N Quincy	ST	$155,000
260	N Warren	Ave	$40,000
356	N Warren	Ave	$1
257	N Warren	Ave	$242,050
43	N Warren	Ave	$96,500
189	N Warren	Ave	$205,000
132	N Warren	Ave	$214,000
56	N Warren	A	$1
23	N Warrn	Ave	$175,000
19	Nancy	Ln	$275,000
19	Neal	St	$245,000
52	Nessralla	Dr	$1
48	Newton	Ave	$117,000
74	Nicholson	Dr	$200,000
113	Nilsson	St	$106,000
167	Nilsson	St	$1
6	Norman	Rd	$181,500
22	North	Ave	$1
110	Norwood	St	$1
64	Noyes	Ave	$1
65	Noyes	Ave	$1
3	Nylan	Rd	$175,000
134	Oak	St	$200,000
148	Oak	St	$1
48	Oak	St	$1
133	Oak	St	$1
97	Oak	St	$117,200
100	Oak	Ln	$77,500
103	Oak	Ln	$90,000
100	Oak	Ln	$90,000
105	Oak	Ln	$75,000
115	Oak	Ln	$75,000
502	Oak	St	$92,000
502	Oak	St	$91,700
685	Oak	St	$54,000
221	Oak	St	$1
221	Oak	St	$1
221	Oak	St	$1
221	Oak	St	$149,000
221	Oak	St	$1
73	Oak Ridge	Dr	$219,000
45	Oak Ridge	Dr	$200,000
4	Oak Ridge	Dr	$1
32	Oakdale	St	$1
48	Oakland	St	$180,000
99	Oakland	St	$75,000
91	Oakland	St	$128,350
81	Oakland	St	$70,000
27	Oakland	St	$274,000
24	Orange	St	$1
18	Orchard	Ave	$139,000
30	Orchard	Ave	$1
69	Orchard	Ave	$235,000
99	Oscar	Ave	$145,000
49	Otis	St	$180,000
15	Otto	St	$215,000
20	Oxford	St	$1
35	Packard	Way	$135,900
18	Packard	Way	$80,000
20	Packard	St	$135,000
26	Park	Rd	$211,000
17	Park	Rd	$1
160	Park	Rd	$1
105	Park	Rd	$1
15	Parker	Ave	$185,000
39	Patterson	Ave	$1
45	Paula	Rd	$189,900
9	Pauline	St	$199,000
159	Pearl	St	$185,000
428	Pearl	St	$245,000
827	Pearl	St	$1
590	Pearl	St	$1
312	Pearl	St	$200,000
204	Pearl	St	$140,000
154	Perkins	Ave	$129,900
184	Perkins	Ave	$76,500
166	Perkins	Ave	$171,100
44	Perry	Ave	$1
42	Peterson	Ave	$191,000
51	Peterson	Ave	$1
29	Pine	Ave	$190,000
62	Pine	St	$65,000
202	Pine	St	$1
234	Pine	St	$127,000
62	Pinehurst	Ave	$252,500
200	Plain	St	$1
724	Plain	St	$165,000
126	Plain	St	$1
552	Plain	St	$195,000
367	Plain	St	$105,000
343	Pleasant	St	$159,000
374	Pleasant	St	$155,000
268	Pleasant	St	$185,000
725	Pleasant	St	$188,000
1134	Pleasant	St	$350,000
664	Pleasant	St	$1
201	Pleasant	St	$160,000
85	Pondview	Cir	$160,000
24	Poole	St	$229,900
44	Poplar	Rd	$1
99	Portland	St	$1
12	Pratt	St	$220,000
9	Prince	St	$150,000
65	Prince	St	$222,000
175	Prospect	St	$229,900
157	Prospect	St	$75,000
316	Prospect	St	$244,000
376	Prospect	St	$197,500
12	Prospect	Ave	$185,000
44	Prospect	St	$125,000
138	Provost	St	$228,000
301	Quincy	St	$80,000
231	Quincy	St	$65,000
228	Quincy	St	$191,000
312	Quincy	Ave	$140,000
35	Rainbow	Cir	$1
16	Ralphs	Ct	$170,500
90	Rangley	Ave	$225,900
59	Rangley	Ave	$180,000
31	Ray	Ave	$204,500
63	Raymond	Rd	$175,000
47	Reservoir	St	$110,000
36	Revere	St	$202,000
33	Richmond	St	$114,900
76	Richmond	St	$145,000
68	Richmond	St	$170,000
18	Ridgeway	Ct	$54,900
125	Riverview	St	$1
96	Riverview	St	$1
182	Riverview	St	$210,000
35	Riverview	St	$265,000
165	Riverview	St	$1
51	Robert	Rd	$1
29	Robert	Rd	$1
15	Roch	Cir	$1
47	Rock Meadow	Dr	$365,000
15	Rock Meadow	Dr	$1
5	Rock Meadow	Dr	$336,000
491	Rockland	St	$207,500
38	Rockland	St	$254,100
46	Rockland	St	$225,000
29	Rockland	Cir	$260,000
207	Rockland	St	$173,000
173	Rockland	St	$1
165	Rockland	St	$168,500
22	Rockland	Dr	$265,000
102	Rosemary	St	$200,000
149	Royal	Rd	$210,000
21	Rufus	St	$1
75	Rutland	St	$150,000
43	Rutland	St	$114,000
18	Rutland	Sq	$184,900
138	S Leyden	ST	$297,000
126	S Leyden	St	$120,000
148	S Leyden	ST	$260,000
155	S Leyden	ST	$301,900
88	S Leyden	ST	$206,000
74	S Leyden	ST	$1
173	S Leyden	sr	$220,000
32	Saint Casimir	Ave	$190,000
6	Satucket	Ave	$218,500
32	Scott	Rd	$239,900
11	Seaver	St	$157,000
59	Sharon	St	$131,700
34	Sheppard	St	$1
15	Sheppard	Ave	$179,000
53	Sheridan	St	$155,000
55	Sherman	St	$108,000
37	Sherman	St	$123,500
34	Simmons	Ave	$295,000
48	Simmons	Ave	$139,000
63	Sinclair	Rd	$1
5	Skinner	St	$160,000
15	Smith	Ave	$230,000
32	Smith	Ave	$1
13	Snell	Pl	$1
26	Somerset	Pl	$1
134	Spring	St	$63,500
32	Spring	Ave	$1
149	Spring	St	$110,000
321	Spring	St	$1
191	Spring	St	$150,000
52	Standish	St	$175,000
35	Stearns	Ave	$179,900
12	Sterling	Rd	$175,000
60	Sterling	Rd	$1
72	Sterling	Rd	$169,900
11	Stonehill	St	$229,000
266	Sully	Rd	$1
241	Sully	Rd	$160,000
287	Sully	Rd	$1
570	Summer	St	$202,000
671	Summer	St	$220,000
675	Summer	St	$275,000
166	Summer	St	$155,500
202	Summer	St	$1
154	Summer	St	$1
35	Sumner	St  W	$130,000
151	Sunset	Dr	$1
106	Sunset	Dr	$1
67	Sunset	Ave	$1
65	Sunset	Ave	$160,500
43	Susan	Rd	$1
61	Sycamore	Ave	$180,000
59	Sycamore	Ave	$1
18	Sycamore	St	$1
34	Sycamore	St	$1
3	Sycamore	St	$85,000
43	Taber	Ave	$175,000
46	Taber	Ave	$1
17	Taft	Ave	$175,000
50	Taft	Ave	$25,000
76	Talbot	St	$151,000
49	Taylor	Ave	$120,000
11	Taylor	Ave	$92,000
62	Temi	Rd	$227,500
19	Temple	St	$133,977
167	Thatcher	St	$1
33	Thatcher	St	$189,000
119	Thatcher	St	$187,000
42	Thornton	Ave	$114,900
57	Thurber	Ave	$225,000
14	Tilton	Ave	$135,000
40	Tilton	Ave	$1
112	Tina	Ave	$130,000
144	Torrey	St	$1
678	Torrey	St	$1
5	TORREYSIDE	RD	$1
111	Tosca	Dr	$250,000
69	Tosca	Dr	$195,000
116	Tremont	St	$114,000
57	Tremont	St	$110,000
45	Tremont	St	$81,000
93	Tribou	St	$82,000
95	Tribou	St	$67,500
81	Tribou	St	$65,000
91	Tribou	St	$67,500
95	Tribou	St	$70,000
103	Tribou	St	$80,000
170	Tribou	St	$150,000
34	Tribou	St	$1
10	Tripp	Ave	$215,000
58	Trout	St	$110,000
57	Tupelo	St	$1
69	Turner	St	$130,000
40	Upland	Rd	$150,000
73	Upland	Rd	$229,900
23	Van cliff	Ave	$1
62	Van cliff	Ave	$1
44	Vermont	Ave	$120,000
13	Vermont	Ave	$186,000
112	Vesey	St	$265,000
21	Victory	St	$1
39	Vinedale	Rd	$228,500
36	Vinedale	Rd	$1
117	W Ashland	St	$157,000
648	w Chestnut	St	$1
129	w Chestnut	St	$1
228	w Chestnut	St	$150,000
43	W Chestnut	ST	$75,000
60	W Chestnut	ST	$78,900
166	W Chestnut	ST	$1
1065	W Elm	ST	$1
68	W Elm	Ter	$202,000
25	W Elm	Ter	$163,200
358	W Elm	ST	$1
214	W Elm	ST	$225,000
214	W Harvard	ST	$1
41	W Lea	TER	$213,900
22	W Meadow	Dr	$1
34	W Park	ST	$1
51	W Park	st	$210,000
9	W Park	st	$160,000
44	Waldo	St	$206,000
58	Waldo	St	$215,000
25	Wallace	St	$165,000
26	Walnut	St	$155,000
18	Walnut	St	$150,000
10	Walnut	Ave	$56,000
790	Warren	Ave	$126,000
865	Warren	Ave	$1
493	Warren	Ave	$219,000
1006	Warren	Ave	$1
918	Warren	Ave	$72,200
933	Warren	Ave	$207,000
12	Watson	St	$40,000
29	Waverly	St	$175,000
10	Wayland	St	$180,000
76	Webster	St	$273,500
10	Wellington	St	$171,900
21	Wendell	Ave	$170,000
111	Wentworth	Ave	$1
296	West	St	$1
252	West	St	$1
40	West	Ave	$1
40	Westhaven	Dr	$292,000
16	Westhaven	Dr	$196,000
61	Weston	St	$160,000
50	Westwood	Ave	$351,000
113	Wheeler	Ave	$1
17	Whipple	Ave	$249,999
57	Wilder	St	$225,500
46	Willow	St	$200,000
43	Wilmington	St	$150,000
19	Wilmington	St	$232,000
32	Wilmington	St	$209,000
75	Wilson	St	$172,500
11	Windsor	Cir	$1
15	Winnifred	Rd	$241,950
9	Winnifred	Rd	$272,000
18	Winsten	St	$200,000
210	Winthrop	St	$1
125	Winthrop	St	$1
120	Winthrop	St	$199,000
39	Winthrop	St	$1
215	Woodard	Ave	$199,900
129	Woodard	Ave	$225,000
220	Woodard	Ave	$195,000
14	Woodland	Ave	$160,000
63	Woodland	Ave	$202,500
60	Wyman	St	$175,000
45	Wyoming	Ave	$318,000
39	Wyoming	Ave	$229,900

M L K J a z z C a f e S a t . J a n 1 4 5 : 3 0 pm

brocktonculturalgram J A N U A R Y 1 3, 2 0 1 2 M L K J a z z C a f e S a t . J a n 1 4 5 : 3 0 pm ARTS at Christ Church and Liberty Tree Community Arts invite you to enjoy the sounds of 'Glorious', gospel jazz ensemble performing Saturday at 5:30 at Christ Congregational Church UCC, 1350 Pleasant St. Brockton/Easton line. Free admission. Complimentary beverages with light cafe snacks for sale. Ample parking. Handicapped accessible. ph. 508-586-3022. brocktonucc.org "Celebrating Our Diverse City" 2012 Arts, Cultural, Civic & Faith Happenings in Brockton JANUARY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WEEK-END Sat. Jan. 14 9am-12n NAACP Annual MLK Breakfast Shaw's Center $35-$15 at door 5:30pm MLK Jazz Cafe at Christ Cong. Church UCC~ free admission - see above Sun. Jan. 15 - 1:15 pm MLK Luncheon at Temple Beth Emunah~ free, reserve a place Mon. Jan. 16 - 2-4pm MLK Celebration Massasoit Comm. College 5pm - "2012 At the End of the Day...Tribute to Dr. King" at Tamboo, 252 Main St. free adm. Tues. Jan 17 7pm Opening Reception Jim Rober Photo Exhibit Main Library free Weds Jan 18 - 7pm "The American Craftsperson" with special guest Troy Hines hosted by Fuller Craft Museum. www.fullercraft.org for details or to register. Sat. Jan. 21 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts Main Library Sun. Jan. 22 3pm Brockton Symphony Chamber Music Concert at Christ Church Sat. Jan 28 5pm Harriet Tubman Monologue Fruth Center 900 Main St.Free ph. 508-857-0262 FEBRUARY Sat. Feb 11 10am-3pm Indaba players portray Black Inventors Brockton Main Library Feb 17, 18, & 24, 25, 26 "Driving Miss Daisy" Massasoit Theatre Co. $16 - $14 seniors/ students Sat. Feb. 18 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library Sat. Feb 25 - 9am-5pm African Festival & Marketplace RETURNS!, Arnone School Sun. Feb 26 3pm Brockton Symphony Concert West Middle School MARCH Mar. 16, 17, 18 & 23, 24, 25 "Children of Eden"Massasoit Theatre Co.$16 - $14 Sat. Mar 17 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library Weds. Mar 21 5-8 pm 20th Annual Taste of Metro South fundraiser Shaw's Center $35 Sun. Mar 25 3pm Free Family Symphony Concert West Middle School Too chilly to walk the walk? Visit City of Champions online

Tax Abatement Workshop

I will be hosting a Real Estate Tax Abatement workshop on January 18 6:30 PM at the Arnone School in the auditorium. 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. John Buckley the Registrar of deeds for Plymouth County and Attorney Jake Creedon will also be there. I will have abatement forms available. They will try to answer any questions you have and help you with your 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.

brocktonculturalgram

brocktonculturalgram J A N U A R Y 3, 2 0 1 2 2012|"Celebrating Our Diverse City" ARTS & CULTURE HAPPENINGS EVERY MONTH in Brockton MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! visit culturebrockton.org JANUARY: Martin Luther King Weekend Sat. Jan. 14 5:30pm MLK Jazz Cafe at Christ Cong. Church UCC~ free admission Sun. Jan. 15 - 1:15 pm MLK Luncheon at Temple Beth Emunah~ free, reserve a place Mon. Jan. 16 - 2-4pm MLK Celebration Massasoit Comm. College Wed Jan 18 - 7pm "The American Craftsperson" with special guest Troy Hines hosted by Fuller Craft Museum. www.fullercraft.org for details or to register. Sat. Jan. 21 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library Sun. Jan. 22 3pm Brockton Symphony Chamber Music Concert at Christ Church FEBRUARY Sat. Feb. 18 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library Sun. Feb 26 3pm Brockton Symphony Concert West Middle School MARCH: Sat. Mar 17 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library Sun. Mar 25 3pm Free Family Symphony Concert West Middle School APRIL: Fri. Apr 6 - 12 n Good Friday Urban Walk focused on City of Champions exhibit Sat. Apr14 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library MAY: Sat. May 5 7pm Jubilate Chorale"Poetry in Song" Christ Church Sun. May 6 3pm Brockton Symphony Concert with Harp Soloist West Middle School Sat. May 19 - 12-5pm Greater Brockton Poetry & Arts at Main Library ... COMING THIS SUMMER .... JUNE: Sat. June 23 "CITY LIGHTS" returns! Razzle-dazzle fundraiser at Main Library JULY : Sun. July 29 CAPE VERDEAN FESTIVAL at Arnone schoolgrounds AUGUST : Sat. Aug 25 Second Annual "DBAMFEST" Downtown Arts & Music Festival ... AND LATER THIS FALL .... SEPTEMBER : Sept. 23-24 "CITY OF CHAMPIONS: a Portrait of Brockton" Finale Weekend OCTOBER : Sat. Oct. 6 "Towerfest" DW Field Park Sat.-Sun. Oct. 27-28 Liberty Tree Film, Book & Quilt Festival Frederick Douglass Way NOVEMBER : Sat. Nov 24 "Downtown Holiday Parade" & City Hall Holiday Fair DECEMBER : all month long "Downtown Passport to the Holidays"

Brockton officials address property tax bills

Brockton officials address property tax bills Printing error does not impact value BROCKTON – Mayor Linda M. Balzotti today 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. The 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 10th, 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. ###

The US Postal Service will host two public meetings

The US Postal Service will host two public meetings this week to discuss the possibility of closing mail-processing plants in Brockton and Wareham. Postal officials are considering moving those mail operations to Providence, in an effort to cut costs. According to the preliminary results of a Postal Service feasibility study, as much as $27 million could be saved by consolidating those locations. But local officials worry about the potential loss of hundreds of jobs. “Of course this is a big deal to us,’’ said Ross Baker, president of the South Shore Area Local 3844 of the American Postal Workers Union. “They’re talking about taking good paying jobs out of Massachusetts.’’ The Brockton plant at 225 Liberty St. employs about 400 people; the Wareham facility at 25 Tobey Road employs approximately 90. “In this tough economy, any job loss is significant,’’ said Brockton’s mayor, Linda M. Balzotti. “If this facility were to close, it would be another challenge to our ongoing efforts to maintain and expand our employment opportunities for residents of Brockton.’’ Closing the Brockton mail facility would cut approximately 165 positions and could save nearly $21 million in maintenance and staffing costs, while shuttering the Wareham facility would cut 71 positions and could result in $6.5 million in savings, according to the preliminary results of the feasibility study. The public meeting on the future of the Wareham facility will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Wareham’s Memorial Town Hall, 54 Marion Road. The meeting about the Brockton facility will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the West Middle School at 271 West St. in Brockton. At each meeting, postal officials will share their initial findings and allow citizens to ask questions and provide feedback. “We’ll be soliciting public comment at the meeting and for 15 days afterward,’’ said Postal Service spokeswoman Maureen P. Marion. Those who cannot attend the meetings may submit their comments in writing. Comments should be addressed to: Manager, Consumer and Industry, USPS Greater Boston District, 25 Dorchester Ave., Boston, MA 02205-0098. Marion said all options are still on the table: For example, the Brockton mail processing plant could close and all operations could move to Providence; only some of the operations might be relocated; or the Brockton plant could remain open. Brockton and Wareham are among several mail-processing facilities in Massachusetts that the Postal Service has been studying for possible closure or consolidation. The other facilities are in Boston, Lowell, North Reading, Shrewsbury, and Waltham. Similar studies are underway elsewhere across the country, as the Postal Service aims to save $3 billion a year by closing and consolidating mail-processing facilities and lengthening first-class mail delivery by one day. (First-class mail is now delivered within a window of one to three days; the new service standard would become two to three days.) Postal officials say restructuring is necessary because mail volume is declining. Over the past five years, first-class mail has dropped 25 percent and stamped letters have declined by 36 percent, according to Marion. “We need to look at what creates the most efficiency for the Postal Service,’’ said Marion.

True Meaning of Christmas

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace. "What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . . "TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven." He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise." He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness." Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection." He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December." He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him. Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper." He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men." Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."