Gabriel Gomez and Edward Markey spent their final debate before next week's U.S. Senate special election clashing over their records and who has the better vision for both the Commonwealth and the country.

The debate, taped in Boston, broadcast on several local networks and moderated by veteran city newsman and Boston University professor R.D. Sahl, was the last of three contests before voters head to the polls to fill U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's former seat.

No matter the issue, be it taxes, gun control, abortion, national security and their own personal and professional histories, the two men found disagreements at every turn.

Each candidate could agree on one thing: they believe the other candidate's ideas are "old and stale."

Markey, a Democratic congressman from Malden since 1976, went after Gomez, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and businessman from Cohasset, about not disclosing his clients from his time working at private equity firm Advent International.

"We don’t know who he worked for," Markey said. "We have to know who’s side he’s going to be on."

Gomez corrected Markey, saying his firm didn't have clients but actually had investors. Among his investors: President Barack Obama, among many other public sector employees.

"President Obama would not be an investor if we weren't $17 trillion in debt," said Gomez, who mentioned several times that the nation debt has swelled from $670 billion to $17 trillion since Markey took office.

Gomez has been a champion of term limits for members of Congress, but was challenged by Markey, who asserted that Gomez surely didn't tell Arizona Sen. John McCain he shouldn't run for his seat again when the former presidential candidate came to campaign for him recently.

Gomez said he had, in fact, told McCain that he should be term-limited. Markey simply could not believe that was true.

"Are you calling him a liar?" Sahl asked.

"I'm saying that did not happen," Markey said.

Within that exchange, Gomez listed a number of areas where he believes his party is wrong right now, including immigration, gay marriage, expanded background checks for firearms sales, the environment and global warming.

"Nothing's going to change if Mr. Markey wins this election," Gomez said. "We're going to have the same D.C. down there and we're going to have the same dysfunction."

On gun control, Markey asked Gomez why he opposed a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and where a civilian would "need a weapon where they could shoot a gun with 100 bullets in under 2 minutes."

Gomez said Markey was "completely misrepresenting my position" on gun control and claimed to be the only one of the two candidates to be able to work across the aisle to get an expanded background checks bill passed.

Markey posed the question again, saying Massachusetts citizens are "not the laggards, we're the leaders on assault weapons bans and we want one for the whole country."

"I want to ban all weapons from the wrong people," Gomez said.

In their closing statements, Gomez said he hoped the people of Massachusetts would give him 17 months to prove himself in office as a Senator. Markey said he wanted to join the Senate to "ensure the 21st century is more educated, more healthy, more prosperous and more fair than the 20th century was."

The election is next Tuesday, June 25.

Hi, everyone! Have some exciting news to share about Patch – we’re getting a whole new look! It’s coming soon and it’s going to make Stoughton Patch easier to use, and a better place to connect and share. The best part? You’ll be able to see it all on your mobile phone!

Here’s what you need to know:

• Our site is being rebuilt from the ground up! The news will look better and be easier to comment on. And, you’ll find more local voices to keep you in the loop with the latest know-how and opinion.

• We’re adding Boards to make it easier for you to connect with each other, debate an issue, or announce your garage sale, graduation, or find a lost pet.

• More to say? It will be easier to start your own blog, too. You’ll soon be able to start your own blog anytime, so you can have a stronger voice in the community - or just share your expertise and opinion. And if you’re already a Local Voices blogger, you’ll find the tools are much more streamlined and straightforward.

You’ll see all of this (and more) on Patch real soon. For a sneak peek, check out Fairfield Patch.

Questions? Please email me at jeffrey.pickette@patch.com.

As always, thanks for being part of the Stoughton Patch community.

A look at homes sold in Stoughton this past week, according to the website newenglandmoves.com:

41 Hunt Dr (Sold for $553,500)

• Single Family, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 2-car garage 2
• Sq. Ft.: 3,462
• Lot Size: 1.28 Acres
• Sold Date: 6/15/2013
• Days on Market: 93
• Last List Price: $569,900
• Agent: Keller Williams Realty, The Fred and Nadine Team

68 Larson Rd (Sold for $324,000)

• Single Family, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 2-car garage
• Sq. Ft.: 1,920
• Lot Size: 0.34 Acres
• Sold Date: 6/14/2013
• Days on Market: 65
• Last List Price: $329,900
• Agent: Conway - Hingham, Kathleen Welch

34 Carey Cir (Sold for $220,000)

• Single Family, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom 
• Sq. Ft.: 1,120
• Lot Size: 0.22 Acres
• Sold Date: 6/12/2013
• Days on Market: 147
• Last List Price: $234,900
• Agent: RE/MAX Welcome Home, Priscilla Madan

158 Morton Street (Sold for $235,000)

• Single Family, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Sq. Ft.: 2,055
• Lot Size: 0.16 Acres
• Sold Date: 6/11/2013
• Days on Market: 53
• Last List Price: $239,900
• Agent: Century 21 C & S Properties, Patti Casserly

The following information is from the Stoughton Police logs. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

***

"If You Follow Me I Will Cut You"

A caller reported a black male shoplifting from TJ Maxx on Park St. shortly after 6 p.m. on June 11.

The suspect was described as wearing a white hat, blue jacket with white sleeves, and jeans.

Allegedly, the suspect grabbed several purses and ran out of the store.

The caller reported that the suspect said, "If you follow me I will cut you."

The suspect was last seen walking towards the Stoughton/Brockton line.

***

Woman Threatens to Have Friends Kill Arresting Officer

The Stoughton Fire Department requested assistance from the Stoughton Police for a possible overdose on Park St. June 8 at 10:51 p.m. 

Susan Lee Anderson, 41, of Park St., was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and for threatening to commit assault and battery.

Anderson allegedly told her arresting officer she would have two friends find and kill him, according to a post on the Stoughton Police Department's Facebook page. 

***

Tampering with Fire Call Box

Three youths were charged after allegedly pulling the alarm on a fire call box on Cushing St. at 3:10 a.m. on June 13. 

Kohlbey Charles Hammond, 21, of Onset was charged with trespassing with a motor vehicle and tampering with a fire call box.

Two juveniles, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, were also charged with tampering with a fire call box. 

***

Motor Vehicle Arrest

Sonia M. Pereira-Do Nasciment, 38, of Brockton, was charged with the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; operating a motor vehicle with defective equipment; giving a false name/address to an officer; and for forgery of a document following a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Park St. and William Kelley Rd. at 1:31 a.m. June 16. 

***

Shoplifting

Daniel Lounge, 22, of Avon, was charged with larceny over $250 and conspiracy for an alleged shoplifting incident at Target in Stoughton at 9:23 p.m. on June 7.

***

Malicious Damage

Police received a call from a female at 8:38 a.m. on June 7 reporting malicious damage to her motor vehicle at 404 Technology Center Dr. (The Lodge at Stoughton apartment complex)

*** 

Previously Reported Arrests 

Click on the links for more details:

• Stoughton Man Arrested for Breaking into Neighbor's Home

• Stoughton Man Arrested for Robbing Rite Aid at Knifepoint

***

Michael W. Blanchard, 24, of Stoughton will potentially be spending the rest of his life in prison for the murder of another Stoughton man back in 2010.

Blanchard shot and killed 21-year-old Stephen Erving in the early morning hours of March 16, 2010.

He fired several rounds from a 9 mm pistol through Erving’s first-floor bedroom window on Lincoln Street in Stoughton, killing Erving, according to the DA's office. 

After hearing closing arguments in the trial on Monday, the jury returned a guilty verdict on the second degree murder charge Tuesday afternoon. Blanchard was then sentenced on Wednesday. 

"After hearing a victim impact statement from the mother of the murdered man, Judge Elizabeth M. Fahey has sentenced Blanchard to life in prison on the murder charge, with a concurrent sentence of 2.5 years to 2.5 years-and-one-day in state prison for his conviction on carrying a firearm without a license in this attack," according to a press release from the Office of Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey. 

In Massachusetts, the life sentence for second degree murder allows the convict to petition for parole after serving 15 years, according to the DA's office.

ADA Greg Connor had requested the life sentence, which is statutory for second degree murder, and had asked 3 to 5 years on the gun charge, according to the release.  

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The following is from the Farley Funeral Home website:

Joseph J. Gambrazzio, 95, a lifelong resident of Stoughton, died Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton after a short illness. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth C. (Walsh) Gambrazzio.

Born in Stoughton, he was raised and educated in Stoughton.

Mr. Gambrazzio was a proud veteran of the United States Army, serving in WWII. He was a self-employed land and real estate developer for many years, retiring several years ago. He was a member of the VFW in Stoughton.

He was a fan of the Boston sports teams and in his free time enjoyed gardening and spending time outdoors.

He is survived by his children, Joseph of FL, Joanne Gambrazzio of Taunton, Robert K. of Stoughton, Beverly Hough of Norwood and Joyce Dooley of Plymouth. He was the brother of Lena Mortelitti, Lucy Panacy, John Gambrazzio, Angelina "Honey" Panacy and Frances Anderson all of Stoughton.

He was predeceased by several brothers and sisters and is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and his longtime companion Martha Agrella of Stoughton.

The funeral gathering will be held in the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt. 27) in Stoughton on Friday, June 21, at 9 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Knollwood Memorial Park, High St. in Canton at 10 a.m.

Visiting hours at the Farley Funeral Home will be Thursday, June 20 from 5-8 p.m.

More Stoughton Real Estate Listings >>

Taking after his father, Michael, who participates in the annual Pan Mass Challenge bike ride for adults, Austin Mauriello, an 11-year-old from Stoughton, recently rode in his third Pan Mass Challenge Kids event, helping to raise money to fight cancer. 

Austin took part in the 10-mile "Westwood Warrior" PMC kids bike ride in Westwood on June 9. 

He raised $465 for the Jimmy Fund, making him a PMC "Heavy Hitter," his dad said, with the donation going towards cancer awareness and cancer research/treatment.

"[It] feels good to help others," Austin said. "All of the people who donated to my rides are heroes for helping other people." 

When Austin was younger, his grandmother, Cheryl, died from Cancer at the age of 59. Shortly thereafter, Michael rode in his first PMC in her memory, with Austin doing the same, taking part in his first PMC kids event. 

Austin "was inspired by the idea of doing something positive to help those who are suffering from cancer and to remember those who lost their battles," Michael said. 

This year Austin once again rode in memory of his grandmother, and also in honor of two women both currently battling cancer - his aunt, Karen McMillen, and Reverend Jean Lenk, of Stoughton's First Congregational Church.

Over the years, Michael said the Mauriello family has raised more than $10,000 for the Jimmy Fund by taking part in Pan Mass Challenge events.

TOWN MEETING, SESSION 6: Annual Town Meeting picked up a bit of speed on Wednesday, June 19, getting through 30 articles before the night was gaveled to a close at 10:35 p.m.

Help for Downtown Fire Station

Town Meeting members tried to help the firefighters working in Station One on Freeman Street (a/k/a "the ruins"). They voted $60,000 to repair the kitchen and living area, and another $60,000 to repair the bathroom and another living area.

I've toured the area those hard-working heroes live and work in and it's disgusting. They deserve to be in a safe place, not in a delapitated one. Let's hope the work gets done sooner, rather than later. 

The Station has been open since 1927 and has a host of problems. Take a look at a photo tour of the building by clicking here. 

Town Meeting also voted unanimously to spend $60,000 on a feasibility study to look into constructing a new fire station or combined public safety building, which could house both the police and fire departments.

Among the other noteable decisions regarding the Fire Department, Town Meeting also voted to fund a new command vehicle ($40,000), Firefighter's Protective Clothing ($110,000 for 52 sets), and $5300 for an inflatable boat ($5300) for the Stoughton Fire Department.

When asked what the boat was used for by Town Meeting member Ed DeFelice, Stoughton Fire Chief Mark Dolloff said, "We use the boat in the water." DeFelice retorted, "I knew there was a reason you were Chief."

Approving a Traffic Study 

Assistant Town Engineer Mark Tisdale recommended that Town Meeting spend $75,000 for a 25% Design Plan to provide traffic-related engineering analysis, design and surveying services.

Tisdale said the request stemmed from the Traffic Safety Task Force, which was formed last September when three-year-old Shayla Lutz was killed by a box truck in front of the Hansen School in Stoughton.

"It was started by former Town Manager Joseph Feaster after her death. Small fixes have been done. The task force meets every other month, and its number one goal is to protect the town (and its people). Every member of the task force is on board. If we pass this, we could be eligible for 100% reimbursement of the 3-5 million dollars the total project could run."

Initial studies will focus on Central Street, and its intersections at Pearl, Pleasant, Lincoln and Turnpike Streets. The article passed.

The West Street intersection will be reconfigured under an agreement between the town and Woodbridge Crossing, an affordable housing development that will be located across the street from the Hansen School, which is now the site of a collapsed building. 

GIS Flyover

Much discussion took place on a $10,000 article requested by Town Engineer Ben Fehan and the Board of Selectmen for a flyover for a GIS Town-Wide Survey.

"A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information," according to esri.com. "GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts."

Town Meeting member Denise Bronsdon wrote an 11 page treatise against the article. Bronsdon said that, "You can go on these maps and get information for targets of terror from your home. This is highly dangerous technology. It was invented by the U.S. Military to be used in theater of war. Employees should get a security clearance, and they should keep it at Town Hall and not online."

She feared the Muslim Brotherhood might be successful in utilizing it and "if they are successful in completely conquering the United States, all little girls, our daughters and grand-daughters, and women of America will suffer Shariah Law mandates, including honor killings of daughters, husbands beating wives, women being stoned for adultery" (and it got more barbaric from there).

DeFelice was also against the GIS Fly Over, saying, "These devices infringe on our 4th Amendment of the right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure. Our rights are being trampled on in D.C., with losses on the first, second and fourth amendments."

Despite the vocal opposition from some members, the article passed easily, 86-11.

Sewer Betterments 

After another long debate, Town Meeting members unanimously passed a petition to modify the interest rates charged to residents for betterment projects, like sewer lines.

Currently, the town must charge 10% per year. The article requests the legislature to allow Stoughton to charge 5% per year, or "2% above the interest rates charged to the town."

Fehan said that "[The current rate] is a hardship to people with sewer projects. Essentially, [passing the article] would cut the rate in half."

Park Street Sewer Article Dismissed

An article which would have asked for $500,000 to pay for the survey and design of a sewerage system serving the southern end of Park Street from Fano Dr. (near Ash St.) to the Brockton line, and including the Campanelli Industrial Park off Turnpike St., was dismissed.

A similar article was voted down by Town Meeting members last year. 

Odds & Ends

Town Meeting Members helped to conform Stoughton's by-law on "Abandonment or Discontinuance of a Non-Conforming Use or Structure" to State Law.

Stoughton had said that any lawfully pre-existing nonconforming use of a structure abandoned for a year shall not be used again except for conforming use. That was changed to two years to comply with State law. The measure passed 101-0.

A measure to penalize public consumption of marijuana or THC with a $300 fine, was dismissed on a motion by this writer. The motion to dismiss passed handily. 

A presentation was made on behalf of the Capital Outlay Planning Committee by member Debra Roberts, which discussed guidelines on purchasing through borrowing or paying cash. She represented Chairman Leon Rudman, and his committee of Bill Manberg, Dave Hudson, and Alan Olans.

This presentation led to a group of Capital Outlay articles. 

Town Meeting unanimously passed  articles for SCADA Sewer Upgrades ($60,000); Sewer Infiltration & Inflow (I & I) Improvements ($300,000); Replacement of Pumps in Royal Road and Beaver Brook Wastewater Lift Stations with higher efficient pumps ($90,000); SCADA Water Upgrades ($60,000); Station 1 (Muddy Pond) Pump Station Boiler to be replaced with a new high efficiency boiler ($20,000); Replacing a Water Department 1996 pickup truck ($24,000); design of a replacement well for Pratts Court, and associated piping ($35,000); and water distribution system improvements to replace undersized and unlined water mains, as recommended in the Town's Water System Master Plan of June, 2006 ($100,000).

Town Meeting also approved the replacement of Highway Department Equipment, including replacements for a 1971 sidewalk tractor ($130,000) and a 1989 4x4 cab w/rack ($35,000), as well as roof repairs to the DPW Buillding at 950 Central Street ($35,000), and the upgrade of the water meter Reading and Recording System ($54,000.) 

Town meeting also passed an article for municipal building maintenance, as outlined in the town-wide Facilities Master Plan of Municipal Buildings. The study of close to 20 municipal buildings, prepared in 2010, was completed by Architectural Firm of DRA. Buildings included in the article are Town Hall, Stoughton Historical Society Building, and Stoughton Senior Center (total of $133,000), and approved $60,000 for Storm Water NPDES Regulation compliance.

What's Next

On Monday, June 24 at 7:15 p.m. at Stoughton High auditorium, Town Meeting will tackle a number of police articles, including one to change the General bylaws on dogs and other animals.

There are 19 more articles left for Annual Town Meeting, and three remaining nights to get them done.

***

The Stoughton Farmers Market is back this Saturday, June 22, bringing fresh produce, baked goods, crafts and entertainment to downtown Stoughton. 

The Farmers Market will run every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Trackside Plaza (2 Canton Street) from June through October.

Every week vendors like Akin-Bak Farm, Langwater Farm, Oakdale Farm, Bridgewater Village Bakery, O'Brien's Bakery, Stoughton Bakery, Foxboro Cheese Co., Giovanni's Italian Ice, Jordan Bros. Seafood, Nella Pasta and Next Step Living will set up stands at the market.

New this week is Fairmont Farms, which will be bringing vegetables, eggs, and berries. 

"All of these vendors are full season vendors, many whom are expanding their products each week. Please remember, our farmers pick their produce fresh that morning and offer what is currently growing in our New England region, Farmers Market manager Teresa Tapper said.

"Their offerings are going to grow bigger as the summer months progresses. Currently, they have beets, lettuces, kale, summer squash, strawberries, rhubarb, and much more! We also have vendors with various products that are part time and also offer a health and wellness table with a different focus/different sponsor each week."

Tapper said any local artist or crafter with unique handmade products interested in having a booth at the Farmers Market, should contact her at ttapper@stoughton-ma.gov. 

This week's musical entertainment is local singer/songwriter Matt Putnam, who will be playing classic, contemporary and Irish hits. 

There will be a kids' tent, with farm and train toys.

People can also take a self-guided Stoughton Train Walking Tour, which includes 15 locations in the downtown area that have model trains set up for children and families to enjoy.

There is no admission to the market, which is held rain or shine. Market goers are asked to keep their pets at home.

Some vendors coming in future weeks - Marshfield Trading Post, Puppy Luv Bakery, Sheldonville Soapworks, Simpson Springs, A Nesting Place, Artist Wanita Gomes, Bernadette Johnson, Jan's Teapot, and Made With Love Jewelry.

Last Saturday, June 15, the Stoughton High varsity baseball team took on former Black Knights in the 4th Annual SHS Alumni Baseball game.

The varsity squad, fresh off their run to the Division 2 South Sectional finals the weekend before, was led by coach Mike Armour. Kevin McCormick, a 1968 SHS graduate and former teacher, led the alumni team, along with player-coach Eddie Rodrigues (SHS '02). 

While the alumni got another chance to play on the SHS varsity field, the varsity players had the chance to play out of position, with a new look defensive lineup. 

After winning the first three matchups, the alumni squad fell 7-6 this time around. The alumni scored four times in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game, but the varsity team scored in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

Take a look at photos from the game in the media gallery above.

Click here and here to look at photos from the 2011 and 2012 alumni games. 

***

Looking for a new house in Stoughton? Here's a list of open houses in the area. If you are on a mobile device this feature needs to be viewed on desktop/web version. To find out when each open house is, click on the "more info" button within each listing. 

The following information is from the Stoughton Police logs. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

***

Armed Robbery

Stoughton Police received a call reporting a robbery on Buckley Road at 6:48 p.m. on June 15.

A female had allegedly been robbed by another woman, according to the police log. The suspect left the area on foot, but was soon located and placed under arrest.

Samantha J. Colp, 28, of Brock St. in Stoughton was charged with armed robbery and assault to rob (armed).

***

Drunk Driving

A female was arrested for drunk driving, along with a number of other offenses, following a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Washington St. and Walnut St. at 9:53 a.m. on June 15.

Clarissa Garriga, 23, of Taunton was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, speeding in violation of a special regulation, following too close, operating a motor vehicle with unnecessary noise, resisting arrest, vandalizing property and threatening to commit a crime.

***

Drug Arrest

Stoughton Police caught a man allegedly attempting to inject himself with heroin on Pearl St. June 9 at 9:44 p.m., according to the SPD Facebook page.

Jonathan Carroll, 26, of Washington St. in Stoughton was arrested and charged with possession of a Class A substance. 

***

Drug Arrest

Stoughton Police received a call June 7 at 10:45 a.m. for a suspicious person at the Cumberland Farms on Park St. and ended up arresting a man for drug possession.

Michael Twomsley, 39, of Ryan Rd. in Stoughton was charged with possession of a Class B drug, possession of a Class C drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia  

***

Here's what's playing in theaters around the area this weekend, plus showtimes. If you are on a mobile device this feature needs to be viewed on desktop/web version.

Senior standouts for the Stoughton High football team and Hockomock League football All-Stars, recent SHS graduates Marcus Middleton and Aaron Mack will represent the Black Knights this Saturday, June 22 at the 35th Shriners Football Classic.

The Shriners All-Star game, played this year at Bentley University in Waltham, features about 100 top high school football players from Eastern Massachusetts.

"When I got that letter from coach Burke telling me I made it, I couldn't explain the feeling, the excitement, the honor," Middleton said. "This is a great opportunity."

Mack added, "They keep on saying you have to be [among] the best players in the state and I feel like Marcus and I both really stepped up our game this year and last year to prove ourselves to be one of the two best players in the state."

Middleton and Mack both graduated on June 6 with the SHS Class of 2013. Both three sport athletes at SHS (football, basketball and track), they were versatile on the football field as well, with Middleton (receiver, defensive back) and Mack (running back, defensive back) both top performers on offense and defense. 

In the Shriners game, however, they will play on just one side of the ball - Middleton on offense at receiver, and Mack on defense at safety.

"It's funny going against each other in practice," Middleton said.
"Usually we were taking the same reps on the same side of the ball [playing for SHS]," Mack said. 

Need proof of the impact either Middleton or Mack can have on a game? Look no further than Stoughton's 25-21 road win over Division 1A opponent Bridgewater-Raynham this past season on November 9.

Middleton returned the opening kick of the second half 90 yards for a touchdown, and added 90 yards rushing, 25 yards receiving and an interception on defense. Mack had 95 yards receiving (all on one drive), 25 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns.

"I'm very happy for them; they're well deserving," Stoughton head coach Greg Burke said of Middleton and Mack's selection to the Shriners team. 

"This is what you can get if you work hard and study hard," Burke added.

Shriners participants are divided into North and South All-Star squads. Middleton and Mack will suit up for the South team. 

The South team is coached by Dave Bohane of Canton High. Shawn Tarpey of East Bridgewater, a 1994 SHS graduate, is one of the assistants. 

"To have Shawn coaching is another feather in our cap," Burke said. "He coached with us for years and he's an old Black Knight."

The two rosters feature players from high schools across eastern Massachusetts, including nine Hockomock League Schools (Stoughton, Oliver Ames, Sharon, Canton, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, King Philip and North Attleboro).

Middleton and Mack are two of 13 Hockomock League players on the South roster.

"You bond together when you play football, and now I'm playing with people we used to play against, and now I feel like they are part of my team, they're my brothers," Middleton said.

Middleton and Mack started playing football in the STOYAC program in the third grade. Middleton was a running back back then. Mack was a center, quipping that he was the "fastest center you'll ever meet." 

Now after a successful career at Stoughton High, capped by this season's emotional 9-2 campaign, they will get to play in one more football game as a high schooler. 

Mack will be going on to play football at East Coast Prep in Great Barrington, Mass. next year to improve his chances at landing at a Division1 college football program. Middleton, a 1,000 point scorer for the SHS boys' basketball team, will be going to WPI to play hoops. 

The Shriners All-Star game is a fundraiser for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international pediatric specialty health care system.

"The Shriners game is so important. They raise an incredible amount of money for the Shriners Hospital, which is just an incredible place," Burke said. 

Kickoff is Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bentley University. Tickets, which can be purchased the day of the game, are $15. All of the proceeds help support Shriners Hospitals For Children.

"It's a great honor to be a part of the Stoughton alumni who were able to play in this game," Mack said. "It's a great honor to play with Marcus.

"Being able to play in this great [game] with one of my close friends that I've been growing up playing football with since I was little is just a great opportunity," Middleton added. "To be able to represent Stoughton is just an honor."

Every candidate needs a closing sales pitch, and Gabriel Gomez came up with one that sounds a bit like the fine print on the bottom of a Macy's receipt: Take me home, try me on, return me in 17 months if you'd like a different color.

The Republican businessman from Cohasset, who incidentally doesn't much like talking about his business, tried out the pitch in his final debate earlier this week against Congressman Edward Markey.

"You've had 37 years in D.C. to get these important things done," Gomez said. "Give me 17 months, and I will keep my word, and I will do what I say."

Voters on Tuesday will decide whether to take him up on that offer, but late polling showed Markey extending his lead over Gomez among likely voters, with one poll from UMass Lowell declaring the Malden Democrat ahead by as many 20 points. Few believe the margin will be that large, and it's still unclear whether the probationary term would count against Gomez's self-imposed term limit pledge should he manage to derail Markey.

While the U.S. Senate race entered its final stages, the somewhat dormant Legislature sprang to life this week, advancing bills to keep government running while budget negotiations continue, to align the state's health care system with the Affordable Care Act and to keep ongoing IT and capital maintenance projects funded and on track.

Still on hold, however, are the annual state budget and an accompanying tax bill intended to finance transportation that will go to the wire with just nine days left in the fiscal year.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Stephen Brewer compared the build-up of major tax and spending bills to a "log flotilla," noting everything can flow when one log is pulled out, but he gave little clue as to when and who would do the pulling, nor a description of the troublesome log.

Addressing Sen. Bruce Tarr's question on the status of negotiations, Brewer said, "I would like to tell the minority leader a lot, but it is in conference, so I really can't tell him a lot of the machinations."

The machinery - a little rusty, but starting to warm up - had no problem spitting out a $4 billion interim spending measure filed this week by Gov. Deval Patrick and whisked through the Legislature in one day that will keep the money flowing after July 1, assuming no budget will in place for the start of the fiscal year. 

This isn't Washington, after all. No threat of a government shutdown here.

If even an agreement can be reached quickly, starting fiscal 2014 without a budget in place seems all but a certainty at this point given the governor's plans to spend the next week in San Francisco with his oldest daughter and new grandson. His staff will also probably want to use the 10 days they are given to review any bills before deciding on vetoes.

Senate President Therese Murray - with Brewer, Jennifer Flanagan and Michael Barrett at her side - dropped her anticipated welfare reform bill onto the work-in-progress pile, detailing a proposal heavy on putting poor people back to work with enough fraud prevention measures to win over Republicans and conservative Democrats.

"The system has been stagnant for a long time and we want to shake up the system," Murray said at a press conference. Since 1995 to be exact. Because that's when a younger Therese Murray just three years into her Senate career helped write the last major overhaul of the welfare in the system.

Murray laughed and said, "No," when asked if she considered this bill to bring her career full circle. Term limited, Murray has just another year and half in the president's office, at which point she'll have to make a decision on her political career. But more on that later.

For now, Murray said she learned just last September that former Gov. Mitt Romney had ended an integral component of her 1995 welfare to work reform. The new bill would recreate the "full employment program" to help place welfare recipients in full-time jobs to get them off public assistance.

Still on the topic of Romney, the former Republican governor was also responsible for ending the practice of requiring photo identification on electronic welfare benefit cards, a measure once again championed by House and Senate Republicans and included in both the House and Senate reform plans.

Murray had predicted that the photo ID requirement would be the major point of contention within the Democratic caucus, and she was right. Sen. Jamie Eldridge argued that seniors and the disabled would find the requirement to be a burden because they often rely on others to buy their groceries or pick up prescriptions, but Sen. Stephen Brewer said he had faith in the administration to craft "compassionate" regulations to adjust for those situations.

Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, one of the most liberal members of the Senate, doesn't much like the idea of photo IDs either, but in her attempt to delay the implementation of the reform she couched her criticism in terms that just as easily could have come from the mouths of any of the four Republicans on the floor.

Sometimes those defrauding the welfare system aren't the only ones wasting taxpayer dollars, she said. "Sometimes we are perpetrators of waste," she said during debate. Chang-Diaz's proposal to let the auditor do a cost-benefit analysis of the photo ID requirement failed. The overall bill sailed through, 37-1, with Chang-Diaz dissenting.

Where welfare reform goes from here is anyone's guess. While the Senate would prefer the House take up its bill sooner rather than later, House Democratic leaders decided to tack a small number of reforms into a mid-year spending bill knowing full-well Murray's plans to pass welfare reform on Thursday.

Predictably, the Senate ignored the House welfare provisions in the $98 million supplemental budget bill and pitched it right back into Speaker Robert DeLeo's court.

Almost an afterthought for the week but a development that will be revisited with increasing interest after this election cycle, former Obama health official Donald Berwick officially entered the 2014 gubernatorial race with a press release. 

Which brings us back to Murray. Asked whether she might run for governor, the Plymouth Democrat said this: "There have been many people who asked me too, but I haven't made any decisions yet." Take it for what it's worth.

STORY OF THE WEEK: With nine days left in the fiscal year, there's an annual budget, a supplemental budget and an interim budget. And then there's welfare reform. Only one is finished.

By Kathleen Miller

The world is about to get a whole lot smurfier. Ambassadors from 28 countries are painting the town blue today as they kick off the second-annual Global Smurfs Day by spreading that irrepressible smurfy cheer through the streets of Paris.

The celebration honors Smurfs creator Pierre “Peyo” Culliford’s June 25 birthday and the opening of ‘The Smurfs 2’ on July 31. Culliford’s daughter, Veronique, presided over a ceremony in her father’s hometown of Belgium at the site of a giant Smurf statue.

She officially appointed more than 40 Smurfs ambassadors who then boarded a Paris-bound train to where the movie is set, where they spread smiles and heralded the movie’s opening.

Events are taking place around the world, and in Los Angeles, families can join Smurfs at local appearances where they will play the Ubisoft video game, and sample Menchie’s Smurfberry frozen yogurt, among other activities. Families are encouraged to enjoy nature by the U.S. Forest Service and Ad Council's Discover the Forest campaign, and can watch the first “The Smurfs” film at an outdoor evening screening.  

Smurf Ambassadors will post photos from the day on Instagram with the hashtag #GlobalSmurfsDay. You can also follow their adventures at the official Global Smurfs Day site at www.GlobalSmurfsDay.net.

‘The Smurfs™ 2,’ is a hybrid live action/animation family feature film starring Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Jayma Mays and Katy Perry, pits the loveable blue creatures against the evil wizard Gargamel, who creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties, kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris. Then it’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our time, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her! Watch a preview of the movie with your kids here.

"The Smurfs 2" opens July 31 in theaters nationwide.

The following is adapted from a release from the METROLEC SWAT team:

The METROLEC SWAT team, in conjunction with Gillette Stadium, will host a symbolic 26-hour First Responder Workout Marathon to raise money to assist victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, including MBTA Officer Richard Donohue and the family of MIT Officer Sean Collier. All proceeds will be donated to “The One Fund”.

The workout marathon will be held in and around Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 .  The workouts, led by Cross Fit & Fitness coaches, will kickoff Saturday at 2:50 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 5 p.m.  

Nearly 500 first responders will engage in this 26 hour workout challenge, including Lt. John Bonney, Officer Jen Sullivan and Officer John Gagne of the Stoughton Police Department, according to a post on the SPD Facebook page.

SPD Chief Paul Shastany will also be in attendance, as will chiefs from other area police departments, according to the post.  

This first ever event will involve police officers, firefighters, nurses and paramedics, many of whom responded to the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. The endurance event will not be open to the public.

There are 35 teams of 10 to 12 people and each team will be asked to raise a minimum of $2,600in pledges per team.  Metro LEC SWAT and each of the participating teams are hopeful that their efforts will allow them to reach their goal of raising over $100,000 for this worthy cause. 

Please help by making a donation  through the website at any time (until 2:50 pm on Monday June 24 or via text message during the event.  The “text a donation” information will be on the event website www.bswm617.com both Saturday and Sunday.

There are teams from several law enforcement councils throughout Massachusetts including Metro LEC, SEMLEC, CEMLEC as well as various other teams from Massachusetts, Conn., Rhode Island and New Hampshire. 

There are also several teams from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Correction and military teams from the National Guard and the Coast Guard.  Each Metro LEC community will be represented at this event in some capacity.

The workout marathon will consist of 26 separate workout stations in and around Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. These workout stations are designed to replicate job specific functions that first responders (Fire, Police, Military, Doctors, Nurses and Paramedics) would encounter. 

An example of one event might be a “hose carry” station, whereby the participants carry sections of hose through a designated route in the stadium-complete a series of tasks- and return the hose to the starting location.

Another example might be an “armored vehicle steeple chase” where competitors are required to jog or walk the designated trail and climb over several police style armored vehicles. There will also be other types of Cross Fit activity stations as well.  

Each team, not individuals, must complete a set amount of repetitions per exercise station. The workouts will be geared toward people of all fitness levels.

During the first six hours of the event, the entire team will be required to workout. After completing the first six-hour portion of the event, a minimum of six competitors must continue the workout. Teams will be allowed to rotate personnel through the 25th hour of the event. In the 26th and final hour, all teams will be encouraged to finish the event together.

Metro LEC dispatched significant resources to Boston from the time of the Marathon bombing continuing through the massive search and manhunt in Watertown that week.  When they returned to their own departments, they were so impacted by what had occurred that they wanted to do something to help the victims of these horrific events.  Sgt. Jason Brennan of Medway Police Department and Detective Chris Baker of Franklin Police Department came up with the idea of a First Responder Marathon. 

Metro LEC would like to thank Gillette Stadium for graciously hosting this event, Veteran Training Athletics (www.veterantrainingathletics.com) for providing Cross Fit and fitness coaches, and Tricia Byrnes of Fine Products in Hingham, (www.fineproductions.com ) for putting together the post event festivities.  

Family and spectator details will be posted to the event website soon www.bswn617.com .

The following was submitted to Stoughton Patch:

The Stoughton Legion Post 89 baseball team overcame and early 4-1 deficit on the road to defeat Milton (Post 114) 7-6 on Friday night to move to 2-2 on the season.   

Jovani Pires overcame a rocky first 2 innings  where he surrendered 5 runs, to pitch solidly through the 5th inning.  

"Pires had good velocity tonight but had a little trouble with his release point in the early going and left some balls up in the zone that Milton hit hard.  Once he adjusted and got the ball down, he was rock solid," stated Mananger Jim Derochea.  

"He's a competitor and he kept us in the game and gave us a chance to battle back."

And Stoughton did just that, erasing an early 4-1 deficit to pull even after 2 innings.  

Stoughton fell behind 5-4 and later 6-5, but each time answered right back to tie the game.   

After tying the game at 6-6, Post 89 turned to ace, Mike Gallagher, to shut the door.  Gallagher retired the side in order in the 6th inning, striking out two Milton batters. 

Stoughton plated the eventual winning run in the top of the 7th as Will McGrath ripped a leadoff single to center field. Gallagher looked to sacrifice McGrath to second, but instead laid down a perfect bunt which he beat out easily to put runners on first and second with none out. 

After Stoughton couldn't get another sacrifice bunt down, Stoughton stayed aggressive as they pulled off a double steal.  The throw to third base skipped into left field allowing McGrath to score easily to give Stoughton a 7-6 lead.   

In the bottom of the 7th, Milton managed a one out bloop single, but Gallagher slammed the door to secure the victory for Stoughton. Gallagher earned the victory, striking out 4 in his 2 scoreless innings of work. 

All nine batters in the Post 89 lineup had a hit as Stoughton pounded out 11 hits in total.  Will McGrath and Jamie Connors each chipped in a par of hits and leadoff hitter, Pat Jackman, had 2 RBI to help pace the offense.  

"This was a solid team win," praised Coach Kevin McCormick.  "When every batter contributes at least one hit and 7 different guys score a run, that's balance!"

The win over Milton was a bounce back performance after falling to Braintree Wednesday at home.

Stoughton lost to Braintree Post 89 by a score of 7-3.  Again, walks plagued Stoughton as 4 of the 7 runners that scored for Braintree all reached via walks.  

Zach Gibb and Kaleb Ballou each had 2 hits for Stoughton and Pat Raeke threw 2 scoreless innings in relief for Stoughton.

Stoughton travels to Quincy's Adams Field on Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. tilt before returning home to face Weymouth at home Sunday at 5:45 p.m.