Weston|News|
Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 29
Cleaning up after the storm? Here are a few things to know and do.

<b>Email: </b>meghan.kelly@patch.com<br><b>Phone:</b> 781-850-6742<br><strong>Area covered:</strong> Weston, Mass. <br><b>Hometown:</b> Medfield, Mass.
<b>Bio:</b> Meghan started her journalism career as an editorial assistant at the MetroWest Daily News, writing obituaries and editing calendar items, letters to the editor and op-ed columns. She moved onto working as an administrative coordinator for the Department of Geography at Boston University, while also taking classes at BU's School of Communications in Print Journalism.
After a few semesters at BU, Meghan began working as a full-time reporter at The Beacon-Villager, covering Maynard and Stow, and later the Lexington Minuteman.
While at the Lexington Minuteman, Meghan won third place for government reporting from the New England Press Association in 2009.
Meghan has a BA(Honours) from the University of Westminster in London.
<i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. </i>
<b>My Beliefs</b>
Local journalism is more important today than it ever has been. I want Weston Patch to be a place where you can find honest and unbiased stories, and where you feel like you can always have a voice. It's important that you trust me to give you a fair account of a particular issue.
<b>Politics</b>
I'm a registered Democrat, though I don't always vote straight Dem. I am pretty far left on the political spectrum, but I always appreciate well-reasoned, thoughtful debate with those who have different opinions than I do.
<b>Religion</b>
I was brought up Catholic, but I am no longer practicing. I am not a very spiritual person, and if I had to choose, I would describe myself as a secular humanist. However, I have great respect for religion and religious people.
<b>Local Hot-Button Issue</b>
Weston is one of the wealthiest towns in the state and the country. But even Westonites can't keep paying increasing property taxes forever. It's an issue facing so many towns and cities across the state, and I'm really interested in how municipalities are dealing and will deal with ever-increasing costs of operating, like health insurance, pensions, etc.
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Cleaning up after the storm? Here are a few things to know and do.

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Excerpts from the Weston Police dispatch. The following information was supplied by the Weston Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
This week's bite: Sports bar in Framingham.
Updated 6 p.m.: On the run-up to Hurricane Irene, things were mostly tranquil in Weston on Friday afternoon.
Ready for this weekend? It sounds as though Irene is going to pack quite a punch, so check out our guide for helpful tips and info.
View this weekend's local yard sales, and add your listing. (Due to Hurricane Irene, you may want to double-check the sales are still on before heading out).
After a more detailed study, Weston school officials say the arsenic found in a soil sample at the Field School does not pose a risk to children.
Battening down the hatches for Hurricane Irene yet?
The longtime fixture of Weston's town center will close forever on Saturday, Aug. 27.
It's the last weekend before school starts. What will you be doing?
Meet some new friends at the PTO Ice Cream Social today.
The town is currently working on forming a plan for better town record storage.
Before fully implementing the change, the Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing in a few weeks to garner opinions and comments about the measure.