News Nearby: Blocked Websites at Wakefield Schools Hampering Learning

Each Saturday, Melrose Patch will run a round-up with links to stories from surrounding communities that are of interest to Melrosians.

WAKEFIELD—Wakefield students make a habit of trying to access dangerous websites; sites like Reading Public Schools, or Galvanize Wakefield, a site created by parents dedicated to the propsect of a new Galvin Middle School.

At least, these sites are considered dangerous by the public school's web-filtering program. As of right now, Wakefield is set to the highest level of web filtering in its schools, which blocks any sites recognized as "uncategorized."

"Web content filtering is crushing us at all six schools," said Elaine Hughes, a teacher and the education technology administrator in Wakefield. "There was this bullying website that a middle school teacher wanted his students to access and take pledges on, but they were all blocked. Guidance counselors cannot access the Reading, Stoneham, or Woburn Public Schools sites. Any site can come through as uncategorized."

READING—Three men pleaded guilty to home invasion and armed robbery charges in connection with a 2011 home invasion at Reading Commons on West Street in Reading, according to Reading Police Chief James Cormier and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

The Commonwealth requested that the defendants be sentenced to five to seven years in state prison followed by five years probation with conditions. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Garry Inge sentenced the defendants to two and one half years in the House of Corrections, suspended for 30 months on one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and an additional two and one half years in the House of Corrections on and after, suspended for 30 months on the assault and battery count. On all the additional counts, the defendants were sentenced to 5 years probation to run concurrent with the suspended jail sentence.

“It is extremely disappointing to see these defendants admit to conspiring, planning and executing an armed, violent criminal enterprise such as this and for it to be resolved without a period of incarceration for these defendants,” Reading Police Chief James Cormier said.

MEDFORD—Tessie, a six-year-old Boston Terrier, proved that cats aren’t the only animals with nine lives after surviving being hit by a car and a shivering night in a cemetery.

Tessie was with her dog walker on a hike through Middlesex Fells in Medford on Jan. 6 when she got separated and ended up lost, wandering through the streets of Medford. Scared by the traffic and the unfamiliar sights and sounds, she panicked and began to run. Passersby tried to get hold of her but to no avail; she ultimately was struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident and scampered away.

Her owner and others looked for her, but she didn't turn up until the next day, when a postal worker found her shivering in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington. She was taken to Angell Animal Hospital where they performed surgery on her pelvis, which was shattered. She's now recovering.

STONEHAM—Three men, including a Stoneham man, were arrested and charged Wednesday in a federal court in Boston with conspiring to rob a Norwood check-cashing business, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press statement.

James Chambers, 53, of Stoneham, John Salvucci, 65, of Medford and George Whalen, 55, of Winthrop, were arrested early Wednesday morning on federal arrest warrants, according to the statement.

“The actions alleged in the complaint involved a dangerous and violent plot to commit a robbery and kidnap a store owner," said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz in the statement. "Thanks to the diligence and hard work of the investigative team, the plot was thwarted and the defendants now face federal criminal charges.”