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As quoted in your Jan. 11, 2012 article, a consultant, John Freedman, said that we can have two of these, best quality health care, access and low cost, but not all three. But if you were to ask Prof. Gerald Friedman, UMass-Amherst, or Dr. Sidney Wolfe, of the Health Research Group of Public Citizen, they would say that we can have all three.

I am writing in response to the recent article entitled "CAP: What students are learning about sexual abuse," published in the Newton TAB, Jan 25, 2012.  The CAP program, in its 20th year is a positive resource within the school community, but I am pleased that parents still uphold the permisssion for their child to participate in the CAP program. I say this in light of my own difference of opinion with what the article defined as " the general language of  volunteers explaining to children the concept of "a safe and unsafe secret" while learning about sexual abuse.

Saturday night, while we were eating at Lam's, our car was parked legally, at a slant in a marked parking space on Washington Street, one block east of Walnut Street on the Turnpike side of Washington.  When we returned to the car to go home, another car had pulled in next to the driver's side of our car, semi-legally, but too close to our car (over the line, on our side of the line; I would guess that there was less than a maximum of 8 inches between cars.  At my thinnest (and, honestly, I'm not exactly fat), I couldn't squeeze between the other car and my car.  My side-view mirror would have to be removed and, in any case, if I were to try to drive the car, I was going to have to climb over the gear-box and cup-holder to get from the passenger seat to the driver's seat.

As a Newtonville resident, I am sorry to see Newtonville Books move to Newton Centre.  While I am glad that the store is surviving, I will miss being able to walk to the bookstore to browse, pick up a good read, or buy a gift.

Summonses

Jan. 26 Police summonsed a 39-year-old Chestnut Hill man to court for violating a no trespassing order and disturbing the peace.

Theft

Jan. 26 Police responded to Adams Street for a report of stolen license plates.

Malicious destruction

Jan. 26 Police responded to Minot Place for a report of a keyed car.

B&E

Jan. 28 Silverware and other silver items were reported stolen from a house on Bullough Park. The homeowner believed the suspect might have entered the house while he was home.

The airport in Stow was a grass landing strip in the early 1960s when Paul McPherson, an instrument-maker who loved to fly, bought the land and renamed it Minute Man Air Field. It’s now home to several flight-training schools, a bakery, a restaurant, a printing company and more than 60 planes and helicopters.

Word out of Washington of another round of military base closings is showcasing Hanscom Air Force Base’s role in fueling the local high-tech economy along Route 128 as supporters come to its defense. Meanwhile, adjacent Hanscom Field has grown into one of the top centers in the country for business aviation.

Concord residents are up in arms about a school department proposal to close its town-run transportation system and outsource the bus operations to a private contractor. Dozens of residents attended a forum Wednesday night hoping to convince the School Committee to reject the administration’s recommendation to contract with Cincinnati-based First Student.

A new Franklin High School looks closer to becoming a reality and several other school replacements in the region, including Angier Elementary School in Newton and Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington are moving forward.

Two months after Mayor Setti Warren presented his $241 million roadmap for updating Newton’s deteriorating infrastructure, the costs of some building projects have already grown while others on the horizon could push the total price tag even higher. Fixing the city’s fire stations could prove particularly costly because of new building code requirements.

In 2007, Medfield’s Justin Kittredge started an inner city program for youths, Shooting Touch Inc. He charged fees, and then raised additional funds to provide a $25,000 grant to a graduating college senior who could go anywhere in the world for 10 months with a clear mission: to use basketball, through clinics and education, etc., to work with the underprivileged and effect positive change.

The Westborough Players’ Club is celebrating its 75th season this year with a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’’ and is holding auditions for talented adult performers Friday at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at its headquarters, 20 Philips St. Candidates for roles should prepare a piece of music from the musical (an accompanist will be there). A short choreography routine will also be taught, and participants are advised to dress comfortably. The Players’ Club is also offering a special “75th Anniversary Youth Workshop” for students in grades 4 through 6. The session costs $75, and is limited to 50 children on a first-come, first-served basis. The eight-week program will be held on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon from February through April, where they will learn the music to the children’s choir of the play, as well as choreography. They will get the opportunity to showcase their work at the troupe’s performances on April 27 through 29 and May 4 through 6. For more information or to register for the workshop, e-mail Brian Kelly at bkelly8980@gmail.com.

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Wellesley College will host a panel discussion marking 40 years of Title IX at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall. The federal Title IX regulations against sex discrimination opened the doors for women in athletics. Speakers at the free program will include three-time Olympian and international soccer star Kristine Lilly; former Olympic rower and noted sports psychologist Amy Baltzell; former Sports Illustrated writer Melissa Ludtke; and the founder and editor of FairGameNews.com, Laura Pappano. For details, visit www.wellesleyblue.com/titleix.

The town received a $5,000 grant that will be used to purchase work-zone safety equipment. Police, fire and emergency medical staff members will use the reflective road signs, barricades, and LED flares to protect workers and warn motorists and pedestrians during emergencies or in construction zones. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

Local Girl Scouts will be selling cookies on three occasions around town over the next month. Troop 72743, made up of eight 10- and 11-year-old girls, will be selling cookies for $4 per box on Feb. 18 at Robinsons Hardware on 31 Washington Street; Feb. 25 at Lowe’s Hardware on 6 Highland Common East; and on March 3 at the town’s transfer station and recycling center on Cox Street. The troop is raising money for a trip to the Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, N.Y., next month, according to one of the troop’s leaders, Wendy Cohen. The Girl Scouts are hoping to raise $1,000 in cookie sales this year. - Derek McLean

Parents still looking for activities for their children during this month’s school vacation week may consider the cooking classes being offered by Culinary Underground, at 21 Turnpike Road (Route 9 west). The sessions, which include “Kids Cook: Math Meals” and “Teens Cook: Year of the Dragon,” are designed for a wide range of ages. There are three workshops for younger chefs, including one involving child-parent teams, and two sessions for teens. For more details, or to sign up for a course, visit www.culinaryunderground.com. - Jennifer Roach