Caribou Barbie No Match for American Girl Doll!…John Prescott’s The MetWest Scene Posted on November 1, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Image by Getty Images via Daylife “Caribou Barbie” may be the smash hit of Saturday Night Live, but in Natick, the opening of the smashing new American Girl Doll Store at the Natick Collection has young women everywhere preparing to make their own contribution to jump starting the economy. One of only six stores in the country, American Girl’s newest showcase is 21,000 square feet of girlhood nirvana. Just think…the doll hair salon where dolls get “the attention they deserve”, ear piercing available for doll fans, the bistro, and yummy dessert bar…just waiting for the squeals of delight from the hordes of young girls who collect the series of dolls manufacture... 10/31/2008

Top Culprits of Collapse..#2.. Franklin Raines of Fannie Mae John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   Posted on October 24, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  10 Most Wanted: Culprits of the Collapse   Anderson Cooper “Politicians have said ‘now is not the time to talk about blame for the financial collapse.’ Now IS the time to talk about blame. People deserve to know how we got into this mess. We’re naming names and holding The culprits of the collapse accountable. Every night we add a new name to our list…” See who’s on it… Join CNN every night at 10 pm for Anderson Cooper 360. More: Franklin Raines Obama’s Amazing Fannie Contributions/Wall St. Journal New Home for a Fallen Housing Giant/Portfolio.com Who’s Really to Blame for Banking Crisis?/Originator Times Franklin Raines Lost Gamble/Business Wee... 10/24/2008

Anderson Cooper: Sludge Buster!...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene Posted on October 17, 2008 by bostonkayakguy Image via Wikipedia Naming Names: Anderson Cooper’s Top Culprits of the Collapse… Well as the minions at CNN waded through the detritus of the financial markets infrastructure, it seems that it became apparent that the problems that ate away at the underpinning of the US economy extended far beyond the number 10. CNN’s The Morning Buzz announced that the TOP TEN CULPRITS OF THE COLLAPSE has now morphed into the broader “Top Culprits….” No end in sight to the numbers of culprits that fell into place to create this domino effect??? It’s like when something is clogging the drain and you keep pulling out sludge, only to find there’s even more …did someone say Joe the Plumber?? D... 10/17/2008

Joe Six Pack, Joe the Plumber…Meet Ed McGangsta Posted on October 17, 2008 by bostonkayakguy | Edit As we continue to be introduced to the political candidates’ cast of characters, the symbol of the senior set impacted by the economy has taken to rapping for a credit reporting entity…   [vodpod id=Groupvideo.1673399&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]   Next Up:  Mark Burnett’s New Show - “Economic Survivor”… JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of  Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities.  www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene 10/16/2008

Posted on October 14, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  They’re Here…… New MacBooks! And they’re not plastic…   Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Apple today unveiled an all new MacBook family that redefines notebook design, and at the same time dramatically lowers the entry price for advanced notebook features including all-metal enclosures and pro-performance notebook graphics by $700 to make them far more affordable….*                                                                                                    - BestStuff.com     “Apple has invented a whole new way of building notebooks from a single block of aluminum. And, just as important, they are the industry’s greenest notebooks,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The new MacBooks offer incredible features our users will love — like t... 10/14/2008

John Prescott's The MetWest Scene...Politicians On Board? Posted on October 14, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  AS the Top Ten Culprits of the Collapse continues to roll out, we wonder when the first politician will make an appearance on Anderson Cooper’s list. AIG/Cassano, Lehman/Fuld, SEC/Cox…those in the government who played pivotal roles in the financial fiasco are many. Who will make their appearance in the #7 slot? Stay tuned…     10 Most Wanted: Culprits of the Collapse Anderson Cooper Politicians have said ‘now is not the time to talk about blame for the financial collapse.’ Now ISthe time to talk about blame. People deserve to know how we got into this mess. We’re naming names and holding The culprits of the collapse accountable. Every night we add a new name to our list…... 10/13/2008

Exposing the Culprits:  #9 Richard Kuld, Lehman Bros. Naming Names..Anderson Cooper’s Number 9 Culprit..John Prescott’s The Met West Scene Posted on October 10, 2008 by bostonkayakguy Image via Wikipedia Last night we announced that Anderson Cooper is Naming Names…Exposing the Culprits of the financial meltdown we find ourselves in. CNN and Anderson Cooper are exposing the top 10 architects of the market malestrom, starting with number 10, Lehman Brothers Richard Fuld: Anderson Cooper Naming Names: 9.  Richard Fuld JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of  Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities.  www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21... 10/10/2008

Posted on October 10, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Who is to blame for this monumental financial meltdown that is sucking the lifebood out of the taxpayers? While the politicians have said now is not the time to point fingers, many of us believe that now is EXACTLY the time to hold the culprits responsible. With a few exceptions, the perpetrators have been referred to as predatory lenders, CEO’s, liberal lending policies (which is a thing not a person, but politicians are at the root of this category,) manipulative traders, and lying mortgage applicants. While we will weather this storm, it’s time for accountability.  It’s time for the media to do something it hasn’t been doing…and that is to name names. Anderson Cooper of CNN announced on his blog today that he’ll do exactly that.  CNN thi... 10/10/2008

…John Prescott’s The MetWest Scene Posted on October 9, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  While the federal government is handing out taxpayer monies to AIG executives who use the bailout dollars for spa junkets to the Monarch St. Regis, the town of Natick, MA is setting an example on how to provide tax relief while at the same time utilizing the abilities of its senior citizens… Image via Wikipedia During hard economic times, innovative business strategies oftentimes come to the fore. In Natick, an innovative and timely program allows senior citizens to work for the town for 94 hours, for which they’ll receive a $750 property tax credit. This quid pro quo arrangement offers the best of both worlds: the town gets necessary work done, and the seniors get an opportunity to reduce their tax burden.... 10/09/2008

Singing Headmistress at Walnut Hill…John Prescott’s The MetWest Scene Posted on October 8, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  “The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music…” Well, maybe not the hills, but rather at Walnut Hill, the creative and performing arts school in Natick, the sound of music does indeed reverberate throughout the halls. Walnut Hill School campus What many consider to be “Natick’s best kept secret,” Walnut Hill ranks in the “upper echelons of arts preparatory schools - on par with elites such as Interlochen in Michigan and Idyllwild in California - with a $13 million-and-growing endowment, international student body, and expanding campus with a new dorm designed by architect Jeremiah Eck.”* Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and former US poet laureate Robert Pinsky are members of the arts advis... 10/07/2008

    Monthly market performance: As of September 30, 2008, there were 123 single family listings in Natick on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin).  We continue to see new listings coming on the market as the Fall house-hunting season gets into full swing, with a slight upward trend in pricing, especially in the re-listing of prior expired or withdrawn listings.  29 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin, with an average list price of $574,652. The average list price is $661,919.  The lowest price is $129,900 and the highest price is $2,795,000, with the majority of homes (42.3%) priced in the $350,000 to $599,999 price range.  Of note, the average list price for a single family home in September 2007 was $693,468. The median price is $549,500 and the average days on market... 10/05/2008

Great Buying Opportunities in Boston Real Estate! Posted on October 5, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  In an economic downturn, there always exists opportunity; you just need to know where to look! Urban areas that attract artists tend to be on the vanguard of development opportunity. Revitalizing neighborhoods with galleries, boutiques, and cafes attracts business and residents. Living close to jobs in affordable housing appeals to young professionals, growing families, and artists, among others.  In the past, artists have shown an uncanny ability to ferret out locations ripe for investment and opportunity. People wanting to downsize enjoy the proximity to cultural attractions, restaurants, and dwellings that are “green” and easy to maintain. I just sold a home on Bellevue Hill in West Roxbury... 10/05/2008

Posted on October 3, 2008 by bostonkayakguy | Edit Date night in Natick… This week’s recipe for romance is courtesy of Stephanie Schorow/Boston Globe and includes dinner at Dah Mee’s, strolling to Gallery 55 for their artists’ showing, and swinging into the Center for the Arts for soulful, sultry songstress Maria Muldaur. Maria Muldaur at Natick Center for the Arts October 3, 2008 JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of  Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities.  www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene 10/03/2008

Posted on October 2, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Alan Greenspan via Wikipedia The bailout..what is it exactly bailing out?  Or perhaps more importantly, WHO is it bailing out? Well to get to these answers, which of course you won’t find coming out of any of the mainline media, you have to look back.  In fact, if you go back to 1999 the time was the Clinton administration and the place was a conference on mortgage markets for America’s Community Bankers. Speaking at the conference was chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan:   “The recent rise in the homeownership rate to over 67 percent in the third quarter of this year owes, in part, to the healthy economic expansion with its robust job growth. But part of the gains have also come about because innovative lenders, like you, have cre... 10/02/2008

To graduate from high school in Massachusetts you now need to pass one of the four MCAS tests in science - biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering. Four MASSACHUSETTS HIGH SCHOOLS scored a 100% passing rate in the MCAS Science exam in the results just released from the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education... Dover-Sherborn, Medfield, Hopkinton, and Maynard students earned a 100% passing score. 99% of the students at Needham, Millis, Newton South, Wayland, Westborough, Weston, and Holliston passed, followed closely by Newton North, Shrewsbury, Medway, Nashoba Regional, and Algonquian Regional with 98% of their students passing. MCAS Results Science and Technology/Engineering: MCAS Results NATICK MCAS Results Wellesley MCAS Results Needham JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKay... 10/01/2008

Posted on September 29, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com — As the financial markets continue to shake, rattle, and roll, Freddie Mac woke up to a subpoena and Barney Frank sipped his morning coffee while reading an op-ed reality check from the Boston Globe... Image via Wikipedia Grand jury subpoenas Freddie Mac While the financial chaos on Wall St. continues to shake, rattle, and roll, the Freddie Mac fallout has included the recent resignations of 7 board members as well as the ousting of the chief financial officer. And while there’s been plenty of fingerpointing, Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby contends that Rep. Barney Frank’s fingerprints have been all over the financial fiasco from the beginning… Related: It May Not Be Lipstick On A Pig But… Freddie Mac says... 09/29/2008

Posted on September 28, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  The Natick High School Red & Blue stepped out on Sunday, leaving the field with another win… Natick 27, Dedham 7 Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at Natick Dedham 0 0 0 7 — 7 Natick 7 14 6 0 — 27 N — CJ Dawson 32 pass from Scott McCummings (Tim DeMaio kick) N — Brett Farrell 1 run (Tim DeMaio kick) N — Scott McCummings 9 run (Tim DeMaio kick) N — Tommy Brandt 8 run (kick failed) D — Chris Pezzuolo 40 pass from John O’Connell (Chris Pezzuolo kick) *courtesy Boston.com Related: High School Sports/Boston.com JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of  Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities.  www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESC... 09/28/2008

Posted on September 24, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Book cover via Amazon “Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior,” so says Dr. Phil on a pretty regular basis. History buffs generally subscribe to this theory, and with the general upheaval facing Americans these days, historic novels are sure to be more popular than ever. And passionate, wrenching, fierce historical novels which make history come alive? Welcome local scribe Dennis Lehane into this popular genre with the release of his new 700 page tome, “The Given Day.” Five years in the making, “The Given Day” marks a departure for Lehane from his previous best-selling mysteries. But his favorite character, the character of Boston and its colorful inhabitants, once again takes center stage in his latest work. The Inside Tra... 09/24/2008

John Prescott's...The MetWest Scene Posted on September 23, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Hotel Indigo in Newton is a new boutique hotel concept, and is the first of its kind in Boston’s western suburbs. Plans to position its pool deck as a hip, happening entertainment venue… …came to a halt last week when Indigo’s reps pulled their request for a “weekday entertainment license,” after being notified that such a license is prohibited by Newton’s noise and entertainment regulations. The abrupt action calls into play whether the city of Newton should now take a long, hard look at its licensing regulations to determine if updating or revamping needs to take place. In a report in today’s Boston Globe Richard Chmielinski, the assistant city solicitor said, ” Newton officials would have to amend, m... 09/23/2008

Posted on September 18, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Cape Hedge Beach Rockport, MA Wave Surfing BostonKayakGuy takes to the ocean whenever possible, and this morning was no exception. As I took to one of my favorite early morning cruises, I was enjoying the sun, the fresh air, and the exhilaration of being out on the ocean on a brisk, fall day. I came around the bend to Cape Hedge Beach and lo and behold saw film cameras capturing the beauty of a Rockport morning.  Well BostonKayakGuy thought the filming would be enhanced with the addition of BostonKayakGuy, so off I went stroking with power, grinning like an idiot. Two little girls drove bikes up and down at water’s edge.  A film crew had them do it over and over again. New Mel Gibson Movie “Edge of Darkness” Now Filming in Rockport   I cou... 09/18/2008