Steven Puleo, the author of "Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919," is scheduled to appear at the Norfolk Public Library tomorrow night to share the story of a collapsed molasses tank that flooded Boston's North End and killed 21 people.

The event, which lasts from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., is the last in a series of three lectures
on historical disasters in Massachusetts. Puleo will also sign copies of his books, including his latest, "The Boston Italians."

-- Calvin Hennick

Town Meeting voters will decide tommorow night whether to petition the state to allow the town’s
police chief to serve past the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Current Chief Joseph Collamati will retire November 17, and selectmen have named Lieutenant Richard Gillespie as his provisional replacement. Gillespie turns 65 next September.

-- Calvin Hennick

The City Council could vote as soon as its next meeting Nov. 19 to restrict any casino development from coming to the city.

"I haven’t heard any opposition to it at this point from any of the councilors," said City Council President Arthur Vigeant, who initiated the measure. "It's basically allowing the city to make a choice. It's a little insurance policy for us. It gives us an option if someone wants to bring a casino to the city."

If the council approves the ordinance, which forbids any uses not explicitly allowed by law already, a casino would then have to request it be changed before a single card could be dealt.

Currently, there is no formal casino development proposal, but Marlborough is rumored to be a potential location if Governor Deval Patrick’s recommendation to allow such gaming is approved by the state Legislature.

-- Lisa Kocian

WALTHAM

Babe Ruth's draft card, the original "I Want You" Uncle Sam army recruitment poster, and other military treasures will be on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham in honor of Veterans Day.

The National Archives will also be offering a Nov. 13 class for amateur genealogists and military families entitled "Records Related to the 18th, 19th, and 20th Century Military Service" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will learn how to glean information about ancestors dating back to the Revolutionary War era.

Besides helping family with genealogical research, archivists are also always available to help veterans and their relatives gather information needed to claim veteran's benefits.

The archives, located at 380 Trapelo Road, are open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. They're also open on the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Nov. 13 class requires pre-registration, which can be done by either calling 866-406-2379 or 781-663-0144 or via e-mail.

-- Stephanie V. Siek

REGION

Before he was deployed to Iraq, Marine Lieutenant Joshua L. Booth made seven videos of himself reading bedtime stories, so that his daughter, Grace, could hear her father's voice before going to bed.

Booth was killed by a sniper on Oct. 17 of last year in Haditha. A graduate of St. John's High School in Shrewsbury who grew up in Sturbridge, he was 23.

The Booth family played the videos for Grace again recently, but her reaction wasn't what they expected. She had nightmares for days afterward.

Booth is one of 10 members of the military from communities west of Boston who have died since the United States responded to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Two others, Seth R. Michaud, a Hudson native, and Kyle A. Little of West Boylston, also left behind young children who will grow up without a father.

Read more about the sacrifices made by military families in the Globe West region as Veteran's Day approaches.

Sherborn officials say Dover owes their town $900,000.

The money is a result of a school bond that was mistakenly refunded to Dover by the state, said Board of Selectmen Chairman Christopher Peck, who added that he believes the two municipalities can resolve the issue amicably.

Peck, board vice chairman Paul R. DeRensis, and Selectman Ronald J. Fernandes earlier this month signed a letter accompanying a written presentation from town counsel Ray Miyares. The letter asked Dover town officials and the Regional School Committee to review the materials and figure out a way to return the money soon.

"We're interested in keeping a tight time line," Peck said. "We need to work quickly with Dover to resolve this."

-- Nadia Salomon

Dover's Board of Selectmen last week unanimously voted down a Hollywood production company's request to shoot a huge nighttime crash scene on four major roads.

Location scouts thought the town would be a perfect setting for the upcoming Cameron Diaz horror film, "The Box," from Director Richard Kelly, but the selectmen cite the potential curiosity factor as a reason to turn down the request.

Location scouts had stated in a letter that set up would have started during peak traffic time and the shoot would have been on Springdale Avenue, Farm Street, Main Street, and Pegan Lane. The crash scene would have involved over 60 people.

-- Nadia Salomon

Selectmen thisweek approved paying approximately $35,000 to retiring Police Chief Joseph Collamati for owed sick days, vacation time, and Quinn Bill incentive money.

Town Administrator Jack McFeeley said the Quinn Bill money - about $15,000 - would be reimbursed by the state. Collamati officially retires on Saturday.

-- Calvin Hennick

The Board of Selectmen has called a Special Town Meeting for Monday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., according to an email announcement.

Voters will be asked to consider extending the current contract for both solid waste disposal and landfill operation. Also on the warrant will be a request for authorization to sell the former Edgemere Fire Station.

The draft warrant will be available online this week at the town's web site, officials said.

-- Lisa Kocian

Town Meeting voters this week authorized selectmen to allow T-Mobile to use a parcel of land for a cellular tower as part of a lease that would bring in $288,000 to the town over 10 years, said Town Administrator Charles Aspinwall.

The company would also be required to pay to the town half of any revenues generated from renting space on the tower to other cellular companies.

Voters also approved spending $29,000 on a police cruiser and other equipment and $6,500 to study damage to cemetery monuments.

-- Calvin Hennick

A Hopedale man questioned by Milford Police detectives for writing a threatening letter to Milford's Board of Selectmen now says he plans to apologize.

Investigators say the two-page letter was received on Friday, Oct. 26, from 41-year-old Craig S. Glatky, who owns rental property in Milford. Milford police Lt. James Falvey said Glatky's letter was written in response to the town's new bylaw requiring landlords to have their units inspected and measured and to pay a $50 inspection fee.

The following is a expert from Glatky's letter:

As an American, I will declare war on the town of Milford. No threats. I will start a civil war against the communist party here in [the] town of Milford. As an American - I will lead the good old US of A back to freedom.

William Buckley, the chairman of the Milford board, said he doesn't know Glatky personally, but that he took the letter seriously enough to turn it over to police. Buckley said he wouldn't comment further because he didn't want to encourage Glatky's behavior.

Glatky said he didn't think the letter was threatening, but admitted that he was upset when he wrote it. He said he planned on writing an apology letter to the board and would like to put the incident behind him.

Police said Glatky was not charged because he has no criminal record or known history of violence.

-- Nadia Salomon

The Friends of Upton State Forest will hold a recreational bike ride at the forest on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 10 a.m.

Registration forms are available online. The group requests a donation of $10 for the ride before November 21, and $12 after that.

Proceeds will help fund the activities of the group, including maintenance of the forest and education programs.

-- Calvin Hennick

Norfolk Town Meeting voters last week approved a bylaw change that will reduce the number of parking spots downtown businesses are required to provide for customers.

Selectman Jim Lehan said the move is intended to encourage more business development downtown. Voters also endorsed an update of the town's master plan.

-- Calvin Hennick

Faced with a decision this week whether to fund a $500,000 project to design a new senior center at Ridge Hill, the Needham Board of Selectmen punted.

The board voted earlier this week to refer the issue for further study. The money would have been used to develop a construction plan and to develop a project cost estimated to be presented to the 2008 Annual Town Meeting.

-- Laura Colarusso

A Wrentham man faces drunken driving and motor vehicle homicide charges following a fatal early-morning accident on Interstate 93 in Canton.

State police say 23-year-old Ryan Shaugnessy was driving a Hyundai Tiburon that collided with a pickup truck at the off-ramp to Route 138. The driver of the pickup was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

Shaugnessy was treated for minor injuries at Norwood Hospital and later transferred to the state police barracks in Framingham. The highway was closed for several hours after the 1 a.m. crash.

-- AP