Contra dance

CONTRA DANCE - A traditional New England contra dance with singer David Kaynor will be held at Berlin's 1870 Town Hall Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. The entrance fee is $5 per person, with first-time dancers free, and the maximum charge for a family is $12. Arrive at 7:30 p.m. for free instruction in contra dance steps.

- John Dyer

STUDY OF TOWN GOVERNMENT - Selectmen have chosen the University of Massachusetts at Boston's John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies to conduct an organizational study of town government, said Town Administrator Jodi Ross. The $10,000 study will investigate the structure of government after some recent staff turnover, including the town planner and town clerk positions.

- Matt Gunderson

TOWN ATTORNEY RESIGNS - Gregory Angelini has resigned as the town's attorney, citing "philosophical differences with some board members," said Selectman James Stanton. The selectmen are currently seeking a new town counsel, he said. Stanton didn't elaborate in detail about the reasons for Angelini's departure, but he said the reasons may be at least partially linked to a lawsuit against the town by Selectman Ken Sydow concerning a variance petition. Angelini had acted as legal adviser to the Zoning Board of Appeals on the issue. - Matt Gunderson

GOVERNOR AT CHURCH CELEBRATION - The Greater Framingham Community Church is celebrating 35 years of ministry and service with an anniversary banquet Saturday that will include a keynote address by Governor Deval Patrick. "It's definitely a big deal," said the Rev. J. Anthony Lloyd, the church's pastor. "The theme is celebrate the journey and we are celebrating these 35 years." The theme will continue Sunday at the 10 a.m. worship service with the Rev. Conley Hughes Jr., pastor of Concord Baptist Church in Boston. There will be a reception at 5 p.m. Saturday and banquet at 6. Both will be held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel, 1657 Worcester Road. Tickets are $75 per person. Call 508-626-2118 to purchase tickets or for more information.

- Tanya Pérez-Brennan

ATHENAEUM FUND-RAISER - The Friends of Saxonville will hold a fund-raiser Saturday night featuring hors d'oeuvres and desserts for restoration of the historic Athenaeum, according to John Stasik, a selectman and member of the organization. Tickets are $35. The building's roof and exterior were finished this summer. Architectural plans drawn up put the cost of restoration at an estimated $2 million. In 10 years, the group has raised $60,000 toward the project. A $75,000 state grant fostered by former representative Deborah Blumer went toward the architectural renderings for interior restoration. The town also put $300,000 toward the project for stabilization purposes during the beginning phase. Formerly Saxonville Town Hall, the 1847 Athenaeum was later used as a school and a jail, among other things. An open house with tours will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by a gala from 7 to 10 p.m. Call 508-371-4361 for more information or go to saxonville.org. - Tanya Pérez-Brennan

BOOSTING INTEREST IN SCIENCES - A group of area colleges and nonprofits have formed the first partnership in the area to increase the number of students interested in entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM). The group, the MetroWest STEM Education Network, comprises representatives from Framingham State College, MassBay Community College, Olin College, and Regis College, along with the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, I-495 MetroWest Partnership, and the MetroSouth/West Regional Employment Board. "It's definitely a long-term significant investment," said Mari Megias, spokeswoman for Framingham State College. "It's not only initiating new programs but expanding older ones." The group's goal is to increase the motivation and preparation of students, boost the number of teachers in the fields, and increase public awareness of the need for more workers. The group has hired a director, Kevin Thurston of Natick. Thurston has more than 25 years' experience at technology companies. The network's office will be at the MetroSouth/West Regional Employment Board at 1671 Worcester Road in Framingham.

- Tanya Pérez-Brennan

SELECTMEN MAKE APPOINTMENTS - Selectmen Sept. 17 appointed Dorothy Bagley to the Hudson Cultural Council for a three-year term. Al Tashian was named to the Conservation Commission to fill out the 2 1/2 years of a vacant seat, and William Sullivan was appointed to the Economic Development Commission for a five-year term. - John Dyer

STATE AID POSSIBLE FOR SCHOOL REPAIR - The Massachusetts School Building Authority has visited Maynard High School for the second time in as many months to determine if the town will receive state aid. Superintendent Mark Masterson told School Committee members last week that state engineers, architects, and contractors toured the school to produce a technical report earlier this month. Maynard is among the 100 schools that have made it to the second phase of the revamped state aid program, which aims to pay some rebuilding or renovation costs for schools. If Maynard is told to proceed by the state, a full-scale study and master plan will be developed.

- Melissa Beecher

RAYTHEON JOINS 2010 - The Raytheon Co. has donated $75,000 to the Marlborough 2010 Corporation, to be distributed over the next three years. It represents the largest investment in Marlborough 2010 since the economic development group was launched in April 2006, according to Mayor Nancy Stevens. Raytheon, a defense contractor, also joined the executive board of Marlborough 2010. "We are delighted to have Raytheon join our board in helping to guide sustainable growth and a broad-based economic footing for the city," said John Riordan, executive director of Marlborough 2010, in a news release. - Lisa Kocian

ROTARY SCHOLARSHIPS - The Northborough Rotary Club recently gave a total of $8,500 in scholarships to Algonquin High School students who graduated in the spring and are now in college. David Auger, Lisa Pugsley, Leann Taggart, Emily Kozlowski, Erin Kearney, and Chris Doucette received awards. The scholarships were raised by Rotary pancake breakfasts and other events. - John Dyer

BUILD A SCARECROW - The Northborough Recreation Department's third annual Build-a-Scarecrow Day is Oct. 6 at the Assabet Park basketball courts from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children will be provided with twine and clothes to make scarecrows, which will then be displayed in the park until Halloween. Nonresidents are welcome at the event, which costs $10 per family. To register, call the Recreation Department at 508-393-5034. - John Dyer

EMERGENCY CONTACT - This school year, the district is using a new alert system to notify parents in case of an emergency. Shrewsbury joined the Connect-ED service, available from a private company, which allows administrators to send e-mails or voice messages to thousands of parents at once, according to Anne Mahan, director of business services. The service can be used for snow days or more serious emergencies. "The system has the ability to notify parents at their homes, their cellphones, and their e-mail accounts," said Mahan. - Lisa Kocian

DONATIONS FOR DOGS - Tomorrow is the last day to drop off dog toys, food, and other donations at the Southborough Police Department for the Boston Dog Rescue, a nonprofit that seeks to improve the quality of life for dogs in shelters. Toys can be dropped off at the 19 Main St. station between 7:15 a.m. and 9 p.m. For more information, contact Officer Meredith Lobur at 508-485-2147. - John Dyer

SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION NEEDS HELP - School officials are seeking volunteers to join the Nashoba Regional Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit group aimed at raising money for student scholarships in the three-town district that serves Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow. Interested residents can contact Bonnie Amos at 978-568-8541. - Matt Gunderson

OPEN SPACE SURVEY - The town is asking residents to fill out a survey about conservation and recreation land use. The Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee is in the process of updating the plan designed to help the town acquire open space. The plan addresses passive and active recreation, protection of plants and wildlife, water quality, and land preservation. The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, can be picked up and returned to labeled boxes in the Flynn Building, the town clerk's office, Goodnow Library, and the Atkinson Pool. The survey is also available at sudbury.ma.us/committees/OSRPC. The deadline for completing surveys is Nov. 1. For more information, e-mail osrpc@town.sudbury.ma.us. - Kristen Green

APPLY FOR CULTURAL GRANT - The Sudbury Cultural Council is accepting applications for grant money through Oct. 15. The grants are provided for a variety of art, theater, performance, and educational events. Projects sponsored by a Sudbury organization or resident will be given priority. The council is looking for events that can reach a wide audience. For more information visit massculturalcouncil.org/sudbury.htm. To download an application, go to massculturalcouncil.org. Completed applications can be mailed to the Sudbury Cultural Council, 66 Austin Road, Sudbury, 01776-2527. For more information, e-mail culturalcouncil@town.sudbury.ma.us.

- Kristen Green

ALS WALK - The Massachusetts chapter of the ALS Association, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, will hold its annual "Walk to d'feet ALS" Saturday starting at Westborough High School. Check-in for the event is 9 a.m. The walk starts at 10:30 a.m. To walk in the event, join a team, or sponsor a walker or team, call the ALS Association at 781-326-8884 or go to thealswalk.org. - John Dyer

WOMEN'S CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS - The Westborough Women's Club has awarded $500 scholarships to four seniors who graduated from Westborough High School in the spring and are now in college. Heather Christie is attending Assumption College, Ruchi Munshi is attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Jacqueline Strouse is attending the University of Richmond in Virginia, and Nicole Tompkins is attending American International College in Springfield, Mass. - John Dyer

EXPEDITING PERMIT PROCESS - Planning officials hope to use a $150,000 state grant to purchase a software program to expedite permits in Medway, according to Andy Rodenhiser, Planning Board chairman. The program would allow residents and business owners to pull permits online, and would improve coordination between departments. The program also would generate a list of abutters to any development. The program would add a "significant amount of efficiency," Rodenhiser said. He and others met recently with two vendors and it is hoped a program will be in place by January. - Alexandra Perloe

SPREADING THE WORD - A spokesman from Mayor David Cohen's office said the city will launch a $70,000 automated system that sends personalized phone and text messages as well as e-mails to all city residents. Mayor's spokesman Jeremy Solomon said city officials will be responsible for selecting the type and number of messages that go out. Solomon said it could be used during weather and other emergencies, as well as for more routine business, such as reminding residents to vote. "We have to strike a real balance between calling too much and getting out information people want to hear," he said. The city has contracted with NTI Group Inc., a Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based company, to provide the service. Solomon also said the system would have come in handy earlier this year when bad weather threatened the city's July 4 fireworks show. Residents were told to call a city phone number for updates, but the line was overwhelmed and most people only got the message that the mailbox was full. - Megan Woolhouse

AFFORDABLE LOTTERY AT WELLINGTON CROSSING - Eight affordably priced condos at the Wellington Crossing development off Trapelo Road are going up for sale by lottery. Six are designated for Waltham residents, immediate relatives, former residents, or employees of the city and emergency services providers. The other two are available to the general public. Prices for one-bedroom units are $219,900, and $279,900 for two-bedroom units. The maximum annual household income allowed for applicants is $46,300 for a one-person household, $52,950 for two people, $59,550 for three, and $66,150 for four. Applications can be picked up at Wellington Crossing, 106 Clocktower Drive, Waltham. Call 781-899-3325.

- Stephanie V. Siek

40B SINCERITY QUESTIONED - The Board of Selectmen sent a letter last week opposing the proposed 40B development at the corner of Hillside Road and Washington Street. The letter states that while the Chapter 40B law is intended to encourage the building of homes affordable to people with low to moderate incomes, the board does not believe affordable housing is developer Michael J. Connolly's motivation in using the law to seek a state waiver of single-residence zoning restrictions to build a multi-unit development. Instead, said the board, Connolly has engaged in a "manipulative use" of the state law to "build in excess of the single-family density" zoning. Connolly said, "There couldn't be anything further from the truth. . . . I've been insistent from the start. If we are able to do affordable housing, then let's do it." A spokesman for MassHousing, the state agency that is considering Connolly's request, said it typically takes about 90 days to grant or deny an application.

- Lisa Keen