Education funds coming

Governor Deval Patrick's $2 billion higher education bond bill contains money for capital improvement projects at North Shore Community College in Danvers and Salem State College. North Shore would receive $29.9 million for a new allied health building. Salem State would get $41.4 million to modernize its library. The 10-year bond bill, filed last week, sets aside $1 billion for capital improvements to community and state colleges. The other $1 billion would be spent on construction projects at the five University of Massachusetts campuses. - Kathy McCabe

STREET REPAIR NEEDS COVERED - At its last meeting, the City Council rejected a proposal by Councilor Patricia Grimes to have the Department of Public Services provide a list of streets and sidewalks to be replaced or repaired in the next fiscal year. Council president Paul Guanci said the department and the mayor's office already provide councilors annually with a list of streets and sidewalks that need to be repaired. - Steven Rosenberg

UPDATE ON THEFTS - Police Chief Gordon Russell tomorrow will report to selectmen on the progress of his department's investigation into a recent increase in car and house breaks. The board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. - John Laidler

TOURS OF PROPOSED OPEN SPACE - Two groups supporting the proposed town purchase of the 75-acre Haynes family property are cosponsoring tours of the site today, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The walks will begin at the Haynes property entrance on Middleton Road, across from the Cole School. The Oct. 23 Special Town Meeting will consider a proposal from the Board of Selectmen that the town spend $3.3 million to purchase the open land. The money would come from the town's Community Preservation Fund. The Boxford Athletic Association and the Boxford Trails Association/Boxford Open Land Trust are jointly sponsoring today's event, which will include refreshments, a tractor ride, and information on potential use of the land. - John Laidler

MCAS REVIEW PLANNED - A review of MCAS scores will be presented during tomorrow's School Committee meeting. Other agenda items include a report on enrollment data for this school year; discussion on revising the school district's policy manual, and approval of fund-raising requests by school groups. The committee meets at 7 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room at the Holten Richmond Middle School, 55 Conant St. - Kathy McCabe

AFFORDABLE CONDO PROJECT EYED - A 71-unit condominium development proposed for the former Rio Grande Cafe site on Route 114 will be before the Zoning Board of Appeals again tomorrow for continued review. The project is proposed under Chapter 40B, the state's affordable housing law, that allows developers to skirt local zoning in exchange for designating 20 to 25 percent of the units as affordable. The development is the first home ownership project proposed for the town under Chapter 40B. The four 40B developments now in town are all rental units. The board meets at 7 p.m. in the Daniel J. Toomey Hearing Room at Town Hall. - Kathy McCabe

TOWN MEETING ON AGENDA - Selectmen expect to finalize the warrant and firm up the date for Town Meeting tomorrow. The tentative date is Nov. 5 at the Essex Elementary School. The Board of Selectmen will meet at 7 p.m. at the TOHP Burnham Library, Martin Street. - David Rattigan

FIRE STATION HOURS ON AGENDA - A proposal to add additional funds to the Fire Department's overtime budget to staff two stations full time will be the highlight of the City Council's Tuesday meeting. Several councilors, including Bruce Tobey, had called a special council meeting for Oct. 5 to discuss a proposal to appropriate $225,000 for operations at the Magnolia and Bay View fire stations. Tobey said the meeting was canceled after Mayor John Bell asked to appear, along with Fire Chief Barry McKay, at the Oct. 16 council meeting. Tobey said Bell would address reopening the two fire stations full time at the meeting. The stations have been open part time during the last month because of a lack of overtime funds. - Steven Rosenberg

WARRANT ONLINE, IN MAIL - The Board of Selectmen signed the warrant for the Oct. 22 Town Meeting last week, and the town has mailed out copies to residents to encourage people to attend. The warrant, which contains 16 articles, is also available at the town website, hamiltonma.gov. Town Meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School on Bay Road (Route 1A). - David Rattigan

PLAZA GETTING MAKEOVER - Ipswich Shopping Plaza, originally built in the 1960s, is in the midst of major reconstruction. Renovations to the 37,000-square foot, eight-tenant shopping center on High Street, the anchor of which is Shaw's Supermarket, began in September and are scheduled to be completed before the end of the year, according to property co-owner Richard Lappin, who has completed similar renovations to malls in nearby communities: the Georgetown Shopping Center and the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing. Lappin said that all stores have continued to operate during the renovation, which includes not just updates to the buildings and facades, but also curb cuts, landscaping, lighting, and parking lot improvements. - David Rattigan

TOWN OPENS ITS DOORS - The owners of 10 private homes will take part in "Ipswich Opens Its Doors" on Saturday. Held every two years, the house-tour event is the major fund-raiser for the Ipswich Visitor Center, which uses the money to produce the town brochure listing local restaurants, inns, and other attractions. "If I have a good year, I'll make $7,000 to 8,000," said Bill Nelson, volunteer manager of the visitor center. "To me, people are quite curious. They like to get into these homes and see what people have done. They also are looking for [decorating] ideas." Tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets cost $23, and are available at the Institution for Savings, the Ipswich Visitor Center, and Ipswich Shellfish Fish Market, or online at ipswichma.com/housetours. - David Rattigan

ALUMNI INFORMATION WANTED - Our Lady of the Assumption School in Lynnfield is developing a contact list of its alumni. Anyone who has attended the school during its approximately 50 years is encouraged to send their information to ola_alumni@yahoo.com. The list will be used to communicate school news and events. Our Lady of the Assumption School is a Catholic coeducational elementary school on Grove Street, affiliated with the Our Lady of the Assumption parish. - John Laidler

AFFORDABLE CONDOS PROPOSED - A 40-unit condominium project with affordable units may be built on a 14-acre site at 601 Summer St. On Oct. 24, the Zoning Board of Appeals will hear the proposal by Coolidge Commons LLC of Boston for a comprehensive permit. The principal of Coolidge Commons LLC is Mark Lynch. Of the 40 units, 30 would be luxury and 10 affordable. If the proposed Chapter 40B development is approved, Lynch and his wife, Leslie, intend to abandon a previous plan to construct a horse farm and large riding ring for their own use, according to their attorney, Ted Regnante. That prior proposal is the subject of pending litigation in Superior Court. The hearing will be at 7 p.m. - John Laidler

FESTIVAL FUND-RAISER FRIDAY - Octoberfest is this Friday at the Corinthian Yacht Club, Corinthian Lane on Marblehead Neck. The annual Marblehead Chamber of Commerce event, which starts at 7 p.m., will include food, wine and beer tasting, and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, Call 781-631-2868 for tickets. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Marblehead Festival of the Arts, a weeklong summer festival that culminates in a Fourth of July fireworks display. - John Laidler

MEETING NEEDED ON WINDOW WORK - A November Special Town Meeting will be scheduled by selectmen, but the date has yet to be set, according to board chairman Timothy P. Houten. Among matters likely to be decided is a funding request to pay for the restoration and preservation of stained-glass windows at the Flint Public Library. The library's current renovation and expansion budget does not include the window work. Selectmen meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Fuller Meadow School. - John Laidler

SPIRN ON HIS FIRST COMMITTEE - The Board of Selectmen recently appointed Dr. Paul Spirn to the Community Preservation Committee. This is the first committee appointment for Spirn, who has been active in other town programs. Spirn filled a seat vacated in late June by Jim Cashman, who served a three-year term. - David Rattigan

DOWNTOWN REZONING PROPOSED - Possible changes to downtown zoning were reviewed last week by the City Council's Industrial and Community Development Committee. One proposal would rezone parts of downtown from industrial to mixed use, including residential and retail. The committee will meet next on Oct. 16. - Steven Rosenberg

TWO TAX RATES OR ONE? - Selectmen and the Board of Assessors have scheduled a tax classification hearing as part of Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Selectmen. The boards will determine whether to split the property tax rate for businesses and residences, or set one rate for both. In the past, Rockport has opted for one rate. The Board of Selectmen's meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, on Broadway. - David Rattigan

SCAVENGER HUNT BENEFITS CHARITY - Salem Scavenger Hunt, a new self-guided walking tour in the city, has agreed to donate 20 percent of its proceeds to Help for Abused Women and their Children. With three routes to choose from, Salem Scavenger Hunt charges $12 for an adult and $6 for a child. To learn more, visit salemscavengerhunt.com or call 978-744-4885. For more information on Help for Abused Women and their Children, visit helpabusedwomen.org or call 978-744-8552. - Erin Ailworth

IMPROV JONES COMING - Teens will have a chance to watch professional comedians at work and participate in their performance. The Swampscott Public Library tomorrow is presenting Improv Jones Boston, an improvisational comedy troupe. The event will be interactive, with audience members given the chance to perform. Part of the American Library Association's Teen Read Week, the event is geared for young people in the seventh to 12th grades. No registration is required for the free event, which will include refreshments. For more information, call 781-596-8867. - John Laidler

RACE FOR ROTARY - The Rotary Club of Topsfield, Boxford, and Middleton is holding its annual Fall Foliage Classic road race next Sunday in Topsfield. The 5-mile race, now in its 28th year, raises funds to benefit the club's charitable activities. In addition to the 5-mile race, there is a 1 1/4-mile fun run. The event begins at noon, with registration getting underway at 11:30 a.m. at the Proctor School. For information, go to the club's website, rotarytbm.org. - John Laidler

REPAIR OF BUILDINGS URGED - Selectmen chairman John Clemenzi says he would like to see the town and Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District take care of public buildings. Officials from the town and school district recently met with the Capital Management Committee (which has identified capital assets for both towns and the district), and Clemenzi urged the officials to have the committee further identify and prioritize the physical needs of town- or district-owned buildings. - David Rattigan