Crisis plan responds to raid

CRISIS PLAN RESPONDS TO RAID - Nonprofit Chelsea Collaborative will unveil a humanitarian crisis plan Monday at Bunker Hill Community College's Chelsea campus, 175 Hawthorne St. City Council president Roseann Bongiovanni, also associate executive director of the nonprofit, said the plan is a response to the immigration raid by federal agents in a New Bedford leather-goods factory in March that led to the arrest of 361 undocumented immigrant workers, many of them women who were separated from their young children. Should such an event happen in Chelsea, Bongiovanni said, a response team of lawyers, financial management, shelters, donations and communications will be in place. The City Council recently declared Chelsea a Sanctuary City, a symbolic gesture welcoming immigrant and refugee residents regardless of their legal status.

- Katheleen Conti

MONEY SHIFTING APPROVED - Mayor John Hanlon's request to apply $4 million of the city's "free cash" to keep tax increases minimal was approved by the Board of Aldermen last Wednesday. The decision came after the mayor announced the previous week that the city had $11.6 million in unexpected revenue. The measure must still be approved by the Common Council. Hanlon had also asked the board to transfer $2 million to the city's retirement fund, but the aldermen referred that issue to the Finance Committee, which has not yet set a meeting date.

- Erica Tochin

KINGSTON TRIO BENEFIT - The Kingston Trio hopes to give a lift to the Elevator Fund at St. Pius V Parish. On Oct. 26, the group will perform a benefit concert at 8 p.m. in the auditorium at City Hall. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of an elevator to improve handicapped access to the Catholic church on Maple Street. Tickets cost $75, $45, $35, and $25. They can be purchased at the parish center, the mayor's office at City Hall, or at ticketmaster.com. - Kathy McCabe

PIANTEDOSI AGREES TO $50,000 FINE - The Piantedosi Baking Co. will pay a $50,000 fine for violating the Clean Air Act, according to a statement last week from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Piantedosi - a breadmaker with two facilities on Commercial Street in Malden - did not document repairs and tests done on about 15 industrial freezers, which operate using ozone-depleting substances. "Without the record-keeping, we can't tell that they're doing the repairs properly," said Andrea Simpson, senior enforcement counsel for the EPA. In a statement faxed to the Globe, Piantedosi admitted that "for a period of time in 2003 and 2004, before we implemented new procedures, our record-keeping with respect to a particular environmental regulation was not up to snuff." The company said it had done the proper repairs and maintenance on its refrigerators but realized after being audited by the EPA that it needed to keep better records. As part of the settlement, Piantedosi will purchase renewable energy credits representing 27 percent of its electric power over two years. This purchase of renewable energy will result in significant reductions in carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. - Erin Ailworth

LAPTOPS SPEED POLICE WORK - Half of the city's fleet of 10 police cruisers received new laptop computers to help officers more quickly and efficiently run checks on license plate numbers and do other tasks, according to a news release from Mayor Robert Dolan's office. Total cost of the Panasonic Toughbook laptops and installation was $16,000, with the Police Department paying for the installation and the city's Information Technology department paying for the computers, according to Steve Flanagan, city systems administrator. - Kay Lazar

FUNDS GO TOWARD FIRE ENGINE - A decade after agreement was reached between Stop & Shop and the city, which opposed the chain's plans to build on Squire Road in the early 1990s, the check is finally coming in. In exchange for a permanent occupancy permit, the city will receive a $150,000 check, which will go to the Fire Department, said Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino at a recent City Council meeting. Originally slated to be used for a new fire station, Fire Chief Gene Doherty said the money now will help cover the approximately $450,000 cost of a new fire engine. Doherty said the city will go out to bond soon for the rest of the money. - Katheleen Conti

CONDO PROJECT TO BE AIRED - A 30-unit industrial condominium development proposed for 129 Ballard St. will get a hearing tonight before the Planning Board. The applicant, Ballard Condominium LLC, has applied for a permit to build three buildings, with office and bay space for 30 condos, on land now used as a parking lot. The board meets at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex, 25 Main St. - Kathy McCabe

LIBRARY TRUSTEE APPOINTED - Michael Bourque has been named to fill a vacant library trustee position created by the resignation of Elizabeth Cooper. The appointment made jointly by the Board of Selectmen and the Library Trustees last week is through the end of Cooper's term, April 2009. Bourque is an associate vice president of information technology services at Boston College. - John Laidler

TEACHERS WIN GRANTS - The Viking Pride Foundation, which has donated about $300,000 to Winthrop schools over the past four years, recently awarded $13,000 in grants to several teachers in the district, according to foundation chairman Albert Petrilli. The grants, from $500 to $3,000, help teachers enhance classroom equipment by funding certain textbooks or a new computer program. Last month, the foundation donated about $63,000 to the schools. The foundation began its monthlong membership drive this week, Petrilli said, and joined the list of charities benefiting from profits garnered by car donations to Cars Helping America (carshelpingamerica.org).

- Katheleen Conti

TEACHING SAFETY TO YOUNG DRIVERS - The Police Department is sponsoring a training course for 40 first- and second-year drivers on Nov. 3 through In Control Advanced Driver Training, a program that goes beyond basic driver's education. The 4 1/2-hour course presents drivers with critical situations on a controlled course with the guidance of instructors. The course includes behind-the-wheel lessons on panic stops, skid control, steering control, emergency lane changes, and tailgating dangers, and will be held at South Weymouth Naval Air Station. Two classes are available, at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The courses usually cost $299, but Burlington police have arranged for local teens to take the course for $75. For more information, call 888-301-SAFE or visit WeDriveInControl.com/BPD. - Eric Moskowitz

AFTER-SCHOOL WEEKLY PROGRAM - The public library is offering a new afterschool program. Starting Nov. 1, "After School Fun with Pam" will be offered every Thursday from 3:30 to 4:10 p.m. at the library, 18 Summer St. Led by the library's new youth librarian, Pam Griswold, the program is intended for children ages 5 through 7. For more information, call the library at 781-334-5411. - John Laidler

SCHOOL CREW BREAKS WATER MAIN - The School Building Committee has agreed that the costs of a water break caused by construction crews building the Manchester-Essex Regional middle and high school will be absorbed by the project, according to Town Administrator Wayne Melville. He said the town is still estimating those costs, which are primarily manpower-related. The break occurred about 9 a.m. on Oct. 10 when the general contractor ruptured a water main while excavating at the school site. -John Laidler

LAST CALL FOR FRESH FARM PRODUCE - This is the last day of the city's farmers' market for the season. Organizers say the market, on River Street in Medford Square, had a terrific first season, thanks to the farmers, bakers, olive oil and pastry makers, and coffee and fish vendors. It is open today from 2 to 6:30 p.m. and is expected to reopen in June.

- Christine McConville

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL COMING -The town's 23d annual Pumpkin Festival will be held Oct. 27 in Middleton center (rain date Oct. 28). The daylong fall celebration, which begins at 9 a.m., will feature a variety of activities at the Howe-Manning School and the Middleton Historical Society's Lura Woodside Watkins Museum. Free apple pie and ice cream will be served. Activities will include pumpkin carving, a "Horribles" parade starting at 5:30 p.m., and a haunted hay ride. Sponsored by the Board of Trade, the Middleton Arts Association, and the Kiwanis Club of Middleton, the festival is free. For more information, call Selectman Timothy Houten at 978-774-0646.

- John Laidler

RECREATIONAL GRANT - REI celebrated the 20th anniversary of opening its first store in the Northeast by presenting the Friends of Reading Recreation with a $7,700 environmental stewardship grant. The event took place at the company's Reading store on Salem Street, the first REI location east of the Mississippi River, said Kirk Petersen, the store's assistant manager. The outdoor clothing and sporting goods chain has given $60,000 to nonprofit groups in the Boston area this year, Petersen said.

- Laura M. Colarusso

TEACHER OF THE YEAR - Julie Kong, a Salem High School chemistry teacher, last week was named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year by Wal-Mart. Because of the honor, Salem High received a $10,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation. Kong, who teaches 10th- and 12th-graders, said she was surprised by the honor Oct. 11. Earlier this year, Kong was chosen local teacher of the year and was honored by employees at the Salem Wal-Mart. - Erin Ailworth

COSTUME BALL TO SUPPORT FESTIVAL - Salem Jazz and Soul Festival organizers are hosting a Halloween costume ball Saturday to raise money for next year's festival. Tickets are $10 (cash) at the door and also can be purchased at salemjazzsoul.com. Doors open at the Knights of Columbus, 94 Washington Square, at 7:30 p.m. - Erin Ailworth

TEMPLE REUSE RECOMMENDATIONS - A town study committee has recommended that the former Temple Israel building on Humphrey Street be retained by the town and a portion of it used for a new police station, according to Town Administrator Andrew Maylor. The town purchased the temple last year for $3.3 million. The remainder of the building would be used for as yet undetermined municipal functions. The building is currently being used for town offices while repairs are made to Town Hall.

-John Laidler

WHAT TEENS WANT - How parents can better communicate with and empower their teenage children is the topic of a forum tonight at 7 in the dining room of Masconomet Regional High School. Topsfield resident and Masconomet parent Janet Parker, a personal coach and facilitator of seminars and training programs, will lead the forum, which is open to all parents of middle school- and high school-aged children. Entitled "Love, Listen, Lighten up and Let Go," it will address communication skills that work with teens, empowering teens to take responsibility in their lives, supporting without being a "helicopter" parent, and understanding what teens want from parents. No registration is required for the free event, sponsored by the Tri-Town Council on Youth and Family Services. For more information, call 978-887-6512. - John Laidler

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED - The Topsfield Town Library this month will host a two-part workshop for writers interested in getting their work published. The class is being presented by Peter Bowerman, a 1975 graduate of Masconomet Regional High School and author of the award-winning book "The Well-Fed Writer" and its companion volume, "The Well-Fed Self Publisher." The workshop will be held Sunday, 3 to 5 p.m., and Monday, 7 to 9 p.m. Bowerman will seek to provide insights on how to make a living from writing. The workshop is free, but registration in advance is required. To sign up, stop by the library or call 978-887-1528. - John Laidler