Town meeting agenda open

The agenda for the 2008 Annual Town Meeting is open and will remain so until Jan. 18. Anyone wishing to submit an item for consideration is urged to download a private warrant article form by visiting andoverma.gov and clicking on "forms and publications." A minimum of 10 certified signatures of registered voters must accompany the proposed article in order for it to be included on the agenda. - Brenda J. Buote

AMBULANCE STUDY COMMITTEE - The Ambulance Study Committee appointed John Thibault as chairman and Thomas Fleming as vice chairman at a recent meeting. The nine-member committee heard a presentation by Town Manager Paul Cohen on his proposal for a town-run ambulance service. The town holds a contract with Trinity EMS of Lowell, a private operator. - Joyce Pellino Crane

LOCAL YOUTH APPEARS ON PROGRAM - A Dracut freshman was featured on the nationally syndicated news program "Teen Kids News" last week. Tyler Dumont, a 14-year-old student at Lowell Catholic High School, submitted a sample tape featuring pieces he edited about the Boston Duck Tours and an indoor-skydiving facility. In addition to his camera work, Dumont participates on Dracut cable access television, running his own program, "Kids World." He plans to attend Lyndon State College in 2012. "Teen Kids News" airs Sundays on WMUR-TV (Channel 9) at 10:30 a.m. and WCVB-TV (Channel 5) at 11:30 a.m. For more information on the program and transcript information, visit teenkidsnews.com. - Rocco Colella

STUDENT DROP-OFFS - Officials at Swallow Union Elementary School are setting up some new procedures for dropping off children, after some unsafe situations have taken place in the school parking lot on recent mornings. The school requests that parents drop off children at the sidewalk near the front door and then immediately exit the premises, rather than park and walk their children into the building. - Matt Gunderson

SNOW AND SURVIVAL - The Nashua River Watershed Association is sponsoring an after-school program that will teach children ages 7 to 11 to survive outdoors in snowy and icy conditions. Called the Wonders of Winter After School Program, the program will concentrate on developing techniques for snow survival during eight Wednesdays from Jan. 23 to March 19. The cost of the program is $130 for association members and $160 for nonmembers. - Matt Gunderson

COLLEGE PAPER WINS AWARD - The student newspaper of Northern Essex Community College recently received a gold medalist certificate from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association of Columbia University for the 2007 spring semester. The NECC Observer was judged on content in news, features, in-depth reporting, oped, sports, arts and entertainment, design presentation, editing, headlines, and general publication operations. Judges also praised the newspaper's writing staff. - Russell Contreras

SESSION ON ACTION PLAN - Lowell's Division of Planning and Development will hold a public hearing Thursday at the senior center on the city's One-Year Action Plan for 2008-2009. Residents interested in speaking may sign up in advance by contacting Allison Lamey at 978-446-7200. Time will also be provided at the end of the hearing for those who do not sign up in advance but wish to speak. - Russell Contreras

CENSUS DELAYED - Methuen's census will be delayed until after the presidential primary, according to the city clerk. The annual census is usually sent to city residents each January, but City Clerk Christine Touma-Conway said she is sending them out in early February instead this year to ensure that absentee ballots for the primary do not get mixed in with all the census paperwork. The state's primary was moved from March to Feb. 5. State law requires each community to conduct an annual census, and the clerk's office uses the data to keep voting lists current. The census cannot be used to register voters, Touma-Conway said. Residents need to fill out a voter registration affidavit available at the clerk's office, Room 112 at the Searles Building, 41 Pleasant St. They may also request a form by calling 978-983-8515 or can register to vote at the Registry of Motor Vehicles when obtaining or renewing a driver's license. The deadline to register for the presidential primary is Jan. 16. - Kytja Weir

HISTORICAL VOTE - The North Andover Historical Society will be voting for a slate of directors at its annual meeting this afternoon. The society will then conduct its business meeting, followed by light refreshments and viewings of the society's current exhibition called "Season's Greetings." Founded in 1913, the not-for-profit organization is dedicated to preserving local heritage. The meeting begins at 2 p.m. in the society's headquarters, 153 Academy Road. The public is welcome to attend, but only members may vote. In the event of bad weather, the society will announce a cancellation on its outgoing voicemail message by noon of that day, and the meeting will be rescheduled for Jan. 13. For more details, call 978-686-4035. - Kytja Weir

FIRE HYDRANT SHOVELING - With the state facing unusually high snowfall amounts in the last month, the Pepperell Water Division is reminding residents to shovel snow from round fire hydrants immediately after storms in order to ensure access during fire emergencies. "Without fast, unhindered access to the hydrants and water, the Fire Department would lose valuable seconds and even minutes fighting fires," a recent news bulletin on the division's website says. "That could mean the difference between quickly controlling a fire and losing everything." - Matt Gunderson

HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES - Hunting and sports fishing licenses for 2008 are available at the town clerk's office in Town Hall at 1009 Main St. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. The fee varies, depending on the type of license requested. First-time hunters must provide a certificate of competency from the Hunter Education Bureau; hunters who have been licensed previously must show either a certificate of competency or a previous year's hunting/fishing license. The town clerk does not have copies on file; those documents are sent each year to the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. For more information, contact Town Clerk Elizabeth Carey at 978-640-4355. - Brenda J. Buote

OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION SURVEY - The Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee is asking residents to complete a 10-question survey about space and recreational issues in town. The responses will be integrated into a five-year plan that is being updated. The deadline for responses is Jan. 15. Among the questions is one that asks residents what they like best and least about Tyngsborough's recreational and open space areas. The survey is available at Town Hall and at tyngsboroughmass.com. - Joyce Pellino Crane

HIGHER WATER RATES IN EFFECT - Increased water rates, approved by the Board of Water Commissioners on Dec. 5, went into effect Tuesday. Households with an average quarterly usage of no more than 2,500 gallons, will pay $2.71 per 100 cubic feet, up from $2.30. This is the first increase in two years, according to Robin Fullford, the Water Department's business manager, and rates will be evaluated annually from now on. A recent analysis identified almost $6 million in capital costs over the next five years. More information can be found at westfordma.gov/water. Residents are billed quarterly. - Joyce Pellino Crane

PARKS COMMISSIONER RESIGNS - During their last meeting of the year, the Town Council accepted Don Foster's resignation from the Parks and Recreation Commission. The council decided that it would not appoint an alternate to fill the vacancy before March when all board and commission members are appointed, according to Town Manager Russ Marcoux. The council also set Wednesday as the date for a public hearing for a road bond. The town is looking to continue its road maintenance program and will ask voters to approve a $12 million bond in the March town election. - Meg Villeneuve

CLIPPING HAIR FOR CHARITY - This Friday more than 100 students and staff members will chop their hair and donate it to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign, which uses the hair to make wigs for cancer survivors. Last year, more than 60 pony tails were snipped off during the school's winter pep rally. Since then many students have been growing their hair in preparation for this year's event, and to date 130 have pledged to donate. - Meg Villeneuve

NEW OWNER FOR NORTHWEST BOULEVARD PROPERTY - After sitting empty for more than three years, a large piece of real estate on Northwest Boulevard will have a new tenant. William Luers, president of Tamposi-Nash Real Estate Group, said the 335,165-square-foot building, which sits on 38 acres, sold for $8.3 million. The original building was constructed in 2003 by Corning Lasertron but was not completed. Nashua-based Two C Pack Systems bought the property, and the manufacturer of boxes plans to complete construction of the building by this summer. - Meg Villeneuve

THREE PROJECTS FUNDED - During the selectmen's final meeting of 2007, the board voted to spend $83,755 on three projects: to repave the intersection of Nashua and Londonderry roads, replace a culvert, and install a 10,000-gallon fire cistern or water tank on Osgood Street. The board awarded bids for all three projects, which should begin in the spring, according to David Sullivan, town administrator. - Meg Villeneuve

AROUND THE REGION

MANAGER TALKS WRAPPING UP - Selectmen hope to wrap up contract negotiations with a new town manager this week. Steve Ledoux, the board's choice for the position, has been meeting with town department heads and negotiating a contract with selectmen. Selectmen chairman Dore Hunter said Ledoux, Westford's town manager, is expected to finish meeting with department heads tomorrow. Hunter said he hopes the selectmen will put the finishing touches on a contract that night. If Ledoux formally accepts the job, he is expected to stay on in Westford for at least six weeks. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

TEEN DRIVING SESSION - The Concord Carlisle Parent Initiative is sponsoring a panel discussion on teen driving safety. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Alcott School auditorium. Panelists include a Concord police officer and representatives from local driving schools, American Automobile Association, a local insurance agency, and Emerson Hospital's emergency department. The panelists will address the dangers and concerns of teen driving and what can be done to increase safety. Parents and students are encouraged to send in questions ahead of time so the panelists can address specific concerns. The e-mail address is ccpigroup1@yahoo.com. For more information, go the group's website at ccpi.info. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts