Young poet

Michael Bottari, a senior at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, has won the first Helen Creeley Prize for poetry. He will receive $500 - $250 to purchase books for his personal collection and $250 to select books for the school library. He also will be one of the opening readers for the eighth annual Robert Creeley Award winner, John Ashbery, during an event on March 18, at R.J. Grey Junior High School Auditorium. Free tickets are available at the Acton Memorial Library. Helen Creeley, Robert's older sister, won national poetry prizes in the 1930s when she was a high-school student in Acton. She was a strong influence on her brother, an internationally acclaimed poet. The prize in her name is designed to promote students' reading and writing of poetry. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

BUDGET ONLINE, IN LINE - The proposed blueprint for town spending for fiscal 2009, which will begin July 1, is now online. The 20-page document calls for expenditures totaling $111,681,873, an increase of $4,280,536, or 4 percent, in compliance with commitments made by town officials in 2005. That year, local voters supported a five-year budget plan, and the $6 million override of Proposition 2 1/2 required to fund it, after town officials promised they would not seek another override of the state tax-cap law through fiscal 2010. The coming fiscal year is the fourth year of the five-year budget plan. To view the proposed budget document, visit arlingtonma.gov. - Brenda J. Buote

STOPPING SCRAP-METAL SCAVENGERS - The Board of Selectmen voted, 4 to 1, to prohibit the general public from sifting through the scrap-metal pile at the town transfer station. Selectman Frank F. Maxant voted against the initiative. The board made the vote for safety reasons at the recommendation of the Department of Public Works superintendent, Michael J. Madigan, and the Board of Health. The rule does not include bicycles left at the transfer station. In similar news, selectmen appointed David Kidder as the Highway Department foreman to replace Larry Caldwell, who is retiring after more than 40 years with the department. Kidder has been with the town for more than 30 years. Douglas Jaspersen, a 10-year employee, was promoted to assistant foreman. - Taryn Plumb

RENT-A-DEPOT - The town is trying to rent out pieces of its history. Last week, it began seeking proposals from groups and businesses that want to rent space in the historic Bedford Depot at 80 Loomis St. The Middlesex Central Railroad built the station around 1874 and it hosted the first narrow-gauge railroad in the country, according to Joe Piantedosi, who chairs the Bedford Depot Park Advisory Committee. The depot was last used as a railroad station 50 years ago. The town bought it in 1999 as part of the project for the surrounding park that connects to the Minuteman Bikeway. The depot is now zoned for mixed use, Piantedosi said, and the town has set aside money for a new roof. Those interested in renting space may contact the Bedford Facilities Department at 781-275-5290. All proposals are due in the town manager's office in Town Hall by 2 p.m. March 24. For more information, visit www.bedforddepot.org. - Kytja Weir

TOWN SCHOLARSHIP - Applications are now available for the 2008 Town of Belmont Scholarship. The applications and financial assistance questionnaire are available at the Belmont High School and Minuteman Regional High School guidance offices, the town treasurer's office, and on the town's website. The filing deadline is March 21. For more information, contact Floyd Carman, the town treasurer, at 617-993-2770. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

TEMPORARY MANAGERS TAKE REINS - Principal Assessor Richard J. Scanlon will take over tomorrow as interim town manager, and library director Barbara Flaherty will act as interim assistant town manager. The temporary management team was appointed at a special meeting convened by selectmen on Feb. 19. As compensation for the added duties, Scanlon and Flaherty will each receive stipends of $700 per week above their regular salaries, said Michael Rosa, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Assisting them with budget preparations will be the town accountant, Paul Watson, who will receive $300 more per week for his extra responsibilities. Rocco Longo is stepping down as town manager tomorrow and taking over as Marshfield's town administrator. Longo's assistant, John Sanguinet, left in January to become Wareham's assistant to the Board of Selectmen and town administrator. - Joyce Pellino Crane

LOST GRANT - Residents will not vote on a proposal to purchase a 30-acre property on Liberty Square Road this spring. The special Town Meeting that was scheduled for March 17 to vote on the plan has been canceled because the town wasn't able to put the finishing touches on the deal in time for the meeting. The delay means the town will lose a $235,000 state grant that was awarded to help pay for the land, which would have been set aside for conservation. Town Administrator Selina Shaw said it's possible the town will reapply for the grant next year. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

ELECTION BALLOTS FINALIZED - The ballots are set for the April 5 town election. Two candidates are challenging Selectman Gary J. Gianino for a seat on the town's top board. In addition to Gianino, Daniel R. DiTucci and Virginia E. Mooney are running for the board. Besides Town Meeting, the only other contested race on the ballot will be for Housing Authority, where Richard H. Howard and incumbent James H. Langley Jr. are running for one seat. Incumbents for all other boards and committees are either running unopposed or are running in multiseat races in which the number of candidates equals the number of seats. - Eric Moskowitz

QUICK PAYMENT - Eager to forestall climbing interest rates, the Board of Selectmen voted this month to pay a $300,000 court settlement to South Street Nominee Trust as soon as possible. The town assessed roll-back taxes after the South Street Nominee Trust was removed from Chapter 61 forestry restriction in 2002, but the trust appealed and prevailed in court. Because of the priority on paying the fee quickly to avoid further interest accrual, the town finance director has written a letter to the state Department of Revenue requesting permission to use available funds rather than waiting for a Town Meeting vote to authorize the expenditure. - Nancy Shohet West

DONATION TO EMERSON - The Emerson Hospital Auxiliary and gift shop recently donated $200,000 to Emerson Hospital. The donation will benefit several areas of the hospital, including Emerson rehabilitation services, the Bethke Cancer Center, the Pediatric Intervention Team, and the Clough Surgical Center. The new surgical center will include a dedicated private entrance, presurgical rooms, an expanded waiting area with its own kitchenette, new postanesthesia-care unit, consultation rooms, and postoperating recovery rooms. The surgery project includes the construction of new operating rooms. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

NEW ASSISTANT ASSESSOR - Celia Jornet of Ashburnham has replaced Julie Doucet as the town's assistant assessor. Doucet left the post in December to take over as executive assistant to the Board of Selectmen, a position vacated by Valeska Ross. According to Assessor Angela Marrama, Jornet will assist with all aspects of valuing property for tax purposes. She previously served as a production office manager at IC Federal Credit Union in Fitchburg, Marrama said; she also has a background in mortgage and real estate. The department received 30 applications and interviewed eight prospects, Marrama said. Selectmen appointed Jornet on Feb. 5. "I wish her the best in learning this field and becoming a team player with the town of Harvard," Marrama said. -Taryn Plumb

BUSY ELECTION - The annual town election will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Voters will choose two selectmen, two Planning Board members, and a town moderator, as well as several Town Meeting members in each of the town's nine precincts. The annual Town Meeting is scheduled for March 19 at the Cary Memorial Building. There are 60 articles on the warrant for Town Meeting, including a proposal to streamline the permitting process for residential developments and a request to appropriate $835,000 for various school projects. The entire warrant may be viewed online at ci.lexington.ma.us. - Brenda J. Buote

EMERGENCY PLAN SOUGHT - Three members of the Board of Selectmen met recently with a representative from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for an assessment of the town's emergency planning status. The planning council representative presented a preliminary recommendation and explained that, by formalizing a plan such as the one her agency suggested, Littleton would be eligible to apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to subsidize upgrades to the town's infrastructure that would help in the event of a natural emergency. Littleton is one of approximately 30 towns in the state working with the planning council to formalize an emergency plan. - Nancy Shohet West

MARKET SEEKS VOLUNTEERS - The Medford Square Market, the nonprofit community farmers market that debuted last year, is looking for volunteers to help organize the market; contact and recruit vendors; and assist with operations, such as publicity, fund-raising, bookkeeping, and other management roles. The market serves as a venue for locally grown produce, fresh bread, art and crafts, music, books, and other items, and the second season is scheduled to begin in mid-June. To volunteer, or for more information, contact Margaret Weigel, president and cofounder, at medfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com or visit medfordsquaremarket.blogspot.com. - Eric Moskowitz

CENSUS FORMS NEEDED - Town officials have asked that residents return their census forms as soon as possible, said Town Clerk Barbara Stats. The town is required by state law to take a census each year, she said. Returning the forms, which were mailed in early January, is important because it allows voters to maintain an active status and helps the town when it comes to the allocation of state and federal funds. It also helps provide a proof of residency so residents can take advantage of in-state tuition, along with veterans and school enrollment benefits. - Laura M. Colarusso

MOSQUITO LETTERS SOUGHT - Saturday is the deadline for residents wishing to avoid mosquito control spraying on their property. They must send a certified letter to the town clerk's office and include name, address, the names of all abutters, and the spray program they would like to opt out of. Residents will also have to clearly mark the boundaries of their properties. Mosquito spraying probably will begin at the end of next month or early April to kill larvae, according to the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project. Spraying to kill adult mosquitoes usually takes place at the end of May. - Laura M. Colarusso

BOMB INVESTIGATION - Police are seeking information on two bombs found in town in the past six months. In September, dog walkers found a failed improvised explosive in St. Patrick's cemetery, said Lieutenant Jim McIntyre. Then on Feb. 3, a pipe bomb was found on Broadway Field, he said. It, too, had failed to detonate. The State Police bomb squad was called out for each case and removed the bombs. No one was reported injured and no threats were reported. It's not clear whether the two recent cases are related, but McIntyre said their proximity means they might be connected. He urges anyone who sees something that could be a bomb to leave it alone and immediately call 911. He asks those with tips about the bombs found to call the Arson Watch Reward Program hot line at 1-800-682-9229. Calls are confidential and tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000. - Kytja Weir

BAD CONNECTION - The Board of Selectmen has sent a letter to the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to reiterate that town officials do not want the proposed Interstate 93 interchange at Lowell Junction to connect to Salem Street. The selectmen expressed concern that the street is "already burdened with local traffic," according to the letter, which was signed by Michael Newhouse, chairman of the selectmen. They also asked that Wilmington be able to review traffic pattern changes as part of the environmental impact. - Laura M. Colarusso

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - Four items will be under consideration during the Special Town Meeting next week. Selectmen called for the meeting to ask town representatives to consider a classroom addition at McCall Middle School. The 12-classroom project would help the school handle a surge of students expected in 2009. The selectmen called for the meeting so the project wouldn't be delayed. Three other items are also on the docket, including a request for money to pay for engineering plans for Manchester Field. The other items are related to money transfers for a switch in employee health insurance programs and old school department bills. The Town Meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday in the McCall Middle School auditorium. - Kytja Weir

BEST PIZZAS IN TOWN - The results are in for the recent pizza taste-off conducted by the Woburn Public Library's Teen Advisory Group. About 60 middle school and high school students crowded the library's study hall on a recent Monday to judge pies donated by eight local pizza parlors. Brother's Pizza won best overall pie, followed by Pizza Market and Bertucci's in a tie for second. Sub Factory claimed the overall bronze but won first for best sauce, ahead of Louie's. Brother's Pizza and Giovanni's Roast Beef tied for third-best sauce. My Brother's Place won best cheese, and Bishop's Seafood and Pizza Market tied for second-best cheese, followed by Bertucci's. Sub Factory won best crust, Brother's Pizza claimed the silver in crust, and Louie's and My Brother's Place tied for third-best crust. For more information on the teen advisory group, contact Woburn's young adult librarian, Christi Showman Farrar, at 781-933-0148 or cfarrar@minlib.net. - Eric Moskowitz

CHELMSFORD SELECTMEN OPPOSE POWER PLANT - As opposition to a proposed Billerica power plant near the Chelmsford line gathers steam, Selectmen Philip Eliopoulos and Samuel Chase have taken a public stance against it. In separate letters sent last week to Ian Bowles, secretary of the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, they expressed concerns about the dangers of storing aqueous ammonia near the Concord River. They also raised objections to potentially harmful air emissions from the plant's smokestacks. Bowles sits on the Energy Facilities Siting Board, which is reviewing the petition submitted last February by representatives of a Texas-based energy investment company. The natural gas-fired plant for peak usage hours would store about 15,000 gallons of aqueous ammonia, according to the petition. The diluted ammonia is used to control nitrogen oxide emissions. In a document addressed to Billerica selectmen this week, representatives of Montgomery Energy Partners, the petitioner, said the plant would comply with state regulations. - Joyce Pellino Crane