A day to help veterans

Those who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and their families are invited to a May 17 event that will mix food, family fun, and information about the benefits, services, and educational and job opportunities available to veterans. The free event, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of the National Archives and Record Administration offices at 380 Trapelo Road, is sponsored by the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, the National Archives, and other federal agencies in the area. The activities for veterans and their families will include a cookout, pony rides, and an animal show, music, and a drawing for a grand prize of $1,000 or a 42-inch flat screen TV. Various local, state, and federal agencies will also be there to provide information. The event, to be held rain or shine, is not open to the general public. For details, contact Diane LeBlanc at the National Archives at 781-663-0133 or 781-526-1137.

- Stephanie V. Siek

GROVE DECISION DELAYED - Saying it needed more time to review the proposal, the town's Zoning Board of Appeals last week put off a decision on the fate of a Grove Street apartment complex. Before a packed crowd Wednesday night, many of whom waited four hours for the board to vote on the project, chairman Harry Vlachos said, "It's too major a project, too big an impact on the town" to vote without sufficient opportunity to review project documents and consider the widespread neighborhood opposition to the noise, traffic, density and scale of the project. Early last month, the Planning Board voted 3-1 against the project. Vlachos noted it would be rare for the board to approve a proposal previously rejected by the Planning Board. Representatives for the Houston-based developer, the Hanover Co., said the proposed four-story, 169-unit luxury building had been significantly modified since it was unveiled in January to address concerns over its size, density, parking configuration and traffic impact. The board is expected to take up the proposal again at its May 28 meeting.

- Christina Pazzanese

27 WASHINGTON ADVANCES - The Board of Selectmen has approved a traffic mitigation plan for a proposed development at the site of the former Grossman's hardware. The plan was met with considerable opposition from neighbors and business owners in the area, who were concerned about inadequate parking and over-burdened traffic volume. But selectmen, in their decision on Monday, said the proposed development at 27 Washington St. would create significantly less traffic and parking burdens than previously considered ideas for the site. The Planning Board is slated to take up the issue tomorrow night.

- Lisa Keen

FIGHT OVER LIBRARY BUDGET - "We may see the first floor fight on Town Meeting in my tenure here," said Chuck Flaherty, the town librarian. At issue is whether Brookline will spend more than $450,000 to buy a radio frequency identification system for its three libraries - a kind of E-ZPass for books. With steadily increasing circulation and little opportunity to add staff, Flaherty said, he sees this as the way to keep service high while not increasing costs. The move would coincide with similar systems being implemented in Cambridge, Sudbury, and Wellesley. But while selectmen unanimously recommended the idea last month, the Advisory Committee is not on board. The issue will be settled by voters at Town Meeting, which convenes May 27. - Andreae Downs

TIME TO VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! - While the property-tax override has attracted most of the attention, Tuesday's election also presents Brookline voters with contests for selectmen and the two-year School Committee seat. Several precincts also have Town Meeting contests. In addition to the sizable slate of candidates for Precinct 1, there are races in Precincts 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

- Andreae Downs

RUN WITH THE STARS (AND STRIPES) - You may know the June 14 holiday as an opportunity to display your vintage Old Glory. But Brookline will celebrate Flag Day on June 15, with a USA Track & Field-certified 5K road race. Brookline's finest will be protecting the runners from errant traffic. The run starts 10:30 a.m. at Brookline High School, and includes the 10-and-under set as well as those 60 and over, and divisions in between. For details or to register, visit townofbrooklinemass.com, or call Ethan Brown at 617-730-2069. - Andreae Downs

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS - The Dover Historical Society is accepting applications for its Old Home Day Craft Fair, to take place Oct. 5 at the Dover Town House. The society is encouraging artisans and artists, from crafters to quilters to painters, to sign up for the fair, just one of many activities planned during the town's annual Old Home Day celebration. The rental charge is $50 for a 6-foot table and two chairs, and must be paid to the Historical Society by June 1, organizers said. For information, go to doveroldhomedays.org, e-mail susanneknowles@aol.com, or call 508-785-0858. - Anna Fiorentino

GATHERING AT THE POND - The sewers by Fresh Pond may need work, but above ground, spring is in full bloom and city officials are putting on a celebration of the largest open space in Cambridge next Saturday. The first Fresh Pond Day will feature free activities such as bike tune-ups, dog licensing, tours of the area, and tips on how to be kind to the environment by conserving energy and recycling. Shuttle buses will run from Central Square, CambridgeSide Galleria, and the Alewife T station. Questions? Call 617-349-4339. - Victoria Cheng

RICHARDSON OPENS REELECTION BID - State Representative Pam Richardson formally announced Monday that she will run for reelection to the Sixth Middlesex House seat this fall. The Framingham Democrat won her first term in a late scramble, after her predecessor, Deborah Blumer, died of a heart attack a month before the election in 2006. According to a statement from her office, Richardson lists as her accomplishments the approval of a $12.9 million Life Sciences Bill for infrastructure improvements in the Framingham Technology Park, a $3.4 million increase in Chapter 70 funding for Framingham's public schools, and a reallocation of more than $300,000 to study and recommend improvements for its downtown's revitalization. - Tanya Pérez-Brennan

TACKLING TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE - The first Natick Community Forum on Youth Substance Abuse will be Thursday in the Natick High cafeteria, 7:30 to 9 p.m. The adults-only event, bringing together local parents and community leaders, is sponsored by the town and school district, and funded by MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation. Door prizes include gift certificates to restaurants; free "bulky waste" pick up and a personalized street sign; rounds of golf and a season's beach pass; tickets to a TCAN Players production; a ride in a police cruiser; and two pairs of Sox tickets. The forum is open to parents, grandparents, and guardians of children ages 10 to 18. Contact Erica Dinerman at 508-647-6400, ext. 1260, or Erica_Dinerman@natick.k12.ma.us.

- Michele Morgan Bolton

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR RETIRING - Town Administrator Barry Brenner announced his retirement recently. After 35 years managing municipal governments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including 11 years as the ranking public servant in Northborough, Brenner said in a statement that his retirement would be effective in the fall and his last working day will be in July. Selectmen have praised Brenner's stewardship of the town's finances, citing the lack of Proposition 2 1/2 overrides to fund municipal services during his tenure. The town's voters approved tax increases for school budget and capital projects, but never for town operating expenses, which include the police, fire, and public works departments, while he was town administrator.

- John Dyer

ANOTHER OVERRIDE VOTE - On Tuesday, residents will go to the polls for the fourth time since 2004 to consider raising their property taxes through an override of Proposition 2 1/2, the state law limiting annual tax increases. Previous override requests were rejected in 2004, 2005, and last year. Town and school officials last week urged voters to approve the $1.5 million override, saying it is sorely needed and services will be eroded if it is rejected. The schools, which would receive about $500,000 of the extra funds, are in the bottom 10 percent statewide in per-pupil spending, according to Superintendent Anthony Bent. Even with the extra money, the schools will not be able to restore all of the cuts made in recent years, he said, in part because fixed costs, such as special education requirements, continue to increase. If the override is turned down, nine teaching positions would be eliminated and class sizes would increase, he said. On a single-family house assessed at $400,000, the annual tax bill would be $3,776 without the override, and $3,896 with the override, a difference of $120. - Lisa Kocian

DONATIONS TO AID TROOPS - The Southborough Senior Center is conducting a drive to collect consumer items for military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Residents are encouraged to bring items such as baby wipes (helpful in coping with desert sand), shaving cream, foot powder, candy, gum, books, and other items that civilians take for granted to the Senior Center at 9 Cordaville Road before May 12. Cash donations are also appreciated. Checks should be made out to the Southborough Postmaster. Call Bob Oetting at 508-842-0489. - John Dyer

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