Farm bylaw on books

Attorney General Martha Coakley has given the final stamp of approval to a farm preservation bylaw that Town Meeting members approved last month. Declaring Berlin to be a farming community, the bylaw protects farmers against complaints that often arise from agricultural practices, such as dust, noise, and odors. Also, people considering purchasing property in town are to be notified about the bylaw before they close deals on land. The attorney general's office reviews all new local bylaws before they can take effect, making sure they don't conflict with other laws. - John Dyer

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY - Selectmen will meet with the town Energy Committee on Thursday to discuss the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Florence Sawyer School, a step that could save substantial money in annual electricity costs, said Laura Kischitz, the committee's chairwoman. Town Administrator Jodi Ross said the solar panels would be installed by Borrego Solar, a private company that would provide electricity to town municipal buildings through the panels at a fixed rate. - Matt Gunderson

PLANS FOR SECOND OVERRIDE - The failure of a $624,739 Proposition 2 1/2 override last month at the polls would have such a devastating impact on the school system that officials are going to seek a second, smaller tax increase, according to Christine Keefe, vice chairwoman of the Tahanto Regional School Committee. The amount is still being determined, but the new override request should be for about $300,000, Keefe said. School officials are seeking the additional funds to help the regional district meet state-imposed educational requirements, she said. The override would cover costs for Boylston Elementary School, Tahanto Regional Middle/High School, and Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. No date has been set for a Town Meeting vote on the proposal. - Matt Gunderson

CANDIDATES TO DEBATE - The Framingham Democratic Town Committee has scheduled a June 23 debate for the candidates vying for the Sixth Middlesex District seat in the House. Two Town Meeting members, Dawn Harkness and Chris Walsh, are running against the incumbent, state Representative Pam Richardson, in the primary. A four-member panel - town committee chairwoman Rochelle Sivan; former state representative John Stefanini; Rick Holmes, editorial page editor of MetroWest Daily News; and town resident Faith Tolson-Pierce - will ask questions of the candidates. The public will also get a chance to ask questions during the debate, said Parwez Wahid, former committee chairman and a member of the Democratic State Committee. Tom Mahoney, a vice chairman of the town committee, will serve as moderator. The forum will start at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Building's Blumer Community Room, 150 Concord St. Check framinghamdems.org for more information. - Tanya Pérez-Brennan

PUB HEARING ON TAP - The Board of Selectmen are scheduled to conduct a hearing tomorrow to review the alcohol-pouring license of the Horseshoe Pub on South Street. The hearing will consider an alleged violation related to a drunken driving case, said Executive Assistant Paul Blazar. The pub reportedly was the last tavern to serve an individual pulled over by police on April 17 and charged with driving under the influence, Blazar said. Selectmen could impose various sanctions against the pub if it is found to have provided too much alcohol to the driver, including suspending or revoking its license to serve alcohol.

- John Dyer

TOWN OFFICE CLOSED - All town offices will be closed June 26 as staff and administrators spend a day reviewing public records management practices townwide. For more information or any questions on business matters residents may need to conduct that day, call 781-259-2600. - John M. Guilfoil

SCHOOL LEASE UP - The New Covenant Christian School may be looking for a new home. The private, nondenominational school has been housed at the city district's Bigelow School for six years, but its lease is up. The space was put out to bid and the city's Legal Department is recommending that the lease be awarded to the only other bidder: the Assabet Valley Collaborative. In a June 4 letter, Beverly Sleeper, the city's chief procurement officer, recommended leasing to the collaborative because the Christian school put conditions on sharing space with any other entity at Bigelow. The collaborative, an advocacy group representing 13 area public school districts, is also offering more money, $149,500 compared with $65,000 from New Covenant, for a one-year lease. The City Council is expected to vote June 23 on the lease. New Covenant serves 72 students in kindergarten through Grade 8. Principal Craig Bellisario said the school is hoping to find a facility in Marlborough if its Bigelow lease is not renewed. - Lisa Kocian

ALUMNI WEBSITE - Graduates of Maynard High School can now keep in touch via a new website that features an alumni registration page where graduates can enter in their personal information. The site, alumniclass.com/maynard, allows participants to correspond with former classmates and plan class reunions, among other activities. - Matt Gunderson

SEARCH FOR GRAND MARSHAL - The town's Recreation Department is seeking nominations for residents to serve as grand marshal of the annual Applefest celebration in September. The department will base its selection on the answers to three questions: How has the person contributed to the overall well-being of the town? What impact have the person's contributions made on the community? How does the person represent the spirit of Applefest? Recommendations should be forwarded to the department at 63 Main St., Northborough, MA 01532. The deadline for submissions is June 30 at 4 p.m. - John Dyer

TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN - The Planning Department will hold a meeting Thursday to discuss its efforts to update the downtown area's zoning bylaws. For about a year, officials have been revising and updating the rules covering downtown's business districts, based on surveys from residents who said they wanted more mixed-use development. The meeting will include a presentation by the town's consultants, Community Opportunities Group, on their work so far, and will allow residents to offer recommendations. The Thursday hearing is slated for 7 to 9 p.m. in the Melican Middle School library on Lincoln Street. For more details, contact Town Planner Kathy Joubert at 508-393-5019. - John Dyer

CANDIDATES TO DEBATE - The Shrewsbury Democratic Town Committee is hosting a debate between Doug Belanger and Michael Moore, rival candidates in the primary for the seat held by state Senator Edward M. Augustus Jr. of Worcester, Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Shrewsbury High School. Augustus announced earlier this year that he would not seek a third term this fall. The Second Worcester District covers Auburn, Grafton, Leicester, Millbury, Shrewsbury, Upton, and part of Worcester. - Lisa Kocian

TOWN SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED - The Town Scholarship Committee granted awards to eight graduating high school seniors this month. Town residents Chanel Andre, Jessica Granville, Tyler Hilbert, Chris Howard, Brittany Kolodziej, Sarah Sheehy, and Michael Stasaitis each received $1,000 scholarships, while Brendan Check received $500. The committee, funded by taxpayers who send in donations with their tax bills, announced that it has awarded $118,000 to 116 students since its founding in 1987. - John Dyer

A NIGHT FOR FUN AND FUND-RAISING - This year's Southborough Summer Nights festivities will include a fund-raiser for the town's Youth and Family Services Department. The event, to be held next Sunday at the Neary School starting at 5:30 p.m., will feature a full slate of family activities, food, and music, capped by a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show. Among the attractions will be a 500-gallon dunk tank that will raise money for scholarships to help local children attend summer camps, Youth and Family Services Department director Laurie Sugarman-Whittier said. To make a donation, contact Robin Martin at 508-333-1221. The rain date is Aug. 25. - John Dyer

THIRD MIDDLESEX RACE - With state Representative Patricia Walrath opting not to run for reelection this fall, the race for her Third Middlesex District seat is flush with candidates this summer. Five area residents have announced they are running in the Sept. 16 primary; the general election is Nov. 4. As of last week, the field featured three Democrats from Stow, Leonard Golder, Kate Hogan, and Ellen Sturgis; David Goulding, a Bolton independent; and Hudson resident Sonny Parente, a Republican.

- Matt Gunderson

TRANSFER-STATION RENEWAL TIME - The town has mailed to residents transfer-station renewal forms for one-year stickers that will be valid starting July 1. To receive a transfer station sticker, fill out the form and return it with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for $125. To receive a form, call the Highway Department at 978-443-2209, ext. 1221, or download one from the town's website, sudbury.ma.us.

- John M. Guilfoil

JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY - The town will hold a junior police and fire academy in August for middle school students. The youths can join local public safety workers to learn about what it's really like to be a firefighter or police officer. They will learn about police equipment and use speed radar in a patrol car. There will also be demonstrations of police firearms, as well as hands-on firefighting and emergency medical response drills. Students receive a T-shirt and there will be graduation ceremony Aug. 29. There are 14 spots available. For details, e-mail the Police Department's youth officer, Jim Forti, at jforti@waylandpolice.com. - John M. Guilfoil

HONOR FOR MUSIC PARENT - Town resident Judith Wilchynski has received this year's Parent Advocacy Award from the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative. Wilchynski volunteers for numerous town and school organizations, including the Westborough Music Parents Association, which raises money for the school district's music programs and scholarships for student musicians. The Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative is part of the Natick-based National Arts & Learning Collaborative, a nonprofit group that seeks to expand learning through the arts. The award was presented in a ceremony at Lesley University in Cambridge. - John Dyer

HOME UP FOR BID - On Wednesday, the town will put a single-family home at 27 Church Hill Lane on the auction block. The six-room, 1,255-square-foot house, built around 1920, was placed into the town's possession in October by the state Land Court after the former owner failed to pay delinquent real estate taxes, said Phyllis Marshall, Watertown's treasurer/collector. She said it is only the second tax auction, "and hopefully the last," that the town has conducted. The first one, involving an abandoned Riverside Street property, was a great success, said Marshall, earning $387,500 for the town in April 2006. This week's public auction is to begin at 11 a.m. at 27 Church Hill Lane. For details, call auctioneer Daniel J. Flynn & Co. at 617-479-9000 or visit the town website, watertown-ma.gov. - Christina Pazzanese

STAMP MUSEUM GETS KUDOS - The Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History has been nominated as one of three candidates in the Best Museum category by a Nickelodeon Channel-affiliated parenting website. GoCityKids.com names the museum, tucked away on the Regis College campus, as one of the "Parents Picks 2008" in the Boston area for families with older children. Parents are asked to vote for their favorite site. Many of the museum's exhibitions and events cater to children, who are each presented with a free packet of stamps to start a collection when they visit. The other contenders in the category are the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem and the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge. Parents can vote for their favorite at the website until June 30. - Stephanie V. Siek