Ashland Youth Academy Registration

YOUTH ACADEMY REGISTRATION - The town's police and fire departments have partnered again this year with the Middlesex sheriff's office to provide a free Youth Public Safety Academy. The academy, which will run July 14 to July 18, is open to all youths between the ages of 8 and 12. To download or print an application, visit ashlandpd.org. Applications can be mailed to Middlesex Sheriff's Office, 792 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01821, Attn: Youth Public Safety Academy. - Rachel Lebeaux

SHOPPES AT BELLINGHAM REVIEW - The Planning Board will continue its review of the Shoppes at Bellingham on Thursday. The proposed 550,000-square-foot complex, dubbed a "lifestyle center," would feature a village of streets lined with upscale retailers and boutiques, according to Chestnut Hill-based W/S Development. Already, the board has examined traffic impacts not only around the proposed site, south of Hartford Avenue (Route 126) along Interstate 495, but throughout town. The board has also retained a fiscal analysis consultant to examine the costs and benefits of the proposal to the town. Thursday's discussion will likely focus on the fiscal impacts of the project, as well as site issues. The meeting will begin at 7:05 p.m. in the Arcand Meeting Room at the Municipal Center. - Rachel Lebeaux

LOCAL PHYSICIAN RECEIVES AWARD - Dr. Joseph Loscalzo of Dover, physician-in-chief at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is the recipient of this year's Paul Dudley White Award. The award, honoring the late Roxbury-born founder of modern preventative cardiology, is presented to a doctor who has made significant contributions or major advancements in the field of cardiology leading to better healthcare. Loscalzo also serves as chairman of the department of medicine at the hospital, and is the Hersey professor of the theory and practice of physics at Harvard Medical School. He received the award May 10 at the Boston Heart Ball, which took place at the Westin Boston Waterfront hotel. The annual gala, attended by more than 600 guests, raises awareness and funds in the fight against heart disease and strokes. - Anna Fiorentino

MAKING SUMMER READING FUN - The Franklin Public Library's six-week summer-reading program, "Wild Reads at your Library," kicks off Wednesday, and runs through Aug. 6. The library offers separate programs for children ages 3 through Grade 5, and for students in grades 6 through 8. Students or their parents keep logs of the books they read; middle-school students can submit online reviews of their books. For more information on the program, visit the town's website, franklin.ma.us, and click on the Public Library link. - Rachel Lebeaux

WATER USE RESSTRICTION - The town's Water Department last week enacted outdoor water use restrictions. All outdoor water use is banned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an odd/even ban is in effect during all other times. During an odd/even ban, properties with odd street numbers may water on odd-numbered days, and properties with even street numbers may water on even-numbered days. The department warned that a total ban could go into effect if the regulations are not followed or if there is a lack of rainfall. Contact the Water Department at 508-429-0603 with questions. - Calvin Hennick

NEW PLANNING BOARD APPOINTMENT - Zoning Advisory Committee member David Auslander has been named as an interim member of the Planning Board to replace former vice chairman R.J. Dourney, who was elected to the Board of Selectmen last month. Auslander will serve until next spring, and would have to run for election to serve out the remainder of Dourney's term, which is up in 2010. He was one of five residents interested in taking over the seat, including special education teacher Donielle Moss, lawyer G. Michael Peirce, John Mosher, a marketing executive, and a former Board of Selectmen chairwoman, Muriel Kramer, who lost her bid for reelection to the board last month. - Michele Morgan Bolton

SLOTS FILLED ON INSURANCE PANELS - Selectmen last week appointed residents Peter Moran and Jane Volden to an insurance advisory committee, while the town's employee unions named five members to a separate insurance committee. The selectmen's advisory committee will advise the board about whether to change the way the town insures its employees, and the employees' committee will represent the town's workers in the decision-making process. Some town employees have advocated joining the state Group Insurance Commission, which they say would save the town money. Representatives on the employees' committee include Michelle Bento, Nancy Deveno, Paul Norian, Joanne Schmidt, John Wilhelmi, and retiree member Susan Parker. Selectmen will also appoint two nonunion employee members to the employees' committee. - Calvin Hennick

SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS - Registration is open for the Medway Community Education & Park Department's Summer 2008 lineup. Program offerings include athletics, arts, video production, and other courses for children. Registration forms can be mailed to Community Education, 45 Holliston St., Medway, MA 02053, or dropped off at the middle school office Monday to Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Classes are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis; checks should be made out to Medway Community Education. For more information on course offerings and to download a registration form, visit medwayschools.org. - Rachel Lebeaux

COLORING CONTEST WINNERS - Milford Regional Medical Center recently recognized the winners of its Hand Washing Coloring Contest. Terri McDonald, the center's director of public relations and marketing, said the contest among area school students was an effort to get youngsters to wash their hands more frequently to prevent infection. Nearly 400 elementary-age students from the center's 20-town service area participated in the contest. The winners are: in fourth grade, Garrett Marotta of Bellingham; third grade, Morgan French of Uxbridge; second grade, Nathalie Vazquez of Milford; first grade, Jack Warner of Franklin; and kindergarten, Mackenzie Gifford of Whitinsville. - Anna Fiorentino

CONTRACT SETTLEMENTS - Selectmen last week signed three-year contracts with the town's police and dispatchers unions. The contracts, retroactive to last year, give workers a 3 percent raise in each year of the deal. The contract also bumps the workers' clothing and cleaning allowances by $100, to $500 for dispatchers and $1,200 for police officers. The contracts also give a slight bump to the bonus pay for employees who work evening shifts, from a 4 percent bonus to a 5 percent bonus. - Calvin Hennick

FAREWELL TO INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT - After six months as the school district's interim superintendent, Joseph A. Keefe is ready to retire - for the second time. Keefe, who first served from 1976 to 1995, took on the top job in January following the retirement of James Connolly from the position. Peter Sanchioni, who comes to Natick from the Millis school system, takes over July 1. This time around, Keefe found no shortage of issues. He and Town Administrator Martha White took their show on the road this spring to successfully persuade everyone from parents to senior citizens to support a $3.9 million Proposition 2 1/2 override. He leaves as the School Committee voted this week to uphold a decision to drop the Redmen sports team nickname. Keefe praised fellow officials, said he enjoyed his time in town, and is now ready for his next challenge. He also runs an education consulting business. - Michele Morgan Bolton

GILBERT TO JOIN SCHOOL BOARD - Selectmen and School Committee members last week jointly appointed Beth Gilbert, a former member of the King Philip Regional School Committee, to Norfolk's elementary school board. Gilbert is replacing Danielle Rochefort, who resigned from the committee this spring, until next year's local election when the seat will again be up for grabs. The two boards wanted to make the appointment before the committee began interviewing finalists for the district's superintendent position. Those interviews were scheduled to begin last week. - Calvin Hennick

OVERRIDE NARROWLY PASSES - Voters last week narrowly approved a $650,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override, 724 to 714. "That was a very pleasant outcome," Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes said. "It maintains most of the services that we had feared we were going to lose." Without the override, officials had warned that the town's elementary schools would receive no budget increase, and workers would be laid off in many town departments. The override will add about $209 to the annual tax bill for a $383,000 house, the average in town, Fernandes said. - Calvin Hennick

NEW TREE WARDEN - The Board of Selectmen have appointed local farmer Jonathan Dowse as tree warden, replacing Warren Wheelwright. Selectmen Chris Peck and Ronald Fernandes voted not to reappoint Wheelwright and to replace him with Dowse. Peck said he voted for Dowse because he was looking for a change in the position. Selectman Paul DeRensis said he voted in favor of the reappointment of Wheelwright, a former selectman, because during his term he successfully obtained grants for tree plantings and arranged for a number of beautification efforts. Wheelwright, who was tree warden for five years, said he was surprised to get the ax. "Turning away dedicated experience and proven volunteerism just seems like bad policy," said Wheelwright. "When I was selectman we valued our volunteers, particularly after they'd had a couple of years experience, by seeking to recognize and retain them." - Anna Fiorentino

RESTRUCTURING EMERGENCY SERVICES - Town Meeting voters approved a restructuring of the management of the town's fire and emergency medical services departments June 12. The Fire Department has been run by three appointed fire engineers, while the Emergency Medical Services department has been led by an appointed director. Under the new system, both departments will be placed under the control of a Fire Department chief. Town Meeting voters also approved petitioning the state to allow Upton to hire a town manager. Currently, an administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen handles the day-to-day operations of the town under the board's direction. - Calvin Hennick

NEW DIRECTOR - Selectmen last week voted to hire retiring Air Force Colonel Thomas Schluckebier, a commander at Hanscom Air Force Base, as public works superintendent. Selectmen had offered the job to Richard Nota, public works director in Harvard, but Nota and the town could not agree on a contract. Selectmen voted to give the job to former Millis public works director Irving Priest if the town can't reach an agreement with Schluckebier. - Calvin Hennick