Lighting the bridge

The $1.4 billion transportation bond bill recently passed by the House contains funding for two Amesbury projects, according to state Representative Michael A. Costello. Included is $300,000 for lighting and streetscape improvements on and near the 1st Lt. Derek Hines Bridge and Deer Island. The bridge runs from the Amesbury mainland to Deer Island to Newburyport. The bill also includes $400,000 to help fund costs of space the city will be using in the planned Merrimack Valley Regional Transportation Authority's center in the Lower Millyard. The building will include the city's Senior Center and Health and Human Services Division offices. The Municipal Council recently authorized $60,000 for design of the municipal project. - John Laidler

POLICE COUNCIL MEETS - The Beverly Police Leadership Council will hold its second public hearing of the summer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Beverly Public Library. The council, which solicits public comment about police-related issues, was appointed by Police Chief Mark Ray this year. The council includes Bob Broudo, John Grislane, City Councilors Kevin Hobin and William Coughlin, former City Councilor Miranda Gooding, Endicott College president Richard Wylie, Roger Morencey, and Suzanne Lanzikos.

- Steven Rosenberg

BOND FOR LAND PURCHASE - Selectmen recently awarded a bid to Eastern Bank to provide the town with a $3.4 million bond for the purchase of the Haynes property and the restoration of Lincoln Hall. Eastern was the lowest of seven bidders for the 19-year bond, offering 3.87 percent interest. A Special Town Meeting in October appropriated funds for the 75.5-acre Haynes land on Middleton Road and to restore Lincoln Hall, in West Boxford center. Of the $3.42 million, $2.75 million would go to the Haynes purchase, and $675,000 to the Lincoln Hall project. The town's Community Preservation Fund will be used to repay debt on both projects.

- John Laidler

TEACHER TRAINING TO BE STUDIED - The School Committee wants more time to decide if 18 early-release days are a good idea for students and teachers. The committee voted 5-0 last week to stick with the schedule of six such days, the same as the last school year. Superintendent Lisa Dana originally proposed the 18 days to provide teachers with more time for professional development. But some parents, concerned about a loss of school time and the impact on family schedules, opposed it. Dana last week recommended the committee stick with the old schedule and appointed a committee to study increasing teacher training time. The committee will have until March to report back to the School Committee. - Kathy McCabe

NEW DOG OFFICER - The Board of Selectmen recently named Amy Reilly to replace Rob Steach as dog officer, beginning Sept. 1. Steach resigned due to time conflicts. The on-call position pays $2,575 per year.

-David Rattigan

SHOP FOR SCHOOLS - The Register Tapes for Education Program is underway at Crosby's Marketplace. Customers collect register tapes and pool them so schools can accumulate points that can be redeemed for educational supplies. Go to crosbysmarkets.com, contact Josh Gunderson, 978-352-2111, or e-mail jgunderson@crosbysmarkets.com. - David Cogger

CLEANING THE PLAQUES - The 10 bronze plaques opposite the Fishermen's Memorial Statue have been removed and are being restored in a Rhode Island foundry. The plaques list names of 5,370 people who died at sea off Cape Ann. Gaspar Lafata, chairman of the nonprofit Fishermen's Memorial Cenotaph Committee, said the refurbishment would cost $17,000 and be paid for by donations. - Steven Rosenberg

CONCERT COMMITTEE NEEDS HELP - The Groveland Activities Committee has scheduled its first free Concert in the Park at Veasey Memorial Park from 5 to 8 p.m. July 26 and is seeking volunteers to help put it on. Those interested can call 978-373-2829 or 978-372-5301. For information, go to veaseypark.org. -David Rattigan

COMMITTEE OPENINGS - The Finance and Advisory Committee is looking for a new member to serve an open three-year term. Those interested should send a letter of interest and résumé to Bruce Ramsey, town moderator, at Town Hall, 577 Bay Road, Hamilton MA 01982. The Historic District Committee is also seeking two members and the Housing Partnership Committee one. Anyone interested may send a résumé to selectmen at Town Hall. -David Rattigan

TIGHTENING SCHOOL SECURITY - When Haverhill High School opens this fall, every student, staff member, and visitor will be required to wear a picture identification badge including a photo, last name, bar code, and magnetic strip. Under a new policy approved by the School Committee in June, everyone in the high school will be required to display their badges at all times, either clipped to clothing or on a lanyard. In the past, students carried identification badges but were not required to wear them. The new policy is intended to heighten security at the high school, but the bar code on the badges, a new feature, will make it easier for school officials to track students who arrive late or leave early. - Brenda J. Buote

RATE HIKE HEARINGS - Selectmen, who held hearings for a proposed hike in sewer and electric rates Tuesday, are scheduled to continue hearings at their next meeting July 14. The board meets at Town Hall, Green Street, at 7:30 p.m. -David Rattigan

PLANNING BOARD OPENING - The recent resignation of Gary Gilbert from the Planning Board has created a vacancy on the panel. According to selectmen chairwoman Sue Thorne, her board and the Planning Board will jointly appoint a replacement. Whoever is appointed would fill the seat until the 2009 election.

- John Laidler

LIBRARY DIRECTOR HIRED - Abbot Public Library trustees recently appointed Patricia Rogers to replace Bonnie Strong, who retired as director May 30. Since 2004, Rogers has been director of the Osterville Free Library in Barnstable. Prior to that, she worked for 10 years at the Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, N.Y., as deputy director for library resources, and head of the museum's Rakow Research Library. She starts her Marblehead job in August. - John Laidler

WATER QUALITY REPORT - The Water Department has released its 2007 Water Quality Report, and copies are available at the Water Department Office. The report is generated annually to advise residents of the chemical content of the town's water supply. Call 978-346-8311. - David Cogger

MARKING TRAILS - The town's Board of Health and Conservation Commission was recently awarded a $2,500 grant from the Essex National Heritage Commission to prepare a booklet on hiking trails in Middleton and abutting towns. The grant was among 33 totaling $96,000 the nonprofit commission awarded this year as part of its annual grants. - John Laidler

DISTRICT FOR PROJECT BLOCKED - Voters have nixed a zoning amendment that would have allowed one of the largest developments in the town's recent history. At a special Town Meeting June 24, voters narrowly defeated the creation of a smart-growth overlay district for the proposed Village at Little River development. Under Chapter 40R, the overlay district would have implemented streamlined permitting for dense residential and mixed-use developments on the 100-acre site. The article required a two-thirds majority - at least 464 votes - but fell short, with 422 in favor and 275 opposed. The proposed project was to include 150 homes, shopping plazas, a village green, and walking trails. -Taryn Plumb

SENIOR CENTER APPROVED - The City Council on Monday approved plans to designate Cushing Park for a senior center. The vote was 8-3 a week after the council's Planning and Development Committee rejected the proposal by Mayor John Moak. The council's vote represents a victory for seniors, who have been trying for decades to secure approval for the construction of a senior center in the city, and for Moak, who had pushed for three years to have Cushing Park designated for the center. The proposal would require some parking to be eliminated, but would maintain the existing playground and basketball court. The Friends of the Council on Aging are now turning their attention to fund-raising for the proposed center, which is expected to cost about $5 million. The city has not committed any funds for the project. - Brenda J. Buote

DREDGING UPDATE - The City Council has filed a motion asking Mayor Michael Bonfanti to borrow up to $1.5 million for hydraulic dredging of an estimated 40,000 cubic yards of sediment from Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond. At one time, Crystal Lake was open for swimming, but in recent years, it has become choked with algae due to the buildup of sediment from rainstorm runoff. City Council members Edward Bettencourt and Michael Garabedian have made the projects a top priority. - David Cogger

NOT-YOUR-AVERAGE-BOAT RACE - The Rockport-Gloucester Masonic lodge on Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, has scheduled the fourth annual Race to the Bottom Wacky Cardboard Boat Race for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Back Beach in Rockport. Participants build a boat from a kit that includes cardboard and duct tape. The entry fee is $100 per team, and proceeds go to scholarship funds and charities within the Cape Ann area. For more information or to register, contact 978-546-6788 or 978-546-2048. -David Rattigan

MIGHILL HONORED - Council on Aging director Mary Ellen Mighill has been selected as Rowley's Unsung Heroine of 2008 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Mighill was nominated by state Representative Harriett L. Stanley and Triton School Committee member and former selectwoman Lane Bourn. The commission held a reception at the State House last month to honor the 287 women selected this year. The Board of Selectmen recently presented Mighill with a citation.

- John Laidler

NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR - Kim Kochanek, athletic director at Salem High School, has resigned from her post after a two-year stint. Kochanek was the first female athletic director in the district. Kochanek was replaced by Scott Connolly, who is also Salem varsity football coach. Connolly started his new job this week. - Steven Rosenberg

VISITORS CENTER GETS GRANT - The Essex National Heritage Commission recently awarded a $2,750 grant to the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau to help fund this year's costs of operating the Maria Miles Visitor Information Center in Salisbury. The center, located on the southbound side of Interstate 95, is open year-round to provide information for visitors to the state, especially Essex County.

- John Laidler

LIBRARY EVENTS FOR KIDS - The library is holding an evening for youths entering sixth grade and older Tuesday, 5-7 p.m. A signed permission slip is required. From 7 to 7:45 p.m., free pizza will be provided to participants. Meanwhile, the library will also hold several special events this week as part of its summer reading program. On Tuesday, at 2:30 p.m., children 6 and up are invited to "Fairies," an event featuring magical crafts and fairy snacks; Wednesday,10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., the library is joining oth ers on the North Shore for a story time train ride to Rockport. Both events require registration. On Thursday, children 6 and older are invited to a T-shirt decorating and necklace beading event at 2:30 p.m. Call the library at 781-596-8867. - John Laidler

SUMMER MUSIC - The town tonight will kick off free concerts Sundays through Aug. 24 with Smoke & Mirrors Showband, playing '50s to '70s music. Organized by the Recreation Committee, the series will feature a range of bands. Residents may bring picnics and chairs. Go to topsfieldrecreation.org. - John Laidler

SCHOOL-FUNDING STRATEGY - Representatives from Hamilton and Wenham selectmen and finance committees and the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee have been meeting to discuss school funding. John Clemenzi, Wenham selectman chairman, has urged formation of a committee to review funding problems and propose solutions. He said he hopes to have the committee and a mission statement proposed for the Hamilton-Wenham selectmen's meeting July 15. -David Rattigan

PAGE UPGRADE IN WORKS - Selectmen have put together a three-member designer selection committee to help get repairs and upgrades rolling on the Dr. John C. Page School. The group will draw up requests for proposals for design services and consulting assessments of building systems. The committee includes Highway Department Superintendent Gary Bill, Selectman John McGrath, and Chief Procurement Officer/Town Clerk Lawrence Murphy. At the Annual Town Meeting April 28, voters approved $53,300 for a structural safety and component assessment of the school, and another $64,000 to perform maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. -Taryn Plumb

CONSERVING FARMLAND - A parcel of 67 acres at Roselawn Farm has been set aside under a conservation easement. The farm is in both Durham and Madbury, and each town contributed $170,000 to the project. Jesse and June Gangwer, owners of the farm, also donated nearly 40 percent of the total easement value. The farm has been owned by the Gangwer family since the 1850s. - Tom Long

MARRIOTT UNDER REVIEW - The site plan for the proposed Marriott Fairfield Inn on the former site of Wendy's restaurant on Portsmouth Avenue is undergoing review by the town engineer and the Fire Department. The plan for the 71-room, three-story hotel was reviewed by the Planning Board, which has sought comment on concerns about parking and a driveway grade that might make access difficult for firefighting. - Tom Long

A PIECE OF THE SKY - Alpha Flying Inc., a fractional ownership aircraft program, opened a new aviation facility at Pease International Airport last month. The facility will house corporate offices and maintenance facilities for the 34 six-passenger PC-12 turboprop planes the company operates in the eastern half of the country. Participants in fractional ownership own a share of an aircraft. - Tom Long

BUDGET SEAT WON'T BE FILLED - The Budget Committee has decided to wait until the town election next March to fill a vacant seat. Two applied for the seat left vacant when committee member Aboul Khan resigned after he was elected a selectman last March. - Tom Long