Grant for park sought in Chelsea

Planning and Development officials are putting together a grant application to construct a park on city land at the end of the Island End River. At a hearing last Monday, about a dozen residents commented on design concepts, said John DePriest, director of planning and development. The park will complement the existing boardwalk behind the Admirals Hill apartment building. Chelsea is one of several communities vying for the Parkland Acquisition and Renovation for Communities grant, administered through the state's Division of Conservation Services. If approved, Chelsea would be reimbursed 70 percent of the park's construction cost. The grant application is due Tuesday, DePriest said. - Katheleen Conti

NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - Mayor Carlo DeMaria recently appointed Matt Laidlaw to fill the newly created position of communications director. A lifelong Everett resident, Laidlaw formerly served as director of Everett Community TV from 1999 to 2002. Following that stint, until he started his new job last Monday, Laidlaw worked for Rule Broadcast Systems of Watertown, primarily as an account manager, and did television production work for companies and nonprofits. According to Erin Deveney, DeMaria's chief of staff, the mayor brought Laidlaw back to city government to strengthen internal communications among city employees and elected officials and to help the city do a better job communicating about what is going on in Everett. He will also oversee production at ECTV, whose budget is funding the position. "I live in the city and I want to see the city grow and prosper," said Laidlaw, 35. "So I'm very happy to be back." - John Laidler

SCHOOL MEAL CONTRACT - The city is accepting bids to provide food service management to the 14,000-student public school system. Bids are due July 21 to the city's purchasing department. A three-year contract with Chartwells USA expires at the end of August. The contract is to provide breakfast and lunch services to the city's 16 elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. The contract is due to be awarded within 30 business days of the bid opening. - Kathy McCabe

COMMONS BUILDING UNDERWAY - A groundbreaking ceremony was held recently for Lynnfield Commons, a 200-unit apartment building planned for a 13.6-acre site off Route 1 north. Lynnfield Commons LLC, whose principal is John M. Corcoran and Co. of Braintree, is developing the project under the state's affordable housing law, Chapter 40B. The developer appealed to the state Housing Appeals Committee over conditions set by the Zoning Board of Appeals in a 2006 comprehensive permit, while abutters separately appealed in state Land Court. Last year, an agreement was reached among the developer, the abutters, and the town addressing the various concerns. That agreement formed the basis of a modified decision by the Housing Appeals Committee approving the project, according to Corcoran's attorney, Ted Regnante. He said the agreement, which included a pledge by Corcoran to provide more extensive landscaping, was a "win win win for the developer, the town, and the abutters." - John Laidler

PAY-AS-YOU-THROW IN FALL - Beginning this fall, the city will institute a Pay-As-You-Throw program. Starting Oct. 6, all residents will be required to dispose of household garbage in special trash bags, available for purchase for $2 each at the Government Center, the Department of Public Works, and at various retailers in Malden in late August or early September; exact store locations to be announced. Yard waste and recyclables will continue to be collected at no charge. The new fee-based program was adopted to help balance the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. It is expected to encourage recycling. To date, more than a third of the 351 cities and towns in the state have embraced a Pay-As-You-Throw program. For more information, contact the city's Department of Public Works at 781-397-7160.

- Brenda J. Buote.

WATER-SEWER BILLING AT ISSUE - The Board of Aldermen has asked city officials to try to create a more equitable system for billing residents for water and sewer service. Under the city's retroactive billing system, which was created in 2005, water and sewer bills dated July 1 - the date that begins each fiscal year - include charges for the three previous months, but at the approved rates for the new fiscal year. In other words, when residents pay their July bills, they are paying for the water they consumed back to April, but at the new, higher rates. The practice has been criticized by the Melrose Taxpayers Alliance, which called the mayor and Board of Aldermen to remedy "this over-billing." - Brenda J. Buote

TOWN GETS $5,000 FOR FILMING - The town received a $5,000 fee for use of its land off East Point from the filmmaking crew of 250 that worked on a Martin Scorsese picture last month. The film, titled "Ashecliffe," is based on a Dennis Lehane ("Mystic River," "Gone Baby Gone") novel called "Shutter Island." It was shot on town land as well as on land owned by the Northeastern University Marine Science Center, which also received a rental fee. Film representatives coordinated the shooting with Bob Ward, town DPW director, and Science Center director Gwil Jones of Northeastern. "They were very professional and wanted to make sure everything the town wanted was done," Ward said. In addition to using police officers for paid details, the film used fire safety personnel and an ocean rescue team to provide on-set safety, and the harbormaster cleared pleasure boats from the immediate vicinity during shooting.

- David Rattigan

SAND SCULPTING FESTIVAL - The Fifth Annual New England Sand Sculpting Festival returns to Revere Beach Monday through next Sunday. Master sand sculptors will compete for more than $15,000 in prize money and bragging rights in the international sand sculpting circuit. The winner will receive $3,500; second place is $2,500; third is $2,100; and fourth is $1,600, said organizer Sean Fitzpatrick. The event has become a major draw, attracting thousands of spectators and boosting the local economy. The awards and fireworks are scheduled at 8 p.m., while the amateur and family sand sculpture competition is scheduled next Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Katheleen Conti

RESTAURANT SEEKS MORE SEATS - The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday will hold a public hearing on a request by Orzo Trattoria restaurant to increase seating capacity from 120 seats to 146. The restaurant on Route 1 north holds both liquor and common victualer's licenses issued by the board. A public hearing on a request to increase the hours of operation for a new PetSmart retail store at the new Shoppes at Saugus shopping center is also scheduled. The business wants to be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The selectmen's meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Town Hall. - Kathy McCabe

FINANCE PANEL MEMBER NEEDED - The town is seeking candidates to fill a position on the Finance Committee vacated by the recent resignation of Marc Luca. Anyone who would like to apply is asked to send a letter of interest and resume to the Board of Selectmen by Aug. 8. The appointment will be made jointly by Town Moderator William Carroll, selectmen chairwoman Betsy Sheeran, and Finance Committee chairman Daniel Sherman. - John Laidler

BANK HONORED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS - The Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield recently presented the Wakefield Co-operative Bank its annual Dollars for Scholars Community Recognition Award. The bank was chosen for its longstanding contributions to the nonprofit foundation, which annually awards scholarships to Wakefield residents who are full-time students with financial needs. Those contributions have included co-sponsoring the foundation's annual golf tournament for many years and donating space for the foundation's annual phone-a-thon. It has also paid for trophies and donated raffle items for the group's annual Trivia Challenge fund-raiser, entering teams in the event. The award was presented to bank president Ralph W. Dunham at a recent foundation's board of directors meeting.

- John Laidler

FUNDS REQUEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL - School Department officials are seeking reimbursement for potential renovation work at the high school from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Superintendent Steven Jenkins initially asked the authority to consider helping the town fund renovations to both the middle and high schools, but state officials asked the town to prioritize. Town Council president Tom Reilly said school officials must now identify the scope of the renovations, which may include making the 43-year-old building accessible for people with disabilities, and pgrading the heating and ventilation systems. Based on how much the state offers, the School Department will recommend what the town can afford, said School Committee chairwoman Pat Milano. - Katheleen Conti

FARMERS MARKET OPEN UNTIL OCT. 9 - The Cape Ann Farmers Market has begun its third season. The market, which opened last week at Harbor Loop, will be open Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. until Oct. 9. The market is a project of Sustainable Cape Ann. In addition to fresh produce, meats, and other goods, the market will offer live music and children's activities. - Steven Rosenberg

WHITTIER STUDENTS' SKILLS WIN - Seven students at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School earned medals at SkillsUSA Championship held June 24 to 27 in Kansas City, Mo. Hector Andujar, Erin Cobb, and Sharoline Galva earned gold medals for displaying outstanding entrepreneurial skills at the 44th National Leadership and Skills Conference. Heather Conley, Cassandra Gauron, Brittany Pomales, and Nancy Robbins earned bronze medals in the competition's Health Knowledge Bowl. All SkillsUSA Championship contestants are state-level gold medalists. - Brenda J. Buote

TRAFFIC STUDY SOUGHT FOR BREWERY BID - The planning board has requested a new traffic study as part of its review of Smuttynose Brewery's bid to come to town. The proposed site plan calls for a brewery, tasting room, and restaurant at 105 Towle Farm Road. The brewery is now located on Heritage Avenue in Portsmouth. - Tom Long

DIRECTOR LEAVES PEASE AUTHORITY - Dick Green has resigned as executive director of the Pease Development Authority. Green, who was hired two years ago to replace George Bald when he became commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, cited philosophical differences with the board of directors in his resignation letter . Deputy director Dave Mullen will be acting director while the search for Green's successor takes place. - Tom Long