National night out

The Police Department and the public library are jointly organizing the city's annual National Night Out observance Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cashman Elementary School, on Lions Mouth Road. This year's event will feature an appearance by Ronald McDonald; music provided by radio station WODS; free pizza, soda, and ice cream sundaes; a martial arts demonstration; and a display of vehicles, including antique cars and military trucks. For more information, contact Police Officer Tom Hanshaw at thomash@ci.amesbury.ma.us or 978-388-1217. - John Laidler

SPEAK YOUR MIND - Have an issue, concern, or comment you'd like to share with Congress? Cheryl Gresek, seniors coordinator for Representative John F. Tierney, will hold office hours in Beverly on Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center. For more information, call 978-921-6017.

- Steven Rosenberg

ZONING BOARD OPENING - The town is seeking an alternate member on the Zoning Board of Appeals following the resignation of K. Erin Hohmann. The board, which acts on requests for relief from the town's zoning rules, meets the fourth Thursday evening of each month. Anyone who would like to apply should send a letter of interest to the Board of Selectmen, c/o Kathy Carleton, or to the Zoning Board of Appeals c/o the board's chairman, William Cargill Jr., at Town Hall, 7A Spofford Road.

- John Laidler

GROUP HOME TO REOPEN - A Coming Home Ceremony will be held on Tuesday at a group home at 2 Bates St. in Danversport that was destroyed in the chemical explosion in November 2006 at a nearby factory. Triangle Inc., a nonprofit based in Malden, operates the home for mentally disabled men. The clapboard home has been completely renovated, with new walls and ceilings. New furniture and furnishings were donated by local businesses. The project was estimated at $150,000, much of which was covered by private insurance. State and local officials are expected at the ceremony, scheduled for 11 a.m.

- Kathy McCabe

SHARING A PLANNER - Representatives from the Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex boards of selectmen and planning boards are planning to meet sometime this month to discuss the level of interest in sharing a part-time town planner. Neither town currently has a planner. - David Rattigan

SPACE FOR STUDENTS - The city is in the midst of a $3 million project to add classroom space to its elementary schools. The project is necessary to accommodate students from the former Fuller school, which closed in June. School Committee chairman Greg Verga said the city's elementary schools have received 13 new modular classrooms, and, in addition, a new classroom is being built at the East Gloucester Elementary School. Verga said the classrooms would be operational by the end of the month. - Steven Rosenberg

FALL CRAFT FAIR - The Bagnall School Parent Teachers Association is seeking crafters for a fall fair scheduled for Nov. 1. The PTA held a spring craft fair in May 2007 that raised approximately $3,000, and hopes to match that figure this year, according to Robin McIntosh, an association vice president. Space rental is $40 for the fair, which will be held at the school. For information or to rent space, call 978-372-8856, ext. 368, or e-mail bagnallptaonline@comcast.net. - David Rattigan

RECYCLING LEADERS - At its meeting last Monday, the Board of Selectmen presented certificates of appreciation to three individuals who worked on the town's recycling initiative earlier this year. Middle school student Niamh McAdam, Carolyn Dann, from the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection, and John Tognazzi from Hiltz Waste Disposal received certificates. - David Rattigan

SITE CLEANUP - State officials have promised to work with city leaders to clean up the former Ted's for Tires property as part of a new Brownfields Team initiative. The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority and the city plan to redevelop the site as a transit station and parking facility. Located in downtown Haverhill, the new facility will combine commuter rail and local bus services. Currently, redevelopment of the site is complicated by the presence of petroleum in soil and ground water. The property was one of five sites statewide to be selected for assistance through the new brownfields initiative.

-Brenda J. Buote

THIS OLD HOUSE - The Ipswich Historical Commission will present the Mary P. Conley Award for Historic Preservation for the circa 1737 Day-Dodge House on High Street as part of tomorrow's Board of Selectmen's meeting. Since 2005, architect Mat Cummings, master woodworker Jim Whidden, and general contractor Chris Sullivan have all worked on the house, owned by Craig and Grace Hanson. The board meets at Town Hall, Green Street, at 7:30 p.m.

- David Rattigan

MUSHING AT THE LIBRARY - Local children and their parents can get a firsthand look at Alaskan sled dogs at the town library on Friday. As the finale of its summer reading program, the library is presenting a visit from the Mountain Mushers, an Alaskan sled dog team that owners Harry and Lela Schlitz take to schools, senior homes, libraries, and other venues for educational programs. The free event starts at 10:30 a.m. To preregister or for more information, call 978-526-7711. - John Laidler

VACANCIES FILLED - The Board of Selectmen and the Board of Assessors jointly appointed Douglas Percy to fill a vacant seat on the assessors created by the resignation of Richard Riess. Selectmen and library trustees named Maura Phelan Murnane to fill a vacant trustee position that resulted from the resignation of Judy Gates. Selectmen also filled three vacant positions on the Council on Aging board: retired district court judge Joseph Dever, Jeanne Louizos, and Elizabeth Michaud. - John Laidler

POLICE GET A HARLEY - The Police Department recently established its first motorcycle unit. According to Chief James A. DiGianvittorio, the department purchased a Harley-Davidson specially equipped with sirens, emergency lights, a radio, and a radar gun. Funded through Town Meeting, the cost was about $16,000. - John Laidler

BUDGET ADVISORY PANEL - A school budget task force advisory committee has been established for the Triton Regional School District. The group will help to assess budget needs for the district and will offer potential priorities and cutbacks. Newbury's assessment to the district increased by roughly 4.5 percent this year, according to officials. The committee will consist of members of the Newbury, Rowley, and Salisbury finance committees and boards of selectmen, as well as finance directors or town managers from the three towns. - Taryn Plumb

OBJECTION TO USE OF CPA FUNDS - The City Council's Budget and Finance Committee has rejected a recommendation by the Community Preservation Committee to spend $35,000 in Community Preservation Act funds on a master plan for the Kelley School, which now sits empty on High Street. The Budget and Finance Committee questioned whether preservation funds should be used to develop a plan for the school, since the building is owned by the city. "If the school were owned by a nonprofit, and the nonprofit were going to renovate it, then the use of CPA funds would be appropriate," said Ed Cameron, a Ward 4 councilor and a member of the budget and finance committee. "But since the school is owned by the city, we thought the master plan for the building should be paid for out of the general fund." Under the Community Preservation Act, Newburyport adds a 2 percent surcharge to property tax bills and spends the funding on open space, affordable housing, and historic resources. The City Council is likely to take action on the funding requests at its Aug. 11 meeting. - Brenda J. Buote

FEEDING FRENZY - Residents have a new low-cost way to sample the fare at some of Peabody's downtown restaurants. As part of the 25th anniversary of the International Festival, the city is holding its first Restaurant Week. From Sept. 7-11, residents can enjoy a three-course meal at any participating restaurant for $15 per person. The event, which the city hopes will become an annual affair, is being organized by the International Festival Committee with the help of the Peabody Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact city grant manager Julie Rydzewski at 978-538-5772 or go to peabodyrestaurantweek.blogspot.com. The International Festival is Sept. 14. - John Laidler

TOWN MEETING WARRANT - The warrant for the fall Town Meeting is scheduled to close on Tuesday. Any petition articles are due at that time. Petition articles must have signatures from 100 registered town voters. Town Meeting is Sept. 8. - David Rattigan

FREE CONCERTS - Several area musicians will perform next weekend at free concerts at the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival. The concert schedule includes Manami Morita on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Derby Square; the Nat Simpkins Band featuring Henri Smith, at Derby Square Aug. 10, 1 to 3 p.m.; and Boston Horns with Barrence Whitfield, at the Museum Place Mall fountain, Aug. 10, 2 to 4 p.m. Visit salemjazzsoul.com. - Steven Rosenberg

MINI GOLF FOR LIBRARY - The Friends of the Salisbury Public Library is accepting registrations for its first annual Putt Putt Tournament, scheduled for Sept. 6 at Captain's Corner Mini Golf, 73 Main St. Those who register by Aug. 20 will receive a free tournament T-shirt. Proceeds will help fund such library programs as antiques appraisals, lectures, the monthly book club, and the summer reading program. Register at salisburylibraryfriends.org, or call 978-465-5071. - John Laidler

LOOKING AHEAD - At the Board of Selectmen's meeting Tuesday, Town Administrator Andrew Maylor will present a fiscal 2010 budget scenario. Maylor said the report is intended to initiate conversation among selectmen, the Finance Committee, and the School Committee about the budget picture for fiscal 2010, which begins July 1, 2009. Maylor is required by town charter to present the town with a yearly financial forecast by Nov. 15, but he said given the difficult financial times, it makes sense to "begin the dialogue about the budget as soon as possible."

- John Laidler

SEEKING CREATIVE TEEN - As part of a redesign of the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library's teen area, the library is holding a contest to find the best four-sided mural created by artists 13 to 18 years old. The artists must submit a design (using one of these themes: Dungeons and Dragons; manga; or abstract characters representing earth, air, fire, and water, or some combination) by Aug. 15. The winner will be selected Sept. 15 and be allowed to paint the mural on the library's center four-sided square post in the teen area. The winner also will receive a $100 savings bond. For more information, contact Kim Claire at 978-468-5577, ext. 14, or kclaire@mvlc.org.

- David Rattigan

SELECTMAN McGRATH RESIGNS - Selectman John McGrath has resigned unexpectedly. McGrath had nine months remaining in his term. Board members have opted to call a special election on Sept. 27 to fill the seat. The resignation may lead to quorum issues until then, however, as both Richard Cushing and chairman Glenn Kemper must be present in order for meetings to move forward.

- Taryn Plumb

HISTORY ONLINE - The University of New Hampshire library has scanned the Town of Durham annual reports from 1846 to 1977 and they are now posted at library.unh.edu. Town Administrator Todd Selig has signed a document that will allow the university to scan the reports published after 1978. Copyrights had restricted scanning those documents.

- Tom Long

MOVING ON UP - The Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce is moving from its offices in the basement of the Town Hall building to the former school district administrative offices on Front Street. The new quarters allow enough space for a community meeting room and other amenities. - Tom Long

RAYNOLDS RESIGNS FROM COUNCIL - Ned Raynolds has resigned from the City Council. In a letter to Mayor Thomas Ferrini dated July 28, Raynolds wrote that he has decided to relocate to Massachusetts for personal reasons. - Tom Long