Hearing Thursday on housing funds

The Department of Planning and Development has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday at 6 p.m. to discuss funding for initiatives approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development. City officials want to discuss how they plan to use Massachusetts Small Cities Program funds. The city proposes to use the funds for down payment assistance to help low- and moderate-income buyers purchase newly built condominium units in the Boxworks District; staffing support for Chelsea Restoration Corporation's foreclosure prevention counseling, first-time home-buyer counseling, and mortgage assistance; and $50,000 to be added to the Distressed Property budget to deal with vacant and foreclosed properties. The hearing will take place in Room 101 at City Hall, 500 Broadway. - Katheleen Conti

MAYOR LOOKS TO MAKE CITY GREENER - Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. is hoping to make Everett a "greener" place. DeMaria recently met with a number of energy consultants as part of an effort to develop a clean energy strategy. The initiative will involve seeking upgrades to municipal buildings to make them more energy efficient. The mayor is also looking for ways the city could tap wind, solar, and other alternative energy sources. "We have to start thinking and acting long term," he said. - John Laidler

TWO ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS - The Recreation Department is selling tickets for two field trips planned for children this week. The first, on Wednesday, is to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. The second, on Friday, is to the Capitol Theater in Arlington to see a child-friendly movie. Tickets are $10 per child per trip, and include bus transportation and admission. Departure time for the Springfield trip is 8 a.m., and for the Arlington trip it is at 11:30 a.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Mike DePietro at the Recreation Center, at 617-394-2381. - John Laidler

DRUNKEN-DRIVING CRACKDOWN - Police hope to keep city streets safer from drunken drivers. The city this month is taking part in "Drunk Driving Over the Limit-Under Arrest," a national initiatve of the Governors Highway Safety Bureau, to reduce alcohol-related accidents. Lynn police will step up enforcement from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday, for the rest of the month. Officers also will increase enforcement of seat-belt, speeding, and other motor vehicle laws. - Kathy McCabe

CAB FARES GOING UP - Taxi fares will go up in October. The City Council last week voted to allow cab companies to charge a $1 fuel surcharge. A city ordinance had limited the fuel surcharge to 25 cents. Taxi companies asked for the increase to offset high gas costs. The ordinance change will have to come before the council for a second vote at the Sept. 9 meeting, and then can take effect 31 days after, City Clerk Mary Audley said. - Kathy McCabe

KINDERGARTEN PARTIES THURSDAY - Incoming kindergarten students from the Huckleberry Hill and Summer Street elementary schools are invited to a Party in the Park on Aug. 27 at Glen Meadow Park. Sponsored by the PTOs of the two schools and organized by the Lynnfield recreation department, the event is an opportunity for children to have a snack and get to know other students from their class. Teachers will not be in attendance. The party will be held in two sessions. The Huckleberry Hill session will be from 9 to 10:15 a.m., and the Summer Street session from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Kindergarten classes begin Sept. 2. The program will be canceled in the event of rain. For more information, e-mail lynnfieldrecreation@comcast.net. - John Laidler

HEADMASTER SEARCH BEGINS - Malden Catholic High School's search for a new headmaster is moving ahead. According to a letter posted on Malden Catholic's website by Ted Legasey, chairman of the school's board of trustees, a search committee composed of parents, faculty, board members, alumni, and Xaverian Brothers representatives has been created. The Headmaster Search Committee plans to hire an executive search firm by the end of the month to help ensure the best possible pool of candidates, Legasey noted. Anyone interested in applying can send a cover letter and resume to Carol Ann Wronski, c/o Malden Catholic, 99 Crystal St., Malden 02148. The successful applicant should be a practicing Catholic with a proven record of success in educational leadership, according to the school. Brother Thomas Puccio, the school's principal, is serving as interim headmaster. - Brenda J. Buote

BOOST IN STATE FUNDS - On the last night of the 2008 legislative session, lawmakers on Beacon Hill voted to restore $56.4 million of the $122.5 million that Governor Deval Patrick had vetoed from the state's spending plan for this fiscal year, including millions of dollars that will aid Melrose residents. Both the House and Senate voted to restore $5 million in debt relief for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, bringing the total for MWRA debt relief to $20 million this fiscal year. In addition, the Legislature's override also restored funding for a new $150,000 child safety grant for Melrose; Patrick had cut the program's funding by half. "I am delighted that the legislators realized the importance of these programs to our community and overrode the governor's veto," Representative Katherine Clark, a Melrose Democrat and lead sponsor of the amendment to create the child safety grant, said in a written statement. - Brenda J. Buote

PROPOSALS FOR FORMER MILITARY SITE - The Military Housing Committee met to review proposals from contractors interested in developing land and houses formerly used by the US military. The town is requiring the construction of a 20-condominium, eight-house development, and three contractors presented proposals that included design guidelines and conceptual drawings. "I would classify all three as highly competitive," said Town Administrator Mark Cullinan, an ex officio member of the committee. The committee expects to present its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen in September, and, if it gains support from that board, the recommendation will then go in front of residents at a Town Meeting this fall. - David Rattigan

METER READER'S SCHEDULE QUESTIONED - City Councilor George Rotondo said he wants the state's Executive Office of Transportation to look into the work schedule of a city water meter reader who also works for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Fred Dandrow, a full-time water meter reader in the city, was suspended last month from his job as a full-time bus inspector for the MBTA after officials there discovered his job in Revere. After an internal investigation by the T revealed that Dandrow's schedules did not interfere with each other, MBTA officials reinstated him last week. Rotondo, however, said he believes Dandrow is working an "inordinate amount of hours," and wants state transportation officials to get involved. His motion is scheduled to be presented at the next City Council meeting Aug. 25. - Katheleen Conti

SEPT. 16 VOTE DEADLINE - The town clerk's office will hold late-night voter registration on Aug. 27. That is the last day a town resident may register to vote, or change party affiliation, for the Sept. 16 state primary. The clerk's office will be open from 8:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. Offices on the ballot include US Senate, Congress, state senator, state representative, governor's councilor, and registrar of probate. - Kathy McCabe

VOTER REGISTRATION BY AUG. 27 - Town Clerk Mary K. Galvin is reminding residents that Aug. 27 is the last day to register to vote or to change parties for the Sept. 16 state primary. The clerk's office will be open extra hours that day, until 8 p.m. The primary is held to select party nominees to run in the final election in November. Galvin also advised that absentee ballots for the primary are available in her office for registered voters who will be unable to go to the polls on primary day due to being absent from town, a physical disability, or religious beliefs. Private voting booths are available adjacent to the clerk's office for those voting absentee. For more information, call the clerk's office at 781-246-6383. - John Laidler

CONCERTS ON THE COMMON - The Wakefield Chamber of Commerce is presenting its eighth annual Concerts on the Common series. All concerts start at 7 p.m. Residents are invited to bring their blankets and lawn chairs. In the second concert of the series, next Wednesday a "Teddy Bear picnic" will be held with children's music performer Bill Shontz. In the final concert, an Irish-American night will be held on Aug. 27 with the Black Velvet Band performing. - John Laidler

PANELS TO MEET ON FINANCES - The Town Council and School Committee are scheduled to meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss alternative revenue sources. Among the ideas to be discussed will be the implementation of a trash pick-up fee to help fund both town and school programs. Voters recently rejected a $1.55 million Proposition 2 1/2 override. - Katheleen Conti

LIBRARY FUND-RAISER - The Friends of the Swampscott Public Library next week will begin selling tickets for a Sept. 19 preview night and reception to kick off its upcoming annual book sale. At the Sept. 19 event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the library, those attending can view the available books for sale and purchase up to 10 of them. Wine, light appetizers, and desserts will be served. The sale will take place from Sept. 20-27 at the library, 61 Burrill St., during regular library hours. Proceeds from ticket sales at the Sept. 19 event, and from the book sale, will benefit the Friends, which supports programming and materials at the library. For more information, call the library at 781-596-8867. - John Laidler