I've looked at ballots from both sides now

Town Clerk Jean Kopke said election workers will be sure to remind voters on Tuesday to turn their ballots over in order to weigh in on the state's three ballot questions. Depending on the number of a town's state congressional races and/or local questions, town ballots have different layouts, and Avon's this year has all the ballot questions on the reverse side. - Joan Wilder

SPENDING ON AGENDA - At the Nov. 10 Fall Town Meeting, voters will be asked to approve some zoning changes, authorize $20,000 to replace the Central Fire Station's garage doors, and take $200,000 in ambulance revenue to buy a new ambulance. But the article likely to draw the most discussion is a request to spend $622,000 in Community Preservation funds to refurbish two 19th-century municipal buildings downtown. The money would go to restore the Old Academy Building and Town Hall, replacing windows, doors, and some wiring, and improving handicap accessibility. The meeting will open at 7:30 p.m. at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.

- Christine Legere

HEALTH CENTER TO EXPAND - Rapidly expanding public healthcare needs are forcing Brockton Neighborhood Health Center to expand a year after opening a $17 million downtown facility. Increased use of adult and urgent care services is the reason for expansion. Urgent care will move from the second to the first floor, where 2,000 square feet of unused space is available. Adult care will expand to the entire second floor. Further expansion would involve construction of 5,000 square feet of space at the rear of the building, with the entire project costing up to $900,000. Funding options are being explored. - Steve Hatch

HEARING ON WATER TREATMENT PLANT - A public hearing will be held tomorrow before the Board of Selectmen on the proposed construction of a town water treatment plant near Neponset Street that has drawn opposition from about 25 residents at previous meetings. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Riverview Road resident Keith Poole said the residents have two main concerns: the area was once used as an open-air tannery and residents want proof that contamination will not affect the water or be released into the air during construction; they also have concerns with the building being constructed of corrugated metal and being situated close to their property lines, he said. Sherry Alpert, also of Riverview Road, said the town-owned land is zoned for parks, recreation, and open space, and residents had been told it consisted of wetlands not suitable for development. The plan, now under its third revision, also needs approval from the Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals. Jeremy Comeau, Planning Board chairman, said the town engineer is reviewing the plans and the board expects to take the matter up again later this month. Conservation Commission chairman Bob Doe said the plans appear to satisfy the wetlands requirements but the commission has not yet taken a formal position. - Elaine Cushman Carroll

MASTER PLAN UPDATE - Residents are invited to a discussion on revising the town's master plan at 7 p.m. Thursday at Carver High School library. Sponsored by the planning department, the forum will provide an opportunity to discuss efforts to revise the plan, hear from Master Plan Committee members, and offer ideas on the town's future. State regulations call for master plans to be revised every five years. Refreshments will be served. - Robert Knox

SEWER OVERHAUL - As part of the town's 2008 Infiltration Rehabilitation Project, sewer mains will be overhauled this week in two areas. Residents have been put on alert on O'Neil Drive, between Brookdale Avenue and Maverick Street, and on Dominic Court, for bypass pumping only between Allen Lane and Brookdale Avenue. The new system offers a jointless sewer pipe that minimizes root and water infiltration, improves flow, and provides a more structurally sound pipe without excavation. A temporary disruption of sewer service in these areas is expected for 12 to 24 hours. Residents should have received notification last week, and again 24 hours before work begins. Homes must limit water use to a minimum and not use washing machines or dishwashers. Sump pumps connected to the sewer system must be disconnected and discharged elsewhere. Failure to follow instructions could cause discharge to back up. For information, call the Engineering Department at 781-751-9350. - Michele Morgan Bolton

EXPLAINING TV CHANGE - The Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council has scheduled a presentation at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Commercial Club on February's conversion to all-digital television. Dennis Loria, a representative from the Federal Communications Commission, will offer a PowerPoint presentation on the change. A question and answer session will follow. Contact the East Bridgewater Council on Aging at 508-378-1610 to register. The senior van will be available for transportation. Breakfast will be served. - Christine Legere

ROADWORK TO END - More than a year of traffic disruption along a nearly 4-mile stretch of road is nearing an end as repaving began last week along a water pipeline leading from the Taunton River in Dighton to Brockton. In Easton, Turnpike Street from Raynham to Route 138 and Route 138 from that point to West Bridgewater are affected. The repaving will proceed south to north along 20,000 feet of road and take approximately three weeks. The contractor will attempt to maintain two lanes of travel, and work hours will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Any detours will be coordinated with Easton police. Aquaria Water has constructed a desalination plant in Dighton to supply water to Brockton and Norton. In exchange for permitting the work through the town, Easton received sidewalk improvements, replacement of water mains, and a connection to the pipeline for possible future access to Aquaria. - Steve Hatch

ENJOYING LIMELIGHT - Recent publicity hasn't hurt Foxborough's own Joe the Plumber, Joe Walsh of Joe Walsh Plumbing and Heating. "Business has picked up," said Walsh, whose phone began ringing after the October presidential debate when candidates referenced a man they called Joe the Plumber to illustrate the issues facing the average working man. Walsh, who has been in business for 20 years, has had "Joe the Plumber" sweatshirts printed up and has just sent one of the candidates (he won't say which) a care package that includes the sweatshirt and a business card. Walsh said his eyes lit up when he was watching the debate and the phrase was uttered. "They're talking about me, honey," Walsh said he told his wife. "You never heard 'Joe the plumber,' 'Joe the plumber' so many times."

- Joan Wilder

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN - The hearing process on a proposed affordable housing complex called Blackledge Farm will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Great Hall of Town Hall. The application and plan for Blackledge Farm is available for the public to review in the zoning office on the second floor of Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Copies of the plan also are available in the selectmen's office, which is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and in the public library. - Christine Legere

HEART SAFE COMMUNITY - The town recently acquired a new defibrillator with $1,755 donated jointly by the Hanson Rotary Club and Hanson Youth Soccer. According to Fire Chief Jerome A. Thompson Jr., the heart-saving device is stored in the soccer shed at Maquan School field, where it will be accessible to coaches of teams using that field and the neighboring Indian Head School field. The defibrillator is the third to be donated to the town for use at local athletic fields since last February. Hanson previously installed defibrillators in many of its municipal buildings as part of an effort that gained it designation by the state as a "Heart Safe" community. - John Laidler

RECYCLING CENTER - In an effort to promote recycling, the town has installed 20 recycling barrels and cages at the town-owned Ted Williams Camp, obtained through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Municipal Waste Reduction program. Green barrels are to be used for plastic bottles and blue cages for cans. Trash barrels have been placed next to the containers for other trash and there are information sheets in the park explaining the program. - Paul E. Kandarian

FLU CLINICS - The Board of Health and the Community Visiting Nurses Association have arranged two adult flu clinics. The first will be 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Holiday Inn on Hampshire Street. The second will be 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in the cafeteria of Qualters Middle School on East Street. Those attending must be 18 or older and town residents. Call the health office at 508-261-7366. - Christine Legere

NEW DETECTIVE - Selectmen have approved the appointment of Scott Smith as a detective in the Police Department. Smith was promoted to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Detective Sargeant Craig Parker. Smith has been with the department for nine years. The board also appointed Andrea Keane to the board of directors of the Marion Council on Aging, and Hilary Sadeck as a paramedic with town emergency medical services. - Paul E. Kandarian

TROOP WORKS FOR TROOPS - Boy Scout Troop 53 is putting together holiday packages for American troops serving overseas. Through Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops, the Mattapoisett Scouts are collecting items for packages at the town's Veterans Day ceremony at Old Hammondtown School Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Monetary donations may be made as well, with the money used to buy items for the packages. For more information on what items are needed, visit capecod4thetroops.com, or call the scoutmaster, Ron Ellis, at 508-758-3311. - Paul E. Kandarian

TAX BREAK OK'D - Monday's Special Town Meeting approved a 20-year package of real estate tax breaks, under the Tax Increment Financing Program, for Sapphire Engineering, a firm planning to lease space in Campanelli Park. The company had been looking at locations in both Middleborough and Taunton. Police Chief Gary Russell also won support that night for the purchase of five police cruisers. Voters rather reluctantly approved a provision that will allow selectmen the authority to develop rules regarding pedestrian use of public ways. The measure is aimed at helping police address the problem of youths loitering in the downtown. Selectmen said they would hold public hearings on proposed rules prior to enacting them. - Christine Legere

PANCAKE BREAKFAST - Boy Scout Troop 42 will host a pancake breakfast Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church on Winter Street. Pancakes, sausages, home fries, juice, and coffee are on the menu as well as a bake sale with homemade goodies. The troop, one of the oldest chartered Boy Scout troops in America, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2010. - Michele Morgan Bolton

FOURTH-GRADER AVERTS SCARE - Police are seeking the public's help and encouraging greater caution at school bus stops after a fourth-grade boy reported a suspicious incident on Oct. 24. Police Chief Matthew Clancy said the youngster was waiting at a school bus stop at the intersection of Prospect Road and Lemuel Cobb Road at about 7:55 a.m. when a car carrying three people wearing ski masks over their faces stopped and stared at him. The boy, a student at Dennett Elementary School, fled and police were notified, Clancy said. He said the school sent home a notice to parents and a reverse 911 call was made to inform residents of the incident. Dozens of tips were received and the incident remains under investigation. "Complaints about suspicious vehicles at bus stops aren't that uncommon, but not to this degree," said Clancy. "We're still looking for anybody with information. We want to be able to eliminate parents' and kids' anxiety as soon as possible." Anyone with information can contact Patrolman Stephen Teri at 781-585-3339, ext. 106.

- Elaine Cushman Carroll

TOPICS OF INTEREST - The Special Town Meeting Nov. 17 includes 18 articles, but Town Administrator Randall Buckner predicted two of those will draw the most discussion. The first is a proposal to raise another $400,000 to fully fund the town's $12.9 million assessment to the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District for the current year. Buckner said the amount calculated during the 2009 budget deliberations last spring proved to be too low. Buckner thought a proposed trench safety bylaw also will generate discussion. The provision is being proposed to protect the public from dangers related to open and unattended trenches. "With this, you'll need a special permit for the trench so the town will know where all the trenches are," Buckner said. The meeting will open at 7 p.m. in Raynham Middle School. A quorum of 75 voters is needed.

- Christine Legere

GIVE WHILE YOU VOTE - The Board of Selectmen is asking voters to bring nonperishable food items when they vote at the polls Tuesday. The Election Day food drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Sharon High School, where voters will cast their ballots. The food drive will benefit the Ilse Marks Food Pantry in Stoughton, which feeds 40 to 60 families per week from Sharon and Stoughton. "During these difficult financial times, it is more important than ever that we support those members of our community who may be in need," said Richard Powell, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. The pantry is looking for cans of tuna, chicken, meat, ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, and cereal, mayonnaise, oil, and soup.

- Franci Richardson Ellement

OPENING BAY ROAD - Town officials are turning to the state to help open Bay Road, which has been closed since a portion of the heavily traveled thoroughfare washed away in the spring. Larry Barrett, Department of Public Works superintendent, has been in contact with Massachusetts Highway Department officials about the town buying or borrowing a portable bridge. A permanent and costly fix is likely years away, said Selectman Joe Mokrisky. "With the way finances are the governor is unable to fund a new bridge, so MassHighway has stepped in and is willing to help the town," Mokrisky said. Bay Road is a popular alternative for drivers from Stoughton, Easton, and Sharon looking to avoid Route 138, he said. The town, which has applied for $1 million in state funds to cover the cost of road repair, likely will meet with state transportation officials this month. - Robert Carroll

TAX BILLS DUE - Real estate and personal property tax payments for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 are due tomorrow. Residents who have lost or misplaced their tax bills should call the town Treasurer/Collector's office at 508-291-3150 to be told how much is owed this quarter.

- Emily Sweeney

HALLOWEEN DRIVE BIG SUCCESS - Social workers from the state Department of Children and Families were loaded to the gills last week when they picked up a truckload of Halloween booty from the Ouellette family. Joanne and Fred Oullette and their children Kyle, Gabrielle, and Bianca, for the fifth year ran a community costume drive for the state's neediest children. Last year, collections of outfits and festive items numbered 1,100. This year, the Ouellettes gathered 1,850 items, including 550 costumes donated at local schools, dropped off at their home, or purchased through donations. "The outpouring of love and support was overwhelming," said Joanne Ouellette of the drive the couple began to teach their kids about kindness.

- Michele Morgan Bolton

POWER PLANT INFORMATION - A newly formed regional task force on the proposed power plant in Brockton will hear from an environmental specialist when it meets at the Middle-Senior High School auditorium Thursday at 7 p.m. Seth Kaplan, vice president for climate advocacy for the Conservation Law Foundation, will discuss air quality issues related to the plant, according to Selectman Matthew Albanese. Brockton Clean Energy is proposing to build the 350-megawatt combined natural gas and diesel power plant on Oak Hill Way near the West Bridgewater line. Organized by the West Bridgewater Board of Selectmen, the task force held an organizational meeting at Howard School last month, attracting representatives from eight communities. According to Albanese, the task force is to inform local officials about the proposed power plant, though it might decide to take a stance on it. - John Laidler