Compost site open through Aug. 31

SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER SURVEY - The Beverly school district is conducting an online survey to help create a plan for its library media centers. The district is seeking feedback on the libraries from students, parents, and faculty. To complete the survey go to www.beverlyschools.org/district. - Steven Rosenberg

FORUM ON ENDICOTT ST. IMPROVEMENTS - Area businesses are invited to a forum Wednesday on a proposed project to improve the Endicott Street corridor in Danvers and Peabody. The two communities are jointly seeking a Public Works Economic Development grant to carry out the project. The state’s Executive Office of Transportation awards such grants for public works projects that directly benefit the local or regional economy. Wednesday’s meeting is an opportunity for businesses to learn more about the proposed improvements, which would be undertaken on Endicott Street and a small portion of Sylvan Street, from Route 128 to Route 114. The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at OSRAM Sylvania, 100 Endicott St. For more information, call Martha Duffield at 978-777-0001, ext. 3096. - John Laidler

FARMERS MARKET OPEN SATURDAYS - The farmers market will be open every Saturday through Sept. 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Georgetown Park and Ride (Route 133/downtown). The market will feature locally grown produce, fresh baked breads, jams and jellies, and local artisans and crafts vendors including Smolak Farms, Long Hill Orchards, Horrible Cookies, Emily’s Bakery, and Wheeler Brook Farm. For additional information, go to www.ShopGeorgetown.net. - David Cogger

NEW CITY CLERK SOUGHT - Gloucester is looking for a new city clerk. Robert Whynot, who served as Gloucester’s city clerk since 1992, has retired. Whynot officially announced his retirement on June 25. The position has been advertised on the Massachusetts Municipal Association website and the city’s website, and city officials plan to begin interviewing candidates for the post this month.

TOWNS’ BOARDS TO DISCUSS REGIONALIZATION - The Hamilton and Wenham boards of selectmen are scheduled to meet Tuesday with representatives of the Department of Revenue to discuss the department’s Enhanced Regionalization/Merger Analysis report. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Wenham Town Hall, Main Street.

EX-HIGHWAY CHIEF’S PENSION AT ISSUE - The city’s Retirement Board this week is expected to begin formal proceedings to revoke the pension of former highway superintendent James Flaherty, 67, who was convicted last month of felony larceny. If the five-member board votes on Tuesday to begin revocation proceedings, a hearing on the matter would be held, most likely in August. Afterward, the hearing officer would write a recommendation to the board. At a subsequent meeting, the board would review the recommendation and vote on whether to revoke Flaherty’s pension. Under state law, the board must revoke Flaherty’s pension if the panel finds that he was convicted of a criminal offense involving violation of the laws applicable to his position.

HEALTH CENTER GETS STIMULUS FUNDS - The Greater Lawrence Family Health Center has received nearly $1.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will be used to renovate and expand the center’s North site clinic at 150 Park St. The center serves more than 43,000 uninsured and underinsured patients at four clinics in Lawrence, as well as 18 sites throughout the Merrimack Valley. The North site clinic was chosen because it is a “shovel ready” project with construction scheduled to begin in early August. The renovation will more than double the number of exam rooms at the clinic, and will enable building a full-service pharmacy.

TOWN STICKERS AVAILABLE - Stickers allowing residents to use the town’s transfer station and to park at Devereux Beach are available for $55. Stickers can be picked at the treasurer’s office, 7 Widger Road, or at the transfer station, 5 Woodfin Terrace. The stickers will expire on Dec. 31. - Steven Rosenberg

SAND NEEDED TO COVER SANDBAGS - The relief requires relief. A barrier of biodegradable sandbags that was deposited on the battered Plum Island as a temporary relief measure last winter requires a coating of sand to keep it intact. The town is waiting on an estimate for the additional layer of sand; it will likely cost around $25,000, according to Town Administrator Charles Kostro, and will keep the sun from deteriorating the sandbags. Over the past several months, the sandbags have taken a “heavy pounding,’’ Kostro said, but have held up. The project’s funding came from a $300,000 state Department of Conservation and Recreation grant that was originally earmarked for the construction of a boardwalk and restrooms at Plum Island. Kostro said that roughly $70,000 remains from that grant. Officials are hoping that an estimated $4.1 million dredging project goes forward this fall to restore and replenish Plum Island. - Taryn Plumb

RESERVE SCHOOL BUS SEAT IN AUGUST - Parents who would like their children to ride the school bus during this year must reserve a spot in August. The transportation fee is $275 per student, with a $550 family maximum. The fee is waived for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade who live more than 2 miles from school, as measured by Yahoo maps. Registration will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 4 and from 9 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 at the superintendent’s office, which is housed at Nock Middle School on Low Street. Registration is for students of Newburyport Public Schools, River Valley Charter School, and Immaculate Conception. - Brenda Buote

BOARD TO VOTE ON WATER/SEWER HIKE - The Board of Selectmen is expected tomorrow to vote on a proposal that could raise annual water and sewer bills by 15.1 percent. While the rates increased 5 percent last year, North Andover officials have said that residents have used less water than in the past, which has resulted in the size of the proposed increase. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.

SUMMER CONCERTS WILL KICK OFF TONIGHT - The city’s annual summer concert series will kick off today Concerts will be held each Sunday night 6 to 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 30 on the Leather City Common downtown. Each concert is free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be sold to benefit the city’s annual Relay for Life fund-raising walk for cancer research. In case of rain, concerts will be held in the Wiggin Auditorium in City Hall. Tonight’s concert features the dance band Rico Barr & the Jump ’n’ Jive Review. For more information, call the mayor’s office at 978-538-5704.

ELECTION PAPERS DEADLINE SOON - City Clerk Cheryl LaPointe is reminding residents that July 31 is the last day to take out nomination papers to run in the city’s biennial election this fall. Aug. 4 is the deadline to return the papers. Voters this year will be electing a mayor, 11 city councilors - seven ward and four at large - and three School Committee seats. Twenty-five certified signatures are needed to run for ward councilor, and 100 for city-wide seats. A preliminary election, if needed, will be held on Sept. 15, and the final election is on Nov. 3. - John Laidler

PANEL TO STUDY CHAPEL RENOVATION - The Board of Selectmen appointed a committee on Tuesday to investigate the possible renovation of Andrews Memorial Chapel. The chapel, built in 1923, sits on the grounds of the Swampscott Cemetery. Committee members include Sylvia Corrado, Mary Doane Cassidy, Deborah Bogardus, Eleanor Didio, and Shendel Bakal. - David Rattigan

COMPOSTING SITE TO REMAIN OPEN - The Composting Facility located at the Public Works Garage on Boston Street will remain open after July 1 on a fee-based system. The center was planned for closure to the public on June 30 due to budget cuts. In response to the many calls and suggestions from residents, a new system has been put in place. Residents can purchase a $5 Compost Access Ticket at the Selectmen’s Office in Town Hall. The ticket will allow the disposal of up to two yards (a standard body pick-up truck) of approved yard waste per visit. Each visit will require a separate Access Ticket. The Compost Center will be open and staffed on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only. No weekday drop-off is permitted unless prior arrangements have been made. Additional information is available by calling the Highway Department at 978-887-1542.

FIRM CHOSEN FOR TOWN CENTER MARKET STUDY - A consultant has been selected from among four bids to begin a market analysis for the redevelopment of the town center. Farmington, Conn.-based Bartram & Cochran will analyze the town’s master plan and determine its economic feasibility, said Town Administrator Rosemary Cashman. The consultants will determine what mix of uses would work best in the center of town, including retail, offices, housing, restaurants, and meeting spaces, Cashman said.

SUFFOLK TEACHER HONORED - Gail Sergenian of Westford, an associate professor of accounting at Suffolk University, received the Educational Institution Partner Award from the Boston Metropolitan Professional Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) in recognition of her work as faculty adviser for the Boston Metropolitan Chapter. “Suffolk has had a huge presence in NABA for many years,’’ said Sergenian, noting that Suffolk was the first university in the Greater Boston area to become an Educational Institution Partner. “Our students become very active members of the professional chapter upon graduation. Every year they have divided Case Competition teams by schools, Suffolk student teams have come in first, this last year being no exception.” - Brenda Buote

$60K NEEDED FOR BANDSTAND - The town council has elected to contribute $60,000 to the creation of a park and bandstand on Bedford Village Common, but only if supporters are able to raise an equal amount. The Bedford Village Common Development Committee had sought $110,000 to fund the project. The bandstand may be in use next summer if supporters can raise the $60,000 this summer. - Tom Long

MAGNANT TO TAKE RYE POSITION - Port City police chief Michael Magnant announced his retirement at the beginning of the Fourth of July weekend. But he won’t be retired for long. He also announced he will become town administrator in Rye - a part-time job - on Aug. 3. Magnant was a member of the Portsmouth Police Department for 30 years. He was chief for seven years. - Tom Long

SOMERVILLE ORANGE LINE STOP ADVANCES - The future Orange Line stop at Assembly Square took a step closer to reality when the MBTA debuted the station’s design at a public meeting on June 29. Visit www.mbta.com. - Danielle Dreilinger