Library offers language programs

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COLLECTED - The Police Department recently collected about 1,000 unused prescription drug tablets from residents. Under the department’s “Prescription Take Back Program,’’ residents were encouraged to drop off their old and unused medications for proper disposal. Three officers were stationed outside Walgreen’s on Ferry Street for four hours on June 27 for the collection. In all, 27 different types of prescription drugs were dropped off, including oxycodone. Police Chief Steven Mazzie said the initiative was designed to reduce the chances of old medications “falling into the wrong hands and being misused.’’ He noted: “We’ve lost a lot of young people here to prescription drug overdoses.’’ He said it also ensures the drugs, which the department burned in an incinerator - will not be disposed of in a way that pollutes the environment. Mazzie said he expects to hold the event again. - John Laidler

FORUM ON CULTURAL ECONOMY - Residents have a chance to speak directly to state lawmakers about the state of Massachusetts’ cultural economy tomorrow. The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development is holding a hearing in Lynn, at 10:30 a.m. at LynnArts, 25 Exchange St. The panel, whose House chairman is Democratic state Representative John Keenan of Salem, will be seeking input about how the economic downturn is affecting tourism and cultural-related businesses, and how the state might help strengthen the industry. LynnArts offers a variety of cultural and arts-related educational programs. - John Laidler

ANOTHER NEW COUNCILOR - John P. Matheson is the city’s newest councilor-at-large. He replaces Paul Anderson, who resigned June 23 after serving just six months on the 11-member council. Anderson said he wanted to spend more time on his accounting business. Anderson was appointed by the council in December to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Michael Sheehan, who moved away from Malden. Anderson and Matheson both ran as write-in candidates in the 2007 municipal election. Anderson finished fourth. Matheson was the fifth-place finisher. He was sworn into office last week. The next council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 1. - Kathy McCabe

VERIZON PLANS TO REPLACE ANTENNAS - Verizon Wireless plans to install six wireless telecommunication antennas on a multistory office building at 222 Boston Ave., which houses the Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy. Verizon proposes replacing six existing with new ones that will be installed at the same height. Anyone wishing to comment on the project should send remarks to Project 61093360-KCE c/o EBI Consulting 21 B St., Burlington, Ma. 01803 or call 781-273-2500.

PUBLIC HOUSING AVAILABLE - The Housing Authority on Wednesday will open its waiting list for public family housing units with two and three bedrooms. Applications will be available starting at 9 a.m. They can be obtained by calling the housing authority at 781-665-1622, or by sending an e-mail to jjm@melroseha.com. Applications may also be picked up at the authority’s office at 910 Main St.

FORUM TO ADDRESS HOUSING PROJECT - The Board of Selectmen and the Community Planning and Development Commission have scheduled a joint hearing for tomorrow to discuss proposed amendments to zoning bylaws that would allow commercial development on 29 acres of land along Main and Haven streets. At least 20 percent of all residential units in the proposed area, which could have a density of at least 20 units per acre, would be designated for affordable housing, under the proposed changes. The public hearing is set for 7:30 p.m. in the selectmen’s meeting room at Town Hall.

RECYCLING ON AGENDA - At their July 20 meeting, city councilors will discuss with Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino their request that a pilot recycling program in Ward 4 be extended to the full city in fiscal 2011. Under the program, operated by RecycleBank, residents place all their recyclables in a single container and earn discount store coupons based on how much they recycle. The council will also hold hearings on an ordinance proposed by Ambrosino that would allow land-based wind energy facilities to be located in certain sections of the city, and on a special permit request from Irving Oil to move some of its underground pipes to above ground at its oil terminal on Lee Burbank Highway. Prior to the 4 p.m. regular meeting, councilors will meet as a committee of the whole at 3 p.m. to discuss with the May Institute concerns raised by neighbors about noise and trash accumulation at the organization’s facility at 794 Broadway. - John Laidler

ORANGE LINE STOP ADVANCES - The city’s 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. In the draft, the station would have a center platform with a pedestrian bridge that connected to bike storage and buses. The plan requires relocating the inbound train track. Advocates with the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership criticized the lack of a second entrance/exit, and demanded better access to Ikea and a public park. According to the presentation, the MBTA and Federal Transit Administration will contribute $25 million to construction costs; an additional $15 million is coming from Ikea and property owner Federal Realty. If all goes according to plan, the station will be up and running by 2013. See the handout at www.mbta.com. - Danielle Dreilinger

TROOP SUPPORT GROUP RECOGNIZED - Helping Our Troops of Stoneham has been honored with a Hanscom Community Heroes award. The award, introduced this year, recognizes local community organizations and individuals for their support to deployed military personnel and their families. In all, five recipients from across the state were honored during the Heroes’ Homecoming celebration, which was held at the base on June 26. Established in 2006, Helping Our Troops is a nonprofit organization that supports 54 units and three combat hospitals overseas. For more information about the all-volunteer group, visit www.helpingourtroopsma.com.

CHAPEL RENOVATION DISCUSSED - 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

RECYCLING PROGRAM EXPANDED - The Recycling Committee is reminding condominium residents that the town is now providing recycling services. Tewksbury extended its every-other-week curbside recycling collection to condominiums as part of the changes to its trash collection system that took effect July 1, according to Recycling Committee member Sean Czarniecki. Also, the town’s contractor has taken over curbside collection of regular trash at condominiums. Until now, condominiums hired their own trash contractors and the town covered the cost. As with other residents, those in condominiums were recently provided with rolling carts to use with the town’s new automated trash pick-up system.

NEW ASSESSMENT TO GO TO VOTERS - A Special Town Meeting is set to meet July 23 to take up a revised fiscal 2010 assessment to the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District. According to town administrator Stephen Maio, Town Meeting in April rejected a $1,170,877 assessment the district proposed for the town, a 20 percent increase over Wakefield’s fiscal 2009 charge. Because enough towns rejected their assessments, the district’s budget was defeated. But due to state budget cuts, Maio said, the district last month came up with revised assessment figures that were higher than the previous ones - in Wakefield’s case, about $16,000 higher, or $1,186,730. Selectmen are recommending the town reject the latest number. Maio said Wakefield officials are irked that new state rules require the town to hold another town meeting to take up an assessment figure higher than the one it previously rejected. - John Laidler

GRANT FOR BEACH PROJECT - REI of Reading recently awarded a $5,000 corporate grant to the Winchester Family Action Network for the revitalization project at Borggaard Beach, said Elizabeth Angelino, copresident for the organization. The volunteer group proposes to renovate the beach by updating the playground and installing an automated, handicap accessible, splash park. The town loses $40,000 each year to operate the beach for the 10-week summer season, said Angelino, who anticipates the renovations will increase membership sales at the proposed year-round facility. Borggaard Beach is located off Palmer Street next to the Packer Tennis Courts. For more information on the project, contact Fansplash at www.fansplash.org. - Bella Travaglini

EPA TO REVIEW WELL CLEANUP - The US Environmental Protection Agency has begun a five-year review of clean-up measures undertaken at the Wells G&H Superfund Site, located along the Aberjona River in east Woburn. The agency is required to carry out five-year reviews of work done at its Superfund sites to ensure those remedies are protecting public health and the environment. Wells G&H were two city-owned wells developed in the 1960s. They were shut down in 1979 after police discovered two 55-gallon drums of industrial waste abandoned nearby and tests showed the wells to be contaminated. The EPA listed the site of the wells and surrounding land on its Superfund list in 1982. A number of responsible parties have been assessed costs for the clean-up, which has resulted in the treatment of more than 481 million gallons of groundwater and removal of 4,700 pounds of volatile organic compounds. The EPA will be seeking public input as part of its review.