A veteran remembers in Abington

NEW SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - Braintree students and teachers at the high school have a newly refurbished auditorium of which they can be proud. The school spent about $300,000 for new lighting, a new sound system, new seats, carpeting, and paint, said Superintendent Peter Kurzberg. “It’s really terrific,’’ said Kurzberg. “It’s a first-class theater of the arts.’’ Money for the Margherita Grabosky Auditorium came from a number of sources, including the school funding committee, donors who purchased seats, student fund-raising, town capital funds, and income from rental of school facilities. - Matt Carroll

TALKING PICTURES - Photojournalist Cary Wolinsky will talk about his work at South Shore Arts Center on Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. Wolinsky’s photos are on display at the center through Dec. 23 in the exhibition “Fiber of Life.” He’s published regularly in National Geographic magazine since 1977 and has documented the culture of textiles in photographic essays. In 2003, he cofounded the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University. The talk is free, but reservations are required and can be made by calling 781-383-2787. - Johanna Seltz

POSTER ART SHOW - The Duxbury Art Association will hold an opening reception for its poster art exhibition at 64 St. George St. on Thursday at 6 p.m. The community art group, whose motto is “for the artist in everyone,” will be exhibiting two-dimensional works by artists, printers, and graphic designers in its gallery space. The show will include concert posters, gig posters, fliers, and other creative use of typography and broadside format. The works will be on display through Feb. 12. - Robert Knox

STATE VOWS TO REIMBURSE - The state says it will eventually pay for the December primary and January special election to determine a replacement for the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Meanwhile, towns are expected to absorb the costs, which Hanover Town Clerk Bob Shea estimated could run $18,000 combined. “This is going to be interesting because I thought the state was broke,” said Shea. Last week, state Auditor Joseph DeNucci said the mandated election would be paid for with state funds. “I have no doubt that the state will repay towns,” said Shea. “It’s just that no one knows when.” - Robert Carroll

TOWN FEES INCREASED - Last week, selectmen finalized new fees for building permits and inspections. Reinspection fees jumped from $20 to $75 and rates for outdoor tents rose from $20 to $35. The major cost for new construction, alterations, additions and demolition remained the same at $10 per $1,000 for a residential project and $15 per $1,000 for a commercial project. Numerous rates and fees for plumbing, electrical, and gas work have also increased. The new rates, which can be viewed at www.hingham-ma.gov/building/fees.html, took effect Nov. 2. - L.E. Crowley

HIRING MADE PERMANENT - The School Committee has approved Interim Schools Superintendent Joseph Baeta as permanent superintendent effective next July 1. Baeta has been serving in a dual role as interim superintendent and principal of Holbrook Junior Senior High School since the previous superintendent left for Scituate last July. The vote was unanimous and came after Baeta presented the committee with a number of options for how to fill the position. Since Baeta will no longer serve as the school’s principal once he takes on the permanent position of superintendent, he said a search will probably be conducted for his replacement after the first of the year.

SKETCHING CLASS OPENS - Beginners and more advanced artists who want to brush up their drawing skills are welcome at the Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Friday afternoon sketching class. The class is taught by South Shore artist Trish Turner, who has exhibited at the museum’s annual “Sea and Sky’’ art shows. She recommends bringing sizable sketchpads or paper, a board, drawing pencils, a kneaded eraser, pencil sharpener, fine sandpaper, and “maybe a straight-edge, too -- 18 inch metal.” The informal classes will be held indoors and out, depending on the weather, will start at 2 p.m., and will cost $10. More information is available by e-mailing info@hulllifesavingmuseum.org or calling 781-925-5433.

GOVERNMENT STUDY GROUP - Selectmen will discuss establishing a town government study committee at their meeting on Tuesday. According to the town counsel, the board has the authority to establish an ad hoc committee, determine the number of members, and give it a broad charge to examine the town’s form of government with the idea of recommending possible changes to the governing charter. Town Meeting has previously expressed a desire for a government study group, according to officials. Selectmen meet at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. - Robert Knox

CLUB AT HALFWAY POINT - The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is halfway toward its goal of raising $3 million to build a new clubhouse, according to executive director Greg Jackson. Plans call for a 16,000-square-foot building that includes a gym, teen center, computer lab, classrooms and, “for lack of a better term, a younger-kids room,” he said, on town-owned land near Roche Bros. supermarket. Town Meeting approved a land deal last month that makes the project possible by eliminating the need for an expensive road, he said. Next on the fund-raising agenda is the club’s Polar Express event on Dec. 12. The club decorates an MBTA commuter rail train for Christmas, staffs it with elves, storytellers, and a chef handing out cookies and cocoa, and takes it from the Kingston station to the “North Pole,” or Halifax station. Last year’s Polar Express raised about $40,000, Jackson said. “It’s such a great day. Just to see the looks on the kids’ faces is priceless,” he said. More information is available at www.marshfieldpolarexpress.com or by calling 781-834-CLUB.

GOLF FUND-RAISER - Golf can be an expensive sport, but it can also raise a lot of money for charity. A recent tournament hosted by Milton Hospital raised $71,000, according to the hospital. The money will be used to purchase equipment that ensures that patients receive the right medication and right dosage at the right time. The 15th annual tournament was held at Wollaston Golf Club in Milton. - Matt Carroll

H1N1 VACCINATION CLINIC - The Norwell Board of Health will hold an H1N1 vaccination clinic for pregnant women on Tuesday at Fire Department headquarters. Health agent Brian Flynn said because supplies are trickling in slowly, the board has only 100 doses of the 14,000 ordered for the town. He said once more doses arrive, clinics will be held for schoolchildren. But with just 100 now available, dosages are limited to pregnant women, who are in a high-risk group. Those attending must bring proof of residency and a doctor’s note verifying pregnancy.

TOWN MEETING BUSY - A Special Town Meeting last Tuesday appropriated $806,342 to fund improvements to the Mattakeeset Municipal Athletic Fields complex. The appropriation is contingent on the town receiving a state grant to cover $500,000 of the $806,342 cost. The meeting approved a $621,000 capital spending plan and a series of expenditures from the Community Preservation Fund. It rejected an article that would have authorized the town to seek proposals from groups to lease land for development of an affordable home on Pelham Street, and another that would have prohibited video surveillance of private properties without the owner’s permission. It authorized the town to lease land for a cell tower on the wooded portion of the property that includes Birch Street Park. The article was approved after being amended to remove a provision that the lease proceeds be used to fund maintenance of the ball fields at the park. Town officials determined state law would preclude earmarking the funds. A proposed zoning amendment that would restrict body art establishments to the town’s adult business district in northeast Pembroke was withdrawn.

REVERSE 911 - With winter just six weeks away, town officials are encouraging residents to sign up for the county’s reverse 911 notification system. “Once your phone number is in the database, you’ll be able to receive parking ban notifications and other public safety announcements,’’ said David Gould, Plymouth’s acting public works director. “With many more residents moving away from land lines and over to cellular phones as a main point of contact, it can be difficult to get some residents proper notice.” Residents can register for the service through the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department website, www.pcsdma.org/Communicator.asp.

TROOPERS HONORED - The State Police recently honored two troopers from Quincy. Brian F. Dunn was bestowed the Medal of Lifesaving, while Joseph M. Collins Jr. received the Superintendent’s Commendation. Dunn’s award recognizes troopers who help save a life, while Collins’s award recognizes those who make an exceptional contribution to the force.

ADAMS SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED - A number of seniors from Randolph are among the more than 17,500 students statewide in the class of 2010 who received word recently that they have qualified to receive the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. At Randolph High School, 40 seniors in a class of 172 were named Adams scholars. The winners will be announced during the Dec. 3 School Committee meeting. At Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, 41 percent of the school’s winners are from Randolph. Out of 196 seniors, 46 students qualified for the award, 19 of whom live in Randolph. To qualify for the scholarship, students must score advanced in either the Math or English 10th-grade MCAS exams, either advanced or proficient in the other, and rank in the top 25 percent of their school. The award provides free tuition for eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. - Wendy Chow

SCHOOLHOUSE REOPENING - The Little Red Schoolhouse, which has been closed since June, will reopen Saturday after the completion of $150,000 in renovations. “I think the townspeople will be pleased,” said David Ball, president of the Scituate Historical Society, which is headquartered in the 116-year-old former high school. An open house will officially reopen the historic museum and archives after more than four months of work. Renovations included widening doorways and knocking down walls for a more open plan that allows greater accessibility to documents, maps, photographs and other artifacts. Previously, many materials had been stored in the schoolhouse and could be viewed only by appointment. The open house is free and runs from 1 to 4 p.m. - L.E. Crowley

CHALLENGERS STYMIED - Incumbents ruled in last week’s town election, which brought about 18 percent of registered voters to the polls. All five incumbents retained their councilor at-large seats, with Michael Molisse receiving the most votes. Patrick O’Connor, Kevin Whitaker, Robert Conlon, and Brian McDonald also kept their positions, defeating two challengers. All six district councilors ran unopposed. Incumbent Diana Flemer was the top vote-getter in the School Committee race. Gerald Murphy and Lisa Belmarsh won the other two School Committee seats, defeating Lucia Qualey, Robert Green, and Stephen Ford. - Johanna Seltz