Tips coming in to police

TIPS COMING IN TO POLICE - Splashed boldly across Abington police cruisers, the department's "community partners" motto seeks trust between police and public. But are residents buying what police are selling? Police Chief David Majenski insists they are. Pointing to the popularity of the department's anonymous phone tip line, Majenski said residents show a high level of faith in his officers. "We're always getting information on things we should be watching out for," he said, noting the tip line receives more than five calls per week. "There are a lot of informants out there. Our officers work hard to build a level of trust with the public." Last month, an anonymous informant helped Abington officers nab suspected heroin dealers outside a local doughnut shop. He said informants include family members, girlfriends and boyfriends, and people previously arrested who are trying to clean up their lives. While some informants are compensated, he said, "99 percent of the time" tips come from concerned citizens not looking for money. "They just want to make Abington safer," said Majenski. "And that is such an asset to the department." - Robert Carroll

BUILDING INSPECTOR SUSPENDED - Braintree selectmen suspended Building Inspector Robert Galewski without pay for 45 days, said board chairman Darrin M. McAuliffe. Galewski was fined $4,000 in June and required to forfeit $1,500 by the state Ethics Commission. He violated the state conflict of interest law by using subordinates and a vendor to do private work for him without pay, according to the Ethics Commission. A local contractor had replaced the mailbox at his house and the contractor or his employees had plowed Galewski's driveway on numerous occasions. Galewski did not compensate the contractor. At the same time, Galewski, as building inspector, worked on the contractor's projects in town. Galewski had no comment. - Matt Carroll

EXHIBIT ON GREENBUSH MEMORABILIA - The Cohasset Historical Society is asking residents to scour their attics for Greenbush-related memorabilia for use in the society's next exhibit on the railroad in town. "We're still looking for anything that relates to the train - photos, artifacts, whatever," said Lynne DeGiacomo, the society's executive administrator. Among the items already loaned for the show are a large, framed 1888 train schedule and a ticket book from 1927, she said. The exhibit will include artifacts from the society's collection, as well as documents and photos relating to the train's restoration. For children, there will be toy trains to play with, DeGiacomo said. The exhibit opens Oct. 7 with a free reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Cohasset Historical Society, 106 South Main St. - Johanna Seltz

LEARN ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES - The Duxbury Library is offering four classes this fall on children and teens' use of technology for social networking. Taught by professional, the classes are aimed at helping parents gain a better understanding of how children are using technology to make friends online. Linda Braun, a nationally known librarian and technology adviser, will consider websites from Club Penguin to Facebook at the first class, "Social Networking: Sites for Kids and Teens," to be held Oct. 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the library's Merry Meeting Room. Admission is free, but seating is limited. People wishing to attend the session are asked to reserve a spot by calling 781-934-2721. - Robert Knox

HOW IS COMCAST DOING? - A year still remains on the contract signed between the town and cable giant Comcast. Still, Hanover Cable Advisory Committee chairman Bob Sigsby said it's never too early to gauge public opinion. The committee has posted a survey of the cable company on the town's website. The committee has previously held public meetings to get such input. "This is the first time we've done it this way and we think it's better," said Sigsby of the online survey. "It's easier for people to let us know how they feel. It will help us negotiate upcoming contracts with Comcast or any other service providers who apply." Survey questions range from program choices and reception, to the promptness of service calls. The survey can be found at hanover-ma.gov.

- Robert Carroll

STATION STREET IMPROVEMENTS - Improvements to Station Street are progressing on schedule, according to the town's project engineer Roger Fernandes. When the work is done, the area will have new sidewalks, curbing, landscaping, and more parking spaces, he said. The town also is adding 36 streetlights, half by the end of the year. The light fixtures are coming from Hingham Square, which is getting new lights as part of a revitalization project. Money for the Station Street project comes from a $1.14 million state economic development grant, Fernandes said. - Johanna Seltz

FEDERAL GRANT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - The Fire Department has received a federal grant to buy equipment. Senator John Kerry's office recently contacted Fire Chief Edward O'Brien with the news. The Fire Act Grant for Holbrook is worth $63,500. The department will use the money to replace a 40-year fire hose and to buy turnout gear for each firefighter on the department, said Town Administrator Michael Yunits. - Franci Richardson Ellement

MARINA CHANGES HANDS - The new owner of Waveland Marina has renamed it Sunset Bay Marina and plans to more than double the number of slips. Robert Folsom, a Norwood developer, bought the landmark site at the corner of A Street and Cadish Avenue for $3 million and plans to put another $2 million into the property, he said. "We have all our permits - it took about 2 1/2 years to get them," Folsom said. "We want to expand to 150 slips, from 65, and we will have 40 moorings. We're also going to install a new breakwater system that will offer more protection for the boats in bad weather. And we're going to upgrade the launching system." He also plans more parking to resolve neighbor's complaints of boats parking on the street. He said he expects the work to be done and the marina open by spring of 2008. Folsom said the son of the former owner will stay on as manager of the marina. - Johanna Seltz

POTASSIUM IODINE AVAILABLE - The Board of Health has announced that it has received potassium iodide pills from the state health officials and federal regulators to protect local residents from certain types of radiation in the event of a nuclear power plant emergency. Known as KI, potassium iodide ensures that the thyroid gland has enough iodine to prevent damage by radioactive iodine, a substance that might be released during a nuclear power plant emergency. In the event of a significant emergency at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, local residents including children would be advised to take KI. In previous years, according to the health board, KI was distributed to residents by the state Department of Public Health, and KI supplies were maintained in a central stockpile. With the pills now in hand, the Town of Kingston will make KI available to residents through the Board of Health. This distribution process allows for a more efficient, precautionary distribution to the general community as well as to special populations and visitors. For more information, contact the board at 781-585-0503.

- Robert Knox

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR SURVEY - The Town Administrator Search Committee is looking for public input. They've posted a survey on the town's website, townofmarshfield.org, which asks residents questions like "What three characteristics would you like to see in your new town administrator?" The survey also asks residents to rate the importance of various issues, such as 40B developments, expanding the library, dredging the harbor, and expanding the sewer system. - Emily Sweeney

NEW POLICE CHIEF - Milton has a new police chief, pending a contract. Deputy Chief Richard G. Wells Jr. was picked over Deputy Chief Paul T. Nolan and Lieutenant Michael Collins. Selectwomen Marion V. McEttrick and Kathryn A. Fagan voted for Wells, with Selectman John M. Shields voting present. Shields said he supported Collins. "I'm humbled, honored, and excited," said Wells, whose father was also chief. He said he hopes to provide excellent police service to the residents and get the officers the tools they need to best do their jobs. Wells is a 1973 graduate of Milton High School, and attended Western New England College in Springfield for undergraduate work and Boston University for graduate studies.

- Matt Carroll

WALKABLE NORWELL - Residents are invited to offer their input on how to make Norwell a more walkable place. At the invitation of the Planning Board, the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization is conducting a "Walkable Community Workshop" on Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. in the Osborn Room at Town Hall. The two-hour program, free and open to the public, will focus on how to improve walkability in Norwell center. It will feature an hourlong presentation, followed by a short walk through the center, and finally a wrap-up discussion back at Town Hall. For more information on the Norwell workshop, contact Town Planner Todd Thomas at 781-659-8021 or tthomas@townofnorwell.net. - John Laidler

MONEY SOUGHT FOR BALL FIELD - A vote by the Nov. 6 Special Town Meeting could determine if the high school varsity baseball team gets to play on a new home field next year. The Recreation Commission is asking Town Meeting to authorize the borrowing of $180,000 to prepare three ball fields at the Mattakeeset Street athletic fields area for use, said commission chairman Greg Hanley. The borrowed funds would be repaid through commission fee revenues. One of the fields would become the new home of the varsity baseball team starting next spring. Last season, the team played at Magoon Field, but due to limitations of that field, Pembroke cannot use it to host a home playoff game. The Mattakeeset Street field would also be used by a new American Legion team. American Legion Post 143 in Pembroke has obtained informal approval from the area Legion league to field a Pembroke team in 2008. Final approval is subject to the team having a playable field.

- John Laidler

HOSPITAL CLUB OFFERS $100,000 - The Jordan Hospital Club recently made a six-figure donation to the hospital's cancer center. The club members, and their mascot, Jordan the Polar Bear, presented an oversized ceremonial check for $100,000 to hospital officials in September, which represented the proceeds that were raised from the club's Polar Plunge event in March. This year's Polar Plunge event drew 500 participants who braved chilly temperatures and jumped into the Atlantic. The club will hold its next fund-raiser, the "Beat Goes On" 5K Walk/Run, on Oct. 20. The race will start at 10 a.m. from the parking lot adjacent to Jordan Hospital's main entrance, and proceeds will benefit the hospital's cardiovascular center. Registration forms are available at jordansbeatgoeson.com. - Emily Sweeney

100TH STREET REPAVED - Quincy celebrated a minor milestone - the 100th street repaved since 2004 under the city's Pavement Management Plan. The plan was adopted to deal with limited money available for paving. The city also adopted preventive maintenance programs the city believes has saved it millions, Steve O'Donnell, public works commissioner. - Matt Carroll

POLICE ACADEMY POSSIBLE AT SHUTTERED SCHOOL - Randolph's Tower Hill School, which was closed to students two years ago, may soon be home to a regional police training academy. Selectmen and School Committee members have been in talks with the Municipal Police Training Committee about a 10-year lease and $500,000 in renovations to turn the school building into an academy that would train 150 new officers each year and hold classes for approximately 2,000 officers from the region. The training agency has been searching for a new home since moving out of its facility at the former South Weymouth Naval Station. Only academics and physical fitness programs would be held in the neighborhood school building, no firearm or motor vehicle training, according to town officials. The lease agreement has not been finalized, and it would have to be approved by both selectmen and the School Committee to take effect. - David Connolly

FAST TRACKING ROOFING PROJECT - Selectmen have approved a fast-track process that will expedite repairs to the historic copper roof at Rockland Memorial Library. The approval gives the town the legal rights to skip waiting periods during the bidding process. Officials are trying to have the work completed before the winter causes more damage to the roof, necessitating more repairs at higher costs. In the spring, voters agreed to pay for the repairs as a $300,000 capital project exclusion. Selectmen said they do not believe that the fast-track bidding process will exclude potential contractors from knowing about the project, because few contractors specialize in copper and they know about the job anyway.

- Milton Valencia

WATERING BAN WORKING BUT STILL NEEDED - An outdoor water ban imposed last month has stabilized the town's water supply situation, but officials expect the ban will remain in place until late this month. The ban, imposed Sept. 14, forbids all outdoor water use. A lack of rain had left the reservoir, the town's main water supply, at low levels. According to water supervisor Gene Babin, the ban resulted in a one-third reduction in water use in the first week, and consumption has remained steady at that level since. He said as a result, the reservoir is now about half full. While that marks an increase over pre-ban levels, he said it still falls below the 70 percent reservoir capacity that the town usually has at this time of year.

- John Laidler

THANK YOU FLOWERS GIVEN TO CHURCH - Students at the William Seach Primary School presented almost 400 handmade paper flowers to the congregation of Crossroads Worship Center in a "thank-you" assembly that also featured singing and speeches. The church had given the school four van-loads of school supplies, as well as new chairs for every teacher and new furniture, artwork, and supplies for the teachers' lounge. "We were overwhelmed," the Rev. Karen C. Rydwansky said of the school's response. "The flowers look like big daisies with a little circular thank-you note in the center. We read every single one of them." Rydwansky said the four-year-old church, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, wanted to do something for the community and chose the Seach school because it was located nearby and has a large number of children from economically disadvantaged families. "We went in and said if you could dream big, what would be on your list," Rydwansky said. "We went back and said we would like to do everything on your list. Our goal is to encourage other churches and businesses [to do something similar]. This was not a hard thing to do."

- Johanna Seltz

REPLACEMENT ON RECREATION COMMITTEE - The Board of Selectmen has appointed Cornelius Hallisey to the Park and Recreation Committee to replace Roger Sweet, who resigned last month, said Town Clerk Jean Kopke. Hallisey will serve until the town election next April, when a full-time replacement will be chosen by voters for a three-year term. Committee member Barbara Littlefield's term is also up next year. - Joan Wilder

HEALTH FAIR SATURDAY - Residents can have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked during a Community Health Fair planned for Saturday at the Holy Tabernacle Church parking lot, 861 Main St. Medical professionals will offer informational material and will discuss various disease topics, and a mobile health van will be used to conduct free screenings for patients. Samples of healthy foods will also be available. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

- Milton Valencia

DAFFODILS ABOUND - The Canton Garden Club hopes that April showers will bring forth thousands of yellow daffodils all across town as part of its Paint the Town Yellow campaign. "We're hoping we can create a great big swath of color. We're trying to get as many different people and groups to participate as we can," said Kate Merrigan, copresident of the club. Merrigan said the club has placed its first order of 5,000 bulbs and is asking residents, schools, churches, and businesses to buy them at cost and plant them near roadways and homes in town during October. Those without a green thumb may participate in the beautification project by sponsoring plantings, she said. She said the group, which has about 125 members, will be planting bulbs that typically bloom in April in public areas in town. Information is available at the Town Hall, Canton Public Library, and at paintthetownyellow.net.

- Elaine Cushman Carroll

EDUCATION FORUM - Residents are invited to a community forum on public education at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall, meeting room 1. A panel of participants will include School Superintendent Liz Sorrell, John Portz of the Northeastern University School of Education, Carver special education coordinator Maureen Gaughan, and representatives of the School Committee and the state Department of Education. The program is the second of a series of four forums to be held this fall on community issues. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 508-866-3450 or e-mail jack.hunter@carverma.org.

- Robert Knox