More study on senior center

Whether the town will fund a $500,000 project to design a new senior center at Ridge Hill is a question that the Board of Selectmen will continue to examine. Instead of appropriating the funds, Town Meeting voted Monday to refer the issue for further study. The money would have been used to develop a construction plan and estimate the cost of the project for Town Meeting voters next spring. - Laura Colarusso

NEW MEMBER JOINS HOUSING BOARD - The Waltham Alliance to Create Housing has named Annette Reynolds to its 12-member board of directors. Reynolds, who was appointed Sept. 29 and attended her first meeting on Nov. 1, has been a Waltham resident for seven years. After spending 20 years as a consultant in business management and automated accounting systems, she recently became a real estate consultant for Century 21 Commonwealth in Watertown. Reynolds has also served on boards at the Cambridge YWCA and Adoptive Families Together, a support network for families who have adopted a child, and is a board member of the Rotary Club of Waltham. - Stephanie V. Siek

FIREFIGHTER HONORED FOR VALOR - Firefighter Thomas Thibaut was honored with a medal of valor at the 18th annual statewide "Firefighter of the Year" awards ceremony held last week at Faneuil Hall in Boston. Thibaut earned recognition for his bravery during a 2-alarm house fire at 23 Bennett Road on Feb. 27 in which a resident fell asleep while cooking, leaving a pan of hot oil on the stove. Thibaut, who was not in uniform at the time, was one of the first on the scene, said Fire Chief Mario Orangio. After police had alerted Thibaut that a man was trapped inside the single-family ranch, Thibaut climbed through an open bedroom window, located Daniel Hayes, and hoisted him to safety through the window, said Orangio. The fire caused extensive damage to the house and sent Thibaut, a police officer, and Hayes to the hospital with minor injuries. Thibaut also serves as chairman of the Watertown Contributory Retirement Board and secretary-treasurer of Local 1347 of the firefighters union. - Christina Pazzanese

PARADE OF AUTHORS - Julia Glass, who won a 2002 National Book Award for her debut novel "Three Junes," visited the Wellesley Free Library last week to present its annual Arnold Lecture. New York Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica will be at the library on Friday at 4 p.m. to introduce his latest two novels for teenagers - "Two-Minute Drill" and "Hot Hand." Next Sunday, author Walter Carter Ford will discuss his book, "No Greater Love, No Greater Sacrifice: A Son's Journey to Normandy." The book reflects upon a journal and letters written by his father, an Army surgeon during World War II who took part in the D-Day invasion in 1944. - Lisa Keen

PRACTICING ON BMW - At School Committee meetings, the members routinely approve a list of contributions from local parents and residents - trumpets, audio-visual equipment, money for playground improvements. But there was an unusual item on a recent week's list: a 1996 BMW 325. The car was donated by Susan and Carl Bell, residents with three children in the public schools. Susan Bell said she read that Wellesley High School's auto shop needed a used car for students to practice on, and she was looking to "get rid" of the old BMW. Michael Young, chairman of the School Committee, said the car will be refurbished by the students and sold, with the proceeds going to the school. - Lisa Keen

HISTORICAL SEAT STILL OPEN - The Board of Selectmen is again asking for applicants interested in serving on the town's Historical Commission to step forward, after a request made over the summer failed to yield enough replies. The seat was vacated earlier this year by Robert Fronk, who stepped down to seek associate membership on the panel. Residents with experience in reading architectural plans and identifying architectural styles are especially encouraged to apply, as part of the commission's job is to administer the town's demolition delay bylaw for historic properties and review applications for historic home markers. The time commitment includes meetings every three weeks, lasting about 2-3 hours each, as well as additional time spent on site reviews, special projects, and cooperation with other boards and committees. Applicants should send a letter of interest with background information to the Town of Weston, Board of Selectmen, PO Box 378, Weston 02493. Materials can also be faxed to 781-891-3697 or e-mailed to selectmen@westonmass.org. The applications are due Nov. 30. - Stephanie V. Siek

AROUND THE REGION

MOURNING HILL'S DEATH - The town lost a longtime employee and dedicated worker when Robert Hill, the building inspector since 1981, died Nov. 3 of pancreatic cancer. Hill, 63, began working for Ashland when it was a much different town, said his wife of 34 years, Andrea. "It was a very small town, and the building growth was under his reign as building inspector. He was very conscientious about how the town looked. He loved this town," Hill said. Her husband paid attention to every detail, she continued. "People would say, 'You're going to build in Ashland, you've got to deal with Bob Hill,' " she recalled. The Hills have a daughter, 26, and a son, 23. Their daughter was married in September, and the father of the bride still felt healthy. "He wasn't even diagnosed then. He felt fine. He got to walk his daughter down the aisle," Andrea Hill said. Flags in Ashland flew at half-staff this week to honor Hill. She said donations in his honor may be made to the American Cancer Society at 9 Riverside Road, Weston, MA 02493. - Alexandra Perloe

OPEN HOUSE AT 1870 TOWN HALL - Many hours of volunteer labor have gone into the renovation of Berlin's 1870 Town Hall. On Saturday, an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. at the building in the town center will celebrate that work. The event will feature a tour for visitors who haven't seen the revamped structure, a slide show of the renovation work, and a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. - John Dyer

OPENING FOR TOWN CLERK - With Betsy Cussen retiring as town clerk this month, officials have begun advertising for her interim replacement. Selectmen hope to quickly find someone to fill the remainder of Cussen's term, which ends in May. The job description is being reevaluated, but the hourly wage currently ranges from $23.90 to $31.19 for 30 hours per week. Applicants can mail résumés to Town Administrator Jodi Ross at Town Hall or send them via e-mail to townadministrator@townofbolton.com. - Matt Gunderson

GRANT WILL FUND LAND PURCHASE - Holliston has been awarded a $500,000 state grant allowing the town to purchase approximately 86 acres of open space, owned by the utility NSTAR, off Adams Street. Town Meeting voters last month approved spending $622,000 to acquire the land. The total cost of the site is $1,022,000, leaving $100,000 to be spent on other projects, Town Administrator Paul LeBeau said. - Calvin Hennick

TOWN MANAGER FACES CHARGES - A Falmouth District Court clerk-magistrate ruled last week that there was sufficient evidence to charge Town Manager Anthony Troiano with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, stemming from a May 15 automobile accident on Cape Cod. According to Michael Trudeau, first assistant district attorney, Troiano will face additional charges, including speeding, failure to pass safely, and a marked-lane violation. The head-on collision resulted in the death of 69-year-old Lilija Berents of Falmouth, who was thrown from her car and pronounced dead at the scene. Troiano, 51, suffered numerous injuries including a broken femur, torn aorta, and collapsed lungs. He is scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 20. Troiano, who could not be reached for comment on the charges, will continue to serve as Hopkinton's town manager, said Muriel Kramer, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen. Kramer would not comment on the legal proceedings. - David Cogger

PUB HEARING POSTPONED - The Board of Selectmen has postponed its liquor license hearing for the Santa Barbara Pub until Dec. 3, with the pub's attorneys saying they were unable to prepare for the session scheduled for last week, officials said. But selectmen and the pub have reached an agreement that will hold until the liquor license hearing is conducted. Pub owner Jose Bairos agreed to close the pub at midnight for the next month and reimburse the town about $650 for the expense of calling police officers and others to the hearing. He also promised to voluntarily suspend his liquor license if he is not able to participate in a full hearing on Dec. 3. The hearing had been called for Monday to investigate the latest complaint involving the Santa Barbara, in which a patron complained of mistreatment by a pub employee. - John Dyer

ART OF PAINTING RUSSIAN DOLLS - A workshop for children to learn traditional Russian doll painting will be held Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hudson Public Library, on Wood Square. Folk painting techniques and other aspects of this unique form of Russian art will be taught. Cost for the event ranges from $10 to $50, depending on the size of the doll. For more information, contact children's librarian Debbie Backman at 978-568-9645. - John Dyer

EMERGENCY PLANNING - In the wake of wildfires in Southern California, emergency workers in Lincoln are encouraging residents to register with Connect-CTY, an automated notification system. In the event of an emergency, all residents who have registered their home, business or cellphone numbers could be contacted quickly with a recorded message providing details and directions from police or fire officials. For more information, call the Police Department at 781-259-8111. - John M. Guilfoil

LOOKING INTO NEW WATER DISTRICT - The Board of Selectmen has received permission from the Advisory Committee to spend $15,000 to explore the possibility of establishing a new water district that would include all of downtown and the Pine Hill School. The idea came from group of private citizens, headed by businessman Ed Rose, who asked the board to investigate the possibility last month. The money will be used to conduct a water suitability study at the Price Woodlands, a conservation property. Board chairman Christopher Peck said $7,500 will be used to drill a well to determine whether there's an adequate supply of water, and if the water is clean enough. The other $7,500 would be spent for a second test only if the initial site is found to be unsuitable; otherwise, it would be returned to the town's coffers. Peck said the board is waiting to hear from the Conservation Commission before selecting a particular area for the test well. He expects a response this month. - Nadia Salomon

SELECTMEN BACK LOWER PRICE - The majority of selectmen have supported placing an article on the Dec. 3 Special Town Meeting warrant that would propose paying drastically less for the Snow property on Old Bolton Road, said Selectman Stephen Dungan. The $850,000 article will be closer to a town appraisal of the property and much lower than the owner's $1.3 million asking price, said Dungan. Another warrant article, prompted by the Recreation Commission, will ask voters to pay the full asking price and approve spending more than $1.3 million to create recreation fields on the property, he said. - Matt Gunderson

SESSION ON USES FOR TOWN LAND - The Board of Selectmen will hold a public meeting Tuesday to discuss the use of town-owned land. Two parcels are under discussion - 38 acres near Old Framingham Road and 46 acres on North Road. The town is considering housing developments and recreational applications for the properties. Written opinions should be submitted before Tuesday for consideration. For more information, call Jody Kablack at 978-639-3387. - John M. Guilfoil