Veterans get more space

GI Joe will finally be able to stretch his legs. The town's decision last week to have the Council on Aging move next month into the recently purchased Flame of Fire Church paves the way for Veterans Services to move to a larger office within Town Hall. Veterans agent Joe Colantoni said he plans to use the additional space to set up a military museum, including the continued display of his 50 GI Joe figurines. "I'm looking forward to a bigger office," he said. "We'll honor veterans of all wars with military memorabilia that now is sitting in homes all over town." For 12 years, Colantoni has worked out of cramped Room 207 on the building's second floor. The move into the former Council on Aging office next door, scheduled for Dec. 20, will double the department's office space to approximately 250 square feet. "My GI Joe display is going with me," he said. - Robert Carroll

LATE FEE LIFTED - No more late fee for Braintree residents who are tardy paying their trash fee. Selectmen voted, 3-1, to drop the $15 fee. Curbside trash pickup costs $170, $115 for seniors, and $130 for people who transport their own trash. Selectman Charles B. Ryan, who voted against the proposal, said it wasn't fair to the staff to stop the program once it had been approved and was in place. - Matt Carroll

LIFESAVING HISTORY RESURRECTED - The Cohasset Maritime Institute is getting back to its roots - and the town's - with a project to restore an old, wooden lifesaving boat. The 26-foot surfboat, which is "a big, fat bathtub meant to hold a lot of people, and very stable," according to project organizer Jack Buckley, came from the Hull Lifesaving Museum. A teacher at Cohasset Middle High School, Buckley helped found the maritime institute. "It's symbolic of the lifesaving that took place in this area," Buckley said of the boat. "In 1807, Cohasset had the first official lifesaving station, on a place called Pleasant Beach between Rocky and Sandy beaches. And Hull became the most famous station." Restoration will be done by high school students under the direction of professional boat builder Mike McNabb. Plans call for launching the finished product next June. The plan also is to raise about $40,000 to turn the boathouse into a year-round boat shop, teaching boatbuilding skills to kids and adults, Buckley said. - Johanna Seltz

RECYCLING EASIER - The Duxbury transfer station has started single-stream recycling, meaning residents do not have to separate newspapers, bottles, and other recyclables for different containers at the transfer station. To make recycling easier, these items can all be recycled together: Number 1 to 7 plastics, including bottles, containers, jugs, and expanded polystyrene foam; metal cans, including aluminum, steel, tin, foil pie plates, pet food containers, and empty spray cans; cardboard, corrugated and paperboard; paper; and glass. Selectmen are also considering a pay-as-you-throw system. A public hearing on setting disposal fees in conjunction with the new system will continue tomorrow evening at Town Hall. - Robert Knox

SECRET SANTAS FOR SENIORS - At first it looks like any Christmas tree in any mall. But a closer look at the Hanover Mall reveals its ornaments contain the names and needs of area seniors likely to spend the holidays alone. Shoppers are invited to pick up an ornament and bring it back by Dec. 10 with a gift. "We'll provide gifts for upwards of 400 to 500 seniors," said Alan Carney, owner of Home Instead Senior Care of Norwell, whose staff gathers the names of "orphaned elders" through local senior centers and councils on aging. Each ornament contains a name and a three-item wish list. - Robert Carroll

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO PAY BACK - Leslie Osborn got so much out of the Anti-Defamation League's World of Difference program at Hingham High School that she wanted to give back to it. This fall, the Boston College junior found a way to donate $25,000 to the ADL's statewide school program, which teaches tolerance and strategies for diffusing conflict. The money came from Hyde Park Congregational Church, which closed because of declining membership. Osborn's mother grew up in Hyde Park and continued to go to her childhood church even when she lived in Hingham. She was on the committee that divvied up the church's assets, donating more than $1 million dollars to charities. "We got to help a lot of great people and organizations, and ADL was always on the list," said Leslie Osborn. "It's a great organization and it's done a lot for me." - Johanna Seltz

HOUSING DEDICATION - Retired Holbrook fire chief William "Bill" Marble, a member of the Housing Authority for 22 years, was honored recently when one of the authority's largest renovation projects was dedicated to him. Marble was recognized for his housing work Oct. 25 when officials dedicated a $243,000 renovation of 10 apartments for the elderly and 10 apartments for families, according to Nancy Gordon, executive director for the authority. Marble has served as one of the four elected members of the authority. A fifth member is appointed by the state. - Franci Richardson Ellement

MEDIA CENTER TO BE DEDICATED - Officials plan to dedicate the new library and media center at Hull High School - which houses the town's cable television studio - to Kelly-ann Resnick, a 1996 graduate who died of a blood disease in 2000. Officials also plan to rededicate the high school building, which was extensively renovated over the past five years. The dual ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, before the Pirates' final football game against Cohasset. "Our family is very honored that they have chosen to dedicate the library and media center in her memory," said her mother, Candee Resnick. "She was just a typical Hull kid, a really good, really involved, giving kid." - Johanna Seltz

GUIDANCE ON COLLEGE FINANCING - The Silver Lake High School guidance department will host a college financial aid presentation next month by the nonprofit organization that helps families borrow money for college, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. The discussion will include how to apply for financial aid, seeking financing options, and comparing financial aid packages from different schools. Families will also receive a seminar booklet (Spanish language booklets available). The seminar will take place at the high school on Pembroke Street on Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact guidance department head John Garofalo at 781-585-3844, ext. 1023. - Robert Knox

NO MORE UGLY DUMPSTERS - Downtown business owners have about six weeks left to hide their dumpsters, due to a new bylaw that takes effect Jan. 1. The regulation requires all downtown dumpsters to be enclosed by a fence, wall, or landscaped bushes. Town Meeting passed the regulation in April, and it was approved by the attorney general's office. Copies of the bylaw and maps of the designated area are available in the Board of Health and Planning Department offices at Town Hall. - Emily Sweeney

WINDMILL ON GREAT BLUE - A state agency found no obvious reasons to block the possibility of putting a windmill on top of Great Blue Hill or Chickatawbut Hill, the two tallest peaks in the Blue Hills Reservation. The study done by the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory of the University of Massachusetts, at the request of the state Executive Office for Energy and Environmental Affairs, looked at issues that might derail the project, such as whether there is enough wind at the sites or possible environmental problems, said Sally Wright, a staff engineer who authored the report. The report noted the Federal Aviation Administration needed to be notified because of the potential size of the structure. State Senator Brian A. Joyce, a Democrat from Milton, who is among those championing the idea, said the next step would be to examine the economic viability of the project. - Matt Carroll

CONSERVATION AGENT NAMED - Paul Wightman was appointed new conservation agent by Town Administrator James Boudreau, effective Nov. 13. He replaces Michele Simoneaux, who resigned effective Sept. 13 to accept a job with a consulting firm. Wightman, an attorney, is a former member of the conservation commission in Brewster, where he lives. He practiced law full time for about 15 years, focusing on land use and environmental law, and for the past four years he worked as a park ranger at Nickerson State Park in Brewster, practicing law on the side. He said with his new job he intends to put his law practice aside. "I'm really excited about it," he said. "My first reaction is, I'm really surprised at how rural and beautiful Norwell is. It's just really quite striking. I look forward to it." - John Laidler

CASE FOR NEW HOMES TO BE HEARD - The Planning Board tomorrow night will continue a hearing on Mending Wall, a proposed 12-lot subdivision off West Elm Street. John Wyman, an attorney and Plymouth resident, wants to build 12 single-family homes there. The board will also have an informal discussion with the owner of King Collision Center of Pembroke, an auto body shop on Schoosett Street, about his plan to add a building to his site. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. - John Laidler

FIREFIGHTERS HONORED - Governor Deval Patrick and Kevin M. Burke, secretary of public safety and security, presented awards to members of the Plymouth Fire Department this month at the 18th annual Firefighter of the Year award ceremony in Boston. The Plymouth firefighters were honored for their response to a bizarre Dec. 18 house fire at 122 Drew Road, in which the occupant taunted police officers and fire personnel, pushed fire ladders away from the windows, and hurled objects down at them as they tried to rescue him. Firefighters persisted and eventually succeeded in getting a ladder up. Lieutenant Gregory Kane and Firefighter Michael Morrill managed to enter the building through a third-floor window and locate the occupant, who had been overcome by the smoke. They carried the unconscious man to the window and Lieutenant Montgomery Gray brought him down the ladder, which was surrounded by flames coming up from the second floor. Gray, Kane, and Morrill were awarded the Medal of Valor, and a group award for meritorious conduct was given to battalion Chief Stanley Elderidge, Deputy Chief Marin Enos, firefighters Brian Russo, Nathan Torrance, and Steve Williamson of Engine 1; firefighters Michael Balonis and Robert Ferrari of Engine 2; Lieutenant Jeffrey Carter and firefighter Donald DeCost of Engine 7; Lieutenant Douglas Pigeon and firefighters Edward Delano, Dale Melanson, and Jason Pierce of Engine 8; and firefighter Mark Milroy on dispatch. - Emily Sweeney

GABBING FOR PRACTICE - Would you like to help people with limited English connect with their community? Quincy Public Library is looking for volunteers for the new English Talk Time program, which will meet for 10 weeks on Saturdays mornings from Jan. 19 to March 22. The program is not an English class but an opportunity for adults learning English to practice what they know, according to the library. For more information call 617-376-3295 or e-mail quenglishtalk@ocln.org for more information. - Matt Carroll

RESTAURANT VIOLATIONS CORRECTED - The Randolph Board of Health fined two restaurants for code violations this month. The Piccadilly Pub, 1064 N. Main St., improperly stored its ice scoop inside the ice machine, a practice considered unsanitary, according to the health board. At Randolph Cafe, 1027 N. Main St., employees left chicken at room temperature. "Both were corrected right on the spot," said Randolph Health Agent John McVeigh. The establishments were each fined $100 and have the right to appeal the finding. Critical violations are listed on the health board's website at randolphboardofhealth.com. - David Connolly

FACTORY DOWN, CONDOS TO GO UP - Demolition crews started last week tearing down the old Hurley Shoe factory at 42 Church St., after town officials called it a public safety risk. The owner, John Rodolph of Pygmalian Realty Trust, was ordered by selectmen to demolish the building after the fire chief and building inspector complained that vagrants were getting inside and starting fires. Years earlier, the building had been declared hazardous, and firefighters were instructed not to enter. The building has been vacant for more than a decade. Rodolph plans to replace the building with condominiums. - Milton Valencia

LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT COUNCIL ON AGING - Joan Wright, the Council on Aging's director for the past 8 1/2 years, resigned effective Nov. 13 to accept a job with a private nonprofit South Shore healthcare agency. Her departure follows the retirement in October of Mary Kennedy Dean, program director for seven and a half years. The town is seeking to fill both seats. Last Tuesday, administrator Richard Agnew appointed Florence Choate, a council board member, as interim director. A Marshfield resident, Wright said that her years with the council were a good experience and that she "learned from some incredibly inspiring seniors." - John Laidler

PICKETING WILL CONTINUE - Teachers plan to continue picketing in front of Town Hall until they get a new contract, according to the president of the Weymouth Teachers Association. Kathy Lavery said the teachers hope to have a signed agreement before the new mayor, Sue Kay, takes office in January. "When the new mayor comes in, she'll have a very busy time with the budget," said Lavery, a health teacher. Mayor David Madden "should try to get things worked out before then," she said. Lavery said 16 other unions also are trying to get contracts, including police and firefighters. The teachers' contract expired Aug. 31. "I feel badly for the School Department. There are a lot of increases in expenses. But you also have 680 employees who should have some kind of compensation." - Johanna Seltz