A legacy of helping kids

Shawn Cotter always insisted that no child be left behind. Whether it was on an athletic field, in a classroom or at a museum, Cotter made sure each kid was given a chance to make the most of his or her experience. "Shawn," said longtime friend Beau Ryan, "was involved in so many activities. He was always helping kids." Ryan is a member of the Abington Education Foundation, a volunteer-driven organization whose goal is to promote Abington's educational services. Cotter, a former town counsel who lost his battle with cancer last December at age 52, helped start the foundation more than a decade ago. In his memory, foundation backers and first-time donors have joined to help raise more than $17,400 for 35 districtwide projects involving Abington schools. "More than $8,000 of what's been raised so far is from people directly honoring Shawn," Ryan said. "That says a lot about him. What a wonderful person. When someone like that passes away, it's a true loss for the community." - Robert Carroll

MAYOR NAMES EIGHT - The Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals now have members appointed by Mayor Joseph C. Sullivan. Named to the Planning Board were James Eng, formerly chairman of the Conservation Commission; Robert Harnais, who had been a member of the Quincy Planning Board; Darryl Mikami, a former Town Meeting member; Dale Valicenti, a Harvard graduate; and Linda Cusick Woodman, a former member of the Conservation Commission. Named to the Zoning Board were John Gauthier, who previously was on the board as an alternate; Stephen Karll, who had been board chairman; and Joseph Mulligan , who was the registrar of voters. The appointments must be confirmed by the Town Council. - Matt Carroll

WIND-POWER WINNOWING - Town Meeting will have a say in the future of wind power in town. The town's Alternative Energy Committee has found two town-owned and two privately owned sites that are windy enough to generate electricity on a commercial scale, according to committee member Michael Bliss. The town-owned properties are at the Cohasset Middle-High School and the town landfill, Bliss said. The other two sites are behind Hingham Lumber and at the privately owned, capped landfill, he said. As a first step toward having a large wind turbine in town, Bliss said, the committee has proposed rules in a bylaw that requires Town Meeting approval. "What this bylaw does is set out the requirements in terms of [property line] setbacks, height, color, noise, things like that," Bliss said. The Planning Board, which would have authority over wind turbine permits, will hold a hearing on the proposal at 7 tomorrow night in the basement meeting room at Town Hall. Town Meeting will begin on March 29. - Johanna Seltz

SPENDING ISSUES ON BALLOT - Voters at Town Meeting will be asked to approve three ballot questions increasing taxes beyond Proposition 2 1/2 limits. Officials will seek a one-year tax override of $911,400 for capital expenses for the schools and other town departments, including school textbooks, a new roof for Town Hall, and town vehicles. Officials are seeking to borrow $1 million to pay for design services for the construction of a new Fire Department and a new police station. Officials also are seeking to borrow $163,000 for design costs for major improvements to the town's Percy Walker Pool, including improvements to the pool's mechanical and electrical systems, lighting, and locker rooms. Each of the two measures that involve borrowing require a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting for passage. Town Meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Performing Arts Center at 93 Alden St. - Robert Knox

VERIZON ON HORIZON - Competition for the town's television viewers could be heating up. While the town's contract with Comcast is up in October and is likely to be renewed, Verizon has contacted town officials about also offering its cable services. "We're entering negotiations with Verizon now," said Cable Committee chairman Bob Sigsby. "We're hoping to have both [Comcast and Verizon] in town." Sigsby said that because Verizon already has fiber-optic lines in place throughout town, it would be easy for the company to start pumping in cable television. He said current Comcast customers pay an average of $50 per month for their service. While adding Verizon might drop the monthly cable bill slightly, the bigger benefit would be what's being offered on the small screen. "No question competition is good for the consumer," Sigsby said. "The channels and options for the viewers would increase." - Robert Carroll

TAX EXEMPTION IDEA ABANDONED - Selectmen have dropped the idea of a residential tax exemption, which would have benefited people with property worth less than $850,000 at the expense of those whose property is assessed higher. After floating the proposal and asking for citizen input, the board was bombarded with letters and calls, and more than 100 people showed up at an informational meeting. Most opposed the idea, with many saying that the worth of a home didn't necessarily reflect the owner's financial status. "The goal of the board was to help those in need and this program did not fulfill that goal," Melissa A. Tully, chairwoman of the selectmen, wrote in a letter to those who had contacted selectmen about the exemption. The letter also outlined options already available to help those having trouble paying their property tax bills, including tax reductions for disabled veterans and low-income senior citizens. More information may be obtained by calling the assessors office at 781-741-1455. - Johanna Seltz

OVERRIDE OFFERED AS BUDGET REMEDY - The Board of Selectmen has decided to put a $2.8 million override on the ballot April 1, according to Town Administrator Michael Yunits . If approved, the override would fund $1.6 million for the School Department to hire teachers for positions it could not previously fill because of budget constraints. The rest of the money would go toward funding town departments. Yunits said the town is likely to receive about $200,000 less than usual from lottery proceeds from the state, while facing rising costs that include a $270,000 increase in the Norfolk County pension costs, a $300,000 increase for the Blue Hills Technical School, a $70,000 spike in health insurance, and an overexpenditure of $100,000 so far in this year's snow-removal budget. - Franci Richardson Ellement

A DARNED GOOD DROWNED HOG - For the third year in a row, 12-year-old Jonathan Bloch was the top fund-raiser for Wellspring's Drowned Hogs benefit swim. "He's just a natural fund-raiser; we're going to hire him full time," said Vinny Harte, the social-service agency's executive director. "He hits up his friends, neighbors, relatives, and he doesn't do it because he wants to win a competition. He does it because he appreciates Wellspring and wants to help. He's an amazing kid." Bloch, a sixth-grader at Derby Academy in Hingham, first plunged into the frigid waters off Nantasket Beach during an event with the other Drowned Hogs when he was 10. He raised $700 in pledges that year, doubled it the next year, and brought in close to $3,000 this year, Harte said. Wellspring has collected nearly $20,000 from its 13th annual event, Harte said. - Johanna Seltz

STATE HOUSE SEAT OPENS - After 26 years in the Legislature, state Representative Frank M. Hynes has announced that he will not seek reelection. "I have served 13 terms as your voice on Beacon Hill," he stated on his website, frankhynes.com. "It is now time for me to recognize the inevitable shifting of the sands of time. It is time for me to step aside and to step down. It is time for me to retire." Hynes is a Democrat representing the Fourth Plymouth District, which covers the town of Marshfield and precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 in Scituate. So far, three Marshfield residents have stepped forward to run for his seat: James Cantwell, a lawyer; Michael Maresco, a selectman; and John Valianti, who owns South Shore Signs on Webster Street. - Emily Sweeney

COSTS ARE IN LINE - The town accountant, David Grab, had some good financial news for selectmen when he met with them recently. Costs are where they are supposed to be and tax collections are slightly higher than expected, he said in an interview later. The bump in revenue is primarily from excise taxes, mostly from motor vehicles. Excise collections are up about 6 percent, he said. Excise collections make up about $3 million of the $68 million budget. One expense that is higher than projected is the snow-removal budget. Because of storms, the town has spent about $328,000 rather than the budgeted $128,000, Grab said. - Matt Carroll

MANY SEATS, ONLY TWO RACES - With the deadline past for turning in nomination papers, the lineup of candidates is now set for the April 5 annual town election. Only two contests are on the ballot. In one, Assistant Town Clerk Patricia M. Anderson and School Committee member Elaine P. Reardon are competing to succeed Town Clerk Janice M. Lawson, who is retiring. In the other, incumbents Karen A. Joseph and Sally I. Turner are vying with challenger Steven Waitekaitis for two Planning Board seats. Other officeholders are unopposed. They include Selectman Richard A. Merritt, Board of Assessors member Edward J. Dunford, Board of Health member Peter Dillon, Board of Water Commissioners member Stephen P. Ivas, Housing Authority member Edward F. Walsh Jr., and Moderator Roger E. Hughes Jr. Also unopposed are incumbent Jeanne M. Hagelstein-Ivas and John E. Shortfall, who are seeking two seats on the public library trustees board. - John Laidler

LANDSCAPING THE LANDSCAPERS - The Planning Board at its March 10 meeting will hold an informal discussion with representatives of Gardener's Choice. The landscaping business wants to make improvements to its property at 408 Washington St., including to the parking area and entranceway. The discussion will address the company's options should it submit a formal application. Also, the board is expected to approve with conditions a site-plan application submitted by Burger King for renovations it would make to its building at 235 Church St. The board will continue a hearing on a request by Rockland Trust to change the sign on its building at Center and Mattakeeset streets. The board's approval is needed because the bank is located in the town's center protection district. - John Laidler

HABITAT MEETING OPEN TO ALL - Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth will hold its annual meeting from 2 to 5 p.m. next Sunday at the Plymouth Hampton Inn at 10 Plaza Way. New officers will be elected, awards will be presented, and the featured speaker will be Habitat's past president, Nancy Morse. The public is invited to attend and learn about Habitat's programs and construction projects underway. - Emily Sweeney

CITY CENSUS - Most residents of Quincy should have received their city census form in the mail. The city clerk's office has requested that residents answer the questions and mail the form back quickly. The form comes with a paid reply envelope. The city mails out about 45,000 forms. - Matt Carroll

OVERRIDE SEEN AS RESCUE FROM DEEP CUTS - If Randolph voters reject an override that would send additional funding to the School Department, as happened during the last two years, the schools would eliminate 19 full-time jobs, cut all sports and extracurricular activities, and close school buildings on nights and weekends. Randolph voters on April 1 will be asked to support a $5.48 million spending increase for the schools, and last week the School Committee adopted a contingency, level-funded budget based on this year's $29.7 million spending plan. School officials say the deep cuts would be necessary to absorb increased costs, such as contracted salary increases. Town officials estimate the override for the schools would add $444 to the annual property tax bill for the average house assessed at $321,000. - David Connolly

CONTEST FOR SELECTMEN - Four candidates have been qualified to run for the two open seats on the Board of Selectmen in the town election on April 12. The last day to register to vote is March 21. Mary A. Parsons, chairwoman of the selectmen, and Louis Valanzola, the vice chairman, are seeking reelection, and will face challengers Michael Johnson, a former member of the Finance Committee, and Deborah O'Brien, a member of the Planning Board. The top two vote-getters will win the two seats on the five-member board. The four candidates filed nomination papers by Monday's deadline. - Milton Valencia

THINK SPRING - Residents have a chance to escape the winter doldrums and make plans for spring: The Recreation Department has mailed its spring brochure to all households. The guide lists a range of programs for children and adults that the department will offer from March 15 through the end of May, including basketball, wrestling, cooking, karate, tai chi, fencing, and a "Little People" multiactivity program for 2- and 3-year-olds. Registration for residents will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the high school multipurpose room. On May 12, residents may sign up for programs that still have openings. Nonresidents may register starting on March 17. - John Laidler

SCHOOLS CUT POSITIONS - Teaching and administrative positions are cut in the proposed $55 million school budget for next year. The plan also calls for spending less money on textbooks and supplies. "We're being responsible in that the entire town is in this together, and we're facing financial difficulties," said Superintendent Mary Jo Livingstone. "Every department is putting forward a level-funded budget. But, in terms of how we're going to make progress as a school system, it will be very difficult." She said the problem was complicated by significant increases in utility and transportation costs, and in contractually obligated step increases in salaries. In addition, the town is negotiating new contracts with teachers and increased costs would add to expenses, she said. "I've been in the district for 23 years. I started here as a teacher," said Livingstone, who became superintendent last September. "I'm very familiar with what I was walking into, but it doesn't make it any easier. I know we're facing some difficult times." - Johanna Seltz

VICIOUS-DOG HEARING - Selectmen have scheduled a vicious-dog hearing for 8 p.m. Tuesday to discuss a complaint filed by resident Justin Jerome. According to a report by animal control officer Denise Horton, Jerome was walking on Cranberry Drive when he was bitten by a cocker spaniel-terrier mix owned by Donald Mayer. The dog was on a leash at the time of the incident. Jerome was bitten on the thigh, Horton said. He was treated and released from South Shore Hospital. According to the animal control officer, the dog, Bahia, is licensed and up to date on shots. - Christine Legere

BIKES FOR SALE - The Police Department is selling dozens of unclaimed bicycles on eBay. The police joined the auction website in January and posts items for sale under the name "warehampolicedepartment." As of last week, 45 unclaimed bicycles were for sale, and the starting bid for each lot of five bikes was $15. Call Detective Wayne Sylvester at 508-295-1206, ext. 238. - Emily Sweeney