Affordable condo lottery

A lottery will be held on June 26 for affordable housing in Beverly. Three one-bedroom, 756-square-foot units at Montserrat Condominiums will be sold for $139,000. Single applicants' maximum annual income cannot exceed $46,300; two household members applying cannot exceed $52,950. Applications can be picked up at Montserrat Condominiums, 40 Heather St., and at the Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St. - Steven Rosenberg

LAND PURCHASE ON WARRANT - The May 13 annual Town Meeting will consider a proposal to authorize the town to spend $770,000 to acquire an 11.5-acre parcel of waterfront land on Johnson's Pond from the city of Haverhill. According to Town Administrator Alan Benson, Boxford would like to acquire the parcel, located off Lake Shore Road, to protect the waterfront. About a dozen other properties in the area are protected from development. The pond serves as a backup water supply for Haverhill, but is not currently in use, Benson said. He said Haverhill owns other properties along its section of the waterfront that it could use if it needed to tap into the water supply. The warrant article would cover the purchase cost plus $20,000 in debt acquisition and legal costs. Adoption would be contingent on Boxford receiving a $375,000 state grant to fund half the purchase costs. - John Laidler

OUTDOOR DISPLAYS - Home Depot has applied to the zoning board for permission to display seasonal products outside its two Danvers stores. Current zoning does not allow it. The retailer also has applied for permission to put more shopping cart cartels at its stores, located on Route 1 south and at 235 Independence Way, behind Liberty Tree Mall. The board meets tomorrow night at 7 in the Daniel J. Toomey Hearing Room at Town Hall. - Kathy McCabe

NEW PUMPER IN TOWN - A new fire pumper truck for the Essex Fire Department arrived last Tuesday. Approved at Town Meeting last year, the truck cost $291,834 fully equipped. The town's older model was to be traded in as part of the purchase. - David Rattigan

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HONORED - Middle School principal Cheryl Forster was recently named Middle School Principal of the Year for 2008-09 by the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Association. She will be considered along with middle school principals from 49 other states for a national award. "This came out of the blue, and shocked us all," said Forster. "It's nice to know that others are recognizing the success of our school department." - David Rattigan

FLUSHING TO END - The Department of Public Works will conclude its spring hydrant flushing program Tuesday. Tomorrow and Tuesday, the DPW will flush hydrants in West Gloucester and Magnolia, and will include Western Hesperus, and Magnolia avenues. Temporary discoloration, caused by iron particles in pipes, can be alleviated by running cold tap water for a few minutes. Residents who have questions can call the DPW at 978-281-9785. - Steven Rosenberg

PREPPING FOR TOWN MEETING - The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a warrant hearing as part of its meeting tomorrow. The board plans to review the 30-article warrant for the May 5 Town Meeting, which includes Proposition 2 1/2 override proposals for $1,288,322 for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District and $177,444 for the town's operating budget. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Bay Road. - David Rattigan

TOWN MEETING AGENDA - A $39.5 million fiscal 2009 spending plan is among items set to come before the annual Town Meeting, which convenes at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Middle School, 505 Main St. The proposal includes a $37.8 million operating budget, a $1.1 million capital budget, and a number of smaller items. The meeting will also consider proposed changes to the boundary lines of an elderly housing district created last year to accommodate a 60-and-over housing complex. The nonprofit Lynnfield Initiatives for Elders plans to build the complex on an approximately 6-acre portion of the Sheraton Colonial Golf Course. National Development, the firm planning a village-style development on the golf course, is donating the land for the housing to the town, which will then sell it to the nonprofit group. Town Administrator William J. Gustus said state environmental officials are concerned that the boundary lines would place the development too close to Reedy Meadow, potentially impacting endangered species. The meeting will also take up a proposal to reduce the minimum age required of residents to 55, and a measure reducing the quorum for town meetings from 175 to 100. - John Laidler

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE - Wednesday is the last day to register to vote in the May 20 town election. The town clerk's office, located on the first floor of Town Hall, will be open until 8 p.m. Wednesday to accommodate last-minute registrants. Mail-in forms must be postmarked by Wednesday. - John Laidler

RESTRICTIONS AT SINGING BEACH - Town officials are advising residents that seasonal restrictions on parking and dogs at Singing Beach will take effect Thursday. Dogs will not be allowed on the beach after that date, and parking at the beach lot will be limited to residents with valid beach parking stickers. The restrictions run through Sept. 30. - John Laidler

ENGINEER PLANS TO RETIRE - Town Engineer Douglas W. Saal intends to retire on June 5, 2009, according to a letter he submitted to the Board of Selectmen. A North Andover resident, Saal, 66, has been Marblehead's town engineer since December 1979. Prior to that, he was in private practice as a civil engineer. Saal said the fact that he has reached the maximum level of retirement benefits, and his age, were factors in his decision. Selectmen voted to accept his letter with regret. - John Laidler

ANIMAL COLLECTION - A local nonprofit recently found a way to bring some comfort to Middleton children in crisis. The Friends of the Flint Public Library collected donations of about 300 new or gently used Beanie Babies on behalf of the Middleton police and fire departments. The departments will keep the stuffed animals in their vehicles to give to children who have been involved in a crisis situation. - John Laidler

CAUSEWAY UPDATE - Residents got their first look at design plans for the reconstruction of the Nahant Causeway, scheduled for spring 2009, at a presentation earlier this month. "Most of it looks pretty good," said Town Administrator Mark Cullinan, citing changes in the entrances and exits, seawalls, drainage, lighting, and surface. Residents did voice concerns with some elements of the plan, including funneling the traffic from two lanes to one in the center; removing the barriers that separate the incoming and outgoing lanes in some places; and installing a sidewalk on the harbor side with a crosswalk at the midpoint. Acknowledging the work done by state Senator Thomas McGee and state Representative Steven Walsh to move the project along, Cullinan said, "We want to keep the project on track and have them make the adjustments that need to be made." - David Rattigan

SUBSTANCE ABUSE FORUM - A free workshop for parents on the dangers of alcohol and prescription drugs will be held Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. Marilyn Belmonte, cochairwoman of the Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force, will lead the workshop. The event is sponsored by several organizations, including the Peabody Health Department and the Peabody School Department. - Steven Rosenberg

OVERRIDE DISCUSSION - The Board of Selectmen plans to discuss the town's proposed $2,735,000 Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion override at its meeting Tuesday. The request is scheduled to go before voters at the town election on May 6. The proposal has received support at Town Meeting. The board also plans to vote on two appointments to the Harbor Advisory Committee, and to interview Finance Committee member Frank Hassler for reappointment. The board will also meet with a businessman seeking to operate a pedi-cab company, Rockport Rickshaw. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Broadway. - David Rattigan

SEVEN GABLES FREE FOR RESIDENTS - The House of the Seven Gables wants you back, Salem residents. In recent years, the 340-year-old historic site has lost favor as a place to visit among locals, according to Anita Blackaby, the new executive director. She is hoping to lure at least some of those people back by opening the Gables' seaside grounds and museum store to residents free of charge. For more information, visit 7gables.org or call 978-744-0991 - Erin Ailworth

TOWN ELECTION TUESDAY - Races for the Board of Selectmen and Board of Health are the only contests in the town election Tuesday. Polling hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Three candidates are running for two selectmen's seats: Jill G. Sullivan, who won a special election last October to fill a seat on the board; Town Meeting member Matthew W. Strauss, and first-time candidate Robert Mazow. Martha Dansdill and Marianne Speranza Hartmann are contending for the seat of retiring Board of Health member Martha Pitman. - John Laidler

EIGHT APPLY FOR HISTORY GRANTS - The Topsfield Historical Society recently received eight applications for this year's grant awards from the John J. Kimball Jr. Memorial Trust. The fund was established in 2004 by the family of the former lawyer and Marine Corps veteran of World War II and Korea. Kimball served as Topsfield's town moderator for 28 years and was a longtime director of the historical society. The trust was created to provide annual grants for tuition, books, and other educational and research expenses to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members who have a passion for the study of history and related disciplines. Recipients must be residents or have a substantial connection to Topsfield. The fund has so far distributed about $61,000 in grants. - John Laidler

HEARING ON TOWN MEETING - The Board of Selectmen's warrant hearing for Town Meeting on Saturday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Buker School, School Street. Articles on the warrant include a $601,267 Proposition 2 1/2 override for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District and a $153,000 capital exclusion override for the purchase of several items, including a police cruiser, a backhoe, catch basin replacements, and a garage door for the Department of Public Works. The town election is also scheduled for Saturday at the Buker School, between 8 a.m. and noon. Town Meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. - David Rattigan