Cohousing info

COHOUSING INFO - Town residents and others interested in the Sawyer Hill EcoVillage development are invited to an informational session Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the town offices, 23 Linden St. The EcoVillage is a "cohousing" project with 68 living units in two complexes plus a common area; the arrangement calls for homeowners to participate actively in organizing community life. The common house and other facilities are designed to bring the community together, according to an informational packet written by the project's developers, Stockard Engler Brigham of Brighton. Developed under Chapter 40B regulations, the project includes 17 units set aside as affordable housing, to be sold under income restrictions through a lottery; for example, a family of three would need income of roughly $60,000 to be eligible.

- John Dyer

LIBRARY HEARING TO RESUME - Neighbors expressed concern at a public hearing May 27 about a proposal to expand the town library, based on plans that would exceed Bolton's zoning limits on the height and size of buildings, said Town Planner Jennifer Atwood Burney. Issues surrounding the Bolton Public Library project will be picked up when the Zoning Board of Appeals resumes its hearing June 17 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, Burney said.

- Matt Gunderson

CHURCHES IN MARKET FOR LAND - After roughly two years of study, surveys, and discussion, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Bolton and St. Theresa Parish in Harvard have voted to merge their congregations in a new facility, according to church officials. The two Roman Catholic parishes have shared a pastor, the Rev. Dennis J. O'Brien, since April 2006. A planning committee is now scouting sites for the joint parish; members are interested in parcels with 8 or more acres in a location convenient to both Bolton and Harvard residents. Over the next few months, the churches will work on a conceptual design and kick off a fund-raising capital campaign, officials said. Together, the parishes have 375 families, and have 600 to 700 people attending Mass each weekend.

- Taryn Plumb

RECEIPTS TO HELP EDUCATION - Tahanto Regional High School is participating in a supermarket chain's fund-raising program to support its family and consumer science classes. The Shaw's/Star Market Receipts Rewards program allows people to trigger donations from the supermarkets based on purchases they have made as reflected in register receipts. Donations of 1 percent of the eligible purchases will be awarded to the school for classroom materials. Receipts can be mailed or sent to Lori Tarallo, who teaches family and consumer science at the high school. Tahanto Regional draws its students from Berlin and Boylston. - Matt Gunderson

MEETING ON SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH - The Framingham School Committee is taking a preliminary step in its search for a new school superintendent Tuesday, with a special meeting featuring a presentation by Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. "He'll talk about how they can assist us and how searches are being conducted right now," said the School Committee's chairman, Phil Dinsky. The School Committee will meet over the summer and start a formal search for a new superintendent in the fall, Dinsky said. A search committee made up of 25 community members will be put together with the goal of hiring someone by January or February, he said. Eugene Thayer, a retired school administrator, has been serving as the district's interim superintendent since last year. Tuesday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the George P. King Administration Building, at 454 Water St. Call 508-626-9121 for more information.

- Tanya Pérez-Brennan

TWO SCHOOLS, ONE PRINCIPAL - The school district's superintendent, Nina Schlikin, recently announced her plan to combine the Hubert Kindergarten Center and Mulready Elementary School under one principal. In a letter posted on the district's website, www.hudson.k12.ma.us, Schlikin wrote that the district's tight budget doesn't allow her to hire a replacement for Madeline Brick, who is retiring as principal of the JFK Middle School after 11 years with the school system. Schlikin said Hubert's principal, Linda Corbin, will pick up the reins at the middle school, while Mulready principal Charlene Cook will take over Corbin's duties at the kindergarten center. Schlikin noted that problems could arise with a single principal overseeing two schools, but she believes the job is doable. - John Dyer

JOBS FOR TWO STUDENTS - The town is looking for two students to work summer jobs in town. Applicants should be age 16 and older and live in Lincoln, Bedford, Lexington, or Concord. Hours and pay vary depending on the position. To apply, submit a letter of interest and an application by June 25 to Anita Scheipers, Lincoln Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Applications and more information are available online at lincolntown.org.

- John M. Guilfoil

WALGREENS PLAN GAINS GROUND - The Planning Board has approved the site plan for a new Walgreens pharmacy at routes 62 and 27, said Marie Morando, the board's administrative assistant. In addition to issuing eight parking waivers for the retail development, the board is getting the company to reduce the size of its road sign, responding to concerns raised by residents about esthetics. The board meets again on Tuesday with the developer to stipulate further conditions on the project. - Matt Gunderson

SENIOR CENTER SURVIVES RECOUNT - A hand recount of the May 12 election that narrowly approved a $5.5 million tax increase for a new senior center did not change the vote's outcome, according to Town Clerk Andrew Dowd. The recount, which was requested by a citizen's petition, added three votes to the tally in favor of the Proposition 2 1/2 debt-exclusion override, and took one away from the no vote, he said. The final figures show 1,129 voters supported the tax increase, while 1,123 voted against it. The initial machine-counted vote tallied 1,126 ballots in favor of borrowing the money for the center's construction, and 1,122 against. - John Dyer

FIRE FUND-RAISING - The Northborough Fire Fund, which was set up by the town's Rotary Club in the wake of a blaze that destroyed a section of a West Main Street shopping plaza in March, has raised $15,000 for the owners of businesses displaced by the fire. Around $5,000 of the money has been distributed, said Town Clerk Andrew Dowd, who is also a Rotary Club member. The service organization is now organizing a fund-raiser involving local restaurants, in which a portion of customers' bills will be donated to the fund. For more information, visit the club's website, northboroughrotary.org, or call member Michelle Gillespie at 508-393-1355. - John Dyer

HELP WITH ELECTRIC BILLS - SELCO, the town's municipal electric company, is offering a "Money Match" program, which gives eligible low-income customers a dollar-for-dollar matching credit on their bills. Customers can request a match amount up to the total of their electric bills, but not less than $50 or more than $300, for the months of January, February, and March, according to the town's website. Match credits will be given for eligible payments made from May 1 through June 30, which is the deadline for application forms. Customers who meet eligibility requirements can get the matching amount even if they do not have an outstanding balance due on their account. For more information and an application form, go to the town's website, shrewsbury-ma.gov, or the SELCO office at Town Hall, 100 Maple Ave.

- Lisa Kocian

DONATION FOR BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH - The Shrewsbury-based Tara Bean Foundation has donated $125,000 to the UMass Memorial Foundation to fund brain tumor research at UMass Medical School. Specifically, the hope is that the money will help "search for new means of early detection of brain tumors and cerebral vascular malformations that can lead to life-threatening hemorrhage in the brain," according to an announcement by the foundation. Brain tumors are the second most common form of childhood and adolescent cancers, after leukemia, according to the announcement. The Tara Bean Foundation, named after a 9-year-old girl from Shrewsbury who died in 2000 from a brain tumor, has raised more than $800,000 to support research and enhanced clinical care for children suffering from brain tumors, the foundation said. For more information, go to tarabeanfoundation.org.

- Lisa Kocian

ST. MARK'S GOES ONLINE - For the first time, St. Mark's School showed its graduation ceremony online so that family members of international students could observe their children accept their diplomas. Friends and relatives in England, Ireland, France, and Korea were among the remote observers who logged onto the private school's website to watch May 25 event, in which 89 students graduated, according to a St. Mark's spokeswoman, Molly Ingram. Its head of school, John Warren, announced that St. Mark's also plans to start broadcasting classroom teaching, sports events, and other activities on the Internet.

- John Dyer

CONCERN OVER LOWER VILLAGE PLAN - Town officials, in hosting forums on proposed mixed-use zoning changes for Stow's Lower Village section, have heard some criticisms about a transition business zone, said Karen Kelleher, the town's planning coordinator. The new zone would cover the outskirts of the Lower Village district and allow limited business development in areas currently zoned residential. The proposal has proven unpopular with some nearby residents, who don't like the idea of a dentist office or other businesses in their neighborhoods, said Kelleher. Officials expect to hold more forums on the zoning plans, probably later this summer, she said.

- Matt Gunderson

BUDGET BOOK AVAILABLE - The town's budget book for next fiscal year has been completed and is available in bound copies for $60 and in CD form for $2. The book details the town's finances for the 2009 fiscal year, which starts July 1. It includes charts and statistics as well as narratives explaining the spending plans and objectives of town departments. For more information, or to order a copy, contact the town's Finance Department at 978-639-3376.

- John M. Guilfoil

TOWN BEACH OPENS - The town beach has formally opened for the summer, offering swimming and sailing lessons, beach volleyball, horseshoes, picnics, and other activities. Day passes for residents are $3. Season passes are $20 for children ages 2-18, $25 for adults, and $5 for residents 65 or older; children under 2 are free. A 10-pack of nonresident guest passes is also available for $25. For more information, call 508-358-3660. - John M. Guilfoil

MUSIC PARENTS TO MEET - The Westborough Music Parents Association will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Westborough High School auditorium. After performances by the high school's brass choir and percussion ensemble, the group will conduct end-of-the-year business, including elections of officers for the upcoming academic year. The association expects to provide 42 scholarships to graduating students in addition to 13 other scholarships for students. For more information, contact Judy Wilchynski at 508-870-1895.

- John Dyer

ALL THIS, AND CHILI - Rediscover Ashland, sponsored by the Ashland Business Association, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Montenegro Square and at American Legion Post 77 on Summer Street. Businesses will display products and services and offer raffles, giveaways, and discounts. The Friends of the Ashland Public Library will host a book sale inside the Front Street library. The event's fourth annual chili contest, sponsored by the business association and the Ashland Lions Club, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion; a $5 donation is requested to taste the entries in the contest. For details, visit RediscoverAshland.com.

- Rachel Lebeaux