Tax bills mailed

Real estate and personal property tax bills for the first two quarters of the new fiscal year were mailed last week to Ashland property owners. Each bill has two coupons to be returned with the payments by Aug. 4 and Nov. 3, respectively. Residents are asked to contact the collector's office at 508-881-0100, ext. 621, if they have not received their bill. The collector's office recommends residents pay bills online at the town's website, ashlandmass.com.

- Rachel Lebeaux

SWIM SIGN-UPS - The final sign-up for swim classes offered through the town this summer will be held at Arcand Park tomorrow, the first day of classes, from 9 a.m. to noon. The half-hour classes will be held Mondays through Fridays until Aug. 8, and cost $45 per child ages 3 and up. - Rachel Lebeaux

NEW RULES FOR TRANSFER STATION - The town's Recycling Committee has announced new collection policies, including an expanded list of items accepted for recycling, at the transfer station on Powissett Street. The station now accepts any items made of plastic, from soda bottles and detergent bottles to foam peanuts, bottle caps, and drinking straws. All plastics can be placed in the same location at the transfer station, with the exception of containers with the No. 2 recycling symbol, which must be kept separate. The committee also asks that all boxboard, similar to tissue boxes, towel holders, and paper egg cartons, be recycled with the corrugated cardboard. New signs at the transfer station reflect the changes.

- Anna Fiorentino

CONCERTS ON THE COMMON - This year's Concerts on the Common series kicks off Wednesday and continues every Wednesday in July, as well as on select dates in August. Children's programs will be at 6 p.m.; concerts run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The series begins with the Quintessential Brass band and continues the following week with sets by the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. Other series performers will include the Frank Padula Band, "American Idol" contestant Ayla Brown, and a visit by Boston Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster. In the event of rain, concerts will be held at the Ben Franklin Charter School across from the common. More information is available on the town website, franklin.ma.us. - Rachel Lebeaux

POLICE STATION CUPOLA FOR SALE - The Salisbury contractor who tore down Holliston's old police station is selling the building's cupola online. In an ad posted on craigslist.org, D.L. Hutchinson Heavy Equipment Co. is offering the 15-foot-tall dome-like structure for $7,500. In an auction held by the town before the station was demolished, the cupola failed to garner any bids. Town officials hope to have the new station completed by the fall. - Calvin Hennick

PREVIEW OF ROAD WORK - The town's Highway Department has issued an update on local road projects. The milling and overlaying of Wood Street between Whisper Way and Exchange Street is scheduled to begin tomorrow, and expected to take four days to complete. Reclamation and paving of Spring Street between Wood and Pond streets begins July 28 and will take approximately 10 days. Both roads will have one lane of traffic open at all times, causing slight delays during construction. Residents are urged to seek alternate routes whenever possible. The process of sealing cracks on a number of town roads is to begin Aug. 4, and will also take 10 days to finish. - Michele Morgan Bolton

RESERVATIONS ABOUT HOSPITAL BILL - In a formal vote last week, selectmen said they would support a bill authorizing a 440-unit housing development at the site of the former Medfield State Hospital only if language in the bill is changed. Town Administrator Michael Sullivan said selectmen want to remove language that would allow the state to unilaterally alter plans for the site. The legislation would authorize the state to sell the property to a private developer that would build the complex. If it passes, the town would have to rezone the land to allow for the project. If the bill does not become law by July 31, when the current legislative session ends, Sullivan said, it would have to be filed again. - Calvin Hennick

PERFORMANCE IN CHOATE PARK - The Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band will perform in Choate Park tomorrow at 7 p.m. The band will be playing a variety of music, including oldies, jazz, rock, polka, and concert pieces. Admission is free. The rain date is Tuesday, at the same time and location. For more details, visit the band's website, bvccband.org.

- Rachel Lebeaux

ORCHESTRA TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS - The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra recently received an $8,000 Verizon Charitable Foundation grant that will fund a new educational partnership with the Milford school district's music department, beginning this fall. The collaboration will be a comprehensive mentoring project that will bring professional musicians and educators to the high school to work with students in the band and orchestral programs. It will also include demonstration concert visits by small ensembles of the orchestra to Milford's elementary schools during the school year, as well as open rehearsals of the symphony at both Milford High School and Stacy Middle School. - Anna Fiorentino

NEW SUPERINTENDENT ON JOB - Nancy Gustafson took over the school district's reins as its new superintendent last week, after the School Committee announced June 25 that she had signed a three-year contract. Her predecessor, Peter Sanchioni, left to become superintendent of Natick's schools. Gustafson, who has a certificate of advanced graduate studies from Leslie University and a master's degree from Boston University, said she plans to emphasize teacher collaboration and student writing. Gustafson was previously the district's director of curriculum, assessment, and professional development. "Our goal is to continue the great work that we've been doing," she said. - Calvin Hennick

ROUTE 27 REQUIREMENT RETAINED - Selectmen agreed at a public meeting Monday to uphold a 2005 policy limiting Department of Public Works vehicles to using Route 27, and staying off side streets, when approaching the West Street garage, unless work is being done on one of the side streets. Some officials had suggested dropping the requirement as a way to cut down on fuel costs, but residents, including parents of small children, said last week that safety should be the top concern. The policy will be reevaluated by town officials over the next few months, and ways to ensure it is enforced will be discussed. Selectmen want any recommendations on the policy within 90 days. - Michele Morgan Bolton

NEW BUILDING COMMITTEE NAMED - Selectmen last week appointed a nine-member building committee to oversee the potential construction of a new elementary school. School Committee members Ross Gilleland and Beth Gilbert will serve on the committee, as will Town Administrator Jack Hathaway and the new superintendent of schools. In addition, selectmen appointed Andrew Bakinowski, Leo Bedard, Michael Guidice, Annette McBride, and Dennis Stone. Building Commissioner Robert Bullock will advise the committee in a nonvoting role. Town Meeting voters this spring approved spending $500,000 for a study on the feasibility of building a new elementary school. Officials said half that money will be reimbursed by the state. - Calvin Hennick

OPENINGS ON KEY PANELS - Selectmen and School Committee members are seeking residents interested in filling a School Committee vacancy. The slot is open because member Clinton Crocker is moving out of town. The boards plan to meet July 16 to make the appointment. Selectmen are also looking to make a joint appointment to the town's Redevelopment Authority with the remaining members of the board. Authority member Frank Nado has signaled his intention to step down. - Calvin Hennick

STUDYING WESTERN AVENUE TRAFFIC - Traffic Solutions Inc., a Boston-based company specializing in planning, permitting, and designing transportation solutions, last week met with selectmen about its study concerning traffic on Western Avenue. The company will present its recommendations on easing the avenue's traffic issues next month. Town Planner Gino Carlucci recently noted in his blog that he believes the most critical area needing improvements is around Fessenden Field, due to high pedestrian traffic. He suggested the road be widened by 6 feet along the length of the field, and that a 6-foot-wide island surrounded by a 6-inch granite curb be constructed in the middle of the street. Carlucci's blog is at sherplan.blogspot.com - Anna Fiorentino

HEARING ON FIRE, EMS COMMITTEE - A public hearing on the rules and regulations for the advisory committee that will help oversee the town's fire and emergency medical service departments has been slated for July 28 at 4:30 p.m. in Town Hall. Town Meeting voters last month approved restructuring the management of the two departments under a new fire chief. Fire operations now are overseen by three appointed fire engineers, while emergency medical services are supervised by an appointed director. The new fire chief will report to selectmen. James Bates, the administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen, said the advisory committee may play a role in searching for the new chief.

- Calvin Hennick

CEREMONY WELCOMES NEW POLICE CHIEF - James Anderson, previously an acting lieutenant in the Wrentham Police Department, was sworn in as the department's chief last week in a ceremony attended by approximately 80 people. Anderson, who was selected through the Civil Service hiring system, takes over the department's reins from Lieutenant Richard Gillespie, who had been serving as interim chief during the hiring process and had also applied for the chief's position. The department had been without a permanent chief since November, when Joseph Collamati retired. - Calvin Hennick

NEW HEALTH BOARD DIGS - The Board of Health has moved from the Town House to the Southborough Senior Center at 9 Cordaville Road, a recent board statement said. The new offices are in the center's basement suite, with access for visitors from the back parking lot. Office hours will continue to be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Officials can be reached at 508-481-3013. - John Dyer

LIBRARY LOOKING FOR BOOK GROUPS - Do you belong to a book group? The Wayland Public Library would like to develop a database of contacts for book groups in the area. They're planning literary programs, including a "Community Reads" event in which everyone in town reads the same book. E-mail information to Ann Knight at wayland@waylandlibrary.org or call 508-358-2311. - John M. Guilfoil