Eat for a cause in Chelsea

August 31, 2008

About 30 area restaurants will come together for the fifth annual Taste of Chelsea next Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Massport Facility, 62 Broadway. The event is put together by the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce and Harbor Communities Overcoming Violence to raise awareness about domestic violence in the area. HarborCOV helps victims of domestic violence in Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop. Last year's Taste of Chelsea helped raise $50,000, with all proceeds funding HarborCOV programs. The organization hopes to reach its $75,000 goal this year. Tickets are $30 in advance, and $35 at the door. For groups of 10 or more, tickets are $25 each. For more information, call HarborCOV at 617-884-9799.

- Katheleen Conti

INFUSION OF YOUTH - The Common Council recently voted to name Daniel Napolitano to fill a vacant Ward 4 council seat. Joseph F. Hickey resigned in June after Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. appointed him to serve as the city's director of veterans services. Napolitano, 21, is entering his senior year at Assumption College in Worcester. This marks his first service for the city. "I've always been very interested in politics and I thought this would be the best opportunity to get my foot in the door to help serve the people of Everett and make Everett a better place," said Napolitano, who is not related to Ward 1 Common Councilor Peter Napolitano. Daniel Napolitano's appointment is through the end of January 2010.

- John Laidler

SEEKING CLASS OF 1959 - The Everett High School Class of 1959 is planning a 50th reunion celebration for next year. The class is seeking help in reaching a number of classmates who it has so far been unable to locate. Reunion organizers are asking any classmates that have not been contacted to e-mail them for information about the reunion. The e-mail addresses are aberardino@firstam.com, danielcarlin@comcast.net, francit106@aol.com, or Harvey_Weinstein@hotmail.com. Anyone who knows a graduate of the class is asked to forward a request to contact the organizers. The details of the reunion of the class of 1959 will be announced in the next few months.

- John Laidler

PARK IMPROVEMENTS - Keaney Park and High Rock Reservation may be in line for improvements if the city receives state grant funding. On Tuesday, the Park Commission will hold a public hearing on the city's application for $925,000 from the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The city has applied for $425,000 to put in five tennis courts, upgrade lighting, and replace backstops on softball and Little League baseball fields at Keaney Park, located behind English High School. At High Rock, the city is seeking $500,000 to build a granite walkway and stairs leading from Essex Street to the top of the reservation on High Rock Street. High Rock's stone tower is home to a public observatory that has a 12-inch Meade telescope for stargazing. The park board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Lynn Police headquarters, 300 Washington St. - Kathy McCabe

LYNNFIELD

YOUNG CRIMEFIGHTERS - The Student Police Academy graduated 30 Lynn youths, ages 13 to 17, during a recent ceremony at Breed Middle School. Each received a certificate for attending the six-week anticrime camp. Lynn police ran the academy, which included physical fitness training, and instruction in civil and criminal law, drug and alcohol laws, and city ordinances. Guest speakers included Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr., and School Superintendent Nicholas Kostan. - Kathy McCabe

FINANCE APPOINTMENT - The Board of Selectmen recently appointed Steven Watson to the Finance Committee. Watson fills the vacancy created by Gerry Stoddard's resignation. A consultant to public schools, Watson was previously an entrepreneur in the high-tech field, including serving as CEO of several companies. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnical Institute, and master's degrees in business administration and public administration from Harvard University. - John Laidler

FIGHTING TRASH FEE - Upset about the city's recent approval of a "Pay-As-You-Throw" trash program scheduled to be implemented in October, a group of local residents wants to give city voters the right to decide whether the initiative should be rescinded. The newly formed Malden Taxpayers for Accountability is criticizing the program, calling it "a thinly veiled override" of the state property tax cap law, Proposition 2 1/2. The group has drafted a petition calling for the city to overturn the trash fee. If the petition is recognized by city officials, the group will be required to obtain at least 2,400 valid signatures for the question to be put to voters. - Brenda J. Buote

CELL MONITORS SOUGHT - The Melrose Police Department is seeking cell monitors, individuals responsible for the safety and well-being of persons held in custody at the police station. The ideal candidates are college students, retirees, or anyone looking for on-call work. The successful candidates must be at least 18, have a high school diploma, and a current CPR certificate. The successful candidates will undergo a criminal records check and must complete suicide prevention training, which will be provided by the police department. Further information and applications are available at www.cityofmelrose.org. - Brenda J. Buote

BLOCK PARTY TONIGHT - The annual Mitchell's Corner Fund-Raising Block Party is scheduled for tonight from 7 to 11. Admission is free, and all proceeds from concessions and the sale of hats and T-shirts will go to the Nahant Education Foundation, a recently reorganized support group for Johnson Elementary School. Other funds raised will go to the Nahant Little League or Nahant Recreation Commission, according to Frank Cardile, who is cochairing the event with Mike Bilias. Mitchell's corner is at the intersection of Flash and Spring roads. The rain date is Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Cardile at 871-581-1559. - David Rattigan

FIXING THE FLOODING - A meeting with residents of Asti, Tuscano, and Eastern avenues and surrounding areas to discuss flooding problems is scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the City Council chambers in City Hall. At last Monday's meeting, councilors Robert Haas and Charles Patch questioned why flooding in those areas continues to occur despite recent road improvements, and they also requested that flood gates on Tuscano Avenue and the water pumps at Sherman Street be properly maintained. Residents at Monday's meeting described the scope of the flooding problem, including complaints of raw sewage getting in their basements, said Councilor John R. Correggio. The council's Public Works Subcommittee will be at Wednesday's meeting. - Katheleen Conti

PUBLIC HOUSING PLAN - The Housing Authority's annual housing agency plan is available for review at the agency's main office, 19 Talbot St. The plan outlines the agency's housing programs, policy, and strategy to meet the town's public housing needs. The plan must be submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Public comment will be accepted through Oct. 8 at 4 p.m., when a hearing on the plan will be held in the Community Room at Heritage Heights, 19 Talbot St. - Kathy McCabe

GETTING A START IN TV - Children have a chance to have fun while learning how to produce cable television shows. Wakefield Community Access Television, the nonprofit that runs the town's cable access channels, is accepting applications for the fall session of its Kids Video Club. The two-hour after-school program, which begins its fall season Sept. 12, teaches children from 8 to 13 all aspects of cable production. The class will be taught by WCAT training coordinator Adam Dusenberry, instructor Stacie Boucouvalas-Gianourakos, and Nick Kulinsky, a former WCAT intern who now studies at the New England Institute of Art. The class is divided into three levels based on experience. Enrollment includes a one-year family membership in WCAT. For more information or to register, call 781-224-0300 or e-mail kidsvideo@wcat.tv. Applications also are available for download at www.wcat.tv. - John Laidler

NO FERRY IN SIGHT - Town Manager Richard White said at a recent Town Council meeting that he is still hopeful for a trial ferry run from the new pier to Boston this fall. But White acknowledged the town has been "having trouble with recruitment" of ferry operators. Twice the town has solicited bids, but they went unanswered. White indicated the town has an opportunity with earmarked federal funds to help an operator with the purchase of equipment. When residents suggested the town subsidize a boat to generate interest, Town Council president Thomas Reilly said the town does not have funds to run or subsidize the service. "It doesn't appear that the ferry is a viable option in the near future," Reilly said. Last year, the state Seaport Advisory Council approved a $1.7 million grant for a part of the project. - Katheleen Conti

CATHOLIC FAMILY DAY - Area Catholic parishes will celebrate Regional Family Day on Sept. 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody. The event has been planned to mark the bicentennial of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Special events include talks by priests, nuns, and the laity on Catholic life; an outdoor play area for children; music and dance performances; food and refreshments. Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley will celebrate Mass at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.northregionbicentennial.org. - Kathy McCabe

A DAY FOR KIDS - The city of Peabody is inviting local families to take part in its annual Kids Day Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Leather City Common (rain date: Sunday). The event is free and open to the public. - John Laidler KNITTING FOR A CAUSE - The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library will present a new program, "Knitting for a Cause," with participants learning to make hats for cancer patients. The five-week program, led by Willy Bodengraven, begins Wednesday with an introductory class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is on Union Street, Hamilton. For more information, call 978-468-5577 or visit www.hwlibrary.org. - David Rattigan

LOWERING DRINKING AGE - The president of Marian Court College in Swampscott has joined the Amethyst Initiative, an effort by college and university leaders to promote a rethinking of the federal drinking age. Ghazi Darkazalli signed a statement of support for the initiative, which says the drinking age of 21 is not working and has created a culture of dangerous binge drinking on college campuses. It calls on elected officials to support an informed public debate on the effects of the current law. Marian Court is a nonresidential campus and as such does not experience underage drinking, according to college officials. - John Laidler