Funds from environmental bill

The environmental bond bill signed this month by Governor Deval Patrick includes $500,000 to pay for arsenic remediation near the former Ledge Road landfill. State officials are working with the town to develop a plan for recapping the landfill, a project that is expected to take several years and cost roughly $10 million. Town Meeting has already appropriated the funding.

- Brenda J. Buote

CANDIDATES NIGHT - The League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates night to introduce the four contenders for state representative in the Sept. 16 primary. James Arciero of Westford and Patricia Wojtas of Chelmsford will compete for a spot on the Democratic ballot in the Nov. 4 general election, and Republicans Paul J. Avella of Littleton and William K. Bunker of Westford will contend for the Republican spot. The second Middlesex District post covers Littleton, Westford, and Precincts 3, 5, and 7 in Chelmsford. State Representative Geoffrey Hall announced his retirement earlier this year. The candidates night is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chelmsford Police Station, 2 Olde North Road. A reception with the candidates begins at 7 p.m.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

STING NETS THREE BUSINESSES - Three businesses received license suspensions for selling alcohol to minors in a recent police sting. Last week, selectmen gave 15-day suspensions to Andy & Leo Liquor, Alexander's Pharmacy, and Dracut Center Convenience. In May, a 19-year-old police decoy entered the stores and purchased alcohol without providing identification. According to selectmen, only three days of the 15-day suspensions will be served, with the remaining held in abeyance for a two-year probationary period. The penalty days will be Sept. 8, 9, and 10. Last year, four stores sold to minors in a police sting, resulting in three- or four-day suspensions. None of the stores caught in last year's sting were involved this year. - Rocco Colella

DISTRICT REPORT CARD - The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District has more teachers who are considered highly qualified than the state average, but teacher-to-student ratios are less desirable than the state average, according to the district's most recent report card. For the 2007 to 2008 school year, a total of 99.9 teachers in the district met the criteria for highly qualified teaching professionals, as defined by the state. The state average is 95.7 percent. Student-teacher ratios are at 16 students per teacher, which is 2.4 students more than average.

- Matt Gunderson

DEBT EXCLUSION VOTE - The Board of Selectmen has placed a debt exclusion question on the Oct. 7 special election ballot to pay additional money owed to the Casella family for an eminent domain property-taking for the new high school. Dunstable and Groton were ordered by a court to pay an additional $2.5 million for the property, and the debt exclusion needs to pass for the town to maintain its budget this year, say officials. If the measure fails, the towns will have to take the money from their municipal and school operating budgets. It is estimated the debt exclusion measure would add an additional $48 to the average tax bill. - Matt Gunderson

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LESSONS - Northern Essex Community College is offering a night class this fall on the presidential election, said Ernie Greenslade, director of public relations for the college. The three-credit class, called Quest for the Presidency, will be taught by Richard Padova, a professor with experience in presidential elections, Greenslade said. Students will explore the candidates and issues of the 2008 general election and learn how elections are won and lost. The class will be held Thursday nights, starting this week. Call enrollment services at 978-556-3700. - Kate Augusto

ARTIST SPACES APPROVED - Ending a months-long battle with a developer over a proposal for 68 affordable living/work spaces in a vacant mill building on Western Avenue, the city's Zoning Board of Appeals signed off on the project last week. The board in January had rejected the plan put forward by developer Karl Frey, raising concerns about artists living in an industrial area. Board members also wanted to ensure that the area would be kept as industrial and not turned into a residential area. After months of negotiations between businesses and the developer, the board voted, 4 to 0, in favor of the project. Adam Baacke, assistant city manager for planning and development, said the project is an opportunity for the city to expand on the existing artist community on Western Avenue. Currently, there are 121 work-only studios on four floors supporting 160 artists and artisans. The new project calls for affordable living/work studios. "It's a project the city is very excited about," Baacke said. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

TIGHTENING ADULT BUSINESS RULES - A city councilor is looking to tighten zoning regulations that would make it more difficult for adult businesses to open in Methuen. City Councilor Kenneth Willette said he wants the city's zoning laws to ban adult businesses from locating within a half-mile of houses. Currently, adult businesses have to be located at least a quarter-mile from houses.

- Russell Contreras

ANOTHER ACCREDITATION WARNING -North Andover High School was given another warning on its accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, just months after the association lifted a previous warning in October because of concerns over class size and teacher pay following budget cuts. The association said that the school still needs to reduce class size and offer more electives. Principal Carla Scuzzarella is seeking to get the latest warning lifted. - Russell Contreras

NEW PRESCHOOL PROGRAM - The North Middlesex Regional School District is offering a full-day preschool program this fall at the Varnum Brook Elementary School, said Varnum principal Ralph Slavik. The program is designed for students ages 3 to 5, said Slavik, and the cost of the program is $650 per month or $35 per day. The fees will pay for the program, said Slavik. - Matt Gunderson

SEWER PROJECT ON SCHEDULE - By the end of 2009, all residents will have the option of hooking up to the town's sewer connection, according to Mike Guidice, a representative for Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., the Cambridge-based engineering firm overseeing work on the sewer construction project. Guidice appeared before the Board of Selectmen this month to update leaders on the progress of the project, which, he said, remains on schedule. -Brenda J. Buote

SEEKING MEMBERS -The Recreation Committee has two openings for associate (nonvoting) members. Residents are asked to send letters of interest to the Board of Selectmen, 25 Bryants Lane. Meetings are held at the Recreation Center on the first Wednesday of each month, at 7 p.m. There are 11 voting members, each representing a neighborhood or sport, and nine associates, who serve as substitutes when voting members are absent. More information can be found at tyngsboroughmass.com and tyngsboroughrec.homestead.com.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

FLOWERS FOR SALE -The Middlesex Conservation District is accepting advance orders for perennials and bulbs through Sept. 2. Its annual fall sale is on Sept. 19 and 20, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the 4-H Fairgrounds, 51 South Chelmsford Road. Varieties of tulips, daffodils, irises, and specialty bulbs are among the offerings. The proceeds will fund the district's educational efforts toward conserving soil and water, according to its website at middlesexconservation.org. The nonprofit state government subdivision encompasses 54 communities, including Westford. For information, call 978-692-9395.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

ON A MISSION -A graduate of Souhegan High School and Northeastern University is doing his part to raise money for the pediatric oncology unit at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Caleb Ginsberg, who works for the New York Yankees, will run the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2. He has a fund-raising goal of $50,000 and has already raised more than $10,000 through his large network of friends and family. For information, visit Ginsberg's website: motivatingmiles.com. - Meg Villeneuve

HEARING ON ANIMAL RULES -The Planning Board will schedule a public hearing on the animal ordinance during its meeting scheduled for Wednesday night. The proposed ordinance would regulate that residents need at least 1 acre to house any agricultural livestock, including horses, cows, and sheep. Following a public hearing with the Planning Board, the proposal will go before a public hearing with the Town Council, which will decide whether to vote it into the town's zoning regulations. - Meg Villeneuve

MALL MULLED - August has come and gone and still the Planning Board has not voted on whether to allow a proposed outlet mall. Last week the Planning Board continued a public hearing to Sept. 2. Assistant planner Steve Laurin said that the board cannot begin its final deliberations until the public hearing is closed. The board accepted Chelsea Property Group's application to build a 135-store outlet village shops on Commerce Drive. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall courtroom. - Meg Villeneuve

DONATION FOR VETERANS SERVICES - BAE Systems recently donated $30,000 to local veterans organizations. The company gave $15,000 each to the Easter Seals Veterans Count program and to Liberty House. Veterans Count supports families of deployed soldiers and returning veterans, helping servicemen and -women overcome hardships associated with deployment and the return to civilian life. Liberty House is a facility for homeless veterans that offers a safe environment to help veterans transition out of homelessness, providing clothing, meals, and counseling, and helps with job searches, medical care, housing, and education. - Meg Villeneuve

VOTE LOOMS ON ACCESS ROAD - Selectmen received mild support over the possible construction of a $1.25 million secondary access road for the high school during a deliberative session this month. Residents will vote on a warrant article during a Special Town Meeting on Sept. 9 that asks voters to approve a $1.25 million bond to construct a 24-foot-wide paved road connecting Route 111 to Castle Hill Road. State law requires that the high school, which is set to open in 2009, has a second access for emergencies. Voting is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Brook School. - Meg Villeneuve

EPA GRANT TO HELP WITH CLEANUP - A $10,000 technical assistant grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will help clean up a contaminated building. People of Ayer Concerned About the Environment, a community group concerned about a former dry cleaner/video store with perchloroethylene contamination of ground water, soil, and indoor air, won the grant. It will be used to hire a consultant to provide reports, technical data, and options for site cleanup. The DEP awarded $80,000 this year through the technical assistance program, which promotes citizen involvement in cleanups. - Taryn Plumb

FIREFIGHTER TO FACE CHARGES - A Burlington firefighter who has been placed on unpaid leave is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial conference next month to face drug charges. Police allege that David Richardson, who has been a town firefighter since 2002, sold the prescription painkiller Oxycontin to a Woburn man in May.

- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts