Torah dedication, rabbi installation

Temple Sha'arei Shalom will hold a Torah dedication service Friday at 7 p.m. in Montenegro Square in Ashland Center. The Torah, a gift from Temple Torah of Boynton Beach, Fla., will be marched from the square into the temple at 118 Main St. (in the Federated Church building). At 7:30 p.m., there will be an installation ceremony to welcome Rabbi Sonia Saltzman. For more information, call 508-231-4700 or e-mail info@ shaareishalom-ashland.org. - Rachel Lebeaux

SIGNAL WORK AT TOWN HALL - Work is underway to install traffic signals in front of the Municipal Center. The project, which town officials say should be completed by the end of next month, will also involve some minor widening of North Main Street. In addition, a dedicated right-turn lane from North Main Street southbound to Mendon Street westbound will be turned into a right-turn or straight lane, which officials believe will relieve traffic back-ups. The work by contractor Tasco Construction of Belmont will cause minimal traffic interruptions, aside from some work-day lane restrictions, officials said. They also said they view the work as an interim improvement, and intend to pursue roughly $2.5 million in state funding for future lane widenings and signal modifications. - Rachel Lebeaux

FRIENDS OF LIBRARY TO MEET - The Friends of the Dover Library group plans to hold its next meeting on Sept. 8 at 9 a.m. in the library's Community Room. The agenda for the public gathering includes a discussion about when to hold the next group-sponsored wine tasting. Members will also address fall tours of homes in Dover, as well Jane Bleakley's design plans for the organization's brochure. The group supports special programs and services that expand and enrich the library's offerings. More information about the group and becoming a member is available online at friendsofdoverlibrary.blogspot.com, or visit the library's website, dovertownlibrary.org.

- Anna Fiorentino

ADULT EDUCATION COURSES BEGIN - This fall's program of adult-education courses is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. Multiple-night fitness classes include standing pilates, power Zumba and belly dancing for beginners. One-night classes include a chocolate tasting, a crime-writers panel, a North End market tour, a Chinatown food tour, a wine tasting with Franklin Liquors, an animal behaviorist discussing dogs and cats, a royal tea party, and a lesson on what (not) to wear, led by a clothing consultant from Talbot's. To see a complete list of class offerings and to register online, visit franklin.k12.ma.us and click on the "Lifelong" link at the top of the page. For more information, contact coordinator Joan Borgatti at 508-541-2100 ext. 3178, or e-mail adulted@franklin.k12.ma.us. - Rachel Lebeaux

MORE SIGN UP TO RIDE BUS - About 200 students have signed up to ride the bus since the fee was reduced from $400 to $225 per child Aug. 21 , Superintendent Bradford Jackson said. The School Committee also set a $450 per-family cap on the fee. Previously, about 600 students had signed up, in addition to the approximately 700 who are eligible to take the bus without an additional fee. As of midweek, there were still spots available on all elementary school bus routes and on some middle and high school routes. - Calvin Hennick

EARLY START ON BUDGETS - Town Manager Anthony Troiano told the municipal department heads that they would need to follow a rigid schedule in preparing their budgets for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins next July. "We're trying to get things up to speed a little earlier than normal so we're not up against the wall in the spring," Troiano said. Departments will have to submit requests for equipment or other capital expenses to the Capital Improvement Committee by Nov. 1, and their operating budgets to Troiano by Jan. 1. Troiano said the early deadlines are necessary to give selectmen and Appropriations Committee members enough time to review the budgets before the May 4 Town Meeting. - Calvin Hennick

ONLINE REGISTRATION - Registration is open for the fall Parks and Recreation Department programs, and a brochure is available online at town.medfield.net. Residents can also register for the programs online by following a link on the website. Programs include arts and crafts, magic lessons, language instruction, martial arts, swimming, and yoga. - Calvin Hennick

E. COLI FOUND IN WATER - Samples of the E. coli bacteria have been found in the public drinking water supply. The town's Water and Sewer Department learned Aug. 18 that one out of 15 routine samples collected Aug. 13 at the Highland Street water tank showed the presence of total coliform bacteria, which indicates that the water could be contaminated with human or animal waste. Follow-up samples in the tank and the surrounding vicinity indicated low levels of coliform bacteria, and one sample also showed the presence of E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and headaches. The town is chlorinating and flushing out the distribution system to get rid of the bacteria, and is collecting samples for several rounds of testing. The Highland Street tank, taken out of service Aug. 20, will remain closed in the interim. Officials said that residents do not need to boil water or take other corrective actions. For more information, contact Mark Flaherty, water and sewer superintendent, at 508-533-3208, or check the town website, townofmedway.org, for updates. - Rachel Lebeaux

HIGH SCHOOL PARKING GAINS - Work on the parking lot at Milford High School was completed in time for the start of classes Tuesday. The $3.7 million renovation project was approved by Town Meeting last year. It involved resurfacing the lot and doubling the number of spaces. - Anna Fiorentino

NEW LIBRARY BEING DISCUSSED - Selectmen will meet with library trustees and members of the Permanent Building Committee and Finance Committee Sept. 8 to discuss whether to move forward with a proposed new library building. The town was awarded a $2.8 million state grant Aug. 14 for the construction of a new library. When the town last projected costs two years ago, estimates came in around $7 million, but costs have likely escalated since then, Town Administrator Charles Aspinwall said. The new library would be 18,000 square feet and would be built at the intersection of Exchange and Main streets, Aspinwall said. - Calvin Hennick

MOSQUITO AGENCY TO VISIT - The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project will investigate Natick residents' mosquito complaints over the next two weeks. The regional agency is planning to have staff members in Natick on Thursday, and again on Sept. 10, and 11. Complaints about mosquito levels or requests for areas to be treated can be registered with the agency at 508-393-3055 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. - Calvin Hennick

SCHOOL BUS FEE DELAYED - A new $90 school bus fee won't be implemented until Oct. 1, giving school officials a chance to see which families will be required to pay. State law mandates that the system provide free transportation for any student living more than 2 miles from school. All students will ride for free until Oct. 1; students from low-income families will be exempt from the fee when it is imposed. Officials say the fee is needed to close a gap in the school budget for this year. All students riding on a bus must register with the district, and carry a pass.

- Michele Morgan Bolton

VACANCY ON SCHOOL BOARD - Officials are heading into the new school year with a vacancy on the five-member School Committee. While members had hoped to fill the position this summer, a few meetings with the town's Board of Selectmen had to be postponed, including one last week because of a family emergency for one town official. Superintendent David P. Raiche said he hopes the discussion will take place at either of the School Committee's next two meetings, on Sept. 9 or Sept. 23. The seat became available when member Clinton Crocker moved out of town. - Michele Morgan Bolton

THOUGHTS ON BUS SERVICE - Selectmen are seeking input from residents about whether to establish a commuter bus line to provide daily service between the center of town and the MBTA's commuter-rail station in Natick. The service would be run by the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. Interested residents should provide feedback to the Board of Selectmen at 508-651-7850 or by e-mailing Town Administrator Daniel Keyes at daniel.keyes@Sherbornma.org. - Anna Fiorentino

OLD GROWTH FORESTS - Following the group's regular business meeting Sept. 15, the Friends of Upton State Forest will host a program on old growth forests. According to the group, old growth forests - predating the arrival of European settlers, who felled trees for lumber and firewood and to clear fields for farming - are now rare in New England. Paul Catanzaro, a forest resources specialist with the natural resources conservation program at the University of Massachusetts, will give a talk about how to restore old-growth characteristics to new forests. The program is free. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Upton Senior Center - Calvin Hennick

WRENTHAM DAY RETURNS - Area residents will be celebrating the 27th annual Wrentham Day on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with events including a crafts show, food booths, music and displays by local businesses, as well as the annual Wrentham Wroad Race. Registration for the 5K event begins at 8:30 a.m.; a form and other information is available at the town's website, wrentham.ma.us. On Sunday, volunteers will mark Keep Wrentham Beautiful Day by picking up trash around town from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organizer Barbara Keane said 120 volunteers picked up more than 30 cubic yards of trash last year. Volunteers will meet at the town center parking lot. For more information, call Keane at 508-384-3322.

- Calvin Hennick

SEARCHING FOR CELL TOWER SITE - The town's Zoning Board of Appeals has granted a monthlong extension to a cellphone company, T-Mobile USA Inc., to seek alternative locations for a 100-foot communications tower it wants to build in St. George's Cemetery, said Eugene Kennedy, the board's administrator. The company says it needs to place the tower in the Cherry Street graveyard, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, to address a coverage gap in the neighborhood, but the plan has drawn protests from residents who consider the siting inappropriate. The hearing is to resume at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Blumer Community Room in the Memorial Building, 150 Concord St. Call 508-532-5456 for more information. - Tanya Perez-Brennan

BRACCIO TO LEAD TOMORROW'S PARADE - Southborough resident Lisa Braccio has been named grand marshal of Marlborough's Labor Day Parade, director George Whapham recently announced. For the past few years, Braccio has organized efforts to send gift boxes to area soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Braccio was chosen for the Marlborough honor, Whapham said, because her work showing support for the troops epitomizes the theme for the parade, "Memorable Moments." The parade starts at noon tomorrow at the corner of Lincoln and Pleasant streets, proceeds west on Lincoln Street, continues on Main Street, and then ends at John Street.

- John Dyer

APPLEFEST NEEDS FLOATS - Town officials are calling for more participants in next month's annual Applefest. More people for the Applefest parade and more merchants seeking to rent booths at the street fair are needed, said a statement issued by the Northborough Recreation Department. Applefest runs from Sept. 19 to 21. Officials already canceled a planned night of fireworks for the popular event, citing a lack of donations. Click on the Applefest link on the town's website, www.town.northborough.ma.us, to download forms to join the festivities. For more information, contact Michelle Lyseth at 508-393-5034. - John Dyer