New taxi medallions shifting into gear

After five years of discussions, Brookline officials have filed a warrant article that could allow the town to start selling medallions to taxi operators, a move which could bring in about $12 million in one-time revenue and nearly $100,000 in annual regulatory fees, they say. The current licensing fee of $300 has fallen short of covering the town's costs in monitoring cab safety and issuing licenses, according to a report issued by town officials in February. Details of the program are pending, but early estimates have indicated the possibility of distributing 187 medallions at a cost of $65,000 each, which is a far cry from the $350,000-plus tag that medallions can carry in Boston, where more than 1,800 are shared among an estimated 3,800 active drivers. The measure, which was filed by the Board of Selectmen, will be considered by Town Meeting's 248 members in November.

Drinking and drug use among Brookline High School students remained constant last year compared with 2005, according to a recently released risk-behavior survey by the town's Health Department. The survey included voluntary responses from 1,443 students in grades 9-12. Among the findings: 69 percent of students reported having used alcohol in 2007, while 25 percent said they had used marijuana. While most responses for using other illegal drugs remained relatively low - at or around 10 percent - the number of students who have reportedly used cocaine has doubled since 2005, to 8 percent, according to the survey, which is administered every two years in communities across the state and nationwide in an effort to monitor behaviors that contribute to death, disability, and social problems across the United States.

Feel like all the buzz this election season has focused on the youth vote? Dorothy Kelly Gay has you covered. The former Somerville mayor is scheduled to talk about election issues affecting senior citizens tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Goddard House. Gay, who works as vice president of government relations at Hebrew SeniorLife, a Roslindale nonprofit organization that operates elder housing, served as mayor of Somerville for four years, beginning in 1999. For details, call 617-731-8500.

Got a news item from Brookline? E-mail Richard Thompson at thompjourn@gmail.com.

Calling all aspiring politicians and policy-makers. The Cambridge Kids' Council, chaired by Mayor Denise Simmons, is seeking youths ages 14 to 18, and adults as well, to serve on the board. The goal of the council is to improve the quality of life for Cambridge children, youths, and their families. Participants gain leadership experience by making policy recommendations and setting up programs and services, including a youth civic leadership program, family play groups, a literacy and out-of-school-time initiative, and inclusion of children with disabilities. Meetings take place bimonthly. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1. E-mail Mary Wong at mwong@cambridgema.gov for more details.

Cambridge Community Television is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Sept. 18, and the public is invited to attend its backyard barbecue bash. This year, 20 individuals will be inducted into the first-ever honorary board for "their unwavering commitment to CCTV's mission, providing guidance, advice, and allocating on behalf of the organization." As per tradition, food will be prepared by local chefs, and music with roots in jazz, Afro-Cuban, and reggae will be played live. And, if burgers and dogs aren't your thing, you can still look forward to a silent auction, with items like a baseball signed by Red Sox cleanup man Dustin Pedroia. Proceeds from the event will benefit the organization's outreach programs. Tickets, ranging from $18 for children to $45 for adults, can be bought online at cctvcambridge.org/stores.

In response to a flare-up of gunfire in its part of town, northeast of Central Square, the Area 4 Neighborhood Group held a meeting Wednesday to discuss what was responsible for the outburst, and what to do to combat it. The previous day, several bullets had pelted houses on York Street during a shootout, this following a drive-by shooting Aug. 20, and gunfire at Washington and Columbia streets Aug. 19.

Got a news item from Cambridge? E-mail Jennifer Schwartz at jensch72@gmail.com.

In the department of "why rip up half a square when you can rip up the whole thing," the Board of Aldermen OK'd a request Aug. 28 by NStar Electric to install 1,730 feet of conduit between Prospect Street and McGrath Highway in Union Square. The streets in this area had previously not been directly affected by the work on Somerville Avenue and Bow Street. At the same meeting, the board ordered the city solicitor to check the status of bylaws covering parking or riding bikes and scooters on sidewalks. Though she favors alternative forms of transportation, Alderwoman Maryann Heuston said, scooters and bikes have been "causing a huge problem for pedestrians."

Despite construction, Union Square groups will put on a full slate of events this month. The Urban Country Fair says "yo howdy" on Sept. 20 with craft vendors, workshops, and country dancing with Gays for Patsy, a group of country and western dance enthusiasts. A week later brings a special election edition Fluff Festival, celebrating the city's sticky marshmallow gook. Drawings from the festival's "Fluff Boy" comic book are on display at Somerville Community Access Television. If you prefer an urban Old Country experience, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox church concludes its music and food festival today.

Two Somerville kickball teams spent Labor Day weekend gambling for goals at the World Adult Kickball Association world championship in Las Vegas. Though the Bootleggers won the Independence Division here at home, they were ranked only 46th in the 55-team competition and didn't make it out of the preliminaries. The 13th-ranked Champs Like It Tickled advanced to the Sweet 16 but promptly lost to the eventual champions, a team from Virginia. Also losing in the prelims: Cambridge's Stewies Sexy Party.

Got a news item from Somerville? E-mail Danielle Dreilinger at djdreilinger@comcast.net.