Open house at Newman tonight

September 7, 2008

The Newman School will be ready to open tomorrow, three days later than other Needham schools, according to Daniel Gutekanst, the district's superintendent. The opening was delayed while the elementary school's heating and ventilation system was revamped, in response to allergy-based health problems reported by some staff members earlier in the year. A study examining longer-term solutions is in the works, and air quality will be monitored on a regular basis, Gutekanst informed parents recently. An open house for parents is being held at the school this evening from 4:30 to 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.needham.k12.ma.us. - Lisa Kocian

MAYOR SAYS NORTH ON SCHEDULE - Mayor David Cohen told the Board of Aldermen last week that the $195.2 million new Newton North High School is proceeding on schedule to open in September 2010. About 56 percent of the concrete foundation has been poured. Cohen, building commissioner Nicholas Parnell, and representatives of project manager Dimeo Construction Co. and Dore & Whittier Architects tackled aldermen's questions and concerns Tuesday on a number of topics, including the design of the windows, project liability, and construction noise and time violations. Parnell said utility work on Elm Street - the source of many complaints from neighbors - is complete. Cohen said the the city got a good price on the windows and the natural light will help make the building more energy efficient.

- Rachana Rathi

BENTLEY, BC, OLIN WELL WIRED - Bentley College was ranked fourth in the "Top 20 Wired Colleges" nationwide by PC magazine and the Princeton Review, according to a joint announcement by the magazine and the test preparation company last week. Bentley was lauded for having new computers (less than a year old) in its computer labs and common areas and for "putting a laptop in the hands of every freshman." Other area colleges making the list were Boston College (6); Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham (13); and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (20). The number one "teched-out" campus in the country is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, according to the announcement. - Lisa Kocian

CEMETERY ISSUES AIRED - After a flurry of complaints this summer from residents over persistent maintenance issues at the "Old Catholic" cemetery on Cottage Street, including headstones overturned by vandals, a gathering to foster better communications was held recently with the Boston Archdiocese, cemetery staff, police, and residents. District A Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who organized the Aug. 27 meeting, said it was productive, clearing the air over who is responsible for keeping up the property. Unlike Ridgelawn cemetery, which is maintained by the town Public Works Department, the East End burial ground is owned and maintained by the Boston Archdiocese. Cemetery staff had done some sprucing up prior to the meeting, said Kounelis. "I think it's cleaner and they're agreeable to ongoing dialogue and that's important." New signs are now posted at the gate informing visitors about whom to contact about maintenance problems, and staffers said they would work closely with town residents.

- Christina Pazzanese

PROJECT HIRING ON AGENDA - On Tuesday night, the Town Council will consider a resolution to tighten rules for construction firms that work on taxpayer-funded projects. The move, put forward by Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney, comes after town officials say they were caught off guard by protesters who picketed outside the police station building site two weeks ago to protest the hiring of a New Hampshire demolition firm that allegedly used out-of-state, nonunion workers. Devaney, who said she marched with the pickets, said it is important that local municipal projects are done by properly trained workers from Massachusetts. Asked to comment, the town's treasurer/collector, Phyllis Marshall said the town had no say over the selection of subcontractors brought in by the project's general contractor, P.J. Stella Construction, but noted that workers were being paid prevailing wages as required by town purchasing requirements. - Christina Pazzanese

TALK ABOUT PARKING - Neighbors in the vicinity of Wellesley High School are to meet at Town Hall on Tuesday night to discuss a recommendation to scatter faculty and staff parking spaces in small lots around the facility. The recommendation is meant to tackle the problem of parking and traffic during the four-year construction of a new high school building on the existing site. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and be followed by School Committee consideration of the plan at 7:30 p.m. The plan calls for no student parking but additional busing. - Lisa Keen

BUILDING COMMITTEE OPENING - With the departure of Sarah Benjamin, town officials are looking to fill a seat on the Permanent Building Committee. The seven-person committee oversees the construction and renovation of all local municipal and school buildings, as well as their ongoing maintenance. The committee will also work with the town's director of facilities to review the condition of all town buildings and help develop a capital property management plan for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee. Committee members are appointed jointly by the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee and serve a three-year term. The committee will manage the new public works facility, restoration of the Josiah Smith Tavern and Old Library, and an upgrading of the Field School. Residents with related professional expertise, such as licensed builders, registered architects, or engineers, are encouraged to send a letter of interest with their background to the Board of Selectmen, PO Box 378, Weston, MA 02493 or e-mail it to selectmen@westonmass.org by Oct. 3.

- Christina Pazzanese

SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT - The Bellingham Business Association will hold its annual fund-raising golf tournament at 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at the New England Country Club, 180 Paine St. The event, which will benefit the group's scholarship program, will cost $65, which covers nine holes of golf with a cart, dinner, and prizes. Tickets to the dinner are $25, and sponsorship opportunities are available for $50. Checks can be made payable to the Bellingham Business Association, PO Box 77, Bellingham, MA 02019. For more information, visit bellinghamma.org and follow the link under Town News. - Rachel Lebeaux

A DAY TO CELEBRATE - Organizers hope thousands of people will flock to town for the first Cohasset Day on Sept. 20. The celebration, put on by the Economic Development Committee, will feature an automobile parade, a scaled-down triathlon for children, dancing, music, decorated bikes, games, fashion and art shows, and a farmers market. The activities run from noon to 8 p.m., and local restaurants will offer ticket holders samples in "Fine Food Galore" from 4:15 to 7 p.m. "It will be big, classy, and fun," said Alain Pinel, who's heading the effort. "The idea from the beginning was to bring people to Cohasset, to bring business to Cohasset, and to bring revenue to Cohasset. We want people to realize the beauty and vitality here and to want to come back." Tickets for the food tasting are $12 for individuals and $25 for families with young children, and are available in advance at local shops, such as French Memories, Darilynn's, Carmela Drew, Cohasset Jewelers, the Good Sport, and Buttonwood Books. - Johanna Seltz

OPENING FOR TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR - The regional school district is looking for a new director of technology after the resignation of Ken Corning. The duties include helping to plan and administer the district's technology policies, as well as analyzing the school system's needs, setting goals and implementing solutions, according to a job posting. The director would also supervise the district's technology-support staff, and would report to the superintendent. The position's salary range is listed as $93,000 to $98,000. - Anna Fiorentino

PREPARE TO CELEBRATE - Residents will honor their town Sept. 27 with the town's annual Celebrate Holliston festivities. A 9 a.m. parade kicks off a slate of events that includes a field day and an expo showcasing local businesses and artisans. The town's Citizens of the Year awards will also be given at the event. Celebrate Holliston events are centered at Goodwill Park on Green Street. For more information, visit celebrateholliston.com. - Calvin Hennick

FILLING IN FOR SUPERINTENDENT - The School Committee faces a search for a new leader for the town's school district, after Superintendent Nina Schlikin resigned from the position just weeks before the start of classes. In a letter to the committee dated Aug. 14, Schlikin said she was stepping down because of the "insurmountable realization that parts of my educational philosophy and my leadership style are incompatible with your expectations." Hired for the job last summer, Schlikin had just completed the first year of a three-year contract, which carried a salary of roughly $150,000. Committee chairman Tom Green said he would not discuss why Schlikin resigned or what differences she might have had with the committee. Schlikin could not be reached for comment. The board reportedly has tapped the department's director of pupil services, Julianna Bahosh, to serve as interim superintendent. - John Dyer

A REPLACEMENT FOR SIT 'N BULL - A new restaurant is poised to move into the location on Main Street of the former Sit 'n Bull Pub, which closed in November. According to the selectmen's office, the board at its meeting Tuesday night approved a liquor license transfer from Sit 'n Bull's owners to the new Milo's steak and seafood restaurant. No estimates were given at the meeting for when the new restaurant might open. - Matt Gunderson

SITES FOR RECREATION FACILITY - Parks and Recreation commissioners told selectmen last week they are considering two sites for a new recreation facility - McCarthy Park, off Hospital Road, and Hinkley Park, off Green Street. Town Meeting voters narrowly rejected a $450,000 property-tax increase that would have paid for design plans and site work for a new building. However, the department has been awarded $175,000 from the state to design an environmentally friendly building, and Town Administrator Michael Sullivan said recreation officials would likely ask for local support for the project again this fall.

- Calvin Hennick

TOWN CELEBRATION - The annual Natick Days celebration is planned for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the town center. Events will include miniature golf, a pie-eating contest, and entertainment. The town will run a free shuttle service to a parking area at Natick High School. The rain date is next Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Calvin Hennick

BOOK GROUPS FOR ADULTS - The Norfolk Public Library is hosting a variety of book discussion groups for adults this fall. The Ocean Within You: A Book and Movie Club for Mothers, led by Norfolk psychologist Kumkum Malik, meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month, beginning Sept. 25, in the library's lounge. Mysterious California, a five-session film-and-book program, will hold a movie screening at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 16, followed by discussions on Sept. 30, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 9 led by the library's director, Robin Glasser. Resident Chris Cleverdon will lead Encounter History on the second Wednesday, beginning this week at 7 p.m. with "1776" by David McCullough. Also, Great Decisions: A World Affairs Discussion, which will focus on global issues from the Iraq war to climate change, meets on the second Thursday, beginning this week at 7 p.m. Materials are $18. For details, call 508-528-3380, ext 2. - Michele Morgan Bolton

PLANS TO WIDEN ROUTE 20 - Town officials are preparing plans to widen Route 20 near the town center, and add turning lanes and traffic lights to ease congestion on the busy artery. Town Engineer Fred Litchfield said the $2.5 million study would represent one-quarter of the design phase of the project. The extent of the widening and other improvements, and the project's total cost are still unknown, said Litchfield, but he did not expect that Main Street or West Main Street property owners would face a significant loss of land. He said the town would submit its designs next month to the state Highway Department, which would oversee the project and provide funding. Litchfield said he expects state officials to conduct a public hearing in the spring, and the town would then finish the project's design. - John Dyer

GOLF TO AID TOWN'S ELDERS - The upcoming Falconi Family Memorial Golf Tournament is crucial to continuing programs for the elderly in Southborough, according to the town Senior Center's director, Pam LeFrancois. This year's goal for the annual tournament, to be held Sept. 15 at the Juniper Hill Golf Course in Northborough, is $10,000, organizers said. Last year's event drew more than 120 golfers and raised $7,500 for the Friends of the Southborough Council on Aging, a private group that supports Senior Center programs. The center's budget is $190,000, said LeFrancois, but most of the money covers operating costsand building maintenance. A donation of $125 is required to play in the tournament; for more information, call the Senior Center at 508-229-4453. - John Dyer