Center for living

September 14, 2008

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday for the Leonard Florence Center for Living, a nursing home for 100 residents. The center, under the auspices of the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home, follows the Green House model, which provides residents with specific nursing care, including their own room and bath and a kitchen to cater to every diet. Two of the 10 residences at the center will be specifically for individuals with ALS, known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and multiple sclerosis. The ceremony will be a two-hour event, called Music on the Hill, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 201 Captains Row in the Admiral's Hill neighborhood. The residences are scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009. - Katheleen Conti

REMEMBERING A HERO - A ceremony will be held at Glenwood Cemetery at 10 a.m. today dedicating a newly installed gravestone for a Chelsea resident killed in World War I. Fred C. Dulevitz, 19, died in October 1918 in the Battle of Verdun, in France. A member of the Army's 26th (Yankee) Division, Dulevitz was killed trying to pass through an enemy barrage to deliver an urgent message to his battalion commander. He was buried at Glenwood in 1921, but over the years, no stone or marker was placed on the spot. That omission was corrected through the efforts of retired Chelsea High teacher and Everett resident Ernie Sullivan. Using documents compiled by Sullivan through his research, Everett veterans services director Joseph F. Hickey successfully applied to the Veterans Administration to provide a gravestone for Dulevitz. Among those expected to attend the ceremony are Alexander R. Dulevitz of Texas, a nephew of Fred Dulevitz, and a representative of the French Consulate in Boston. The public is invited to attend.

- John Laidler

STREET REPAIR MEETING - Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. will hold a neighborhood meeting tomorrow to inform residents about a planned street and sidewalk reconstruction project. The affected streets are Marie and Edith avenues, Henry Street, and Kenwood and Elliot roads. The project, paid for with a federal Community Development Block Grant secured by the city, is scheduled to begin this month. The mayor will be joined at the meeting by community development director Marzie Galazka and a representative from D & R Construction Inc., the Stoneham firm that was awarded a $619,248 contract to undertake the project. Neighbors will have a chance to ask questions and voice concerns at the meeting, which will be held at 6 p.m. at Shute Memorial Library. - John Laidler

CRIME LINK - The Police Department has made it easier for residents to watch out for crime. The daily police log has been added to the department's website, lynnpolice.org. Listings include the address and type of offense. "Making this information so readily available will, hopefully, help the public help us," Chief John Suslak said in a statement. If residents see that there has been a break-in in their neighborhood, "they may be more likely to call us when they see suspicious activity." - Kathy McCabe

LANDLORD AWARENESS - The health department on Thursday will hold its sixth Landlord Training Program to teach residential and commercial property owners how to spot signs of crime. Training will focus on screening potential tenants, including how to look for illegal drug activity. The training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Community Room at the Lynn Housing Authority, 10 Church St. The program, funded with a grant from the state Office of Public Safety, is open to Lynn landlords. To register, contact 781-595-0450 or jmuschetecrs@hotmail.com.

- Kathy McCabe

KUDOS FOR HIGH SCHOOL - Boston magazine has named Malden High School one of Greater Boston's "50 Smartest Public High Schools" in its September edition. The list, which awarded the top spot to Concord-Carlisle High School, was based on data gathered by Babson College. It seeks to identify schools that are performing well and operating efficiently, based on finances and academic performance.

- Brenda J. Buote

KEEP IT IN THE BANK - Town Administrator William J. Gustus has recommended to the Board of Selectmen that the Oct. 20 fall Town Meeting appropriate none - or no more than a small portion - of the town's free cash. The state Department of Revenue recently certified Lynnfield's free cash for this fiscal year at $666,000. Gustus said he offered his recommendation in light of the state's difficult financial situation, which he believes may result in major cuts to local aid. He said the town could use its free cash to absorb some of those cuts if they occur.

- John Laidler

ALCOHOL SALES MOVE AHEAD - State legislators have approved, and Governor Deval Patrick has signed, the two ballot questions proposed by Mayor Rob Dolan with respect to alcohol sales in the city. Beacon Hill's approval means that Melrose voters will decide at the ballot box whether to allow as many as three retail stores to sell beer and wine, and whether to allow restaurants with 50 to 100 seats to apply for a beer and wine license. - Brenda J. Buote

MARINE EXHIBIT - Northeastern University's Marine Science Center has scheduled its annual open house for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Along with several tours - the World War II bunker, Center for Vertebrate Studies, solar observatory, and geology walks - there also will be marine life exhibits, a beach cleanup, and activities for all ages. Call 781-581-7370 or go to www.marinescience.neu.edu.

-David Rattigan

CABLE COMPLAINTS - The City Council voted unanimously last week to ask Comcast to appear and explain the company's latest changes to its cable television services. Councilor at Large Daniel Rizzo, who made the request, said residents have been complaining that their favorite standard cable channels have been moved to the company's digital cable service. Comcast is making similar changes nationwide, as more of its services, such as high-speed Internet access, require a digital signal. Residents subscribing to the company's standard cable services have been told they can get some of the channels back for an additional $3.99 per month, Rizzo said, adding that some residents are frustrated because they don't want to go to a satellite service and there are no other cable options. He acknowledged he is not certain what the city can do about this, but said he hopes he can get a company representative in front of the council to explain the reason for the changes and if there are other options for residents. - Katheleen Conti

NEW RECYCLING SITE - The town's new recycling drop-off site will open Saturday. The area is located behind the public works building at 515 Main St. It will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, for Saugus residents only. The town will accept the same recycling items that are picked up at curbside, such as paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, and glass containers. The site also will accept some items usually reserved for a hazardous collection day: televisions, computers, and small electronics. A driver's license is required as proof of residency. To make arrangements to show another form of proof of residency, call the town's Inspectional Services Department at 781-231-4115. - Kathy McCabe

CONNELLY PARK DEDICATION - The town will rededicate Colonel Connelly Park in a ceremony at 2 p.m. today. The event is to mark the completion of the first phase of a project to improve the town-owned park, at the head of Lake Quannapowitt. The park, created in the 1950s, is named after Colonel Edward Connelly, a World War I veteran and community leader. The $60,000 phase one work was funded through state grant money and private donations raised by the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, according to Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio. It included the removal of an old storage building/bathhouse; construction of a red brick walkway with a flagpole in the middle; planting of trees and shrubs; and the improvement of a pedestrian pathway that runs through the park and along the lake. - John Laidler

MOSQUITO WARNING - The town Health Department is advising residents to check around their homes for areas with stagnant water that may attract mosquitoes. This comes after last week's discovery of a mosquito infected with the West Nile virus. A townwide spraying was conducted last week, but Director of Public Health W. Paul Frazier said that mosquito season will keep going at least until the end of the month and that residents should take precaution by getting rid of sources of stagnant water, such as old tires and children's toys. - Katheleen Conti

CHANGES TO PHOENIX CHARTER - Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester recently recommended that members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approve changes to the charter of Phoenix Charter Academy in Chelsea. The academy's board of trustees requested the approval of two charter amendments: to add Everett to its region, and to relocate the school to a facility that sits in both Chelsea and Everett. Currently, the school serves students, including teenage parents, in Chelsea, Lynn, and Revere. The new facility will include more space for day-care services. - Katheleen Conti

LIVING WITH COYOTES - The city is offering a presentation, "Living With the Eastern Coyote," at 7 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall. John Maguranis, Belmont's animal control officer and a coyote specialist, will talk about the history of coyotes in this region, how to identify them, their natural behavior and diet, and how to protect against harm to humans and pets. The talk, organized by the city's animal control officer, Eileen Cashman, is free and open to the public.

- John Laidler

APPLE FESTIVAL - The Boxford Historical Society will hold its annual Apple Festival from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in East Boxford Village. The event will include food, craft vendors, historical exhibits, and live music sponsored by the Boxford Cultural Arts Council. The society's newly renovated Holyoke French Barn will be open for viewing. Also Saturday, the library will hold its annual book sale, and the Friends of Boxford Town Libraries will present a talk on global climate change. Physicist Ted McIntire, a member of Massachusetts Climate Action, will speak at 10 a.m. at Town Hall. - John Laidler

GIFTS FOR TROOPS - Operation Troop Support will hold a gift wrapping event Sept. 20 to send to troops serving overseas. Volunteers are needed to wrap hundreds of gifts, which will also be sent to servicemen and women who are recovering in hospitals. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria of Holten-Richmond Middle School, 50 Conant St. Call 978-774-5983. - Kathy McCabe

SHIPYARD UNVEILED - The Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum has scheduled a rededication of the A.D. Story Shipyard on Saturday at the shipyard on Main Street. In the early 1990s, the museum purchased the site where the Story family operated a shipyard from 1813 to the end of World War II. The yard is still active and showcases machines, tools, materials and boats, but in recent years access has been limited after contaminants were discovered in the soil, and the property went through a remediation program to meet federal environmental standards. The rededication is scheduled for 10 a.m., with tours, exhibits, and festivities through 3 p.m. The evening before, the museum is holding a fund-raising Flagship Party aboard three boats at the property, for $50 per patron. For more information, call 978-768-7541 or e-mail info@essexshipbuildingmuseum.org. -David Rattigan

PHOTO CONTEST - The Middleton Stream Team is accepting entries through Oct. 10 for its 2008 photo contest. The contest is held annually by the Stream Team, a volunteer organization that promotes the health of Middleton's section of the Ipswich River and its tributaries, as well as the town's ponds, streams, and wetlands. Contest participants need not be Middleton residents, but pictures must be taken along a Middleton waterway. Cash prizes will be awarded for the winning photos. Entry forms are available in the Middleton Post Office lobby or by contacting middletonstreamteamphotos@gmail.com or 978-750-0517. - John Laidler

TAKE YOUR PICK - Berry picking on Plum Island is now a regulated pastime. Anyone wishing to pick cranberries or beach plums at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge must first get a free permit or face possible citations and fines. Similarly, each person is limited to one quart of each berry per day, and must stick to designated areas to protect the fragile dune and vernal pool habitats. Beach plum picking is allowed along the refuge road, within 25 feet of parking lots, and along trails. Cranberry picking is allowed only at the north pool field and the north beach access bog. The refuge allows picking through Oct. 31. Permits can be obtained at the refuge headquarters, visitors center, or entrance gatehouse.

-Taryn Plumb

FREE SENIOR EXPO - The state Executive Office of Human Services is holding Senior Benefits Expo on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Peter A. Torigian Community Life Center, 79 Central St. Peabody is among eight communities where the state agency is hosting free expos intended to apprise elders, people with disabilities, and those who care for them of the various state services available in areas ranging from housing to nutrition and fuel. - John Laidler