Absentee ballots in high demand

Town Hall is receiving many applications for absentee ballots for voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Nov. 4. Once an application for an absentee ballot is received, the town sends the ballot to the voter and the completed ballot must be returned to Town Hall by noon on Nov. 3. - Joan Wilder

BECOME A POLICE INSIDER - The Police Department will hold a Citizens Police Academy, a program designed to give local residents an opportunity to learn more about their public safety officers and the services they provide. Classes, which begin on Oct. 23 and run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, will be held at the police station and be taught by police officers. Participants must be at least 21 years old. For more information, contact Police Lieutenant Christopher Delmonte at 508-697-6123, ext. 109.

- Christine Legere

WHEELCHAIR TEAM LOOKING FOR PLAYERS - New England Paralyzed Veterans of America is looking for a few good players for its NEPVA Celtics wheelchair basketball team. The program is intended to build self-esteem, contribute to overall health and well-being, and enhance mobility skills. The team travels to different tournaments based on player skill levels. Practices are held at the Brockton VA Medical Center, 940 Belmont St., Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. There is an open practice Thursday nights. For information, call Thomas Dodd at 508-660-1181. - Steve Hatch

REVERE PROPERTIES ON ENDANGERED LIST - A statewide historic preservation organization has thrown its support behind saving the Paul Revere & Sons Copper Rolling Mill and a nearby barn by naming them to the state's Most Endangered Historic Resources list. Jim Igoe, president of Preservation Massachusetts, said inclusion of the historic structures would draw attention to the "fascinating and unfortunately not well known" history of the two buildings. - Elaine Cushman Carroll

HEARING ON HOUSING PROJECT - A public hearing on a 38-unit housing development proposed for land off Mayflower and South Main streets in South Carver will be held at 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Town Hall.

- Robert Knox

BOARD TRIES E-NEWSLETTER - TownWorks is a new monthly electronic publication compiled by the Board of Selectmen. To sign up or suggest a topic to be included, drop a note to townworks@dedham-ma.gov. Board members also adopted a policy last month requiring all town boards and departments to post contact information, meeting dates, and meeting minutes on the town's website at www.dedham-ma.gov. - Michele Morgan Bolton

PARADE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Volunteers are needed to help the Christmas on the Common Parade Committee plan the town's 25th annual parade. "We'll take anybody and anything," said committee member Janet Packer. "We meet at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall. Our next meeting is Oct. 23, then we meet on Nov. 6 and Nov. 20." The parade is set for 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. Those willing to help may attend one of the above-listed meetings or contact Packer at 508-378-2888 or jp58@verizon.net. - Christine Legere

PROPERTY GETS PRESERVATION DESIGNATION - The Ames Shovel Shops Complex has been named one of the state's Most Endangered Historic Resources by Preservation Massachusetts, a historic preservation advocacy organization. The Ames Shovel Shops is an 8-acre site comprising 15 buildings that date from 1852 through 1928. A developer wants to construct affordable apartments on the site, and Preservation Massachusetts fears the project would result in the demolition of some or all of the buildings. - Steve Hatch

DOG PARK HEARING IS ON - Boston Land Court has denied the town's request to postpone the Nov. 12 court date in the case brought against the Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission by a group of residents opposed to a dog park in their neighborhood. "It will take place at Boston's Causeway [Street] Land Court before Judge Keith Long," said Town Counsel Paul DeRensis. Town Manager Andrew Gala had instructed DeRensis, who is the new town counsel, to file the extension to give him time to study the case, which has been ongoing for more than a year. - Joan Wilder

VOTE ON NEW ZONING CATEGORIES - A Special Town Meeting on Oct. 27 will feature the town's first major rezoning effort since zoning districts were adopted in 1996. "It's been a lot of work and we're just anxious to put it before the town," said Selectman Lawrence N. Ashley, who is the chairman of the Zoning Study Committee. The committee has been working for about three years to come up with a plan that satisfies the needs of homeowners and business owners as it moves to rezone large areas of town that were put into a general use category 12 years ago, Ashley said. He said the plan includes three new categories: village residential, village business, and open space. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville.

- Elaine Cushman Carroll

MIDWEEK NATURE WALK - The Massachusetts Audubon, the Wildlands Trust, and the state Department of Fisheries and Wildlife will host a fall nature walk at Burrage Pond off Elm Street, at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Participants will meet at the Fisheries and Wildlife parking lot on Elm Street. The property offers a variety of habitats, including former cranberry bogs, Atlantic white cedar swamp, upland forest, and Stump Brook. Participants are welcome to bring along binoculars and field guides, and are advised to wear comfortable shoes. For further information, contact Priscilla Chapman at 508-828-1104.

- Christine Legere

NOT IN THE MOOD TO SPEND - Town Meeting last Monday approved two capital funding requests. Voters appropriated $29,000 to replace the roof over the fire station's bay garage, and $25,000 to repair the front columns at the Indian Head School. On the recommendation of selectmen, who cited the town's funding constraints, Town Meeting passed over requests for $100,000 for a new dump truck; $65,000 to resurface the parking lot at the fire station; $50,000 for drainage work; and $25,000 for a drain jet router. In other business, the meeting approved the acceptance of two private streets as public ways: Nathaniel Drive, off Whitman Street; and Ransom Road, off Indian Head Street. - John Laidler

NONPROFITS CAN GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT - Free public service announcements for nonprofit groups, government departments, and community organizations are being offered by Old Rochester Community Television, which is based in Marion and serves Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester. The announcements are scheduled to be made in half-hour slots from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 and 23. The announcements will run for several months on local cable television channels, and may be up to five minutes long. For more information or to reserve a slot for taping, which is done free of charge, call 508-748-1600 or e-mail kim@orctv.org. - Paul E. Kandarian

SAYING NO TO SEWER SERVICE - Residents in the Mattapoisett Neck area of town have rejected a plan to extend sewer service to their area. The town's water and sewer department had sent out survey cards asking residents if they favor the $14.7 million project, which would be paid for through betterments, estimated to be $31,000 per household. When the cards were returned, 196 residents opposed the project, with 178 in favor of it. Roughly 76 percent of those receiving the cards returned them, water and sewer officials said. - Paul E. Kandarian

VARIED WARRANT BEFORE TOWN MEETING - Special Town Meeting voters on Oct. 20 will consider a request to allow Sapphire Engineering Inc. 20 years of state and local tax breaks under the Tax Increment Financing Program, and requests for a new police cruiser and an administrative vehicle for the Fire Department. The School Department will be looking for $160,000 to fix the high school roof. For more news, check the town's website at www.middleborough.com. The Oct. 20 Town Meeting will open at 7 p.m. at the high school. - Christine Legere

STATE CHIDED FOR STATION SITE - The Board of Selectmen has fired off a letter to state transportation officials, protesting the inclusion of a South Worcester Street location on a list of possible station sites along a commuter rail expansion south to New Bedford and Fall River. "The town of Norton rejects the conclusion that a station at this location supports Smart Growth principles, and takes exception to its inclusion as a recommended site," wrote selectmen. They go on to note the roads in the proposed station area are narrow and winding and lack sidewalks. Selectmen add a train station in that location would "burden neighbors with noise, traffic and safety issues, and provide little, if any, benefit to the community." The station would be part of the so-called Attleboro Bypass route, one of three expansion corridors under consideration. - Christine Legere

SATURDAY FLU CLINICS - The town is hosting flu immunization clinics on Oct. 25 and Nov. 15, both from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Clinics to be held at the Senior Center at 275 Prospect St. are open to all residents who are 18 or older. Those who receive Medicare health benefits are asked to bring their cards with them. - Michele Morgan Bolton

MONEY MATTERS GO TO TOWN MEETING - Selectmen have scheduled a Special Town Meeting Oct. 20, starting at 7 p.m. at Rochester Memorial Elementary School. Six articles are expected to be on the warrant, including one asking for $365,000 to hire a project manager, do a feasibility study, and come up with a preliminary design for a proposed renovation and expansion of the school. - Paul E. Kandarian

FLU CLINICS SLATED - The Sharon Board of Health has two flu clinics planned for November. On Nov. 5, the clinic, which will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Sharon Community Center, will cater to high-risk residents: people over 50, pregnant women, and those over 18 with chronic health issues such as asthma, diabetes, or kidney disease. Another clinic will be held on Nov. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Temple Sinai on Canton Avenue, and the vaccine will be given to everyone age 7 and over, but there is a limited supply. If any vaccines remain after the first two clinics, a make-up clinic is scheduled for Nov. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the health office. Senior citizens should bring their Medicare and health cards. There is no cost for the vaccine. - Franci Richardson Ellement

TIME RUNNING OUT FOR COFFEE SHOP - Despite the signature-writing efforts of latte-loving customers, it appears Starbucks won't soon be found at 413 Washington St. The store, which opened three years ago, is slated to close this Friday as part of the Seattle-based company's efforts to get on firmer financial footing by shuttering 600 outlets coast to coast. Devoted customers of the Washington Street site recently sent a petition with more than 700 signatures to Starbucks officials asking that the store remain open. Starbucks representatives did not return phone messages seeking comment. - Robert Carroll

ERROR TRIPS UP POWER PLANT APPLICATION - Competitive Power Ventures, the power company attempting to win the town's approval to build a 580-megawatt, gas-fired power plant in town, was forced to withdraw its ANR (approval not required) application with the Planning Board at its Oct. 2 meeting due to a clerical error in the application, said Town Planner Don Johnson. - Joan Wilder

A LITERARY EXERCISE - The Wareham Middle School will host its "Readers Become Leaders" 5K walk and run on Oct. 19 at noon. The annual event is organized by the school's English Language Arts department and raises money to buy books for middle school students. The race starts at the Minot Forest Elementary School, and costumed volunteers stand along the route, reading aloud to the runners and walkers. Cash prizes to top runners and walkers. $15 to participate; register at www.jbrace.com.

- Emily Sweeney

FINAL DAY TO REGISTER - Town Clerk Nancy L. Morrison is reminding residents that Wednesday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 4 presidential election. The clerk's office will be open extended hours that day, until 8 p.m. Mail-in forms must be postmarked by Oct. 15. - John Laidler

SAFE NEEDLE DISPOSAL - In hand with a new state law that makes it illegal to toss needles and syringes in the trash, the Board of Health has located 24-hour sharps containers at its office at 50 Carby St., Town Hall, the Senior Center, and the Islington Fire Station. - Michele Morgan Bolton

PARENTAL INPUT WELCOME - All community members in Whitman and Hanson are invited to attend the Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee's Parent Forum at the high school's Performing Arts Center on Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. Administrators plan to discuss the impact of current finances from federal, state, and local sources.

- Christine Legere

Correction: Because of a reporting error, an earlier version of this briefing page provided an incorrect date for the fall nature walk in the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area in Halifax. The walk begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.