Globe Northwest Community briefing
Funding for sewer hookups
November 16, 2008
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ACTON
A new committee has been formed at the request of the Board of Selectmen to investigate all sewer options for West Acton village and the nearby Lothrop/Tuttle/Flint neighborhood. Selectmen recently gave the Sewer Committee the go-ahead to look into possible funding sources for connecting the many businesses and residences in both areas to the town's waste-water treatment system. Currently, individual septic systems are used in those areas, which are more prone to septic failures due to a high water table. A preliminary study reported a prohibitive cost of connecting to the existing system, said Magee. The town already has pipes large enough to handle connections in the two areas, but residents and business owners want to know all their options before deciding whether such a project is worthwhile. Magee hopes the new committee will have information to present at Town Meeting in April. - Julia Quinn-SzcesuilARLINGTON
FLU SHOT CLINICS - With cold and flu season fast approaching, Arlington residents have several opportunities to get flu shots at the Board of Health office/senior center, according to the town's website, town.arlington.ma.us. The next clinics will be held on Nov. 18, Dec. 2, and Dec. 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Board of Health office, located on 27 Maple St. For citizens covered by Medicare, the shot will be free of charge; otherwise the shot costs $10. The clinic is open to everyone over the age of 18.- Sarah Metcalf
AYER
LEAVE BRUSH IN THE DUMP - The town's brush dump will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for two more weekends, through Nov. 30. Only leaves and brush may be taken to the dump, which is behind the Department of Public Works building. Access is through a gate on Bishop Road. For further information, contact the DPW at 978-772-8240.- Davis Bushnell
BEDFORD
TIME TO PULL THE PLUG - For the fifth consecutive year, the Town of Bedford is celebrating Bedford Unplugged, a monthlong initiative in which residents of all ages are encouraged to spend more time with friends and family; less time with televisions, telephones, and electronic devices; and above all, less time rushing to scheduled events. The Bedford Department of Youth and Family Services has published a calendar of events through November tailored to Unplugged month, such as concerts, scavenger hunts, and craft workshops. For the full schedule, go to www.town.bedford.ma.us/youth/UnpluggedNov08Info.pdf. - Nancy Shohet WestBELMONT
ANOTHER PIECE OF THE TRAIL - The Belmont Citizens Forum has acquired a 30-foot strip of land next to the commuter rail tracks behind Channing Road for a recreational trail. The group plans to use the land as a public right of way for a bicycle and pedestrian path from Belmont Center. The Belmont Citizens purchased the land for $77,000 from an abutter. A path from Brighton Street to the Alewife T station in Cambridge has already been approved and scheduled for construction by the state in 2009. The Channing Road stretch of the path would provide a safe corridor without motor vehicle traffic for trail users, for about 2 miles from Belmont Center to Alewife, representatives from the group said. The proposed trail through Belmont is a segment of the Wayside Rail Trail, running 26 miles from Boston to Berlin, passing through Somerville, Cambridge, Belmont, Waltham, Weston, Wayland, and Hudson. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
BILLERICA
DISCOUNTED POPS TICKETS - The Recreation Department is selling a limited number of tickets at discounted prices to the Holiday Pops concert at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The performance takes place on Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Seats are in the balcony and are priced at $58. A reservation form, available at www.town.billerica.ma.us, must be turned in by Wednesday. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis. For information, call 978-671-0921.- Joyce Pellino Crane
BOXBOROUGH
ENERGY AUDIT OF TOWN BUILDINGS - The Ad Hoc Energy Committee is working to determine how Boxborough can save money by conserving energy. The committee, under the auspices of EcoPath, a local grass-roots organization that focuses on energy conservation for individual families, had an energy audit done of the town buildings, including the Town Hall, police station, school building, Fire Department, and the library. "No one else has taken on this cause to address town energy issues," said Francie Nolde, one of EcoPath's founders and a committee member. They will now identify areas needing improvement and make recommendations to the selectmen. This winter, the Board of Selectmen will determine whether the committee should become an official advisory committee to help guide the town toward energy- and cost-saving measures. - Julia Quinn-SzcesuilBURLINGTON
LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF CHANGE - Town officials and businesses will gather at the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce this week to discuss potential changes to the town's sign bylaw. Jim Murphy, executive director of the chamber, said the goal is to come up with some changes that will be voted on at the spring Town Meeting. Murphy said businesses are looking for more flexibility when it comes to sign placement and promoting their business. Existing bylaws limit size and placement of signs.- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
CARLISLE
DRY NO MORE - With voters' approval of a special ballot question, by a vote of 2,333 to 852 on Nov. 4, Carlisle abandoned its longtime status as a dry town and will now allow the sale of beer and wine. Ferns Country Store, whose owners spearheaded the ballot campaign, received the town's first license for alcohol sales, contingent on passage of the ballot question, and will begin stocking beer and wine following the completion of the store's expansion, scheduled in the spring. Beer and wine sold at Ferns would have to be consumed off the premises. - Nancy Shohet WestCONCORD
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS - The Concord Independent Business Alliance is offering special events this holiday season to entice residents to shop locally. The weekend events, including the chance to win a $200 shopping spree, have been planned for each of Concord's three village centers starting Friday. To learn more about the Shop Concord First event, go to www.concordindies.org. Independent businesses interested in participating can still sign up.
- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
HARVARD
MEMORY TESTS - The Council on Aging, in conjunction with the Visiting Angels, a Harvard home healthcare agency, will conduct free, confidential memory screenings tomorrow at Hildreth House, located behind Town Hall. The program is part of an Alzheimer's Foundation of America initiative. It is recommended that those who want a screening call the council at 978-456-4120 for an appointment. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Davis BushnellNO TRIVIAL PURSUIT - The Lexington Education Foundation Trivia Bee on Nov. 6 raised $16,000 for programs that benefit the town's public schools. Each year, the foundation funds programs based on proposals that come directly from educators after completing a rigorous review process; grants range from class-specific programs to systemwide initiatives that enrich math skills, improve literacy, support the arts, or promote state-of-the-art technology. This year's winning Trivia Bee team was the Twelve O'clock Scholars, consisting of School Committee members Tom Diaz, Helen Cohen, and Margaret Coppe. The team earned the title Masters of Minutia by answering the question: "Which rock group is named after the inventor of the seed drill?" (The correct answer: Jethro Tull). It was the second time the Twelve O'clock Scholars have won the competition. In all, 42 teams, each consisting of three members, competed. Since 1991, the Lexington Education Foundation has awarded more than $2.7 million to local educators through its grants program. For more information, visit www.lexedfoundation.org. - Brenda J. BuoteLITTLETON
VOTERS APPROVE TAX HIKE - Littleton voters on Nov. 4 approved a temporary property tax increase to fund construction of a new police station by a vote of 2,889 to 2,021. The approval of the special ballot question enables the town to exempt from the provisions of the tax-limiting law Proposition 2 1/2 the amounts required to pay for the bond. The vote follows last month's decision at Town Meeting to approve borrowing $6.28 million for the project. Bids opened last month; construction is expected to be completed by spring 2010. Plans for the new police station can be viewed on the town's website at www.littletonma.org. - Nancy Shohet WestMEDFORD
A STRONG LINK - Medford High School golfer Steven Ayhiarian was honored as the October "Game Time" student-athlete of the month by Papa Gino's. Ayhiarian and his teammates won the Greater Boston League Championship for the first time in school history, and athletic director Robert Maloney nominated Ayhiarian for his leadership and commitment to his schoolwork. Ayhiarian will be honored by the Medford Papa Gino's, will receive a free team meal, and will have the opportunity to meet New England Patriots player Tedy Bruschi at a "Game Time" event in March. - Brad KaneNORTH READING
DIGGING DEEP INTO THE PAST - Take a journey into the past with researchers from the Public Archaeology Laboratory tomorrow night. They will discuss archeological investigations conducted at the sites of the Residences at Martins Brook and the Edgewood Office Park before each was constructed. Dianna Doucette, a principal investigator with the nonprofit company, will talk about what archeologists learned about the people who inhabited that area more than 1,000 years ago. The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the library. - Richard Thompson
READING
CONSERVING ENERGY - Town Meeting has approved a proposal to allow Reading officials to hire an energy services company to complete a series of capital investments to reduce the town's energy consumption. The investments will be paid for with the savings from reduced energy use. Potential conservation measures include energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning systems, as well as energy management controls and motor replacements. The financial aspect of the proposal, which was supported by the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee, means the enhancements could be finished in 12 to 18 months, according to Mary DeLai, director of human resources and finance for Reading schools.- Richard Thompson
SHIRLEY
DONOR STEPS UP AFTER TAX HIKE FAILS - While the $14,000 tax override for the Council on Aging did not pass this month, the town did manage to hire a part-time director. Longtime Shirley resident John Oelfke started last Monday as director of the council. His 10-hour-per-week position is funded through the end of June by an anonymous $14,094 donation. Oelfke, who is also the chairman of the Shirley Democratic Town Committee, said his goal will be to find out from seniors what they need to have a better quality of life. Seniors will meet in the Town Offices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings to socialize and obtain useful information, such as deadlines for Medicare sign-ups, flu shots, and fuel assistance, he said. - Julie Masis
STONEHAM
TREE DECORATING TEST - The Stoneham Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a holiday tree decorating contest to coincide with the town's tree lighting ceremony on Town Common on Nov. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m., said Sharon Iovanni, executive director. Twenty artificial trees will be decorated by local businesses and placed in their storefronts between Nov. 30 and Dec. 19. Shoppers may vote for the tree they believe to be best decorated. For further information on the tree lighting ceremony and contest rules visit www.stonehamchamber.org. - Bella TravagliniWILMINGTON
GETTING A SHARE OF SETTLEMENT - The Town of Wilmington has received $832,120 from oil companies in its share of a settlement of a lawsuit over contaminated water supplies. Town Manager Michael A. Caira said the contamination of water by leaks or spills of a gasoline additive, methyl tertiary-butyl ether, was minimal and posed no health risk to town residents, but said "it was to our advantage to get involved" in the lawsuit. The money can be used for water and sewer projects as needed, Caira said.- James O'Brien
WINCHESTER
CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR THE TROOPS - Mahoney's Garden Center is participating in the Trees for Troops program in collaboration with WOBURN
PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM - JN Phillips Auto Glass of Woburn has formed a nonprofit foundation to promote volunteerism across Massachusetts. The New Barn Foundation - named for the earliest form of community volunteerism, barn-raising - will provide support to social service organizations looking for volunteers. As a start, JN Phillips Auto Glass is donating 2,500 hours of service by allowing its 300 employees to take a paid day off to work on volunteer projects. The new foundation was announced on Nov. 7 at the convention of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents in Boston. Boston Cares, an organization that leads Massachusetts team-oriented volunteer opportunities, will manage and produce the New Barn Foundation programs.- Brad Kane
Correction: Because of a reporting error, a Nov. 16 community briefing about Boxborough's Ad Hoc Energy Committee incorrectly stated who ordered an energy audit of town buildings. The audit was ordered by the town administrator.
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