Hospital installs WiFi network

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham has installed a wireless network to allow easy Internet access for patients and visitors, according to an announcement by hospital officials. "It's important for people to feel connected even though they are in a hospital," Steve O'Halloran, the facility's information systems director, said. "A wireless network is a wonderful way to make sure our patients and visitors have every comfort of home as long as they are here." - Lisa Kocian

AWARD FOR BOOKSTORE - More Than Words, a Moody Street bookstore that employs youths who have been homeless, in foster care, or involved with the courts, was chosen as a 2009 Boston Social Innovator by the Social Innovation Forum, according to an announcement by the Cambridge-based organization. "We believe that More Than Words is demonstrating an innovative and highly effective solution to preparing some of our most disconnected youth for their transition to adulthood," said Susan Musinsky, the forum's director. "We are thrilled to have the chance to help them refine their model and make a lasting impact in Massachusetts." More Than Words will participate in a yearlong support program that will provide the organization with consulting, executive coaching, and introductions to venture philanthropists looking to support innovative nonprofit groups in Greater Boston, the announcement stated. - Lisa Kocian

RETHINKING VICTORY FIELD PLANS - Plans to renovate Victory Field are on hold until the town can figure out how to pay for what will be a far more expensive undertaking than first expected. Though the field upgrade was in the town's current capital improvement budget at $1.25 million, the plan was scuttled after consultants told the Town Council this month that it will take at least $2.8 million, and possibly more than $4 million, to do the job correctly, said council vice president Mark Sideris. The grass field, which primarily serves the high school football, baseball, and field hockey teams, has drainage problems and is in chronic disrepair because of overuse, said Sideris. "We can't ask taxpayers to pay for something of this magnitude at this point," he said. Noting an effort in Needham that successfully used public and private money to redo a large field complex, Sideris has called for a public meeting on Dec. 29 to see if there's interest in following a similar strategy. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Watertown Free ublic Library. - Christina Pazzanese

TALK OF RAISE FOR TOWN MANAGER - Town Manager Michael Driscoll could be in line for a 4.5 percent raise in the new year, bumping his annual salary to $144,675. The Town Council's Committee on Personnel and Town Organization has recommended the increase in order to bring Driscoll in line not only with town managers in surrounding communities, but also with raises handed out this year to town employee unions. Councilor at Large Stephen Corbett, who chairs the committee, said the raise would keep Driscoll "right in the middle of the pack" among his peers and noted that over the period from 2006 to next year, local unions will have received cumulative salary increases of 17 to 19 percent, while Driscoll received an 11 percent raise from 2006 to this year. "It's our attempt to close the gap without going crazy," he said. The proposal is to be introduced at the Town Council's Jan. 13 meeting, with a public hearing and vote slated to take place at its Jan. 27 meeting, Corbett said. - Christina Pazzanese

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS - The alleged Ponzi scheme unfolding before investors who entrusted millions of dollars with Wall Street trader Bernard Madoff has touched the town government of Wellesley. The good news, according to Wellesley Retirement Board chairman David Kornwitz, is that the town's pension assets lost only about $30,000 associated with Madoff's scheme. That loss, he explained to selectmen, occurred through the state's Pension Reserves Investment Management board, whose $40 billion fund includes $12 million of Wellesley's pension funds but less than 1 percent of which were exposed. The bad news, however, is that the downturn in the economy has dropped the value of Wellesley's pension assets from $144 million in January to about $100 million at the end of October. Kornwitz said the Retirement Board will "strongly urge" the town to begin making additional contributions to the fund. Meanwhile, Wellesley finance director Sheryl Strother has reported to selectmen that the town could face a $3 million shortfall for fiscal year 2010 in its operating budget. - Lisa Keen

APPLY FOR CPA FUNDS - The town's Community Preservation Committee has begun accepting applications for projects seeking funding through the Community Preservation Act in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. To receive consideration, eligible projects must involve the preservation, creation, or acquisition of open space, community housing, or historic resources. The restoration of open space can include property intended for recreational purposes, provided the land was acquired using CPA money. Projects to restore or rehabilitate community housing are allowed if CPA funds were used to purchase the building. Guidelines and applications are available on the town's website, www.weston.govoffice.com. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 2. - Christina Pazzanese

FILM ON JERUSALEM - The Friends of the Ashland Public Library will present "Jerusalem: East Side Story" on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the library's community room as part of its ongoing documentary film and discussion series. The film takes viewers into Jerusalem's Old City, home to several sites of key religious importance, and relates stories of the Palestinians in Jerusalem, as well as interviews with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, human-rights activists, and political analysts. The screening is free, and viewers are invited to stay after the film for a discussion. For more information, visit www.friendsoftheapl.com. - Rachel Lebeaux

OPTION ON FARM PROPERTY - The town has the opportunity to buy about 130 acres of protected agricultural land near the West Berlin rotary. Last week, the Risi Family Trust of River Road West notified selectmen of its intent to take the property out of Chapter 61A protection. The town has 120 days to execute its right of first refusal under the Chapter 61A program, which provides tax benefits for owners of qualifying agricultural properties. In June, the trust signed a purchase and sale agreement with Riverbridge North LLC of Westborough for a minimum of $5 million, contingent on the town declining its purchase option. The property would be developed as a mixed-use project with residential housing and retail space, said lawyer Christopher Seni, who is also a member of the trust. Seni said plans also call for a pedestrian pathway between the property and the nearby Solomon Pond Mall. The pathway would cross wetlands, Seni said. The plan is contingent on approval from the town. The Risi property is now zoned for commercial village and agricultural residential use, Seni said. The trust is seeking approval from the town to create an overlay district that would allow a mixed-use neighborhood. Seni expects the proposal to appear as a warrant article in the May Town Meeting. Members of the Risi family declined to comment. - Julia Rappaport

ICE STORM CLEAN UP - The ice storm that left a swath of destruction across the state on Dec. 12 is still causing headaches for roadway officials across the state. In Boylston, the Highway Department is advising that it will be removing and chipping downed limbs, and not other debris associated with the storm, according to the town website. Downed limbs should be left at the edge of properties and not on the sidewalks, according to last week's announcement. - Matt Gunderson

MEASURE OF GLOOM - Unless town and school officials hold raises below 2 percent, the budget for next fiscal year will be in deficit. That's not even counting expected cuts in state aid, and House Speaker Sal DiMasi recently predicted those could be in the 5 to 10 percent range. Even with no raises, the town is looking at a budget hole of between $500,000 and $900,000, Sean Cronin, deputy town administrator, told selectmen recently. The primary culprit, Cronin said, is the cost of benefits, which now make up 20 percent of the operating budget, compared with 15 percent in 2002. Health insurance is the largest component, and it is estimated that the cost will rise 7.5 percent in fiscal year 2010 - bringing it 101 percent higher than in 2003. - Andreae Downs

PLANS TO BUILD AND RENOVATE - The town has plans to invest roughly $39 million on infrastructure in the next fiscal year, which begins in July. The largest item will be the Runkle School rehabilitation and expansion, which rings in at $15.8 million in town funds and $10.6 million from a state school building grant. Also planned are repairs to the garages under Town Hall, the Pierce School, and the Public Library in Brookline's main branch ($1.2 million), street repairs ($1.7 million town plus $700,000 state), and the Newton Street Landfill cleanup ($4.2 million). Devotion School's needed rehabilitation is scheduled to start in 2011, with major expenses hitting in 2015. - Andreae Downs

LACE UP THOSE SKATES AT LARZ - The only rink with a view of Boston is back in business. With the advent of freezing temperatures, the Larz Anderson Skating Rink opened early this month and will remain so, if thaws hold off, until March. For the wimps among us, there's a heated hut with hot cocoa on tap, as well as skate rentals. Public skating is usually 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday, 7:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on the weekend. School vacation hours are noon to 5 p.m. The rink will be closed Christmas Day. Rates for children are $5 ($4 for Brookline kids) and $8 for adults ($5 for residents). - Andreae Downs

MANUFACTURER FINED - A local key and lock manufacturer will pay $70,000 in fines for violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Environmental Protection Agency issued the fine to Hudson Lock LLC following a routine investigation last year. According to Greg Dain, staff lawyer for the EPA's regional office, the inspection uncovered leaking hazardous-waste containers, incompatible wastes stored next to each other, and containers without proper labels. "You don't let hazardous waste sit around too long before you dispose of it," Dain said. "There were serious problems that could have arisen given the right kind of circumstances." The company will have 18 months to cover the fine, and may use quarterly payments. - Julia Rappaport

HEROES HOMECOMING - Hanscom Air Force Base held a "Heroes' Homecoming" celebration Dec. 12 to welcome back more than 45 airmen who have returned from deployments abroad during the past six months. The celebration, held in the base's Aero Club hangar, included special appearances by Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith and former Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan. - John M. Guilfoil

HELP AGAINST UNDERAGE DRINKING - The Police Department has received a $5,000 grant as part of a state program to assist efforts to combat alcohol use by minors. The program, run by the state's Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, reimburses police departments for overtime funds associated with the enforcement of laws against underage drinking. Milford was one of 95 communities statewide to receive the grants, which all together total more than $600,000. - Anna Fiorentino

PET FOOD DONATIONS - Police Officer Meredith Lobur is working to ensure the region's pets aren't overlooked in a tough economy. The Southborough Food Pantry lacks space to store pet food, so Lobur is taking donations at the town's police station. She will also pick up donations from residents unable to transport the goods. "I was law enforcement with MSPCA before I came here," Lobur said. "And at the Police Academy in West Boylston, I started doing it there and found there was a real need." The Southborough Pet Food Pantry accepts unopened bags of pet food and treats, canned pet food, and monetary donations toward the purchase of pet food. Donors and recipients are not limited to Southborough, Lobur said. - James O'Brien

MOVING ON NEW HIGH SCHOOL - The town's High School Building Committee met with the Massachusetts School Building Authority recently to determine the enrollment projections for a possible 40 percent state reimbursement on a new high school, signaling progress on a project more than a decade in the making. Wayland is projecting capacity for about 900 students in a new building, which could break ground in the next two years if things continue to move forward. - John M. Guilfoil

DELAY IN CVS VOTE - A Zoning Board of Appeals vote on a CVS Pharmacy proposed for the intersection of Randall Road and South Street has again been delayed, this time until Jan. 14. Attorney Richard Rook, representing developers GB New England 2 LLC, said a revised plan would reduce the site footprint by 1,100 square feet. Some neighbors have voiced concerns about the project's impact on traffic and property values. - James O'Brien