Forum on teen dating, violence

The Ashland Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative will hold a forum for parents on issues involving teen dating and violence at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Ashland High School. The session will include presentations by Rachel Singer, a counselor at Voices Against Violence in Framingham; Shawn McMaster, a representative of the Middlesex district attorney's office; and an Ashland police officer, Detective Joe Magnani. For more information, contact project director Robert Moro at 508-881-0177, or rmoro@ashland.k12.ma.us. - Rachel Lebeaux

FINANCIAL PLANNING WORKSHOP - The Bellingham Special Education Parent Advisory Council will host a financial-planning workshop tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the Bellingham High School library. The workshop will cover estate planning, wills, and other financial-planning matters of concern to parents of children with special needs. More information about the free session and the advisory council is available on the group's website, www.bellinghamsepac.org. - Rachel Lebeaux

TAX RATE, ASSESSMENTS UP - The town assessor's office has reported that this fiscal year's property tax rate of $9.86 per $1,000 of valuation was recently approved by the state Department of Revenue. It is an increase of 11 cents over last year. Meanwhile, the average assessment for a single-family home for this year's taxes has been set at $1,135,325, an increase of $21,456. With tax bills mailed by Jan. 1, the first of two final payments for this year, as well as applications for tax abatements, are due Feb. 2. The deadline for personal exemptions is three months from the tax bill's mailing date, according to the municipal website, www.doverma.org. For more information, contact the assessor's office at 508-785-0032, ext. 223. - Anna Fiorentino

FILM ON SAVING ENERGY - The Franklin Area Climate Team's "Energy $ense for Franklin Residents" series, sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Public Library, wraps up Wednesday at 7 p.m. with a screening of the film "Kilowatt Ours," by documentarian Jeff Barrie. The film traces the path of electricity backward from a home's light switch through the wires to its source, along the way introducing viewers to power companies, schools, businesses, and others findings ways to meet their energy needs while practicing conservation and green power. The film is intended teach viewers to dramatically reduce their electric bill and improve the environment at the same time. Ted McIntyre, a board member of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, will serve as the evening's moderator. The free screening will be held in the community room on the lower level of the Franklin Public Library at 118 Main St. - Rachel Lebeaux

CONCERT FOR THE TROOPS - The Holliston Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a concert Saturday to benefit US troops serving in the Middle East. It is the fifth concert in two years organized by Holliston-based Strike a Chord Concerts for Charity. More than 20 folk, rock, and blues musicians from the Boston area will perform at the family-friendly event, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 310 Woodland St. Donations will benefit the Gulf 2 Fund, an effort by the American Legion that sends weekly care packages overseas. There will be a raffle, cash bar, and a drive to collect personal care products and nonperishable food to send in the care packages. - Megan McKee

NEW RECREACTION AREA - Instead of a condominium development, the town will get a 22-acre recreation area with a trail network thanks to a joint effort of the Open Space Preservation Committee, the Friends of Whitehall, the Hopkinton Area Land Trust, the Conservation Commission, and the Hopkinton Trails Club. The property on Lake Whitehall was originally going to house condominiums but the project was shelved, in part because of the economy, and the town bought the property from the Wood Street Realty Trust/Ronald Nation in 2006 for $2.68 million. The town has placed a permanent conservation restriction on the property. Jeff Furber, who is a member of the Trails Club, said the club did preliminary work last month marking new trails that will connect to adjoining trails in Whitehall State Park. The Trails Club has also added a parking area to allow for easier access to the area, and plans to add signs and trail markers later this winter or in early spring. The property is hilly and wooded, said Furber, "with beautiful hemlocks and pines." - Megan McKee

WINNING CONSERVATION BOOKMARKS - Printed bookmarks featuring winning designs from last month's Water Conservation Bookmark contest are scheduled to be available within the next two weeks at Town Hall, the Medfield Memorial Public Library, and Park Street Books, according to Assistant Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler. The winning designs were chosen from 28 entries. The Board of Selectmen presented prizes to the top three finishers, Medfield sixth-grader Samantha Lee, fourth-grader Hayley Robartes, and third-grader Laura Mirtich. Trierweiler said the cost of printing the approximately 2,000 bookmarks, including the top three winners, plus eight other to-be-announced entry designs, was funded in part by a state Department of Environmental Protection grant and by Park Street Books. - James O'Brien

HISTORIC DISTRICT APPROVED - The National Park Service approved the Medway Village Historic District for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places last month, according to Medway Historical Commission chairman Robert Pomponio. The district encompasses more than 200 historic buildings, three churches, the Sanford Hill complex, and Sanford Hall (the current Town Hall), Pomponio said. He anticipates there will be an event this spring to commemorate the district's new status. - Rachel Lebeaux

NEW GLOBAL WARMING CLUB - Two students from Woodland Elementary School, Ellie Dulucca and Jacob Russian, recently started a Global Warming Club at the school. They worked with teachers to notify other students about the club, which is held during morning recess, and more than 200 have signed up. Due to the larger-than-expected turnout, the club has been broken down into smaller groups. Each studies a different effect that global warming has on society, from glacier retreat to harm on animals. The club, helped by a group of teachers, also looks at ways students can reduce global warming. - Anna Fiorentino

DISCUSSION ON VETERANS BENEFITS - Representatives from the state Department of Veterans' Services will hold an informal discussion for veterans and the widows of veterans Wednesday to discuss the benefits available to them. The benefits include full medical care reimbursement for households with monthly incomes below $1,800 for single people and $2,500 for married couples. The discussion will start at 3 p.m. in Room 229 of the Veterans Memorial Building, 900 Main St. Residents of surrounding towns are welcome. Call the Council on Aging at 508-376-7050 to reserve a seat. - Megan McKee

EXPO ON ENERGY SAVINGS - The town will hold an Energy Expo on Thursday at the Kennedy Senior Center, 117 East Central St., from 4 to 7 p.m. The program is designed to help residents save money on energy costs as well as determine eligibility for energy assistance programs. There will be many local, regional, and state organizations in attendance, as well as professionals offering tips for energy savings. Call Debbie Budd, Natick's outreach coordinator, at 508-647-6540 for more information. - Megan McKee

SEMINAR ON WARRANT ARTICLES - On Jan. 24, Town Moderator Dan Winslow will offer a free seminar on practical ways to write proposals for articles on the warrant at Town Meeting, which this spring is on May 12. The gathering kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Norfolk Public Library, 139 Main St. "Town Meeting is the legislative branch of town government," noted Winslow. "Any Norfolk voter is eligible to participate in the process by making proposals as well as deciding which proposals to approve into law." Proposals must be submitted to the selectmen's office by 4 p.m. Feb. 26. Residents seeking more information or to schedule additional meetings are asked to contact Winslow at winslow@virtualnorfolk.org. - Michele Morgan Bolton

NEW POLICE CHAPLAIN - Selectmen have appointed the Rev. J. Garret Thomson, the new pastor at St. Martha Parish, to the post of chaplain for the town's Police Department. Thomson, known as Father Gary, was recommended for the job by the department's recently retired chief, Edward Merrick, who stepped down on Dec. 31 after 14 years on the force. Thomson was appointed as pastor at the Catholic Church on South Street last month, after serving as a temporary administrator since earlier last year. - Michele Morgan Bolton

NO RAISES FOR TOWN EMPLOYEES - After lengthy discussion, selectmen have voted against giving pay raises or cost of living increases to town employees during the next fiscal year. The vote was 2-1, with Selectman Paul DeRensis, saying he would prefer to follow personnel board recommendations, which were to award town employees a 2.5 or 3 percent increase. - Anna Fiorentino

POLICE OFFER RECREATION NIGHTS - The Police Department is conducting a recreation program at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School for youths ages 9 to 15. Police officers, parents, and high school student volunteers are scheduled to provide basketball, floor hockey, and dodge ball games on the next five consecutive Saturday evenings, through Feb. 14. The program is free, funded by a community-policing grant from the state Executive Office of Public Safety, and while preregistration is not required, parents must submit a signed injury waiver for participating children. The injury waiver form is available online at www.uptonpolice.org, at the police station, and at the school on the nights of the program. For more details, call Police Officer Carl Ambrosino at 508-529-3200. - James O'Brien

BABYSITTING COURSE - The American Red Cross will hold a two-part babysitting course for 11- to 15-year-olds at the Fiske Public Library. The program covers job interview strategies, responsible choice-making, and basic childcare lessons, plus first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to Vivianne Cousineau, a regional Red Cross official. Preregistration for the class, to meet Jan. 31 and Feb. 14, is required, and the 12 spaces are available on a first-come first-served basis. The price of the course is $70. Call Cousineau at 508-586-4790, ext. 119. - James O'Brien

TEEN STRING ENSEMBLE - A string ensemble for teen musicians meets Mondays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the 1870 Town Hall. Professional violinist Denice Djerassi leads the group in everything from standard classical arrangements to Finnish folk songs. Students with at least one year's experience playing violin, cello, viola, or string bass are welcome to join. The cost is $5 per session, no registration required. For more information, e-mail EvyDueck@charter.net or see www.townofberlin.com. - Julia Rappaport

INTERNET SAFETY WORKSHOP - The town's school district is hosting a workshop for parents on Internet safety on Wednesday. The workshop, presented by school guidance counselors, will introduce software that the district is preparing to use at select elementary and middle schools and possibly at the high school, according to Liz Simon, a guidance counselor at Hemenway Elementary. The software, which parents can download for free, addresses a range of issues, including online piracy, bullying, and sexual predators. "The purpose is to help parents develop awareness and strategies to keep kids safe on the Internet," Simon said. The workshop starts at 7 p.m. in the Desmarais Room at the King Administration Building, 424 Water St. Portuguese and Spanish translations will be provided. The snow date is Jan. 28. Call 508-626-9150. - Tanya Perez Brennan

BOOST FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS - The MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation recently awarded a new round of grants and Marlborough will see the benefits. Advocates Inc., a social-services provider based in Framingham, has been awarded $77,000 to start a new program in Marlborough for people with mental illness or substance abuse issues who have had trouble with the law. The program will be the second of its kind in the state, modeled after a jail-diversion program that Advocates set up in Framingham. A second foundation grant will be going to Marlborough Hospital, which has been awarded $19,000 to support a citywide stroke education program. - Julia Rappaport

LIBRARY TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY - For the next month or so, town residents will be without a local library. Tomorrow has been scheduled as the Northborough Free Library's last day in its temporary space at 71 Lyman St., but its renovated and expanded building at 34 Main St. is not yet ready for all the books and visitors coming its way. "We're hoping to be in there by mid-to-late February," circulation supervisor Julie Brownlee said last week. "We've been giving the due date of Feb. 23 when people check things out." Until the library reopens, Brownlee said, Northborough members can use the public libraries in neighboring communities. For more details, visit www.northboroughlibrary.org. - Julia Rappaport

WANTED: TOWN PLANNER - The town needs a new planner, with Joe Laydon resigning to take the same job for Stoughton. The change will take place as Wayland prepares for what may be its largest development project to date, the mixed-use Town Center complex. Laydon's salary was just under $77,000, and the town has posted a job notice in the salary range of $58,167 to $76,652. - John M. Guilfoil

FORUM ON STUDENTS, INTERNET - Parents, caregivers, and community members can learn about Internet issues confronting fourth- to 12th-graders at a forum, "21st Century Skills, Scandals, and Security - Everything a Parent Should Know About Their Child's Internet Use," on Jan 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Mill Pond School, 6 Olde Hickory Path. Topics include cyber bullying, social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, online ethics, safety, and school resources. Representatives from the Worcester district attorney's office, the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, the Police Department, and the school system's technology department will offer presentations as part of the forum. - Megan McKee