Lyme disease info in Abington

FIRE CHIEF RETIRES - Fire Chief Kenneth J. McHugh will retire on Oct. 2. The chief began his career in 1969 and worked his way through the ranks, according to the town. He was appointed acting chief in 2007, following the retirement of Chief Gerald Kenny Jr., and was sworn in as chief this past January. Mayor Joseph C. Sullivan praised McHugh for his service, saying: “Ken McHugh is a firefighter’s firefighter. He is ever ready at the call of a siren.’’

CHAMBER WEBSITE - The Cohasset Chamber of Commerce has updated its website, www.cohassetchamber.org, to include current information about events in town, as well as businesses and community resources. “We wanted to make it look more like a marketing tool for the town and, as a result, for the businesses,’’ said chamber president Darilynn Evans. “We wanted to feature what’s great about our town.’’ Evans said nonprofits can list events on the site’s calendar, which also will include business promotions. The chamber has about 60 business members, she said. - Johanna Seltz

MUSIC FESTIVAL - The Duxbury Music Festival, which kicks off Friday with an orchestral performance on at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center, runs through July 31 with a series of big concerts, small recitals, and other events at a number of town venues. Free student recitals will take place at the Ellison Center for the Arts, beginning July 16. Outdoor concerts under a tent on the town green include a July 18 concert by Black Sea Salsa Band and a July 19 daytime performance of the operetta “Little Red Riding Hood’’ followed by performances by students and faculty of the South Shore Conservatory, the festival’s producer. Concerts will also be held at the Ellison Center on July 30 and 31. Ticket sales and the complete schedule of events are available online at duxburymusicfestival.org. - Robert Knox

ROUTE 53 WIDENING - Easing the flow of traffic on Route 53 continues to be a major focus of town officials. While a project to expand a section of the state highway west of the Hanover Mall continues, town and state highway officials are now looking at widening a stretch of the busy road from the Route 3 overpass east a half-mile toward the Assinippi General Store at the Norwell line. The project could begin as early as 2011. “We’d like to expand that section from two lanes to four lanes,’’ said Selectman Alan Rugman. He said a traffic light at the off-ramp would also be part of the project. “The key for us is to keep this project high up on the state’s priority list,’’ he said. - Robert Carroll

SCHOOL NAME - Selectmen on Wednesday set Aug. 3 as the date of Special Town Meeting that will allow residents to decide the name of a newly renovated elementary school. Residents submitted a petition last Wednesday calling for the meeting. Since the School Committee voted May 11 to name the school after current superintendent and Hingham native Dorothy Galo, a controversy over the school name has embroiled the town. The special meeting will consider an article to name the school East Elementary, and the library after Galo. Another article would require the School Department to pay for the cost of the special meeting, which could be as much as $10,000. - L. E. Crowley

MAKE RAIN WORK FOR YOU - Holbrook residents have until July 8 to purchase rain barrels at a discount from the New England Rain Barrel Co. This provides an opportunity for residents to save money on water bills and supply their outdoor watering needs, said Pat Greely, chair of the Holbrook Town Forest Committee. Greely set up the discount program after hearing of a similar program in Braintree. The 55-gallon blue plastic containers allow residents to attach a hose for watering and redirect overflow. They also come with a cover so children and pets can’t get in. While Holbrook has not yet implemented water use restrictions this season, Greely said either a ban or a restriction is implemented every summer. The price of the barrels is $72.95 and can be ordered by calling the company at 877-977-3135 or online at www.nerainbarrel.com. - Kate Augusto

OPEN STUDIOS - Artists’ studios, marked with red balloons, will be open around town next weekend. The Open Studios Tour features 18 artists in 11 locations and is sponsored by the Hull Artists Studio Connection, a nonprofit that promotes Hull as a destination for people interested in arts and crafts. Maps of the studio tour are available at www.hullartists.com or at the gallery.Most of the studios will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 11 and 12.

GOLF TOURNEY - The annual Brain Aneurysm Foundation Golf Tournament will take place this year at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston on July 20. The tournament helps the foundation raise awareness of brain aneurysms, a weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causing a ballooning of the blood vessel that can occur at any age. The event will include golf, followed by dinner at the Indian Pond Country Club clubhouse. Non-golfers can use the club’s new pool and tennis facilities before joining golfers for dinner. The cost is $200 per golfer, $50 for dinner only. To register online, see bafound.org or call the foundation at 888-272-4602. - Robert Knox

MONEY FOR MEMORIAL PARK - The third annual Molly’s Walk raised more than $35,000 last month as 600 people walked in the rain in memory of the late Molly Fitzgerald, her father said. Molly died three years ago, at age 14, after having an epileptic seizure in her family’s swimming pool. Jim Fitzgerald said the money will go toward building Dandelion Park on the site of a former gasoline station on Ocean Street. He said the park will honor all children “who have died too early’’ and he hopes it will provide solace to grieving parents. The park is named after Molly’s favorite flower. - Johanna Seltz

FUNERAL DIRECTOR LOSES LICENSE - The license of Richard Ditullio of Milton to practice as a funeral director and embalmer has been revoked by the state’s Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The board alleged that Ditullio’s embalmer’s license expired more than a year ago, although his funeral director’s license remained current, according to the Division of Professional Licensure. Ditullio could not be reached for comment. - Matt Carroll

BRIDGE CLOSURE EXTENDED - The Bridge Street bridge will be closed for a few more months after state officials decided in April to replace the bridge instead of having it undergo extensive renovations. Initially the state planned to allow one lane of traffic as extensive repairs were completed over 12 to 16 months, but once work began officials said the bridge had eroded to such an extent that it would need to be completely replaced. The bridge closed in April and could reopen in October.

BANDSTAND RENOVATION - The town’s Harry Woods Memorial Bandstand on the town green is undergoing a facelift. The bandstand, named after a former Pembroke resident and songwriter, was built for the town’s 275th anniversary in 1987. The renovations began June 26, and two Pembroke companies, New England Build and Restore and Scotia Gold Paintworks, are donating their labor, which includes replacing the existing wood-shingle roof, and painting the trim and other areas. The materials were purchased with $1,870 appropriated by Town Meeting this spring. The project is being overseen by former selectman Robert DeMarzo, and is expected to be completed before Governor Deval Patrick visits on July 16 to hold a town hall-style meeting at the green. - John Laidler

A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - The Board of Selectmen is seeking volunteers to fill openings on more than a dozen boards and committees. They’re looking for financially savvy people to serve on the Audit Committee; a naturalist to serve on the Tidal Beaches Advisory Committee; a yacht club member for the Harbor Committee, as well as candidates for the Council on Aging, Cultural Council, Disabilities Commission, Historic District Commission, and several other boards. For a complete list, visit www.plymouth-ma.gov. Residents interested in serving on a specific committee should send a letter of interest and resume to the selectmen by July 10 to the Board of Selectmen, Plymouth Town Hall, 11 Lincoln St., Plymouth, 02360. For more information, call the selectmen’s office at 508-747-1620, ext. 106.

HOSPICE AWARD - Quincy Medical Center was given the 2009 Excellence in End-of-Life Care Award from Beacon Hospice Inc. The award recognized the medical center’s commitment to and delivery of high quality end-of-life care to its patients. “The QMC team continually strives to do what is best for patients and families who come through their doors,’’ said Beth Kelly, Beacon Hospice director of physician hospital relations.

NEW SCHOOL PRINCIPAL - The new principal of the J.F. Kennedy Elementary School will begin her job tomorrow, according to Richard Silverman, superintendent of schools. Immacula Didier was most recently assistant principal at a magnet school in Meriden, Conn., and has served as an elementary school reading specialist and as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher. She earned a doctorate in education from Southern Connecticut State University and speaks Creole. Didier was one of 30 applicants for the job to replace Nancy Connelly, who will retire in September after 37 years in the district, the past 17 as principal at the Kennedy. - Wendy Chow

SCHOOL PUT ON FAST TRACK - Planning for a replacement of the town’s 80-year-old middle school has been placed on a fast track by the state, according to Superintendent of Schools John Retchless. The state determination was based on enrollment projections. The School Department is leaning toward an option that would connect the new school to the high school to take advantage of shared facilities, though students in each school would not be mingled. Money would be saved by having a single auditorium, library, and other facilities. A feasibility study is to be completed this month, with a design due by September.

BUILDING’S REOPENING DELAYED - Harold Brown, CEO of the Hamilton Co., said the renovation of the company’s building on Front Street has involved more extensive work than expected, postponing the opening of restaurants, retail shops, and offices until September. Brown said construction workers found the Welch Building needed a complete overhaul of the plumbing and piping system. However, when the project is complete, the building, originally constructed in the mid-1800s, “will be good for another 100 years,’’ Brown said. - L. E. Crowley

FARMERS MARKET - The town’s first farmersmarket went off without a hitch last weekend, according to the town’s planning director, James Clarke, with several hundred people shopping for strawberries, peas, eggs, lettuce, and other items. “We had three farms there with produce and two of them almost sold out,’’ Clarke said. “I counted 300 to 400 people.’’ The farmers, from Middleborough, Lunenburg, and Hanson - and other vendors will be at the Town Hall parking lot Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 24, Clarke said. - Johanna Seltz