Holistic health fair in Billerica

ONLINE UPGRADE - The city last week launched its newly redesigned municipal website. The site features expanded content, now available in French, Spanish, and Portuguese. It also offers live streaming of programming on the city’s Channel 15 local access television station. The redesigned site, which retains the address www.chelseama.gov, incorporates bright colors and new graphics and navigational tools. “Our online visitors will now experience a more vibrant and seamless view of the whole city and its deep collection of online resources,’’ John Hyland, Chelsea’s information technology director, said in a prepared statement. Expanded content on the site includes an interactive community bulletin board, an updated and more comprehensive Geographic Information Systems computer mapping page, and a seasonally rotating array of city photos.

SPENDING PULLED FROM WARRANT - In deference to moderator David Miller’s charter interpretation that capital items may only be put before voters at an April Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen recently withdrew an article featuring capital requests from various town departments for the upcoming Special Town Meeting. Instead, the board included an article that would revise the town charter to allow operating and capital budget items to come before any town meeting. The Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19. - David Rattigan

EARLY HALLOWEEN TREAT - The Martin’s Pond Association is sponsoring the 15th annual Haunted Children’s Playground from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Clark Park, 61 Burroughs Road. The event will offer guided haunted tours, a magic show, a children’s costume contest, games with prizes, and refreshments. A free shuttle to the event will be available at Spirit Halloween, Atlantic Plaza, 265 Main St. (Route 28). Rain date is Oct. 24. For more information, call 978-664-0625 or visit www.martinspond.org.

HOMESCHOOL UPSTART - When Tammy McKanan moved to Somerville from central Minnesota last year, she looked forward to joining a vibrant, diverse community of home-schoolers. She was mistaken. “There aren’t that many people in Somerville who home-school,’’ she said. Most get-togethers were out in the suburbs, inconvenient and expensive for a family with no car. So McKanan started her own weekly reading group last month at the Somerville Central Library for 6- to 8-year-olds (Her daughter is 6). Within a few days, she had 10 participants plus a waiting list. A full half of Somerville’s home-schooled children participate; the city has 12, said Frank DiChiappari, district administrator for student services. Despite the relatively low numbers locally, “people are either interested or they’re neutral,’’ McKanan said. “I just say things like ‘It’s a joyful life,’ and who’s against that?” The November sessions will focus on theater. To learn more, check with the library or call McKanan at 617-591-0216. - Danielle Dreilinger

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - The Board of Selectmen has set Nov. 9 for a Special Town Meeting. Among the articles will be those proposing the purchase of a new police cruiser, matching grant funds for the purchase of a Council on Aging van, and purchase of a generator for the Senior Center. The meeting will be held at the Essex Elementary School on Story Street, at 7:30 p.m. - David Rattigan

HISTORIC HOUSE AND BARN TOUR - The Groveland Historical Society will hold its 2009 Historical House and Barn Tour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17. The tour will feature seven 18th- and 19th-century homes as well as a 20th-century reproduction of a Georgian Colonial. Four historic barns, the Little Red Schoolhouse, and the Esty barn, decorated for Halloween, also will be included in the tour. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 on the day of the tour and may be purchased at Kay’s Interiors, the Groveland Diner, or Gerry’s Variety Store. Tickets will also be available on the day of the tour at the Groveland Historical Society building at 423 Main St. For more information, call 978-374-9684. - David Cogger

HALL OF FAME BANQUET - Tickets are now available for the 2009 Tyngsborough High School Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, which will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Princeton Station, 147 Princeton St. in Chelmsford. The evening will start with a social hour, followed by dinner and an awards ceremony. Inductees include athletes from the classes of 1970, 1974, 1990, and 1995, as well as longtime cross-country and track coach Bruce McMaster and the state champion 1999 girls’ basketball team. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the high school’s main office. For more information, call 978-649-7571.