Globe West Community briefing
Arlington
Arlington residents have saved more than $14,000 by using a prescription drug discount card available at town offices and local pharmacies. Arlington Town Manager Brian Sullivan said 468 residents have signed up for the National League of Cities’ Prescription Discount Card, and cardholders are saving an average of 26 percent on prescription drug purchases. The discount card program launched in Arlington in December, and Sullivan said it has been very successful in defraying the high cost of prescription drugs. The program is available to all residents, regardless of age, income level, or existing health coverage, and Sullivan is encouraging more residents to sign up for the card, which is free and available at Town Hall, the senior center, the Robbins and Fox libraries, and all five pharmacies in Arlington. More information about the card can be found online at arlingtonma.gov/prescriptioncards. — Brock ParkerBELMONT
LOCAL LAWYER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL — Nicholas Iannuzzi Jr., a Belmont lawyer, will run as an independent for a place on the Massachusetts Governor’s Council, representing the 3d district. Iannnuzzi said his 20 years of experience as a lawyer have prepared him for a position on the eight-member council, a group that gives advice to the governor about pardons, treasury payments, and judicial and justice of the peace nominations. In the Nov. 2 election, Iannuzzi will face either incumbent Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney or Lowell’s Corey Belanger. The two will square off in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary. — Sara Brown Brookline
NO PARKING — Two town parking lots in need of resurfacing will be closed for parts of the month. The Babcock Street lot is already closed but should reopen around Wednesday, according to the Planning Department. The School Street lot will be closed Aug 16-20. — Andreae DownsPARK(
NEW SWIM SEASON — Just in time for fall, swim registration opens at the Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center Aug. 22 for Brookline residents and Aug. 29 for nonresidents. The pool is right near the Brookline Hills train stop, and swimming lessons are open for beginners of all ages. There are also water exercise classes, and a swim team for ages 5 through 18. For details, call 617-713-5435. — Andreae Downs
Lexington
TALK ON CLIMBING EVEREST — Hear Lexington native Ed Webster’s tale about climbing Mount Everest at Cary Memorial Library on Thursday. Webster, an experienced mountain climber, photographer, and author, will narrate a slideshow based on his book, “Snow in the Kingdom: My Storm Years on Everest.’’ Webster and three others climbed Everest in 1988 without Sherpa support, bottled oxygen, and radios, and he lost the tips of eight fingers to frostbite. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the library’s Large Meeting Room, and admission is free. For more information, call the library at 781-862-6288, extension 250. — Sara BrownNEEDHAM
A WALK THROUGH HISTORY — The Needham Historical Society will host a fund-raiser, Walk Through History, on Oct. 2. Before hearing about Needham’s famous bank robbery, its Odd Fellows’ Fire, and the Marked Tree, walkers, bikers, or drivers will get a guidebook and map leading them through five different routes. Participants can now download a sponsorship form online and begin seeking donations. Registration will take place the day of the walk at the Historical Society at 1147 Central Ave. or at Memorial Park, where the Needham Business Association’s Harvest Fair will be taking place that same day. Those interested in the walk may plan to leave from or end at the fair, said Gloria Greis, the society’s executive director. “We’re revving up to the tercentennial,’’ said Greis, of the yearlong celebration that begins Nov. 5, “and we’re showing how the community grew, where history still lurks in the things [people] see every day.” Find out more information or download the sponsorship form at www. needhamhistory.org. — Katrina BallardNewton
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE — At the first meeting of the Newton Transportation Advisory Committee last week, members decided to collaborate on a transportation map of the city, with bus routes, walking and bike trails, Zipcar locations, and known traffic choke points. Members will also keep travel diaries to determine the most common methods of travel. A subcommittee on safety, which met directly after the full committee, will also focus on prioritizing intersections and roadways for repainting, which members say could make roads safer for bicyclists. “We have to try to get people out of their cars, both to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and to encourage a healthier lifestyle,’’ Mayor Setti Warren said at the meeting. The group has also launched a website for more information; a link can be found at ci.newton.ma.us. — Sarah Thomas CANDIDATES’ DEBATE — In their second debate of the race for state Senate last week, incumbent Cynthia Stone Creem emphasized her experience while challenger Charles Rudnick accused her of being an insider. The two Democrats covered a wide range of topics, from casino gambling and CORI reform to patronage in the Probation Department. The forum will be broadcast on NewTV. Also debating were state Representative Ruth Balser and her challenger, John Bortone. Balser is in her sixth term representing Newton. Creem has held her seat in the Senate for six terms, representing all of Newton and parts of Brookline and Wellesley. Creem and Rudnick expressed similar views on many issues: they both back a ban on handheld cellphones while driving, advocate in-state tuition rates for children of undocumented immigrants, and defend the need for a 6.25 percent sales tax. But Rudnick said that Creem relies too much on task forces, while Creem accused her opponent of negative campaigning. More information on both candidates is available at their websites, cindycreem.com and charlesrudnick.com. — Sarah Thomas
WALTHAM
HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL — Residents can bring their hazardous recycling to Lexington’s Minuteman Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Aug. 21, Sept. 19, Oct. 16, or Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Since the city is paying for the $40 per car fee for waste disposal, officials are urging residents to dispose of all their trash in one trip. Examples of the types of hazardous products that residents should recycle are nail polish remover, bleach, motor oil, and many cleaners, paints, solvents, and mercury-containing products. Products that shouldn’t be taken to the center include asbestos, ammunition, latex paint, alkaline batteries, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. For a complete guide to hazardous waste, visit www.city.waltham.ma.us/recycling/homerec.html and click on “Household Hazardous Waste.” The facility is located at 60 Hartwell Ave. in Lexington. — Megan McKeeWATERTOWN
SESSIONS FOR SENIORS — The Watertown Council on Aging is holding events for seniors this month on asset management, geriatric medication, and emergency preparedness. The first event, focusing on protecting assets from nursing home costs and from probate, will be conducted by Ted Ducas, an agent of the New York Life Insurance Company on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the senior center. On Aug. 18, Gerry Nelson, a registered nurse from the Community Health Department at Mount Auburn Hospital, will discuss safe medication management for seniors at home. Lastly, Gail Nordby, from the Watertown Emergency Management Coalition, and public health nurse Sarah Kinghorn from the town’s health department will discuss ways to stay safe at home, as well as during community emergencies. For more information, visit ci.watertown.ma.us. — Sarah Thomas WELLESLEY
NEW BABSON GRAD WINS AWARD — Alexander Debelov, who just graduated from Babson College, was named a finalist in Entrepreneur magazine’s College Entrepreneur of the Year Contest. Debelov began a start-up company, Crelligence Media, which enables its clients to deliver video advertising to consumers, allowing them to participate in the creation and marketing processes. It’s hardly the first honor accorded him. While a student at Babson, Debelov received The Most Outstanding Entrepreneurial Student Award and the Leaders of Tomorrow Award in 2009 and 2010 from the Kairos Society. Visitors to Entrepreneur magazine’s website, entrepreneur.com, can vote for Debelov. For more information visit babson.edu. — Sarah Thomas
AROUND THE REGION
Ashland
AN ORGANIC POTPOURRI — The Ashland Community Gardens group is holding a garden talk, “Organic potpourri: Composting, healthy yards, and making dandelion stock,’’ Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Stone Park. Michael Turgeon is a wetland scientist who has worked with the state Department of Environmental Protection. He has an interest in organic lawn care, composting, and the value of native plants, and will discuss how to keep a yard healthy organically and how to combat poison ivy, among other topics. The event is free, with Thursday as the rain date. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs. For more information, call 508-881-6297 or e-mail info@ashlandcommunitygardens.org. — Rachel LebeauxNATICK
SOCKS FOR VETS — Officials are asking for donations of new socks for the annual Operation Stand Down sponsored by the VA Boston Healthcare System and Volunteers of America. The two-day event will be held in Boston Aug. 27 and 28, and offers veterans a number of medical and social services, including podiatry services. The Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses will be doing foot inspections and warm-water soaks, and would like to give veterans clean white socks and travel-size toiletries after that. The donation deadline is Aug. 25. Information on Operation Stand Down is at www.voamass.org. — Megan McKee UPTON
RECYCLABLE BOAT RACE — Rowers of an unusual kind of watercraft will converge upon Upton’s Kiwanis Beach on Wednesday, competing in the town’s fourth annual Recyclable Boat Race. Each boat in the race, constructed by participants, consists of only recyclable materials, and afterward is disassembled and placed in recycling bins. Lisa Stratton, an Upton librarian who has judged the race in recent years, said everything from cardboard to cat-litter containers has been used to make boats. More than a dozen awards will be given out, recognizing participants for their choice of materials, boat design and aesthetics, and even for the most spectacular sinking among the less pond-worthy craft. The race kicks off at 6 p.m. at Pratt Pond. — James O’Brien
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