Board vacancies

HEARING ON TOWN FINANCES — Proposed financial policies for the town will be the subject of a public forum on Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall first-floor meeting room. Drafts of policies to be discussed at the Finance Committee-sponsored meeting will range from five-year budgeting projections to new revenue sources. Selectmen plan to review the public’s input after the forum. — Davis Bushnell

FREE MOVIES AT COLLEGE — Middlesex Community College has invited area residents to join in celebrating the start of the new academic year with a free outdoor movie event on Friday at 8 p.m. on the Bedford campus quad, 591 Springs Road. “Toy Story 3’’ will be shown first, followed by “Prince of Persia.’’ Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs, sleeping bags and blankets. In case of rain, the event will move indoors to the campus cafeteria. For more information, contact Melissa Welch at 978-656-3363 or welchm@middlesex.mass.edu. — Nancy Shohet West

MOSQUITO SPRAYING — Mosquito spraying was carried out on roads throughout town Monday night after Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus were both found in a mosquito trapped off Still River Road. The Board of Selectmen voted on Aug. 27 to authorize the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project to conduct the spraying, which will reduce the mosquito population and limit the chances of the diseases being transmitted to residents. — Matt Gunderson

CPR, FIRST AID TRAINING — The Fire Department will hold CPR and first aid training on Sept. 18 in the fire station at 502 Massachusetts Ave. CPR training will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and first aid training will be from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for CPR training only or $30 for both classes. Individuals that have never been trained as well as those seeking recertification can attend. To sign up, go to www.boxboroughfire.com. For details, contact Lieutenant Jason Malinowski at jmalinowski@boxboroughfire.com. — Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

TAHANTO ACCREDITATION — The New England Association of Schools and Colleges has informed the Tahanto Regional Middle/High School that its accreditation will continue for the upcoming school year. The accreditation comes after school officials submitted a five-year report to the organization. It was potentially in jeopardy this year due to the school’s ongoing facility problems. A building project that was approved by voters in the regional district this spring will help address the problems, officials said. — Matt Gunderson

SEEKING STATE SEWER LOAN — The town’s Board of Health wants to apply for a state-funded low-interest loan to finance a project that would create a sewer system to serve the center of town. The proposal would hook up public facilities, including the Carlisle Village Court elderly housing complex and the Gleason Public Library, to the waste-water treatment facility at the Carlisle Public School, which was built four years ago and has more capacity than is being used. An engineer consulting on the project estimated the cost at approximately $500,000. — Nancy Shohet West

TOWN WON’T BUY FARMLAND — The town has waived its right of first refusal on a piece of farmland on Route 62 that is owned by the Scimone family. A developer is interested in building a maximum of eight houses on about 7 acres of land there, but the family would retain and continue to farm about 20 acres. The Board of Selectmen’s chairman, Jeffrey Wieand, said the town has long had an interest in the parcel, but officials decided to waive its rights as long as the family agreed to give it the opportunity to acquire the remaining land. Wieand said the town is not in a position to purchase land right now, but hopes to when its financial situation improves. “We’re still interested in coming to an agreement on the rest of the property,’’ he said. “Our goal is to keep that property in farming.’’ — Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN — Strengthening math, science, and social studies programs are three goals of the recently released school improvement plan for Swallow Union Elementary School. The school improvement plan, which was started last year, can be seen online at www.grotdunst.mec.edu. It identifies various ways to enhance the educational curriculum in these areas. For example, the plan recommends mandatory professional development for teachers, and a math night for parents to improve the school’s curriculum. — Matt Gunderson

TOWN PHOTO CONTEST — Town officials are hosting an amateur photo contest that will be used to select a photo of Groton for the 2010 annual town report. The deadline for submitting photos is Dec. 14. Contestants must live or work in Groton. Online voting on five of the best photos submitted will be held from Dec. 15 to Jan. 31. Check the town website for more information. — Matt Gunderson

FALL FESTIVAL — A variety of family entertainment will be featured at the town’s annual Fall Festival, to be held Sept. 17-19 at the Hazel Farm, located off Route 2 at routes 110 and 111. Activities will kick off Sept. 17 with a band competition from 5 to 10 p.m. The following day, there will be a concert and fireworks from 5:30 to 10 p.m. On the final day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a crafts fair and a children’s carnival. For festival details, contact the selectmen’s office at 978-456-4100, ext. 12. — Davis Bushnell

SCHOOL COSTS UNVEILED — Building a new JFK Middle School could cost around $43 million, the town’s executive assistant, Paul Blazar, said recently. Project designer Michael Rosenfeld of Acton submitted an initial plan to town officials for a building to replace the current 1960s-era school. If talks with the Massachusetts School Building Authority go as planned, Blazar said, the town would pay 44 percent of the school’s cost, with the state picking up the rest of the bill. The design is a concept likely to be tweaked substantially over the next few months as town and state officials discuss the project, Blazar added. — John Dyer

NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR — Town officials have selected a new planning director. Christopher Reilly, the former community and economic development director for Wareham, will start work in Lincoln on Tuesday. The position has been vacant since December. Reilly has also worked as director of economic development in Salisbury and director of planning in Reading. “He has a strong and diverse background and is well suited for the challenges facing Lincoln,’’ said Town Administrator Timothy Higgins. — Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

LAND PURCHASE IN WORKS — Selectmen have unanimously voted to authorize the town counsel to negotiate with the Emily B. Cobb Trust for the acquisition of a 16-acre parcel near Cobb’s Pond for $745,000. The next step is to place an article on the warrant for Special Town Meeting, to be held Nov. 8, asking voters to approve the expenditure. — Nancy Shohet West

IN HONOR OF GHILONI — About 200 city residents and family and friends of former recreation director Louis Ghiloni turned out last Sunday for a ceremony honoring him as part of the city’s ongoing celebration of its 350th anniversary. Organizer Colleen Hughes said the Fort Meadow Reservoir beach was chosen for the event because Ghiloni, 84, was instrumental in Marlborough’s decision to purchase the property for $1,000 in 1952, the first year he served as recreation director. Ghiloni retired in 1990. Residents delivered speeches recalling the numerous outings and events he organized during his tenure, Hughes said. — John Dyer

MEETING BROADCASTS POSTPONED — Town officials have postponed live broadcasts of Board of Selectmen meetings, said Town Administrator Michael Sullivan. Selectmen had intended to start having their meetings broadcast live on Maynard’s public access channel several weeks ago, but technical problems involving a fiber-optic link with the town’s high school forced them to delay their plans. Sullivan said he hoped the issues would be resolved so that meetings could be broadcast in a few weeks. In the meantime, he said, meetings would be recorded and archived. — John Dyer

APPLEFEST NEXT WEEKEND — Applefest, one of the town’s biggest annual celebrations, will be commemorating its 20th anniversary next weekend. From Friday through next Sunday, the town’s New England and agricultural heritage will be recalled in events and activities for the entire family. The main event on Friday is the popular Applefest dessert bake-off, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Senior Center, 119 Bear Foot Road. In addition to an array of apple-themed treats, the event will also feature a special “diabetes-friendly dessert” contest. On Saturday, highlights include the Applefest Parade that will begin on Main Street at noon, a street fair along Blake Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a barbecue at Ellsworth/McAfee Park off Route 135. The barbecue will feature music, pony and horse rides, moonwalks, and a robot show. Sunday’s events include the Classic Car Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Times Square Plaza, 299 West Main St., and the return of “Greater Northborough Has Talent,’’ a variety show featuring 22 acts that will be held in the Algonquin Regional High School auditorium at 4 p.m. For additional information about the lineup of festivities, contact Applefest committee chairman Michelle Gillespie at 508-393-1355 or by e-mail at michelle@michellegillespie.com. — Jennifer Roach

NEW WATER METERS — The town’s Water Division has begun installing new radio-equipped devices that will help streamline the meter-reading process and move the town from a semiannual water billing system to a quarterly one. According to the department website, the installation of the new meters will take about two years to complete and will not require, in most cases, access to homes. There is no charge for the meter installations. — Matt Gunderson

SOCIAL CLUB DINNER — School supplies are the focus of the Shrewsbury Social Club’s September community service project. Toward that effort, the nonprofit organization is taking advantage of its fall season kick-off dinner, scheduled for Sept. 20, to collect glue sticks, pencils, crayons, markers, copy paper, and a variety of paper goods. The materials will be distributed to Shrewsbury elementary schools. Formerly known as the Welcome Wagon Club, the Shrewsbury Social Club’s charitable activities have been carried out since the 1970s. The deadline to reserve seats at its fall dinner at Leo’s Ristorante in Worcester is Sept. 13; tickets are $25. Entertainment and informational presentations from various community groups are slated to be part of the night. Checks for reservations should be made out to the club and mailed to Laura Nordstrom, Treasurer, 32 Brentwood Ave., Shrewsbury, MA, 01545. For more information, contact Melanie Petrucci at 508-845-6350. — James O’Brien

NEW TOWN PLANNER — After months of searching after the resignation of town planner Vera Kolias in April, the town has selected former Shrewsbury town planner Eric Denoncourt for the position. Last week the Planning Board interviewed Denoncourt and former Marlborough city planner Nancy Savoie, the finalists from about 50 applicants. While the board members liked Savoie’s demeanor and remarks overall, they said last week that she may not be the right fit for a small-town Planning Department after working in Marlborough. Board also said they were impressed by Denoncourt’s presentation and his plans for improving the town’s planning rules and regulations. Denoncourt has officially accepted the offer and will begin the job on Oct. 4. — Jennifer Roach

PROPERTY MAPS ONLINE — Residents can now access local property maps at the town website, www.stow-ma.gov. The maps can be accessed at the assessor’s page by clinking on the link that says ”Stow Property Maps.” The map look-up link on the page provides information about the type of property and the acreage of the parcel. — Matt Gunderson

CONCERN OVER TRAFFIC — About 100 residents seeking to reduce traffic along Old Lancaster Road have presented a petition to the Board of Selectmen. The road is often used as a cut-through to get to other parts of town, and residents are concerned about both the speed and volume of the traffic. One option they hope officials consider is eliminating truck traf fic; however the town’s Department of Public Works yard is on the street. The petition is expected to be reviewed by the town’s Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee. — Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

LIBRARY CELEBRATING REOPENING — The Wayland Free Public Library is having an open house next Sunday to celebrate its reopening after the spring floods. Activities will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. There will be music, a balloon artist, face painting, and refreshments. Heavy rains in March forced the closure, and the lower level of the building was renovated. — Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

TEA PARTY GROUPS TO HOST DEBATE — A number of local Tea Party groups are sponsoring a public debate Tuesday between Republican candidates vying for a chance to face US Representative James McGovern in November. The Northborough Tea Party, Worcester Tea Party, Marlborough Tea Party, and Worcester Seven Hills Tea Party have teamed up to cosponsor the free event, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel at 5400 Computer Drive in Westborough. Republican candidates Robert Chipman, Robert Delle, Brian Herr, Marty Lamb, and Mike Stopa have been invited to attend. They are facing off in their party’s Sept. 14 primary for the Third Congressional District. — Jennifer Roach

FALL HARVEST FAIR — The Holliston Historical Society will present its 30th annual Country Harvest Fair on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its headquarters, 547 Washington St. The fair will feature antiques and collectibles, old-fashioned handicrafts, a silent auction for goods and services from area merchants, food, entertainment, and activities for children and adults. There are still spaces available for vendors of crafts, antiques, and collectibles (no commercial items). For information, visit the Historical Society’s website, www.hollistonhistoricalsociety.org, or call 508-429–5795. — Brittany Danielson

FREE CONCERT BY ROOT — The town’s Cultural Council will present a free performance by local musician and educator John Root next Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. upstairs in the Fire Department headquarters, 73 Main St. “Songs from the Golden Years’’ is a program of music from the 1920s and ’30s, featuring swing, the Charleston, and classics from the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. — Brittany Danielson

SIGN UP FOR TOWN FESTIVAL — Food, entertainment, children’s rides, and local merchants are part of Discover Medfield Day on Sept. 25, held by the Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization. Food vendors have until Friday to return applications for a one-day license to the Board of Health. Vendor registration and food license applications are available online at www.medfield-memo.org. For details, contact Medfield Day organizer Cheryl O’Donnell at 508-359-7366. — James O’Brien

POLISH FESTIVAL — The town’s Council on Aging is starting a new series of ethnic festivals with a focus on Poland on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. at the town’s senior center, 76 Oakland St. The festival will include music by Polka Paul and a Polish meal at 4 p.m. The cost is $5, with payment due by next Sunday. For details, e-mail medwaycoa@townofmedway.org or call Missy Dziczek at 508-533-3210. — Rachel Lebeaux

SEEKING CLASS OF ’60 — Reunion organizers are reaching out to members of the last Upton class to graduate from Northbridge High School in Whitinsville. After the class of 1960, Upton started sending its students to to the new Nipmuc Regional High. The 50th reunion is Oct. 16 at Whitinsville Golf Club. Tickets are $35. Contact class president Henry Haggerty at 508-234-2876 or hh5868@aol.com. — James O’Brien