Globe North Community briefing

Tavern restoration plans

July 18, 2010

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Burlington

The town is preparing to construct a replica of the former barn at the Marion Tavern at Grand View Farm. The construction, expected to begin this fall, marks another phase in the ongoing restoration of the historic 6-acre site acquired by the town in a three-way land swap in 2002. The property was originally a farm and its main building, Marion Tavern, was at one time a stagecoach stop. In a first phase of the renovations, the town last year restored the tavern’s foundation, walls, siding, roof, windows, and doors, according to Nick Rubino, cochairman of the Grand View Farm Advisory Committee. The town also razed the barn, determining it was in too poor a condition to be saved. The work was funded through the sale of one of several house lots acquired in the land swap and through the sale of commemorative bricks that were installed in front. Rubino said the town has selected a contractor to build the replica. To help cover the costs, one or two of the remaining house lots will be sold along with more commemorative bricks, he said. Students at Shawsheen Valley Regional Technical School this fall will be upgrading the tavern building’s plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. The town will pay for materials but the labor will be free. Shawsheen students designed the project this spring. — John Laidler

Everett

CITY GUIDE WINS AWARD — Everett was selected to receive one of the annual state Healthy Community Principles Awards. The Massachusetts Partnership for Healthy Communities presents nine awards each year to highlight the work of local coalitions in implementing nine recognized principles of a healthy community. One award is presented for each principle. Everett received the Broad Definition of Community Award for its work in developing a Welcome to Everett guide. Developed last year, the guide includes information on everything from parking regulations to enrolling in the public schools, trash and recycling collection, and recreational opportunities. Marzie Galazka, the city’s director of community development, said the city was “pleased to produce this guide as a wonderful introduction to city services and regulations.’’ — John Laidler

Lynn

LOWER INSURANCE COSTS — The city will be saving about $250,000 in its liability insurance this fiscal year following a decision to put the service out to bid, according to Claire Cavanagh, chief of staff to Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy. Cavanagh said that until this year, when Kennedy took office, the city had been awarding annual contracts for liability insurance without a bidding process. While state law does not require it, Kennedy, following a recommendation by city comptroller John Pace, opted to seek bids. The contract was awarded to Eastern Insurance Group LLC of Natick, which submitted the lowest of three bids received by the city. Its charge to the city for coverage is about $250,000 less than what the city paid to another carrier last fiscal year. Meanwhile, Cavanagh said that following a campaign promise she made last year, Kennedy has posted the city’s newly approved fiscal 2011 budget on the city website, www.ci.lynn.ma.us. — John Laidler

Malden

CVS PROPOSED FOR BROADWAY — A new CVS store may be on the way to 225 Broadway. The Conservation Commission on Tuesday will hold a public hearing on a notice of intent to tear down a vacant commercial building at the corner of Broadway and Eastern Avenue, and replace it with a CVS store with drive-up windows. The filing is required under the state law because it lies with 100 feet of wetlands. A stream runs beneath railroad tracks running parallel to the property. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 421 at City Hall. —Kathy McCabe

Medford

LOCAL TEXTING BAN CONTINUES — A city ordinance banning text messaging while driving will remain in effect until a new statewide ban begins Oct. 1. At that time, the local ordinance will be superseded by the state law. Under the ban adopted by the City Council, drivers found texting are fined $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $300 for a third offense. But the ban only applies to city streets, not state-run roads such as the Fellsway and Interstate 93. The state law will ban texting while driving on all roads, and those age 18 and under may not talk on cellphones while driving. Penalties are $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for three or more offenses. — Kathy McCabe

MEDFORD/MELROSE

ENERGY GRANTS AWARDED — Medford and Melrose are among 35 Green Communities to share $8.1 million in grant funding announced Wednesday by Governor Deval Patrick to help pay for clean and renewable energy projects. Medford received $271,651 to make school buildings more efficient, and to update a municipal energy action plan. Melrose received $176,265 for an energy-efficient roof at Melrose High School; to hire a consultant to advise on energy issues; and to support the salary of an energy efficiency coordinator. The state Department of Energy Resources awarded a minimum of $125,000 to every Green Community, a designation given to local cities and towns that adopted energy-efficient building codes and other practices. Each grant was then adjusted for population and per capita income, the state said. —Kathy McCabe

Melrose

HEATING PROJECT TO BE AWARDED — The Melrose Housing Authority on Thursday will hold a public bid opening for proposals to replace boilers at eight public housing units. The project, estimated to cost $79,900, consists of replacing gas and oil-fired furnaces, repairing hot water tanks, air conditioners, and chimneys. The work will be paid for with federal stimulus money. Bids will be opened at 11 a.m. at the housing authority’s main office, at 910 Main St. — Kathy McCabe

Reading

BOARD OPENINGS — Town officials are seeking volunteers to fill openings on several local boards and committees, including the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Community Planning and Development Commission, and the Technology and Telecommunications Advisory Board. Applications may be picked up at Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner’s office at Town Hall, or printed from the town website, www.readingma.gov. Interested residents are asked to return their completed application forms to the town manager’s office. For more information, call 781-942-9043. — Brenda J. Buote

Revere

PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL — Through the new Medication Disposal Program, residents are invited to drop off their unwanted pharmaceuticals in a box at the front of the police station at 400 Revere Beach Parkway. Drop-offs are confidential and can be made at any time. All collected items will be properly disposed by the Police Department. The program is being jointly organized by the Police, Health, and Fire departments, MGH Revere HealthCare Center, the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement, and Revere CARES, and funded by a state grant. For more information, contact the Police Department at 781-284-1212 or Revere CARES at 781-485-6404. — John Laidler

Somerville

GARDEN VARIETY — A little rain — or a lot — won’t dampen the spirits of the gardeners featured in next Sunday’s Somerville Garden Tour, said co-coordinator Lisa Dezmelyk. In fact, the gardens need it. “Edible Gardens’’ is the theme this year, and urban farmers “were pretty parched,’’ she said. Many grow vegetables in raised beds and containers, so rain from intense but brief downpours drain right out. The tour features 31 spots, including community and school plots, from almost 70 nominations. Along with lettuce, climbing beans, beets, potatoes, herbs, squashes, sweet and hot peppers, peas, and other favorites, Somerville’s gardeners are growing peaches, a hardy kiwi vine, asparagus, big sunflowers, pumpkins, and weeping cherries, Dezmelyk said. “Oh, and a ton of grapes,’’ reflecting Portuguese and Italian family backgrounds. Since all the gardeners will be home during the tour, visitors can ask questions and get all the advice they want. The $10 tour booklet includes a map and a brief history of agriculture in Somerville. It’s on sale now at Pemberton Garden Center in Cambridge and at the Sherman Cafe in Union Square. On the day of the tour, the booklet will be sold at the Davis Square plaza and the Community Growing Center, which will also host talks and demonstrations. Learn more at www.somervillegardenclub.org. — Danielle Dreilinger

Stoneham

PLANNING FOR LEAN TIMES — The newly formed Financial Summit Committee, made up of appointed and elected town leaders as well as members of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Finance and Advisory Board, is seeking input from residents. The committee would like ideas on how to increase town revenues and prevent cuts to municipal services. Stoneham is facing a projected deficit of more than $800,000 for fiscal 2011, which began July 1. The town’s budget woes are expected to swell in fiscal 2012, with a projected deficit of $2.3 million. Members of the committee would like to develop a long-term financial plan and may create focus groups to educate town residents about the difficult choices that lie ahead. The summit committee will meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Stoneham TV, 53 Central St. For more information, contact Town Administrator David Ragucci at dragucci@ci.stoneham.ma.us or call 781-279-2600. — Brenda J. Buote

Tewksbury

U-HAUL RENTAL APPLICATION — The Planning Board tomorrow will hold public hearings on a special permit application by 495 Storage to rent U-Haul trucks at its storage facility at 545 Clark Road. In other business, the board will hold hearings on special permit applications by MBTA Holdings, which runs a limousine service at 951 East St., to allow an automotive repair business to operate on another part of the site. Thomas Bowley is seeking to allow one of his business tenants at 862 East St. to operate an automobile repair business. The board also will hold hearings on two sign permit applications, one by Schlott Tire, on Main St., and the other by Tewksbury High School to erect a digital sign. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. — John Laidler

Wakefield

FOOD PANTRY RELOCATES — The Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry this week completed its move from the First Baptist Church to its new location at the Americal Civic Center. The pantry had been housed in the church since its founding 28 years ago. The nonprofit group said the move provides it with the additional space needed to meet the growing demand for its services. The pantry is currently serving an average of 800 people a month, a 33 percent increase over last year. Given the current high unemployment rate, it expects the numbers to continue to grow. The pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. Food donations can be dropped off Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. The town-owned civic center is located in a former National Guard armory at 467 Main St. — John Laidler

Winchester

COLTON JOINS MAKE-A-WISH BOARD — Winchester resident Anna Colton has been named to the board of directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Colton, a Bank of America executive, brings 29 years of banking expertise to the foundation. The board consists of 18 volunteer directors who represent the financial, communications, legal, and medical industries. Since its inception in 1987, the foundation has granted the wishes of more than 4,400 children in Massachusetts and 1,000 in Rhode Island. This fiscal year, the foundation is working to fulfill the wishes of more than 400 children with life-threatening medical conditions. For more information, visit www.massri.wish.org or call 617-367-9474. — Brenda J. Buote

Woburn

TANK PROJECT ON SCHEDULE — The $4.5 million project to construct a new water tank at the top of Rag Rock is proceeding on budget and on schedule, according to city engineer Jay Corey. The three million gallon concrete tank is replacing an aging steel tank that was built in the 1960s on Rag Rock, a city-owned hill off Hilltop Road. The project began last September and is expected to be completed by the end of this fall. Using reinforced concrete, workers have completed construction of the base and walls of the tank and are installing the dome. They also installed 110,000 board feet of yellow pine cribbing to support the walls and dome. Once the dome is complete, workers will wrap wire around the tank and provide an outer coating of concrete. The city is financing the project with a low-interest loan secured through the state and with federal stimulus money. — John Laidler