A 30-year-old Newton bicyclist underwent surgery Friday for serious injuries he sustained when he was hit by a car and dragged more than 800 feet in Natick Wednesday evening, police said.

The Newton resident, who has not been identified by Natick police, was riding his bike just before 7:30 p.m. westbound on Route 16, almost directly in front of the South Natick fire station, when he was hit by a 2002 Volvo turning into the roadway, authorities said.

The female driver didn’t realize she had hit the cyclist, and was alerted by a motorist who flashed his lights and honked his horn to get the woman’s attention, said Natick police spokesman Lieutenant Brian Grassey.

(A weekly series chronicling the journey of the defending Division 1 state champion Newton South High girls’ cross-country meet).

In review

The Lions added a piece of hardware to their trophy case — their 16th in 18 seasons — with their runner-up finish at the Eastern Massachusetts Division 1 meet held at Franklin Park on Nov. 14. South finished behind Dual County League rival Lincoln-Sudbury.

‘‘There was a chance we were going to have four of our top seven runners not going to be able to run this race,’’ said head coach Steven McChesney. ‘‘Injuries hit us earlier that week and things were in the air until the very end, so it was a very crazy week trying to plan and strategize. My hats off to Lincoln-Sudbury. They’ve proven to be the best team in the state and we hold so much respect for them.’’

Senior Kathy O’Keefe placed third overall, running the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes 53 seconds. Melanie Fineman, who was questionable after suffering a sprained ankle earlier in the week, placed ninth (20:29); Madeleine Reed placed 13th (20:42), followed by Anna Laurence (21:03), Kayla Burton (21:56), Abby Pressburg (23:42) and Zuzana Skarkova (23:59).

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

If you were one of the many people peeking into the windows of Johnny’s Luncheonette in Newton Centre Thursday afternoon, your eyes did not fool you: That certainly was Governor Deval Patrick dining on French fries and a fish sandwich with mayor-elect Setti Warren.

“I'm really honored the governor stopped in. He is a great friend and a great leader here in the state. It’s really enjoyable to break bread with someone, who is really a trailblazer,” said Warren.

Patrick said he was in Newton, “visiting with the mayor elect, whose victory I am so proud of and friendship I value.”

Warren and Patrick said they chatted about politics and municipal issues at what Warren described as a “phenomenal Newton spot.”

“It was a good conversation, just about transition, picking good people and unity. Reaching out to folks who were worthy adversaries in the campaign but who are also important to bring in and are make a part of moving the city forward,” said Patrick.

“He gives great advice. We should all listen to folks who have been through leadership challenges like the governor,” said Warren. “My opponent ran a great campaign. Now there is a opportunity to come together and really take on the tough challenges we have, and make sure Newton is on the track. It's terrific to have support from all levels of government.”

Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

A section of Route 9 from Dudley Road to the Brookline line that was slated to be upgraded by a private developer in conjunction with a large retail, housing, and office project is now being resurfaced by the state, according to transportation officials.

New England Development of Newton planned to build a mixed use project, called Chestnut Hill Square, but the project is being revised because of the downturn in the economy over the last two years, said senior vice president Bill Cronin. The developers plan to bring a revised project to the city of Newton shorly, said Cronin.

The state began resurfacing the road on Nov. 9 and construction is expected to take place at night for two weeks.

The work is being performed by Brox Industries of Dracut, said Colin Durrant, director of Public Affairs for Massachusetts Department of Transportation, in an e-mail.

“The work is not to the same magnitude as the other work to the west given that our expectation is that the development will proceed in the next several years along with their associated reconstruction work in this section,” said Durrant.

Repaving for the Newton stretch of Route 9 from Dudley Road to the Newton-Wellesley line started in August and will continue into the fall.

The $4.5 million project is being completed at night to avoid traffic congestion on the heavily used east-west route during the day.

“Due to the extent of the deterioration to the existing pavement, which resulted in numerous pothole repairs/patching operations over the past several years, our goal is to complete the pavement milling and installation of the first new layer of pavement throughout the project
limits prior to the winter shutdown,” said Durrant.

Musical theater folks are always searching for triple threats: actors who can dance, sing, and act. But Derek Raposo ups the ante.

As the carnival boy in ‘‘Carousel,’’ which opens tomorrow night at the Turtle Lane Playhouse in Newton’s Auburndale section, the 27-year-old from Boston will also perform tricks from his professional magic act.

‘‘He’ll be doing some pretty impressive, real magic on stage, and he’s a brilliant ballet dancer,’’ said the show’s director, Russell R. Greene.

Greene’s last two Turtle productions, ‘‘Into the Woods’’ and ‘‘Falsettos,’’ received a whopping 12 Independent Reviewers of New England Award nominations. That’s because he’s the kind of director who strives for that extra edge.

Thus we get Raposo and professional magic rather than an awkward hat trick. And for the show’s legendary ballet sequences, Greene recruited Boston Ballet’s Christopher Hird to choreograph. Hird is the artistic manager for the Boston Ballet School.

‘‘I said I would only do this show if we could bring in someone who could really deliver a beautiful ballet,’’ said Greene, ‘‘and Chris did that brilliantly.’’

Add to that Rodgers and Hammerstein’s knock-out score, a live orchestra, and the show’s memorable love story, and the whole production is looking itself like a triple threat: the right cast, crew, and music.

‘‘Carousel’’ opens tomorrow night at 8 p.m., continues weekends through Dec. 6 at Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose St., Auburndale. Tickets: $27.50-$30. 617-244-0169, www.turtlelane.org.

The Newton Board of Aldermen voted Monday to ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.

Eighteen aldermen voted in favor, and three voted against the ordinance. Aldermen William Brandel, John Harney, and Amy Sangiolo voted against. There were three absent votes.

Needham passed the ban this summer, as did Boston last year.

-- Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

Newton Aldermen voted last night [Nov 16] to keep the same tax rate split for residents and businesses that the city has maintained for several years.

Board members voted 16 (cq) to 6, (cq) with two members absent, to tax businesses at 175 percent (cq) of the rate at which the city taxes residents.

The approved tax rates for this year are $10.41 (cq) per $1,000 (cq) in valuation for residences and $19.94 (cq) per $1,000 (cq) in valuation for businesses.

The median residential property tax bill will be $7,140 (cq) this year, up $214 (cq) from $6,926 (cq) last year. The median commercial property tax bill will be $14,513, (cq) up $677 (cq) from $13,836 (cq) last year.

Newton Aldermen voted Monday to set aside 25 percent of revenues brought in from new restaurant and hotel taxes for maintenance and infrastructure.

Aldermen voted earlier this year to impose a .75 percent local option tax on restaurant meals and to increase the tax on hotel rooms from 4 percent to 6 percent.

Alderman Ken Parker introduced the item directing a portion of the new taxes to a special maintenance and infrastructure fund.

-- Calvin Hennick, Globe Correspondent

At least three Newton aldermen have thrown their hat in the ring to be the board’s next president.

R. Lisle Baker, the board’s president for the past three terms, said two aldermen, Ted Hess-Mahan and Amy Mah Sangiolo, (cq) have informed him that they plan to run.

Baker is also running for the post again.

New and returning aldermen will vote on the post at a Dec. 2 caucus.

-- Calvin Hennick, Globe Correspondent

By Caitlin Castello, Globe Correspondent

Newton residents are recycling more and throwing away less since the city implemented its automated trash and recycling system last month, according to preliminary numbers released by the mayor’s office.

The trash volume for the month declined by 21.5 percent and recycling increased by 14.8 percent over October 2008, Mayor David Cohen said Tuesday.

“It is clear that our new automated trash collection system is working,” said Cohen. “Not only is it working from the trash reduction and recycling rate perspective, but also from an implementation and transition perceptive.”

The program is expected to save the city $7.5 million during the five-year contract signed with Waste Management, according to the mayor’s office. Each Newton household was outfitted with two, 64-gallon carts, one for recycling and one for trash.

The trash trucks are equipped with automated mechanical arms which will pick up, empty, and replace the carts on the curb. At the start of the program, many residents voiced concern over the size of the carts. The mayor’s office asked residents to try and use the large carts before requesting 35-gallon carts.

Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com