Globe West Community briefing

From unleashed dogs to bug zappers

April 25, 2010

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Arlington

The spring Town Meeting kicks off tomorrow night with its elected members facing a long list of warrant articles, from the budget for next fiscal year to a proposal allowing dogs to run off leash in some parks before 9 a.m., and another limiting the hours in which electronic pest-control devices (or bug zappers) can be used. The session will convene in Town Hall at 8 p.m., but with 78 articles to decide it is considered likely to stretch over several days. Other issues facing Town Meeting members include whether to authorize selectmen and the town manager to seek the Legislature’s permission to set health insurance benefits for unionized municipal employees and retirees without going through collective bargaining, and whether to adopt a pay-as-you-throw trash collection and recycling program. — Brock Parker

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR NUMBER — Officials are encouraging residents to register at least one phone number with the town’s reverse-911 emergency notification system. The service, which was implemented several years ago, allows the town to notify residents of emergencies or other important messages via automated telephone calls; it was recently used to alert residents of a flood-relief program being offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But the system cannot track cellphone or Internet-based telephone numbers, and the town is asking residents who did not receive the FEMA message to provide a contact phone number. They can be registered online through the municipal website, www.town.arlington.ma.us. — Brock Parker

BELMONT

TOWN MEETING TOMORROW — Town Meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night at Belmont High School and will continue Wednesday. If necessary, the meeting will also be held on May 3. Residents will vote on a variety of issues including the town budget, a master plan, and proposals to change rules and procedures for how Town Meeting operates. Assistant Town Administrator Jeffrey Conti said residents will likely vote on two budgets — one that represents funding with a property-tax increase from a Proposition 2 1/2 override and one without. Residents would then vote whether to support an override during a special election in June. Conti said the Board of Selectmen is expected to decide within the next two weeks on an override amount to seek from voters.

— Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

Brookline

ANNUAL CHAMBER BREAKFAST — Leading town officials will make their annual foray before the local business community Thursday morning during the Brookline Chamber of Commerce’s “State of the Town’’ breakfast forum. The panel discussion will feature Selectwoman Nancy Daly, the board’s chairwoman; Police Chief Daniel O’Leary; new Department of Public Works head Andrew Pappastergion; and Richard Kelliher, slated to retire this summer after 15 years as town administrator. The gathering, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the 10th floor at the Center Communities of Brookline, 100 Centre St. , will also include a question and answer session along with the buffet meal. Tickets cost $25 ($20 for members), available at 100 Centre St. Call 617-739-1330 or e-mail admin@brooklinechamber.com.

— Andreae Downs

CANDIDATE DEBATES — Candidates for town offices will discuss the issues at two debates sponsored by the local League of Women Voters chapter: tomorrow, 7 to 9 pm on the sixth floor at Town Hall, 333 Washington St., and Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Senior Center, 93 Winchester St. The league is also sponsoring “Public Transportation, High Speed Rail, and Catching Up with China,’’ a forum featuring town resident and former governor Michael Dukakis, on May 5, 7 p.m., at the Police Department, 350 Washington St. — Andreae Downs

RIVALS FOR TREASURER — Rival Democratic candidates for state treasurer, Steven Grossman and Stephen Murphy, will introduce themselves and take questions from the audience during the Democratic Town Committee meeting on May 12, being held in the Devotion School library at at345 Harvard St. All are welcome. For details, call 617-277-6282.

— Andreae Downs

WINE AND PUPPETS — Sarah Lamstein, a puppeteer and benefactor of the Puppet Showplace Theater, will be honored during the local troupe’s annual benefit gala on Saturday. The Evening of Puppetry, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the theater, 32 Station St., will feature a tabletop performance of “Babui’’ by Saltamontes Puppet Arts, as well as wine, appetizers, and desserts. Lamstein, a Newton resident who is also a children’s book author, teacher, and school librarian, has performed as well as worked on the theater’s board. Tickets are $50 at 617-731-6400 or at www.puppetshowplace.org. — Andreae Downs

WOMEN FINDING BALANCE — Are today’s women redefining the fairy tale? A panel discussion of local authors, filmmakers, and publishers will examine the definition of “happily ever after” today — including how modern women balance career, love, and family. Beth Teitell, author of “Drinking Problems at the Fountain of Youth,’’ will moderate a large panel of authors, filmmakers, and a magazine publisher on May 6 at the Public Library of Brookline’s main branch, 361 Washington St., from 6 to 8 p.m. For details, e-mail BCW@town.brookline.ma.us

— Andreae Downs

Lexington

TOWN MEETING RESUMES — Town Meeting reconvenes tomorrow and has several items left to consider, including a $1.9 million town offices renovation project and $750,000 in design costs for renovations to the Bridge and Bowman Elementary schools. Members will also decide whether to approve a resolution “encouraging farming, farming-related businesses, and farming-related community programs’’ in town, and they will reconsider creating a committee to look into strategies to deal with climate change. The meeting will convene at 7:45 p.m. in the Cary Memorial Building. — Sara Brown

NEEDHAM

CONSIDERING PETS — Selectmen last week acknowledged confusion over the town’s dog laws and will be looking into new policies regarding pets in public athletic facilities and playgrounds. Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick said a working group of Needham officials has been looking into such issues as areas where dogs are to be kept on a leash, and the town’s lack of a so-called “pooper scooper’’ law requiring dog owners to clean up after their pets. Fitzpatrick said there are issues with enforcing the bylaws since there is no townwide policy, and the new policy would address these issues. — Jessica Rudis

Newton

KIDS FUN FEST — The Kids Fun Fest, sponsored by the Newton Civic Pride Organization, will take place on Saturday and next Sunday at City Hall. The annual event offers activities for children of various age groups, organizers said. “We have things planned for little kids all the way up to age 9 or so,’’ said Jeannie Smith, associate director of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We’ve done this celebration since the 1980s. It really seems like kids enjoy a chance to get out and interact.’’ Activities will include rides, sand art, face painting, crafts, dance studio demonstrations, and food vendors. Proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit Civic Pride Organization, which sponsors community events in the city. For more information, call 617-527-8283. — Sarah Thomas

COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARDS — Mayor Setti Warren has presented a new civic citation, the Community Spirit Awards, to residents who helped their neighbors and community during the recent flooding. “We wanted to recognize people and organizations, on both the city and the private side, that went above and beyond the call of duty and looked out for their neighbors,’’ Warren said. “They’re the kind of people that make Newton Newton, that make it such a great and vibrant community.’’ Recipients of the award were honored at a special ceremony in the mayor’s office. They include Dan and Becky Proskauer, Janet Sterman, Ward 3 Alderwoman at Large Greer Tan Swiston, Ana Gonzalez, Ted Jerdee, Michael Ovaska, and Hugh Downing. The city’s police dispatch and Fire Department were also honored. “My hope is to make this award a regular thing, where people can nominate anyone they know who really puts their community first,’’ Warren said. For more information, visit www.newtonma.gov. — Sarah Thomas

WALTHAM

HEALING GARDEN MUSIC FEST — The 14th annual Waltham Healing Garden Music Fest will be held Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the French American Victory Club hall at 193 Elm St. The event is a fund-raiser to support the maintenence of Mary Eagan Healing Gardens, in Waltham and Ottawa, and to support people fighting cancer as well as cancer survivors. The event features musicians from Massachusetts and Canada. Tickets are $17 in advance, $22 at the door, and are available at the club; Marcou Jewelers, 318 Moody St.; and the club’s website, www.favclub.org. — Jessica Rudis

WELLESLEY

WELLESLEY AT HOME SESSION — Wellesley at Home, a volunteer group aimed at helping senior citizens stay in their homes as long as possible, will hold a public informational meeting from 2 to 4 p.m., tomorrow in the Wakelin Room at the Wellesley Free Library. The meeting will serve as a progress report for the group, said member Stephen Beach. Participants will be asked for their input on programs the group can provide. Members of the group’s interim executive committee will describe how they are using grass-roots organizing to establish the “village,” which they hope can start by the beginning of next year. — Caitlin Castello

WESTON

MEETING ON THE BUDGET — The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a public forum on next year’s budget in the Town Hall auditorium on May 3 at 7:30 p.m. The session will offer residents the opportunity to air concerns and gain information about the board’s proposed spending plan for next fiscal year. The budget will go before voters at Town Meeting on May 10, with the warrant including a request for a $2.5 million property-tax increase to pay for capital improvements and new town vehicles. “This isn’t a general override, which would be a permanent increase in the city’s tax levy,’’ Town Manager Donna VanderClock said. “The override would go to the purchase of a few very specific things. The town’s operating budget is balanced.’’ VanderClock said the proposed budget has been posted on the town’s website, www.weston.govoffice.com. — Sarah Thomas

Around the region

BEDFORD

DEALING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLERS — The town’s Department of Youth and Family Services invites parents of middle-school students to a special presentation Wednesday entitled “H.E.L.P.! How to Enjoy Living with a Pre-Adolescent.’’ The event is scheduled at 7 p.m. in the Town Building at 12 Mudge Way. The talk will be presented by Kathryn Yamartino, an expert in parenting issues relevant to the age group. The program is particularly geared toward parents of fifth- and sixth-graders. For more information, contact the Department of Youth and Family Services at 781-275-7727. — Nancy Shohet West

CARLISLE

VOTERS APPROVE SCHOOL PROJECT — Voters earlier this month approved a tax increase to help pay for a $20 million project that includes the construction of a new school building to house students in kindergarten through Grade 2, as well as improvements to other parts of the Carlisle Public School campus. — Nancy Shohet West

CONCORD

PLANNING BIRTHDAY PARADE — Applications are available to participate in the town’s 375th birthday parade, which will be held Sept. 11. The parade will highlight historical events, places, and individuals with ties to Concord. The parade will be made up of five sections representing the centuries since the town was officially “born’’ in the 1600s. The parade route will be about 2 miles, starting at the corner of Everett and Walden streets and finishing near Emerson playground. For a complete list of the rules and guidelines, go to the town’s website, www.concordnet.org, or contact Bill Dolan, the parade chairman, at 978-369-2639. — Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

GROTON

SEEKING PART-TIME PARK RANGER — The Groton Conservation Commission is looking for qualified applicants for a part-time park ranger position. The park ranger will be responsible for assisting with the maintenance and operations at the Sargisson Beach Conservation Area from May until August. The hours are flexible and will change from week to week. To apply, send a cover letter and resume by May 7 to the Human Resources Director, Town Hall, 173 Main St., Groton, MA 01450. For more information, call 978-448-1145 or e-mail to HumanResources@townofgroton.org. — John M. Guilfoil

HUDSON

FIREFIGHTERS WIN FITNESS CONTEST — Local firefighters have bested counterparts in six other Massachusetts communities to win the Firefighter Fitness Challenge, which set up the competition to encourage improved eating habits and physical activity. The prize was a $2,000 grant from its sponsor, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “We’re thinking of using the money to purchase an elliptical cross-trainer,’’ said Judy Rice, vice president of the local firefighters union. “We really want to keep the healthy habits we’ve learned in the challenge going. We used to eat a lot of takeout, but not anymore.’’ The competition measured the number of steps taken by firefighters in Arlington, Framingham, Hingham, Ludlow, Peabody, and Rockland as well as Hudson. Hudson firefighter Rob O’Hare, the top performer in the entire challenge, walked from Hudson to Arlington in seven hours. “Rob was walking an average of 46,189 steps every day. That’s around 20 miles,’’ Rice said. “He was really an inspiration.’’ Rice said that she hopes the results of the Hudson firefighters will inspire Blue Cross and Blue Shield to take the challenge to other organizations. — Sarah Thomas

LITTLETON

TRACK AND FIELD SITE SELECTED — After months of discussion, selectmen have selected one of three proposed locations for the town’s new track and field facilities. Siding with the School Committee and the Littleton Track Organization and against the Permanent Municipal Building Committee, selectmen opted to recommend that Town Meeting voters on May 3 choose the existing track parcel and approve spending $35,000 on the development of the facility.

— Nancy Shohet West

MAYNARD

AUTHOR COMING TO THE LIBRARY — The Maynard Public Library is hosting bestselling author Elinor Lipman on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for a discussion about her latest book, “The Family Man.’’ “I’ve been doing author talks for many years, but I’ve never had so much advance excitement for a writer,’’ said Steve Weiner, the library’s director. “I recommend people get here early to make sure they get a good seat.’’ “The Family Man’’ is Lipman’s 1oth novel, and was recently issued as a paperback. Refreshments will be served, and the evening will feature a reading, discussion, and book signing as well. For more information, call 978-897-1010. — Sarah Thomas

PEPPERELL

RELAY FOR LIFE FUND-RAISER — Relay for Life will hold its second annual spaghetti dinner on Thursday at North Middlesex Regional High School to benefit cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The dinner starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 7:30 p.m. To RSVP, call to Wendy Orazio at 978-597-8721, or e-mail her at worazio@nmiddlesex.mec.edu.

— John M. Guilfoil