Town finances get help in Abington

SIGNS POINT TO HIGHER TURNOUT - Town Clerk Joseph Powers is predicting a 30 percent voter turnout for Tuesday’s US Senate election. That might not seem like much, but it’s higher than the town election in November, 28 percent , or the state primary in December, with 25 percent. He expects an uptick based on new voter registrations and absentee ballots. For January, 110 voters were added to the rolls and about 360 people have taken out absentee ballots. Both numbers are up from the previous elections, with the absentee number up significantly, although that might be partly the result of a state advertising campaign, he said. While the projected number is an increase, “30 percent is still dismal,’’ he said. There are just under 25,000 registered voters in the town. - Matt Carroll

DeLUCA IS NAMED CHIEF - The town has a new police chief, former Duxbury police chief Mark DeLuca. Town Manager William Griffin announced the appointment at last week’s meeting of selectmen. Griffin chose DeLuca over three other finalists, including Cohasset Police Sergeant John Conte. More than 80 people applied for the position, which opened when James Hussey resigned in September to return to the Boston Police Department. DeLuca, who lives in Whitman and is a former lightweight Golden Gloves boxing champion, was Duxbury’s chief for 10 years before his contract was not renewed in the fall. - Johanna Seltz

EXAMINING STEREOTYPES - The Duxbury No Place for Hate Committee, a nonprofit organization established to combat prejudice, will present a program on “stereotypes and the pyramid of hate” on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Merry Room of the Duxbury Library. The program will include screening a short film titled “Silent Beats,” a young man’s view of racial profiling that received an award by the Anti-Defamation League, and a discussion of the existence and impact of stereotypes. The free program is suitable for families and students of middle-school age and older. For more information, contact noplaceforhate@duxburyinterfaith.com or call the Duxbury Interfaith Council at 781-934-8388. - Robert Knox

MALL AUCTION LOOMS - Hanover Mall general manager Ed Callahan wants to set the record straight about the looming foreclosure auction of the town’s largest taxpayer. “The auction does not mean the mall is closing,” Callahan said. Walton Street Capital of Chicago bought the mall two years ago for just under $100 million. A missed December debt payment transferred the loan from JP Morgan Chase to a special server. The sale is set for Feb. 4 at the mall at 11 a.m. A $1 million deposit will be required by bidders. Last year, the 39-year-old mall paid the town $1 million in taxes. - Robert Carroll

COMMENT ON MOORING RULES - The Hingham Harbormaster’s Office is welcoming public comments on proposed changes to mooring regulations in Hingham Harbor. A draft of the regulations is available on the town’s website, and the harbormaster’s office aims to complete revisions by Friday. The public may comment through the town’s website, hingham-ma.com, or at 781-741-1450. - Molly A.K. Connors

FOREST COMMITTEE PLANS SKATING PARTY - The Holbrook Forest Committee is holding a fund-raising skating party Feb. 6, said committee chairwoman Pat Greely. The committee, which does not receive funding from the town, is asking for a donation of $5 per person, with a $15 cap per family. Participants should bring their own skates, and committee members will provide cocoa and cookies. If ice conditions permit - to be examined by the fire chief - the party will take place at Holson Pond at Holbrook Town Forest from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call the Board of Selectmen’s office at 781-767-4312. - Kate Augusto

LOCAL BUSINESSES HIT BY THIEVES - Police are advising businesses to keep lights on - and cash registers empty and open - at night, following a rash of smash-and-grab break-ins. Captain Robert Sawtelle said that eight businesses have been hit since mid-November. In several cases, thieves broke the shop windows and took the cash register. Other times, the windows were smashed, but nothing taken. “It’s a lot in a short period of time and it’s something happening not just in Hull,” Sawtelle said. “Quincy had six businesses broken into [the same way] last week.” He said police are reviewing surveillance video, and are suggesting that area businesses consider getting alarms or surveillance cameras if they don’t already have them. - Johanna Seltz

TOWN MAY CONSOLIDATE MEETINGS - In a move to streamline procedures, Town Administrator Jill Myers has proposed consolidating current year financial issues into the annual Town Meeting instead of holding a separate Special Town Meeting on the same day. Kingston has traditionally handled financial measures pertaining to the current fiscal year, such as unpaid bills, in a legally separate Special Town Meeting. The annual meeting addresses the budget and other measures for the coming fiscal year. Myers said consolidation is allowed under state law as long as the correct fiscal year is clearly identified in the wording of agenda items. Selectmen are expected to consider her request at their meeting Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. - Robert Knox

STATE OF TOWN MEETING - Selectmen will hold an “abridged’’ State of the Town meeting Thursday to brief residents on the finances of the major departments in town and to answer questions. The meeting will focus on public safety, public works, education, and the fixed costs of insurance, pensions, and debt, according to Town Administrator Rocco Longo. He’s recommending that the town spend about $200,000 less next fiscal year - about $71.4 million. “The economy is so bad and each year we’re spending less money. It’s difficult to give the same services; in essence, you can’t,’’ he said. The meeting will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Furnace Brook Middle School auditorium. - Johanna Seltz

TEMPLE PLAN GETS INITIAL OK - The Planning Board voted 3-2 to recommend a rezoning change that would allow commercial development on property owned by Temple Shalom. The proposal, which would include a CVS, another commercial building , and a smaller temple, has split residents. Neighbors have raised concerns about traffic, the safety of children walking near the site, trash, and property values. The temple, which has struggled financially, wants to sell off part of the 4-acre property on Blue Hill Avenue. The project still has a long way to go. It must pass a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting next month, and then another vote before the Planning Board for a special permit. - Matt Carroll

EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUND-RAISER - Norwell residents and businesses will soon receive brochures and pledge forms in the mail for the annual fund-raiser run by the Norwell Education Foundation. This year’s campaign aims to increase the number of high school graduates ready and willing to pursue a career in science. To that end, the NEF’s purchases will include supplies for school laboratories and other science-oriented educational items. During the past 18 years, the NEF has raised about $400,000 for the Norwell Schools. - Molly A.K. Connors

SELLING SURPLUS PROPERTIES - The town is considering auctioning some of its surplus properties. Town administrator Edwin Thorne said the sealed-bid auction would be a way of returning properties to the tax rolls. He said that would be especially helpful during what promises to be a difficult fiscal 2011 budget process. Pembroke has conducted similar auctions several times in the past decade. At their meeting last Monday, Thorne gave selectmen a list of about 20 surplus properties ranging in size from one to seven acres that could be included in an auction. Some can be built on and some not. The board asked Thorne to provide more details on the properties at its meeting Jan. 25. If an auction is approved, Thorne said it would be advertised in February and held in mid-March. It would be up to selectmen to decide which if any bids to accept. - John Laidler

FOOD FACTS - “Agriculture and Our Food Supply,’’ a public forum, will take place Thursday after the indoor farmers’ market at Plimoth Plantation. Panelists will include Andy Whitman from the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; Ron Maribett, of Colchester Neighborhood Farm in Plympton; Lillian Owens, a registered nurse and health manager; and Jennifer Friedrich, founder of the Edible Yard. The forum is sponsored by the Plymouth Area League of Women Voters, and League member Janna Morrissey will moderate the discussion. It’s scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. in the Gainsborough Room at Plimoth Plantation. - Emily Sweeney

WEB PAGE FOR TASK FORCE - The Quincy Drug Task Force has set up a page on the City of Quincy website. The task force, which is approaching its second anniversary, is a group of professionals and parents concerned about the debilitating effects of illegal drugs, said Chris Cassani , the mayor’s liaison to the task force. It was formed by Mayor Thomas P. Koch to provide advice on drug policies. The organization has held two symposiums, and last June held a prescription drug-disposal event, which ended up collecting two 55-gallon drums of drugs. The city site is at www.quincyma.gov. - Matt Carroll

BRAVO TO MUSIC STUDENTS -The return of music education at the Randolph Public Schools is paying off. James Briggs, a junior at Randolph High, performed as second chair flute at the Senior Southeastern District Mass. Music Educators’ Association Festival in Easton on Jan. 9. Of the 1,143 students who auditioned for the festival, 438 where chosen to participate. These musicians are now eligible to audition later this month for the All State Festival to be held March 18-20 at Symphony Hall in Boston. The Junior District Festival, set for March 6 in Attleboro, will include three local students: freshmen Jenny Duong on bass clarinet in the band, Gregory Swain on trumpet in the orchestra, and eighth-grader Stephanie Doan as alto in the chorus. - Wendy Chow

LIBRARY ART - The Art in the Rotunda program at the Rockland Memorial Library is featuring new art by Brian Doherty, who does hand-carved works in wood. The Rockland native, who has exhibited at the library before, has done representations of famous ships, including the USS Constitution, and produced a willow and beech Celtic harp. His new works include a bust of a Civil War general, plus landscape oil paintings with scenes from Rockland, Hanover, and other Massachusetts locales. The exhibit runs tomorrow through Feb. 12. - Steve Hatch

CHAT WITH PRINCIPAL - To improve communications between parents or guardians and educations, administrators at Gates Intermediate School will host the first in a series of “Principal Coffees,’’ casual discussions open to the parents of students in grades six through eight, Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. in the Media Center. Topics will range from discipline to MCAS preparation, but administrators are open to questions on any topic. Gates administrators say they hope the Principal Coffees will become a regular feature each school year. - Molly A.K. Connors

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - Scholarship applications are available at Town Hall and online at www.weymouth.ma.us for residents pursuing education beyond high school. High school seniors, college students, vocational students, and adults who want to go to college are eligible for an award. The town’s Scholarship Fund Committee will consider each candidate’s financial need, character, scholastic record, involvement in community work, extracurricular school activities, and work experience. Anyone who has received two town scholarships cannot apply for a third. Weymouth has been awarding scholarships for about 20 years with private donations and money contributed through real estate and excise tax bills. The deadline for applying is March 31. Scholarships will be awarded at a ceremony in May.