Last of the Summer Concert Series in Abington

TOWN FESTIVAL ON HORIZON — The third annual Cohasset Day is scheduled for Sept. 12, starting at 1 p.m. with a children’s bike parade and music by the Rusty Skippers. More music will follow, as well as a fashion show, children’s games, and a procession of antique cars. Restaurants will offer samples from their menus, and the Scituate Animal Shelter will lead a “decorated dog” parade; costumes are optional. The event is sponsored by the town’s Economic Development Committee and Cohasset Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from last year’s event, about $5,500, were donated to local charities. More information is available at www.cohassetday.com.

GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL — The town’s students won’t be alone in making a new beginning this week, with the start of classes Wednesday also launching the first school year for the district’s new superintendent, Benedict Tantillo III. He is making the move from his position as head of a regional school system in New Jersey, where he was voted Superintendent of the Year four years ago. To prepare students for the new year, Alden Elementary School will hold a “Families Walk-Through” on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Duxbury Middle School will host an orientation for families of new students at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a session for all families at 7 p.m. Open houses for parents are scheduled at the Alden School on Sept. 14, Duxbury Middle School on Sept. 16, Duxbury High School on Sept. 21, and Chandler Elementary School on Sept. 23.

FAMILIAR FACE IN NEW ROLE — Steve Rollins owns the distinction of being both Hanover’s first full-time town administrator and, as of last week, its first town manager, after being named to the newly created position in a unanimous vote by the Board of Selectmen. “Steve’s experience with the town is invaluable,” the board’s chairman, David Greene, said of the 23-year town official. “He’ll help us consolidate the budget and get our economy to scale.” Greene said that Rollins’ commitment comes with a maximum expiration date of 2012, when his contract ends and he’s expected to retire. “Steve told us that if we find his successor, no matter when, he’ll step aside and help with the transition,” Greene said.

NEW PRINCIPAL AT ST. JOSEPH’S — Gretchen Hawley, the new principal of St. Joseph’s School, said she is looking forward to the school year’s start on Wednesday. Hawley, 55, had been the principal and vice principal at St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood for the past seven years. The Dorchester native, now living in Norwood, was also a teacher for 27 years at St. Ann’s and St. Matthew’s in Dorchester, as well as schools in Plymouth and Canton. St. Joseph’s has about 240 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. “I’m very excited about the school year,’’ she said. “The community has been wonderful.’’

NEW CURRICULUM CHIEF FOR SCHOOLS — The schools have a new director of curriculum, instruction and professional development. Laura Miceli replaces Joy Turpie, who retired in June as assistant superintendent with the same duties. Miceli is coming from the Fall River school system, where she had served as director of school improvement and leadership services. She was previously the director of curriculum, instruction and personnel for the Hanover schools, and also worked in the Brockton schools, and for the state’s education agency. She will start Sept. 20 with a salary of $108,000, according to Superintendent Kathleen Tyrell. — Johanna Seltz

ACCEPTED AS TOWN STREETS — Selectmen completed the town’s acceptance of Ocean Hill Estates as public ways at their Aug. 17 meeting, when the board voted to take them by eminent domain. Ownership of the streets had been unclear after the death of the subdivision’s developer. The town now is responsible for maintaining Hillside Drive, Ocean Hill Drive, Bay Hill Road, Berry Drive, Seaview Drive, Highland Drive, and Longview Drive, including plowing them in winter. The board’s vote followed Town Meeting’s decision this spring to accept the streets.

CITATIONS FOR WATER RESCUE — Selectmen recently awarded Citations of Merit to two people for their roles in saving a 13-year-old Marshfield boy who had fallen overboard in the Green Harbor channel known as the Narrows. On June 22, Brian Flannery and Tiffany Fearon pulled Zachary Culbert from the water, after he had fallen out of his Boston Whaler and become pinned between the boat’s engine and the transom. Fearon jumped into the water while Flannery tied their boat alongside the Whaler, and then they worked together to pull the teen aboard and then take him to a nearby marina. Culbert was wearing a life jacket. — Matt Carroll

BREAKING EVEN ON ULIN RINK — The town won’t make, or lose, money in its contract with Curry College for management of the Max Ulin Ice Skating Rink, according to Town Administrator Kevin Mearn. “Right now it looks like a cost-neutral contract,’’ Mearn said. “The town isn’t looking for any revenue. We just want to make sure we don’t run into a deficit.” Selectmen picked Curry College earlier this month to run the rink, over the Ulin Rink Management Group, a nonprofit group that been formed by local residents. The vote was 2-1, with the majority citing Curry’s management experience and deep pockets. The town has a five-year permit to manage the state-owned rink, but chose to give the responsibility to an outside group. — Johanna Seltz

MARKET A COMMUNITY EVENT — The new Pembroke Farmers’ Market is proving popular with area residents. Matt York, who organized the market with his sister, fellow Pembroke resident Christine Falk, said the results have “exceeded all our expectations. . . It’s really been well attended every week.’’ The market, which is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon on the town green, debuted July 15 and is set to run through Sept. 25. About 15 vendors are present each week, including farmers, a lobsterman, and artisans selling handmade goods. Acoustic musicians provide free entertainment. While organizers have not kept track of the numbers, York said, some estimates put the first week’s turnout at 300, and “we’ve probably done 65-75 percent of that’’ each week. “It’s become a community event each Saturday morning, where people go to get their fruit and vegetables and catch up with their neighbors. So it’s been a really nice thing.’’ — John Laidler

CELEBRATION AT PARK TOMORROW — The Board of Selectmen and other public officials will celebrate the reopening of Nelson Memorial Park during a ceremony at noon tomorrow. The town recently used a $500,000 grant to fix storm-water drainage problems and make improvements at the downtown Water Street park. — Emily Sweeney

STAY ALERT WALKING AT NIGHT — A string of unarmed robberies near the MBTA’s Red Line stations in Wollaston and North Quincy has police on high alert. None of the incidents occurred on MBTA property, however, and the suspects are not believed to have come off the trains. Most of the incidents occurred between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., police said. While its officers investigate the thefts, the department is reminding the public to be careful when walking in dark areas. — Jessica Bartlett

ABSENTEE BALLOTS AVAILABLE — Absentee ballots for the state primary election are available for residents who will not be able to go to the local polls on Sept. 14, Town Clerk Brian P. Howard has announced. The ballots can be picked up at Town Hall, or an application can be downloaded from the clerk’s page on the town website and returned to his office. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon on Sept. 13; the ballots must reach the town clerk’s office before the polls close on election day. For more information, visit www.townofrandolph.com.

NO FALLOUT FROM MISHANDLED CHECKS — There have been no reports of attempted identify theft following the loss of hundreds of canceled town payroll checks late last month, according to Town Administrator Allan R. Chiocca. The checks, some of which bore Social Security numbers and addresses, had blown off the back of a waste-disposal truck after they had been improperly discarded by the town treasurer. The checks were dated from 1992 to 2002. The town has attempted to contact the employees, many of whom no longer work for the town, and the incident was reported to the state attorney general. Treasurer Karen Sepeck had not shredded the checks before sending them to a recycling center. She has said she plans to shred documents earmarked for disposal in the future, and was looking into acquiring a shredder for her office. However, Chiocca said there already was a shredder there, plus at least nine others in Town Hall. — Steve Hatch

LUCKY WINNER, PACKAGE STORE — Elli’s Wine Cellar, at 791 Broad St., had its first million-dollar lottery winner this month. Owner Elli Idaris said the winner is a regular customer who has been playing the same numbers — 5, 10, 19, 21, 33 — since the shop opened a little over a year ago. “I was so happy for him, especially in this economy,” she said. “He said he took his mom for a lobster dinner. He’s a very nice person, very down-to-earth.” The store received $10,000 for selling the winning ticket. Idaris said she plans to spend it on a display area for wine tastings.

LABOR DAY PICNIC — St. Joseph Manor’s annual fund-raising Labor Day Picnic will be held Sept. 6 at Lady of Sorrows Convent, 261 Thatcher St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The picnic includes traditional Lithuanian and American foods, bands, an antique car display, games of chance, and children’s games. For more details, to volunteer, or reserve vendor space, contact John Drusinskas at 508-583-5834, ext. 3037, or johnd27@verizon.net, or visit the nursing home’s website, www.sjmbrockton.org. — Steve Hatch

QUINCY LAW FIRM IN RUNNING — Selectmen have directed Town Administrator Rick LaFond to schedule interviews with three law firms that submitted proposals to serve as the town’s legal counsel: Deutsch, Williams, Brooks, DeRensis & Holland of Boston; Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane of Quincy; and Kopelman & Paige of Boston, the current town counsel. The firms responded to a request put out last fall by a committee that was exploring ways to reduce the town’s legal costs. But since that committee no longer meets, some selectmen have questioned whether to go forward with the interviews. The Board of Selectmen next meets on Sept. 14. — Robert Knox

BUSINESS EXPO, FAMILY FUN — The East Bridgewater Business Association has scheduled its 12th annual Business Expo and Family Fun Day on Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event, to be held on the town common rain or shine, will offer music by Dale and the Duds, and a variety of activities, including train rides, children’s theater and games, and a hat-decorating contest, as well as information about local businesses. — Christine Legere

HOLE-IN-ONE BENEFIT CONTEST — The fifth annual $1 Million Hole-In-One Shootout to benefit the My Brother’s Keeper social service agency is set for Sept. 17-19 at Golf Country in South Easton and the Easton Country Club. Participants can win up to $1 million as well as $5,000 in other prizes. Players can try as many times as they want, with a donation of $10 giving them 12 balls, and $20 for 25 balls, but must be at least 18 years old. For more information, visit www.MyBrothersKeeper.org or call 508-238-7512. Last year more than $60,000 was raised for My Brother’s Keeper, which is a Christian nonprofit organization that provides furniture and food to families in need throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.

HERITAGE DAYS WEEKEND — This year’s installment of the town’s Heritage Days Weekend will take place next month, postponed from its usual midsummer schedule due to a Board of Health edict that outdoor activities be curtailed because of the threat of Eastern equine encephalitis. Scheduled for Sept. 17-19, the festivities will feature a variety of events, including children’s games and crafts, local crafters, music, food, fire-engine rides, a Mattapoisett Village stroll and a bonfire at the town beach. The event is sponsored by the Mattapoisett Historical Commission.

SACRED HEART SITE AVAILABLE — Have an idea for what to do with the old Sacred Heart School property in Sharon? Selectmen are seeking lease proposals for the 5-acre property at East Foxboro and Cedar streets, with interest in having it used year-round for recreational, cultural or educational purposes. Once the site of a school for boys run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, it has been owned by the town since 1974. A three-story building on the property has been declared unsafe and unsuitable for reuse, and must be torn down. The lease would be for between 10 and 20 years, subject to Town Meeting approval. Proposals are due by Oct. 19. — Matt Carroll