‘Strong chief' for police advised

TURF FIELD FOR THANKSGIVING GAME - The construction of a $2 million artificial turf field and track is expected to be completed in time for the North Reading Hornets versus the Lynnfield Pioneers football game on Thanksgiving, said Maureen Stevens, operations director/department head for North Reading Parks and Recreation. R.A.D. Sports of Rockland, the company that installed the field at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, is constructing the field, which is on time and on budget, said Stevens. The field will continue to be used for high school sporting events and the track will continue to be open to residents when not in school use, said Stevens. Funding for the project is from the Hillview Enterprise, the umbrella organization that oversees the town-operated Hillview Golf Course. -Bella Travaglini

DIAZ/CRUISE FILM COMING - The Cameron Diaz/Tom Cruise movie temporarily called “Wichita’’ will be filming in Somerville. At the Sept. 10 Board of Aldermen meeting, an event permit request was approved for “Untitled Wichita Project Film Shoot,’’ to take place on Windsor Street Sept. 21. That’s the industrial section adjoining East Cambridge, an area city planners recently approved for intensive, mixed-use redevelopment. With options for renovation and reuse unclear, East Somerville alderman Bill Roche said, many of the structures are falling into disrepair. The aldermen also asked the mayor to create a task force to deal with absentee landlords who don’t clean up the loads of trash their young tenants leave outside on move-out day. Alderman Maryann Heuston thought the overload of garages on Somerville Avenue could threaten the area’s economic hopes. All voiced frustration with utility company NStar. The city airs the aldermen meetings on cable stations 16 (Comcast) and 13 (RCN).-Danielle Dreilinger

FLOOD ZONE CHANGING - The town is considering revisions to its flood plain map and zoning ordinance. According to Town Council president Thomas E. Reilly, the federal government is requiring the town to carry out the update in order to continue participating in the federal flood insurance program, which allows residents to obtain the insurance. Reilly said the changes include expanding the flood plain. At its meeting Monday, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes. The board will forward its recommendations to the Town Council, which is expected to vote on Tuesday. Both the board and council meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. -John Laidler

SWAIN SCHOOL IS GONE - The Town Common has a new look. The Swain School has been demolished. The building, deemed unsafe by Wilmington building inspector Al Spaulding, was built in 1918 and once housed the local high school. More recently, it was the site of the town’s public access television station, WCTV. Over the years, the structure had fallen into disrepair, with falling bricks posing a threat to passersby. Residents at April’s Town Meeting voted to demolish the school, appropriating $160,000 for asbestos removal, demolition, and cleanup of the site. -Brenda J. Buote