NEW LOG-ON SYSTEM AT LIBRARY

Acton

The Acton Memorial Library has instituted an electronic log-onsystem at its eight public computer stations. To use the library'sfree public Internet access, patrons must now enter the member codefrom their library cards or from guest cards available at thereference desk. - Eric Hudson

ARLINGTON

COURT APPEAL AGAINST SYMMES SITE APPROVAL A group of neighborshas filed an appeal with the Massachusetts Land Court againstArlington's Redevelopment Board for "arbitrarily" approving plans forhousing and medical office space on the former Symmes Hospital site.Town Manager Brian Sullivan said the appeal will delay constructionon the 18-acre property several months at the least, or much longerif the town needs to revise its plans. - Dorian Block

Fence around water tower being extended. Page 1

Bank robbed. Page 3

Ayer

RECYCLING COMMITTEE SLOT FILLED Julie Staaitis has beenappointed to fill a long-vacant position on the Recycling Committee.Also, the town recently joined the North Central Solid WasteCooperative. - Davis Bushnell

Belmont

PURECOAT REPORT TO BE PRESENTED The Massachusetts Department ofPublic Health will present the results of a health study conducted atthe Purecoat North area at a public hearing on Thursday. Neighborsand state Representative Anne Paulsen pushed the study forward, whichshould determine if the metal plating plant has adversely affectedneighbors' health or could do so. Thursday's meeting begins at 7 p.m.in Town Hall, selectmen's meeting room. - Dorian Block

BEDFORD

WALL RELOCATION OK'D Planning Board members on Oct. 6 grantedAvalonBay Communities Inc., permission to move an old stone wall backseveral feet from the edge of Davis Road. The Alexandria, Va.,company is just completing a 139-unit housing development andfulfilling a Zoning Board of Appeals requirement to install aneighborhood sidewalk that begins on Concord Road and wraps around toDavis Road. - Joyce Pellino Crane

BILLERICA

TAX RELIEF PROPOSAL REJECTED Town Meeting voters rejected aproposal to take $800,000 that the town has in its free-cash reservesand apply it to property taxes for 2006. The article was submitted bySelectmen chairman Michael Rosa and Marc Lombardo. The town has about$1.6 million in its reserve account. - Alexander Reid

BOXBOROUGH

HUNTING SEASON STARTING The 2005 deer hunting season beginstomorrow and the town has issued "Commonsense Trail Safety Info" forboth hikers and hunters. Hikers and their pets should remain onmarked trails and wear bright orange clothes or vests. All petsshould be leashed. - Eric J. Hudson

BURLINGTON

NEW LIBRARY STAFF The library recently hired Joanna Troutt forits youth services department. Troutt formerly worked at Lowell'sPollard Memorial Library. Another addition to the staff is HenaZaman, who will work in the library's circulation department. -Alexander Reid

CONCORD

FEES INCREASING The Board of Selectmen has approved increasedfees that will take effect Nov. 1. The cost of obtaining a birthcertificate or a dog license will increase to $15 from $10, accordingto the town clerk's office. The dog license late charge, added to thelicense fee if dogs are registered after March 31, will jump to $25from $10. The fee for a death certificate will double to $10 for thefirst copy, with a $5 charge for each additional copy. Applicationsfor marriage licenses will increase to $35 from $10, and marriagecertificates will triple to $15, with a $10 fee for each additionalcopy. - Jennifer Rosinski

Harvard

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ASSOCIATE RETIRING Tom Hall, principal ofThe Bromfield School since July 2003, said last week he will retireat the end of this academic year. The high school's associateprincipal, Cheryll Hogan, had previously announced she will retirenext February. School Superintendent Thomas Jefferson is now seekingreplacements for Hall and Hogan. - Davis Bushnell

LEXINGTON

CONSERVATION COMMISSION SPONSORS SINGER The ConservationCommission is sponsoring a multimedia performance Tuesday by singerand poet Walkin' Jim Stoltz, a land preservationist. Stoltz's act,which includes projections of photographs of open spaces, will takeplace prior to the annual fall meeting of the Land StewardshipProgram and is designed to attract more volunteers. The performancebegins at 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave. - JoycePellino Crane

LITTLETON

DIALOGUE NIGHT On Oct. 20, the Littleton High School Council willhost a Dialogue Night with the School Committee. The meeting will beheld at 7:30 p.m. at Littleton High School. The meeting is open tothe public. - Eric J. Hudson

MEDFORD

POLICE DETAIL PROPOSAL The Medford Police Department would beable to hire retired police officers for private detail jobs,according to a proposal introduced to City Council Tuesday night.City councilors agreed to study the issue that would allow retiredofficers who are less than 65 years old to work police details if noother staff officers are available. Currently, the Police Departmenthires officers from other cities to cover some police detail jobs butthe department loses the 10 percent administrative fee to thosetowns. Under the proposal, the department would keep those fees. -Tom Farmer

NORTH READING

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED The town is reviewing aproposal by developer PRL Edgewater Place LLC for a 14-unitaffordable-housing development called Edgewater Place, which would belocated on 2.3 acres off Central Street. The development, includingsix townhouses, would replace a dilapidated, abandoned house at 1Pilgrim Road. The plans are being reviewed by a subcommittee andshould go before the Zoning Board of Appeals next month, said JimDeCola, the building inspector. - Peter Martin

READING

DISCUSSION OVER SANBORN LANE Residents of Sanborn Lane met withthe Board of Selectmen Tuesday night to discuss traffic issues ontheir private way, including speed enforcement and illegal trashdumping. Town officials said they would look into better enforcementof the 15 miles-per-hour speed limit, adding stop signs at the road'stwo intersections, and restricting delivery trucks from using thelane as a through road. - Peter Martin

Shirley

FIRE DEPARTMENT GETS GRANT The Fire Department recently receiveda $14,000 grant from the US Department of Homeland Security. Themoney will be used to purchase a variety of items, including foldingcots, pumps, and generators. - Davis Bushnell

Dunkin' Donuts shop opens. Page 1

STONEHAM

PROPOSAL FOR 24-HOUR PHARMACIES Voters will decide at TownMeeting Oct. 24 whether to allow Stoneham's pharmacies to remain openfor 24 hours a day. A group of residents collected enough signaturesto challenge the town bylaw that restricts pharmacies to operatingfrom 6 a.m. to midnight. Town Meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in TownHall. - Dorian Block

Appeals filed against the approval of the housing proposal for theformer Boston Regional Medical Center site. Page 5

Wilmington

PUSH FOR RECYCLING The Wilmington Public Library was the site ofa scheduled public hearing this week where Merrimack Valley and NorthShore legislators and environmental advocates called for morerecycling and less landfill use. The meeting was called in reactionto the release of the Massachusetts Department of EnvironmentalProtection's Solid Waste Master Plan. - Tom Farmer

WINCHESTER

CHURCH PROPERTY SOLD The Archdiocese of Boston recently sold the96,000-square-foot Immaculate Conception Church property on SheridanCircle which includes a church, rectory, convent, school, and hall to Winchester residents Thomas Kelleher and Wayne Perkins for $4.25million. Kelleher and Perkins own Creative Corner Children's LearningCenter Inc., which has rented space on the church property for aboutfive years. - Cynthia Cantrell

Woburn

PRELIMINARY ELECTION RESULTS Tuesday's preliminary election hasdetermined the final City Council candidates for Ward 2 and Ward 7.Richard Gately Jr. topped the four-candidate ballot in Ward 2 with253 votes and will square off against F. Wayne McDaniel, who received145 votes. Incumbent James E. McSweeney was knocked out of the racewith a third-place finish of 142 votes and Cathy Marie Petersongarnered 45 votes. Raymond B. Drapeau topped the Ward 7 runoff with233 votes and will face Daniel G. Riley (209 votes) in the finalelection Nov. 8. Charles Viola finished out of the race with 163votes. - Tom Farmer