Community briefing

Ashland

BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP - The Ashland Business Association isoffering at least one scholarship to a high school senior living inAshland who is graduating this year and has been accepted to anaccredited school for continuing education. The group of businessprofessionals awards the scholarship annually to a local studentwho best demonstrates a good work ethic, motivation, creativity andbusiness and commmunity interests. Application forms are availablein the high school counselor's office. Completed applications mustbe received by May 16, and can be mailed to ABA, PO Box 510,Ashland, MA 01721, or handed to Tina Hunter at the high school.

- Rachel Lebeaux

Bellingham

5K ROAD RACE - This year's Bellingham Challenge 5K Road Race,which benefits the Bellingham High School girls' lacrosse program,will be held April 10. The registration fee is $20, or $15 forrunners ages 10 and younger and 55 or older, if completed online orby mail by March 26. The price to register on race day is $25 forall runners. Numbers can be picked up on race day from 8 to 9:30a.m. at the high school, 60 Blackstone St., where the race willbegin at 10 a.m. To register online or print a registration form,visit www.bellinghamchallenge5k.webs.com For more information, e-mail bellinghamchallenge5k@comcast.net

- Rachel Lebeaux

FRAMINGHAM

TECH SCHOOL COURSES - The Joseph P. Keefe Technical School hasreleased its spring adult-education course catalog. Among theseason's offerings are numerous computer and Internet classesteaching how to use such programs as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, andFacebook, as well as courses in jewelry making, financial planning,painting, and fly-fishing. Visit www.ktconed.org to see the fulllist or for more information.

- Megan McKee

Franklin

OPENINGS IN DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP - The Franklin DowntownPartnership is accepting membership applications through March 15.A nonprofit organization with 140 members focused on revitalizingand beautifying the downtown area, the partnership offers members afree booth at the fall Harvest Festival, opportunities toparticipate in the annual strawberry and holiday stroll events,invitations to informational and networking meetings, and a voice ineconomic development and streetscape plans in town, organizers said.Membership dues are tax deductible, and vary based on the size ofthe member's business; individual rates are available as well. Formore information, contact executive director Lisa Piana at 774-571-3109 or visit www.franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com

- Rachel Lebeaux

HOLLISTON

DOLL TEA PARTY - The Holliston Historical Society is throwingits second annual Doll Tea Party at noon Saturday at its Asa WhitingHouse. The Historical Society held its first doll tea as part of itscentennial last year and the event sold out, according to externalvice president Judy Grosjean. This year's party will commemorate the150th anniversary of the outbreak of the Civil War and feature thestory of a Holliston girl's experiences in 1861. "I have a daughterwho is 8 and will be there," Grosjean said. "I also have a 10-year-old son helping me, but he won't attend. He just likes the free foodin the kitchen." Girls are encouraged to bring a doll and a grownup.There will be refreshments, including finger sandwiches, cupcakes,and pink lemonade. Seating is limited. Tickets for children and anaccompanying adult are $12, and must be purchased in advance.Tickets are available at Coffee Haven, 76 Railroad St., or bycontacting Grosjean at jhgrosjean@comcast.net or 508-429-7474.

- Jose Martinez

HOPKINTON

NEW SCHOOL FORUM - The School Committee plans to hold a public forum tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Center Elementary School to discussplans to build a new school and change the grade spans for thetown's elementary schools. The town's three elementary schools nowhouse two grades apiece, but plans call for replacing the agingCenter School with a new facility across town that would housekindergarten through fifth grade. School officials plan toreconfigure the other elementary schools to match. The $38.5 millionbuilding plan goes before a Special Town Meeting on March 21; ifapproved, it would be on the ballot of a special election March 28.

- Jose Martinez

MEDFIELD

HIGH SCHOOL FASHION SHOW - Medfield High School's annual fashionshow is scheduled for March 18. The event is the main fund-raiserfor the annual All Night Graduation Party, an activity-oriented,alcohol- and drug-free celebration for the high school's seniors. This year's show, the 18th installment of the event, is titled"Medfield High School Class of 2011 Presents the Red Carpet," andwill start at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Clothingretailers, including merchants in Franklin, Natick, Needham, andWrentham, supply the fashions that student models will wear on therunway during the show. Last year, according to Rose O'Reilly, co-chairwoman for the event, the fashion show raised nearly $7,000 for the graduation party. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased atthe door, or by contacting organizers atmhsfashionshow2011@yahoo.com

- James O'Brien

Medway

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION HEARING - The town's CommunityPreservation Committee will hold its annual public hearing tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the Medway High School library. Themeeting will focus on proposals seeking funds from the town'sCommunity Preservation Act account, which supports local open space,historical preservation, recreation, and affordable housingprojects. Residents interested in how the funds will be used areasked to attend and share their thoughts. The committee will makerecommendations for Town Meeting, which has the final say on how themoney is spent. For more details, e-mail committee secretary Shirley Ann Bliss at sbliss@townofmedway.org

- Rachel Lebeaux

MILLIS

BUILDING FOR SALE, WITH A CATCH - The town is trying to sell atwo-story building - but not the land underneath it. The 2,200-square-foot structure, built in 1995, needs to be moved to make wayfor the town's new library. The town recently purchased the property- both land and building - at 959 Main St. for $370,000. TownAdministrator Charles Aspinwall said the building itself, whichpreviously housed a business and an apartment, has been assessed at$222,800, and the cost of moving it off the site would likely be$30,000 to $35,000. The building could be adapted into a single-family or two-family dwelling, he said. "It's in good shape," hesaid. "It would be a shame to tear it down and not reuse it."Parties interested in bidding on the building should contactAspinwall at 508-376-7040.

- Calvin Hennick

NATICK

CANDIDATES TO DEBATE - A debate involving candidates vying fortwo Board of Selectmen seats in the March 29 election has beenscheduled for tomorrow night. A local political action committee,Natick Forever, is hosting the debate, which runs from 7 p.m. to8:30 p.m. at the Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St. Thegroup's chairman, Jimmy Brown, will serve as moderator. Three ofthe four candidates on the ballot have said they will take part:incumbent Carol Gloff, and challengers Nick Mabardy, who is soonretiring from his job as Natick's police chief, and Ted Wynne, aformer School Committee member. The fourth candidate, LawrenceDelaney, has been banned from the Morse Institute building afterallegedly showing librarians an inappropriate photo. The debate willbe broadcast live on Natick Pegasus, the town's local-access cabletelevision system. The last day to register to vote for the electionis Wednesday, when the town clerk's office will be open until 8 p.m.to accommodate last-minute filers. Absentee ballots will beavailable at Town Hall starting tomorrow.

- Megan McKee

NORFOLK

BOOK, BAKE SALE AT LIBRARY - The Friends of the Norfolk PublicLibrary plan to hold a book and bake sale April 16 from 9 a.m. to3 p.m. at the Department of Public Works facility on Medway BranchRoad. Book prices will range from 50 cents to $2, and funds raisedvia the sale benefit the library. There will also be a preview salefor Friends members April 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Residents canregister for a Friends membership for $15 at the door starting at 5p.m. Current Friends should bring their library cards (withstickers) as proof of membership. Following the sale, the group willalso accept bids from dealers to purchase the remaining books;interested parties should e-mail nplfriends@hotmail.com. For moreinformation, visit www.norfolkbooksale.com

- Rachel Lebeaux

PLAINVILLE

SCIENCE FOR YOUNGSTERS - The Plainville Public Library ishosting a "Science After School" program focused on the wind March16 at 4 p.m. in the library's children's room. The program inviteschildren ages 3 to 7 and their caregivers to read a picture bookfrom the Mother Goose Asks Why? program and then conduct scienceexperiments related to the book's topic. Registration is required and begins tomorrow. Space in the program is limited to 15 children.For details, call the library at 508-695-1784 or visitwww.plainvillelibrary.org

- Rachel Lebeaux

UPTON

GRANT FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE - A state agency has awarded$120,000 to Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical HighSchool that will be used to buy new science lab equipment. Among theitems on the list of needed gear: microscopes, biomedical testingdevices, bedside patient monitors, and laptop computers. Thefunding will also support the school's efforts to upgrade laboratoryventilation and work stations. Michael Fitzpatrick, the schoolsuperintendent-director, called the grant a godsend during a timeof fiscal austerity. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, aquasi-public agency, was created in 2006 to spur research andeconomic development in the state. Since last year, the agency'sLife Sciences Equipment and Supplies program has focused on fundingfor training and education programs.

- James O'Brien

WRENTHAM

INTERNET SAFETY SESSION - The Wrentham Elementary PTO issponsoring "Internet Safety for Parents" tomorrow at 7 p.m. in theDelaney School's Vogel Auditorium, 120 Taunton St. Katelyn LeClercGreer, a former intelligence analyst for the Massachusetts StatePolice and a recognized expert in Internet safety and technology,will discuss how parents can use technology to keep their childrensafe on the Internet. For more information, visitwww.wrentham.k12.ma.us or www.klgreer.com

- Rachel Lebeaux

AROUND THE REGION

BROOKLINE

'FRANKENSTEIN' LIVE ON SCREEN - Local audiences can take inboth versions of the "Frankenstein" production staged for theNational Theatre of London by Danny Boyle, director of the hit film"Slumdog Millionaire," at the Coolidge Corner Theatre as part of NTLive, which features high-definition broadcasts of popular plays.The first screening at the theater, at 290 Harvard St., is scheduledfor 6:30 p.m. March 17; the second version, in which the actorsplaying the mad doctor and the monster trade roles, will be shownat 6:30 p.m. April 4. Tickets are $20 at www.coolidge.org/ntlive

- Andreae Downs

LEXINGTON

DANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE HARVEST - Classic rock 'n' roll, blues anda bit of Motown will be featured Saturday night at the fourth annualGo Green Dance Benefit Party at the Lexington Elks Club, 959 WalthamSt. The "Feeding 5,000" campaign at Lexington's Hancock Church iscosponsoring the event with local band Trial Run to raise money fora nonprofit organization, Sustainable Harvest International, thatprovides poor farm families in Central America with agriculturaltraining and tools to preserve tropical forests while overcomingpoverty. The fund-raiser will run from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets can bepurchased in advance for $15, or $25 per couple, by e-mailing theband at trialrunonline@gmail.com. Tickets will be available at thedoor for $20.

- Brock Parker

Newton

MARATHON HEALTH SCREENINGS - As the Boston Marathon approaches,runners are ramping up their training routines for the 26.2-mileevent. A free injury screening by Newton-Wellesley Hospital willhelp them do so safely, according to an announcement by thehospital, which sits on Route 16 alongside the route of the annualPatriots Day race. The hospital will offer two screenings forMarathon runners this week, when physical therapists will check forinjuries and provide treatment recommendations. The screenings aredesigned for those who have injuries, or who have had to cut back ontraining because of pain. The screenings will take place Tuesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Thursday from 7 to 10 a.m. Runners mustmake appointments in advance, either by e-mail atcarefinder@partners.org or by phone at 617-243-6383.

- Sarah Thomas

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