News in brief

By Globe Staff and Wires, 11/28/2001

RAMINGHAM

Town expected to stay with split tax rate

Selectmen tomorrow night will set the property tax rate for the coming year, and are expected to maintain a higher rate for businesses than for homeowners. Framingham is one of a handful of towns in the region that chooses to tax commercial property at a higher rate than residential, but it has gradually narrowed the gap between the two rates over the last decade.

Charter school starts recruiting process

The Framingham Charter School set to open in September began holding informational meetings this week to recruit students for its inaugural year. ''We met with parents to give them a chance to understand what charter schools are and what our school will offer,'' charter school principal Michael Delman said of the Monday morning meeting, which attracted about a dozen parents. Starting this month the school's administration will begin a publicity drive in Framingham; it hopes to open with more than 100 sixth-graders next fall. More information on the school is available on its Web site at www.framinghamcharter.org.

Foundation launching new initiative

The Carlisle Foundation, a longtime benefactor to philanthropic and educational causes in the Boston area, is kicking off a new initiative in Framingham next week. Modeled after a successful seven-year project in Marlborough, the foundation is shifting its focus to the Framingham area as part of its new Framingham Community Funding Initiative. Grants under the program will be awarded based on services delivered in the Framingham area, not where an agency or group resides. Foundation officials say it's too early to identify which programs in Framingham would be eligible for awards, but the initiative is likely to fund a variety of efforts. Since its inception in 1991, the Carlisle Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in grants.

WAYLAND

Meeting on future of Cochituate Village

The Wayland Planning Board is hosting its rescheduled community workshop on the future of Cochituate Village next Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Art Center at the Wayland Fire Department's station two. The discussion, in which community groups, business owners, and residents are invited to participate, will cover issues such as community character, traffic congestion, zoning amendments, and future development. Call the Planning Board with questions at 508-358-3615.

ASHLAND

One fire is arson; the other an accident

The Ashland Fire Department has investigated two fires in the last two days, one of which investigators are saying is arson. At about 10 p.m. Monday, Ashland firefighters responded to 330 Pleasant St., where a motorboat was ablaze in the yard. Ashland Fire Captain Michael Brogan said someone cut open the shrink wrapping around the 1988 Citation motorboat and set it on fire. The boat, valued at $35,000, was heavily damaged, Brogan said. Fire officials had no suspects as of last night, but Brogan said the investigation is continuing with the help of the Ashland Police Department. Earlier Monday, Ashland fire officials spent a long time investigating a house fire at 42 Concord St. Brogan said it turned out to have been caused by a phone book resting on a toaster oven. That fire caused about $10,000 in damage, Brogan said.

This story ran on page B2 of the Boston Globe on 11/28/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.