Community Briefs

By Globe Staff, Globe Correspondent, 12/2/2001

EWTON

City loses extra Metco funding

Last June, as Mayor David Cohen was trying to piece together money to fund the 2001-2002 school budget, he came up with $600,000 in additional state Metco funding at the last minute. That money was eliminated in the budget approved by the Legislature last week.

Mark Fine, chief of staff for state Senator Cynthia Creem, said that Creem had lobbied for an additional $3 million in Metco funding. Because Newton has the largest Metco population, it was entitled to $600,000 of that.

Fine said that one of the reasons Creem voted against the budget was because additional Metco funding was eliminated.

Sanford Pooler, city chief budget officer, said that the mayor is trying to come up with more money.

WELLESLEY

Opera to open

at church

The premiere of a new opera written by Wellesley residents Addison Hall and Denise Bacon takes place this week. Performances of ''A Legend of St. Nicholas'' will take place on Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and next Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Andrew's Church on Denton Road.

Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for children. Call 781-235-7310 for more information.

NEWTON

Forum scheduled

on terrorism

The Newton Democratic City Committee and the Newton Free Library will present a forum on ''A Response to Terrorism'' at the library on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Lt. Col. William Kendrick, a National Security Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, will speak on the nature of terrorism in a changed world. Lt. Col. Kevin Riedler, also a National Security Fellow at the Kennedy School, will speak about national safety and security. Newton resident Michael Avery, professor at Suffolk Law School, will discuss issues of civil rights and liberties. For more information, call the library at 617-552-7145.

NEEDHAM

Liquor licenses

for small spots

The state Senate has approved a Needham home-rule petition that would enable the town to give liquor licenses to restaurants that seat fewer than 100 customers.

The sale of liquor is already allowed in restaurants with more than 100 seats. The measure, which still needs approval from Town Meeting, was proposed by the Needham Economic Development Advisory Committee to make it more economically feasible for small restaurants to open in business areas.

The Senate also approved a home-rule petition requiring Needham to use current census data to redistrict the town's precincts, according to Senator Cheryl Jacques. The bill, which was submitted at the request of Town Meeting and still requires the approval of the House of Representatives, allows the town to reapportion Town Meeting representation based on population shifts.

WALTHAM

Police probe

woman's murder

The Middlesex district attorney's office and state and local police are investigating the murder of Rosa Alarcon, 28, of Waltham.

Alarcon was found stabbed to death at 703 Moody St. at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after a neighbor called authorities and asked that someone check on her. Police and firefighters entered the second-floor, one-room apartment and found Alarcon on the bed of the apartment adjacent to Deveney's Monuments.

Investigators aren't certain what time her death occurred, although a neighbor said Tuesday night that he and his wife had seen her earlier that day.

Although an autopsy wasn't completed by the Globe West deadline, officials said that Alarcon was stabbed repeatedly. So far, investigators are completing forensic tests and examinations. Autopsy results from the medical examiner's office were expected last week.

Alarcon, described as about 5 feet 4 inches tall and of medium build, was, according to those on the scene, from Guatemala.

Police are looking for Oscar Lopez. Though they are not naming Lopez as a suspect and say, so far, they have no suspects, they would like to speak with him about Alarcon's activities prior to her death.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about Lopez's whereabouts or about Alarcon's actions and whereabouts on or before Tuesday to call the department at 781-314-3600.

NEWTON

Market robbery

investigated

Detectives are still investigating an unarmed robbery at Star Market on Boylston Street at about 8:20 p.m. Nov. 21.

According to information from apolice spokesman, Lieutenant Paul Anastasia, an employee at the market said that a dark-skinned man, about 20 to 25, came into the store and asked where the candy was located.

The employee gave directions and went to the register. A few minutes later, the employee said, the man approached the register, placed a candy bar and a bottle of juice on the counter, and paid for them. When the employee returned the man's change, the suspect said he had given her a $50 bill, not a $5 bill. The employee showed the suspect the $5 bill she had received. The suspect then told her to shut up, reached over, and grabbed the money from the register. The employee screamed and chased the suspect down toward Hammond Street and an MBTA station until she lost sight of him. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 617-552-7103.

The community briefs were compiled by Globe correspondents Denise Dube (dube@globe.com), Gail Spector (spector@globe.com), and Kenneth Rapoza.

This story ran on page W4 of the Boston Globe on 12/2/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.