Globe North Community Briefing

REVERE
BEACH CLEANUP PURSUED - City Councilor Daniel Rizzo has asked that Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral appear before the council to discuss whether the partnership between Cabral's office and Revere Beach would be affected if the Department of Conservation and Recreation budget is cut. Through Cabral's office, low-security inmates help clean the beach each summer. Rizzo said he wants to make sure the program continues next summer and wants to find out how best to improve it. Rizzo said he would like to talk to Cabral about possibly increasing the number of work-release inmates, who, he said, have done a terrific job. - Katheleen Conti

SAUGUS
BOARDS SEEK MEMBERS - The Board of Selectmen is accepting applications for volunteers to serve on three town boards. Openings exist on the Cultural Council, Cemetery Commission, and the Affordable Housing Board of Trustees. Residents interested in serving should submit a letter and resume to the board by Dec. 1. The materials can be mailed to the Saugus Board of Selectmen, Saugus Town Hall, 298 Central St. - Kathy McCabe

WINTHROP
NO SOLUTION IN LOGJAM - The legal actions brought by the owner of Wyatt's Mobil gas station on Main Street against the owners of the Dunkin' Donuts next door and the town were recently dismissed without prejudice by a Suffolk Superior Court judge. Robert Wyatt, owner of the gas station, wanted the court to force the town to enforce its 2007 decision ordering Dunkin' Donuts to shut down its drive-through window between 7 and 10 a.m., seven days a week. After determining last year that Dunkin' Donuts owners violated their special permit order to have a police detail directing traffic during morning commute hours, the Board of Appeals ordered the drive-through shut down during those hours. Dunkin' Donuts owners filed an appeal, in the meantime allowing them to continue to operate the window. Some residents, including Wyatt, blame Dunkin' Donuts for aggravating the daily congestion of vehicles leaving town toward East Boston. In his legal argument, Wyatt argued that not only was the congestion a public safety issue, but also that the cars queued up for the drive-through service were blocking entrance to his business. James J. Cipoletta, attorney for Dunkin' Donuts, asked the court to dismiss Wyatt's case, claiming that as a lessee of the property where his business sits, Wyatt had no standing to interfere in the zoning case. An attorney hired by the town and Wyatt's landlord, Nicholas Simione, who is also Dunkin' Donuts' landlord, argued the same thing. Ultimately Wyatt's attorney asked that the matter be dismissed without prejudice. Wyatt said he is frustrated. "Even though I have a 30-year lease and I've been there for 25 years, they don't even consider me a person of standing," Wyatt said.

PEABODY
MORE OPEN SPACE PURCHASED - A closing was recently held on the city's purchase 11.5-acres of forest and wetlands on Scouting Way from Eastman Gelatine Corp. The city is using its Community Preservation Fund for the $550,000 purchase. According to community and development director Jean Delios, Peabody paid half of the price at closing and will pay the balance in a year. The city bought the parcel for open space and possible use as athletic fields. Delios said the purchase is part of Mayor Michael J. Bonfanti's ongoing effort to secure open space. With the Scouting Way land, Peabody has bought close to 70 acres during the past three years. - John Laidler

APPLY FOR HABITAT HOME - Habitat for Humanity - North Shore is initiating the selection of a family to purchase an affordable one-family home it plans to build on Cooper Street in Lynn. Applications from prospective buyers are being accepted through Dec. 1. Applicants must meet income requirements. Preference will be given to people who have resided for more than a year in Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, or Topsfield. The three-bedroom home will be sold in the price range of $100,000 to $125,000. The family selected is required to contribute 400 hours of "sweat equity" to the project. Anyone interested is invited to an informational meeting Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St Pius V Parish, 215 Maple St. in Lynn. For more information, go to www.habitatforhumanity-northshore.com, call 781-598-0310, or e-mail homeowner@habitatforhumanity-northshore.com. - John Laidler