Selectmen Approve 5K Fundraiser Run for This Weekend

The Leprechaun 5K Shuffle and Fun Run will benefit the Nashoba Learning Group, a school for Autism.

The Burlington Board of Selectmen approved a 5K fundraising fun run for a local organization that serves people with autism. The board approved the Leprechaun 5K Shuffle and Fun Run to benefit the Nashoba Learning Group, a school for Autism in Bedford. Registration for the run begins at 8:30 a.m. at Burlington High School on Sunday, March 17. The run begins at 10 a.m. According to an event listing on Burlington Patch, the entry fee for the fundraising run is $20. There will also be a half-mile fun run at the school.  Click here for more information on the event. Though no member of the board or town government disagreed with the spirit and purpose of the fundraiser, there were some concerns at the meeting about the timing. Town …

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Selectmen Approve Liquor License for Incoming Kings Bowling

The Burlington Board of Selectmen gave approval last week for a liquor license for Kings Bowl which is being built across from the incoming Wegman's.

The NorthWest project gained one more step towards completion during the Burlington Board of Selectmen meeting last Monday night. The board approved 5-0-0 a liquor license for the incoming Kings Bowl bowling alley that is being built across the street from the much-anticipated Wegman's grocery store. Kings Bowl will be located at 52 Second Ave. The petition for the liquor license was represented at the meeting by attorney Mark Vaughn of Reimer and Braunstein, Nordblom Senior Vice President of Development Todd Fremont-Smith and Chief Operating Officer at Kings Bowl of America, LLC Frank Stryjewski. The Nordblom Company is the landlord and key developer of the project. The liquor license is one of ten that are part of the NorthWest Park …

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Local Scout to Create New Landlocked Forest Trail, Volunteers Needed

Colin Ruposo, a Boy Scout with Troop 10 in Lexington, is looking for volunteers to help build a new trail in the Landlocked Forest.

A local scout is going for the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts and is looking to run a volunteer trail project as part of the process. Colin Ruposo, a Boy Scout with Troop 10 in Lexington, is working to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the scouts. As part of the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, scouts must do a service project. The project can benefit the scouts or the local community. For his project, and to show leadership skills, Ruposo proposed to the Burlington Board of Selectmen last week that he run a volunteer project to move a trail in the Landlocked Forest. The forest also has an entry in Lexington, Ruposo's hometown. According to Ruposo the current, well-used trail is actually located on Mass. Highway …

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Video: Emotional Evening as Board, Friends and Community Say Farewell to Robert Mercier

Town Administrator Robert Mercier, after 30 years of public service, sat in on his final Board of Selectmen meeting before retirement.

It was an emotion evening at last Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting as current and former town leaders,  Town Hall staff members, friends and members of the community came out to see off Burlington Town Administrator Robert Mercier as he sat in on his final meeting before retirement after 30 years of public service, much of it here in town. Mercier announced his retirement last October. He stayed on to give the town time to find a replacement and to see Burlington through the annual May Town Meeting. He is set to leave his post next week. Mercier became Burlington's first Town Administrator in 1980 and held the position until 1986. From 1986 to 1998, Mercier held other positions outside of town; doings stints as the Regional Chamber of …

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Selectmen Celebrate the Girl Scouts; Four Scouts Recite Girl Scout Promise and Law

The Girl Scouts celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the organization this month and the selectman celebrated all the organization does for the community and the girls involved.

Last night's Burlington Board of Selectmen meeting began with a special recognition of the history of the Girl Scouts and four local scouts were on hand to recite a pledge and receive new levels within the organization. Selectman Robert Hogan read a proclamation in honor of the Girl Scouts, acknowledging the great work the organization does both in the community and for the girls and young women who participate in it. The special honor was also in celebration of the 100-Year Anniversary of the Girl Scouts. "Whereas since the Girl Scouts were founded 100 years ago this month, generations of girls have promised to serve God and their country and to help people at all times. And since the inaugural Troop of 18 girls was was formed in Georgia…

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Letter to the Editor: Burlington Board of Selectmen Opposes MBTA Cuts

A letter to the editor and the MBTA leadership from Burlington Town Administrator Robert Mercier on behalf of the Board of Selectmen.

To whom it may concern: The Burlington Board of Selectmen, along with the Burlington Public Transit Authority, strongly oppose the elimination of MBTA Routes 350, 351 and 352, the elimination of the Suburban Transit Program, and excessive fare increases for The Ride, under both Scenarios by the MBTA. We strongly oppose the elimination of Burlington's Suburban Transit Program subsidy, which is a critical component of our community both residential and commercial. It is extremely important for people who commute from other communities who work in Burlington, in particular, at the Lahey Clinic and the Burlington Mall. It will make it extremely difficult for Burlington residents who must use public transportation to get to their work in …

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MSMS's Teen LIGHT to Hold Walk-A-Thon for Childhood Illness

Twenty-five student members of the Marshall Simonds Middle School group Teen LIGHT Leadership Team spoke before the Board of Selectmen to ask permission to use the Town Commons.

There were some fresh young faces at Monday night's Board of Selectmen meeting. A group of 25 students from Marshall Simonds Middle School, all part of the socially-minded Teen LIGHT Leadership Team, who came to speak to town leaders on an upcoming fundraising event. When their turn came to speak the students lined up in front of the board to make their case. The students spoke in turn, each reading a short part of the presentation and request. They asked the Board for permission to use the Town Commons and a walking route in the area for a 5K walk-a-thon on Saturday, June 2, with a rain date of Saturday, June 16. Registration for the walk is set for 9:30 a.m. and the walk will begin at 10 a.m. Following the walk there will be a gathering …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today, Feb. 13

A sunny but windy day, a Board of Selectmen meeting and a teen library program.

Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. Today is Monday, Feb. 13. Here are 5 things you need to know:

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Town Honors Toys for Tots Leader, Volunteers

The Burlington Board of Selectmen presented Art Enos, the Chair of the local Toys for Tots program, with a special proclamation this week.

The Burlington Board of Selectmen acknowledged and honored those who worked tireless to make Christmas a special time for all families with the Toys for Tots program this week. Board Member and Director of Veteran Affairs Robert Hogan read a proclamation honoring the program and the Middesex-Essex County Chair and Burlington resident Art Enos during Monday's meeting. "The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the Holiday season and distribute those toys as gifts to needy chidren in the community," Hogan said. "During the 2011 campaign, Art Enos helped raise more than $120,000 in cash donations and more than 150,000 toys with the help of more than 120 volunteers." Hogan said …

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New Fire Department Member Appointed Though Training May be Delayed

Burlington resident Raymon Blenkhorn was approved by the Board of Selectmen to begin firefighter training at the earliest possible date.

The Burlington Board of Selectmen approved the appointment of a new member to the Fire Department's Intermittent Firefighter List during the meeting Monday night, though the firefighter may not be able to start training until the fall due to changes in the Massachusetts Fire Academy. Members of the board said they were happy to appoint Raymond R. Blenkhorn to the intermittent list at the recommendation of Fire Chief Steven Yetman and Assistant Fire Chief Michael Patterson. "We are happy to have you and welcome," said Chair Walter Zenkin. Blenkhorn is a resident of Burlington currently employed at Arcadia Landscaping Inc., a family-owned business. He is a certified Massachusetts Emergency Medical Technician, a certification he first …

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