Each Sunday, Reading-North Reading Patch will run a round-up with links to stories from surrounding communities that are of interest to local residents.

Stoneham Selectmen Considering Winter Carnival, Skating Rink: STONEHAM--The Stoneham Board of Selectmen are considering bringing a skating rink and a winter carnival to the Town Common this winter.

Selectman Tom Boussy discussed both activities at Tuesday night's meeting at Town Hall.

"My idea is to invite local restaurants, booster clubs...get a DJ and raise a few bucks for (local organizations)," Boussy said of the Winter Carnival, adding that it would be a first step toward revitalizating the downtown area.

Boussy suggested the event be held on a Saturday night, possibly in January sometime. 

Wakefield Has Increasingly Prominent Role in Sport of Judo: WAKEFIELD--Wakefield is gaining an increasingly prominent spot on the map in the world of competitive judo - and not just because of the recent gold medal won by Kayla Harrison, who trains at Jimmy Pedro's Judo Center on New Salem Street in Wakefield. Since 2007, Pedro's has been one of several USA Judo National Training Sites.

In fact, Pedro himself was the coach of the U.S. Olympic Judo team during the London games, continuing what has long been a standout career in the martial art. The owner and head instructor of Pedro's Judo Center won bronze at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, and he was also on the 1992 and 2000 teams. Along the way, he also won the world championship in 1999 and five U.S. championships. 

Appeal Filing Dates Changed, But Hearing Remains as Scheduled: WILMINGTON--Several of the filing dates for appellants of the Wilmington High School project have been pushed back, but the tentative October hearing date remains the same unless a settlement is reached beforehand.

Kevin MacDonald, the spokesman for one of the appeals to the Department of Environmental Protection, said he recently had a lengthy conversation with Wilmington Town Counsel Dan Deutsch as a part of the required good faith settlement talks.

Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Newhouse, however, said that while he is hopeful those talks are successful, the town continues to prepare for the event that the process continues right up until the scheduled October 25 hearing.

“Like everyone, at each milestone I am hopeful an opportunity presents itself to be done with this process,” said Newhouse. “But I continue to focus on the hearing date as the date we need to prepare for and continue to do our work. At every milestone date you’re hopeful that there’s an opportunity to short circuit this process and continue with this project.”

VIDEO: New Tewksbury High Fills Students With Pride, Excitement: TEWKSBURY--History will record that after several years after the first planning meetings and nearly two years after ground was broken, the new, $68 million Tewksbury Memorial High School opened its doors to students on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.

Far more than just a school building, the new facility promises to be a show piece  and a source of pride for the community.