The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 21

THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE FEBRUARY 1, 1998 South I Political Notebook FLOOR SAMPLE SALE SLMOOMSi WVMiROOAJS DIMNOROOMS DINETTES BEDROOM El'RNlTVRE 'NVRSURIES-ACCESSORIES CUSHIONS AKO KlftM IMirfTS (IK WICKER RmN R'KM'fl'KE Harm Rte. 26, West Bridgewater f32 508-587-3731 EE2 tfan in 5.30 Sua. 12-5 EvtBioii By Appointment SEUXTKI) ITKMS UN SAI.F, 'Mf SF.K US AT HAYSIDK. IOMR SHOW. KKI1.

7-1f Fogged glass? Call us. Tired of those foggy windows? Ever wonder if there's a solution? There is. Call now for a free estimate on replacing JUST THE GLASS! With 10 years of experience in glass replacement, you can trust our expert installers. Call now. Call now for a free estimate! State races boost caucus interest The Democratic Party caucuses are next weekend in most towns and city wards in Massachusetts.

Any registered Democrat can attend and vote in the caucuses, which will select delegates to the party's nominating convention. These will be held June 5 and 6 at the Worcester Centrum. This is the first time since 1990 that the caucuses have produced much excitement At stake this year is the governor's office, as well as two other prominent and closely contested statewide posts lieutenant governor and attorney general. The convention winner likely will have an edge in the September state primary, and any candidate who fails to get 15 percent of the convention vote will not be on the primary ballot. In most cities and towns, the battles surrounding the caucuses are for the hearts and minds of Democratic town and ward committee members and other key activists likely to run as uncommitted slates in the caucuses.

These well-organized party foot soldiers tend to be shoe-ins at the caucuses, which generally draw only a small fraction of the Democratic electorate. cating this year to run for the state Senate seat that William R. Keating of Sharon is leaving. He is running for Norfolk County district attorney. Two local politicians, one from each party, last week announced plans to run for the House seat John D.

Vozzella, a member of the Walpole Democratic Town Committee and also a member of the town Industrial Development and Finance Committee, will seek the Democratic nomination. Vozzella, who ran unsuccessfully for Norfolk County treasurer in 1996, owns an insurance agency with offices in Franklin, Milford, Norfolk, and Walpole. Seeking the Republican nomination is Wrentham Selectman Scott Brown, a lawyer and former town assessor. Brown, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative, is a member of the National Guard. The House district includes most of Walpole, all of Norfolk and Wrentham, and about half of Millis.

Feeney planning a 2d challenge In other election news, Boston City Councilor Maureen E. Feeney of Dorchester has told supporters she plans to run for the seat of new state POLITICAL NOTEBOOK, Page 8 ets of support for most of the candidates. Attorney General Scott Harsh-barger, who has been organizing for governor for more than a year, has recruited many local activists to his team. Former Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn has support from labor backers and suburban migrants from Boston. Many party workers from the region have been holding off committing to a gubernatorial candidate while waiting for word on the candidacy of former Boston congressman Brian Donnelly, whose district extended south to Brockton and Quincy.

Most of the caucuses will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. For the time and place, contact your town or city Democratic Party committee or the state party at 617-742-6770. You can also find out everything you need to know about the caucuses at the party's Web page, which can be found at www.massdems.org. Vacating seat draws candidates Drawing some interest at last is the state representative seat that Jo Ann Sprague of Walpole is va "Long-time workers within the towns are running basically as slates," said Marshfield Democratic Party Chairwoman Annie Federico.

"Most of them haven't made up their minds who they are going to support." The leading statewide candidates have been burning up phone lines for weeks trying to secure commitments from these activists. "There is a lot of activity but it is mostly by way of phone calls," said Quincy City Councilor and party leader Paul D. Harold. Gus Bickford, the state party's executive director, said, "There is a great deal of organizing, but I am not aware of big slate battles." Some party leaders, though, believe slates allied with one or more candidate will try to seize control of at least some of the caucuses. you have a statewide office at stake, there will be slates," said Therese Murray, a Plymouth state senator and party leader from Plymouth County.

"The more people you bring to the caucus, the better your chance of knocking off a local person." South of Boston, there are pock MASS (781)3375045 New England Glass Weymouth, MA Insulated glass, door and window installations THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER. TIME TO REALLY It's 'all aboard' new rail service fTEATVTTTD RAILROAD Continued from Page 1 added two hours to their day. It has been a blessing for those people." However, the return of the rail- i i nr This is the best time of the year to get the best deal on an 8-lb. Orcck XL. Right now, buy an Oreck Upright and receive our companion Compact Canister and Tidy-Up Carpet Sweeper for one great price.

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Miller, states that the railroad will mean rising land values, more jobs, and concentrated development near the stations. The popularity of the Old Colony line has boosted the hopes of supporters of two other rail lines proposed for the region south of Boston the Greenbush branch of the Old Colony line, which would run along the coast to Scituate, and the Fall River-New Bedford extension, which would link those two cities and Taunton to Boston by commuter rail. "I've always felt that once the other two lines were up and running, it would demonstrate to people, in the Greenbush corridor that Green-bush would be successful," said state Representative Frank M. Hynes, a Marshfield Democrat and Greenbush supporter. Hynes stressed, though, that he has seen no big political push to re open Greenbush, which has experienced repeated delays because of regulatory and legal challenges from opponents.

While reopening the Middlebor-ough and Kingston lines was mostly free of controversy, the Greenbush line, which crosses more than 40 streets at grade level and goes through a historic district in Hing-ham, has triggered strong opposition. Freight service continued on the Kingston and Middleborough lines after the commuter railroad closed in 1959, but all service was halted on the Greenbush line. "fThe MBTA has not yet chosen a route for the Fall River-New Bedford line, which could be built as an extension of either the Old Colony, the Attleboro, or the Stoughton lines. All three possible routes have sparked opposition from people who live near the proposed lines. Braintree Pearl St.

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3 781-762-4463 OlOoi'lUoI -3 3 5, I berghini. Video cameras installed at crossings on Route 3A in downtown Kingston and Route 36 in Halifax have recorded motorists going around descending gates and stopping too close to the tracks. One car was witnessed wedged between a closed gate and a speeding train. A special task force made up of MBTA, state, and local officials is studying a number of possible remedies, including longer gates, better lighting, and traffic signals. The committee also is considering the wisdom of installing so-called "quad gates," which when lowered block access to the tracks but which also can trap a driver caught in the middle who doesn't realize the gates will break if he drives through them.

O'Brien, a member of the task force, said recommendations will be issued in the spring, with implementation scheduled for the summer. The MBTA estimates that the Old Colony trains are removing 6,600 cars a day from the road a small fraction of the 200,000 plus vehicles that now travel routes 3 and 24. But while there has been no observable decrease in highway congestion, the trains have reduced the jam at the two Route 3 Red Line rapid transit parking garages. The Braintree Red Line garage, which used to fill up between 7:30 and 8 a.m., now does not reach capacity until after 9:30 a.m., according to MBTA spokesman Pesaturo. The Quincy Adams garage, which used to become full between 8 a.m.

and 8:30, now usually does not fill up until 11, he said. The success of the trains also has renewed fears among local officials and planners that the railroad will create a surge in home construction and an influx of new residents that semirural towns will not be able to accommodate. "We've seen a slight increase in the number of building permits," said Lakeville Selectman Chawner Hurd. "It is not a cause for great alarm, but it does get you thinking." The three regional planning agencies that serve southeastern Massachusetts recently formed a 40-person task force on how cope with the expected growth of the area, which is already the fastest growing region in Massachusetts. The task force is scheduled to hold its first meeting this week.

Meanwhile, the Plymouth ty Development Council, an organization that promotes economic growth in the region, released a brief report last week pointing out the railroad's benefits to the region. The development council report, prepared by Bridgewater State Col Dedham Savings On Jhnlm 7 II Wfl I I IV Data Furlong JntUOtlj (- Mortgage Consultant tOVKte. (781)320-4888 Iweymuw! (78D8V2-5S79 Si I BROCKTON ill III Isv vr" Villi w6 7vU A rnvaie dus companies aiso nave been hurt by competition from the government-owned railroad, which cost the MBTA $537 million to build and is Massachusetts second most expensive transportation project after Boston's Big Dig. George Anzuoni, president of the Plymouth Brockton Street Railway bus company, estimated rider-ship has dropped 10 to 15 percent since the trains started running at full service late last year. The bus company has abandoned or consolidated two or three runs, he said.

In the first weeks of operation, Old Colony trains missed several morning runs, leaving commuters stranded at stations for a half-hour or more. The problem was blamed on a shortage of engineers for Am-trak, which operates the railroad for the MBTA. "I don't think anything like that has happened in a long time," said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. "With anything new there are kinks." Most of the difficulties with the new railroad have been problems associated with success. So many people have been riding the trains that parking spaces at the stations are becoming scarce.

The parking lot at the Middle-borough station, which straddles the Middleborough-Lakeville town line, has been filled to capacity several times. The Halifax station also is close to capacity, according to state Representative O'Brien. State Senator Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said she believes the MBTA should start planning to expand the Kingston station and also consider adding a second exit. The Kingston station at first was plagued with evening traffic jams, although installation of a traffic light and a new turning lane on the exit road have eased those problems, according to O'Brien. Officials also continue to worry about the risk of accidents involving a train and a motorist or pedestrian at the 54 grade crossings on the two lines.

"Safety in general along the line we are satisfied with, but we do have a problem with grade crossings," said Kingston Fire Chief Jon H. Al- dnore. 3 Beth Santella Mortgage Consultant Direct ine (78 1) 320-4885 (781) 764-1346 Your Personal Bank When it comes to mortgages, we're coming to the South Shore. To make the mortgage application process easier and more convenient. We have two South Shore mortgage experts, who can "Hit The Road" and bring our terrific mortgage packages to you in the comfort of your home or business, all the way through to your closing.

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