Last Chance — Deadlines You Need to Know This Week

1) (Deadline April 23) Absentee ballots for the April 24, local election are available now in the Town Clerk's Office. 

The Swampscott Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall, 22 Monument Ave. has the LOCAL Election Absentee ballots.   You may vote Absentee ballot if your absent from the town on Election Day, have a physical disability that prevents you from voting at your polling location or due to religious beliefs.

You can make your application and cast your vote in one visit to the Clerk’s Office or request the ballot be mailed to you.  If you wish to vote by mail, file your application early.  The Absentee Ballot application deadline is no later than NOON the day before the election (April 23rd).  A new Absentee Ballot Application is required for every calendar year.

All Absentee ballots can be hand delivered by the voter, a family member or by an assisting person.  All Absentees must arrive in the Clerk’s Office no later than 8 pm on Election Day.

Absentee Ballot applications are available in the Clerk’s Office or can be downloaded at Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm

2) (Deadline April 30) The Swampscott Historical Commission invites residents to submit nominations for its eighth annual Preservation and Restoration Award. This award was created by the Historical Commission to celebrate outstanding efforts to preserve and restore historic properties that maintain our town’s character and beauty. These properties can include residences, buildings, or other structures whose preservation or restoration maintains or is faithful to the original design or style.  Award-winning projects embody the goals of preserving, protecting and celebrating Swampscott’s historic architecture and unique sense of place.  

Eligible project categories are restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive use, neighborhood conservation and landscape preservation.  Awards are presented in consideration of the following criteria:

•  The historical and architectural integrity of the property preserved by the project
•  The exceptional quality of the project
•  The extent to which the project contributed to the preservation of the property
• The impact of the project on the preservation of the town’s historic resources.

Swampscott residents are encouraged to submit nominations for projects they feel are worthy of this distinction. The Commission hopes that getting the community involved in the nomination process will increase public awareness of such efforts, and help emphasize the importance of maintaining historic properties. The winners will be announced in June, and after a reception and public recognition at a Selectmen’s meeting, will receive a plaque suitable for mounting on their home or property. 

Residents can nominate their own project, a neighbor’s, or any project they admire.  Please submit nominations no later than April 30, 2012.  Include the property’s location, owner, description of project, who completed it, and any other comments you may have.  Please complete the following form, and send it to the Swampscott Historical Commission, 22 Monument Avenue, Swampscott, MA 01907.  Forms are also available at Town Hall and the Public Library. 

 3) (Deadline May 30) Swampscott Youth Soccer is considering applicants for two scholarship awards.  Award amount: $1,000 per recipient. Recipients:  Class of 2012 Swampscott or Nahant residents (graduating from any secondary school) 

•  1 Female Graduate  
•  1 Male Graduate

Intended Use:  Books and tuition for Swampscott or Nahant residents who are scheduled to enroll in classes in the fall of 2012 at a certified post-secondary educational institution.

Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship the student athlete must have been associated with Swampscott Youth Soccer and also a soccer program at the secondary school level.  The scholarship committee will consider multiple factors, including (but not limited to): community service, athletic achievement and length/tenure in the Swampscott Youth Soccer Program.

Once Swampscott Youth Soccer receives all applications by the May 18th deadline, they shall select the best-qualified applicant based upon the required written application and the 500 word essay. 

Please note: Swampscott Youth Soccer intends to provide the above described scholarship but reserves the right not to.  All decisions are at the sole discretion of Swampscott Youth Soccer. Submit Application + 500 word open essay (ex. eligibility/qualifications/additional information).

To obtain a copy of the application, please e-mail Sarah Marston at communications.sysa@gmail.com.  Please forward completed applications and essays to: Sarah Marston, Communications Director for SYSA, 31 Little's Point Rd., Swampscott, MA  01907. Deadline is May 18, 2012.