Lighten up, ambitious Swiss town; Residents need mirror to bring in some sun.

• Position: NEWS

Byline: Anna L. Griffin

Global warming concerns apparently aren't going to dissuade the people in the small town of Bondo, Switzerland, from going ahead with plans to erect a giant mirror that supposedly will bring sunshine into the mountain town. The town is shrouded in darkness three months of the year and it is hoped that by bringing in the sunshine, that might add value to the town.

I had two questions when I first read about this proposal. First, I wonder if anyone asked the vampires in town how they felt about this; and second, who's going to clean the darn thing?

Either the Swiss have too much money or no better way to spend what little they have.

To raise awareness of the Nashua River Watershed Association and raise funds for its environmental programs, the NRWA is raffling a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid - with mileage estimates of 50 miles per gallon. Tickets are $20 (less than a tank of gas), and a maximum of 2,500 tickets will be sold.

The NRWA is a nonprofit environmental organization that protects the region's natural resources with land stewardship, water protection, and environmental education programs. The watershed consists of 31 towns in north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

For more information on the car, the organization and to purchase a ticket, visit the Web site www.NashuaRiverWatershed.org.

Receiving toiletry and food items from anonymous donors "makes a big difference" to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Dezotell told students in Mount Wachusett Community College's Human Services Internship Experience class recently.

The students, whose instructor is adjunct professor Yvonne Stevens and who meet at the Leominster campus, are leading an effort in Leominster and Fitchburg to collect personal supplies for soldiers in Iraq. They have put collection bins at the following locations: Shaw's in Leominster, Hannaford Supermarkets at Twin City Plaza and Lancaster Street, both in Leominster, and at the store's Lunenburg location, Ginny's Thrift Shop in Leominster and DeMoulas Market Basket stores in Fitchburg and Leominster. The Wal-Mart in Lunenburg donated gift packages.

Dubbed "Support in Action," the collection seeks donations of shampoo, conditioner, cotton swabs, moisturizer, sunscreen, lip balm, eye drops, toothpaste, dental floss, writing pads, shaving cream, beef jerky, prepaid phone cards, playing cards, Twinkies, Cheez-Its, jelly beans, disposable cameras, books...