City government began discussing the need for a new fire station there, and residents of Marshall Street circulated a petition calling for one.

Ms. Bova said she and other residents had a meeting about the crematories and were circulating petitions to stop them.

Eventually, the residents circulated a petition for the station's construction and threatened to sue the Department of Public Works.

Some residents circulated a petition urging Mr. Frazier to withdraw his suit.

The residents are circulating petitions asking the Department of Public Works to drop plans to erect a new concrete bridge where the old iron structure now stands.

Nevertheless, residents circulated petitions to stop it, met with local officials and wrote letters asking Kmart to reconsider.

Many - including town officials and county legislators - say they like his ideas, but some residents are already forming campaigns and circulating petitions to protest his plans.

But residents like Ania Patrick, who owns and lives in a six-floor walkup on Clinton, are circulating a petition to get the street going south again.

He said residents lobbied city agencies to improve services in Midwood and circulated brochures to encourage interest in rehabilitation.

In turn, residents circulated petitions and rallied with city housing advocates to press for an end to the standoff.