Year at a glance, Part 3
Published on January 14th, 2004
September:
Local manhunt ends
with arrest
By Joe Haggerty
A troubled 17 year-old, who shuttled between divorced parents in Melrose and Milford, N.H., was arrested in Stoneham last week, and questioned by New Hampshire authorities in connection with the discovery of his father's grossly decomposed dead body in their Milford, N.H. residence last Wednesday night.
"The final autopsy is still being completed as we speak, but after preliminary results we are ruling this death a homicide," said New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General for the Homicide Division Brian Quirk at a press conference outside Woburn District Court following Herlihy's arraignment. "It appears that the body was in the residence for a period of time, and the medical examiner is having difficulty identifying the body."
The New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Brian Quirk did confirm on Saturday, August 30 that the recovered body was that of Paul Herlihy.
"Dr. Thomas Andrew, the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of New Hampshire, positively identified the victim as Paul Herlihy," said Quirk would not comment on how the murder was committed, or any weapons involved.
"The cause of death has been determined, however the Attorney General's Office is not releasing the cause of death to the general public at this stage due to the ongoing criminal investigation," said Quirk, who also asked that people with any information forward it to the New Hampshire State Police or the Milford Police.
Russo named to
School Com
By Patrick Blais
A joint meeting between the town's School Committee and Board of Selectmen unanimously voted 7-0 last Wednesday night in favor of appointing Stoneham resident Kristen Russo as the newest School Committee member.
Russo will replace former School Committee member David Shields, who resigned from his position early last July to avoid any conflict of interest that might arise from his wife applying for a nursing position within the school system.
"I've grown up in Stoneham my whole life. I was a graduate of Stoneham High and look at this as an opportunity to give back to the school system...I'm very pleased to have this opportunity as this is such a respected board," said Russo, who was immediately sworn into her new post by Town Moderator Michael Rotondi.
Russo, who previously served on the Town's Finance and Advisory Board for three years, claims her number one priority as a School Committee member will be school's 2004 and 2005 budgets.
"Obviously, the budget coming up will be extremely difficult with the changes that have to be made and the shrinking funds," said Russo.
Remembering Anna Allison
By Patrick Blais
Two weeks ago, Blake Allison browsed the front page of the Sunday New York Times and faced a dreaded image: a recently discovered photograph of American Airlines Flight 11 slamming into the World Trade Center.
The image was but one of the thousands of nagging September 11 reminders that regularly bombard families still struggling with the loss of loved ones. For Allison, whose wife Anna Williams Allison perished aboard the ill-fated Flight 11, the photograph was too much to bear.
"As I picked up the Sunday Times, I just missed seeing a picture of my wife's plane hitting the towers which I haven't seen, and quite frankly don't want to see...I had to get my brother to cut it out," the Pond Street resident recalled.
While Allison understands the historical significance of 9/11, he reflected on the difficulty of coping with a personal tragedy constantly referred to in newspapers, magazines, politics and radio and television.
"One of the things people outside our situation don't understand is the extent to which we have to deal with this everyday. If you have, god forbid, someone die in a car crash or of a heart attack, it's terrible to deal with. But you don't have to see it every day. People tell time now by 9/11 and those of us on the receiving end of it are always going to remember those events and what we lost that day," explained Allison, who considers the terrorist attacks as historically important as the Civil War, Pearl Harbor, and the assassination of President Kennedy.
Selectmen vote to "highly recommend" Stoneham Youth Hockey as choice for arena management post
By Joe Haggerty
Despite an acknowledged need to get a management firm up and running at the Stoneham Arena "as soon as possible", Town Administrator Dave Berry has pulled off his initial choice of FMC (Facility Management Corporation) and decided to "think about it a little more."
Berry circulated a Town Hall memo on Friday, September 19, announcing that he had chosen FMC over the three other candidates (Stoneham Youth Hockey, Hockey Institute and Wright Hockey) because "FMC clearly excels in both categories that are of most importance to the Town: experience and financial soundness and capability."
Apparently, the board members of Stoneham Youth Hockey did not share Berry's enthusiasm for the FMC choice, and came out in force to Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting. Berry and the Selectmen listened to three of the Arena Management candidates present their cases, and then, in a motion sponsored by Selectman Bob Sweeney, "highly recommended that the town choose the Stoneham Youth Hockey proposal" over Berry's choice of FMC.
Berry was non-committal about the choice after the meeting, and "wanted a little time" to digest the information.
According to Stoneham Youth Hockey (SYH) spokesperson Charlie Houghton, the town should have given the local group the first shot.
"I remember 32 years ago, I was attending my first Stoneham Town Meeting when we approved the Stoneham Arena," said Houghton, his voice failing him and his eyes welling with tears during an emotional presentation. "I know three people who were involved with the group that designed and built the arena that aren't with us anymore, and they would be rolling over in their graves...if they even knew for a minute that the arena was being turned over to another group besides the people of Stoneham."
October:
Spot Pond Motel condo development
By Patrick Blais
The town's Finance and Advisory Board voted unanimously in support of a zoning article that would pave the way for an 11-unit condominium development at the site of the Spot Pond Motel.
Although the Finance Board traditionally refrains from voting on Planning Board articles, the committee based its decision on the potential $40,000-50,000 in annual tax revenue the town would receive if the project goes forward, says Finance and Advisory Board Chairman John Warren.
"The board was in favor of it unanimously...The feeling of the board is that this is an important project. It has a positive financial impact on the town and it takes us in a direction we want to go in. You would have an additional tax revenue of $40,000-50,000," said Warren, who claims the property currently pays around $11,000 in tax revenues.
The Monday night endorsement came three days after Stoneham resident Ben Caggiano (not to be confused with the Finance Board's Ben Caggiano) finalized a deal to purchase the 1.3-acre property, according to Stoneham attorney Steve Ciccatelli, who represents the new owner.
Ceremony opens new Robin Hood
By Nancy Donahue
The new Colonial Park School provided the setting for the last School Committee meeting. Committee members were treated to a tour of the building and an update from the Colonial Park PTO regarding events for the upcoming year.
The dedication ceremonies for the Colonial Park school is still on schedule for October 18, and the Robin Hood dedication went off without a hitch this past Saturday despite the wet conditions outside. The public is invited to the Colonial Park ceremony which is expected to begin at 10 a.m. and last approximately one hour, followed by tours of the new buildings.
Dr. Ellen Bueshel was invited as keynote speaker for the Robin Hood School opening, and former superintendent Bill Hoyt is scheduled to speak at Colonial Park. Stoneham School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly reported that former teachers and administrators as well as local officials have also been invited. The ceremony format is expected to be similar to earlier dedications at South and Central Schools.
"Both of those ceremonies were ideal," Connelly said.
Ethics Commission eyes Rotondi transfer
By Patrick Blais
The State's Ethics Commission launched a preliminary inquiry into Town Meeting Moderator Michael Rotondi's ill-fated $5 transfer at last May's Town Meeting, according to information provided by Town Administrator David Berry, several anonymous sources, and Rotondi himself.
On Friday October 10, Berry was summoned before the commission to detail his account of the events that transpired during the annual Town Meeting.
"The Friday before the long weekend, I had to go there to talk to them...I was called in just to verify what transpired. I was just verifying what I already told them several months before that [over the phone]," Berry commented, adding that he was first contacted by commission members shortly after the spring meeting.
While Rotondi did confirm that the commission has conducted "informal discussions" about the transfer, he maintained that he initiated several of those conversations.
"There's only informal discussions going on at this point...The end result of this could be that I handled this [transfer] correctly," said Rotondi.
November:
Boys do it again
By Steve Pacheco,
There hasn't been many obstacles that have slowed the Stoneham High School boys soccer team's progress this year, but poor field conditions almost became one last Tuesday.
With a second-round home game set against a talented Lynnfield team, the Stoneham Athletic Department needed to call a quick field-audible and elicit a little help from the Stoneham DPW in moving the game to the SHS football field or risk having to play on the road. The problem: The SHS soccer field was a quagmire of mud and water, and wasn't ready for MIAA tournament action.
Fortunately for the locals, the DPW came up big and helped the Spartans play in front of a large and shivering home crowd as the defending Division III state champs beat Lynnfield 2-0.
On Sunday, the Spartans beat Bedford in their opening game, 3-0, behind a pair of goals from Mark DeSantis.
"I just want to thank the DPW for the great job they did getting the field ready," said SHS Athletic Director Michael Lahiff. "They had to go down to Rec Park and get the goal posts and they put quick-dry on the field. We called them at 10 a.m. and they responded quickly. We would have had to play somewhere else. This wasn't easy."
Selectmen discuss financial future in goal-setting meeting
By Patrick Blais
Meeting Monday night at Stoneham's China Moon for their annual goals meeting, town officials flirted with a working budget model that would close a projected $4.5 million gap in FY05 by assuming 100 municipal layoffs.
With the Selectmen, Town Administrator David Berry, and Town Accountant Ron Florino all agreeing that 2005 would be the year that, "it's all going to catch up with us," the town officials agreed that some departments might have to be completely eliminated in the face of such dismal fiscal estimates.
"Every department head is going to be protective of their budget. So everybody will agree that yes we have to cut back, but they think it's the other guy [that's going to get cut]," said Selectmen Chairwoman Mary Pecoraro.
"Maybe we need to say there's a couple of departments that have to go away. Maybe there are other departments that need to take a larger cut than others. It may not look fair, but it's in the best interests of the town," Pecoraro added.
Identifying the police, fire, public works and school departments as the town's number one priorities, Town Planner Michael Gallerani, MIS/GIS Director Brian Clapp, Assistant Building Inspector Cheryl Noble, Tree Warden Jim Previdi, and the town's animal control officer were all mentioned as employees who might lose their jobs.
Janice Houghton named as 'Citizen of the Year'
By Patrick Blais
Stoneham resident Jan Houghton was named the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the year last week.
Floored by the news that she was chosen to receive the prestigious award, Houghton couldn't believe that she had been selected over a list of candidates including Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello, Tri-Community Bike Path advocate Cameron Bain, and Historical Society member Marcia Wengen, among others.
"I was actually overwhelmed, I just couldn't believe they selected me and it's quite an honor. I didn't think I had done quite enough for the community...I just didn't think I was in the same league as the other nominees," remarked Houghton.
Voted the Citizen of the Year by the town's citizens, Houghton will receive a plaque commemorating the honor on Saturday, Nov. 15 at this year's Crystal Ball ceremony. As the recipient of the award, Houghton will also reside over this year's holiday tree lighting ceremony at the Town Common.
President of Stoneham Bank, Houghton also serves as Chairwoman of the town's Retirement Board, as a member of the town's Fire Station Review Committee and as Chairwoman of the Stoneham Theatre's Board of Directors.
Boston Market, Baja Fresh cited for non hand-washing
By Patrick Blais
Disturbed by the findings of several spot inspections conducted in two of Stoneham's fast food establishments, the town's Board of Health reviewed hand washing procedures with the managers of the restaurants.
Meeting last Thursday night with managers of Stoneham's Boston Market and Baja Fresh, which have been fined three times for a combined $425 in recent months, the Board of Health was responding to a Hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania that has killed three people.
While the outbreak has since been attributed to contaminated green onions, board members warned that such illnesses could easily be spread through the improper handling of food.
"When we see stuff in the newspaper and we think it relates to Stoneham, we want to get our hands around it," explained Board of Health Chairman Mike Rolli.
"I'm seeing a trend with some of these restaurants in town to not follow proper hand washing procedures. Before it escalated anymore, we thought it was important to say, 'guys, enough is enough," said Bob Bracey, the board's health agent.
December:
SEC named as one of Dirty Dozen list
By Patrick Blais
Strolling unannounced into the Gutierrez Company's Burlington Headquarters with a mock environmental award in hand, four Stoneham Executive Center (SEC) protestors confronted a company representative before being briskly expelled from the property.
The four protestors were there on behalf of the Toxics Action Center (TAC), an environmental watchdog group there to "award" the Gutierrez Company with one of their Dirty Dozen Awards.
The plaque, one of 12 annual Dirty Dozen awards given by the Toxic Action Center to businesses deemed to pose the largest environmental threats to New England, was bestowed upon the developer for its plans to pave over 29,000 square feet of the Fellsway Reservation for the SEC, according to Jay Rasku, the Field Director for the non-profit advocacy group.
Meeting the four unexpected visitors in the company's lobby, David Potenza, the Gutierrez Company's Director of Property Management, angrily refused to accept the award on Vice-President Arthur Gutierrez, Jr.'s behalf.
"I'm not going to accept that. It denigrates us as a company, and there's no truth to that," stated Potenza, who wouldn't even touch the award. "We don't pollute anything. In fact, we do the opposite. So why would you hand out something like that to a company that cleans property up?" Potenza asked.
Water rates are hiked
By Patrick Blais
With Stoneham's water consumption down 13 percent from last year, town officials will raise municipal water rates this month to bridge a projected $350,000 deficit.
According to Town Administrator David Berry, because the previous year's water usage dictates the current rates, two factors contributed to the shortfall.
"There's two major reasons for the increase: 1) as we mentioned, we had a very wet summer season and so citizens didn't use as much water and 2) we were unaware that Kraft Foods installed a well and are using that as a major source of their water," Berry explained.
According to Department of Public Works Director Bob Grover, the rate hikes will raise the costs of 100 cubic feet of water (or 748 gallons) from $2.75 to $3.50 - resulting in a $60 increase this year for the average four-person household.
And while that increase might not seem like a dramatic jump in costs with the average citizen paying nearly $1100 a year for water, several residents are challenging the timing of the price boost given the town's decision to utilize $950,000 in water surpluses to balance the FY04 budget.
Selectmen approve local liquor sales on Sundays
By Joe Haggerty
The Stoneham Board of Selectmen -- in a move that snaps in step with the rest of the Commonwealth -- voted unanimously to approve permits for liquor sales on Sundays at four local package stores.
McDonough's Liquors, Rapid Liquors, Redstone Liquors and Savas Brothers Liquors were all in attendance during the meeting, and affirmed their support for the measure.
"I believe in providing a fair shake for everybody," said Selectman Charlie Smith. "These guys were losing their shirts to the liquor stores on North Reading, and I really think this was something we needed to do."
Town Counsel William Solomon was unsure of the year-in, year-out procedure of the permit, and whether or not the Sunday sales should be lumped in with the rest of the permit. Solomon also recommended a permit fee that would "simply cover the administrative costs."
He did indicate that it may transfer over to one simple annual permit for seven-day liquor sales for local package stores.
The Selectmen were quick to note that this statute didn't force each business to open on Sundays, but that the nature of competition would probably force them to open their shutters.
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