The Year in Review: Part II
Published on January 2nd, 2008
May
Death threat scrawled on desk at SHS
By Patrick Blais
Published on May 9th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham High School officials implemented heightened security controls at the facility this Wednesday after several pupils discovered a threat scrawled on a classroom desk.
A press release submitted to The Stoneham Independent earlier this week explains that the scribbled message, spotted by various high schoolers the Tuesday after April vacation, read, "People will die on 5/9".
Several teachers, who were approached by concerned students who noticed the threat, immediately informed school administrators of the message, which was apparently no bigger than a business card.
According to SHS Principal Tom Ryan, students were prohibited from carrying backpacks, gym bags, and similar items into the building this Wednesday as part of the added security measures.
In addition, entrance into the high school was limited to the front door, and two Stoneham Police officers were patrolling the building throughout the day.
High school officials conducted a thorough sweep of the high school late Tuesday afternoon, checking lockers and similar areas in preparation for the stepped-up security.
"If somebody forgets and brings a backpack, we'll have to check it in and they can get it at the end of the day," explained Ryan, who added that parents were appraised of the situation in a Connect-Ed phone message.
"It's going to be a normal school day. We'll have increased security presence, but it shouldn't effect the students," the Principal added. "Hopefully, we'll have a regular school day with some heightened security, and people will go about their business in normal fashion."
Rocher, Fillback honored with track
By Randy Perillo
Published on May 16th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - In 2001 Stoneham High School bid adieu to two legendary track coaches. Wayne Fillback and Alain Rocher led generations of Stoneham athletes through those difficult, yet formative teenage years. On Tuesday morning the sun rose over the Stoneham High School running track. With dozens of those former Stoneham athletes, representing over three decades of the men and women who once called Wayne Fillback and Alain Rocher "coach", the sun set on the newly dedicated "Wayne Fillback-Alain Rocher Track & Field Facility."
Alain Rocher spoke of his feelings on this special occasion: "I feel sort of embarrassed by the whole situation, but at the same time it's quite an honor. I would like to thank my wife for putting up with 37 years of commitment to sports... late dinners and missed weekends. Most importantly I want to thank the thousands of athletes I've had the pleasure to coach in different sports here in Stoneham, not just the superstars, but so many others who really touched me. Thank you for that honor."
Wayne Fillback had his turn at the microphone: "I'm truly humbled by this. It was totally unexpected. This was a great experience for me."
The coach continued, "I do want to say how much I appreciate the opportunity to work with so many young men and women who were so terrific and also their parents who guided them and provided us with high quality people."
Stoneham High School Principal Dr. Thomas Ryan welcomed the crowd of admiring alumni, family and friends. Stoneham Athletic Director Michael Lahiff, acting as Master of Ceremonies, said of Fillback and Rocher: "These men were great coaches. They were also great teachers, but most importantly they were great men."
Local empty storefronts are growing
By Patrick Blais
Published on May 16th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - As town officials push to encourage growth in Stoneham Square, at least seven storefronts in the vicinity of the downtown area stand unoccupied, some for months on end.
In recent weeks, at least four central business district properties, including Salads Etc. across from the Town Common, the old Shoe Hospital, and the popular My Brother's Place and Ronnie's Place subshops, have closed the doors to their operations.
Those newest vacancies now accompany two other prominent storefronts shuttered long ago, the old Blue Parrot eatery on Main Street and Franklin Street's former D'Agostino's restaurant.
Highland Printing, located on Main Street, has also posted lease signs on its edifice in recent months, although the business has relocated. The old D'Agostino's and Highland Printing spaces both received approvals from the Selectmen to be redeveloped into new restaurants, but both those proposals have reportedly been abandoned.
According to Sharon Iovanni, the Executive Director for Stoneham's Chamber of Commerce, she believes the sprinkling of vacancies across the downtown area can be attributed to a larger economic cycle, rather than to anything directly related to the way the town operates. However, the Girard Road resident also believes that the town's officials and business community could do a much better job in promoting Stoneham, especially its attractive geographic location near both I-93 and Route 128.
"The small business owner, I think, is really beginning to struggle under mandates they can't meet," said Iovanni, listing the state's new mandated health insurance program as an example. "But we have lots of small businesses here that are making it everyday."
"Stoneham sits at the elbow of I-93 and Route 128. You could not frankly find a better place to do business. We should, as a community, have great appeal, and we need to do a better job marketing ourselves," the Chamber of Commerce representative added.
An SHS institution
By Stoneham Independent Staff
Published on May 23rd, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Not the only school official to decide to leave in recent weeks, SHS Principal Dr. Thomas Ryan has also decided to step-down from his post after serving 23 years in that role.
The high school leader's retirement will officially start on July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.
The veteran educator, who failed in a bid to become the town's newest superintendent of schools this spring, joins at least five other seasoned school administrators who have either retired or left Stoneham for greener pastures since last summer.
In addition to Asst. Superintendent Joseph Casey, School Business Manager Greg Zammuto, and Middle School Principal Christine McMenimen - all of whom accepted jobs in other school system's - Ryan will depart the town along with the man he unsuccessfully sought to replace, Supt. Dr. Joseph Connelly.
"I've had a good career in Stoneham and it's time to move on to something else," Ryan explained in a very brief interview this week.
According to Connelly, the SHS principal's retirement will leave a significant void to be filled within the district.
"I guess the word would be more disappointed, because I know how much Tom is needed," said Connelly, when asked for his reaction to Ryan's announcement. "Luckily, he has very capable assistant principals, so I trust the transition will be smooth."
"I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I think he was interested in the superintendency because it was new and interesting challenge," School Committee Chairwoman Maureen Soley said of Ryan's retirement. "I feel very, very badly. He has done a superb job of running the high school."
According to Soley, veteran member Cheryl Walsh, and the superintendent, the turnover of grizzled educators and administrators is a pause for concern amongst school officials.
Soley, the only School Committee member to vote in favor of naming Ryan the next leader of Stoneham's schools, contended that the town's dire financial state, especially the manner in which it has decimated the district in recent years, has played a significant role in the turnover rates.
Lahiff resigns from Athletic Director's job
By Joe Haggerty
Published on May 30th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - It wasn't a decision reached lightly or easily, but after a 13-year run as Athletic Director at Stoneham High School, Mike Lahiff announced last week that he was resigning from his position at SHS and would join up with Middlesex League rival Watertown High as their Athletic Director - effectively replacing the retiring Elaine Paradis.
"This was something I thought a lot about and to be honest things got a little emotional the other day when I looked out at the fields and thought of all the work that I'd done to improve the fields and keep them up," said Lahiff. "I look all around me here at Stoneham High and think of the work that I've done here and the great people I've interacted with, and I thought to myself 'do I really want to leave this?'
"But the last couple of years of worrying about whether the funding was going to be there for the athletic department really took a toll on me," added Lahiff. "There's a group of people out there that seem to want to defeat the override on June 9 and then make sure that trash fee gets voted down as well, and if both those things happen then there's no athletics office, no athletic director and no secretary...so I had to do what was best for my family."
The worry about the athletic department's continued existence, SHS's status as the highest user fee system within the Middlesex League and the reliance on student-athletes to raise money for the programs were a few of several reasons listed by Lahiff in deciding to depart, as was the departure of Dr. Tom Ryan as high school principal.
"We were definitely on the same page as far as what we had in mind for the high school principal and that was definitely a factor," said Lahiff. "People have said that they wanted a change...well I guess there's going to be some changes.
June
People say NO to override
By Patrick Blais
Published on June 20th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Far from echoing the voter mandate of three years ago, a $3 million override question fell just 237 ballots short of passing during Tuesday's special election on the tax increase.
In an election that drew just over 39 percent of Stoneham's voting population, 5,635 residents cast their ballots on the proposed $3 million proposition 2 and 1/2 override, with 2,699 voters in favor of the tax increase and 2,936 against. Town Clerk John Hanright, recalling Stoneham's approximate 53 percent voting turnout during the special override election in 2004, expressed his disappointment after yesterday's results were tallied. Hanright would later partially attribute the low numbers to a quiet lull that descended upon the town in the weeks before yesterday's election.
Compared to 2004, when over 1,600 more residents traveled to the polls, the town's streets were noticeably void of the political "Vote Yes" and "Vote No" signs that were plugged into front lawns across Stoneham three years ago.
"It's been very quiet. There have been no signs. Both campaigns have really stayed in the fog," Hanright commented on Tuesday evening, an hour before the polls closed.
"You kept everybody in the fog and that's a good thing [for you], because nobody knew what was going on," the Town Clerk would later say to the overwhelmingly pro-override audience gathered in the Town Hall hearing room Tuesday night. "Today, we had 5,635 votes. That's a little disappointing, but that's life in the real world."
Stunned, but not regretful
In an interview shortly after Hanright announced Tuesday's election results to the dismayed gathering of hopeful override proponents, Selectman Paul Rotondi, who spearheaded the effort for the $3 million tax increase, held his head high.
Rotondi, who authored the five year financial blueprint that became popularly known as the "Rotondi Plan", had insisted that the budget plan was the sign of new and responsible leadership in Stoneham.
The town's Finance Board and School Committee, as well as a majority of the Selectmen, signed an agreement earlier this spring that called upon town officials to adhere to tight spending restrictions over the next five years.
The pact also included a clause that neither of the three boards would advocate for another override or trash fee during that ensuing five year period
"I'm very disappointed in the outcome. It puts Stoneham in a very precarious situation," said Rotondi Tuesday night. "We'll obviously do what we can to preserve services, but there will be cuts."
"I was cautiously optimistic with the turnout, but I expected it to be close. I don't regret it at all. It was 237 votes short, and we did a lot of hard work," added the Selectman.
July
Russo named acting principal
By Patrick Blais
Published on July 18th, 2007
School officials selected Asst. Principal Edward Russo to head-up Stoneham High School next year in the wake of veteran Principal Dr. Thomas Ryan's late retirement from the post late last spring.
Russo, a 35 year teaching and administration veteran, looked forward to the change, and hoped that he can make the transition as smooth as possible.
"I'm very excited about it. I've been a vice principal for 20 years and I've worked under two principals, Tom Ryan and Bill Hoyt. Hopefully, I can take what I've learned under those two men and make this a smooth transition for the students, teachers, and parents this year."
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