This is the first of a two part look back on the year that ends tomorrow night.
Published in the December 30, 2015 edition.
By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — No sooner did Father Time strike the gong announcing the arrival of 2015 than the air turned cold and the skies gray and cloudy. It was a stark warning to Wakefield and all of New England of what was to come.
Sure enough, January turned out to be not only gloomy but frigid, too.
On Tuesday, Jan. 6 the temperature on the outdoor thermometer at the Hartshorne & Sons Insurance Agency on Chestnut Street read only 11 degrees.
From that point on, the weather only worsened. On some days, temperatures went below zero, forcing people into hibernation. No one wanted to go outside.
But even as Wakefieldians cranked up the heat and bundled up in layers, they had no choice but to go out. There was work to be done and children to ferry to school. By the end of the month and into February, the area was covered in snow so deep that roofs collapsed, drivers spun out of control and school was called off so many times that the last day of the school year had to be pushed ahead to Thursday, June 25.
Last winter’s weather terror is one residents won’t soon forget, including the giant blizzard that left 29 inches of snow across Wakefield, but the bad weather wasn’t the only topic of people’s minds. Life continued on, regardless.
Early in January, for instance, the Wakefield Police Department continued their push to eradicate drug abuse from the town but it proved to be a daunting effort as drug overdoses continued to be reported, some resulting in deaths.
On the night of Monday, Jan. 6, police got a call from a woman who said her son was not breathing. When police arrived at the woman’s West Side home, an officer determined that the young man was conscious but had probably overdosed on heroin.
“Heroin is so commonly used today, no one should be surprised to find that even the people next door are using it,” said Police Lt. Scott Reboulet.
Nevertheless, Police Chief Rick Smith said that the battle against drug abuse would continue throughout the year, and he hoped that his work with the town’s Board of Health and the Wakefield Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition headed by Catherine Dhingra would produce results.
The news around town wasn’t all bad. Boasting rights went to the Wakefield Arts and Crafts Society as members celebrated the group’s centennial year and plans got underway for a luncheon to mark the occasion. At their January meeting, quilters showed off their handwork by displaying what they had made.
The Brightview assisted living project also made headlines in early January as the historical value of homes on Crescent Street ready for tear-down became an issue. A hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 21 was held to make sure the town’s historical integrity would not be negatively impacted by demolishing to make way for the new assisted living facility.
In mid-January, a controversy swirling around former Town Clerk Mary K. Galvin got underway when Finance Committee member Daniel Sherman urged her to retire. Galvin had collapsed on the job on April 8, 2014, and doctors initially thought she had suffered a heart attack or stroke, but both were ruled out. She was later diagnosed with emotional stress brought on by certain pressures she felt on the job. A memo she referred to as “nasty” from Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio given to her shortly before her collapse did not help matters.
The controversy continued throughout January and all of February with letters to the editor from Galvin herself, and others showing their support, until she finally announced that she would retire on June 30.
The Independence Day Parade Committee headed by Patrick Sullivan announced there would be a parade on the Fourth of July that would rival parades of the past. There were no parades in 2013 or 2014 due to the previous committee disbanding after the 2012 parade and serving the community for many years.
Sullivan stepped in to form the Independence Day Parade Committee and championed the cause by going before the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Jan. 11. He received members’ collective nod to hold the parade on Saturday, July 4.
This year’s parade did not stray from tradition. It began at 4 p.m. at the Clarion Inn and continued to the front of the Galvin Middle School, much to the delight of residents and visitors from other towns.
Also in the news during the first quarter of 2015 — budgets for Fiscal Year 2016. The School Department, overseen by Superintendent Dr. Stephen K. Zrike, requested more than $34 million, largely due to the inclusion of free all-day kindergarten and right-size funding of Special Education.
Dr. Zrike, in his comments to school board members, said that Special Education had been underfunded for several years, and in FY’16 he wanted to right-size the program.
Parent University, another initiative Dr. Zrike brought to Wakefield, kicked off on Saturday, March 21.
Other school news included the retirement of Health, Wellness and Athletics Director Michael Boyages and the appointment of Brendan Kent. Also appointed was Jeri Hammond, new principal at the Walton School.
At the end of April, newcomer Robert Tiro topped the school board ticket, ousting former member Janine Cook. Another surprise awaited the school community when Dr. Zrike announced that he had been offered the “receiver” job in Holyoke. The announcement opened the door for Dr. Kim Smith to move into the top spot.
Members of the Event Planning Committee had a busy start just after the first year when they began meeting to discuss plans for the annual Shamrock Festival to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This year saw another element added: A jazz fest featuring jazz singer Judith Murray. The event was held on Sunday, March 22 at the West Side Social Club and proved a success.
No sooner was this event over, than EPC members began meeting to talk about plans for the annual Festival Italia, traditionally held the third Saturday in August.
Over the last weekend in May, the Linden Tree Coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Church celebrated its 30th anniversary. Liz Freeman, who handles most of the bookings, was presented a photo collage of musicians who have performed over the years. A mini festival was held Saturday night, May 30, to commemorate the event.
