Published in the February 1, 2018 edition
FEBRUARY 6, 1958
Bargain price: North Reading schools are among the lowest in cost per pupil in the state. The Dept. of Education released the figures on the cost of operating the public schools for the school year 1956–57. These schools reported the amount expended from all sources per pupil in net average for the support of all public day schools.
North Reading expended $195.45 per pupil, and there were only four towns of all the cities and towns which expended less, namely: Avon, $166.50; Granby, $170.89; Holbrook, $171.31; and Millville, $181.36.
Walkability: The Sidewalk Committee made its final recommendation for 8,600 feet of sidewalk at a cost of $20,000. At a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Board of Public Works (BPW) it was agreed the BPW would let their article for the town warrant requesting sidewalks for Park St. – from Oakdale Road to Haverhill Street – stand. The Planning Board would submit the second article, as a result of the Sidewalk Committee survey, for sidewalks on the westerly side of Haverhill St. – from Park St. to Hill St. – and on one side of Washington St., from Park St. to Elm St.
Wild chase: At 1 a.m. on Wednesday, the North Reading patrol car, operated by Officer Hibbard Henderson, spotted an auto answering the description of a stolen car from Lynn near the High School. When the local cruiser drove up to the vehicle, operated by two teen-age boys, aged 13 and 14, they took off toward Middleton. The cruiser took off after the boys, who were racing at speeds of 70-85 mph down Route 62. The Lynnfield police were contacted to set up a road block on the line, however, the teenagers found enough room to get around it.
The Lynnfield police joined the North Reading police in the chase. On Lake St., the stolen car hit an icy patch on the road and went into a skid, crashing into two trees. One of the boys, the operator of the car, was pinned in the totally wrecked car and apprehended. The other teenager, although uninjured, took off into the woods, but was found hiding behind a bush and apprehended. The operator of the stolen car received 14 stitches in his head. Both boys were turned over the Lynn authorities.
Foreshadowing: Sen. John F. Kennedy will be the principal speaker at the dinner to be tendered in the honor of 8th District Congressman Torbert H. Macdonald at the Malden Armory on Feb. 8. Kennedy is nationally recognized as the leading candidate in the forthcoming 1960 national elections.
FEBRUARY 1, 1968
In Memoriam: Planning Board Chairman Edward Sweeney, on behalf of the VFW, presented the Selectmen with a warrant article to change the name of Central Square (in front of Flint Hall) to the Sgt. Eugene R. Moreau Memorial Circle. The measure passed unanimously.
When fatally wounded Sgt. Moreau was assigned to the Special Forces, Green Berets, 101st Airborne Unit and had been in Viet Nam for six months. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with V device, Purple Heart, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal. Sgt. Moreau was graduated from North Reading High School in 1960. He was the husband of the former Bettie Barry and is also survived by their two young sons, Troy and Keith.
Best of Show: John Eramo, well-known local photographer, earned another award when a Transcript photo taken by John was awarded first place in both the Sports Category and Best of Show in all classes at the New England Press Association (NEPA) conference. NEPA is comprised of weekly and small daily newspapers throughout New England. Over 200 newspapers hold membership with a combined circulation of over 2 million. The photo awards were the fifth and sixth won by the Transcript since it began entering the competition four years ago.
Boys abroad: Robert Laubinger, RD3rd Class, son of Mrs. Barbara Laubinger, 113 Main St., is home on a 30-day leave after completing his second tour of duty in Viet Nam. He is attached to the Destroyer U.S.S. Hopewell DD881, home port San Diego.
Airman 1st Class Warren J. Foote Jr., who is stationed in Thailand, has been selected as “Airman of the Month” of the 435th T.F.S. for the month of January. This enables him to compete in the selection of “Wing Airman.”
So close: North Reading’s indoor track team missed being named Class D Champions by one-half point in the 51st State Indoor Schoolboy Track Championships which preceded the BAA track meet. Malden Catholic took the laurels by virtue of its own win in the concluding relay event. Leading the Hornets to within a whisker were Tom Weir and Bill Swadel who captured first place in the 45-yard hurdles (6.1) and 50-yard dash (5.7), respectively.
FEBRUARY 1, 1978
Gift of life: Ed Coleman, 17 Shady Hill Dr., was one of 30 productive donors visiting the Bloodmobile at St. Theresa’s Church in a photo published 40 years ago this week. The blood drive was a community project by Eagle Scout candidate Russell Bowers of Pomeroy Road.
Pond grocery: The zoning bylaw change adopted at the October Town Meeting creating a small local business district on Pinecrest Road was approved Friday by the Attorney General’s office. The change from Residence B to local business was sought by Daniel Morrow to establish a small neighborhood grocery store at the site of the former Pond Grocery. The change was approved by Town Meeting 247-38.
Hornet Buzzin’s: After leading his tennis teams to two CAL Championships and State Tournament berths in six of his seven years as coach, Russ Dever has decided to call it quits. He cites new responsibilities as English Department head as the main reason. Dever’s coaching record over seven years is an impressive 64-21.
The hockey team’s 2-1 victory over Triton was a very nice 45th birthday present for coach Ben Sands. The Hornets lead the 10 CAL teams with a record of 11-0-1.
The leading seniors of the indoor track team are Fred Dobson, Scott Mann, Joe Davis, Joe Beaumont and Bob Sullivan. – Hornet Buzzin’s compiled by Transcript correspondent Jeff Strong
FEBRUARY 4, 1988
Life saver: Classroom curriculum became frighteningly real two weeks ago for Lisa Brown, a sophomore at NRHS, when she used the technique taught in Roy Condon’s health class to save a man’s life. Lisa, of Emerson Road, was having dinner with her grandfather and a friend of his in Peabody on Jan. 23 when a piece of meat became lodged in the throat of her grandfather’s friend, named Bobby.
Bobby started to choke and probably would have choked to death, if it hadn’t been for Lisa who had recently learned the Heimlich maneuver in her health class. “I just put the Heimlich on him,” recalls Lisa. “I had to do it four or five times, and the meat came popping out across the room.”
Aca-Deca debut: The Hornets hosted the first Academic Decathlon for small schools organized between Georgetown, Millis and North Reading High Schools last Saturday morning. Organized by advisor Ray Landry, it was completed without a hitch. Cindy Brown, a junior, finished with the second highest score (1,770) in a field of 20 competitors. She earned a first place medal in both math and social science, second in the history of flight super quiz and tied for fourth in language and literature. Tamiko Kido and Susan Mundy earned second and third place, respectively, on the social science test.
Landry was pleased with the results of his students, who are novices in the world of Academic Decathlon. “We did well in areas we spent a lot of time on; that was encouraging. It was our first year. Our goal in the beginning was just to field a team and we turned out to be fairly competitive,” he said. Other team members are Laura Bowers, Kathleen Sullivan, Ann Schumaker and Suzanne Brown. ~ Compiled by Maureen Doherty, Editor.
