By DAN TOMASELLO
This is the first of a two part series.
LYNNFIELD — The past year proved to be an exciting one in Lynnfield.
Over the course of 2014, Lynnfieldians have witnessed the opening of Lynnfield High School’s new athletic fields complex, held a Tricentennial celebration and welcomed new local officials to town.
The Villager takes a look back at the events that occurred in 2014 that made a profound impact on the town and the residents who call Lynnfield home.
January
High School Principal Bob Cleary proposed hiring a full-time athletic director for Lynnfield High School as part of the school department’s fiscal year 2015 budget. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Jefferson floated an idea of hiring someone who would have AD responsibilities as well as work for Lynnfield Recreation. The School Committee was receptive to Cleary and Jefferson’s proposals.
Lynnfield High School Class of 1981 graduate Richard Tisei announced his candidacy for the Sixth Congressional District seat held by Rep. John Tierney. Tisei, who lost to Tierney in 2012, promised the crowd that packed the Heritage Room at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield two things.
“I will work hard for the people in this district,” Tisei vowed, “and I won’t disappoint you.”
Dr. Vicki Kvedar and her daughter, Julie, returned home after spending Jan. 11-18 on a medical mission in Haiti. The Kvedars went to Haiti to support the organization Be Like Brit.
February
The School Committee ratified a three-year contract with incoming Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay. The current Summer Street School principal will take over Lynnfield Public Schools on July 1 and the contract will expire on June 30, 2017. Tremblay will be paid $176,000 for the first year of the contract.
In a surprising turn of events, two-term School Committee member Jim Fagan announced he is not running for re-election in the April 14 town election. In the wake of Fagan’s decision, Village Row resident Jamie Hayman decided to run for Fagan’s seat.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously appointed Trudy Reid as the new Town Clerk. Reid previously worked in Wenham for 18 years, including the past four years as town clerk. She succeeds former Town Clerk Amy Summers.
March
In what officials are calling one of the worst hoarding cases in years, 199 dogs, cats, birds, hedgehogs and reptiles were removed from a home located at 898 Salem St. According to the MSPCA-Angell, the animals were transported to adoption centers in Boston and Methuen.
The Board of Selectmen decided not to ask voters at Town Meeting to make zoning changes to accommodate plans to site two 150-foot monopoles, with arrays for up to four carriers each, on municipal land behind Town Hall and the South Fire Station. A dozen residents who live in surrounding neighborhoods opposed the proposed changes.
Public Works Director Dennis Roy announced he will be retiring at the end of June from the department he has led for the past 15 years.
April
Special education teacher Jen DiBiase has been named the next principal of Summer Street School. DiBiase was one of 30 candidates who applied for the job. She will succeed Summer Street School Principal Jane Tremblay, who will become Superintendent of Schools July 1.
A whopping 93 percent of Town Meeting voters approved the $7.8 million fields construction project that entails building state-of-the-art facilities at LHS. A total of 551 residents voted in favor of the project, while 40 were opposed.
Voters rejected a proposal submitted by National Development to designate a portion of MarketStreet Lynnfield’s driveway entrance as a public way in order for MassDOT to erect signage on I-95 directing motorists to the outdoor mall.
Chris Barrett was unanimously elected School Committee chairman. Barrett succeeds former chairwoman Dorothy Presser, who served as the school board’s chairwoman for 12 years.
May
With graduation a month away and prom season just around the corner, Lynnfield High School conducted a mock car crash staged in the LHS parking lot in order to teach juniors and seniors about the dangers of drinking and driving.
The Fields Committee, Selectman Phil Crawford and Gustus officially broke ground on the LHS fields project.
By a 2-1 margin, the Board of Selectmen voted to name a 4,400 square foot section of the public way adjacent to Walnut Street as “Market Street” over the vocal opposition of about 20 residents. The action taken by Selectmen Chairman Dave Nelson and Selectman Phil Crawford will enable MassDOT to erect four directional signs prior to Walnut Street at Exit 43 on I-95/128. Selectman Tom Terranova voted against the proposal.
June
Girls’ tennis head coach Craig Stone made history on June 2, when he earned his 1,000th career victory after the Pioneers defeated archrival Manchester-Essex in the Division 3 North semifinals. The 1,000 career victories were split between the girls’ tennis and wrestling teams.
The girls’ tennis team capped off a memorable season on June 11, when the Pioneers won their first Division 3 state championship in 15 years and fifth overall. The Pioneers defeated Notre Dame Academy of Worcester 4-1 at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury.
Lynnfield celebrated the first day of summer in historic fashion on June 21, as hundreds of townspeople came out for the Tricentennial Parade and Town Day celebration.
By an overwhelming majority, 534 to 27, voters approved the Board of Selectmen’s proposal to purchase the seven-acre Centre Farm for $1.55 million at a Special Town Meeting June 30.
