This is the second of two parts.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The second half of 2017 got underway as the Wakefield Independence Day Committee and the West Side Social Club teamed up once again to present the town’s traditional Fourth of July celebration. The day kicked off with morning children’s events on the Common followed in the afternoon by the biggest and best Independence Day parade in the state with World War II veteran Sal Orifice serving as Grand Marshall. Nighttime fireworks capped off another spectacular Fourth.
On July 16 the town was stunned by the news that the body of a young man had been found in Lake Quannapowitt. Police investigators determined that the death was not suspicious and foul play was not suspected.
In late July, the Event Planning Committee announced that it would be folding its functions in with the mission of the Main Streets Program. The EPC’s signature annual events, Festival Italia and the Holiday Stroll, will continue.
In early August, the School Department announced that the new principal of the Walton School would be Elaina Byrne. Former Wakefield Memorial High School assistant principal TJ Liberti was named interim principal of the Dolbeare School.
On Aug. 10, a delegation from Hawaii led by state Rep. Justin Woodson arrived in Wakefield to tour the Wakefield Public Schools and learn how the Massachusetts system of public education works.
In mid-August, decorative wrought iron benches began appearing on sidewalks in the downtown, thanks to the efforts of the Wakefield Main Streets program, which raised the funds for the benches.
On Aug. 16, A fire in an electrical panel forced a total blackout and evacuation of the high-rise Colonial Point Apartments on Audubon Road.
About Aug. 17, the town announced that the idea of bidding in the auction of the federally-owned 3.74-acre Tarrant Lane property was a dead end for the town. Formerly used as military housing, the 12 single-family homes have long been vacant. The town determined that the price would just be too high.
In mid-August, the selectmen approved a pilot program whereby 50 A-frame signs would be distributed to businesses for use on Saturdays only from September through November to promote shopping locally.
Festival Italia drew thousands to the downtown on Saturday, Aug. 19 to enjoy food and entertainment at the annual day-long event.
On Sept. 4, the town was saddened by the death of a 71-year-old woman in a fire in her apartment at 4 Columbia Rd.
After summer vacation, local students returned to school on Sept. 6.
On Sept. 11, a majority of the Board of Selectmen voted to send to the November Town Meeting a proposal to change the name of their board to the gender-neutral “Town Council.”
Saturday, Sept. 23 saw the grand re-opening the Wakefield Dog Park in the Junction. The Dog Park had been closed temporarily over the summer for resurfacing.
In late September, the newly released 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey caused concern when it showed significant increases in vaping, marijuana use and driving under the influence of marijuana by local high school students.
On Sept. 25, the Board of Selectmen voted to send to the November Town Meeting a revised ban on single-use, thin-film plastic bags.
The town woke up on Tuesday, Oct. 10 to a major water main break on Green Street. The break closed Main Street for several hours and Green Street for several days while repairs were made. The break occurred almost exactly two years after a similar water main break on Green Street on Columbus Day weekend in 2015.
On Oct. 16, local taxpayers learned that they would be paying 5 percent more in property taxes this year.
Taxpayers got more bad news in mid-October when it was revealed that fixing the deficiencies on the police side of the 15-year-old Public Safety Building will cost $7.7 million.
On October 19, the Conservation Commission held a public hearing on National Grid’s proposed underground transmission line that would run through 3.5 miles of the town.
On Oct. 19, the traditional Halloween “Fright Night” drew many to the downtown to view the array of carved pumpkins by WMHS art students as well as other activities. On Sunday, Oct. 29 families were invited to the “Haunted Happenings” event sponsored by local merchants.
A wind and rain storm tore through town overnight on Oct. 29-30, felling trees, which in turn took down wires and crushed parked cars. Sections of town were without power for hours.
Voters at the Nov. 6 Regular Town Meeting voted to ban single-use plastic bags and change the name of the Board of Selectmen to the gender-neutral Town Council. The latter must also be approved by voters in the April 2018 Town Election.
Hundreds turned out on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the Galvin Middle School. Vietnam Veteran Bill Chetwynd was the keynote speaker.
Sparks flew at a Nov. 13 public hearing on National Grid’s proposal to run 3.5 miles of underground electrical transmission line through Wakefield. Dozens of residents expressed concern over the health effects of electromagnetic field radiation (EMF), while others claimed that they were not given advance notice of the project.
In mid-November, Hallmark Health celebrated the opening of its new medical building in Greenwood with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Town was saddened on Friday, Nov. 17 to learn of the passing of legendary WMHS Cross Country Coach John “Deke” DiComandrea at age 89. Coach Deke’s teams amassed over 400 wins and were perennial League Champions during his 47-years of coaching both boys’ and girls’ teams.
The WMHS Football Warriors fell to heavily favored Melrose 35-12 in the annual Thanksgiving Day game.
On Nov. 27, the town mourned the passing of another prominent local figure, Roger Maloney. The 1956 graduate was a star athlete at Wakefield high School, was a dedicated youth sports coach and Director of the Recreation Department. He also served his town as a selectman, a member of the School Committee and the Board of Public Works.
In late November, construction and office trailers were delivered to the Walton School, as work got underway on a major renovation.
In late November, National Grid agreed to pay up to $20,000 to fund a consultant of the town’s choosing to analyze the potential risks of the proposed 3.5-mile underground transmission line.
In early December, the School Department announced a plan for a safe post-Senior Prom party at Dave and Busters in Woburn.
In early December, the town learned that the “Sleigh Pull” a longtime Christmas tradition that delivered gifts to local children, would continue. When founders John and Sandra Shelton announced that they were retiring from the effort, a group headed by Ngan Wedemeier were determined to continue it. The Wakefield Co-operative Bank purchased the sleigh and reindeer costumes and donated them to the Boys & Girls Club. Toys and gifts were donated and then delivered to children by Santa in the sleigh pulled by human reindeer.
On December 11, the Board of Selectmen extended the contract of Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio for another five years, until June 30, 2022.
On Tuesday, December 12, Dr. Kim Smith announced that she will retire as Superintendent of Schools on June 30, 2018 after 32 years as an educator, all but three of which were spent in Wakefield.
Also on December 12, many gathered on the Common to attend the Menorah lighting to mark the first day of Jewish Hanukkah holiday.
The town also learned in mid-December that its Statement of Interest to address deficiencies at Wakefield Memorial High School had not been selected for funding by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
On Dec. 14, a subcommittee of the Board of Selectmen hired Dr. Robert Kavet to evaluate any health and safety issues related to National grid’s proposed underground transmission line.
Also on Dec. 14, national Grid held a public open house at the High School to explain and discuss the project.
On Dec. 18, the town learned that the High School had been targeted in two separate instances of threats of violence. Both were determined to be unsubstantiated.
Parents and residents gathered for a meeting with school officials on Dec. 19 after three instances of swastikas being drawn in boy’s restrooms at the Galvin Middle School.
On Christmas morning, residents awoke to a winter storm of unexpected intensity that dumped several inches of snow and caused hazardous whiteout conditions for a time.
