First storm blankets town

Dec 5, 2019 by

Published December 5, 2019 By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING —This too shall pass. Even though we had been warned late last week to expect a long duration storm starting on Sunday and extending into Tuesday, how often are such long range forecasts on the money? (Cue sound of crickets here) Plus, it’s not even winter yet. Wasn’t it just Halloween?  Remnants of the Thanksgiving turkey are still hogging space in the refrigerator. It’s barely December. So we went about our merry way not too concerned about how many flashlight batteries, gallons of milk and loaves of bread we had at home. Hundreds of us spent Sunday afternoon at the Holiday Light Festival, sponsored by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce on the Sunday after Thanksgiving for the past 14 years. The town common and all the...

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Town seeking members for various committees (again)...

Dec 5, 2019 by

Published December 5, 2019 By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — Volunteers are the lifeblood of a vibrant community and their expertise is vital to the functioning of countless worthwhile endeavors in this town. Recognizing that time is a finite resource and attrition of volunteers is inevitable, a few times each year the Town Administrator’s office publishes a listing of vacancies or anticipated turnover on town boards and committees to which either the Select Board or the Town Administrator appoint the members. Appointments are generally made prior to the end of the calendar year. Sometimes, appointments are made during the year to fill the unexpired portion of a term. Anyone interested in serving on any of the following 16 boards and committees listed below in the coming year is asked to complete the Citizens Activity...

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Average tax bill up about $200

Dec 4, 2019 by

Published December 4, 2019 By DAN TOMASELLO LYNNFIELD — The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a shift in the town’s tax classification on Monday. The shift approved by the selectmen means the tax rate will be $13.92 per $1,000 of valuation for residential property for fiscal year 2020, representing a one cent increase from FY19’s tax rate of $13.91 per $1,000 of valuation. The commercial, industrial and personal property (CIP) tax rate will be $18.86 per $1,000, which is higher than FY19’s rate of $17.95. “It’s about $200 and change (more) on the average house in town,” said Interim Assessing Manager Dick Simmons. The Department of Revenue is required to approve the tax rates. Simmons noted the Board of Assessors recommended using a 1.29 shift for the residential and commercial tax rate. “Shifting the tax rate moves...

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Town to ring in the holidays this weekend...

Dec 4, 2019 by

Published December 4, 2019 By DAN TOMASELLO LYNNFIELD — It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The town will usher in the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, when four incredibly popular events will be held over the course of two days. The Historical Society will be hosting its 57th annual Country Store in the Meeting House on Saturday, Dec. 7. Country Store Co-Chairman Steven Richard noted he has been attending the event since he was an infant. “One of my favorite childhood photos is of me sitting on Santa’s lap at the Country Store,” said Richard. “Now, every year, I’m the one taking pictures of the kids with Santa. It’s been so much fun seeing the same children come year after year for their photo, making it a...

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Lynnfield responds to the Pearl Harbor attack, Dec. 7, 1941...

Dec 4, 2019 by

Published December 4, 2019 By HELEN BREEN LYNNFIELD — Seventy-eight years ago this Saturday, Dec. 7, the United States entered World War II after the Japanese bombed the American Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Following FDR’s famous “day that would live in infamy” speech, Americans prepared themselves for the task ahead. Leafing through the pages of the December 1941 issues of the long defunct Lynnfield Village Press newspaper gives us a sense of our town’s priorities in those dark days. Concerns In the Dec. 11 edition, just days after the attack, locals worried about the fate of Lynnfield soldiers George Marsta and Granville Hooper. They were “known to be in the combat zone and so far no news has been received of their condition.” The following week, Town Moderator Joseph F. Smith...

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Expanded TV coverage of meetings eyed...

Dec 4, 2019 by

Published December 4, 2019 By MARK SARDELLA WAKEFIELD — Local viewers may soon be able to watch more meetings of their favorite boards and committees, assuming the town can come up with the money in next year’s budget for a video system at Town Hall and WCAT can find the manpower to cover those meetings. A couple of members of the Town Council have been pushing for the expanded meeting coverage and last week Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio provided an update on efforts in that area. Maio reminded councilors that the Board of Selectmen’s meetings were at one time televised from the first floor conference room at Town Hall, before the meetings were moved to the WCAT studio. However, the system that was used to televise those Town Hall meetings is outdated and...

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