News from the Billerica Minuteman

Town Meeting members last week agreed to remove the elderly overlay restriction on a parcel of land off Treble Cove Road, changing it to a townhouse overlay district.

Students and parents from the Vining Elementary School enjoyed an evening at the library featuring bookmark crafts and a scavenger hunt Monday night. Athletes from Billerica Memorial High School also read books to the elementary students.

Recreation Director Peggy Hannon-Rizza is a master at stretching a dollar. Over the years, improvements to the Lampson Field Recreational Complex have been made possible through grant funding, capital contributions from the town and, most importantly, free labor from volunteers.

Billerica teachers – elementary through high school – had an opportunity to showcase their innovative classroom projects that were funded by grants from the Billerica Partners for Education (BPE).

Town Meeting members closed their Annual Town Meeting Tuesday night, after five nights of debate and action.

Educational Technology Consultant Thomas Plati, who is also director of educational technology and asseConsulant ssment for the town of Lexington, presented his assessment of the technology status of the Billerica Public Schools. According to Plati’s report, "The goal of this study was to review the current technology program and to recommend ways of moving forward in the immediate future and also to recommend longer term strategies so that the technology program is sustainable."

Six members of the Billerica Police Department were honored last week before Town Meeting for their assistance during the Boston Marathon bombings and subsequent search for the suspects.

Incidents

Monday, May 6

At 8:46 a.m. officers responded to a call for a suspicious motor vehicle near Iron Horse Liquors on High Street.

At 3:46 p.m. officers responded to a motor vehicle accident on Lexington Road.

More than 300 people are expected to don their sneakers Sunday, May 19 for the 22nd annual Billerica Cystic Fibrosis Walk. The 5K walk starts at the Boys and Girls Club at 19 Campbell Road and circles to the Irish American Club at 616 Middlesex Turnpike before returning back to the Boys and Girls Club.

Once again John Magliozzi was reduced to tears. "Coach Mags," as he is known at Billerica Memorial High School, has developed a reputation for turning on the waterworks when his kids win trophies at the DECA national championships. Given the success of DECA at Billerica Memorial High school, that means lots of tears.

Police officers, firefighters and paramedics come running when they are called, ready to help the residents they serve.

A Medford woman and a Woburn man were arrested in connection with running an extensive human trafficking enterprise, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Monday during a press conference at the Wilmington police station.

A moving company from Billerica and its owners have agreed to pay up to $202,000 to settle allegations of inflating fees, demanding cash last minute, and holding consumers’ goods hostage in order to receive payment, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced recently.

The Billerica Memorial High School theater department won best play at the Triton Regional H.S. Original Play Festival in Byfield, on Saturday, April 27. This was the third year of the competition and participation is open to all high schools in the state. The play must be an original one and written by a student. It is a one-day festival, and after every performance, the judges give verbal feedback to each school.

Despite attempts by the minority opinion of the Finance Committee to decrease the police, fire and engineering department budgets, Town Meeting members ultimately approved all three after much discussion Thursday night.

On April 26, the Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association of Massachusetts presented a check for $8,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The money was raised in the name of Jacob Walter Murnane. Jacob passed away on November 18, 2010. He was only 21 years old. Jake was a graduate of Billerica Memorial High School, a member of the varsity lacrosse team, an avid Coca-Cola memorabilia collector and world traveler.

Attorney Stephen Spano, elder law attorney from the law firm of Spano & Dawicki, will present the program titled Elder Law Life Transitions and Estate Planning at the Billerica Senior Center, 25 Concord Road, on May 22, at 1 p.m.

Monday, April 29

At 3:24 a.m. Investigated a report of suspicious people looking into vehicles on Cold Spring Road.

At 3:25 p.m. Investigated a report of credit card fraud at 300 Concord Road.

At 3:31 p.m. Report of two loose dogs on Woodbury Road.

Dozens of helping hands pitched in last Saturday morning, picking up trash and planting flowers in various locations across town during Clean Up Green Up day.

The local newspaper should paint a complete picture of the town. The pages should include stories about its residents, both young and old, the business community, as well as town government and school issues. My hope as the new editor of the Billerica Minuteman is that you, the readers, look forward to picking up the paper each week and getting your local news. I also hope to hear from you about what is important in your town.