Selectmen Bid Farewell to Camille Anthony; Approve Sturges Park Planning Committee It was a bittersweet meeting Tuesday night for Board of Selectmen Chairperson, Camille Anthony. After 18 years of service on the board (along with 12 years on the Conservation Commission), Anthony is stepping down and won't seek re-election. Selectmen also approved the new Amplified Sound policy and finalized the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting. Reading Man Arrested in Wakefield has Recent History of Drug Charges The Reading man arrested by Wakefield police on Feb. 29 has an alleged history of dealing …

RMLD Citizens Advisory Board Votes to Reopen RECs Discussion The Reading Municipal Light Department’s decision to retire its Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) may be headed for another round of debate after the RMLD Citizens’ Advisory Board voted 5-0 to revisit the issue at a meeting last week. The vote comes after the CAB voted 4-1 at an earlier meeting to back the decision of the RMLD Board of Commissioners to sell the utility’s RECs. Reading's MWRA Assessment Could Jump 5 Percent According to preliminary budget numbers released by the Massachusetts Water Authority (MWRA) last week, …

New Proposal Would Avoid Service Cuts on MBTA Reading commuters fearing the potential impacts of two proposals put forth by the MBTA that would substantially raise fares and dramatically cut service, may have some new reason for optimism. The MBTA Advisory Board, which provides public oversight of the transit authority, has presented another solution—a third plan—for dealing with the MBTA’s $161 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2013. VIDEO: Elizabeth Warren Addresses Reading Democratic Caucus The debate concerning contraception and national health care reform came to the Reading Public …

Controversial Rolling Machine Comes to Reading Smokers in Reading who are tired of paying the hefty state tax on pre-manufactured cigarettes now have another, albeit highly controversial, option—at least for the time being.   A new RYO Machines Filling Station in the Mobil Mart attached to the Mobil Gas Station on Main Street allows customers to walk away with 200 rolled cigarettes for a fraction of what they would pay for the pre-rolled version, thanks to avoiding the nearly $2.51 per pack in taxes Massachusetts charges cigarette smokers. Reading's Catholic Churches May Soon Be Part of …

Pair Arrested in Hamilton Armed Robbery Also Eyed in P & S Holdup A man arrested for robbing a liquor store in Hamilton at knifepoint may be connected to several area robberies in recent months, including last Friday’s holdup at P & S Convenient Store on Lowell Street. According to Hamilton police, there is an “extensive investigation” focused on Michael Gallella in connection with his possible role in armed robberies in Reading, Saugus, Wakefield and Marblehead. Survey: Less Bullying Victims Reporting Incidents Assistant Superintendent of Schools Patty de Garavilla presented the findings …

Hudak Leaves Congressional Race Citing a busy schedule and personal issues, Bill Hudak will not run for Congress in 2012. “A business opportunity has presented itself to me, which in addition to my active law practice will involve substantial amounts of my time and effort for the balance of the year,” Hudak said in a statement announcing his decision. UPDATE: Coakley Closes DiPaola Investigation With No Criminal Charges The State House News Service reported today that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has closed the investigation into the Middlesex Sheriff's Office under the late …

Reading Commons Home Invasion Trio Pleads Guilty, Will Avoid Jail Time The three remaining suspects in last February's home invasion at Reading Commons pled guilty in Woburn Superior Court this afternoon and, despite the Commonwealth's recommendation, will avoid jail time. Jason Molle, 21, of Stoneham, Garret Collins, 22, and Matthew Stratton, 20, both from Reading, pled guilty to charges of home invasion, armed robbery, conspiracy, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery and were sentenced to a total of five years in the Middlesex County House of …

Anti-Drug Group Makes Case for Cash; Police Chief Cormier Looking to Expand Force The Board of Selectmen heard a three-fronted presentation on substance abuse prevention last Thursday from the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse, the Reading Police and Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Doherty. After a year marred by the tragic, drug-related deaths of several local young men, the Board of Selectmen heard presentations last week outlining a multi-faceted approach being taken by the town to curb the problem of substance abuse and details of what efforts the future may hold to that end. …

Reading Police Arrest Wakefield Breaking and Entering Suspect Reading Police arrested a North Reading man on Friday for allegedly breaking into and stealing jewelry from a home on Wave Avenue in Wakefield. Wakefield Police said that Brett Steenbreuggen, 27, of North Reading, broke into a home on Wave Avenue in Wakefield via a rear window early Friday morning. However, while Steenbreuggen was allegedly in the home, the homeowner returned and he left the house and began to run down the street. UPDATED: Local Man Flees Traffic Stop, Heads North on Route 128 South Update: The suspect in this case…

Middlesex Deputy Sheriff Fined for Violating Conflict of Interest Law A senior deputy sheriff in the Middlesex Sheriff's Office paid a $5,000 fine after admitting to soliciting donations for a campaign fundraiser for then-Sheriff James DiPaola from subordinate office employees during work hours, a violation of the state's conflict of interest law, the State Ethics Commission announced in a press release. Best of Moms Talk, 2011 The top 10 Moms Talk columns from 2011. Join our Reading Moms Council—Meghan Cogswell, Erin Calvo-Bacci and Alicia Botticelli-Tarasuk—as they take on some of the …

School Committee Member David Michaud Will Not Seek Reelection The Reading School Committee met on Dec. 19 and learned they will be bidding farewell to one of their own next year. Committee member David Michaud, whose term expires in 2012, announced he will not be seeking reelection. Michaud has been a member of the School Committee since 2006. The business before the committee was a further review of the Facilities Naming policy, the second reading of the concussion policy and approval for several RMHS field trips. School Committee Approves Therapeutic Support Program Reading Memorial High …

Lockdown at Reading High At approximately nine o’clock on Dec. 16, the Middlesex County Sherriff’s Office K-9 Unit, in cooperation with the Reading Police Department and the Reading Public Schools, conducted a lockdown and canine search of Reading Memorial High School. All common areas, lockers, and some random classrooms were searched in accordance with proper legal procedures and the Reading School Committee Policy JIH on Search and Seizure. This lockdown and search drill was the result of extensive planning with school and police personnel and every effort was made to minimize the …

Ex-Reading Man Murdered in New Hampshire On Dec. 2, Donald St. Laurent—born in Reading but educated at Lincoln-Sudbury High School—was found shot to death in a Hudson, N.H. home. A 27-year-old man was charged with the killing. Christopher Bazar was arraigned on manslaughter charges in Nashua, N.H.'s 9th Circuit Court on Dec. 5. New Concussion Policy Unveiled The Reading School Department rolled out its new concussion policy this week at a School Committee meeting and it was unanimously adopted. A new state law requires all schools to have policies concerning head injury in place by Jan. 1. …

1) Arraignment sheds new light on Ronan murder. Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Dunigan told Woburn Superior Court, Monday, that evidence suggested the RMHS alum John Burke shot Joe Ronan three times—once each in the back of the head, back of the neck and left side of the chest—because he believed Ronan had been involved in an April crime at Burke’s apartment. 2) Reading Pop Warner excels in playoffs. The Reading Rockets C2 Pop Warner football team continued their strong showing by advancing past the Worcester Vikings to the New England Finals. 3) New things, new faces. This week, I …

1) Town Meeting approves potential sale of three town-owned lots. Taking another step in heeding the calls of a group of town residents, town officials asked for—and received—approval from Town Meeting to potentially sell vacant, town-owned lots of Pearl Street, Lothrop Road and Oakland Road. All three lots fall within residential areas. 2) Tisei officially announces run against Tierney. Speaking in Wakefield, Reading’s former State Senator pledged to “turn things around” in Washington. Wakefield Patch was on the scene and caught video of Tisei’s announcement and how one of his supporters …

Reading resident runs into Boston blaze: Nick Intoni recently found himself next door to a building ablaze in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood and didn’t even think about standing idly by when he heard that someone might still be inside. His action earned him the nickname “hero” from his friends. RMHS alumnus caught in UNH raid: David E. Fitzpatrick was one of 11 brothers arrested as a result of the raid, and one of eight faced with drug charges. Police charged him with sale of a controlled substance. Other brothers were charged with drug possession, distribution and conspiracy to sell …

1) Shots fired, no one hurt. Reading police reported Thursday that a woman fired two shots as part of a domestic dispute of Bancroft Avenue. No one was hurt as a result of the incident, but police took both participants into custody. 2) Storm crashes through Reading. The Reading Municipal Light Department had its hands full this week after an early October storm ripped through the area and weighed-down trees that had not yet lost their leaves. Some residents went until Wednesday without power, and the RMLD, on Friday, thanked its customers for their patience. 3) Addison Wesley building come …

1) Quinlan Junta Dies. Reading Patch broke the news Sunday that Quinlan Junta had died. The Reading Memorial High School alumnus and stand-out hockey player had had a tumultuous last few months of life; at the time of his death, he was awaiting trial for assault and robbery charges. Reading Patch readers also took the time this week to remember Junta at better moments. 2) John Hollingsworth Field dedicated. Okay, this actually happened last week, but Reading Patch this week brought you photos and videos from the event that brought hundreds of RMHS graduates back to the school to see their …

1) Panel: Academic pressures may contribute to drug use: Superintendent John Doherty described one typical type of drug user this week: the high-achieving student who keeps herself involved with several extracurricular activities, sleeps four hours per night and resorts to drugs or alcohol as a release. Reading has a lot of high achievers, he said, and the comment section attached to the article turned into a discussion over whether or not college is right for everybody. 2) John Hollingsworth Field dedicated: We’ll have more on this Monday, but supporters of John Hollingsworth gathered at …

1) Sale of town land could change neighborhood. The neighborhood’s residents know the parcel of land on the corner of Pearl Street and Audubon Road as a park—and that’s what it has functioned as for decades—but it could become a residential lot in the near future. In an effort to better use its resources, Reading’s town government recently investigated what land it owns and what can be done with it. 2) Students at RMHS struggle with tight cafeteria. Lunches at Reading Memorial High School have been crowded this year, according to district officials. Superintendent John Doherty said that the …