1975-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Year in Headlines January: Town to proceed slowly on 100% reassessment; Selectmen think $15 million school budget too high; town receives $1.1 million in state special education funds; Fire on Summit Road takes 3 lives; Great Meadow offered for sale by Town of Arlington; Evelyn Murphy named to head state Environmental Affairs office; and Dr. Edward A. Mason appointed to Federal Nuclear Regulating Commission; United Way tops goal -first time since 1971; Planning Board endorses 6 lane proposal for Bedford Street; Robert W. Custance elected Deputy Grand Master of Masons; Citizen's group cites "substantial" sex inequality in Lex. schools; Old Belfry Club marks its 81st birthday. February: Plans for Bicentennial celebration going forward; Selectmen opposed to expansion of Hanscom Field; Margaret Kimball Harsh dies - one of nation's pioneer pilots; School Committee to add 160 METCO students over 4 years; Vernon Page scholarship fund inaugurated, and movie star Van Johnson, visits L.H.S. March: Town meeting votes $2 million bonding program for purchase of conservation land; Masonic Museum opens with Clement M. Silvestro as director; Alan G. Adams dies suddently at 70; W.R. Grace Co. moves into offices on Hayden Avenue; most dangerous intersection is Marrett Road and Waltham Street; commemorative stamp will feature Sandham's painting, "The Dawn of Liberty "; Austin W. Fisher dies at 86; Otis S. Brown, Jr. elected to school committee. April: 75,000 enjoy glorious weekend: President Ford visits Lexington; Battlegreen rededicated; Richard Michelson awarded white tricorne hat; Minutemen dedicate Sanderson House as their museum; Scottish Rite dedicate Museum of our National Heritage; food supply in excess of demand at Bicentennial; Lexington Historical Commission established, and town acquires 10 acres of former Napoli land. May: White House lauds town for Presidential reception; David F. Clune chosen as new L.H.S. principal and David S. Terry appointed principal at Muzzey Jr. High; 15 Puebla, Mexico students hosted by Diamond students; Vernon Page scholarship fund reaches $8000; Joseph Marshall named new fire chief; third site for postal center defeated; Selectmen vote not to allow tape recordings of their meetings, and tree planted at Hancock - Clarke house in honor of Jack Garrity. June: Official state census gives Lexington 32,477 residents - 935 less than in 1971; Bicentennial blood- mobile yields 996 pints in 3 days; H.S. girls' tennis team No. 1 in state; and Muzzey Jr. High math team wins 4th title; armed robbery, bike thefts, housebreaks, plague police; Charles Johnson retires as H.S. principal and Anita Dale Seymour dies at 91. July: 500 visitors a day to town's historic sites; Robert Tarlin, Bicentennial director, awarded apprecia- tion gift; School Sup't. Fobert resigns to take N.Y. position; 5 youthful defendents found guilty following party disturbance; residents complain of late evening parties on town property; Town Mgr. states that Bridge school is gradually being destroyed by vandals; Barry Littleton appointed new "animal control" officer; Lex's jobless rate rises to 8.4 %; 32 historic markers outline walking tour of town; Historical Comm. begins inventory of significant structures; Popular band concerts continue on the Common; Summer co -op begins 5th season and July 4th celebration again sponsored by the Lions Club. August: Pipe bomb blasts window at Visitors' Center; Town's bond rating raised to AAA; 1975 tax rate is set at $72, up $1.60 over 1974; Mitchell Spiris appointed interim school sup't.; Jeffrey Shaw is newly appointed administrative assistant; Eleanor Munro, resident custodian at Munroe Tavern dies suddenly at 64; 11 unit condominium proposed for East Lex. and 6 houses destroyed on Hinchey Road to make way for industrial park. September: School bells summon 8000 pupils, 400 less than previous year; School Com. votes to allow student smoking; Cary Library dedication & open house held; Hancock School qualifies for National Register; Planning Board fires recreation consultant firm; new dog shelter opens on Westview St. and vandals strike at Westview Cemetery; United Way goal is $25,000, up 6 %; Norman Daigle installed as Minute Men Captain. October: Lex. Minute Men open drive for Sanderson House museum; Hanscom mgr. says airport won't expand; Board of Appeals denies mail center on Hayden Ave., and permanent permit for Lexington Gardens; Rev. Ted R. Petterson installed as Episcopal minister; H.S. football coach Nathan Todaro resigns; monitors are hired for H.S. parking lot; Board of Appeals loses decision on interfaith housing. November: Unseasonably warm weather results in blooming shrubs; 14 yr. old Pricilla Hill wins Prague skating event; radar on Common attempts to find early meeting house foundations; Dr. Leroy Keith, Jr., appointed Chancellor of Higher Education; football team beats Burlington 12 -8 in Thanksgiving quagmire; and Prof. Henry Latimer Seaver dies at 97. December: St. Brigid's church celebrates its 100th anniversary; Allan F. Kenney resigns as Selectmen chairman, succeeded by Fred C. Bailey; school vandalism amounts to 300 to 400 thousand dollars per year; Lex.'s assessment 26% higher for MBTA operation; fire dep't employees granted 7 to 8% wage increase; Raymond Barnes wins 1st prize photo award; and violets are in bloom on Spring St. S. Lawrence Whipple, Historian Lexington Historical Society