LWN0611

JUNE 11, 2020
WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 3
Graduates get their drive-through salute
GRADUATION
FROM PAGE 1
video, due to Department of
Education guidelines. The
Pioneer Stadium stands, normally
overflowing with a jampacked,
standing-room only audience,
were eerily empty.
Down on the field, it wasn’t
much different. It, too, was
empty, save for a handful of
school administrators, including
Principal Bob Cleary and
Superintendent Jane Tremblay,
stationed six or more feet apart
on a specially constructed stage.
Each of the 153 graduates
was escorted onto the field,
one at a time. Graduates proceeded
to the stage, where
they collected their diplomas,
and, in a time-honored tradition,
moved the tassels on
their caps as symbolic confirmation
of their status as newfound
graduates.
Each graduate then had
a special graduation photo
taken (courtesy of Bob
Priestley) before exiting the
field and returning to the
family’s car.
Then it was time for the next
graduate to march across the
field and follow suit.
Student Council President
Emma Nardone, Class
President Megan Battaglia and
Valedictorian Alexis Allain
spoke.
Nardone was the first to
speak, making no real mention
of the pandemic that has
changed the rules of everyday
life. Instead, she stressed the
important roles that Lynnfield
graduates will be challenged
Time to head
with as they venture into the
future.
“We must remember that we
are celebrating more than the
conclusion to our high school
careers,” she said. “We are
celebrating the dedication that
has brought us here, the same
dedication that will propel us
forward into a new and exciting
beginning. Not only are
we capable of embarking on
this journey, we are prepared to
thrive due to the ideals of compassion
and curiosity that were
fostered throughout our time at
Lynnfield.”
Battaglia encouraged her
classmates to, “accept uncertainty
and live life boldly as it
comes.
“The 12 years that we spent
as students in Lynnfield Public
Schools cannot be defined by
the three months that were not,”
she said. “Although the future
may be unknown to most of us,
there is nothing wrong with not
having the answers.”
Allain noted that “this year
has been anything but ordinary.
In our year of lasts, the world
experienced a whole series of
firsts,” she said.
“We have gained something
not even a common curriculum
can teach us. We have learned
not to take any moment or
any person for granted … that
nothing in life is guaranteed,
and no matter how much you
plan or prepare for a moment,
it just might never happen the
way you expect.”
For Tremblay, who presided
over commencement exercises
for the last time (she is retiring
at the end of the month), the
experience was full of mixed
emotions, yet she has confidence
there is light at the end of
the tunnel.
“While this is not the way
any of us envisioned this day
would be when we opened our
doors in the fall, I am grateful
that we are able to recognize
you and in keeping with tradition,
that you will have the
opportunity to walk across this
stage.” Tremblay said.
“As you drive from the
parking lot today, know that
your futures are bright. They
are bright because in the past
months you learned that you
are responsible for yourself,
your own happiness and
decisions.”
One highlight of the evening
was when Tremblay asked, in
lieu of a round of applause, “can
we hear some noise from our
cars in show of appreciation?”
The response was deafening.
to the polls
ELECTION
FROM PAGE 1
Town residents interested in
municipal government can grab
an open Housing Authority
Board of Commissioners seat if
they are interested in mustering
write-in votes.
Board of Selectmen
Chairman Philip B. Crawford is
running for another three-year
term, as is School Committee
Chair Jamie S. Hayman.
Board of Assessors member
Bonnie J. Celi is running for another
three-year term. Edward
P. Champy III is running for a
five-year Planning Board term
and Joseph A. Markey is running
for another one-year term
as Town Moderator.
Elected last April, Markey
scrambled during late winter,
along with meeting moderators
in towns across Massachusetts,
to evaluate coronavirus’ initial
impact on meeting plans with
regards to social distancing.
After consulting the Board of
Selectmen and the town health
director, Markey decided to set
Town Meeting dates and then
issue a “declaration of recession”
to delay the meeting to a new date.
He has already declared the
April and May meetings recessed
and set June 20 as a new
date with the meeting scheduled
to start at 9:30 a.m. at the high
school.
“The meeting will be held
outside. I intend to declare additional
continuances of up to
30 days each as necessary to
defer the meeting until it can
be held safely. In considering
further deferrals, I will continue
to consult with the Board of
Selectmen and others,” Markey
said in a statement last Friday.
Cortland Lane resident John L.
Nunziato is seeking a five-year
term on the Housing Authority
and the sole town office vacancy
Emerson mentioned is an unexpired
term on the Housing
Authority board that voters will
fill by write-in vote. Attorney
Stephanie Petty is seeking write-in
votes to the board seat she has
held by Board of Selectmen appointment
since February.
Library Trustee Robert D.
Calamari is seeking reelection to a
three-year term, and Lovell Road
resident Andrew P. Kenneally’s
name is on the ballot to fill one
year left in an unexpired term.
Emerson this week called election
planning with coronavirus
restrictions “a work in progress.”
“We are looking into altering
the floor plan to use one entrance
door and one exit door.
Our goal is to use caution, keep
everyone safe, and abide by our
election laws,” she said.
PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK
Lynnfield High School principal Robert Cleary sanitizes the microphone before Lynnfield High
School Student Valedictorian Alexis Allain takes the stage to deliver her speech during the
school’s drive-through graduation ceremony on Friday.
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