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2 Late push by Planning Board for tree preservation bylaw By Anne MArie ToBin With only four days left until Monday night’s Town Meeting, the Planning Board is making one final push to ensure that the tree-preservation bylaw will survive the cut. “The Planning Board is pleased to bring this bylaw (Article 3 on the warrant) back to Town Meeting,” said Planning Board Chair Brian Charville. “This is an all-new and totally pared-back tree-preservation bylaw compared to what was originally proposed. The situations to which the bylaw would apply are far fewer than prior versions.” Charville said the bylaw’s goal is “to make sure that the typical Lynnfield homeowner would not be affected,” adding the revised bylaw applies only to four situations: new subdivisions, new home construction, commercial property projects requiring site plans, and special permits. “We wanted the effect of the bylaw to be positive in that far fewer trees would be lost and we feel that this bylaw accomplishes that as it really only applies to new development,” Charville said. “It has been drafted in deference to the average homeowner who is performing simple tree upkeep.” Director of Planning and Conservation Emilie Cademartorisaid her office is making one final push to make sure people are accurately informed on the impact the bylaw will have. An informational brochure with questions and answers was handed out to some residents last Friday with plans to distribute a tweaked version this week. In addition, foot soldiers have been canvassing neighborhoods, going door-to-door to get the word out about the bylaw. “We are actively reaching out to people to make sure this is a totally different bylaw,” said Cademartori. “It’s important for people to know how much time has been spent on this and how many times Get your car looking great this Fall Before After Don Winslow’s AUTO B O D Y Celebrating 49 Years MON-FRI 8-5 • SAT. 9-12 166 Holten Street • Danvers (corner of Center & Collins) 978-762-6366 • 978-535-2474 www.DonWinslowAutoBody.com we have aired this publicly at 27 meetings. Clearly this has been carefully thought out. “The thing is, the bylaw will not apply to many homeowners at all. Last year there were seven building permits for new home construction that would trigger the tree bylaw. Clearly, that is not negatively impacting a large number of existing homeowners.” The Planning Board presented the bylaw at Tuesday night’s Finance Committee in hopes of obtaining the committee’s recommendation to support the article. “I’d like to think that the committee would support it, as it will only bring more revenue to the town,” said Cademartori. The Planning Board had submitted a much more restrictive article at a Town Meeting held last fall, but it was withdrawn after residents expressed their opposition to and confusion with the proposal. The board went back to the drawing board and totally reworked the provisions of the bylaw, significantly scaling back the original provisions to the point where the bylaw bears little semblance to prior versions. “We think now we have addressed all the concerns that have been brought to us by the Select Board and constituents,” Charville said in a presentation to the Select Board last week. “We made a few more adjustments after listening to the Select Board, residents, and after the board didn’t support it for the June Town Meeting. We had more time to understand the feedback the public was giving us,” said Cademartori. “This bylaw is substantially different from prior versions so we are hopeful. “People need to realize that this bylaw only came into existence because the public came to us asking us to do something about the fact that people were removing trees. People asked us to do something about the loss of these trees.” While the Select Board declined to give its support to the bylaw at its last meeting, Cademartori is cautiously optimistic that enough proponents of the bylaw will come to the Town Meeting to carry the vote. “My fear however is that with so little on the warrant there may be an insufficient quorum,” she said. “We hope the people will come out. We need the folks that want this bylaw to come to the meeting to make the quorum, otherwise, the issue will be pushed back to April.” WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 OCTOBER 14, 2021 By Anne MArie ToBin Ellen Rubbico Crawford has been selected as a 2021 recipient of the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence. Crawford, along with fellow honoree Dr. Robert Weiss will be before the Town Meeting on Oct. 18 at Lynnfield Middle School (7 p.m.). “I’m honored to be recognized for my years of volunteering and to be counted among the many kind and generous residents that have given so much of themselves to our town,” Crawford said. “I’m passionate about doing whatever I can to help improve the quality of life in our town, as so many others have done in the past, like Dr. Weiss, and continue to do today. “It’s an honor to join the ranks of so many talented and dedicated people who have received this award.” Select Board Chair Dick Dalton referred to Crawford as the town’s “public relations quarterback. “Ellen has worked for decades on a variety of different projects with many organizations,” said Dalton. “She made a real difference in the coming of MarketStreet Lynnfield. She was a driving force, leading the campaign in the community, holding coffees to enlist resident’s support. Back then it was done the old-fashioned way without social media, and she’s the best at that.” Select Board member Joe Connell added that Crawford’s efforts have made a positive impact on the residents’ quality of life. “Ellen’s work exemplifies her commitment and allegiance to all the citizens of this beautiful town,” he said. “She is without question the most deserving of this prestigious award.” Awards abound Ellen Rubbico Crawford gains award for passion FILE PHOTO Lynnfield resident Ellen Crawford speaks during a Lynnfield Special Town Meeting. Crawford, wife of Select Board member Phil Crawford, has lived in Lynnfield for more than 40 years. The mother of four and grandmother of three, Crawford has been a Premium Real Estate agent for 10 years, currently with William Raveis. Crawford was nominated by Beverly Merritt, the widow of former Townsend Award winner and longtime Selectman Al Merritt. “It gives me great pleasure to nominate my friend, Ellen Crawford, to be considered for the Lynnfield Townsend Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and tireless efforts of volunteerism in Lynnfield,” Beverly Merritt said, adding she has known Crawford for more than 30 years. “She chaired two successful selectman campaigns for my late husband (and) has demonstrated her extraordinary commitment to volunteerism in our community through those years.” “To be nominated by Mrs. Beverly Merritt is testimony of her character and genuine care for the town’s citizens,” Connell said. “It’s both humbling and an honor to be able to comment on such a role model and leader.” Crawford’s contributions to the community have been recognized on countless occasions. She is a three-time Platinum Club Award honoree, the most recent coming in 2018 with Raveis. Crawford has also been honored with a Double Centurion Award and is a member of the 100 Percent and Executive clubs. She is a recipient of the Lynn Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Award and Lynnfield Town Pride Award. The recipient of Raveis’ Certificates of Excellence as a Top-Selling and Top-Listing Team Member, Crawford is also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors and also serves on the Governor’s Board of the Massachusetts Homeownership Advisory. Crawford has also been active in the school community, doing just about anything a person can do for more than 30 years. She served as a PTO member from 1990-2009 and chaired the Summer Street School Pumpkin Fair and Auction for 12 years, raising more than $200,000 for several school improvement projects, including playground equipment and media center upgrades. Active with the Lynnfield Athletic Association and Moving On ceremonies at both the Summer Street and Middle Schools and the Post- Prom Committee at the high school, Crawford was also a key member of the district’s 2000 and 2021 school-building improvement projects. A member of the Friends of the Lynnfield Senior Center and the Friends of the Lynnfield Library, Crawford is an active member of the Village Home & Garden Club and serves on the board of Townscape, an organization that has worked to upgrade Glen Meadow Park, Jordan Park, Newhall Park, and Forest Hill Cemetery. Crawford has taught CCD classes at St. Maria Goretti Church for 16 years and is an active Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative parishioner and donor. “I sincerely believe that Ellen has made a difference in our community, exemplified by her commitment and dedication to volunteerism in Lynnfield,” said Merritt. “Ellen Crawford is most deserving of the Lynnfield Townsend Award.” Connell said Crawford’s dedication to Lynnfield “is nothing short of inspirational. “Her longevity of volunteerism and dedication to this great town is the true testament to the essence of a love affair with the town she calls home. Her list of accomplishments is admirable for anyone to try to aspire to. “ Dalton said Crawford’s willingness to do whatever it takes to help keep residents informed about important issues facing the town is unmatched. “Between MarketStreet and the school projects, whatever issue comes up, Ellen is there to lend a hand to help educate residents,” Dalton said. “I first heard her name years ago when I was on the Planning Board with Al (Merritt). He always said we had full confidence in whatever Ellen was doing, and we do.”
OCTOBER 14, 2021 in Lynnfield The late Dr. Robert Weiss honored for excellence BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN Dr. Robert Weiss has been selected as a 2021 Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence honoree. Weiss, along with fellow honoree Ellen Rubbico Crawford, will be honored prior to the start of the Oct. 18 Town Meeting at Lynnfield Middle School (7 p.m.). Weiss passed away suddenly on May 6, 2021 at 84. Nominated by Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin, Weiss served on the School Committee during the 1970s and ‘80s and also served on the Select Board, according to Select Board Chair Dick Dalton. But his most lasting Lynnfield legacy was his role in the creation of L.I.F.E. (Lynnfield Initiatives For Elders) incorporation, a senior housing development that had its origins in the early 1980s. “While Dr. Weiss’s service to the Town as an elected member of these boards was laudable on its own, he stands out among the many fine Lynnfield public servants I have known for his singular vision and execution of an idea that has benefitted Lynnfield for decades and will continue to benefit Lynnfield for decades to come: LIFE, Inc.,” Curtin said. “I have spoken to many of his board colleagues and town officials and department heads who worked with him at that time and they were unanimous in their respect for his intellect, work ethic, and integrity.” Curtin said that Weiss was the “driving force” behind the concept and fulfillment of L.I.F.E. Shortly after the school department declared it no longer needed the old Center School on Main Street, Weiss sprung into action. “Bob saw that this created an opportunity to achieve a community goal: allowing aging Lynnfield residents who had contributed to the community over their years as residents to continue to live in a community they love,” Curtin said. “He was the 10K From page 1 driving force behind the concept and the approval process which saw local boards, committees, and town meetings grant the approvals needed that brought this concept to fruition. He was also instrumental in developing the unique relationship between the Town and LIFE, Inc. that has served as an inspiration and model for many other communities.” Center Village on Main Street was the first “village.” It contains 16 one-bedroom and 44 two-bedroom units in 11 buildings spread over five acres. “His vision of L.I.F.E. was amazing considering senior housing of this type was in its infancy and there was little to no senior housing at the time,” said Dalton. “His impact was such that it was in the media, other communities were reaching out to him to ask how Lynnfield managed to do this after Center Village was built.” After the success of Center Village, Weiss worked with Malcolm Smith to create a second “village” ― Essex Village ― to meet the growing demand for housing units. Located on an 11- acre parcel on Essex Street, Essex Village has 66 two-bedroom units. “This process proved more challenging than the initial establishment of Center Village,” Curtin said. “It was during the permitting of the second ‘village’ project that I, as a news reporter, got to know Bob Weiss … and how much Lynnfield benefitted from his dedication and perspicacity; I have seen how hundreds of Lynnfield residents and their family members have benefitted from his foresight and his commitment.” With the development of MarketStreet Lynnfield, a third L.I.F.E. development named Colonial Village was completed in early 2015. Located on five acres at MarketStreet, Colonial Village offers 48 luxury garden-, WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 3 apartment- and townhouse-style one- and two-bedroom units complete with underground parking and elevator service. “Although Bob was not involved with the creation of Colonial Village, no one can deny that its existence is the result of Bob’s vision and determination,” said Curtin. “I think that it is fitting that the town acknowledge its debt to his contributions, and I believe Bob Weiss epitomized the selfless dedication to community for which the Daniel Townsend Award was created.” A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, he earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering from NYU’s Guggenheim School of Aeronautics and a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT. He also cofounded the research and development organization, Physical Sciences, Inc., which he led for more than 30 years. Weiss was active in the Small Business Association of New England. He was the driving force behind MassVentures’ START (SBIR Targeted Technologies) grant program which helps Massachusetts companies commercialize research funded through the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Select Board Chair Dick Dalton said this year’s honorees have much in common while serving different generations. “Bob was unique in that he was a genius not only in business, but he truly loved Lynnfield and spent so much time working to make Lynnfield what it is today,” Dalton said. “We are so fortunate to have people like Bob so it’s extremely important that we don’t forget them. And then we have Ellen, who is more of a contemporary figure. Both of them have worked hard to make Lynnfield a better place.” 76-year-old leads three generations of runners Talia, will all be running under the team name Three- Generation Labells. Stacey said she loves having someone as active and inspiring as her mother-in-law in her and her children’s lives. “It’s amazing that she can keep going,” Stacy said. “If she can keep going we all know that we can keep going. It’s become a family thing to run together.” The Boston 10k for Women has a minimum age requirement of 10 years old. While Asa ran the race in person two years ago when she turned 10, Talia, who turned 10 last year, has only run it virtually due to the pandemic. “When the girls both turned 10, they were really excited to run a 10k with Janice,” Stacey said. Labell said that she knows she’ll be the last woman on their team to finish, but that won’t stop the family from crossing the finish line together. “They’ll finish long before me,” she said. “But in the past, they’ve waited for me and they’ll cross the finish line again with me.” When Labell turned 70, she won second place in her age bracket of 70- to 79-year-olds. She said she was so excited to stand on a podium and hopes that she can keep running for a few more years at the very least. “My goal is to run until I’m 80,” Janice said. “Maybe then I’ll come in first place.” Wilson convicted in ‘Varsity Blues’ college admissions scandal VARSITY BLUES From page 1 — the purported mastermind of the college-admissions scandal — $300,000 to facilitate the admission of his daughter to USC as a basketball recruit, despite the fact that she had not made her high school varsity team and did not play basketball at all during her junior and senior years in high school. In October of 2017, his daughter was admitted to USC as a basketball recruit and was formally accepted to the school in March of 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. Sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 16, 2022 for Abdelaziz and Feb. 17, 2022 for Wilson. Singer previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. “What they did was an affront to hardworking students and parents, but the verdict today proves that even these defendants — powerful and privileged people — are not above the law,” Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Mendell told reporters. Lawyers argued that Wilson and Abdelaziz believed their payments were legitimate donations and pointed the finger at the admissions consultant, Singer. The parents insisted they had no idea that Singer was using their money for bribes and was falsifying or exaggerating athletic credentials on behalf of their kids. “Mr. Singer never said the donation was a bribe. He said exactly the opposite. It was an accepted fundraising program,” Wilson’s attorney, Michael Kendall, said during opening statements in September. Abdelaziz’s lawyer told reporters outside the courthouse on Friday that he intends to appeal. At the center of the case was a series of secretly-recorded phone calls between Singer and the parents, which prosecutors said proved Abdelaziz and Wilson were in on the scheme. The FBI wiretapped Singer’s calls and then convinced the admissions consultant to begin cooperating with investigators in 2018 in the hopes of getting a lighter sentence. In one call, Wilson asked Singer which sports “would be best” for his twin daughters. Singer responded that it didn’t matter and that he would “make them a sailor or something” because Wilson lives on Cape Cod. Wilson joked and asked: “Is there a two-for-one special? If you got twins?” Thirty-three other parents have pleaded guilty in the case, including famous TV actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, as well as Loughlin’s fashion-designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli. Involved parents have so far received punishments ranging from probation to nine months in prison. Cases for three other parents are expected to go to trial in January. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. We want to hear from you! Send us a letter at editor@weeklynews.net. Letters should be no more than 300 words.
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