Peabody/Lynnfield Weekly News

PEABODY – After trying to make do with a smaller program based at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, the school department will re-launch an independent alternative school during the upcoming school year, thanks to a $476,000 commitment from the city and donations from organized labor and Simon Properties, owners of Northshore Mall.

A new alternative school will open at the Northshore Mall with the express aim of slowing down the nearly 7% drop-out rate in city schools.

Gino Cohee (above) and Evan Panzero got a jump start on football season and opened some college scouts’s eyes in the process this summer.

By Bob Albright

For guys like Lynnfield’s Evan Panzero summer camp used to mean the same thing that it does for most teens: endless trips to the archery range, plenty of hemp bracelets, and the obligatory overnight canoe trip.

That of course was before Panzero filled out into a 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive lineman with a voracious appetite for swallowing running backs whole each Saturday morning.

Photo by Bob Roche Peabody field hockey coach Lorraine Benoit, shown here with her 2006 captains, Christina Tully, Lauren Kolodziej, and Jill Teixeira, will coach her 40th and final squad this fall. Benoit will remain in her post as the girls tennis coach.

By Bill Kipouras

Lorraine Benoit has been a lucky coach in Peabody. She coaches field hockey -- her 40th season is quickly approaching -- but who can criticize her strategy? Not many, even parents, because it is not a well-known sport by any stretch of the imagination, and those same parents are not well qualified to rake the officials, either.

by John Castelluccio

PEABODY – Many a motorist has spotted John Wowk sauntering along Lowell Street in wind, rain or snow, in his New Balance sneakers, blue jacket (now emblazoned on the back with his moniker “Johnny the Walker”) and with his water bottle full of spring water and green tea.

by Jeff Shmase

LYNNFIELD – The Board of Health is interested in hiring a full-time agent and a part-time secretary, a matter that may be decided in the next two months by October Town Meeting.

The board will request those positions be filled, following a report from interim agent Derek Fullerton, who indicated the town needs a full-time agent to conduct inspections of new septic systems as well as inspect all venues where food is either prepared, served or both.

Photo by Bob Roche The Peabody West team added yet another trophy to its coffers Sunday as the team finished second to only Southboro in the state. For a complete gallery of the game go to wnphotos.smugmug.com.

By Bob Albright

NORWOOD -- Picked up pieces from a weekend at Kelley Field spent crunching run differentials and pitch counts, while watching some very enjoyable baseball.