Peabody/Lynnfield Weekly News

By Bill Kipouras

She’s been known as a shining star in the Northeast since an early age when clubs would call Alex Carpenter and invite her to join them for a national tournament. Imagine being recruited at ages 9, 10, or 11?

The glitter just continued until she was a dark blonde diamond in the rough, and finally a phenom.

by John Castelluccio

PEABODY – Westside Family Restaurant owner Michael Panousos appeared before the City Council earlier this month because of two special permit violations and for the way he responded to inquiries from police regarding the event in March that led to the infractions.

Councilors were split over whether a show cause hearing was indeed necessary and whether they should slap Panousos with a fine.

“You have a right to make a living, but not at the expense of the neighbors,” Ward 6 Councilor Barry Sinewitz told Panousos.

Candidates interviewed for top posts at West and Center

by John Castelluccio

PEABODY – The list of school administrators leaving the district this year just got longer.

by John Castelluccio

PEABODY – A water emergency declared by city officials two weeks ago is still in effect for Peabody.

City officials say the emergency was caused by low precipitation in June followed up by the heat wave in July (temperatures hit 100 degrees two weeks ago and have not let up much since). Water usage has more than doubled from the daily average due to such conditions.

Residents are being asked to conserve water by watering their lawns early in the morning or in the evening every other day via sprinklers or hose. And no Sunday watering.

by Jeff Shmase

LYNNFIELD – Selectmen on Monday heard a plan to make $1 million available to homeowners whose septic systems have failed.

Annette Gangi, who assists with the administration of the local program, asked the board to put an article on the warrant for the October Town Meeting, which is required for the town to issue a bond for the loan amount. The town has approved three rounds of loan funding the past few years.

The interest payment on the loan is 5 percent and homeowners have 20 years to repay it. The average loan payment is $22,500, Gangi said.

by Jeff Shmase

LYNNFIELD – Selectmen, fresh from hiring a new fire chief four weeks ago, began the process of selecting a new police chief Monday night.