October 2023: An Active Month with Board Meetings, Reports, Debates, and Halloween

Bedford’s girls’ cross country team closed out the league season by winning the DCL league meet at Franklin Park. Courtesy photo

TOWN BOARD, COMMITTEE, AND DEPARTMENT NEWS

The consensus of the Bedford Historic District Commission is that the proposed fire station at 139 The Great Road should be designed with apparatus bays facing the street.
Members of the Fire Station Building Committee got their first full look at architectural renderings in October, viewing the 25,500-square-foot structure proposed for 139 The Great Road.
A community forum in October addressing the environmental impact of a proposed massive hangar project at Hanscom Field near Hartwell Road illustrated contrasting responses – at least by degree.
A report to the Select Board on Springs Brook Park revealed a six-figure deficit. There was some discussion about future planning at the recreation area.
The Bedford Planning Board has approved a special permit for a two-family dwelling along Fletcher Road behind the parking lot of the commercial building at 60 The Great Road.
The Bedford Select Board discussed turf playing surfaces. The town’s only synthetic playing field is about a year-and-a-half away from game-over, according to a specialist in product assessment.
The petitioners’ article titled “Citizens’ Petition – Alternative Location for Fire Station,” seventh on the Special Town Meeting warrant, is not legally binding according to Bedford’s Town Counsel.
The Planning Board, by a 3-2 margin, favors an amendment to a special permit that will allow additional residential units in a building under construction at 100 Plank St. The owner will present a final proposal at an upcoming meeting.
Completion of the ongoing realignment of the North Road-Chelmsford Road intersection is now targeted for spring.

SCHOOL NEWS

The Bedford High School Marching Band came into the season feeling in harmony as a group. They were looking forward to competition season.
Six Bedford High School seniors have been named as National Merit Semifinalists, and 14 seniors have been named as National Merit Commended Students.
BHS juniors Roza Shaikh and Bianca Tiwari are on a mission to educate young people in low-income communities about the importance of making healthy decisions.

FEATURES

There were plenty of people and candy at the annual Trunk or Treat event in October. Staff photo by Wayne Braverman

The show in the First Parish Church gallery “Affirmation of Life, Art from Today’s Ukraine” had a surprise visitor on a Sunday evening – 2022 Noble Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Sasha Romantsova.
BHS Class of ’71 graduate Dan Genetti reflects on growing up in Bedford and how it has impacted three decades of involvement in the film industry.
First Parish on the Common was transformed into the First Parish Haunted House one weekend in October. The two-day annual event of Halloween fun attracted 1,800 people.
Frank Richichi’s pawpaw tree was planted on his Norma Road property about 18 years ago and is producing enough of the unusual fruit to share with friends and neighbors.
Congratulations to Phyllis and Buddy McGovern of Bedford who recently celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.
To help everyone get in the magical/mystical mood of the Halloween season, take a look at some of the creative and colorful holiday decorations that were appearing all across Bedford.
Read about Astrid Reischwitz’s new book, Spin Club Stories: A Visual Journey through Tradition, Memory, and Identity.
Here are some pictures of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce’s 13^thannual Trunk or Treat event at the Whole Foods parking lot on Oct. 29^th.
Oct. 29^th was the last day of Sun Valley Subs. Frances Iovino and family closed their Summer Street business doors after 45 years.
2012 BHS Graduate, Noah Dines is preparing to set the record for most human-powered vertical feet skied in a calendar year in 2024. Click here for Part One and click here for Part Two.

SPORTS

The Bedford High School girls’ cross country team captured its first ever Dual County League Small School championship.
Jonny Garraway, Carter Rauch, Addison Poulter, and Sahill Rotella all earned medals when Bedford High School cross country competed in the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth.
Bedford Babe Ruth Baseball & Softball hit it out of the park with their annual Home Run Derby fundraiser.

IN OTHER NEWS

Buddy, a Jack Russell terrier, didn’t let being 16 years old, deaf, and nearly blind keep him back from adventure one October weekend. The dog went missing and was found by drone technology – stuck in swamp mud – 24 hours later.
Another local eatery is gone. The management of Maggie’s Other Farm closed down the restaurant in October to focus on North Shore endeavors.
In October, 20 people showed up at the First Church of Christ, Congregational to help sort through the “Mt. Everest of clothing bags” as part of the Bedford Interfaith community’s fall/winter clothing drive for new neighbors at the Bedford Plaza Hotel.
Some Bedford residents joined more than 200 people who gathered to present a petition to Gov. Maura Healey calling for an end to the expansion of private jets everywhere, and specifically, Massport’s expansion plans at Hanscom Field.
A Bedford resident hopes to inform the public that the fishing lines left around Fawn Lake are a danger to the area’s wildlife and recreational users.