Medford Patch Celebrates 1 Year

It has been one year since Medford Patch launched.

Thanks to all of the readers, contributors and information sources who have made this site possible.

Here's a look at a few of the headlines from the last year:

There was one major snow storm in December and four in January making the winter of 2010-2011 on of the snowiest in memory.

Unflappable. A guru. Faithful. Devoted to family. Those were some of the words Medford city councilors used to describe long-time city servant . City Councilor Robert Maiocco could remember Lee's entire career in Medford, which started in the early 1980s when he served as assistant city manager. Lee went on to serve as city manager, then as director of personnel and finance under Mayor Michael McGlynn. He was the un-elected mayor of the city, Maiocco said. "He was unflappable," Maiocco said. "He would never lose his temper."

A woman fatally stabbed her husband and father of their two children following a heated argument and struggle last night on Exchange Avenue, prosecutors said. Shawntina Burston, 38, was ordered held without bail Monday morning on charges alleging she fatally stabbed Troy Burston in the upper-left chest on Jan. 30 with a kitchen knife while the couples' two children slept upstairs.

Nancy Pelosi took the stage at Cohen Auditorium on the Tufts campus on the afternoon of April 8th with the federal budget in gridlock in Washington. "Minute to minute, hour to hour, we're getting reports," Pelosi said. "As long as we don't have to take something to the floor, I can be with you right now." Pelosi was the guest for the inaugural Alan D. Solomont lecture. She took the stage shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, gave a brief speech, then answered questions from Solomont, a Tufts alumnus who is the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra.

A resolution to ban city councilors from using electronic devices during meetings drew heated debate in an April meeting before ultimately being defeated. The council voted 4-3 to defeat the resolution, which was brought forth by councilors Robert Penta and Michael Marks, but not before Penta and fellow councilor Paul Camuso had an impassioned exchange.

Trains passing through Medford began sounding their horns on June 17 and didn't stop until June 23. The Federal Railroad Administration revoked Medford's status as a train quiet zone last week after the city failed to come up with a safety alternative for horn-sounding. The city was given until 2010 to come into compliance when a federal law regarding train crossing safety was finalized in 2005. The FRA waited another year before the status was revoked, an administration spokesman said.  Locomotives running over the commuter rail track were ordered to sound their horns when passing over Canal Street and High Street on the night of the 17th.

Bloomberg, a Medford native and mother of New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, died June 19 in her home at 6 Ronaele Road in Medford. “Charlotte Bloomberg was a very warm and welcoming person who knew many throughout the city and spent the greater part of her life here," Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn said. "Later in life, she had the opportunity to move, but she chose to stay here in the city that she loved."

Snow wasn't the only weather we had this year - Hurricane Irene brought high winds, heavy rain, and ripped down limbs in Medford.