Week in Review: July 12-18

The Melrose community, still reeling from the tragic death of Dina DeCecca, suffered another loss when Father James Field of Incarnation Parish died on Monday morning. Melrose Patch contributor Kathy Shiels Tully remembered both DeCecca and Field in a two-part column.

In police news, Former Melrose Board of Aldermen President Arthur Hitchman was arrested on charges that he took a $3,000 bribe to secure a liquor license for a convicted felon who sought to open a restaurant in Everett, and offered to sell illegal video poker machines to the restaurant. The attorney for alleged child rapist Francis Watt, who is under house arrest, asked a judge that his GPS device be removed and that Watt be allowed to visit his ill brother. In the police log, Melrose Police dealt with multiple house breaks.

In school news, the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School will move to a trimester schedule next year, allowing students to take more elective courses during their three years at the school. The School Committee worked on creating priorities for the district's strategic plan and voted to from the city that administrators hope to use to purchase science kits for the elementary schools.

In City Hall, the city decided to hold pat on polling places for the time being, while looking for alternatives to the Winthrop School and Beebe School. Mayor Rob Dolan swore in three new Melrose Police officers. The organizers of Sally Frank Farmers' Market behind City Hall hope to expand to Friday nights at the Knoll.

In sports and recreation news, a Melrose couple introduces the love of sailing to their children through the Quannapowitt Yacht Club in Wakefield. The Melrose National Little League summer tournaments are in full swing, while Melrose student athletes participated in the annual summer Bay State Games. Residents praised Golf Management Company's management of Mount Hood Golf Course, but asked for further improvements to the park. Also, residents enjoyed a Neighborhood Night Out at Foss Park.

A threat of torrential rains resulted in a flash flood warning, but Melrose seemed to escape the storms unscathed.

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