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Over 400 stories were published in Sudbury Weekly in 2024. There was a mix of news, features, event submissions, op-eds and more. Here we are highlighting the news stories that chronicled key developments in Sudbury over the course of the year.
If there’s a coherent theme across all the stories, it’s hard to spot. There’s a lot of uncertainty and apprehension in many of the big stories. The Town has presented a challenging financial forecast in the years ahead. The schools are trying to meet ever-growing and ever-evolving student needs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, residents of all ages are feeling the squeeze from inflation and nationwide cost escalation.
While engulfed in all that uncertainty, there were noteworthy achievements and accomplishments. Sudbury’s Conservation Coordinator was honored with a Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Department of Public Works (DPW) achieved accreditation. Rail trail development has never moved as quickly in Sudbury as it seems to be moving these days. Major construction projects like the Fairbank Community Center are in the home stretch, while a renovation of the Atkinson pool is on the horizon.
Much of the transformative work happening in Sudbury was a long time coming. In some cases, this year’s developments were the result of over a decade of planning and advocacy. The slow-developing nature of those massive municipal projects tends to disguise the fundamental transformation they brought to the town as they approached completion. Just look at the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail for proof. Droves of residents are using the (technically not-open) rail trail on a daily basis. Sudbury was never known as a “walkable” town, but that changed massively in 2024, and is expected to change even more with the Mass Central Rail Trail going out to bid for construction in 2025.
Another remarkable change this year is over at the new Fairbank Community Center, where even residents who openly opposed or criticized the project are clamoring for even greater public access to the new building. (Town leadership has, since early 2024, indicated that they are working on a plan for room rentals and space sharing in the new building.) It took about a decade of fierce advocacy, fierce opposition, and a couple mulligans before voters approved a community center project. Now we’re nearly a year into a “soft opening,” and everybody wants to rent a room.
The public servants who keep Sudbury humming along have changed, too. There are new or new-ish department heads in Planning, Health, Finance and the DPW. A new Fire Chief will be selected in 2025, and Town Manager Andy Sheehan is rounding out his second year in Sudbury.
Change is in the air in Sudbury, but just how much of it?
Nearly 50 years ago, in December of 1975, the Sudbury Town Crier-Fence Viewer was in its first year of operation. The paper’s year in review, penned by Jean Gogolin, opened with a blunt assessment of the year:
“Even for Sudbury, 1975 seemed an unusually contentious year. The sniping was louder, the candidates more numerous, the litigation more serious and more expensive, the Town Meeting voter more skeptical. Perhaps the still-shaky economy had something to do with it; or the New England weather.”
Gogolin goes on to recap “budgetary firefighting” at Sudbury Public Schools, funding difficulties for the “Sudbus” in-town transportation service, debate about Town fees, Sudbury teachers contract negotiations that resulted in a six percent raise in the first year because it was tied to high inflation, a new fire chief, and a battle to expand telephone service.
Any of those sound familiar?
Gogolin’s feature ran in two parts, with the second part running on January 8, 1976. She concluded:
“While the nation celebrates its 200th birthday, Sudbury will have its 343rd. Whatever 1976 has in store for Sudbury, it’s probably happened before. Happy New Year.”
Was 2024 more of the same, or something new? Did any of it give us some hint about what’s coming our way next year?
Here are the highlights from the year that was…
January 2024
Select Board Firearms Business Bylaw Moves Forward
The year got off to a hot start with the contentious firearms business zoning bylaw; which ultimately garnered a majority at Annual Town Meeting, but failed to reach the higher threshold required to pass.
SPS Parents Lament Valentine’s Day Changes
Changes to Valentine’s Day festivities in the Sudbury Public Schools ruffled some feathers among parents. Valentine’s Day celebrations proved to be just the tip of the iceberg for an intensifying climate in and around Sudbury Public Schools.
Unified Sports Gains Momentum In Dynamic Lincoln-Sudbury Athletics Program
One of the more unifying local stories of the year – Athletic Director Dan Lee launched Lincoln-Sudbury’s Unified Sports program earlier this year, and it’s already expanding.
February 2024
Town Election: SPS Race Contested, Select Board Likely to Be
One of the more fascinating election cycles in recent memory – the 2024 Town Election at one point had seven candidates for the Sudbury Public Schools School Committee.
School Committee Stonewalls On After-School Care
Amidst a heated election cycle and growing public engagement around after-school care challenges in Sudbury, the school committee opted not to take up the issue.
Capital Night Highlights Budget Pressures for Sudbury
Money stress is ‘par for the course’ in municipal government. But Sudbury joined the wave of municipalities sounding the alarms about cost escalation during the 2024 installment of “Capital Night.”
March 2024
“Parental Rights” Movement Surfaces In School Committee Race
The race for two seats on the Sudbury Public Schools Committee was unlike any in recent memory for Sudbury – but in a Presidential election year, aren’t all politics national?
Review of Princess Ida or, Castle Adamant by the Savoyards: Here in Our Own Back Yard
Ellen Gitelman hit a home run in Sudbury Weekly’s first-ever review of a local production. (Spoiler: the Savoyards were great!)
Next Phase of Rail Trail Could Happen Fast
2024 was the year of rail trails in Sudbury. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail was still under construction, but that didn’t stop trail users from getting out there. Perhaps more important for the next phase of the Bruce Freeman and the Sudbury section of the Mass Central Rail Trail: design and construction timelines seemed to accelerate dramatically compared the arduous journey that preceded both trails.
Carty, Dretler Win Select Board Race; Stephens, Jones Take School Committee Seats
With two contested races for high-profile boards, but multiple no-shows for the League of Women Voters of Sudbury Candidates Forums, the Town Election season was memorable, to say the least. The contested races weren’t particularly close, and turnout was very strong relative to recent years.
April 2024
SPS Nurses Nudge District Leadership Amid Unresolved Contract Negotiations
School nurses continued their efforts to achieve pay parity with teachers this year. Though they were unsuccessful with their last contract, which went unresolved for multiple years following the Covid-19 pandemic, they’re already starting a new negotiation for the next contract.
Sudbury Water District Exec Pays $18,000 in Fines for Conflict of Interest Law Violations
The Sudbury Water District is rarely in the news – and it certainly didn’t want to be in the news for something like this.
Zoning Board of Appeals Will Not Support Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw
The Select Board’s firearms business zoning bylaw went into Annual Town Meeting with support from the Planning Board and opposition from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
May 2024
Divided Select Board Turns Toxic Over Failed Firearm Business Bylaw
After months of combative discussions, the Select Board’s bylaw came in for a crash landing at Annual Town Meeting.
2024 featured highs and lows for the Park and Recreation department. Programming options in the new community center are multiplying, but the department’s financial model emerged as a cause of great concern for the Park and Recreation Commission.
Middle School Civic Action Projects Impress With Research-Based Approach
Curtis Middle School students had a strong showing in their civic action projects. In fact, advocacy to implement a district-wide composting program at Sudbury Public Schools is still ongoing.
Mosquitoes Hit Record Levels In Sudbury
It was touch-and-go for a while in summer 2024 – mosquitoes were ferocious and public health experts had to remain prepared in the event that gnarly diseases started spreading.
June 2024
It’s Getting Hot In Here: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Results Are In
Sustainability was a major theme throughout Town government this year. The greenhouse gas emissions inventory was a critical source of data to formulate a comprehensive plan for the Town.
SPS School Committee Gives In-Person Meetings a Whirl — Community Engagement Tags Along
The majority of the Sudbury Public Schools Committee opted for an old-fashioned approach to their committee meetings. The lack of a hybrid meeting option ruffled feathers for much of the year.
Tercentenary Markers On the Way Out?
This story still hasn’t arrived at a conclusion – but the discussions have sprawled across the Historical Commission, Select Board and beyond.
Lincoln-Sudbury to Standardize Course Leveling Across Departments
Applying to college got a bit easier this year for Lincoln-Sudbury students.
Zoning Board to Take a Crack at New Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw
After opposing the Select Board’s version that failed at Annual Town Meeting in May, the Zoning Board of Appeals teamed up with an “ad-hoc committee” of residents to develop their own bylaw.
July 2024
Trash Pickup Discussions Resurface In Sudbury
In something of a Sudbury tradition, a decades-old conversation resurfaced in 2024. Is momentum building behind a Town-facilitated single hauler?
“Zayith Tapas and Bar” Eyes Opening In Former Fugakyu Location
Sudbury lost an iconic local restaurant in 2024, but a new concept looks to bring new life to the space.
DPW Achieves Accreditation, Looks Ahead to Ambitious Sewer Project
The Department of Public Works achieved a rare and prestigious milestone this year.
August 2024
Sudbury Conservation Coordinator Honored With Distinguished Public Service Award
Sudbury’s Conservation Coordinator, Lori Capone, was honored by the Sudbury Valley Trustees.
Sustainability Committee Votes Down School HVAC Funding
Who thought stories about HVAC repairs would have this many plot twists?
Select Board Pumps Breaks on After-School Care
By the end of the summer, after-school care had become the game of municipal hot-potato that nobody ever asked to play.
Sewataro Ponds Officially Closed for Summer
A new public swimming program was a short-lived pilot thanks to a curveball believed to be pitched by climate extremes.
What’s That Boarded Up Red Building At Haynes and Pantry?
The Bowker Store looms large, at least historically speaking, at the corner of Haynes and Pantry roads.
Select Board Sets Boundary Around Police Union Negotiations
A short-lived staffing shortfall in the Sudbury Police Department provided an opening for rampant speculation, and discussion about letter-writing on both of Sudbury’s school committees.
September 2024
Non-Compliant Wastewater Treatment Plant Takes Its Toll On Cold Brook Crossing Residents
Something didn’t smell right at Cold Brook Crossing this summer. Residents demanded action.
Sudbury Housing Authority Receives $1.2M For Duplexes
State funding breathed new life into a duplex project that was indefinitely postponed at Annual Town Meeting earlier this year. As a result, some neighbors were reinvigorated in their opposition to the project.
SPS Ponders Terminating Combined Facilities Department Agreement With Town of Sudbury
In one of the more curious storylines of the year – Sudbury Public Schools spent much of the fall mired in a controversy that stemmed from their decision to openly discuss termination of the shared facilities department MOA with the Town of Sudbury.
Town Manager Gently Bursts Park and Rec’s Bubble — Fee Increases Loom
The future of recreation in Sudbury looked uncertain when the Park and Recreation Commission dug into their department’s budget with Town Manager Andy Sheehan.
October 2024
MCAS Results Are In – A Mixed Bag For Sudbury
The calendar year began with controversy around Valentine’s Day celebrations, but it came to a wrap with concerns around academic achievement in Sudbury Public Schools.
Paani Indian Cuisine to Close Permanently
It was a tough end of the year for beloved local businesses.
Town Override Unlikely Next Fiscal Year
Budget pressures were the focus of many board discussions this year. Town Manager Andy Sheehan was consistent in his communication about his budget strategy, and repeatedly called for fiscal discipline.
Controversy Swirls Around Housing Plans
Affordable housing projects rarely avoid at least some level of controversy. In Sudbury, opposition came from many different perspectives.
Sheehan Keeps Union Contract Hot Streak Rolling
It’s a contract year – and all the Town’s union contracts are due for negotiation. Town Manager Andy Sheehan has been methodically settling contracts so far, but there are more to go.
November 2024
Popular Sudbury Toy Store to Close in January 2025
Pour one out for Learning Express – a local staple known for complimentary gift wrapping and a thoughtful selection of toys and gifts.
Sudbury Votes Strongly for Harris; Re-elects Gentile
As Sudbury goes, so goes the… Nope, not so much this cycle.
Lincoln-Sudbury Clears the Air on AP Course Offerings
While some students and parents have advocated for more AP-courses from the College Board, the high school stood firm in its approach and provided a detailed explanation of the nuances of the situation.
SPS Seeks Basis to Terminate Combined Facility Department MOA
A saga over resource sharing dominated much of the fourth quarter in Sudbury.
December 2024
Sul Tavolo to Replace Sobre Mesa Restaurant in Sudbury
Tuscan. Monkey. Bread. ‘Nuff said.
Energy and Sustainability Committee Seeks to Clarify Control of Solar Revolving Fund
More money, more problems?
SPS Addresses 14 Classes Over Class Size Guidelines
More students, more problems?
The SPS budget-building process was a bit complicated again this year, but they got it done.
Housing Authority Makes Case For Duplexes
Affordable housing was a source of disagreement throughout much of 2024. The Community Preservation Committee found itself at the center of a duplex debate, whether they asked to be there or not.
