Community Corner

Braintree Year In Review: Top Stories Of 2017

There was plenty to talk about in 2017.

Daniel Libon, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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BRAINTREE, MA — The year is almost in the books and needless to say, 2017 had some notable stories.

If you were looking for something to talk about, there was not a lack of topics and issues. From Motel 6 closing, Primark opening, and the East Middle School renovation moving forward, there were plenty of headlines around town.

Below are the top 10 Braintree stories of 2017:

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10. Braintree Firefighter Honored For Saving 3 From Weymouth Fire

Talk about a first impression. Braintree firefighter Jackie Giacchetti was on her way back from an obstacle course test in July when she saw smoke coming from a nail salon on Washington Street in Weymouth. She rushed into the building and saved two people, and a third person in a nearby home.

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9. Braintree Woman Was A Mother To 70

Miriam D. (Smedile) Gannon, 82, passed away in her Braintree home from lymphoma. Since the mid-1960s, Gannon and her late husband Matthew have been parents to over 70 foster children and nearly two dozens were adopted. The couple also became legal guardians to a few more.

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8. Parking Shenanigans At Braintree High School

In September, 65 vehicles in the student lot received $15 tickets for improper parking. Police say members of the senior class parked across the while parking spaces rather than between the lines in an effort to keep juniors out of the lot. The students were allowed to skip the fine if they made a $15 donation to the Houston Food Bank or American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

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7. Out With The Old Councilors, In With The New

In the largest turnover since the creation of the new form of government, the Braintree Town Council lost three members this year. Councilors Dan Clifford, John Mullaney, and Mike Owens all declined to run for reelection. Thomas Whalen won a three-way race for Mullaney's District 2 seat, Tim Carey beat Gerald DeGregorio in a write-in campaign for Clifford's District 6 seat, and David Ringius moved from the school committee to Owens' District 5 seat.

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6. Braintree South Shore Plaza Shooting Related to Gang Activity

Panic gripped South Shore Plaza as gunshots rang out from the Macy's shoe department during a February evening after two alleged Boston gang members bumped into each other, locking down the Braintree mall and giving way to a manhunt for the two suspects.

Town officials say the altercation was an isolated incident between two "Boston gang affiliates" that resulted in at least one of them opening fire, Braintree police said.

An arrest was made the next day and the conversation about safety at the plaza returned to the forefront.

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5. East Middle School Renovation Gets Approved

Funding for the project was approved this year. With the elementary schools near capacity, school officials are hoping to create more space with large renovations of both middle schools. Plans call for the middle school to be divided into two academies within the schools. The fifth and sixth grades will make up one academy and seventh and eighth grade will occupy the other. During the day, neither academy at the school will have any interaction. Both groups will have their own cafeterias and gymnasiums as well.

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4. Braintree Native Gets Impressive Boston Marathon Time

A Braintree man was among the first to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon. In fact, he was done well before many were halfway done.

Archbishop Williams graduate Sean Quigley placed 11th in the 121st running of the race, completing the trip in 2:15:34. The time was good enough for a 5:11-mile pace.

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3. Primark Comes To Town

The South Shore Plaza welcomed Irish retail giant Primark to Braintree this summer. The store was the third Primark to open in the state and is located on the second floor of the plaza, in the space formerly occupied by a portion of Sears.

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2. Braintree Girls' Basketball Coach Out, Then Back In

With talk of issues surrounding a "parent revolt," Braintree girls' basketball coach Kristen McDonnell left the program in April, despite a resume that includes multiple sectional titles, state titles, and an appearance in the 2017 championship.

While the news is surprising, sources tell the Boston Herald and the Patriot Ledger that there may have been issues surrounding the program, with some in the crowd reportedly not happy with how the coach distributed playing time.

McDonnell announced in July that she would return for the 2017-18 season.

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1. Motel 6 Shuts Down

The night of May 5 began like many nights have for police officers in the Town of Braintree - with a call concerning a man with an active warrant at the Motel 6 right off the highway on Union Street. Trips to the controversial motel off of Route 3 had become routine for officers, in part due to its ability to attract crime and the department's access to the guest list. It was that night five officers went to a room to arrest a guest wanted by the Boston Police Department, but after an officer was shot, the routine warrant arrest became a full blown crime scene.

One officer was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound, the suspect was found dead from a gunshot, and town officials made it clear that the public safety issues at the troubled motel were not acceptable. Within weeks, the motel's operating license was revoked and an appeal in Norfolk Superior Court was denied.

All the officers involved in the incident have since returned to duty.

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