The Chelsea Housing Authority’s newly named receiver took over the helm officially at the troubled agency Wednesday morning following her appointment by a Supreme Court Justice last week. The CHA, which hurtled into receivership following revelations that former executive director Mike McLaughlin was receiving a yearly salary of $360,000, is now under her command...
Full Print Edition
Cathedral’s Prayers Are Answered: Chelsea is Eliminated from the Playoffs in a Last-minute Heartbreaker, 12-10
The Chelsea High football team learned the hard way the truth of the age old maxim, “It isn’t over ‘til it’s over.” For almost the entire game in their Division 4A semifinal playoff contest with Cathedral High Tuesday evening at Reading, the Chelsea High football team played nearly perfect football. The CHS defense had...
Obituaries 12-01-2011
Stella Nevins Lifelong Chelsea resident Stella T. (Maronska) Nevins died at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home on November 28 where she had been receiving supportive care for the past eight years. She was in her 90th year. Born, raised and a lifelong resident of Chelsea, she was the daughter of the late Charles and...
Thanksgiving Shopping
The Demoulas Marketbasket was absolutely packed the entire day Monday and has been packed almost everyday leading up to Thanksgiving. The parking lot was full nearly all day everyday at Chelsea’s leading retailer and its largest employer. The above photograph was taken Monday at about 1:30 p.m.
Questions and Connections
Lt. Governor Tim Murray has been a constant visitor here over the years that he has served. In many respects, he has become a great friend to this city and to its leading politicians, who see in him a chance to be close with the man who will succeed Governor Deval Patrick when he...
Receiver Named for Housing Authority: Investigation Ongoing
Judith Weber, a housing expert from Newton, has been appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court, to head the Chelsea Housing Authority as its receiver. In a hearing held before a single justice Monday morning, Weber was made the first receiver in CHA history. An assistant attorney general recommended her for Martha Coakley’s office and...
Attorney General Enters into Criminal, Civil Investigation
The state Attorney General’s Office sent notice last Thursday morning to the Chelsea Retirement Board that it is in the midst of a criminal and civil investigation into the actions of the former Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Michael McLaughlin. And the investigations might not end up only in that office. “Based in...
Retirement Board Tables Mclaughlin Pension Request
The Chelsea Retirement Board last Thursday morning tabled the pension request of former Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Michael McLaughlin in a decision that featured one somewhat controversial non-vote by member Fred Nowicki. After a brief discussion of the issue, the Board voted unanimously to table the McLaughlin matter until more information is...
Thanksgiving 2011
The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and we begin to wonder – where has the year gone and my, isn’t it flying by? What has it brought us and do we have anything to give thanks for? For those of you reading this, you should be grateful for having been given another year of...
Chelsea to Play Matignon on Thanksgiving: Post Season Playoff Berth is on the Line for Red Devils
The Chelsea High football team will be shooting to clinch a berth in the MIAA post season football playoffs when the Red Devils travel to Dilboy Stadium in Somerville to take on Matignon High School on Thanksgiving morning. Kick-off time for the contest is 10:15. Chelsea stands at 5-4 overall on the season and...
Obituaries 11-22-2011
Elizabeth La Camera Devoted Her Life to Helping Others Elizabeth M. (Minola) La Camera of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, died on November 18. She was 97 years old. Mrs. La Camera devoted 68 years of her life to the people of Winthrop, East Boston, Chelsea, and Revere. She worked for 34 years at...
Ag’s Office Sends Word of Civil and Criminal Investigation into Mclaughlin
The state Attorney General’s Office sent notice Thursday morning to the Chelsea Retirement Board that it is in the midst of a criminal and civil investigation into the actions of the former Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Michael McLaughlin. And the investigations might not end up only in that office. “Based in part...
Retirement Board Tables Mclaughlin Pension; Some Controversy Made over Nowicki ‘Present’ Vote
The Chelsea Retirement Board on Thursday morning tabled the pension request of former Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Michael McLaughlin in a decision that featured one somewhat controversial non-vote by member Fred Nowicki. After a brief discussion of the issue, the Board voted unanimously to table the McLaughlin matter until more information is...
Delayed Crossing: State Officials Say It Will Be More Like March Before Chelsea Street Bridge Re-opens to Traffic
While the overall Chelsea Street Bridge project is on time and on budget, state transportation officials said this week that the new thoroughfare would not open to traffic until March. It was originally slated to re-open Dec. 1st. “We’re still on schedule for overall completion in April, but getting the trusses across and the...
Housing Authority Being Forced into Receivership
Attorney General Martha Coakley has begun the legal process, which will lead to the Chelsea Housing Authority being placed into state receivership in the next few days, according to sources familiar with the investigation of the CHA who wished to remain unnamed. The receivership action is said to have been pushed by Governor Deval...
CHA Fallout
National organization will not strip awards Two national awards hung prominently on the office walls of former, now disgraced, Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Michael McLaughlin. Allegedly, McLaughlin pointed to those awards frequently as an example of the progress made at the Authority and his role in that progress. During the course of...
Audit Unveiled This Year Claimed All Was Well
A Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) audit released earlier this year by State Auditor Suzanne Bump should have – under its own listed parameters – uncovered the excessive salary payments given to former CHA Executive Director Michael McLaughlin. Apparently though, it did not, and the Auditor’s Office is not commenting on the matter. Shortly after...
Modest Tax Increases Expected; Tax Rate Set as Council OK’s Residential Tax Credit
The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt two key motions that will keep residential tax bills among the lowest in the state. “I think we all take great pride in knowing we’re doing everything we can to give residential taxpayers a real break here in Chelsea,” said Councillor Brian Hatleberg. “And that...
Receivership for CHA
The governor has called for the Chelsea Housing Authority to be placed in receivership as an antidote to the spate of nearly obscene actions taken by former CHA director Michael McLaughlin, the CHA board, and the CHA accountant. News that Attorney General Martha Coakley is presenting legal documents to the Supreme Judicial Court in...
Red Devils Beat Tech Victory Boosts Chelsea into Three Way Tie for First
The Chelsea High football team parlayed a swarming defensive effort and the necessary offensive punch to earn a 14-6 win at North Shore Tech Saturday afternoon. The victory creates a three way tie for first place in the Small Division of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference among Chelsea, North Shore, and Greater Lowell. The determination...
Police Briefs 11-17-2011
Monday, November 7 Eldred Richards, 23, 48 Gardner St., Chelsea, was arrested on a felony warrant, and assault and battery. Matthew Graves, 19, 127 Garfield Ave., Chelsea, was arrested for being an incapacitated person. Saulo Cubias, 45, 126 Waterhill St., Lynn, was arrested for operating under the influence (2ndoffense), red light violation (2 counts)....
Obituaries 11-17-2011
James ‘J.J.’ McCarthy Wenham Resident James “J.J.” McCarthy of Wenham died on November 12. He was 86 years old. He was the beloved husband of the late Katherine M. (Kopaczynska) McCarthy, uncle of Carol Pompeo and her late husband, Joseph of Chelsea, Irene Lombardozzi and her late husband, Richard of Chelsea, Helen Kopaczynska of...
Breaking: Housing Authority Being Forced into Receivership
Attorney General Martha Coakley has apparently begun the legal process which will lead to the Chelsea Housing Authority being placed into state receivership in the next few days, according to sources familiar with the investigation of the CHA who wished to remain unnamed. The Receivership action is said to have been pushed by Governor...
Brown, Robinson and Hatleberg At-large Winners; Murphy, Frank, Recupero, Perlatonda, Cortell Win
On a stunningly gorgeous day, under a bright sun and with real warmth all around, 20% of this city’s registered voters came out to vote. When all was said and done with balloting and all the votes were counted and tallied, the results turned out to be a potpourri of old and new. Calvin...
