Board Acts on South Norwood Bar Conditions and School Opening Schedule-August 28, 1974

Following a closed executive session prompted by residents’ safety fears, the Board of Selectmen took decisive action last night to address persistent disturbances, noise, and crowding centered around the seven barrooms in the South Norwood district. Joined by roughly 30 local residents and Police Chief Francis J. Curran, the board passed a series of measures aimed at bolstering police presence and tightening venue oversight.

Police Presence and Bar Restrictions

To combat ongoing complaints regarding rowdiness, parking congestion, and after-hours violations, Selectman Joseph F. Butters proposed adding six temporary intermittent patrolmen to increase district coverage. While Chief Curran noted that existing staffing levels and leave constraints limit current patrols—which typically assign one officer to South Norwood from 4:00 p.m. to midnight and another from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.—the board unanimously agreed to have Town Manager John P. Mogan compile cost figures for the added patrolmen by September 10.

Additional selectman actions targeted specific local establishments:

• Ponderosa Lounge: Offered by Selectman John F. Lydon, a 4-0 vote directed the town manager to investigate whether the Ponderosa Lounge is adhering to its agreement to fund a police detail four nights a week.
• Dundulis Lunch & Dealers’ Cafe: After rejecting required police details as too costly, both establishments had their closing hours restricted to 11:00 p.m. by the board. Dealers’ Cafe had recently closed following a severe property damage incident involving a patron.
• Public Safety Notices: The board approved a motion requiring all common victualler license holders to immediately post capacity limit notices and submit to building inspector reviews.
• Drinking Age Legislation: Responding to community concerns over the 18-year-old drinking law, the board agreed to contact state legislative leaders to advocate returning the legal drinking age to 21.

1974-75 School Schedule Announced

The school administration released official timing for the opening of the 1974–75 academic year beginning September 4:

• High School & Henry O. Peabody School: 7:45 a.m. to 2:57 p.m. (Half-day on September 4, 5, and 6).
• Junior High Schools (North & South): 7:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
• Elementary Schools: 8:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
• Kindergarten: Opening September 9, meeting from 8:40 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:55 p.m.

24-Hour Skate-A-Thon Success at Roll-Land

In more uplifting community news, roughly 125 participants crossed the finish line of a grueling 24-hour skate-a-thon at Roll-Land on Route 1A, raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Rink owner Charles Santoro of 250 Dean Street reported that skaters—predominantly teenagers supported by local sponsors—surpassed the $5,600 raised during the previous year’s event. Final proceeds will be presented during the national telethon broadcast on Channel 56 in Boston.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger