Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, Mr. Dinezio, Mr. Lollar, and Mrs. Mills, thank you.

My family moved to Burlington in 1955, back when the town boasted one traffic light and a few thousand residents. In the 1960s, my class adviser, Ed Fogelberg, told me to stick around—“great things are going to happen here.” Turns out, he wasn’t exaggerating. Burlington has since become a cultural and economic dynamo.

It’s been a privilege to serve over the decades alongside hundreds of people who made that prophecy come true.

But the real fun has been reporting on—and bragging about—the achievements of Burlington’s finest out in the world. It’s quite a list, but not complete. There are many achieving at the highest levels in science, technology, medicine, finance, and industry.

Rodrick McKinnon, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Kali Flanagan, Olympic gold medalist
Kitty and Peter Carruthers, Olympic silver medalists
Amy Poehler, Emmy winner with 26 nominations
Steven Wright, Academy Award winner
Jay Pandolfo, two-time Stanley Cup champion
Mark Fusco, Hobey Baker Award winner
Scott Fusco, Hobey Baker winner and two-time NCAA champion
Mark Delaney, former head of the Massachusetts State Police
Mike Leone, Director of the Port of Boston
Mark Horgan, Chief Legal Officer of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet
Charlie Murphy, Chairman of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee

Not bad for a town that started with one blinking light.

I’d like to close by recognizing a few people who have inspired me through their service:

Bob Vigneau, former state representative and Burlington war hero
Bob Mercier, our first town administrator
Don Roberts, who built a recreation department for all ages and abilities
Ed Weiner, nearly 40 years on the Board of Health
Joe Keohane, 50 years in youth sports
Janet Sullivan Fitzgerald, a tireless champion of People helping People
Bob Murray, for his constant generosity
My neighbors of 50 years, Chris and Frank Monaco, have over 70 years of service between them
Brian Curtin, 50 years of service, and my friend and mentor since middle school

And finally, my wife of 55 years, Carole—my navigator—who has put up with me all this time with remarkable grace and good humor.

Thank you.