As 2014 draws to a close, I will be posting some of my previous Year in Review blog posts (I already posted by 2014 year in review).  Here is 2008:

The Lowell School Committee hired Dr. Chris Scott to follow Dr. Karla Brooks Baehr as Superintendent of Schools.

The future of the Tsongas Arena and LeLacheur Park is murky, due to questions about who will own the arena and manage the baseball park.

Changes in local media as Sunrise ends at WUML, George Anthes leaves the air on WCAP but goes on cable TV with City Life and City Manager Bernie Lynch and Republican activist Cliff Krieger launch their own blogs.

The most controversial issues for the City Council were procedural: changing from weekly to biweekly meetings; a residency ordinance proposal that died a quick and quiet death; an initial defeat of the City Manager’s proposed reorganization of the Office of Cultural Affairs.

One of the most dangerous intersections in Massachusetts Plain, Chelmsford, Powell was reconfigured and the University Avenue Bridge was closed for emergency repairs.

Register of Probate John Buonomo was caught on tape allegedly taking cash from copying machines at the Cambridge Registry of Deeds Office and State Senator James Marzilli is facing charges arising from several incidents in Lowell.

The national election took much of our attention with Hillary Clinton winning the state Democratic primary back in February but Barack Obama defeating John McCain in November.

Gasoline topped $4 per gallon earlier in the year but was only $1.65 by Christmas.

Foreclosures continued up while home sales and house values declined.

The Patriots lost in the Super Bowl but the Dracut Middies won, and the Celtics won the NBA championship for the first time in 20 years.

(Also, Elliott’s Hot Dog stand closed as did Café Aiello, a popular new coffee shop).