A Pride skeleton || Monica Sager 
Celebrating with flowers || Monica Sager So excited to graduate fourth grade || Monica Sager 
The Glover House || Monica Sager Posing with their graduate glasses || Monica Sager Playoffs will be held in August. | Brendan Cassidy The celebratory arch way of balloons || Monica Sager Families celebrating their fourth graders || Monica Sager Proud families || Monica Sager Big smiles || Monica Sager Flowers to celebrate graduation || Monica Sager Fourth grade students were honored for their accomplishments in the elementary school || Monica Sager 
Candidates sit on stage at Salem State University. | Brendan Cassidy Vinnin Square construction || Monica Sager 
Flip the Bird is closing || Monica Sager Heidi Whear is retiring || Monica Sager Flag football || Monica Sager 
Nancy Schultz, dressed as George Washington, with a check from the students. | Brendan Cassidy Students held up signs. | Brendan Cassidy Mr. Bones and the school nurse congratulated the fourth grade students || Monica Sager
Eagle Scouts and Gold Scouts were both honored this week. Swampscott Troop 53 members Adrian Laporte and Aiden Tat were officially declared Eagle Scouts and honored with an induction ceremony on Saturday morning.
In order to become an Eagle Scout, candidates must complete a service project. Tat chose to rebuild the nativity stable for St. John’s Church, which was destroyed in a storm. LaPorte restored a World War I cannon that sits in Swampscott Cemetery, which commemorates Swampscott residents who died in the war.
Effie Cobbett earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for her conservation work at Muskrat Pond.
“Getting my Gold Award had been a goal of mine since I was six, and the process to reach this goal began when I was 12,” Cobbett said. “Having my Gold Award is an honor that took more dedication, effort, and time than I ever imagined, and I am extremely proud of what I was able to accomplish.”
It was also a big week for eighth and fourth graders as they graduated from middle school and elementary school.
At the high school, it was announced Swampscott will offer its third Innovation Career Pathway for students seeking a hands-on learning experience in media arts and communication.
It was a big week for recreational sports too. Flag football started on Tuesday. Adult softball started Wednesday, and Summer Snaps women’s flag football began Thursday.
In governmental news, the town’s new five-year contract with Republic Services takes effect July 1, while the transition to automated collection is scheduled to begin July 20, according to Town Administrator Nick Connors.
Instead of using multiple types of recycling bins, the town will transition to standardized carts compatible with automated collection trucks. Residents will receive a 95-gallon recycling bin from the town.
Trash carts, on the other hand, will remain unchanged. Residents will be able to use their current 35-gallon trash carts with the new process.
Republic Services says it does not expect a repeat of last summer’s labor-related disruptions.
“The existing drivers that are in town, we’re training them to work automatic (collection),” Dan Higgins, the area manager of municipal sales at Republic Services, said in response to a question from the Swampscott Tides. “We appreciate the support and patience the town had last summer. It was difficult for everybody. I know it was very difficult here.”
The Select Board approved, and the Planning Board adopted, a non-binding 10-year Master Plan outlining Swampscott’s goals and priorities for community development, land use, housing, open space, historic resources, climate resilience, energy mitigation and sustainability.
The Swampscott Center for Performing Arts secured its entertainment license from the Select Board on Wednesday after several rounds of discussion at previous meetings.
The Select Board also started conversations around the long-term plans of the former Hawthorne-by-the-Sea property.
Looking to the weekend, Flip the Bird will close its Vinnin Square location on June 21, citing rising operating costs, higher rent and the impact of ongoing construction in the area.
