Over the past year, a few stories percolated along, updating with a chapter or two, but generally keeping a low profile. Some of them have been going on for years – and may yet continue beyond 2015 – but we suspect all of these will make some noise in the year ahead. Stay tuned.

Here are stories to follow in 2015:

1. In Countersuit, Odeum Corp. Accuses Erinakes Of Conflict of Interest

One of the first big stories for 2015 may be a ruling from Judge Brian Stern (himself an EG resident) on whether or not Steve Erinakes still has a stake in the Greenwich Odeum theater building. Stern is due to make a ruling on that and on the Odeum’s claim that Erinakes failed in his fiduciary duty to the nonprofit.

2. Town Settles Tax Dispute With Sarah’s Trace Homeowners For $70,000 and

Trial Date Set In Homeowner Lawsuit Over Cole Construction

We’re back in court for this next one. The lawsuit pitting Sarah’s Trace homeowners against the EG School District, the Town of East Greenwich and various construction-related entities is set to go to trial March 2, 2015 – four years after the suit was filed. The homeowners say construction of the new Cole Middle School caused cracks in their walls and foundations, threatening the structural integrity of the houses. In July, the town settled with homeowners over a lesser point, the assessed value of their houses.

3. Districtwide All-Day K Would Add $800,000 to Budget

All-day kindergarten seems to be a foregone conclusion, if state and national trends are any indication. But it won’t come cheap. To institute it in the next school year, it would cost $800,o00. There’s a vocal lobby of residents pushing full-day K. The question in 2015 is whether or not it will happen this September – partially or completely.

4. Moving School Start Later Is A Mindset, Says Sharon Principal

Another big issue is the idea of pushing back the start time an hour for middle and high school students. As with full-day K, much of the research supports such an idea. But some question how it would work – with after-school sports in particular – and whether the change would really give kids more sleep time, or just an excuse to stay up later.

5. New England Tech’s $120 Million Expansion To Bring Dorm to EG by ’17

Now, this is a sleeper story. East Greenwich is going to be learning from Bristol, Newport, Smithfield and Providence about what it means to be a college town, with New England Tech’s first dorm do to open by 2017.

6. The future of the Bostitch property.

No story to click on here, just some words from Town Council President Michael Isaacs at an October candidates’ forum that an announcement is in the offing on a plan to use the South County Trail facility.

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