Andover drive-in shines for a night
Karen Brown hosted her annual movie night for families in Andover last Saturday, projecting movies onto the side of her barn at 3 Cattle Crossing.
This was the sixth year for movie night. Everybody sits on haystacks to watch the movie and, of course, eat popcorn. This year, about 250 people turned out while the first year had about 70, Brown said.
"This was the first year I had a Port-a-Potty," said Brown, a mother of two young children, a 5-year-old and a son just adopted from Pakistan who turns 2 in December. "It's a vintage series of kid movies, like 'Scooby Doo' and 'Dennis the Menace' and all G-rated."
Lazarus House is especially glad that Brown throws the movie nights, because guests bring donations for the charity, including clothes and food items.
— Judy Wakefield
Trick-or-treating on Halloween night
The Board of Selectmen voted Monday to allow trick-or treating on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. Selectmen made a point of noting that no effort was made to hold trick-or-treating hours on a date other than Halloween this year.
— Dustin Luca
Stay dry with swim team umbrella
The Andover Golden Warrior Girls Swim and Dive Team intends to keep the town of Andover dry. The girls have been selling standard golf size blue and gold umbrellas to more than 300 Andover sports fans to raise money for the team. The umbrellas sold out so quickly, "they have ordered more and want to give all of the parents who faithfully cheer their sons and daughters on no matter what the weather, a chance to participate in this fundraiser," according to coach Marilyn Fitzgerald.
Each umbrella is emblazoned with the Warrior Eagle logo. They are full size golf umbrellas, but fold to fit in a briefcase or backpack. Contact parent fundraising chairwoman Donna Christopulos at GDChristo@aol.com or 978-886-9439 or Coach Fitzgerald at ahscoachmf@comcast.net. The cost is $25.
Something about Mary - marriage
She's been Mary Donahue for years, but now it's Mary Montbleau. The director of the Department of Community Services married Bob Montbleau on Sept. 12. Her new name tag, worn during Andover Day on Sept. 25 and the giant town yard sale on Oct. 2, was noticed by many. And when the DCS course book hit mailboxes in town last week, some asked themselves, "Mary who?"
"People wondered if it was me. Well, it is," she giggled.
Congratulations, Mrs. Montbleau!
— Judy Wakefield
Before the lights went out at Fenway
Dunkin' Donuts hosted youth from two Andover youth groups recently at Fenway Park. Free Christian Church Youth Group and Andover Youth Services were hosted at the Boston Red Sox game on Sept. 21 and 22 against the Baltimore Orioles. The children received tickets in the "Dunkin' Dugout" located in the Fenway Park bleachers.
Andover hook to Boston Book Festival
Andover author Chris Klein is part of the Union Park Press team, a local independent book publisher. The publisher wants Bostonians to get creative and as part of the upcoming Boston Book Festival, Union Park Press is sponsoring Boston Line by Line: City Wide Creative Writing. Festivalgoers at this year's Boston Book Festival are invited to stop by the Union Park Press booth to add a sentence in city-themed stories started by fellow Bostonians. One notable Bostonian who "donated" a first line is Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River and Shutter Island.
By the way, viewers may have been spooked by scary Shutter Island, but not Klein. Union Park Press published "Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands" by Klein and movie scenes were filmed on the islands he researched. His research found that reformatories, asylums, poorhouses, hospitals and prisons were commonplace on many of the harbor islands.
The Boston Book Festival is Saturday, Oct. 16, in various locations around Copley Square in Boston. Visit bostonbookfest.org for more information.
- Judy Wakefield
