Move to strike safety from the (Super Bowl) record
At a Board of Selectmen meeting held less than 24 hours after the New England Patriots had their Super Bowl hopes dashed in a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in Indianapolis, Selectman Alex Vispoli took a moment to request that the board discuss the game, particularly a penalty against the Patriots early in the first quarter that put the Giants up 2-0.
"We have some questions, I believe?" Vispoli asked, moments after Selectman Ted Teichert moved to adjourn the meeting. "I have a question on that call, the safety yesterday, during the game."
"I don't think that was a proper call," Vispoli suggested.
"And you want to take a position on it?" asked Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski.
"Alex, we're moving on," said Teichert. "Pitchers and catchers are reporting in two weeks."
— Dustin Luca
89 candles on cake
Happy 89th birthday to Mary Zukowski McDonald who lives at Atria Marland Place. Her daughter, Joanne McDonald Reeves, of Westport, Conn., said her mom lived through the Depression, is a veteran of World War II, has had a full life and enjoyed her recent surprise birthday party with 30 family and friends.
Mary McDonald's cake had a photo of her when she was 21 and one from today.
— Judy Wakefield
Cookie fever?
Girl Scout cookies may be fattening and expensive ($4 a box), but the green fever lives on. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts will mark the 100th year of the Girl Scouts with featured guest Chelsea Clinton at its green gala next month.
Clinton was a Girl Scout during her childhood years in Arkansas. She is both an accomplished scholar and advocate for encouraging and enabling the advancement of all girls, according to event organizers.
If all this cookie talk has you thinking about Thin Mints or Caramel Delights, it's not too late to get some. The local cookie cupboard, 1740 Turnpike St., Route 114, North Andover, is open until March 9. Call 978-689-8015 for more info.
— Judy Wakefield
Missing a birthday card? It was found
An Andover man walking on Greenwood Road found a child's birthday card in a blue envelope laying on the ground. The card contained money for the birthday boy.
The man said that if the person who lost the card can report who the card was to and from, and the money amount, he will happily return them to the boy. If this was your card or your child's card, send an email to townsman@andovertownsman.com with "birthday card" in the subject line.
Super Bowl yoga scores
There is some good news from Super Bowl Sunday. Over $1,800 was raised at the Yoga Ephinany event (Townsman, Feb. 2) held before the big game, organizer Jen Ryan of the Yoga Loft in Wilmington said in an email. The money will go to a scholarship fund and will cover yoga certification costs for a recipient.
- Judy Wakefield
Busy month for Andover O'Briens
The past month must have been a whirlwind for Andoverite Bill O'Brien, the New England Patriots offensive coordinator and newly hired football coach at Penn State University.
"Bill [Belichick, Pats coach and Phillips Academy grad] has been tremendous with his advice to me," said O'Brien before the Super Bowl, which the Patriots lost to the Giants 21-17. "He's been tremendous, assigning a couple of people to help me with Penn State things as they roll, like emails and phone calls."
As difficult as O'Brien's month has been serving two masters, he told the Eagle-Tribune before the Super Bowl that his wife Colleen's month has been tougher.
"We have two boys and one with special needs," said O'Brien. "That's 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I couldn't do this if she wasn't so incredible. That's real life. I owe her a lot."
- Bill Burt
Underground history course, on the tube
For the month of February the Underground Railroad will pass through Andover again, say producers of a local cable-television show.
The anti-slavery movement had many active supporters in town who provided stops for runaway slaves on their journey to freedom. Although the so-called railroad was shrouded in secrecy, the show follows the route and the stops, highlighting the people of the town who were involved, with the help of Jane Cairns from the Andover Historical Society.
The local access show "There's Something About Andover" airs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m.; and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9 a.m. on Channel 8 (Verizon Channel 47). Produced by volunteers from the Andover Senior Center, it is one of Andover Community Access & Media's longest running shows.
