Resident, selectman spar over question
Two days ahead of the Fourth of July, fireworks flew at a July 2 selectmen meeting between Cyr Circle resident Mary Carbone and Selectmen Chairman Paul Salafia.
The episode took place after a work session discussing the Town Yard, during which the board took no public input, its policy, according to Salafia. After Carbone attempted to ask a question about the project, Salafia ordered her to stop speaking.
Carbone's question: how much has the town spent to study Town Yard options?
"They do exactly what they want to do," said Carbone by phone. "I'm not taking it. I'm a resident of the community, and enough is enough."
Salafia said the board has decided to hold work sessions without hearing public input to expedite the information-gathering process.
"With a nice, efficient process to try to bring in all this information, we'll certainly, happily take public input. Just not yet," said Salafia. "She baited me and tried to circumvent the process... Of the 33,000 people in this town, how come she's the only one who's had problems with us?"
— Dustin Luca
Frankenstein and the 5K
School's out but school fundraising never sleeps. Plans for Bancroft Elementary School's "Book It To The Finish" 5-kilometer race and family fun run have been announced. The run will be Saturday, Oct. 27 and participants are encouraged to dress up and run/walk in Halloween costumes.
Proceeds will help buy the playground equipment for the new Bancroft Elementary School. The 1K race starts at 2:30 p.m. and the 5K starts at 3 p.m. The event starts and ends at Bancroft School. Register online at bookittothefinish.com.
T-shirts will be given to the first 200 participants registered before Sept. 5. Prizes, games and refreshments will be available.
— Judy Wakefield
Short goodbye
As Christopher Lord starts his new job as principal of Andover High School this month, his predecessor, two-year interim Principal Tom Sharkey sent a very short goodbye email to parents.
"I have appreciated the opportunity to spend these past two years with you and with your wonderful children. Though this year had its twists and turns, I have valued the experience of being in a very good school that will be a great school and I thank so many of you for your words of kindness and encouragement along the way," Sharkey wrote.
Sharkey led the school during the time of a hazing scandal and difficult teachers union negotiation.
— Judy Wakefield
Clear your closet, fill another's
The Big Brother Big Sister Foundation will be collecting donations of clothes in town, door to door, next Monday, July 16.
The foundation seeks lightly used clothing and small household items. It will be collect donations door to door in Andover and North Andover. To schedule a free curbside pick up, call 1-800-483-5503 or email donate@bbbsfoundation.org. Donations are tax deductible.
Town seeks new Planning Board member
Interested in serving on one of the town's boards? The town's Planning Board is seeking interested residents to fill an anticipated vacancy on the Planning Board.
As a judicatory board, the role of the Planning Board is to review Town Meeting articles, special permits, site plans, residential subdivisions, as associated with various land developments, zoning and open space; and to implement the Andover Master Plan.
Interested residents are encouraged to contact the Planning Division at 978-623-8310, and to fill out a talent bank form available at andoverma.gov/publish/talentbank.pdf. The Planning Board expects to fill its vacancy by August or September.
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Are you hearing some talk around town that we didn't catch? Let us know by calling 978-475-7000, or by emailing townsman@andovertownsman.com.
