Familiar ring back downtown: Salvation Army on Main Street again

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November 25, 2009

By Judy Wakefield

Bell ringers from the Salvation Army have returned to their spot in front of the Town House this year after a noticeable absence.

In 2008, the Salvation Army did not collect downtown at all. That's because in 2007, there were complaints from some workers that the bells ringing on Main Street was noisy and disturbing. Following an order from the town to use "common sense" when ringing the bells, Maj. Alberto Suarez, the town's Salvation Army officer, suggested that no bells be used in Andover for the rest of that year.

"I guess there was a complaint that it was too much," said Suarez at the time. "We are so grateful to the town of Andover to let us stand there, that we don't want to create any controversy."

The ringing stopped, but Andover's reputation was portrayed as Scrooge-like.

"The result was bad press...Andover came across as a stuffy place. And it's not. It is very, very generous," said Peter Cotch, a local Rotary Club member who was ringing the bell at the Salvation Army bucket last Friday afternoon in front of the Town House, also known as Old Town Hall. "I just tell people it was a misunderstanding, that's all."

With his leashed 8-year-old Tibetan terrier, Buster, at his side, Cotch rang the bell for three hours and generous contributors seemed happy to donate.

Cotch, who plans to challenge state Rep. Barbara L'Italien next year, said Nov. 20 was the bell-ringing kick-off. Rotarians will be ringing bells and collecting donations every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Christmas, he said.

Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski remembers the 2007 incident and also prefers to leave it in the past.

"They are here and it's great," he said as he stopped by the Salvation Army bucket. "It's part of the holidays."

Stapczynski said the Salvation Army has the town's permission to ring away on Saturdays. He said the group is well-managed and "keeps administrative costs low." That means donations get right to the people who need it, he said, and that's what he likes to hear.