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May 22, 2008

CCHS Class of '58 hosts 50th reunion

Central Catholic High School Class of 1958 will celebrate its 50th Golden Anniversary on Saturday, May 24 at the Holiday Inn on the Tewksbury-Andover line on Route 133. The reunion is the culmination of a week of festivities: other events include a breakfast with the Class of 2008 on Wednesday, May 21, a Baccalaureate Mass on Thursday, May 22, and a Golden Diploma ceremony before the school's graduation exercises on Friday, May 23. For more information about these events, contact Phaedra D'Ambrosio at 978-682-0260 ext. 633, or pdambrosio@centralcatholic.net.

The reunion on May 24 begins at 6 p.m. and includes dinner and dancing. The cost is $50 per person.

L'Italien touts more money for special ed, Melmark

State Rep. Barbara L'Italien (D-Andover) has announced that the House has approved an $2.4 million increase to the Division on Autism and a $2 million appropriation to Special Education Out of District Transportation in its version of the state budget.

The Division of Autism money includes $200,000 earmarked for the new Andover school Melmark New England, to provide training and support to families, educational collaboratives and public school districts on methods for coping with behavioral challenges associated with children who have autism

The Division on Autism funding, now totaling $5,321,753, also includes:

r $4 million for the Autism Medicaid Waiver in order to support children with autism at risk of institutionalization in their home and communities ($2M of this will be reimbursed by Medicaid);

r $921,753 in funding to enable the division to provide much-needed services to autistic children;

r $100,000 for New England Center for Children, Inc. to provide training and support to public school districts and families for the establishment of in district partner classrooms to serve children with autism

r $100,000 for Asperger's Association of New England to provide support services to individuals with high functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome.

The $2 million for Special Education Out of District Transportation is a first time spending initiative in the state budget.

"This additional funding for special education transportation and autism will be extremely helpful for both the communities and the autism community," said L'Italien. "Special education transportation is a very costly but needed service and I am glad we were able to assist in covering some of the costs. Autism is a growing epidemic effecting 1 in 122 births in Massachusetts and we need to continue to provide essential services for families in need."

The budget will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration. Any differences between the House and Senate budgets will be resolved in a conference committee before being sent to the governor for his signature.

Andover brings Greenscapes program to residents

Andover has again joined the Greenscapes program for 2008.. This program provides residents with environmentally-friendly yard care and landscaping information and services, including discounts on drought-tolerant plants.. Using Greenscapes-recommended practices, homeowners can cut their water bills, have healthy and attractive yards, and cut back on use of potentially harmful chemicals, according to the Department of Public Works...

The cornerstone of the program is the 2008 Greenscapes Guide, a 20-page, full color, tabloid-sized publication that will be mailed to all single-family households in Andover this month. The Greenscapes Guide contains useful lawn care and gardening tips and money-saving offers on goods and services..

The Greenscapes program also offers a series of free workshops presented by qualified professionals, discounts on items like sprinkler timers, free e-mail newsletters, and discounts on services such as irrigation system checks and private consultations with a professional landscaper.

"We are very excited to be able to bring the Greenscapes program to Andover" said Environmental Analyst Alison Armstrong.. "It's a win-win situation. Greenscapes is a proactive, forward-thinking approach to involving our residents in long-term protection and maintenance of our natural resources through sound landscaping practices, stormwater management and rainwater recharge.. It will help people save money, and it will keep Andover a beautiful and desirable place to live."

On the North Shore, the program is being coordinated by Salem Sound Coastwatch, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Eight Towns and the Bay Committee of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, and the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association..

For more information about Greenscapes, visit www.greenscapes.org. or contact Armstrong at 978.623.8350 Ext. 531 or aarmstrong@andoverma.gov