The Andover Days 5K
The Fifth Annual Andover Days 5K Road Race to benefit the Andover Youth Center and Andover Youth Services programs is ready to roll on Friday, May 29. We are looking for all local runners to take part in this challenging event. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, the AYS is putting together the world's largest group of walkers to stroll the course. As one massive group, we'll march around the streets together and we'd love to have you be part of our team no matter who you are, what school you are in, or how old you are. Meet us behind Doherty Middle School at 6 p.m. to register.
You can download an application and see a course video at http://www.andoverdays5k.com/ . The race is sponsored by the Andover Business Center Association.
Chamber awards for Schroeder, Sutton
The Andover Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2009 Annual Community Service Awards Ceremony and Breakfast on Thursday, June 4, 2009 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover.
The morning's program will include high school student community service award winners, who will be presented college scholarships, and this year's winners of the Andover Chamber of Commerce awards for distinguished community service: Donald Schroeder and James Sutton.
According to the event organizers, "Don Schroeder, in his capacity as a town of Andover committee member and non-profit organization board member and Jim Sutton, in his role as the director of Andover's Memorial Hall Library and through his active community involvement, have contributed in many important ways to the civic well-being of Andover. These are indeed special people who make our community special. They are most deserving of this award."
Tickets for the Thursday, June 4 Andover Chamber of Commerce Community Service Awards Breakfast are $25 per person, and may be obtained by contacting the offices of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce at 978-686-0900.
Animal Welfare
Are you interested in the welfare of animals? On Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 p.m., at the MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen at the intersection of routes 213 and 28. The meeting will be held in the lobby at Nevins Farm and there will be an MSPCA sponsored organizational meeting of persons interested in addressing animal concerns in our community.
This group is an offshoot of previous outreach efforts by the MSPCA's advocacy section and will work on local issues that supplement the actions of the state MSPCA. At the meeting, the group will develop a plan to pursue issues that impact on animal welfare in the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. Bring your ideas and suggestions as the group starts this exciting endeavor. For more information, contact Lois Karfunkel at lmwk1946@aol.com.
An Insider's Guide to Understanding the Public Pensions Scandal in Massachusetts
Experience an illustrated, presentation by Sean P. Murphy, award-winning veteran investigative reporter, followed by questions and answers on public pensions and their abuses, on Tuesday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Tewksbury Public Library, 300 Chandler St., Tewksbury at the corner of Main St., Route 38.
Urgent need for volunteers to help foster children
Volunteers are needed in the Haverhill area to help review cases of children who have suffered from abuse and neglect. In Massachusetts approximately 11,000 children who have been abused or neglected are living in foster homes or group care placements. By law, each child's case is reviewed every six months to ensure that necessary services are being provided and appropriate goals are made. This review is conducted by a three member panel which includes a volunteer from the community. Every day the Department of Children and Families makes important decisions about children's lives and their futures. Local citizens are needed who can offer independent, objective input, and help develop the best possible service plans for helping children in foster care. Persons interested in becoming a volunteer case reviewer need to be 18 or older, participate in a 1 1/2 day training session and commit to reviewing at least one case per month over a one year period. Reviews are held at local DCF offices, weekdays, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make a difference in a child's life. For an application or information, call Kim Sheppard, volunteer coordinator at 617-748-2294 or Vivian Davidovich, director of volunteer services, at 617-748-2282 or 800-423-2022.
YMCA introduces new Strive Smart Strength System
"We're welcoming the community to come and experience our new Strive Smart Strength System!," said Bobbi Berkenbush, YMCA associate executive director of the Andover/North Andover YMCA.
The Andover/North Andover YMCA has installed the Strive Smart Strength System to provide its members the most efficient way to build a better body.
"We noticed a strong desire among our members to balance time in the gym and time on the other important things in life. But just spending less time in the gym was not a good solution. The time spent in the gym needed to produce significant results and Strive does that," Berkenbush said.
According to exercise physiologist Steven Fleck, Ph.D., Colorado College, the Strive Smart Strength circuit has the ability to work each muscle more completely in less time than typical strength equipment. Traditional strength training equipment works each muscle without variation, which limits results. Strive offers a revolutionary adjustable-cam technology which targets each muscle group from three different points. Its Smart Strength equipment provides users with a complete total body workout in 20 to 30 minutes.
Other benefits of Smart Strength technology include improved endurance as muscle fibers are trained throughout the entire range of motion, protection from injury because muscles are strengthened at the most common points of injury, the beginning and the end of the range of motion, and cardiovascular conditioning since the user's heart rate remains elevated through the circuit because the 1, 2, 3 program requires minimal rest in between sets.
Those wanting to exercise with the new Strive Smart Strength system will complete a brief orientation by appointment. Nonmembers of the YMCA are invited to experience Strive with a complimentary two-week pass, which includes a free orientation by appointment of the new equipment. For information, contact Dave Raymond, member advancement director at 978-685-3541 or stop by the member services desk at the Andover/North Andover YMCA, 165 Haverhill St., Andover.
Obtain passport from town clerk's office
The town clerk's office is designated as a passport acceptance facility for the U.S. Department of State Passport Services, and accepts applications for new passports Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The U.S. State Department's Passport Services Web site at www.travel.state.gov, presents information on the requirements for applying for a U.S. passport and passport fees. To obtain a United States passport an applicant must have proof of U.S. citizenship and proper identification. Payment must be made in the form of a check or money order.
The current processing time for passports is four to six weeks for regular service or two to three weeks for expedited service.
Call the town clerk's office at 978-623-8256.
June health clinics
The Andover Health Department will offer mini clinics on Monday, June 8, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Andover Commons, and on Monday, June 22, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Frye Circle. Senior center clinics will be held 2 to 3 p.m. each Wednesday, June 3, 10, 17 and 24. No appointment is necessary.
Volunteers needed
Did you know that one in every 50 children in the United States will go to sleep without a home this year? Horizons for Homeless Children is looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to play with children living in family homeless shelters in Northeastern Massachusetts. Volunteers are needed who have an extra two hours a week and a desire to make a difference in the life of a child. A six month commitment and attendance at training sessions is mandatory.
Upcoming trainings in Lawrence are June 10 and June 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. To sign up, contact Heidi Reinhard at 978-557-2182 or hreinhard@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org. To fill out an application online, visit the Web site at www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.
Andover Historical Society receives Methuen Festival of Trees Grant
The Methuen Festival of Trees has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Andover Historical Society to be used for the exterior restoration of the historic Amos Blanchard House.¬� The donation is part of the FOT's Historic Preservation and Restoration Grant Program to provide preservation funding to private nonprofit organizations, private businesses housed in a historic property, cities and towns, and other public entities.¬� In January 2009, the Festival of Trees Board of Directors voted to expand its Methuen Historic Grant Program.¬�
"Our goal has always been to be a catalyst for historic preservation in our community and we wanted to expand the efforts to other cities or towns to help raise awareness of its importance," said Maureen Pollard, president of the Methuen Festival of Trees.¬�
The $10,000 grant to the Andover Historical Society is the first grant to be awarded as a result of the expansion.
Built in 1820, the Amos Blanchard House has been the home of the Andover Historical Society since 1929.¬� Amos Blanchard built the house in 1820 to house his wife, two sons and housekeeper as well as student boarders from the academy.¬� Blanchard was a founder of the Andover Bank and a Deacon of South Church.¬� The society, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011, currently exhibits the house as it might have been decorated by the Blanchards in the 1830s.
As with many historic structures, time has taken its toll on the Blanchard House and the nearly 200-year-old house is showing signs of wear and tear.¬� In 2005, the Historical Society launched an exterior restoration project to repair a rotten sill, one of the roofs, the 1930s fence, restoration and painting of all facades of the building, restoration of the grape arbor, and a new drainage system to protect the foundation and the archives facility.¬� Much of the work has been completed, but there is still work to be done.¬� The Board of Directors is grateful to the Methuen Festival of Trees for this generous gift.¬� The funds will be matched by previous gifts to the campaign by individuals, corporations, and foundations.¬�
"The day Maureen Pollard called to tell us that the Festival of Trees Board decided to make a special gift was a red-letter day for the Historical Society," said Executive Director Elaine Clements. "The funds will allow the society to continue work on this historic downtown building.¬� Receiving the Festival of Trees grant released additional funds will allow the Historical Society to break ground on a new drainage system that will prevent flooding in the society's archives."¬�
The archives have been subject to seasonal flooding since the 1970s.¬� The last major flood happened during the Mother's Day storm of 2006.¬� A significant part of the funding for the archives project was donated by the Timothy Horne Charitable Trust.¬� Ground breaking for the archives project is scheduled for Friday, May 8.
Since its inception in 1994, The Festival of Trees has provided more than $800,000 for public historic restoration projects including the Tenney Gate House, a large portion of the Searles and Tenney granite walls, the Masonic Lodge, the Bell Tower on the grounds of the former Searles Estate and the tomb of Mary Francis Hopkins Searles.¬� Projects in Methuen, North Andover, and Salem, N.H., have been awarded the Preservation Grant since the expansion.
About the Methuen Festival of Trees
The¬�Festival of Trees was¬�begun to fund¬�the restoration of¬�the Tenney Gatehouse.¬� It is an event held¬�annually by the Methuen Festival of Trees, Inc., to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season. The festival is dedicated to the richness and history of¬�the communities by developing partnerships¬�with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Methuen, the Methuen Historic District Commission, the Methuen Historical Society, and¬�the people and organizations of Methuen. Proceeds from the Festival of Trees provide¬�funding to preserve local heritage¬�through restoration and preservation of historic buildings and monuments in the greater Methuen area.¬� To date, $800,000 has been raised to fund local preservation projects.
Andover History
The Andover Historical Society and Amos Blanchard House and Barn Museum, located at 97 Main St., Andover, celebrate the rich history of Andover and the greater Merrimack Valley. The society offers a variety of educational programs to individuals and groups of all ages.¬� For more information, call 978-475-2236; or visit online at www.andoverhistorical.org.
The Town of Andover is one of two municipal honorees, the other is the Village of Amityville, N.Y., honored this May as a "Municipal Leader for Energy Efficiency" by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. The Municipal Leaders Recognition program will be presented as part of NEEP's 2009 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit, a two-day conference, workshop and exhibition event being held May 27-28 in Albany, N.Y. Andover was nominated by National Grid and was selected for recognition based upon its commitment to achieve energy savings through cost-effective energy efficiency investments; addressing comprehensive changes in major energy systems; improving energy performance through operational practices and management level support; and demonstrating leadership to advance energy-efficiency.
Andover is a suburban Massachusetts town with a thriving downtown retail/service district and a strong tradition of investment in education, library and community services, environmental conservation and energy efficiency. Andover has actively participated in energy efficiency improvement projects, including education and awareness, for over 10 years. The town has taken advantage of National Grid's and Bay State Gas's incentive programs receiving over $457,000 in energy rebates to implement significant upgrades to lighting systems, motors and variable frequency drives, HVAC systems, and new construction and retrofit projects.
The town took up a renewed dedication to saving energy through efficiency after Hurricane Katrina caused spikes in utility and fuel prices. Andover's efficiency projects have included:
Installation of high efficiency lighting systems in Town Office and School Administration Buildings, which are generating an estimated electrical energy savings of over $92,000 annually with an additional annual maintenance savings of $11,000.
Implementation of a "dark schools program" that allows custodians to shut down all the interior and exterior lights at night in three school buildings. The system interfaces with the fire alarm system and emergency lighting comes back on during alarm status.
Operation of a town-wide program to address building envelope heat loss by replacing and adding weather stripping, caulking, door sweeps, and crack sealing.
Conversion of all school buildings to dual fuel boilers, allowing the town to lock in favorable long-term natural gas prices.
Participation in National Grid's Whole Building Assessment Initiative to improve the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of buildings.
Town/school-wide energy management system connecting 18 buildings covering 1.4 million square feet to control, monitor and trouble shoot all HVAC equipment.
Andover Plant Receives Award
Andover's Plant and Facilities Department has received a number of recognition awards including the first ever Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Leading by Example Award" for its energy conservation and recycling program initiatives.
As a result of these improvements, the Town of Andover has achieved annual cost savings of $500,000.
"It's an honor and a privilege to recognize the Town of Andover and National Grid for their commitments to energy efficiency," said Sue Coakley, executive director of NEEP. "Andover is a noteworthy example of the best practices in energy efficiency that can help municipalities improve the bottom line, contribute to economic growth and reduce environmental impact."
All honorees were nominated by their utility company or energy efficiency program administrator. They will be celebrated during the 2009 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit. The event is open to the public. Members of the media are invited to attend at no charge. For more information about the Summit please visit www.neep.org/Summit
About NEEP
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to promote the efficient use of energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industry in the Northeast United States through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase the use of energy efficient products, services and practices, and that help achieve a cleaner environment and a more reliable and affordable energy system. For more information, visit www.neep.org.
Windosr Place Announces May Topic
Windsor Place of Wilmington announces that the May topic "Talking Just Works" community education series will help adult children and their elderly parents, other caregivers and seniors to discuss sensitive issues in respectful and effective ways. Liz Osbahr, a geriatric health educator, will lead "Worried About Mom? How to Discuss Age-Related Concerns" on May 19 and May 21 at Woodbriar of Wilmington on the campus of Windsor Place just seconds from Interstate 93. Osbahr will share advice drawn from her experience in public health education and elder issues. Admission is free but advance registration is required. Both sessions start at 6 p.m. and light food and refreshments will be served. To make reservations, call 1-866-988-2330, ext. 4, or visit www.windsorplaceofwilmington.com/events.
Henry to give Presentation in Atkinson
Career coach Susan Henry, of Atkinson, N.H., will give a presentation on how to prepare for an interview, Tuesday, May 26, 12:30 p.m. at the Flint Memorial Library, 147 Park St., North Reading. This is the second in a continuing series of lunchtime workshops on job searching. Henry is a Certified Career Development Advisor who recently retired from a multi-faceted career. She holds a bachelor's degree in human services and psychology from Springfield College and master's level certification in career development from Plymouth State University. She has given career related talks throughout New England. The program is free and open to the public. Please bring a lunch. Beverages will be provided. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Call 978-664-4942.
Free Nicotine Patches now available online or by phone
Reaching out to Northeastern Massachusetts smokers, health officials and lawmakers have announced that smokers who want to quit can now get a free two-week supply of
nicotine patches online at www.MakeSmokingHistory.org/patch. The offer is available to residents of Andover and surrounding towns in Northeastern Massachusetts.
"This is the first time that patches have been made available online," said Diane Knight, director of the Lawrence Tobacco Free Partnership and manager of the current NRT patch giveaway. "We've had good telephone response since the program launched on April 1, but we know that some people would prefer to get patches online rather than use the phone." Knight also said that for those without Internet access, free patches are available by calling the state's Quitline at 1-800-Try-to-STOP. Spanish speaking smokers may call 1-800-8-Dejalo 1-800-833-5256.
Approximate retail value of the patch kit is $50, and the offer is good through the end of May. Some medical restrictions apply, and those who call or request the patches online are required to answer a brief medical screener. The program is sponsored by the Mass Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program and the Lawrence Tobacco Free Partnership.
"This public health campaign could not come at a better time," Knight said. "On March 31, the federal cigarette tax increased by 62 cents per pack. This rise in the cost of tobacco products, coupled with challenging economic times provides smokers a perfect incentive to take advantage of this free help to quit smoking."
Statewide, 16.4 percent of Massachusetts residents are smokers.
Along with free nicotine patches, the program provides quit smoking tips and a list of local quit-smoking programs. These programs offer affordable individual or group counseling support, as well as insurance coverage information for quit-smoking medicines. Some insurance plans, including MassHealth and Commonwealth Care, help with the cost of medications and counseling to help smokers quit. Additional help is available online at www.MakeSmokingHistory.org .
The free patch giveaway is being promoted with the Department of Public Health's "Fight 4 Your Life" campaign which includes television, radio and billboard ads in both English and Spanish throughout the Northeast region during April and May.
Family Service, Inc.
The Council on Accreditation has informed Family Service, Inc., a nonprofit social service agency in Lawrence, that it has been reaccredited. "COA's commitment to maintaining the highest level of standards and quality improvement is designed to identify providers that have set high performance standards for themselves and have made a commitment to their constituents to deliver the highest quality services," according to a release.
Merrimack Valley Hospital to Hold Stress Management Seminar
If you need a break from stress come to the first floor auditorium at Merrimack Valley Hospital on Thursday, May 28 at 4 p.m. to enjoy a one hour mini-vacation.
Hypnotherapist and Wellness Coach Addie Kania, who has been featured on Boston radio, cable television and in print media, will teach simple techniques to manage everyday stress. She will also demonstrate relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis, and group guided imagery that could take you anywhere in the world.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Yinelle at 978-521-8150. Merrimack Valley Hospital is located at 140 Lincoln Ave., Haverhill.
About Merrimack Valley Hospital
Merrimack Valley Hospital maintains 107 acute care beds and 17 adult behavioral medicine beds; all are private rooms. The hospital's clinical strengths include a 24-hour emergency department; orthopedic, endoscopic and general surgery; adult behavioral medicine care with a focus on geriatric issues, a comprehensive Pain Management Center, and a Sleep Study Lab. MVH also provides a wide range of outpatient services, such as bone density testing; dysphasia testing; echocardiograms; electroencephalograms; electromyography; full-field digital mammography; magnetic resonance imaging; position emission tomography; pulmonary function testing; nuclear medicine; surgical day care; ultrasound general and obstetrical; physical therapy; x-rays; and 64-Slice CT scans.
The hospital's awards for excellence include the Excellence Through Insight Award, 2008 (HealthStream Research); Best in Value Hospitals, 2008 Data Advantage; #1 Nursing Team in New England Award, 2003 Advance for Nursing Magazine; National Quality Leader Award for Pneumonia Care, 2006 CareScience Select Practice; High Reliability Cardiac Care Award, 2006 MassPRO; Top 100 Best Acute Care Hospital Award, 2004 Total Benchmark Solutions; and Top Ranked Community Value Provider Award, 2007 Cleverley and Associates. An affiliate of Essent Healthcare, Inc., the hospital serves Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire. More information can be found at www.merrimackvalleyhospital.com.
