Town Meeting rescheduled due to... Kerry nomination?
Selectmen asked Town Clerk Larry Murphy to reschedule this year’s Annual Town Meeting after the town learned a special statewide primary election would be held on one of the previously scheduled nights.
With the nomination of Sen. John Kerry as Secretary of State, Massachusetts must hold a special election to elect his successor, according to Murphy.
It’s expected a special primary election would be held on April 30, the previously scheduled second night of Annual Town Meeting. Elections are usually held in the Andover High School’s field house, as are the first two nights of Annual Town Meeting in most cases.
The general election to fill the U.S. Senate seat will likely be held on June 25, Murphy said.
The board said it supported moving Town Meeting to May 6, 7 and 8, a week later.
Because of change, residents hoping to vote at Annual Town Meeting must be registered by Tuesday, April 16, Murphy said.
- Dustin Luca
Andover college student in running for Miss Boston
Andover resident Cara Lemire has been selected to be a contestant in the Miss Boston and Miss Cambridge Pageant on Feb. 10 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. She will be one of 16 young women competing for more than $8,000 in scholarships and prizes. The competition is an official preliminary to the Miss Massachusetts and Miss America pageants.
Contestants will take part in five phases of competition: talent, interview, physical fitness, evening gown and on-stage interview. Each contestant will also discuss her chosen platform, a social or community issue of concern to herself and society at large. Lemire’s platform issue will be as an “Advocate for Art Therapy,” according to a release about the pageant.
Lemire is described as “a zealous yogi, which had allowed her to continue her gymnast skills.” She will perform an acrobatic dance as part of the pageant.
A resident of town, Lemire is currently a senior at Brown University working towards her bachelor’s degree in literary arts. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in psychology and “hopes to aid her academic work through additional work with art and canine therapy,” according to a release.
McGrath takes on cold, 16 miles
Runners braved cold temperatures and wind to participate in the 18th annual Boston Prep 16-mile race in Derry. It was certainly worth it for Scott McGrath, of Andover, who won the race for the second straight year.
The race is one of New England’s most popular and is considered a perfect Boston Marathon training event.
Embrace the season at Ward Winter Fun Day
You aren’t likely to hear grumbling about the winter weather next Sunday at the Ward Reservation. People will be celebrating the annual Ward Winter Fun Day.
The Trustees of Reservations and Ward Reservation Property Committee, in partnership with the Andover Trails Committee, and Friends of North Andover Trails will host the free event on Sunday, Feb. 10 from noon to 3 p.m., at Ward Reservation in Andover. Ward Winter Fun Day will take place with or without snow on the ground.
Short to medium length guided hikes to different destinations on the reservation will leave periodically throughout the afternoon. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, refreshments and a warming fire will be available, too.
People can park at the reservation entrance on Prospect Road, east of Route 125, in Andover, and follow signs to the activities.
For more information, call Adam Rollfs with the Trustees of Reservations at 978-886-5297 or email arollfs@ttor.org.
Terry talks
“Francona: The Red Sox years” is the new book co-authored by former Sox manager Terry Francona and Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy. Andover readers apparently want the book. It came out last Tuesday, Jan. 22, and Andover Bookstore quickly sold out. The eagerly awaited second shipment arrived this Tuesday, Jan. 29.
