Opinion
Editorial: Decisions and teamwork in the weeks ahead
Andover native and up-and-coming performer Will Dailey will return to town for a special concert on May 1 at Old Town Hall to benefit Andover's A Better Chance program. It's a nice gesture by the singer-songwriter who performs with the likes of Elliot Easton (The Cars), Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo), Tim Brennan (Dropkick Murphys) and Tanya Donelly (Belly) on his latest album. And it is not an unusual gesture by those who grow up in town.
While most teenagers talk about leaving town for a busier place, as they get older many return to town to live. Some of those who do move away return and pitch in to help make Andover a special place, as Dailey is doing. Just last week in this space we were righting about the generous contributions of Tonight Show host Jay Leno, an Andover High grad. Last year Michael Chiklis seems tickled pink to return to town, receive a key to the community and reminisce with former classmates and coaches about his days on the football field and high school stage.
Most people recognize Andover as a special place created in part by what the town offers but also by what the people offer each other.
In the coming weeks Andover should make important decisions about what it can afford. Leaders, with the help of residents, need to prioritize spending to keep the things that we believe make Andover, Andover while cutting some nice-to-haves. But though it all, we should remember the most important element of any community is the people themselves, and the way they treat one another.
Patriots Day unique
Monday was Patriots Day. While the rest of the nation treated this as just another Monday, in Massachusetts we could take pride that there was something special about that day.
It's not always easy to be from this state. In many parts of this nation the people of Massachusetts are lumped together and considered the loony lefties, out of sync with common sense. Others shun us because of our "Taxachusetts" label. We purportedly have the rudest and worst drivers in the country, rather than people anxious to get things done. And our contribution to American cuisine? Baked beans.
That's enough baggage to fill Logan Airport.
But this week we celebrated something that no other state, and none of our critics who live beyond our state borders, can claim title to. On April 19, 1775, Massachusetts rose up against the tyranny of the British crown and declared open war against the mightiest military power on the planet at the time.
Some of the colonies fell in line with us, while others looked on in disgust at all the problems that odd-shaped colony was causing. Indeed, while our state's citizens took up arms and fought, our state's most talented political minds - John Adams and John Hancock - waged an uphill battle to convince the rest of the colonies to join with us.
Before the war had even ended, the concepts of democracy that Massachusetts had championed were written into our state constitution - the oldest functioning constitution in the world. That document served as the model for the U.S. Constitution and its values are the basis of "The American Dream." Without Massachusetts, our nation and its founding principles would not exist.
Maybe we are a bit loony in Massachusetts. But sometimes it's the radicals who get things done.
- Opinion
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Editorial: Weighty issues of fall upon us
There's no question the area needed the water. But the cool, wet, overcast weather this week brought with it the relative gloom and reality that summer is coming to a close. You know, real summer - where kids are off from school, vacations are more plentiful, the sun is out past 7:30 p.m., and the town beach is open. With the start of school next Wednesday, Sept. 1, many will devote more attention again to the issues of the day - issues that don't involve sunscreen. Among those deserving of immediate attention are the upcoming state primary, and the plan to replace Bancroft Elementary with an approximately $35 million new school.
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Letter: Our tennis courts don't compete
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Editor, Townsman:
In reference to your story about California Products, it's ironic that while Andover is home to the world's leading manufacturer of tennis court surfacing materials, our high school's courts are among the most poorly constructed and maintained in the region. -
Letter: Youth gave fresh face to Historical Society
Youth gave fresh face to Historical Society
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Editor, Townsman:
on behalf of the board of directors of the Andover Historical Society, I would like to acknowledge the youth volunteers from the Summer Volunteer Program of the South Church. For three mornings this summer, they, accompanied by counselors and chaperones, worked painting the fence in the front of the Amos Blanchard House. They withstood the heat and were pleased with what they did, as we were. - Letter: Help Iraq refugees living locally
- Letter: Finegold work has had local and statewide impact
- Letter: Wilson would keep no-nonsense voice in senate
- Letter: Lyons would provide fiscal sanity, roll back taxes
- Letter: Rep. candidate Commane listens, leads, solves
- Letter: Silberstein supports what's right, regardless of its popularity
- Thursday, August 19, 2010
- Editorial: Successful changes cooked up in school lunchrooms
- Letter: Finegold helped him establish business
- Letter: Women's Equality Day should remind us to vote
- Letter: Oberto would not be beholden to special interests
- Letter: Great confidence in former prosecutor Tabit
- Letter: Finegold will look out for his hometown
- Letter: Tomasek hard-working and selfless, not flashy
- Thursday, August 12, 2010
- Editorial: Addison reopening awaited
- Letter: Town must end silence on water treatment plant investigation
- Letter: Carbone is antagonist, not watchdog
- Letter: Other candidates target endorsements by taking 'ridiculous positions'
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Editorial: Weighty issues of fall upon us
