The Boston Globe has a summary of Massachusetts election results including the ballot questions: click here.

• Question 1 (click here) - Repeal Income Tax - Failed
• Question 2 (click here) - Decriminalize Marijuana - Passed
• Question 3 (click here) - Abolish Dog Racing - Passed

Results for the Barbara L'Italien (winner) vs. Lonnie Brennan: click here.

Links above include details on each town including North Andover.

Get your ticket to ride The Polar Express.  Kick off your holiday season on Saturday, November 29, 2008 with a magical ride to the North Pole. 

Join Santa’s elves for a reading of Chris Van Allsburg’s "The Polar Express", cocoa, dessert, and visits from some special Christmas friends.  Tickets available Saturday, October 18, from 9 - 11 a.m. at Saint Michael School, 80 Maple Avenue, North Andover. Tickets are $20 per person.  Trains depart from the Newburyport MBTA station at 11:35 am, 1:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 5:30 pm.  A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Cor Unum Meal Center in Lawrence, . Donations of new hats, mittens, scarves and sweaters (for all ages) will gladly be accepted at the train station, and will be distributed by Cor Unum and DCF (Department of Children and Families) to those in need.   For tickets after October 18th, call 978-686-1862 or visit www.saintmichael.com.

Transportation is the No. 1 unmet need in our community.  It is one of the most difficult services to obtain for older adults in all communities.  Volunteer drivers needed!  Northern Essex Elder Transport meets an enormous need in the community by providing transportation for those who have no other way to get to and from medical appointments.  As a NEET driver, you can request the area you prefer to drive and the day or days and times, you would be available, whether it is once a week or once a month.

We need drivers now more than ever.  If you can help please call the North Andover Senior Center at 978-688-9560.  All NEET drivers are provided with an orientation to the program, receive supplemental insurance for their vehicle, and will be reimbursed at 43 cents per mile driven.  Set your own hours for availability.

Welcome to northandover.org... home of North Andover United and the 'unofficial' community web site for North Andover, MA.

If you're just discovered this site I encourage you to please take a moment and subscribe to our email lists (click on this link ) to stay updated on important topics relating to our town.   We have received a lot of testimonials from the community thanking us for providing information that people are not able to stay updated on because of their busy lives.   

You can always automatically and instantly unsubscribe from our emails and your information (email address and name only) is never shared with anyone.

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you enjoying some fun and relaxation during the last half of summer vacation! My own family visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, we spent a few days exploring Niagara Falls, and we’ve just returned from a very fun canoeing & kayaking weekend trip with several other North Andover families [who were very good sports about some very heavy rain!].

• In between some great fun, I’ve been keeping up with North Andover municipal matters: 
• I’ve attended and/or watched Finance Committee meetings, Board of Selectmen meetings, School Committee meetings; 
• I’ve met or talked with not only our own leaders, but also with elected officials from other communities interested in the way NAU is working to unite our community; 
• I’ve met with leaders of advocacy groups outside of North Andover who share philosophies and goals closely in tune with NAU objectives; and 
• I’ve kept up with your discussion postings on www.northandover.org.

If you’ve visited our website, you’ve seen the intense interest in whether Thomson Elementary School will meet the Adequate Yearly Progress goals under its MCAS scores, required by No Child Left Behind. I strongly urge parents of both Thomson School students, and students attending the other four elementary schools, to attend the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 19th. It is currently listed on the Town’s website with a start time of 7:00 pm at the Town Hall; watch for either a shift to a 6:00 start time or even a shift in meeting place. It is not clear whether this meeting will be televised. School Choice is on the agenda. If Thomson students are offered a choice of schools, it affects not only Thomson school, but also the receiving schools. And since practically ALL of our elementary school MCAS scores leave something to be desired... parents should be concerned, regardless of where their children attend. I know I’ll be listening for specific information on what steps will be taken to improve both leadership and instruction at Thomson, but also at the other schools too.
 
Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,

Sandy Gleed. Pres.
North Andover United, Inc.

Congratulations to Christina Morgan of North Andover.   Christina was the winner of the Wii drawing which was held at the Senior Center on June 17th, 2008.   A total of $1710.00 was raised for the capital improvement campaign from the "Wii Can Do This Together" campaign supported by North Andover United and Friends of the Senior Center.

You can still make tax deductible contributions by clicking on this link.

This year the Senior Center was appropriated $250,000 through the Capital Improvement Fund to update and improve the existing space.  The Friends of the North Andover Senior Center have embarked on an 8-week Capital Improvement Fund Raiser.  Their goal is to raise $80,000.00 in 8 weeks.  These funds are necessary to fully fund and complete the proposed renovation project. Improvements to the senior center are as follows:

• Expanding reception and waiting area for better access for handicapped adults as well as all seniors entering the building.
• Moving and improving office space for better access to staff members by handicapped adults.
• Direct accessibility to all classrooms and nutrition site.
• Improving size of existing health screening office, and computer area

During the next 8 weeks, The Friends of the North Andover Senior Center Inc. will be aggressively fundraising to generate the $80,000.00 shortfall needed for this project to move forward. We need your help to accomplish this ambitious goal. If you would like to support us, mail your donation check made payable to:

Friends of the North Andover Senior Center, Inc.
PO Box 661, North Andover, MA 01845

This donation is tax deductible, please write "Capital Improvement Fund" in the memo section on check.

Your support is greatly appreciated,

George White President of the
Friends of the North Andover Senior Center

Related stories can be read in the Eagle Tribune and North Andover Citizen.

Dear Readers,

I received an email today that posed an excellent question:  what does NAU mean by the term "Honest Questions"?  Here’s my response:

I have spent 17 years attending town meetings, and 10 years attending and/or watching way too many BOS/School Committee/Fincom/Planning/Zoning/PTO/etc. meetings where people get up and ask questions intended to stir the pot, cast aspersions on the skills or effectiveness of the boards, or to intentionally plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the townspeople.  "Honest Questions" are questions that seek accurate information, clarification of details, or call attention to an issue not previously considered.  They are questions that do not already assume an answer, and they are questions that do not attempt to color the answer with political overtones.
 
But please understand - honest questions can certainly question the status quo, and they can absolutely express disagreement with prior answers and/or the positions or decisions adopted by elected officials.  It's just that honest questions can accomplish that with respect and without causing further divisiveness, something our town just can't afford to tolerate anymore. 
 
NAU encourages you to contact us with questions like this one - we’ve got a whole discussion forum area on this website provided for any topic you’d like to discuss. 

--Sandy Gleed

It is with great pleasure that we announce Sandy Gleed as the 2008 Pristash Award winner.   The Pristash Award established in 2006 to honor David and Leanna Pristash is voted on by all the parent / teacher organizations in town.  The recipient is selected based on their selfless dedication to our public schools.  Last year's recipents were Lianne Patenaude and Paddy Duncan.  The award will be presented to Sandy on Thursday,  April 10th  2008 at the Top of The Scales from 6 - 9pm.  Tickets are $35 per person and are on sale (3/4) at B-Sporty on Chickering Road (across from Hafners).   For futher information or to place an Ad in our Best Wishes Book please contact Margaret Shaheen at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 978-686-6562.  All proceeds to fund the Pristash Scholarship at the High School.

Most people, when they retire, get a small severance and a hearty thank-you. But if you've spent your career in the public sector, you're likely eligible for tens of thousands of dollars worth of "unused" sick and vacation time on top of a generous pension.

Read the rest of the article on the Eagle Tribune.

An interesting article from the Boston Globe:n "It's technically neither free nor cash, but it is a tempting way to balance the budget at the end of the fiscal year. Repeatedly raiding the account, however, can have costly ramifications."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/31/no_such_thing_as_free_cash?mode=PF