LAWRENCE — Michael J. Astrue, commissioner of Social Security, and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas yesterday announced that the Social Security Administration plans to open a new hearing office at Heritage Place, 439 S. Union St.
The office is expected to open in the spring of next year and will shorten wait times and help alleviate a nationwide backlog of disability cases awaiting a hearing.
"The opening of the Lawrence hearing office will improve the service we provide to New England residents with disabilities," Astrue said.
"Since becoming commissioner, I have made reducing the backlog of disability cases my top priority."
Plans call for the Lawrence hearing office to be staffed by seven full-time administrative law judges plus 40 additional support staff.
Methuen college student on archeological dig
METHUEN — A UMass Lowell student from Methuen is among six students from the school working on an archeological dig at the site of an early 19th century Irish settlement at St. Patrick's Church in Lowell.
The dig is the result of a collaborative agreement between the Center for Irish Partnerships at UMass Lowell and Queen's University in Northern Ireland.
The students are Dimitrios Booras from Lowell, Jonathan Brown from Dracut, Eunice Delice, an undergraduate political science major from Methuen, Alaina Puleo from Tyngsborough, Kimberly Scarfo from Chelmsford, and Amanda Veiga from Lowell.
"This archeological dig is one of many concrete ways that students are already benefiting from our agreements with notable universities around the world," said Chancellor Martin Meehan.
Led by visiting archeologists from Queen's University, the students will excavate and catalog artifacts at the St. Patrick's Church site.
Irish immigrant workers built the church in 1831 and lived on the land.
The excavation team expects to find items such as clay pipes, dishes and hearth remnants, which will provide clues about the lives of the Irish who emigrated to Lowell looking for work during the Great Famine, a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration in Ireland between 1845 and 1852.
As part of the exchange program, the students also will excavate an abandoned rural settlement in County Fermanagh, Ireland, next summer.
Andover High freshman orientation Aug. 25
ANDOVER — Orientation for freshmen and other new students to Andover High School will be on Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately noon at the school at 80 Shawsheen Road.
The program will include a welcome by both Andover's new Superintendent, Dr. Marinel McGrath, as well as second-year principal Jonathan Harris.
Their greetings will be followed by a brief presentation for both parents and students, according to the school.
There also will be a barbecue lunch for all students who attend.
Benefit for laid off workers postponed
LAWRENCE — Lupoli Companies announced that the fundraising benefit to raise money to help all laid off Lawrence city workers has been postponed due to conflicts in schedules of many who wished to participate.
The benefit was to be held Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at Salvatore's in Lawrence. A new date has yet to be determined.
Any business interested in supporting the benefit or that has questions should contact John MacDonald, vice president of corporate strategies and communications at 978-681-7777, ext 24, or jmacdonald@sals-pizza.com.
