"I'm past frustration. We're frustrated for our citizens, because we wish we had answers and we don't."
— North Andover Health Director Susan Sawyer, speaking about the limited availability of the H1N1 vaccine. Sawyer and other public health directors in the area have said they still don't know how much vaccine they'll receive from the state or when they'll receive it, making it difficult to plan ahead and schedule flu clinics.
Potty patrol
No, Lawrence police Detective Thomas Cuddy didn't accidentally walk into the ladies room at City Hall on Thursday.
Yes, he was in the ladies room, but he was working in his official capacity as a police officer.
An unidentified local man who is known to wash up in public restrooms went into the ladies room during the ceremonial kickoff of a food drive at City Hall. Dozens attended the event, including Cuddy and police Chief John Romero.
Romero saw the man walk into the ladies room and sent Cuddy to "get him out of there," he said.
Cuddy went into the ladies room and found the man washing up in the sink, his face covered with soap.
"There's no towels in there," Cuddy said afterward. He also noted that the ladies room is much bigger than the men's room.
No fear
Londonderry Town Councilor Paul DiMarco isn't afraid of seeing hunters toting guns — even if it's in a conservation area.
DiMarco commented on the Londonderry blog, londonderrynh.net, on Nov. 11 that after seeing a hunter with a gun in the Musquash Conservation Area, he did not "freak out," like some town councilors from other towns.
Derry Town Councilor Janet Fairbanks had mentioned at a council meeting on Nov. 3 that she was uncomfortable when she saw hunters with guns near the Derry Rail Trail.
Lost weekend
Last weekend is probably one that new Haverhill school Athletics Director Garin Veris would rather forget.
On Nov. 14, Veris and several other former Patriots played a charity basketball game against members of the Nashoba Regional High School boys basketball team. Veris admitted things got "rough," and the game drew a lot of media attention.
Then the following evening, Veris' former team suffered a heartbreaking 35-34 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the final minutes of the game.
Early entrance
Methuen City Councilor Kenneth Willette Jr. called the "Politically Active" radio show on WCCM AM-1110 last Tuesday morning and said he's "90 percent sure" he's running for mayor in two years. Mayor William Manzi, who just won his third term, can't run again because of term limits.
While political observers say the prospect of campaigning for mayor without opposing an incumbent will draw every Tom, Dick and Harry in the city, Willette should be a strong contender, at least if this year's election results are any indication. He is leaving the council due to term limits, but topped the ticket in an eight-way race for School Committee.
Police academy
During a discussion at Tuesday's Pelham selectmen's meeting about possibly using a storage room at the police station for preschool classrooms, Town Administrator Tom Gaydos said it might not be a good idea.
"You have a jail cell on the other side," he said.
But Selectman Hal Lynde, who broached the idea, said that shouldn't really be a concern.
"I'm not worried about them breaking through the wall," he said.
'A' for effort
James Jajuga, president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, knew that convincing the City Council to lower the tax burden on local businesses would be a difficult, if not impossible, sell.
But he knew he had to try anyway. When Council President Michael Hart asked at last week's council meeting if Jajuga wanted to speak in favor of giving businesses a break, Jajuga said yes, then quipped "If I want my job."
In his remarks, Jajuga went on to say that councilors shouldn't support residents (aka voters) over businesses in making the annual decision on how to divvy up the tax pie. As usual, residential ratepayers won out, with the council voting to tax businesses at the highest percentage allowed by law, and residential owners the lowest.
