Ill-timed announcement for Baddour's daughter
Methuen state Sen. Steven A. Baddour's sudden announcement that he was resigning surprised a lot of people — including his 9-year-old daughter Victoria.
Victoria had just turned in a paper for school, writing about someone she admires. She chose her dad, the senator.
"Now, you are going to make a liar out of me," Victoria exclaimed when Baddour told her his plans.
Don't smoke; and get a colonoscopy
Two North Andover Board of Health members delivered a strong message about colon cancer Thursday night. Dr. Frank MacMillan, a gastroenterologist who practices at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, said colon cancer is the second-most lethal form of the disease. He also noted it's preventable - if you get periodic colonoscopies. "Don't smoke and get a colonoscopy," MacMillan said, are the best ways to avoid cancer.
Fellow board member Joseph McCarthy said he delayed getting a colonoscopy and ended up suffering from colon cancer, which he beat. The chemotherapy treatment that enabled him to overcome the disease, however, was "absolutely brutal," McCarthy said.
Teichert wishes to pardon reporters
Andover Selectmen Chairman Brian Major ceremoniously handed over the chairing duties to Selectman Ted Teichert at the last selectmen's meeting. The meeting marked Teichert's last meeting after deciding not to run for re-election after 12 years on the board.
"He'll probably entertain a motion to adjourn," joked Selectman Paul Salafia as Teichert agreed to chair the meeting.
"I was going to say I'll pardon some people, but now I guess I really can," said Teichert. "I'm going to start with Buzz (Stapczynski, the town manager). And I've got one for the reporters too."
The evil that developers do
As Windham officials wrestled last week with questions about enforcing new conflict of interest ordinances, former selectman Dennis Senibaldi found himself defending local developers, who some feel have been demonized by reformers looking to erect a wall of separation between developers and town affairs.
Senibaldi felt compelled to point out half of Griffin Park was made possible by the contributions of developers.
"They are not evil," Senibaldi said. "They never came back and asked for anything."
But Planning Board member Vanessa Nysten defended the efforts of reformers to put a strong code of conduct in place.
She recalled approaching a former selectman with concerns over a potential conflict and being dismissed with the comment, "This isn't the place."
Asked Nysten, "If you can't take it to selectmen, where do you take it?"
The youngest guy on the force
Immediately after Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini signed an agreement with firefighters on a new contract, Public Safety Commissioner Alan DeNaro raced out of the mayor's office to drive to Stow, Mass, to see Haverhill firefighter Matt Goudreault graduated from the Fire Academy. Firefighter union president Greg Roberts said the 13-week training program was like a "boot camp for firefighters." He said Goudreault, at 20, is the youngest member of the force.
It's Latin to him
One parent who called The Eagle-Tribune Sound-Off complained about the requirement that North Andover High School students take 10 credit hours of physical education and health and wellness classes before graduating. Superintendent Christopher Hottel's response is, "Mens sana in corpore sano." In Latin, that means, "a healthy mind in a healthy body."
No day care needed at North Andover event
Those who attended the swearing-in of newly elected North Andover officials Wednesday afternoon were particularly impressed with the well-behaved young children who attended. As Selectman William Gordon took the oath of office for his second three-year term, his wife Erien and their four daughters, Emma, 10; Summer, 7; Rose, 5; and Elle, 3 1/2, looked on. Andrew McDevitt, elected to his first term on the School Committee, was joined by wife Elizabeth and their children: Matthew, 7; John, 5: and Rachel, 4.
He served in Albania
Andrew McDevitt, just elected to the North Andover School Committee, should be well prepared for any debates taking place among board members. While serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Albania, he taught English and debating skills. McDevitt, 40, is now employed as a health care consultant.
