ANDOVER — The owners of the 100 Minuteman Road business park will pay a $17,250 fine for the installation and operation of an unlicensed diesel-powered generator, the state Department of Environmental Protection has announced.
Property owners 100 Minuteman LLC installed the 1.2 megawatt emergency generator in 1996 without prior approval or registration with MassDEP, according to a statement released by the department.
Emergency generators of that size require prior approval before installation and operation due to their potential to increase emissions by greater than 1 ton per year, according to the statement.
MassDEP inspected 100 Minuteman Road on May 29.
One of Andover's largest commercial and industrial property owners, Minuteman LLC has agreed to pay the fine and submit a permit application for the generator within 60 days. They will also pay $3,860 in permit fees.
Minuteman LLC paid $889,200 in taxes last year.
Church supper on Saturday
NORTH ANDOVER — An old-fashioned ham and bean supper will be held at First Calvary Baptist Church, 586 Massachusetts Ave., on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Cost is $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children, ages 4 to 10. Children under 3 admitted for free.
The church's board of deacons is sponsoring the supper.
Book club to read works by Nobel laureates
LAWRENCE — "Buying a Fishing Rod for My Father" by Gao Xingjian will be discussed Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. in the history room at Lawrence Public Library, 51 Lawrence St.
The discussion is part of the Friends of Lawrence Public Library book club.
This year, the group is reading works by Nobel laureates.
Nadine Gordimer's "The Burger's Daughter" is on the list for Nov. 17.
Firehouses open doors to public on Saturday
Fire departments in Andover, Methuen and Lawrence will host open houses Saturday to celebrate national fire prevention month, and they welcome the public to join in.
In Lawrence, firefighters will demonstrate how to escape from a burning house and how to inspect smoke detectors. They will also offer safety tips for Halloween. The Central Fire Station on Lowell Street will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In Andover, the fire department will have activities for children and blood pressure screenings for adults at the Public Safety Center at 34 N. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fire prevention, police and health officials will man information booths.
In Methuen, the first 100 kids to show up will receive fire hats and everyone will enjoy a free slice of Papa Gino's pizza. There will be activities for children and tours of the station. The Central Station at 24 Lowell St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
October serves as national fire prevention month to remind everyone about the importance of fire safety and prevention.
