"The minute you take out nomination papers, you're a politician."

— Methuen School Committeeman Kenneth Henrick, a veteran of local politics, commenting on political newcomers who run for public office and then say they're not politicians.

Under pressure

Former Andover High School varsity football and baseball coach Ken Maglio believes political pressure is the reason behind his unexpected dismissal.

Maglio was told June 29 he would not be asked back to coach either sport. On June 12, he said then-Andover High Principal Peter Anderson called him into his office. Anderson spoke with him about what the principal referred to as "concern with a few politicians," Maglio said.

"They wanted me to resign," said Maglio, who has filed a union grievance over his dismissal.

On Sept. 30, Maglio said he was offered $5,200 to settle his grievance, the equivalent of what he would be paid to coach the varsity baseball team this year.

Maglio said he still hasn't been told why he was let go.

"I'm just befuddled by this whole thing," Maglio said. "I haven't done anything wrong and I haven't been given a reason."

All in the family

Haverhill mayoral candidates James Fiorentini and John Michitson had plenty of family support at last week's final debate — including plenty of encouragement and some subtle help.

Family members and close friends sat in the front of the audience, the Michitson supporters in front of him and the Fiorentini supporters in front of him as the men stood at their respective podiums.

Michitson's brother James Michitson, smiling widely, gave the mayoral challenger an encouraging thumbs-up signal after he gave aggressive responses to comments by Fiorentini.

When it was Fiorentini's turn to speak, a woman from his camp sitting in the front row held up a flash card sized sign alerting him when he had 10 seconds left in the time period alloted for responses from the candidates.

Running man

Lawrence City Councilor At-large candidate Dan Rivera learned the hard way last week that running for office sometimes literally means running.

Rivera, who had another event to attend, was late for the WCCM and Eagle-Tribune candidates forum at Central Catholic on Monday night. Other at-large candidates had already started answering questions when Rivera ran up on stage, apologizing to the audience.

Before Rivera could catch his breath after running up two flights of stairs, the moderator asked him to give his opening statement.

"I'm Dan Rivera and I'm running for City Councilor at large," he said, breathing heavily into the microphone. "I grew up in this city... I ran here, literally... I was in the Army... I was in better shape then.

"That's all I'll say for now until I catch my breath," he said, pouring himself some water as the audience giggled.

The men in green

Remi DePommier and Colin LePage, co-chairmen of Team Haverhill's Recycling Committee, gave the City Council a progress report on the community's recycling efforts Tuesday night.

Both men wore green shirts, in keeping with their "green" message. LePage, however, said later that they did not plan it that way.

By the way, DePommier and LePage reported that the two routes on which curbside, single-stream is available, Tuesday and Wednesday, are now on track to save the city close to $40,000 in rubbish removal costs.

If Haverhill residents were to recycle at the state average of 37 percent — i.e., 37 percent of what they throw away gets recycled — the city could save as much as $400,000 in lower trash costs.