Andover special-ed meetings

SPECIAL-ED MEETINGS - The Andover Special Education Parent Advisory Council, in collaboration with the district's social worker, Janet Yedinak, is offering a series of informational meetings for parents of children who have special needs. Each meeting will feature a guest speaker and offer a chance for parents to mingle, ask questions, and voice concerns. The meetings are scheduled to take place one Monday each month, from 1 to 2:15 p.m., at the school administration building on Whittier Court. Parents interested in attending the meetings are asked to contact Yedinak at 978-623-8900, ext. 4117, or send their contact information via e-mail to jyedinak@aps1.net.

- Brenda J. Buote

FUNDS SOUGHT FOR HOMESTEAD REPAIRS - Among the 18 warrant articles to be decided at annual Town Meeting is one seeking $50,000 in Community Preservation funds to repair the roof and structure of the Barrett-Byam Homestead, 40 Byam Road. A portion of the funds would also purchase an archival scanning and storage system for the Chelmsford Historical Society. The meeting begins Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 75 Groton Road.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

SEWER BILL RECALL - According to the Dracut Sewer Department, incorrect sewer bills mailed out at the beginning of the month have been found and correct bills were sent out immediately. More than 7,400 of the department's biannual bills depict an incorrect, and high, rate increase. The bills, printed by outside vendor Kelley & Ryan Associates, used out-of-date paper stock of the Kenwood Water District. The error was discovered shortly after they were mailed out. Those who have not received an updated bill by the beginning of the week should call the Sewer Department at 978-957-0371.

- Rocco Colella

MCAS RESULTS - More juniors at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School have scored in the advanced and proficient categories on the 2008 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam than in 2007, according to the school website. Compared with 92 percent in 2007, 95 percent of students in this year's junior class scored in the top two categories on the math section. Ninety-four percent were in both categories for the English section. Ninety percent were in both categories in English in 2007.

- Matt Gunderson

WATER FLUSHING - The Groton Water Department began its annual water flushing on Oct. 1, a process expected to last until Oct. 17. During these two weeks, residents can expect discolored tap water at various times. The department advises residents to run cold tap water for 5 to 10 minutes if they experience prolonged periods of discolored water.

- Matt Gunderson

PERSONNEL JOB OPEN - With the resignation of city personnel director Frank Bonet, Mayor Michael Sullivan is advertising for the $75,000 to $85,000 a year position, which oversees employee issues in the city. Sullivan is looking into alternatives as well, including merging the position with its School Department counterpart or outsourcing its responsibilities, he said. Any of these decisions, including hiring a new director, would require approval of the City Council. Bonet resigned in late September after accepting a position with the Internal Revenue Service regional office in Lowell, Sullivan said.

- Kate Augusto

SPOTLIGHT ON CITY PRODUCTS - The city held its first Made in Lowell event recently to showcase and celebrate the innovation of Lowell companies and demonstrate the variety of goods made in the city. The event was held at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, where its Hall of Flags was transformed with displays of locally manufactured products, including Federal Fabric's air-beam structure and Specialty Materials' boron and silicon-carbide fiber products. About a dozen businesses were represented, said Theresa Parks, the city's director of economic development. "One of the things we really wanted to do was draw attention to the story of these companies, not just the products they sell," Parks said, adding that it was an opportunity to showcase the businesses and give them a chance to network with one another. Parks said the city plans to hold a similar event each year.

- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

RIVERWALK BRIDGE HONORS CARETAKER - A new footbridge in Spiggot Falls Riverwalk Park was dedicated this month by city officials to a late Methuen resident who was the caretaker of Nevins Memorial Library for more than two decades. Walter "Red" Winn, a 65-year-old volunteer who died early this year, was remembered at a ceremony by friends and family as a selfless advocate who donated his time to many causes. The 52-foot-long bridge was installed using $360,000 in state money earmarked for the riverwalk park. - Russell Contreras

RELIGIOUS CENTER - Merrimack College announced this month that the school has established a new academic center to study and encourage the interreligious connection between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations will replace the school's 14-year-old Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, the school said. Padraic O'Hare, a professor of religious and theological studies at Merrimack, will continue serving as center's director.

- Russell Contreras

RACHEL'S CHALLENGE - Officials at North Middlesex Regional High School will host a program titled Rachel's Challenge this Thursday that focuses on issues of peer relationships and bullying. The program derives its name from Rachel Scott, who was the first victim of the Columbine shootings in 1999. The program is a one-hour assembly in which students will view audio and video footage from the Columbine tragedy, among other educational material. A parent and community event similar to the program for students will take place that evening at 6:30 at the high school.

- Matt Gunderson

ARTS FESTIVAL WINNER - Local artist Jennifer Barbati has once again taken home the People's Choice Award in the Tewksbury Community of Artists Art Festival, which was held Sept. 26-27 at Wynn Middle School. Barbati captured the coveted award for "Jaguar," an oil painting that emphasizes light and shadow, making the two-dimensional subject come alive on the canvas. Another of her works, "Lion," won first place in the festival's oil painting category. This was the fourth year that Barbati has won the People's Choice Award. To learn more about Barbati or view her work, visit jenbarbati.com

-Brenda J. Buote

LAYOFFS RECOMMENDED - In an effort to trim $300,000 from the current budget, Superintendent Darrell Lockwood recommended layoffs and supply cutbacks to the School Committee last Tuesday. Committee members approved a payroll slash of about $170,000, and another cut of about $138,000 for materials, equipment, and textbooks. The layoffs, effective Oct. 21, include a part-time reading specialist at the Early Childhood Center, a special education teacher at the secondary-school level, a special education team chair, and a speech therapist. In addition, a full-time grant writer will become part time. Lockwood joined the district at the start of the current fiscal year on July 1 after 10 years as superintendent of School Administrative Unit 19 in Goffstown, N.H.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

WARRANT INCLUDES SUBDIVISION PLAN - The warrant for Special Town Meeting contains 12 articles, including one that seeks to subdivide a 110-acre parcel off Depot Street, known as the Stepinski property. Town officials want to transfer custody of the land from the selectmen to the Water Commission, the Recreation Department, and the Conservation Commission. Another article seeks approval to borrow $6 million for the renovation of and an addition to the Cameron Senior Center. The meeting is Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Abbot School, 25 Depot St.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

SOCIETY SEEKS MEMBERS - The Amherst Historical Society is looking to add fresh faces to its roster in the hopes of beating out 33 other historical societies in the state for $25,000 in cash. The group is taking part in the Robert and Karin Finlay Foundation Membership Challenge. The historical society that garners the most new members gets the prize money. According to the society's website, the money would be used for maintenance and conservation of town museums and artifacts. Some of the money would also go to support the society's high school scholarship fund.

- Melanie Plenda

BUILDING CALLED UNFIT - It may look pretty on the outside, but the ugliness runs deep inside the Marconi Museum, which the town manager declared recently was unfit for habitation based on assessments from building officials. The building sits on the property of the town offices and has seen many incarnations, including its most recent as a radio museum, said Russell Marceux, Bedford town manager. Though the museum tenants were already vacating the building, other parties were interested in subletting it from the town. However, Marceux said, after a walk-through with the prospective tenants, that deal was soon off the table once they saw the problems inside. The building is in such sorry shape that officials can't demolish it without first ridding it of contaminants. Marceux said the town recently decided to seal the building and turn off its electricity and water supply. - Melanie Plenda

NEW FOOD ALLERGY POLICY - Parents of the town's elementary students will have to examine their children's lunches more closely before sending them off to school after the school board voted unanimously to enact a new allergy policy. Though the details are not yet finalized, the tenets will be based on the allergies of the students at the two elementary schools in town, Captain Samuel Douglass Academy and Richard Maghakian Memorial School, said Lorraine Wenger, principal of the academy. This issue was initially raised last winter after a student at the academy had a severe food allergy reaction. Wenger declined to give further details on the incident, but said it prompted the school board to enact an interim policy that allowed the staff to make the school "nut safe," Wenger said. So far, this includes checking students' lunch boxes for potential allergens and not allowing teachers or visitors to bring in any product containing nuts or any product manufactured where nuts were present. Wenger said a six-person panel is finalizing the policy. - Melanie Plenda

CIVIL SUIT DROPPED - A Hudson mother will drop the civil suit she filed against the Hudson School District after officials agreed to change a policy and pay her attorney fees, according to court records. Patricia Regan filed the case in US District Court in July, alleging that the district and Superintendent Randy Bell violated her civil rights when they prevented her from distributing a flier at Nottingham West Elementary School that advertised a vacation Bible school at a local church. According to court documents, Regan argued that other area nonprofit groups such as the Cub Scouts, Drama Kids, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame were allowed to distribute fliers at Nottingham, where her children are students, and so should she. She said that Bell and the district violated her First and 14th Amendment rights when she was prohibited from distributing the fliers because of their religious content. After the suit was filed, the district changed its policy to allow only school-district--related materials to be distributed at the school. Regan then amended her suit to challenge the change as well, according to court records. But last week, Regan agreed to drop the lawsuit in exchange for district officials agreeing to change the amended policy back to the original in place when the suit was filed, and to pay Regan's legal fees.

- Melanie Plenda

BREWERY FIRE CAUSES LITTLE DAMAGE - Firefighters managed to contain a fire at the Anheuser-Busch plant Monday without injury to the plant's staff or damage to its beer. The fire broke out shortly after 3 p.m., said David Parenti, assistant Merrimack fire chief. By the time crews arrived a short time later, almost all of the employees had been evacuated and no injuries were reported. Parenti said fire crews were able to contain the fire to the baling machine - used to package cardboard - where it started. Though there was smoke throughout the building, only the machine was damaged by fire, Parenti said. Plant manager John Mills said that brewing operations were not affected and beer packaging resumed Monday evening. - Melanie Plenda

BUILDING TO GET SPRUCE-UP - The town has authorized $60,000 to repair the siding of a signature downtown building on Main Street that is occupied by Kelley's Hallmark shop. Owner Edward Kelley and his wife, Penny, recently retired after running the business for 30 years. The shop's new owners will be Stephen Wentzell, an Ayer Planning Board member, and Gloria Sliger. - Davis Bushnell

FLAGGERS AT ISSUE - After nearly an hour of heated exchange between residents and town officials, Town Meeting members last week voted to leave the issue of using civilian road flaggers to negotiations with the town's police union. The warrant article proposing study of the issue represented "real savings for all of us, both as taxpayers and as consumers," said Mark Westervelt, a member of the Finance Committee, which unanimously supported the measure. However, Police Chief Edward Nolan and selectmen opposed the article. - Richard Thompson