Home » Wayne W went to be with his Lord on Thursday (May 1 2025) after a brief illness in UR/Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville and Mareta (Perry) Routh and step-father Thomas Routh He attended Andover Central School and joined the Navy at 17 years of age in 1962 He served on the USS Guam LPH-9 and was a plank owner.  he worked at Jones Memorial Hospital where he met his wife of 52 years They both worked at Jones during the Flood of ‘72 Wayne continued working at Jones Memorial hospital as a Respiratory Therapist and often did assignments at St The last years of his career were spent at Southern Tier Home Medical in Wellsville working as a Home Oxygen Technician and Orthotic Fitter along with his son.  Wayne always had a commitment to community service and volunteerism He served as Councilman for the Andover Town Board for 22 years He was a 47-year member of the Andover Lions Club and received the Uplinger Lion of the Year Award He also was Past-President of the Wellsville Area Jaycees a member of the Andover American Legion Lynch-Burgett Post and President of Valley Brook Cemetery Association.  Wayne either spearheaded or assisted with many community projects and activities and Efforts to Save Buffalo Children’s Hospital He was the Andover School Assistant Soccer Coach Director of the Andover School Marching Band Color Guard (winning often at competitions) and was awarded the Ormsby Award for community service He was honored by the Allegany County Legislature for his efforts He developed a program to honor the Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty with a community celebration Wayne raised funds in various way to enhance a park in Staten Island and a plaque was erected acknowledging Allegany County’s contribution at Ground Zero He arranged a tour for those who helped with the park PA and presented them with a US American Flag from Andover and achievement was securing donations for flags from each state which are proudly displayed on buildings and posts along Main Street in Andover carefully hung with the help the Andover Village Crew an approximately 30×50 foot American flag (dubbed the community flag) was purchased and is carried during parades by 20 community members and volunteers.  he spoke of the importance of community involvement and volunteerism He was honored to be the commencement speaker for the Andover graduating class of 2020 are his four children; Danielle Grant of Andover Seth (Shelly) Grant of Andover; eight grandchildren; Kylee Grant Sharif Elcock of Brooklyn; a Fresh Air daughter Agnes Sabino of Florida; special friends- Phyllis Hines and Eddie Cleveland; several nieces and nephews as well as all of his “Bonus Grandchildren”.  Calling hours will be held at Baker Swan Funeral Home in Andover on Tuesday (May 6 The funeral service and time of Remembrance will be held on Wednesday (May 7) at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Christian Mattison of Andover Presbyterian Church officiating Burial with full military honors will follow at Valley Brook Cemetery in Andover Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com memorial contributions in Wayne’s name may be given to Valley Brook Cemetery Association 14806; or give a day to volunteer in your community Allegany County: We need your input on our trail systems Spring $avings and fresh flowers at Giant Food Mart in Wellsville and Cuba Andover News There was a special guest on hand when Andover Little League kicked off the 2025 season with its annual parade Downtown on Saturday your parents will be sad that you’re my age,” Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran told the assembled players Duran, according to 7 News Boston spent an hour signing autographs and talking with players Curan was praised by critics and mental health advocates for speaking candidly about his suicide attempt in “The Clubhouse,” a Netflix documentary about the 2024 Red Sox We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info Learn more about Andover News and what we're trying to do: Read our Mission Statement and Policies Copyright © 2025 Andover News Services Inc.All rights reserved Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive A fundraising effort is under way to build a new playground at Sanborn Elementary School that will honor former student Colleen Ritzer Sanborn PTO is partnering with the Colleen E Ritzer Memorial Fund in the donation drive Ritzer was an Andover native who was killed by a student in 2013 while working as a math teacher at Danvers High School The foundation launched its fundraising effort at Sunday’s Step Up For Colleen 5K “This partnership connects two significant local institutions with deep Andover roots,” Sanborn PTO vice president Kristen Andrews said her legacy of kindness and education is helping provide a new gathering place for current and future Sanborn students.” Donations are being collected online. More information is available on the project’s Facebook page Selected entries from the Andover Police Department’s public log for April 28-May 4 are listed below Some entries may be updated after publication to include additional details from Andover Police Lt You can download a PDF file of the complete, unedited log and view past entries from the Andover police log 8:31 am: Harassment and bullying of 11-year-old boy Dufton Road.10:40 am: Car on fire on back of tow bed Bypass Road and Salem Street.11:07 am: Hit-and-run with damage to building at Phillips Academy Chapel Avenue.6:11 pm: Man reports he is being harassed by his neighbors Glenwood Road.11:33 am: Walk-in wants to speak to officer about being tracked Bulfinch Drive.1:57 pm: River Road hotel wants two guests removed.4:10 pm: Cigarettes and lighter stolen North Main Street.4:25 pm: Business owner reporting an ongoing harassment issue South Main Street.6:00 pm: Suspected narcotics found in Dascomb Road Parking lot.6:11 pm: Brush fire Dundee Park.6:59 pm: Multiple motorbikes on South Elementary fields Officer located them in woods behind the school and moved them along.7:32 pm: Someone yelled at caller’s son and threatened to take his dog while he was walking on Chestnut Court 6:33 am: Caller’s chairlift stolen by family Joseph Street.2:24 pm: Solicitor “making weird comments,” Nollet Drive.5:13 pm: Member making a scene and threatening manager Haverhill Street.7:36 pm: Mother and daughter arguing Joseph Street.10:25 pm: Reported death of 90-year-old woman Bailey Road.4:54 pm: Caller wants to speak to officer about their child’s phone being monitored Andover Street.5:04 pm: 11-month-old locked in car Railroad Street.6:48 pm: Person reciting Bible verses through kid’s low-power megaphone on Stevens Street They agreed to keep the noise level down.8:20 pm: Woman who appears to be intoxicated acting erratically on Park Street She received a ride.9:37 pm: Caller saw a flashlight behind their house and then their motion light went off 12:19 am: Person banging on door of North Street residence asking for help Gone upon arrival.2:44 am: Merrimack College police asking for help with man sitting in car on Rock Ridge Road who is refusing to talk to them.3:06 am: Woman sitting on side of road at Lincoln Circle and Shawsheen Road Uber dropped her off at the wrong location and she’s waiting for another Uber.9:09 am: Man and woman approaching school on Reservation Road then seen on Bobby Jones Drive asking for money Couple transported to Lawrence.9:43 am: Assited woman in getting her belongings from Lowell Street home.1:38 pm: Harassment Leah Way.2:49 pm: Man threatening caller in parking dispute 12:15 am: Ten people walking on Argilla Road Caller is worried they will get hit.12:34 am: Gathering dispersed and fire extinguished at Pomps Pond Abbot Street.12:35 pm: Arrested a 33-year-old Jamaica Plain man on OUI and mother motor vehicle charges Shawsheen Road.6:46 am: Eggs and toilet paper thrown at house Granli Drive.11:46 am: Hit-and-run on parked car Blanchard Street.5:14 pm: Person who appears to be drunk buying more alcohol post-prom party that was posted on social media on Hitchcock Farm Road Homeowner said there were a few kids invited over after prom and they have been turning kids away all night.11:17 am: Dog locked in car Punchard Avenue.3:09 pm: Hit-and-run on car parked at high school Shawsheen Road.5:29 pm: Remote controlled plane landed in caller’s yard on Salem Street.8:38 pm: Report of past assault Far fewer Andover residents are mailing in their ballots even when compared to pre-pandemic numbers Town officials report that 213 mail-in ballots were received in Andover’s last town election in March out of 3,156 votes total (6.7% voted by mail in) This is a roughly 44-percentage-point difference from the 2024 town election which had received 2,585 total mail-in ballots from both early and absentee voters out of 5,142 votes (50.3% voted by mail-in) In the wake of the 2024 presidential election and debates surrounding the reliability of mail-in voting residents seem to have shifted to other means of voting if they decide to cast their ballot at all Nearly 2,000 fewer total voters participated in the 2025 local election in Andover than in 2024 according to records from the Andover Town Clerk Austin Simko’s office though Simko says that these numbers are largely dependent on which candidates are up for election each year Between the 2018 and 2022 presidential primaries the office reported a more than 80-percent downturn specifically in mail-in ballots a trend continued during this last town election This story was published as part of a collaboration between Andover News and the Department of Journalism in Boston University’s College of Communication The student journalist is a member of Professor Meghan E This data diverges from what town officials and people familiar with Andover’s election system expected Although there were fewer overall votes in the most recent presidential election that doesn’t account for the high rate of decline in mail-in voting in Andover “I think mail-in voting has probably helped with our elections and participation,” Stefani Traina former president and current member of the League of Women Voters of Andover and North Andover “I wonder what their participation has shown over the last few years since… you could do mail-in voting by right.” mail-in voting decreased by about 88 percent This slump was also shown in the 2018 and 2022 Andover local elections Despite the increase in exposure to mail-in ballots from the pandemic lockdown fewer people are choosing to vote by mail in Andover now than before the pandemic had begun more lax rules surrounding who is allowed to vote by mail introduced during the pandemic Andover residents were only able to mail in their ballots without an absentee excuse during the early voting period of an election individuals needed an excuse to justify the absentee ballot the rules surrounding ballot casting changed to allow mail-in voting to be excuse-free As long as individuals filled out a form indicating that they would prefer to vote by mail and then turned in their ballot before the election deadline One possible explanation for the downward trend is decreased civic education a former poll worker and member of the League of Women Voters said that she got the impression that voter education in town has been declining over the past half century “At least half [of voters] came in with kind of a starry eyed look “So we figure out [if they are] at the right place by their address “There are many people who maybe had never voted Another reason that could explain the nearly 92-percent decrease in mail-in ballots for this year’s town election could also be explained by Massachusetts state mail-in voting practices since this year is not a state election year Massachusetts residents are not automatically mailed vote-by-mail applications they must go out of their way to seek out applications from their own municipal governments possibly disincentivizing individuals to seek this form of voting “I think a lot of people like to vote in-person whether it’s early in-person or on election day MA–LearnQuest Academy of Music is presenting its annual Dance Festival a dynamic celebration of India’s classical dance traditions in collaboration with Chinmaya Mission and Bhūmikā Arts This year’s festival promises an unforgettable experience uniting rising stars and celebrated maestros on one stage for a day filled with rhythm and join LearnQuest at the Chinmaya Mission in Andover for an enchanting afternoon of classical Indian dance The festival will showcase a rich tapestry of dance styles—Kathak and Kuchipudi—each performed by artists who bring deep tradition Odissi – Vidhushi Guru Sanchita BhattacharyaOne of the evening’s highlights will be a performance by Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya a globally acclaimed Odissi dancer and recipient of the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Trained under the legendary Guru Bela Arnab Sanchita is renowned for her emotive abhinaya (expressive storytelling) and impeccable technique She has graced prestigious stages like the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center she continues to mentor the next generation of dancers worldwide Kuchipudi – Vedya Spurthi KondaA rising force in Kuchipudi Vedya Spurthi Konda is a senior disciple of the Mosalikanti family and a seasoned performer with appearances at international venues including Erasing Borders Festival A recipient of the 2021 Apprenticeship Grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts Vedya combines academic rigor with artistic excellence—holding a degree in Computer Science and currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania Bharatanatyam – Aishwarya BalasubramanianWith over 30 years of dedication to Bharatanatyam Aishwarya Balasubramanian brings depth and refinement to every performance A senior disciple of Kalaimamani Anitha Guha Aishwarya made her mark in India’s prestigious dance circuits at an early age she directs the Arpanam Academy of Bharatanatyam nurturing tradition and excellence in the next generation of dancers Kathak – Shefali JainKathak will come alive through the grace and power of Shefali Jain a disciple of renowned artists including Pandit Chitresh Das Shefali’s solo performances have captivated audiences at institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts Shefali teaches Kathak at Tufts University while actively contributing to the art’s evolving narrative in the U.S This year’s Dance Festival is more than just a performance—it’s a celebration of the diverse cultural heritage of India through its most refined artistic expressions With each dancer representing a unique lineage and regional style audiences will witness the breadth and depth of Indian classical dance traditions brought to life by artists of exceptional caliber Whether you’re a longtime aficionado or new to Indian dance this festival offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in tradition Don’t miss this extraordinary convergence of tradition and website in this browser for the next time I comment Home » Bingo Fundraiser Benefits Green Machine Athletics on June 1 in Andover The Arc Allegany-Steuben’s Green Machine Athletes a local sports organization dedicated to providing sport opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is hosting a Bingo Fundraiser to benefit its athletes at the Andover Volunteer Fire Department (60 S Tickets are $25 pre-sale (before May 30th) and $30 at the door and include 10 bingo cards and food/beverage will be available for purchase at the event “Get your dabbers ready and mark your calendars for an afternoon full of anticipation and fun – all while supporting a great cause,” said Kyle Rook Green Machine Athletics Director. “Our Bingo Fundraiser promises to be a fun and engaging event bringing together our community to raise funds for new basketball and softball uniforms for the Green Machine athletes who compete in Special Olympics New York events/competitions We invite everyone to join us in making this event a tremendous success.” Tickets can be purchased online at www.thearcas.org/bingo or at the door the day of the event Chris Brooks report: The week that was in local high school baseball Alfred University faculty and students celebrated at Honors Convocation and data reports that power the beer and beyond industry Join our community and stay ahead with exclusive insights from Brewbound Already an Insider? Log In A mother and her baby were rescued from a house fire Monday morning in Andover Fire crews responded to a house fire on Navajo Street Northwest just before 7 a.m A woman and her infant son were trapped inside a house that was fully engulfed in flames Andover Fire Chief Dennis Jones told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that the first firefighters and deputies on scene got there without a fire truck He adds they grabbed a step ladder from the home’s garage and used it to climb through the window to save the baby The mother and baby were brought to the hospital and are both expected to be OK Jones said he hopes families everywhere use this story as a lesson to close their doors when they go to bed at night adding that that is what likely saved the baby’s life your nose goes to sleep; you can’t smell smoke,” he said “The parents closed the door to the nursery we’d probably have an unfavorable result.” A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 1:42:59 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); A home in Andover was on fire Monday morning because seconds matter,” said Anoka County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Pierro Deputies arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving the call on Navajo Street Northwest was unable to get through the thick smoke that filled the home to get to baby Reed’s room RELATED: Mother, baby rescued from Andover house fire; chief stresses importance of closing bedroom doors at night tried to break a window outside to get to the baby and then pointed the first responders towards the nursery but I saw a little baby bottle that was close to the windowsill,” Deputy Pierro said the deputy couldn’t get in through the small window with his big gear on Andover Deputy Fire Chief Ernest Scherger climbed a ladder and went inside extremely fast,” said Deputy Fire Chief Scherger He took one step into the smoke-filled nursery and found the crib Scherger pulled nine-month-old Reed out of the crib and couldn’t find the window Scherger recalled that he just started moving with the baby in his arms and eventually made his way to the window with Pierro on the other side “It felt like I was in there forever to be honest with you,” Scherger said I just grabbed the baby and ran down.” “It was the best feeling in the world they got him out and he took a breath,” Thies said and is so thankful to the men who saved baby Reed “We lost our pets and everything we had,” said Olsen “But we have the stuff that’s important.” 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS shared with Deputy Pierro and Deputy Fire Chief Scherger a video of baby Reed recovering at the hospital “It lets you know how precious life is It was an emotional day yesterday,” Pierro said Loved ones have set up a fundraising page to help this family recover from the fire The Anoka Police helped block intersections so the ambulance could get to the hospital quickly Baby Reed and his mom should be released from the hospital soon A student found dead on the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover Friday likely died of suicide Lucas Lee was a member of the class of 2025 and scheduled to graduate this spring He was also a member of several student organizations at Phillips If you or someone you know needs help, call 9-8-8 or the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting ‘Home’ to 741741 anytime. The Town of Andover also has a list of local resources.  “We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved student Lucas Lee,” Phillips spokesperson Tracy Sweet said in an email “While an official cause of death has not yet been determined the Lee family has allowed us to share that it appears likely their son died by suicide.” Phillips is working with the nonprofit Jed Foundation to offer support to members of the campus community “We are focused on supporting the family and staff as we navigate this tremendous loss together,” Sweet said “Out of respect for the family’s privacy In September 2017, a 17-year-old Phillips student died after being hit by a train in Andover usually filled with the melody of instruments reflected on a career that spans nearly three decades.      Diehl is the district’s elementary string instrumental music teacher—a position she’s held for 27 years. Her musical life began almost from the moment she could hear. Diehl has been selected as Andover’s Educator of the Year and will be honored at the Rotary Club of Andover’s 2025 Citizens Who Care, Educator & Student of the Year Gala on Thursday Teacher of the Year is an accolade she never expected shocked actually,” Diehl said with an amused expression There are so many wonderful educators in every one of these buildings.” I was listening to my mother’s piano students in the afternoons in the studio below my bedroom,” Diehl recalled I was always sitting up and listening to the music and then I would beg to be put up on the piano bench.” “I knew I’d be a musician of some kind “My parents had taken me to the symphony concerts,” she said and it was just what we did… so I knew what orchestra sounded like Diehl’s childhood wasn’t without its challenges Her father died of cancer while she was in high school passed away from cancer shortly after Julie had begun her teaching career She briefly stepped away from teaching to care for her mother in Sarasota “It was not a question when I would go home to help her earning a master’s degree in violin performance from the University of South Florida “It was a really great chance for me to work on my own personal playing skills and musicianship,” she recalled a professional trombonist and principal trombonist of the Hartford Symphony as Diehl had briefly taught in Andover years before Living in the same town where she teaches has added an extra layer of connection Her son attended Andover schools before heading to Walnut Hill School for the Arts and is now a violinist with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach “So we are two musicians and we raised a musician,” Diehl said with a smile Diehl has seen the highs and lows of the public school system Budget cuts once impacted the music programs in Andover to the point that she was the sole string teacher in the system “I was left to be the only string teacher in town to try to keep a few elementary kids going keep a high school orchestra going,” Diehl said “So I was kind of juggling all these plates at one time to just keep something happening.” “we now have a coordinator for the Fine and Performing Arts… and we’re in a good place.”  the Andover string program includes three full-time teachers with Diehl focusing solely on elementary education She travels to a different elementary school each day of the week  “I love being in a building for the entire day and being able to follow up about a kid and speak to a teacher and do the things I have to do to tie up the loose ends at the end of the day,” Diehl said  Diehl has a very warm and welcoming dynamic with her students elementary band teacher and Diehl’s colleague  “She’s always just very friendly and kind and encouraging with her students,” Sicinski said and it’s a great environment for all She just creates a very positive environment.”  Diehl’s impact on her students can be traced in the emotional moments that have stayed with her like the high school concerts where she would introduce graduating seniors she’d taught since third grade “They would write a little paragraph about themselves and I would read their biography,” she says “I don’t think a single year went by that I didn’t choke up doing that.” The Rotary Club connects individuals from diverse businesses professions and services to learn about their community what we’re looking for is someone who is an example of the Rotary kind of model: service above self,” said Alan Timm Diehl was selected to be honored in 2025 with the title The people who nominated her included Sean Walsh the town’s school department manager of arts and music; Kathy Meyer The other honorees of the 2025 Rotary Club’s Citizens of The Year Are: Ellen Arvidson Mary Beth Ellis and Eric Olson from The Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund The 2025 Student of the Year recipient is Sofia Duran-Clark  “Julie Diehl came back with a remarkably strong endorsement and she was nominated by four people,” said Steve Fink When the Rotary Club was reviewing her recommendations they mentioned Diehl’s ability to motivate people to perform and engage in music as part of their lives “It wasn’t just [that] she’s a good music teacher; she was changing people’s lives using music to develop who they were and what they were going to do with their lives,” Fink said The site serves portions of New York and Pennsylvania Radio broadcast news award winner in NY & PA Send news releases to wjqzfounder@gmail.com He was the son of Winfield “Windy” Grant He served on the USS Guam LPH-9 and was a plank owner They both worked at Jones during the Flood of ‘72 working as a Home Oxygen Technician and Orthotic Fitter along with his son and President of Valley Brook Cemetery Association and Efforts to Save Buffalo Children’s Hospital the borough with most “911” casualties and a plaque was erected acknowledging Allegany County’s contribution at Ground Zero was purchased and is carried during parades by 20 community members and volunteers as well as all of his “Bonus Grandchildren” Calling hours will be held at Baker Swan Funeral Home in Andover on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) from 2-4 p.m., and 6-8 p.m. The funeral service and time of Remembrance will be held on Wednesday (May 7) at the funeral home at 11 a.m., with Rev. Christian Mattison of Andover Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Valley Brook Cemetery in Andover. Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com memorial contributions in Wayne’s name may be given to Valley Brook Cemetery Association 14806; or give a day to volunteer in your community. © 2025 Baker-Swan Funeral Home While the April 29, 2022 tornado didn’t match the devastation brought on by the April 26, 1991 Andover tornado, among the most violent in the nation’s history, the more recent storm changed lives throughout the community. In reflecting on the rebuilding effort last year, Andover Mayor Ronnie Price said that people who don’t live in the community might underestimate the extent of the devastation from the tornado that hit in 2022. “Quite literally in a week (for) a lot of people, lives were back to normal, you know, because the eating establishments didn’t get hit, you know, no retailers really got hit,” Price said. But the scars remained. Some are still there. “I even had a gentleman tell me that he didn’t want to mow his lawn (out of consideration to neighbors who lost their home). His house didn’t get hit and he didn’t want to mow his lawn because he didn’t want to be out there mowing his grass when the neighbor’s house was gone,” Price said last year, reflecting on the tornado from two years before. Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com An official website of the United States government BOSTON – A North Andover, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing over 30 firearms and explosives as a convicted felon. Daniel Medina, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 63 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2024, Medina pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosive materials and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2025. In October 2024, Medina was charged by criminal complaint. Potassium chlorate and aluminum powder – the same flash powder found in the suspected explosive material used in the explosion – were found in the containers.  Medina is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive material due to a 2002 state conviction of assault and battery in Lawrence District Court, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the North Andover Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang. BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawful possession of a machinegun.   BOSTON – A Virginia man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.   District of MassachusettsBoston Office:1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200Boston, MA 02210 Boston: 617-748-3100Springfield: 413-785-0235Worcester: 508-368-0100 Multilingual Resources-->Have a question about Government Services Tuesday’s election of Christopher Shepley and Jacob Tamarkin fundamentally shifts the makeup of the Andover School Committee and leaves Chair Lauren M Conoscenti the odd person out — a fact she emphasized in an 11th hour get-out-the-vote email urging supporters to back incumbents Emily DiCesaro and Sandis Wright “The [Massachusetts Teachers Association] essentially bought two seats on the School Committee last year and they are trying to buy two more this year,” Conoscenti wrote in an email shared with Andover News Tuesday “Without Sandis and Emily both by my side I fear that a majority indebted to the union will have greater consequences for APS.” Shepley and Tamarkin, as well as Lauren Diffenbach and Shauna Murray, who were elected to the school committee last year, all received endorsements from the Andover Education Association, which represents the district’s teachers. Those endorsements came with support from MTA’s political action committee Get more local news every weekday. Sign up for our newsletter. The school committee will choose a new chair when it meets Thursday but Conoscenti will continue to serve as chair until annual town meeting next month Conoscenti is in her second three-year term and is the only school committee member whose seat is up for reelection in 2026 She is also the lone remaining member of the school committee that faced off with the union over its current contract culminating with a three-day strike in November 2023 “Those are usually good enough reasons to NOT vote for someone but I’ll add this to the mix: Both challengers’ campaigns are being propped up by the statewide teachers’ union is investing thousands of dollars into Andover’s local elections to purchase Andover’s School Committee seats,” Conoscenti said Shepley and Tamarkin supporters shared a screenshot of the email in several Facebook groups where local politics are discussed while polls were still open Tuesday and questioned whether she had acted improperly State law and ethics rules do not prohibit elected officials from campaigning or endorsing other candidates All four of Conoscenti’s colleagues on the school committee have stressed they will be impartial when dealing with the union they have said the district needs to repair its relationship with AEA and view the union as a partner Tamarkin said he was “greatly irritated” by AEA’s “disruptive actions last year.” the town got taken to the cleaners in our last collective bargaining agreement and I don’t want that to happen again,” Tamarkin said “Skilled negotiators know that to get the best outcome they need to set aside the past and build trust with their counterparties That is why I believe that my gaining the support of over 90% of Andover’s teachers is a step in the right direction.” said she “valued the support of fellow educators” when she received AEA’s endorsement last year She said she consulted with town and state officials to make sure she was not violating conflict of interest laws when MTA’s PAC supported her campaign “A candidate cannot control or dictate how outside organizations spend their funds,” she said That sentiment was echoed by Shepley at the Andover Service Club’s candidates forum on March 12 “I am really disheartened by the misinformation that’s being spread right now about that,” Shepley added “[W]hat they choose to do has nothing to do with me if they send out mailers or print lawn signs even if it has my name on it and I can’t control it.” Wright said he completed the AEA questionnaire sent to all candidates inviting them to be considered for the union’s endorsement because it was important to show the union and voters his thoughts and perspectives on different issues I specifically made it clear that I was not accepting any endorsements because it is fundamentally a conflict of interest,” Wright said “Part of this role on the school committee is to negotiate with the union And if we are benefiting from financial contributions to get those seats…it creates a conflict of interest and it undermines our community and how we as a school committee make decisions to represent students and the needs of Andover.” “You can say that you do not want the financial contributions that the MTA has given to two candidates during the last election to the tune of about $5,000 each and they’re doing that again,” DiCesaro added “Why do these groups care about our local elections What do they stand to gain or lose by candidates who are elected?…I find it troubling for them to accept and to pretend that you can’t say no to it.” something cool is officially opening today at 837 N Andover Road. Abode Bar & Bistro has taken over the former Rusted Rooster space and transformed it into something I think the city has needed for quite some time who many people know from his Il Primo Espresso Cafe along with William Cody Lonergan of Odd Fellow Hall have brought something different and much needed I’ve long wondered why a growing city like Andover doesn’t have a larger spread of local restaurants to choose from but a place that could make for a nice sit down restaurant a cool cocktail bar would do wonders for Andover there’s chill hang out spots like Spauldings or Timbuktu but how about something that presents a different vibe from what the city already has That’s where Abode Bar & Bistro comes into play one that’s more casual with the bar and an outdoor patio…. And another area that’s a little more upscale a place you’d want to have a quiet date night the below pictured area of Abode seats up to 24 people and officially won’t be open until April 18 as they finish some things in the area the other side of the restaurant will be open I dropped by with some friends for a small VIP opening We ordered various drinks and unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of everything, nor the cocktail menu. I know, I failed you as a blogger. There were some videos taken which you can find on my Instagram or even at the end of this blog Pictured below is the 007 martini made with olive brine and a house blend of gin and vodka infused with blue cheese Then there is the food which I think Andover east Wichita and anybody making the drive to Abode Bar & Bistro will be excited about We mainly stuck to the bar food side of the menu where we started with patatas bravas and housemade chips & salsa Just great finger foods to start your meal Then we split multiple entrées and starters Probably my favorite was the pork belly chicharróns We did try one of the dinner menu items; the cornish hen this was incredibly juicy and perfectly executed Then I had a chance to try one of the wings and a quarter of the smashburger Getting a quarter of the burger was such a tease It was topped with a green chili pepper and tomatillo jam-chipotle aioli-whipped queso that was phenomenal This should be a nice welcome addition to Andover Here’s a preview of the dinner menu which is subject to change as the restaurant fine tunes the menu To nominate your restaurant or event to be considered for a review, please email us with your restaurant information Did you love the article and want to help continue the free content? You can help support our site with a simple one-time or recurring donation Are you a business owner and want to be featured or partner for a highlight? Visit us here Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Following a three-day strike in November 2023 the union last year backed Lauren Diffenbach and Shauna Murray two educators who were making their first run for elected office The two women ended up winning and ousted incumbent Susan McCready in the process Get more local news every weekday. Sign up for our newsletter The four candidates in Tuesday’s race for the two seats up for reelection were separated by just 111 votes suggesting there remains a divide among voters on the direction Andover Public Schools should take This year was Tamarkin’s first run for political office ran unsuccessfully in the five-way race for two open seats last year.   “Thank you to Andover’s voters for your confidence in me,” Tamarkin said in a statement “I am looking forward to working together to build a brighter future for our kids and community.”  The school committee race was the only contested race in Tuesday’s election. In the uncontested races Moderator Sheila Doherty was reelected to a 19th one-year term while Alex Vispoli and Melissa Danisch will return to the select board for three-year terms Steven Pekock will serve a three-year term on the Punchard Free School Board of Trustees Hoenig was elected to a five-year term on the Andover Housing Authority Shepley and Tamarkin portrayed Andover Public Schools as a district that was improperly managing its finances and not living up to its reputation as one of the top school districts in the state campaigned on their experience and pointed to initiatives already underway to improve student performance and address budget deficits.  Support local news coverage. Make a tax-deductible donation to Andover News today The MTA’s political action committee offered financial support and members canvased for the two challengers after they were endorsed by the AEA Shepley was also criticized for reimbursing the Massachusetts State Republican Party for use of its bulk mail permit In a filing with the Andover Town Clerk Thursday the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s political action committee said it had spent $1,307.54 for mail printing and postage in support Shepley and Tamarkin The state’s biggest labor union also reported $1,416.92 in “in kind” contributions separate from the $1,307.54 it spent on each candidate including $232.92 for use of a voter list and $1,184 for staff time The furor was enough for the Boston Globe to take the rare step of writing an article about a local election “This is a logical extension of the great political and electoral work we’ve done,” MTA President Max Page told the newspaper suggesting the state’s biggest labor union would look to get more involved in local elections in other communities One of the few Andover restaurants south of Downtown will close this weekend less than two years after converting from a specialty market and café “The decision to end this chapter was difficult and made with great care, and we have truly been grateful for your support and loyalty,” Tavern on 28 owner Tom Walsh said in an Instagram post “We are deeply thankful tom our long-term customers the trust given to us for catering and event clients Walsh said the restaurant would continue to fill catering orders through the end of the month Walsh opened Town Market Andover, which served breakfast, lunch, and prepared foods, at 429 Main Street in 2015. In June 2023 he closed Town Market and converted the space into a full-service restaurant M&A Seminar on Preparing Your Company for Sale Presented by Maslon LLP and Northborne Partners The Andover Senior Campus would bring 107 independent living and two guest suites to the southeast corner of Crosstown Boulevard and Hanson Boulevard Northwest Wedum Foundation plans senior-living project in Andover Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parking mandates[...] Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs Twin Cities housing starts were up across the board in April on the strength of another solid month for single[...] Greco Properties plans a 20-unit memory care facility on a tough-to-develop Edina lot Rice Creek Commons begins redevelopment with Micro Control HQ marking a major step after years of delays at t[...] proposes 43-unit mixed-use building in Excelsior with a renovation of the historic Dock Cinema Sign up for your daily digest of Minnesota News Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parkin[...] will break ground this summer on The Dorian a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo af[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a [...] The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged despite political pressure from Pre[...] The Trump administration is swiftly remaking housing policy as the U.S Department of Housing and Ur[...] construction job openings dropped by 38,000 in March signaling slowing labor demand amid tarif[...] Trump's trade demands stretch beyond tariffs Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs is now an official city after a local vote Milwaukee Mitchell Airport will start a $95.2M international terminal project this summer after dela[...] Listen here analysis and commentary on Minnesota business We are the only independent daily newspaper dedicated to business reporting Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions To help voters make decisions, Andover News is publishing profiles of candidates running in the 2025 Andover Town Election on March 25. You can also view all Andover News election coverage Responses are from a questionnaire sent to all candidates in February and one of two incumbents running in a four-way race for two open seats on the school committee Education: BS Management Westbrook College (University of New England) Campaign Website: www.wrightforandover.com What prompted you to run for elected office I’m running for re-election to Andover School Committee to ensure every student receives a high-quality education I want to build on the progress and accomplishments from recent years such as implementing new curriculum for Math and conducting audits for security which revealed areas of improvement across the district to better serve students we realized that our quality of life would be better if we lived closer to our families in the northeast in a welcoming community with strong public schools we moved to Andover because of Andover Public Schools’ excellent reputation I’ve volunteered in many different roles and through those experiences I’ve learned to appreciate how much our Andover values education Serving on the School Committee is a logical continuation to serve our community I’m from northern Maine originally and have lived in Andover since 2011 My daughters attend Doherty Middle School and Andover High School What are the most important issues facing Andover that you will need to address if elected on March 25 Our commitment to student learning and success needs to be our top priority Student needs must be front and center to all policy and budget decisions made as a School Committee We need to raise the bar in academic excellence and create a culture of continuous improvement one that supports and challenges each student’s learning APS staff is our greatest asset we have to educate our students We should continue supporting our educators by developing consistent high-quality curriculum and instructional materials providing professional development opportunities and coaching support We’ll also experience future budget pressures not just for APS Our community expects high quality public schools and town services while also responsibly using resources to achieve that excellence the School Committee will need to maintain strong partnerships and grow collaboration with the Select Board Town Manager and Superintendent to ensure we’re able to deliver on these expectations The governing boards will need to work together more to ensure a common understanding of priorities and trade-offs in planning for and developing future budgets Other communities are experiencing similar budget challenges and it’s important that we learn from those municipalities and school districts as we navigate these headwinds I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the need to finalize plans to renovate or replace Andover High School to meet the needs of today’s learning standards We also need to maintain reasonable class sizes – more on both of these issues later What are your thoughts on Andover’s comparative school performance There are many ways APS is compared to other districts but DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) provides the most comprehensive comparative analysis against similar districts or state averages When using DESE DART (District Analysis and Review Tools) criteria we perform above or on par with several comparable districts for ELA and Math for percent of students meeting/exceeding expectations and student growth across multiple grades With the adoption of new Math curriculum (Eureka2 for elementary and Desmos for secondary) early indications show the improved curriculum is paying off based on these results you can’t overlook that rankings often come into play While rankings can provide quick insights into how we’re doing rankings can be problematic since you’re managing to a moving target due to changes in metrics and criteria I view rankings as informational (nice to know) but aren’t necessarily actionable we shouldn’t use specific rankings to drive or plan for district-wide improvements most rankings over time show Andover as a high performing district consistently placing in the top 25% of districts in the state some rankings include charter and magnet schools Niche also grades APS with an A and lists it as the #1 best school district in Essex County Our focus is best served in addressing the needs of Andover students DESE provides the greatest insights where we need to improve (when considering how we stack up against other districts) along with our own internal data on student achievement If we focus our efforts on what our Andover students need we’ll perform well when compared to other districts Andover is considering a plan to upgrade Andover High School to extend its life until the Town is in a better position to apply for state aid to build a new school Please outline your position on the AHS project The future of AHS has to be community driven and broadly supported due to the capital investments needed to renovate or replace the building Our educators do an incredible job teaching our students in a less than desirable space which isn’t scaled to today’s learning standards I am hopeful that once the town’s debt profile lessens in the next 10 years or so the community will be supportive of a new building The question is what do we do between now and then educators and administrators in making improvements that address some of the needs outlined in the AHS education plan Once we have a more defined path forward for AHS I support pursuing MSBA funding after West El / Shawsheen school is closed out with the state Andover Public Schools is facing a $1.9 budget deficit — the second deficit in as many years The school committee is considering a plan that cuts 19 FTEs and raises certain student fees Please outline your position on the APS budget issue and the strategies proposed to close the deficit we’ve taken an intentional and thoughtful approach to balance the school budget and in being transparent with the community along the way The $1.87M deficit is driven by increased transportation costs special education (such as out of district residential placements) utilities and contractually obligated salaries Salaries make up almost 80% of the total operating budget of $107M so that’s where a majority of the deficit can be addressed Several options have been evaluated to close the deficit with the final recommendation to reduce 18.7 FTEs in conjunction with a nominal increase (2.5%) in athletic and fine arts fees and to maintain non-salary expenses at prior year levels with a targeted 2.5% reduction The Superintendent is evaluating all positions across the district and includes aligning staffing levels with enrollment and based on student needs This is consistent with the Superintendent’s diligence with repurposing positions in APS ensuring overall headcounts have not increased across the district retirements and resignations (which can come in at any time throughout the year) will be evaluated to determine if those positions need to be filled or if they could be repurposed or consolidated with other positions I encourage the administration to continue exploring ways to find other savings and update our budget deficit projections as the state budget is finalized or as other funding sources are validated such as chapter 70 or from the town one of the options we explored — but ruled out — is closing one of the school buildings While there are savings that could be realized from closing a school doing so would increase utilization at remaining buildings at higher inefficient levels resulting in overcrowding and capacity issues I encourage the community to join upcoming meetings to learn more about the FY 2026 budget and how the deficit is being addressed I’m optimistic that a majority of the deficit can be offset through retirements or resignations This will allow the district to maintain all programs and services for students Outline your views on class-size guidelines established by the school committee Class sizes need to be balanced with other variables impacting student learning and outcomes such as the composition of students in a classroom the use of high-quality instructional materials There is a large body of research around class sizes and I would support a focused analysis and/or workshop to learn more about the merits of class sizes and other factors to ensure we’re using all of our resources efficiently we need to consider all factors which drive student achievement and outcomes our class sizes are reasonable and in line with comparable districts and the current policy class size guidelines allow for flexibility and normal variations in class sizes across grades and content areas an analysis was done to estimate what the cost would be to reduce elementary class sizes to the minimum levels defined in the current Class Size policy (Grade K=16 This analysis suggested that 25 additional elementary teachers would be needed which would cost over $2M annually in our operating budget For every dollar spent to reduce class sizes with additional staffing dollars would need to be reduced somewhere else such as cutting programs or other services At a recent February School Committee meeting AHS administrators presented their annual class size analysis where the class size policy is 21-29 students about two-thirds (66%) of all class sections have 24 or fewer students Approximately 12% of sections have 27-29 students with some of those being sections of Physical Education or music ensembles AHS administration strives to make section sizes as even as possible across courses that students are required to take While there will always be inconsistencies due to students changing classes our administration is thoughtful and careful in its efforts to ensure equitable class sizes across AHS APS has had a 3.75 percent annual budget increase over the past ten years What are your ideas to keep cost growth in line with revenue While the long-range financial plan isn’t perfect it’s provided for stability and predictability with budget planning and helps ensure Andover education is delivered in the most responsible manner in collaboration with the town and district leadership and other governance boards Costs are only going to increase in the future which will put more pressure on APS and town budgets I’ve talked with our Town Manager and others about the possibilities of creating a working group with a subset of members of the School Committee Select Board and Finance Committee in order to explore the sustainability of this model I would expect members of APS and the town departments to share insights and feedback we can identify pros and cons (tradeoffs) in more depth and explore alignment of options or impacts against key priorities This group can also make recommendations about whether our existing funding framework needs to change highlight your biggest accomplishment(s) during the current term highlight some of your professional and/or life experiences During my first term on the School Committee I’ve supported and voted in favor of numerous initiatives which have positively impacted student learning and their overall experience vision and values during a strategic roadmap process which has guided the work of the district for the past two years.• Adopted Social Emotional Learning initiatives including implementation of the RULER (Recognizing Regulating) approach to address mental health needs of students post-pandemic.• Conducted a district literacy audit resulting in recommendations to create and enhance high quality instructional materials for reading and writing.• Conducted a district equity audit resulting in creating a district equity vision and action plan to ensure all students receive an excellent education regardless of their identity background or ability status.• Adopted new math curricula (Desmos and Eureka2) aligned with DESE standards for elementary and middle schools.• Conducted a security assessment of the school facilities to assess vulnerabilities or areas for improvement for student and staff safety.• Established communications protocols and resolution procedures to help parents identify the best person to work with for specific questions/concerns.• Reduced transportation fees for Andover families engagement and outreach across the community including supporting creation of Advisory Councils (Budget Advisory Council I hope to build on these accomplishments in my second term if I’m re-elected What differentiates you from your opponent(s) I’ve volunteered in many different roles to better our community including serving on Andover Parent to Parent A Better Chance of Andover and helped organize different community events This spirit of working collaboratively and building strong relationships is directly transferable to the School Committee which is important in working with community members town and district leadership and other governing boards Serving in these volunteer roles has strengthened my commitment to being objective listening and learning from others and to evaluate issues from different angles and perspectives I’m proud to know so many different people in a diverse range of capacities from my service in Andover Serving on a School Committee takes years to master due to the complexity of the role involving municipal finance and state laws The knowledge I’ve gained from my first term will help the School Committee function cohesively given challenges that lie ahead I have had the benefit of connecting with our professional organization the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and with other School Committee members across the state to learn how other districts are approaching challenges and to share ideas and best practices I have advocated for Andover at the state level including attending MASC’s “Day on the Hill” and speaking with members of our state delegation the accomplishments I’ve cited above are a part of a broader strategy for APS which require a multi-year commitment stability in leadership and continuity with implementing a plan My prior experience on the School Committee involvement and collaboration in the community commitment to continuous improvement and long-range planning and ability to make decisions as a balanced independent and critical thinker make me an ideal candidate for a second term to ensure that every Andover student thrives Is there anything else you want Andover News readers to know about you and your campaign Values are the beliefs which shape how people work together to solve problems or achieve shared goals positivity and accountability are all important to me The strengths-based approach used in teaching can also be applied to the School Committee where empowerment curiosity and innovation are core principles impacting our work I enjoy brainstorming on solutions over fixating on problems I prefer thoughtful conversations instead of social media soundbites and divisive polls but I am committed to bringing the right people together while being open-minded consistency in leadership can help calm the waters There’s lots of uncertainty regarding changes at the federal level that we’ll need to manage including possible changes to the Department of Education that could directly impact our budget and our services This would be compounded by looming budget shortfalls at the state level Having continuity and stability at a local level with experienced School Committee leadership is critical for our future success I would be grateful for your vote on March 25th Selected entries from the Andover Police Department’s public log for March 27-April 6 are listed below You can download a PDF file of the complete, unedited log and view past entries from the Andover police log 8:24 am: Strange man approached caller’s two daughters and babysitter last night at High Plain Elementary playground.11:55 am: Arrested a 24-year-old Chichester, NH man on an outstanding warrant.10:09 pm: Reported death 6:10 am: Car aggressively following caller on Andover Street and Clark Road When caller tried to confront the other driver no reason to believe firearms were involved.10:49 am: Dead goose on roof Phillips Street.1:04 pm: Property damage to pool Haverhill and York Streets.4:33 pm: Clip for firearm found in store Main Street.7:06 pm: Man yelled obscenities from car at person walking on Harding Street.9:31 pm: Staff reporting theft 8:49 pm: Storage unit broken into and items stolen from construction site Shattuck Road.10:20 am: Former employee on property making threats and harassing Andover Street.10:21 am: Breaking and entering Shattuck Road.11:30 am: Vandalism to school equipment High Plain Road.11:45 am: Spare key taken from car Francis Drive.2:47 pm: Elderly woman in store possibly getting scammed with bitcoin Bank assisted woman in changing account information.5:36 pm: Vehicle missing North Main Street.2:54 pm: Threats made to caller’s son via Snapchat 8:57 am: Multiple people asking for room keys and coming in and out of hotel room since yesterday afternoon Minuteman Road.10:22 am: Threats made over phone High Street.2:13 pm: Restraining order violation 11:53 am: Vehicle vandalism on multiple occasions Colonial Drive.11:55 am: Lynn police recovered vehicle stolen from North Main Street.11:59 am: Report of three cars broken into Chandler Road.1:44 pm: Dog and woodchuck fight Bancroft Road.4:35 pm: Threatening text messages Seten Circle.5:41 pm: Check on woman panhandling Gone upon arrival.11:53 pm: Car stuck on railroad tracks and charged her with receiving stolen property and heroin possession.8:16 am: Vandalism Candlewood Drive.9:33 am: Man walking on Main Street with backpack and axe He was returning from cadet class.4:21 pm: Threats Lowell Street.11:29 pm: Man driving around Phillips Academy campus shining lights on windows and yelling 4:17 am: Lowell BOLO for woman possibly heading east on River Road or Route 133 who had attempted suicide.11:01 am: Accidental 911 call from Bancroft Elementary School.11:05 am: Dump truck spilled load Connector and Lowell Junction Roads.1:33 pm: Past car break in Bobby Jones Drive.1:56 pm: Car break-in with $400 stolen Topping Road.3:49 pm: Student refusing to go home with parent and parent saying she will leave the student there Shattuck Road.4:20 pm: Three teens in car shot BB pellets at caller and her car Bulfinch Drive.3:36 am: Hotel guest thinks someone is trying to enter his room through the window Minuteman Road.11:51 am: Man reports finding counterfeit money on the ground Chestnut Street.2:43 pm: Hit-and-run crash Railroad Street.3:39 pm: Woman found Airtag in her car Advice given.9:32 pm: Two females in a black Dodge Charger egged caller’s car.9:35 pm: Two men creating disturbance in store Was walking to gas station.11:15 am: Unwanted guest at River Road hotel Search autocomplete is currently not responding We are excited to announce that starting  July 1 the Town of Andover will transition to automated trash and recycling collection The Town is actively working with Republic Services to prepare for this transition so we’ve put together this guide to get started What is automated trash collection? Automated trash collection requires trucks with mechanical arms to lift and empty standardized trash and recycling cans (also known as "carts" or “toters”) How does this transition impact me? Starting July 1 you will need to use Town-issued carts for trash and recycling Why are we transitioning to automated trash collection? This is the new standard for waste collection Automated pickup has been widely adopted because it’s safer for waste collection workers and helps services run more smoothly Our waste hauler requires it as part of our new contract.  Will the Town be providing carts? Yes every household will receive one 65-gallon trash cart and a 95-gallon recycling cart The carts will be delivered right to your curb The larger recycling carts are because pickup happens every other week and recycled items are generally lighter and easier to move How many trash bags will the new carts hold?A 65-gallon trash cart can hold approximately 5 tall trash bags and a 95-gallon recycling cart can hold the equivalent of 8 large trash bags or traditional recycling bins Do I have to use the Town's carts? Yes all trash and recycling must go into the Town-issued carts in order to be collected What if I need additional carts? Residents may request an additional cart if they require additional capacity Resident may purchase an additional 65-gallon trash cart for a one-time cost of $75 and request an additional recycling cart at no cost after September 1 Requests for an additional cart can be made online by completing a Public Works Request select 'Waste Toters' and select the option to request an additional trash cart An option to request an additional recycling cart will be added to the Public Works Request module after the initial roll out What do I do with my existing carts? The Town will help residents recycle or dispose of them properly Details about this program are coming soon You can also reuse them for yard waste disposal.  What if the carts are too big and I am unable to handle them? If the standard sizes don't work for you you can request smaller carts: a 35-gallon trash cart and a 35-gallon recycling cart Requests for smaller carts can be made online by completing a Public Works Request Will there be any other changes to the trash and recycling program?No The Town will continue to provide twelve (12) weeks of yard waste pickup and you can continue to dispose of one bulky item per week at no extra charge.  Why does the Town need a new contract? Our current agreement with Republic Services expired and the Town needed to negotiate a new one to ensure continued high-quality service Republic Services has been a trusted partner to Andover residents for over 20 years and we're glad they will continue to serve Andover.  How will the transition to automated collection be managed? We’ll keep you informed every step of the way with a public education campaign There will even be opportunities to try out the new carts before they arrive we'll provide replacement carts if yours becomes damaged More details on the process for replacing damaged carts will be shared soon Who can I contact with questions? Our team at the DPW’s Recycling & Solid Waste Division is here to help. Reach us at 978-623-8701 or email recycle@andoverma.us anytime.What are the long-term costs of the new contract?The new contract is designed to help stabilize solid waste and recycling costs over time the average household in Andover generates about 25% (or 400 pounds) more trash than similar communities the cost of collection and disposal has gone up by an average of 6% each year While the first year of the new contract will include a 6.64% increase the following four years will have smaller increases of 5.5% annually we’re also expecting a drop in long-term disposal costs this program is a big step toward managing collection and disposal costs moving forward Resources:Automated Collection Information Session Presentation - April 9, 2025April 9 Information Session - AndoverTV Recording Cart Dimension Matrix Automated Collection Infographic Public Information SessionsThe Town of Andover will host a series of public information sessions about autoamted solid waste and recycling collection before the program takes effect These sessions will allow residents to learn more about how the program works Town of Andover36 Bartlet Street Andover, MA 01810Phone: 978-623-8200 MA – Newmark has announced the sale of 150 Minuteman Road a premier Class A research and development facility in Andover The 112,148-square-foot asset was sold by BGO and acquired by Optimum Asset Management Capital Markets team leading the transaction part of the expansive one-million-square-foot Minuteman Park campus is fully leased to global medical technology firm Smith+Nephew which has maintained tenancy since the building’s construction in 2002 Smith+Nephew has heavily invested in tailored upgrades transforming the site into a specialized flagship R&D center “Smith+Nephew has invested significant capital into customizing and upgrading 150 Minuteman Road,” said Samantha Hallowell “This has created a high-end R&D flagship for a committed tenant with a highly functional interior buildout and specialized equipment.” The Newmark team representing the seller included Robert Griffin with financial analysis support from Grady Zink Optimum Asset Management sees the acquisition as a strategic addition to its growing presence in the Boston area “We are excited to add 150 Minuteman Road to Optimum’s greater Boston portfolio,” said Matthew Barry “The property aligns with our strategy of acquiring best-in-class R&D facilities with durable in-place cashflow in established markets.” Located directly off Interstate 93 and minutes from I-495 150 Minuteman Road is situated just five miles from the New Hampshire border and 25 miles north of Boston offering prime access and connectivity in one of the region’s top life science corridors Spring may have already arrived but it won't feel official, at least in Allegany County, until the Andover Lions Maple Festival rolls around The 2025 festival is set for Saturday and Sunday Expect an extra sweet time as the Maple Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary. To mark the milestone, the Lions will hold a free raffle for a maple leaf necklace from Walker Metalsmiths Get tickets Maple Festival weekend at the Lions informational booth or at the school's main office The first Andover Lions Maple Festival was held in 1972 The event showcased the maple syrup production process accessing the maple trees along village streets for sap collection and demonstration so it took a few extra years to reach a half-century of festivals More than 100 craft and food vendors will be at the event With some small changes in the physical layout on tap this year organizers encourage festival goers to be sure to walk the entire school so they don't miss out on any vendors And don't forget to visit the Maple Room for all your maple-flavor needs Get an early start by stopping by the school cafeteria for the Andover Haunted House pancake breakfast Buttermilk pancakes slathered with locally sourced maple syrup is the star attraction but there is full breakfast available Order the "hot deal" for $12 and enjoy eggs Or stick with pancakes: all you can eat for $4.25 Events: Tyrod Taylor, Larry Johnson, Andruw Jones greet fans at Hornell Sports Night World-famous Ellie the therapy dog will visit the festival both days entertaining in the school auditorium with trick shows and up close contact with children and adults Her show on Sunday will take place from 1-2 p.m Also on Saturday: kids tractor pull at 11 a.m.; Pastor Phil's puppet show To get unlimited access to the latest news please subscribe or activate your digital account today and eight teams are set to be inducted into the Punchard-Andover High School Athletic Hall of Fame at a March 29 ceremony The induction banquet will be held on March 29, at Salvatore’s in Lawrence. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased via Venmo: @GoldenWarriors1. For more information or to purchase tickets by check contact [email protected] The Punchard-Andover High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee will also be honoring the late David Nichols with a Special Recognition Award Nichols retired in 2008 after being the co-athletic director for the five years before his retirement Andover High School reached unprecedented success in multiple sports highlighted by being named the winner of the prestigious Dalton Award by the Boston Globe as the top large school for overall winning percentage for all varsity sports in eastern Massachusetts Andover received this in back-to-back school years Nichols was also the program director for health education for ten years and before that an award-winning adapted physical education teacher in Andover for over 20 years The committee also voted to rename this award the David B Nichols Special Recognition Award for Meritorious Service The hall provided the following biographies of the individual inductees: The class of 2025 inductees includes current Warrior indoor and outdoor track and field coach Peter Comeau Peter graduated in 1984 and was inducted as a student-athlete He was later inducted as a member of the 1984 boys’ outdoor track and field team that were undefeated New England champions This year Peter will be inducted as a coach recognizing his 33 years of coaching and more than a dozen state championship teams Seven of these teams went on to be crowned all-state champions and these teams will also be inducted into the hall of fame this year Peter will be the first person to be inducted as both a student-athlete and a coach Current girls’ varsity soccer coach Meghan Lynch Matson will be inducted simultaneously as a student-athlete and a coach who teaches physical education at South Elementary School was an All-Scholastic goalie on the soccer team and also lettered in basketball and softball she continued her career as a scholarship soccer player at Boston University She has been recognized several times for her coaching including being selected as the Eagle Tribune Coach of the Year and named the 2006 Eastern Massachusetts Girls Soccer Association Coach of the Year David (Faz) Fazio is Andover’s boys’ basketball and golf coach He has really left his mark as the basketball coach having been named varsity head coach in 1989 His teams have won over 550 games and have qualified for the state tournament every year They have won 15 MVC championships and played for the state championship two years ago Faz was selected as the MIAA Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 2019 and was inducted into the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2022 He retired as an Andover High School physical education teacher in 2022 and is well known as the owner and director of Hooptown Basketball camp where many local youth have learned and honed their skills Mike Wartman is being inducted following a highly successful career as Andover’s boys’ tennis coach Mike coached for 36 years before his retirement in 2022 During those years Mike’s teams won over 86% of their matches qualified for the state tournament every year and played in the state championship finals twice Mike is just as proud of the fact that his teams were recognized by the MIAA with the state team sportsmanship award twice Mike coached soccer at AHS for over 20 years Mike is also a retired AHS guidance counsellor Former student-athletes who will be inducted are: One of the best male soccer players in AHS history a three time Eastern Massachusetts All-Star Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic scoring 58 goals in his high school career He was a three time MVC All-Conference selection and led his team to the MVC championship his senior season Paul was also an All-Conference basketball player as a senior as well as a two time honorable mention Eagle Tribune All-Star He was a scholarship soccer player at Elon University where he was a two time team captain and is still in the top 10 all time in scoring All-Scholastic in football and basketball and set the school record in the high jump Jim was a member of the state champion 4×100 relay team and also set a single game scoring record in basketball He was team MVP in football his senior year and accepted a football scholarship to Syracuse University where he was a member of Syracuse’s national championship football team in 1959 While at Syracuse he also played basketball for three years and was named the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce Outstanding student-athlete for academics and citizenship Outstanding football player and track and field athlete He was the New England champion in the 120-yard-high hurdles and also set a Boston Athletic Association record in the event He was the leading scorer on the boys outdoor track and field team that went undefeated winning the state Division 2 Coaches Relay championship the All-State Meet and the 1970 New England championship Van attended Andover High School through the ABC program and after graduation had a very successful career competing in track and field at Tufts University Four year letter winner and team captain she was a thirteen time state champion swimmer Caitlin was named the Massachusetts Speedo Swimmer of the Year in 2004 She was a 4-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic and 2 time Globe Swimmer of the Year she was a 4 time Boston Herald All-Scholastic 4 time Eagle Tribune All-Scholastic and 3 time Eagle Tribune Swimmer of the Year Caitlin was a high school All-American in the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley continued her career swimming on scholarship at Boston College Erik was a four year letter winner for the football team He was First Team All-MVC as a lineman as a junior and senior and second team All-MVC as a sophomore Erik was a Boston Globe All-Scholastic on the offensive line and a Boston Herald All-Scholastic on the defensive line He was selected for the B’nai Brith MVP award as the best Jewish student athlete in Massachusetts his senior year Erik accepted a full scholarship to the University of Maryland where he was a starting offensive lineman for three and half years and was named an All-Atlantic Coast Conference lineman as a junior and senior Katie was an outstanding soccer and basketball player for Andover High School As a soccer player she was a three time letterwinner and MVC Player of the Year as a senior after being named to the all-conference team her junior year She set a school record for points with 168 In basketball Katie was a four-year letterwinner Katie accepted a soccer scholarship to the University of Michigan where she had a successful career including tying for the team lead in goals and second in game winning goals and points in her sophomore year One of the best three sport student-athletes ever at Andover High School he was a four year starting quarterback on the football team setting school and area passing records throwing for over 8,700 yards and 114 touchdowns He was a four-year starter on the basketball team and scored over 1300 points He was the starting catcher on the baseball team since his freshman year with a batting average of over .400 was selected to multiple MVC all-conference teams and was the Boston Globe Football Division 1 Player of the Year as a senior after throwing for 3,398 yards and accounting for 47 touchdowns He also rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 13 rushing touchdowns He received 15 full scholarship offers in football and 2 full scholarship offers in baseball He accepted a football scholarship to Boston College eventually completing his career at Brown University where he was Ivy League Player of the Year as a senior after being the runner up as a junior presented by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the best collegiate offensive player in New England He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and was chosen the offensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2022 signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL He was also the starting quarterback of the Michigan Panthers of the USFL where he broke the playoff single game yardage mark Last season he was the starting quarterback for Michigan in the UFL Jackie was an outstanding two sport student-athlete She is the all-time leading goal scorer for Andover High School As a senior she was the recipient of the Eagle Tribune Golden Boot award as the leading scorer in the area Jackie was selected as the Merrimack Valley Conference Player of the Year as a senior and was a two-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic As a basketball player she was the Merrimack Valley Conference Player of the Year as a senior and was named to the Eagle Tribune Super Team and the Boston Herald Super Team as “6th player” on the girls’ basketball team that won the MIAA division 1 state championship in 2003 Jackie was the female recipient of the Eugene V Lovely Award as the top athlete in her graduating class Jackie went on to excel on the basketball court for Bates College where she was the MVP of the Hall of Fame Classic and also led Bates to the NESCAC championship Matt was an outstanding three sport student-athlete Matt moved to Andover from Texas during his sophomore season and made an immediate impact on the Golden Warriors athletic program he was an MVC All-Conference player and an Eagle Tribune All-Star at wide receiver as a junior and senior and was selected as a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete following his senior season he was an MVC All-Conference selection as a junior and senior after being selected as an MVC all-star as a sophomore Matt was the MVC Defensive Player of the Year in his senior season He was a two time Eagle Tribune All-Star and Boston Herald All-Scholastic He capped off his high school lacrosse career by being named a US Lacrosse High School Academic All-American Matt was also a letterwinner in ice hockey and key contributor to the team Lovely Award recipient as the top male athlete in his graduating class He was also selected as the recipient of the Charles A school citizenship and athletics for his graduating class He continued his playing career at Middlebury College where he captained the football and lacrosse teams being named an All-NESCAC wide receiver in football and an All-American All-New England and All- NESCAC defenseman in lacrosse Matt is currently serving in the United States Navy Sean is considered one of the best basketball players to wear the blue and gold for Andover High School A four-year starter he was captain his senior year and scored 980 points for his career Sean was named to multiple MVC All-Conference teams and was the MVC Player of the Year as a senior He was the Boston Globe Division 1 Player of the Year as a senior in addition to being a Boston Herald All-Scholastic Eagle Tribune Player of the Year and the Eagle Tribune Winter Season Athlete of the Year He was the recipient of the IAABO (basketball officials) Edward Middleton Award was selected to play in the Hoffman Game and the Boston Shoot-Out Sean accepted a scholarship to play at Monmouth University where he was a two year starter before transferring to St Anselm’s where he scored over 1000 points and was named to the All New England Team Sean is now a highly successful high school basketball coach having led his team to the 2020 Boston city championship and was named the MIAA Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 2020 Steve was an outstanding football player and track and field student-athlete Captain of the football team his senior year he was 2nd all-time in rushing and 4th all-time in scoring when he graduated Steve also captained the indoor and outdoor track and field teams as a senior He is the Andover High School record holder in the decathlon and is currently 3rd all-time in the triple jump and 4th all-time in the long jump He was the 300-meter intermediate hurdles record holder for twelve years until it was broken in 2015 and is currently second all time His time in the 110-meter dash is still among the best in the Merrimack Valley Following graduation Steve accepted a scholarship to continue his athletic career at Villanova University To be eligible for induction a student-athlete must have graduated from Punchard or Andover High School for at least five years They must have demonstrated outstanding ability in their sport(s) and have also demonstrated strong sportsmanship in making significant contributions to their teams Coaches are eligible based on their performance in the development of individual team and school success and a significant contribution toward promoting sound educational values Administrators are eligible based on their contributions to and their support of the athletic department Team eligibility is based on outstanding accomplishments success and championships at the conference The Hall of Fame committee may also elect to recognize an individual for extraordinary contributions to the athletic department with a special recognition award The hall of fame currently has 141 former student-athletes dating back to the graduating class of 1911 fifteen former coaches and administrators and thirty-three championship teams The hall will now welcome fifteen individuals and eight teams when the induction banquet is held on March 29 One special recognition award will also be presented at the induction banquet