North Salem
GOVERNMENT
To stay open, Windham Elementary fought for independence. It closed anyway
On a cold, gray Saturday in March, about a third of all the people living in Windham crammed into the town’s more than 220-year-old white clapboard meetinghouse. One item in particular had driven turnout on this Town Meeting Day: a ballot article that would permanently shutter Windham’s tiny elementary school. It was the third time in three years that the question would be posed to Windham’s 500 residents.
New Hampshire communities take steps to fight back against mosquito-borne illnesses
KINGSTON, N.H. — Several New Hampshire communities are spraying for mosquitoes in an effort to combat a potentially deadly mosquito-borne illness. In Kingston, town fields and recreation areas were sprayed to try to kill mosquitoes that might be carrying Eastern equine encephalitis. "There's a bird-mosquito cycle," said Sarah MacGregor,...
Steward has "definitive agreements" to sell 3 hospitals in Mass.
BOSTON - Steward Health Care said Thursday it has "definitive agreements" to sell three of its hospitals in Massachusetts, as Gov. Maura Healey says the state is closer to being rid of the bankrupt company "once and for all."Rhode Island-based Lifespan has filed an asset purchase agreement to buy Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton. Lawrence General Hospital is set to buy the Holy Family hospital campuses in Methuen and Haverhill. "As Steward continues to progress through the ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings, we are thrilled to have identified such qualified acquirers for hospitals in the Commonwealth...
First Day at West: New $168M school opens, forces redistricting
ANDOVER — The doors of a new Andover elementary school opened on the first day of school last Wednesday after an eight-year process to get the $168 million school built. The new West Elementary School, 58 Beacon St., welcomed 590 students, teachers, staff and school administrators, including a new principal, on a bright, sunny day to kick off the school year.
New buyer for Laconia site offers $10.5M, would have two years to close
Michael Kettenbach, principal owner of Pillsbury Realty Development in Londonderry, will pay $10.5 million for the Laconia property under the deal announced Friday. (Alan MacRae | New Hampshire Bulletin) The state has chosen a new buyer for its 217-acre former Laconia State School property. The $10.5 million offer is about...
New jury trial set for Dec. 5 in Kratman case
TEWKSBURY — On Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, Tewksbury Select Board Mark Kratman appeared via Zoom before a judge in the Woburn District Court regarding his Nov. 11, 2019 OUI arrest. According to court documents, a virtual court session was held to review the status of this case, which has...
Ex-Massachusetts special ed director accused of embezzling $37 million loses his pension appeal
The disgraced former special ed director who was accused of misusing more than $37 million in taxpayer dollars has lost his pension appeal in front of a state appeals court. John Barranco — who was the executive director of both the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative and Merrimack Education Center — brought this appeal after he was forced to give back more than $800,000 in excess pension payments to the state.
Alligator toy scares locals into calling Animal Control in Andover
ANDOVER, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Andover residents calling Animal Control over an alleged alligator sighting. When Animal Control officers arrived, they managed to capture this guy recently making the walking trails in Andover far safer… from toy alligators. That’s right, if you take a closer look this is a rubber...
Recovery House Gets Rehearing After Getting Cease-and-Desist
The August meeting of the Hudson Zoning Board of Adjustment heard a request to rehear the recent rejection of a cease-and-desist letter to stop the operation of a boarding house for those recovering from substance abuse at 12-14 Gambia Street. Property owner, Keystone Estates, LLC, did not send anyone to...
DPW director says town water frequently tested
TEWKSBURY — The Tewksbury Board of Health met on Aug. 22, 2024 at town hall. The board discussed the water main break that shut down water delivery for several hours on Saturday, July 27. Chair Melissa Braga said that her goal was to give the public the opportunity to ask questions about water quality, though no one appeared.
Jennifer Gillis 08-30-24
Superintendent for the Manchester School District Jennifer Gillis stops by the Morning Update to offer an update on the start of the new year and how officials are addressing changes to the attendance standards and cell phone policy. Kris Neilsen from vistNH.gov, shares many Fall activities that will be happening...
Haverhill High Marine Corps Jr. ROTC Plans 9/11 Remembrance and POW/MIA Ceremonies
The Haverhill High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC is hosting its annual 9/11 remembrance Ceremony 23 years to the hour of the 2001 attacks. Retired U.S. Marine Corps First Sgt. David W. Grinstead, senior marine instructor, said all teachers and students are welcome to attend Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 8:46 to 9:10 a.m., at the 9/11 monument in front of Haverhill High School, 137 Monument St.
Groundbreaking on State’s First Net Zero Development
Verani Realty announced the groundbreaking of what it claimed was NH’s “first net zero development” located at 75 Barretts Hill Road. “It’s a 34-acre site. We took advantage of the state’s open space ordinance to put 17 acres in conservation,” said Sam Evans-Brown of Clean Energy NH, describing the hillside behind the main development as open space in a state of “permanent conservation.”
Town plans new boat launch on Lake Cochichewick
NORTH ANDOVER — A $983,900 project to restore the boat launch on Lake Cochichewick situated off Great Pond Road is in its early stages to improve access to the lake. Engineers on the project painted a picture of where the project stands and what users can expect of the hand-carry boat launch when completed during the Planning Board meeting Monday.
New film and program at library: Remembering the gas explosion of 1972
TEWKSBURY — It was approximately 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 9, 1972 when a propane gas delivery truck backed up at the Lowell Gas Company on Chapman Road and accidentally hit a pipe connected to a 60,000 gallon gas storage tank. What ensued was a fire and subsequent explosion that, according to accounts of the time, was such a massive blast that pilots flying to Logan Airport could see it from the air.
Andover Stories: Our Town House – community anchor, part II
The hall in the Town House has always been a busy place as records show:. “The hall was in constant use. There were temperance, suffrage and abolitionist meetings, political rallies, the George Washington Ball, Police and Firemen’s Balls, the annual Robert Burns Night, graduations and many more joyous occasions. It was very pleasant to sit in the gallery and view the Grand March that seemed to precede most dancing parties of that period.”
Petition to ask voters about other forms of government denied in Andover
ANDOVER — The Select Board denied a petition to put three questions asking voters about three alternative forms of government on next year’s town ballot. The board shot down the petition at its Aug. 19 meeting. The petition was submitted to the town in May by Kathleen Grant...
Andy Sylvia 08-29-24
Manchester Ink Link reporter Andy Sylvia discusses the ongoing Ward meetings over the past few months and this week’s meeting in Manchester’s Ward 8. Andy also briefly touches on the Manchester High School’s new cell phone policy. More WFEA Morning Update. Superintendent for the Manchester School District...
Letters to the Editor: Lowell Dems endorse Ready for Register of Deeds
We are writing to strongly endorse Joe Ready of Chelmsford for Register of Deeds. Dick Howe, the longtime Register is not running again after serving for 30 years. Dick did a wonderful job, bringing the Registry online so anyone could access records from home. Dick was a lawyer with strong community involvement.
Historical Society plans a busy September
NORTH ANDOVER — The North Andover Historical Society is offering a variety of events this September, some in coordination with the Trails and Sails program. Trails and Sails is an event series that focuses on heritage resources around Essex County. The 1715 Barnard Parsons House Museum will be open...
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.