North Andover Newsbrief, Week of October 13, 2026

– 2026 Recommend Trick or Treat Hours
The recommended hours for trick-or-treating in North Andover are Saturday, October 31, 2025 from 5:30pm-7:30pm.
 

– In-Person Early Voting

Early Voting for the November 3, 2026 State Election will be held from Saturday, October 17 through Friday, October 30, 2026.

Location: North Andover Town Hall, 120 Main Street

Early Voting Hours:

  – Saturday, 10/17: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

  – Monday, 10/19: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  – Tuesday, 10/20: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  – Wednesday, 10/21: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  – Thursday, 10/22: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  – Friday, 10/23: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

  – Saturday, 10/24: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  – Monday, 10/26: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  – Tuesday, 10/27: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  – Wednesday, 10/28: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  – Thursday, 10/29: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  – Friday, 10/30: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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– Lake Cochichewick End of Season

All stored boats must be removed from the North Station & Hatch racks as of November 1, 2026

Per the Town of North Andover Lake Usage/Boating Regulations, boat storage is from April 15 through November 1.  This is a reminder that the season ends on November 1, 2026. We hope it was an enjoyable one.  See you in the spring of 2027. 

There will be a removal fee of $50.00 for any boat removed & stored by the Town. In addition, any boat not removed by the owner will be suspended and you will not be able to apply for a boat storage permit for the following year.

Thank you for your cooperation this season. Stay well and stay safe.

– Veterans Services Office Relocation

The Town of North Andover’s Veterans Services Office will be temporarily closed from October 20 through October 30 as we relocate to our new space in the former Senior Center building, just next door to our current location. We are excited about this transition and look forward to continuing to provide support and services to our veteran community from our new location.

–  Election Drop Boxes at Town Hall
If you plan to return your ballot in person instead of mailing it, we have two dedicated drop boxes at Town Hall (120 Main Street): one at the front entrance and one at the back entrance.

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    • In-Person & Local Mail: All ballots must reach the Town Clerk’s Office or a ballot box by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, or be postmarked by November 3 and delivered to the Town Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6.
    • Overseas Mail: Ballots sent from outside the United States must be postmarked by November 3 and will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13.
    • Drop Boxes: Surveillance monitors drop boxes 24/7
    • Important Note: Mail ballots CANNOT be dropped off at polling locations on Election Day.
– Lake Cochichewick Clean Up – Thank You! 

Thank you to all the volunteers, which included; Friends of North Andover Trails, North Andover Historical Society, North Andover Improvement Society, North Andover Garden Club, Brooks School students and faculty, Country Club members, Rolling Ridge, local businesses including Amazon, and not to mention members of the public coming to lend a hand! Town staff from North Andover DPW, the Water Treatment Division, the Conservation and Planning Departments were key in organizing and carrying out the logistics for this annual event. Last, but not least, thank you to Smolak Farms for donating delicious apples and cider donuts, which were devoured! 

 

This year’s clean up event was unique because the low lake levels allowed access to the shoreline from the water side. The ability to access the shore in this way gave volunteers the opportunity to remove trash that cannot be reached otherwise. Local non-profit organizations and groups rallied to the call to lend their time and energy in helping tackle specific sections of the lake shore. The result? The entire 7 miles of Lake Cochichewick shoreline were cleaned! Cleanup of the lake, shoreline, Stevens Pond, and surrounding roadways yielded a whopping 1,260 pounds of trash removed (compared to last year’s total of 760 pounds)! This increase doesn’t necessarily mean more trash had accumulated over the past year. Rather, it reflects the expanded reach of this year’s effort, as volunteers were able to cover all seven miles of the shoreline. 

 

This event sets a wonderful example of community engagement and volunteerism. It shows the difference that our actions can make in both our community as well as the natural environment around us. Thanks, once again, to all participants for making a positive impact in North Andover and protecting your pristine drinking water source and its surrounding watershed. We look forward to next year’s cleanup! October 3, 2026

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– Health Department Facebook Page
 

The North Andover Health Department now has its own Facebook page! Follow us at facebook.com/NAHealthDept.

If you have ever wondered who is behind those restaurant inspections, health alerts, seasonal reminders, or flu clinic announcements, now you can follow along in real time. We will be sharing food safety tips, seasonal health information, updates on inspections and permits, community resources, and the occasional behind the scenes look at what a day in public health actually looks like.

Together, our staff covers food protection, environmental health, public health nursing, disease prevention, inspections, permits, community education, and everything in between. A lot of public health work happens quietly in the background, which is exactly how you want it to be. Our goal is to help prevent problems before they become problems and to make North Andover a healthier and safer place to live, work, and raise a family. Consider our new Facebook page your window into that work.

 
– Town of North Andover Community Flu Clinics
 
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Employment Opportunities:
 

Click here to view the current employment opportunities and to download an employment application.

  • 5th Grade Saturday Site Coordinator – Youth & Recreation Services
  • Temporary IT Systems Administrator
  • Part-Time Department Assistant – Youth & Recreation Services
  • Part-Time Library Assistant Night – Weekend
  • Patrol Officer
  • Water Treatment Plant Operator
  • School Crossing Guard
  • Library Director
  • Inspector of Wires
  • Water Sewer Maintenance Craftsperson
  • Heavy Motor Equipment Operator (HMEO)
  • Motor Equipment Operator (MEO)
  • Per-Diem Van Driver
  • Special Motor Equipment Operator (SMEO)
Upcoming Meetings:
Upcoming meetings & important events for this week can be viewed at www.northandoverma.gov

Wednesday, October 14

Conservation Commission

 
Thursday, October 15
Youth & Recreation Council
 
Monday, October 19

Select Board

 
Tuesday, October 20

MassHire MVWB Planning/Career Center Meeting
Planning Board
Finance Committee Meeting

Thursday, October 22

Affordable Housing Trust
School Committiee
Board of Health

 
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Veterans Services Office Relocation

The Town of North Andover’s Veterans Services Office will be temporarily closed from October 20 through October 30 as we relocate to our new space in the former Senior Center building, just next door to our current location. We are excited about this transition and look forward to continuing to provide support and services to our veteran community from our new location.

North Andover Public Safety Employee of the Year Award, Unsung Hero, and Employee of the Year

Public Safety Employee of the Year Award 
The purpose of the Public Safety Employee of the Year Award is to recognize annually a Public Safety Employee (Police, Fire or Dispatch) who demonstrates outstanding service, exemplary efforts to public safety and dedication to the Town of North Andover. Please join us in congratulating this year’s Public Safety Employee of the Year award recipient, Communications Officer Eugene “Skip” Croteau.

 

Unsung Hero Award

The purpose of the Unsung Hero Award is to recognize annually a Town employee who works  “behind the scenes” often without recognition, but whose hard work, dedication, and “can-do” attitude have a meaningful impact on the work of other employees and/or the experience of residents and other constituents.  Please join us in congratulating this year’s Unsung Hero, Cahla Ahlstrom.
 
North Andover Employee of the Year Award

The North Andover Employee of the Year program was instituted to recognize annually one employee for being a team player, exhibiting exceptional customer service, going above and beyond expectations in their work, conduct and dedication, and who truly embodies the true meaning of being a public servant.  We recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset in North Andover.  Please join us in Congratulating this year’s Employee of the Year award recipient, Tiffany Furman.

 

 

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Election Drop Boxes at Town Hall

Election Drop Boxes at Town Hall
If you plan to return your ballot in person instead of mailing it, we have two dedicated drop boxes at Town Hall (120 Main Street ): one at the front entrance and one at the back entrance.

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  • In-Person & Local Mail: All ballots must reach the Town Clerk's Office or a ballot box by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, or be postmarked by November 3 and delivered to the Town Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6.
  • Overseas Mail: Ballots sent from outside the United States must be postmarked by November 3 and will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13.
  • Drop Boxes: Surveillance monitors drop boxes 24/7
  • Important Note: Mail ballots CANNOT be dropped off at polling locations on Election Day.

Upcoming Hours for Town Buildings 10/12 and 10/13

Monday, October 12, 2026

Non-Essential Town Buildings and Offices will be closed on Monday, October 12, 2026 in observance of Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day


*There will be no trash and recycling collection on Monday, October 12, 2026. Collection will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Non-Essential Town Buildings, with the exception of the North Andover Senior Center, will be closed on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 from 12 – 2 PM for an employee event.

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Addressing Recent Rodent Activity: Our Community-Wide Response & How You Can Help

Addressing Recent Rodent Activity:  Our Community-Wide Response & How You Can Help

The Town of North Andover and the North Andover Health Department would like to share the steps the town is taking in response to recent rodent activity.

The Health Department has seen an increase in reports of rats in recent months. Rats are common wherever there is food and shelter, including denser residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, near older infrastructure, and waterways. Many Massachusetts communities are dealing with the same issue.

The Health Department is leading the Town's response using an Integrated Pest Management Plan, which combines several methods rather than relying on one treatment. That means understanding where activity is occurring, identifying what is supporting it, correcting those conditions when appropriate, and bringing in professional pest management services when the evidence calls for it.

The Health Department is undertaking three actions aimed at areas where complaints are concentrated:

  • SmartBoxes: Modern Pest Services will deploy 15 SmartBoxes, which are non-toxic, industrial-grade digital rodent traps that monitor activity and eliminate the pests through a controlled shock. Placement will be based on documented rodent activity, repeated complaints, inspection findings, and identified harborage, with an initial focus on the center of town. The boxes serve two purposes: they provide targeted control where there is chronic evidence of a problem, and they generate monitoring information that helps us understand where and how much activity is occurring. These locations are a starting point for the collection of data and are not the permanent location for the devices. After approximately three to six months, the Town will review monitoring data, rodent complaints and inspection findings. The Town will then keep the boxes in place or move them to other documented problem areas as needed. This keeps the program responsive to conditions and prevents us from focusing on only one location.

  • Prevention letters to neighbors: For each reported sighting, the Health Department is sending a letter with practical rodent prevention tips to every property within 200 feet. Rodents do not respect lot lines, and conditions on neighboring properties often contribute to activity at the reported location. The letter gives residents and businesses specific steps they can take right away, such as securing trash, removing food sources, trimming vegetation and sealing openings without waiting for an inspection. It also tells them where to report activity they see, which broadens the information available to the town.

  • Professional assessment: Where staff determine that a property or area needs expertise beyond what the Health Department can provide, Modern Pest Services will inspect and advise on the likely source of activity, the conditions contributing to it and an appropriate control strategy. The Town expects to use these assessments selectively, such as in incidents of persistent activity, complex sites, or areas where several properties appear to be involved. These assessments will not be used as a response to every complaint. The Health Department will play the primary role in assessment and coordination, with professional intervention used when the information supports a need for it.  

Trash is a major food source for rats, and the town is working to modernize how trash is stored and collected, with the Health Department supporting that effort. The Health Department is also working with residents and businesses on prevention within current and future construction projects. 

At this time, the Health Department has not identified a single event, condition or source that would explain an increase in recent rodent sightings. An increase in reports does not necessarily mean an increase in the rat population. Construction, weather and seasonal conditions, trash and food waste practices, landscaping, changes in property use, and greater public awareness can all make rodents more visible or make residents more likely to report them.

Residents and businesses can report rodent activity to the Health Department through online reporting, telephone, or email. The most helpful reports include the location, the date and time, what was seen (a live rat, droppings, burrows or damage), and any conditions nearby that might be contributing to the sighting. Consistent, complete reports make it much easier to spot patterns.  The best place to make reports is through the town’s website: https://www.northandoverma.gov/549/Report-a-Problem.  These complaints go directly to the department and are also seen by the Town Manager’s office.


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In-person Early Voting for the November 3, 2026 State Election

Early Voting for the November 3, 2026 State Election will be held from Saturday, October 17 through Friday, October 30, 2026.

Location: North Andover Town Hall, 120 Main Street

Early Voting Hours:
  – Saturday, 10/17: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  – Monday, 10/19: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  – Tuesday, 10/20: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  – Wednesday, 10/21: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  – Thursday, 10/22: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  – Friday, 10/23: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  – Saturday, 10/24: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  – Monday, 10/26: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  – Tuesday, 10/27: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  – Wednesday, 10/28: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  – Thursday, 10/29: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  – Friday, 10/30: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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