Month: August 2024

What Not To Flush

Sarah Brush

It’s a Toilet, Not a Trash Can!

Even if they’re small, even if the package says “flushable,” some everyday items can cause messy and expensive problems for your plumbing and our sewer treatment facilities.

Products that might seem safe to flush down the toilet, such as personal care wipes, dental floss and paper towels, don’t dissolve quickly – or at all – in water. If a scrap of undissolved material gets caught on a nick, bend or bump within a pipe, it can trigger a growth of buildup that could cause a sewer backup in your home or neighborhood.

Sewer agencies, environmentalists and consumer advocates are working with manufacturers to correct product labeling. In the meantime, please make sure to dispose of personal care products, cleaning supplies and other household waste properly: in the trash can, in the recycling bin or at your local household hazardous waste disposal site. Read more here: https://www.mwra.com/03sewer/html/toiletnottrashcan.html

How to care for septic system (mass.gov): https://www.mass.gov/guides/caring-for-your-septic-system#:~:text=How%20often%20should%20I%20pump,or%20at%20all%20%E2%80%93%20in%20water.

Properly Dispose of Waste: https://www.epa.gov/septic/how-care-your-septic-system#properly

Press Release: North Andover Maintains AAA Bond Rating

Sarah Brush

North Andover Maintains AAA Bond Rating

Earlier this summer, S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed the Town of North Andover’s AAA bond rating and provided a Stable outlook on the Town’s outstanding and pending bond issuances. This AAA rating was assigned for both general obligation (GO) bonds and as a rating for Town’s long-term GO debt outstanding.

Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues stated that, “Maintaining our AAA credit rating is a clear reflection of North Andover’s strong financial management and commitment to long-term fiscal stability. It re-affirms that we are on the right track financially and should continue to stand by our financial policies. This rating will allow the Town to continue to roll out Facilities Master Plan II with the least amount of impact on our taxpayers.”

The report reads that, “North Andover’s general creditworthiness is supported by an affluent and growing local economy and robust, forward looking management practices.”  

Municipalities have their financial conditions re-evaluated every time they issue new long term debt. This rating was done in order to bond for the Middle School addition and renovation.



press release 8.8.24.jpg


 AAA.pdf


9-17-24 NEVOC Standown

Town of North Andover, MA
Please see the flyer attached and share within your circles.


Joseph LeBlanc, MSW, LCSW
OIF/OEF Army Veteran
District Director Veterans' Services
North Andover/ Boxford
Executive Board Member Massachusetts Veterans Services Association
Member National Association of County Veterans Service Officers
120 Main St.
North Andover, Ma 01845
978-688-9525                                                                                             
VA HEALTHCARE APPLICATION HERE: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-10ez/
                                                                                                      
For assistance after hours, please call my cell at: (1-978-807-7286)

If you are feeling unsafe or need immediate support, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 or https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

If you’re in emotional distress or suicidal crisis dial: 988

//  [__|__]|__
 [

VETERANS-STAND-DOWN-3.pdf

EOVS SURVEY

Town of North Andover, MA

Good Morning,

 

My name is Dic Donohue, I am a researcher from RAND working with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) on a project to assist EOVS with understanding how its programs align with veterans’ needs. As part of this project, we are conducting a survey to gather information about veterans and services they may use. We are reaching out to VSOs to try to get the word out to as many veterans as possible. If you have the ability to do so, would you be willing to share with veterans living in your area? The survey link is below.

 

RAND Veterans Survey

 

If you have any questions about this effort, please reach out to me and/or Christian Estrella at EOVS (Christian.Estrella@mass.gov).

 

We are also collecting information about service providers (health, housing, employment, etc.) and conducting interviews with folks involved in these programs. If there are any specific programs in your area, we would greatly appreciate any information or points of contact you could share.

 

North Andover Newsbrief, Week of August 5, 2024

Sarah Brush


The North Andover Board of Health wants to update the residents regarding the status of local mosquitoes and the actions being taken in the area.

North Andover Board of Health has been performing weekly mosquito testing for West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) since April and have not had a positive mosquito pool yet this season.  Neighboring towns also perform weekly surveillance and positive WNV and EEE mosquito pools have been detected in neighboring communities.  We have been in contact with Mosquito Control and our risk level is currently Low.  We will be conducting adulticide and barrier mosquito spraying on town and school properties to reduce the mosquito population and provide protection for the remainder of WNV and EEE season on Monday, August 5 beginning at 8:00pm to 12:00am. Please look at the notice provided by Mosquito Control for the properties that will be treated and additional information.  We will continue to perform surveillance in North Andover throughout the remaining mosquito season.  

We urge all residents to read and follow these important safety tips:


Avoid Mosquito Bites

Be aware of peak mosquito hours: The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellent.

Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Apply insect repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied directly to your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain standing water: Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or repair window and door screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about WNV and EEE, risk maps and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website here.

As you may already be aware, the following roads are part of the annual road and sidewalk restoration program and are scheduled for paving work, weather permitting, starting Tuesday, August 6th:

Chestnut Street: Longwood Avenue to Hillside Road
Hewitt Avenue: Chestnut Street to Franklin Elementary School
Rosedale Avenue: Longwood Avenue to Hewitt Avenue
Minute Street: Hewitt Avenue to End
Spring Hill Road: Summer Street to Cul-de-sac
Foster Street: Vest Way to Winter Street
Foster Street: Tanglewood Lane to Town Line

Raised castings and traffic delays should be expected. Detours will be in place for Chestnut Street and Foster Street from Vest Way to Winter Street. A town representative will be on site during construction if you have any questions. We appreciate your understanding during construction. Residents should expect delays if travelling in these areas. For any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the engineering department.

– GovDeals Online Auction Item: A Lot of 8 Tents

The North Andover School Department currently has the following items listed for sale on Govdeals.com:
GovDeals' online marketplace provides services to government, educational, and related entities for the sale of surplus assets to the public. Auction rules may vary across sellers.  Register here to start bidding today!  Once you register, you will have access to all Liquidity Services marketplaces. If you are already registered, you can use the same login credentials to bid on any Liquidity Services marketplace.  Learn more at https://www.govdeals.com/.

North Andover is seeking elections workers for the fall elections and beyond.

$15/hour

Election workers must:

      • Be a North Andover resident
      • Be registered to Vote
      • Age 18+

Training will be made available prior to the election.

Please contact Town Clerk Dawne Warren at dwarren@northandoverma.gov for more information or to set up a phone Interview.

Events and Reminders:

National Night Out, August 6, 2024:  https://www.northandoverma.gov/884/National-Night-Out

Youth and Recreation Services Sunday Summer Concert Series on the Common:  https://www.northandoverma.gov/576/Summer-Sunday-Concert-Series-on-the-Comm


Upcoming Meetings:
Tuesday, August 6:

Middle School Building  Committee

Wednesday, August 7:

Kittredge School Building Committee

Thursday, August 8:

MVMPO Proposed Action, Public Hearings, and Comment Period


NA Newsbrief 8.5.24.jpg