Mosquito Update | September 21, 2023
North Andover Health Department
Community and Economic Development Division
Mosquito Update
The North Andover Board of Health wants to update the residents regarding the status of local mosquitoes and the actions being taken in town and in the region.
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.
Positive mosquito pools have recently been detected in neighboring communities. We have been in contact with Mosquito Control and have been informed our risk level has been increased to Moderate. We will continue to perform surveillance and urge all residents to read and follow these important safety tips:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
North Andover Community Choice Power Supply Program Notification
The Town of North Andover is excited to announce that its Community Choice Power Supply Program is able to provide relief to residents on their electric bills this winter. Residents who are enrolled in the Town’s standard product will continue to enjoy the stable rate of $0.15543/kWh which is 15 percent lower than National Grid’s recently announced Residential Basic Service rate of $0.18213/kWh. Residents can expect to see an average savings of $16 per month (based on average usage of 600 kWh/month) for the months of November 2023 through July 2024*. The Town will also continue to offer an optional 100 percent green product, which is derived from National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), at a rate of $0.15751/kWh.
To join North Andover’s Program, you can do one of two things:
1. Visit colonialpowergroup.com/north-andover and click the OPT-IN button, then fill out and submit the Opt-In Form.
2. Call Constellation at (833) 528-0358 and ask to join the Town of North Andover’s Program.
For both of the above options, you should have your National Grid bill handy in order to provide some required information. Enrollments can only be processed on meter reads so it may take one or two billing cycles before taking effect. If you are currently contracted with your own competitive supplier, you should confirm with them that you will not incur any early termination fees or penalties for leaving their supply. You may OPT-OUT or OPT-IN at any time in the future with NO CHARGE.
Basic Service rates change twice a year or more, depending on rate class. As a result, the aggregation rate may not always be lower than the Basic Service rate. The goal of the aggregation is to deliver savings over the life of the program against National Grid’s Basic Service. However, such savings and future savings cannot be guaranteed.
Residents may also contact Colonial Power Group, the Town’s aggregation consultant, at (866) 485-5858 ext. 1 with questions about North Andover’s Community Choice Power Supply Program or to OPT-IN or OPT-OUT.
*Normally, the term would be through April 2024 but this is a transition term. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities issued an Order on September 1, 2023 that requires National Grid change its residential and small business Basic Service periods to February through July and August through January. This is expected to mitigate large seasonal changes in Basic Service electricity supply prices and differences across electric distribution companies. [See mass.gov/news/dpu-orders-schedule-changes-to-basic-service-rates.]
NA Smart911 Alert: Update from August 8 Storms
Dear Residents and Business Owners,
I regret to inform you that we have received correspondence from MEMA that the Commonwealth has decided not to pursue a federal disaster declaration for the August 8th storm due to reimbursable damage thresholds not being met statewide and because the storm did not exceed the capability of state and local government to respond.
MEMA has informed the Town that working with the US Small Business Administration, they were able to determine that Essex County has met the criteria for an Administrative Declaration, which will make both Physical Damage Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to individuals, households and businesses in Essex County. The Governor’s request for an Administrative Declaration of a Disaster by the SBA was declared on September 20, 2023.
Residents can apply for a disaster loan online or by visiting North Andover Town Hall at 120 Main Street. The Loan Center at North Andover Town Hall will be open starting September 25th at 11 AM. The hours will be Monday- Friday 9 AM-6PM and Saturdays 10AM-2PM for up to 14 days. The application deadline for physical damage loans is 11/20/2023 and the application deadline for economic injury loans is June 20, 2024.
The Disaster declaration and a fact sheet are both available here: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/disaster-details?recordId=a0e82000000JMDLAA4
More information on the disaster loans can be found here: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/
Best,
Melissa
Housing Production Plan Update Public Engagement Session, 9/28 at 6:00PM
Please register for the session at event.mvpc.org/Housing1 or by scanning the flyer QR code. We look forward to your participation and the opportunity to learn from you!
Questions? Contact Planning Director Jean Enright: jenright@northandoverma.gov
North Andover Housing Authority, September 28, 2023
North Andover Cultural Council: Accepting Grant Applications Through October 17th
Greater Lawrence Technical School District Committee, September 26, 2023
Contract 2 Tree Replanting
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