EagleTribune.com : Blogs : Reporter’s Notebook

Former State Sen. James Jajuga just emailed this statement to me:

After many conversations with family and friends, I have decided not to run for mayor of Methuen.

 In politics, timing is everything and I just don’t feel that the timing is right for me. This decision did not come easy. My current position as President/CEO of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce continues to be both challenging and rewarding.

I look forward to the race and wish the candidates the best of luck in moving Methuen forward.

 James P. Jajuga

METHUEN — Fire has destroyed the landmark business, Shadi’s Restaurant & Lounge.

No one was hurt in the one-alarm blaze this morning at the popular eatery at 58 Osgood St. The neighboring buildings are far enough away that firefighters didn’t have to worry about flames spreading onto other people’s property.

The Methuen Fire Department and state Fire Marshal are investigating, and Fire Chief Steven Buote said it’s too soon to say what the cause is.

A deputy fire chief discovered the fire at 8 a.m. when he looked out a window at Central Fire Station, which is across the street, Buote said. He said nobody was in the restaurant at the time.

Firefighters encountered heavy fire coming from the kitchen, so they will start to focus their investigation there, Buote said.

Firefighters could only attack the fire from outside the building at first. Twenty two firefighters fought the inferno, while crews from Lawrence and Salem, N.H. covered the city’s other fire stations, Buote said.

Firefighters changed shifts between 7 and 7:30 a.m. today. They enter and exit through the rear parking lot of the fire station, which overlooks Shadi’s. No firefighters noticed any fire at that time, Buote said.

Michael Asmar, 64, of Methuen, owns the restaurant. Asmar said the last time anybody was in the building was 5 p.m. yesterday, when they closed up for the holiday. He said he has no idea how the fire started.

“I can’t figure it out,” he said.

Asmar gathered with more than a dozen family and friends as the building burned. Supporters consoled him.

“That’s my livelihood. That’s my life,” he said.

Asmar said police called him about 8:15 a.m. to inform him of the fire, and he rushed to the scene.

Asmar opened the restaurant more than 19 years ago, he said. The establishment is frequented by city officials and politicians, in addition to a loyal following of patrons. Asmar said it’s too soon to figure out what he’ll do next.

Asmar leases the building from Ronald Pitocchelli, who was also on scene. The building was built around 1850 and is worth $397,600, according to assessing records.

Police re-opened Osgood Street about 1 p.m.

See tomorrow’s Eagle-Tribune for more on this story.

METHUEN — With more than three hours to go before the polls close, Hector Montalvo is ready to admit defeat in his bid for state representative.

“I’m just being realistic,” he said around 4:30 p.m. “It’s my first time ever running.”

Montalvo is one of three men challenging incumbent State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, D-Methuen. Republican Al DiNuccio, who ran for mayor last year, and City Councilor Phil Lahey, another independent, are the other candidates.

Montalvo said his campaign was a success because he delivered his message, which centered around holding the government accountable to the people. He raised no money, but spent $175 for an advertisement on the talk radio show “Politically Active.”

“I already won. I won it in the form (that) I made some noise,” he said.

He thanked the media and the voters, and said today’s high turnout is a signal to those in power. Montalvo is already eyeing another run for the 15th Essex District seat in two years.

“The fight is not over. You haven’t heard the end of Hector Montalvo,” he said.

Montalvo brought comic relief to the race. He frequently cracked jokes and used one-liners. He has a television show on Methuen Community Television, in which he mixes political satire and serious discussions.

In classic fashion, he wound down the interview on a light note. “If at 8 o’clock the polls show that I win, then I have to take back everything I said.”