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Slimming Down For Seniors final weigh-in on Tuesday

Jul 17th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

Join Jamie Atkinson and George Scione of “Politically Active” as they weigh in for the last time for their Slimming Down For Seniors weight loss challenge.

They will air their results live during a remote broadcast of their talk radio show, which can be heard on WCCM 1110 AM on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

They will broadcast from Latitude Sports Club, 116 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. You can join them there if you wish. Refreshments will be served.

Also, the slimmed-down duo will announce their next adventure at Latitude. Congressional candidate Jon Golnik, state Treasurer candidate Karyn Polito and other state candidates are slated to attend. Senior Whole Health, which is sponsoring the event, will put on a senior health fair during the broadcast.

Atkinson and Scione will accept donations for Slimming Down For Seniors. They want to double their goal of raising $1000 — they say they already have more than $1,300. Every penny will go to the Methuen Senior Activity Center, they said.

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Woman dead after horrific crash in Haverhill

Jul 17th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

HAVERHILL — A woman died after being ejected from her vehicle and struck by a tractor trailer in a crash on Interstate 495 early this morning, state police said.

Today at 4:17 a.m., troopers from the State Police barracks in Newbury responded to a wreck on I-495 north, prior to exit 51, said a state police press release.

Trooper Matthew Topping reported that a vehicle traveling northbound lost control and went off the road and struck the guardrail next to the left lane. The vehicle then spun back into the highway and hit a tractor-trailer in the right travel lane, the press release said.

After striking the first tractor trailer, the driver was ejected from her vehicle and was then hit by a second tractor trailer that was driving in the middle lane, the press release said.

Responding EMS pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Based on vehicle damage, troopers cannot determine if the driver wore a seat belt. No citations are expected to be issued, the press release said.

Police have not yet released the name of the woman because they are waiting to notify her family. The crash remains under investigation, the press release said.

Please stay with The Eagle-Tribune for more information.

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Teachers union boss says Methuen can raise taxes, implement user fees for teachers’ raises

Jun 16th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

METHUEN — In an e-mail to fellow teachers, teachers union President Donna Gogas said the city can raise taxes and implement “school user fees” to pay for teachers’ raises.

Superintendent Jeanne Whitten has repeatedly called on the teachers union to make pay concessions to prevent more than 20 teacher layoffs as the schools work to close a $1.8 million budget deficit.

Gogas, in an e-mail to teachers on Tuesday morning, said the union’s executive board refuses to concede.

“Admittedly, there is a financial crisis in that communities do not have the resources that we once had in past years. However, we feel that not all avenues have been taken, such as a full tax levy and the institution of school user fees,” Gogas said.

School Committee members and city councilors ripped Gogas today. More coverage is coming in tomorrow’s paper.

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Methuen City Council approves high school bond

Jun 7th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

Methuen city councilors voted tonight to approve a bond order to pay for the $100 million Methuen High School renovation and addition.

Eight councilors voted in favor, while council Chairman John Cronin Jr. voted “present.”

Check the paper or the Web site in the morning for the story.

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Layoffs loom in Methuen schools

Jun 1st, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

METHUEN — Teacher layoffs are looming in the Methuen schools, officials say.

“I think there’s some anticipation that at least the preliminary budget will show some layoffs,” Mayor and School Committee Chairman William Manzi said today.

Manzi said he expects to find out about proposed teacher layoffs tomorrow when school Committee members receive Superintendent Jeanne Whitten’s proposed fiscal year 2011 budget.

The committee meets at 6 p.m. in the Media Center at Timony Grammar School, 45 Pleasant View St.

Manzi said he doesn’t yet have concrete figures for how many teachers would be laid off.

On the municipal side of government, Manzi has sent layoff notices to 90 employees.

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NFL chief Roger Goodell at UMass Lowell, praises Robert Kraft

May 29th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft praised each other at today’s UMass Lowell graduation ceremony.

Kraft and Goodell sat in the front row on stage in the Tsongas Center, with UML Chancellor Martin Meehan seated between them. Goodell delivered the commencement address to the 2,390 students, and Kraft introduced him.

Here’s a snapshot:

Kraft noted that Goodell worked his way into one of the most sought after jobs in the country by starting as an intern.

“Be nice to your interns, you may be working for them some day,” Kraft said.

“I am convinced Roger is the right person to lead the NFL into the next decade,” Kraft said.

Kraft called Goodell a “dear friend” and someone who leads by example.

“Robert Kraft has given this area and this region a lot to cheer for,” Goodell said.

Goodell called Kraft a “friend and mentor.” Goodell said that as commissioner, sometimes he is a “royal pain in the you know what,” but his job is to resolve conflicts.

Goodell and his brothers received a posthumous Doctor of Humane Letters degree for their father, the late US Sen. Charles Goodell.

Goodell said his mother would be the most proud to see him today. “She was worried, I mean really worried, that I would never even graduate, and I’m talking high school.”

Goodell said his father, a Republican who opposed the war in Vietnam, “always supported our troops.”

Goodell told the graduates to listen to all different views, especially from those who disagree.

“You  do not have all the answers. No one succeeds on their own,” he said.

He said to be open to changing positions. If you find a better solution, “it doesn’t matter who it came from.”

Goodell said he is studying medical issues in hopes of increasing health and safety for football players.

We will have more graduation coverage on Sunday.

 

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Charter Commission workshop tomorrow night

May 17th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

The Methuen Charter Commission will hold a workshop in the Great Hall of City Hall at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow night.

The public is welcome.

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Meeting at Mann’s to discuss MHS plan

May 7th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

METHUEN — Mayor William Manzi and the Methuen Building Committee will present the financing plans for the $100 million renovation and expansion of Methuen High School to the public at Mann Orchards on Wednesday, May 12.

The financing plan calls for no property tax increase.

Mann Orchards is located at 27 Pleasant Valley St. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation will start at 7 p.m.

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Methuen cleanup this Saturday

May 4th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

METHUEN — The city is having its annual neighborhood spring cleanup on Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon.
People who lend a hand will receive a Methuen T-shirt. To find a cleanup location near you, contact Jill Stackelin at City Hall at 978-983-8578.
Trash bags will be provided, and there will be a cookout for the volunteers from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Tenney Grammar School playground.

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Campbell wants to set the record straight on illegal immigrant vote

Apr 29th, 2010 by J.J. Huggins

State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, D-Methuen, said she voted not to essentially kill a proposal to require adults applying for public benefits to verify that they lawfully live in the United States.

The House voted 82-75 yesterday to send to study a proposal sponsored by Rep. Jeff Perry, R-Sandwich. The proposal would have required all state agencies to implement a national system of identity checks on residents who use taxpayer-funded services, which Perry said would cost $6 per application but could return significant savings.

Campbell said voting to study the proposal was really a vote to “bury it.”

“I voted not to put it to study, to keep it alive,” Campbell said. “I feel that when we register our children for school, we present birth certificates. When we go down to get a license for the first time, we present a birth certificate. When we get a passport, we present a birth certificate or some kind of document of citizenship.”

“As long as illegal aliens are not prevented from receiving emergency medical care and as long as their children who are citizens born in the United States are not prevented from getting care, then I think it’s a reasonable request,” she said.

Campbell said a Boston newspaper got her vote on the hot-button issue wrong, and she was receiving “quite a few phone calls.” She said she wanted to set the record straight for her constituents.

Opponents of the proposal pointed out that Perry couldn’t quantify how much the state would save or whether there would be any saving at all, and they said it was a veiled attempt to target certain groups of people in Massachusetts.

“I don’t think this is an onerous request,” Campbell said. “I think it’s a fair request and I don’t find it discriminatory.”

Material from the State House News Service was used in this report.

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