Methuen Santa Parade photos

Bistany Scholarship Fund

A fund-raiser is set for Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5 to 8 pm at Fuddruckers at the Village Mall on Route 28, Methuen, to benefit the Dennis Bistany Scholarship Fund. A portion of all purchases made that night will go to this new fund, which honors a beloved sixth-grade Marsh School teacher who died this summer. To find out more about Bistany and the special way he influenced his students and co-workers, check out the School Days section of MethuenLife's October issue.

Jim Hajjar scores big!

Politicial newcomer Jim Hajjar captured the second highest number of votes in the West District preliminary race with 466 votes, secondly only to incumbent Councilor Jeanne Pappalardo's 686. Approximately 15 of Hajjar's signs were stolen from supporters' front lawns just two days before the voters went to the polls to eliminate one candidate from the 5-person west side council race. Jack Burke Jr., who ran two years ago, finished last with 216 votes.

In the only other preliminary election, Kevin Thompson was defeated in his bid to challenge Mayor William Manzi in the November election. Mayor Manzi secured 1,221 votes to Al DiNuccio's 976. Thompson tallied 347 votes.

An engineer and manager at Lucent and Alcatel for more than 20 years, Hajjar inspired a growing wave of support that placed him in front of incumbent Debbie Quinn (443 votes), Ed Guy (418 votes) and Jack Burke (216).

In November's main election voters will elect two West End councilors, two East End councilors, two Central district councilors and three at-large councilors. And Mayor Manzi will square off against DiNuccio, also a newcomer to politics.

Approximately 9% of the registered voters participated in the preliminary election that cost the city more than $30,000.

Safety on the water

In the course of a week and a half:

* a Methuen veteran who served in Iraq is killed when he is struck -- on his boat -- by another boater on the Merrimack River

* a pair of Jet Skis collide on Cobbett's Pond, injuring an operator

* a Derry man drowns on Lake Massabesic in Auburn, NH when his kayak rolls. Officials say he did not know how to swim...and he was not wearing a life preserver.

Here in the Merrimack Valley, boating season is short, generally May through early October. If you factor in unseasonably cold and rainy weather, you're looking at three months of suitable boating weather.

If God didn't want us to boat, he wouldn't have given us fiberglass. Or bodies of water. The problem is, way too many people are on watercraft who left common sense back on land.

All of the above accidents could have been avoided. All of them.

In the first instance, three idiots in a small craft were jumping the wake from a bigger boat. Even though they were warned to stay away, they got dangerously close. So close they made contact with the larger 22-foot boat on which the Methuen veteran was riding. There's a reason the law states you must keep at least 150 feet from other boats. The impact pitched an unconcious Juan Guzman into the river. His body was found by divers several days later.

The law includes Jet Skis that wouldn't collide if they were at the required distance.

Finally, if you can't swim, why not take the drastic step of wearing a life jacket when you're in a boat, kayak or canoe.

Boating can be a fun-filled way to spend the summer. Providing all parties use some common sense.

Joining the Heroes Ride!

Start your motorcycle engine! The Heroes Ride, to benefit the Methuen VFW, is set for Sunday, July 26. Sign-up starts at the VFW on River St. at 9:30 am; the ride roars off at 11:30 and travels through Methuen, Dracut, Pelham, Windham and Salem before returning to the VFW. Stop by and check out some incredibly patriotic bikes! Cost is $20 for riders; donations accepted for passengers. MethuenLife's July issue provided an incorrect contact phone number for this event. If you'd like to take part, please call Dave Goulet at (978) 994-7019. Sorry for any inconvenience!