DiNuccio thanks voters, congratulates Campbell

Al DiNuccio, who finished second in the Nov. 2 election for Methuen state rep, released this statement:
"The DiNuccio campaign would like to thank all of the voters and volunteers who have helped us over the last 6 months. Without you, our message and our campaign would not have been as successful as we believe it was. Although we did not win the election, our 5100 votes do send a message on the issues we want our state leaders to resolve. It was a privilege to run for the State Representative position and to bring to the forefront these issues and concerns facing our city and state today.
We congratulate Linda Dean Campbell on her victory. We know she will continue to represent Methuen well. Her gracious acceptance on MCTV, stating how she has heard the voters' concerns in this election, and will take the challenges for healthcare and pension reform with her back to Beacon Hill.
Although we may have differed from Linda on some of the issues, we know that her integrity and ability will continue to serve Methuen. We offer our best wishes to Linda in her next term as our state representative.
Sincerely,
Al DiNuccio"

CAMPBELL, BADDOUR RE-ELECTED

The majority of Methuen voters in the Nov. 2 election backed the two local Democratic incumbents.
State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell was re-elected to her 15th Essex District seat with 7,031 votes. She was followed by Al DiNuccio with 5,104, Phil Lahey with 1,185 and Hector Montalvo with 166. This will be her third term as Methuen's state rep.
State Sen. Steven Baddour also retains his seat. He received 9,299 nods from Methuen voters while his opponent Stephen Cole garnered 5,345 votes. The 1st Essex District includes Methuen, Amesbury, Haverhill, Merrimac, Newburyport, North Andover and Salisbury, and the overall vote tally was 34,408 for Baddour vs. 23,917 for Cole. Cole essentially ended his campaign bid in September, citing health problems, but his name still appeared on the ballot.

DiNuccio wins taxpayers' endorsement

Al DiNuccio has won the endorsement of CLT’s 2 ½ Political Action Committee in his election bid for state representative from the 15th Essex District.
CLT’s 2 ½ PAC, the political arm of Citizens for Limited Taxation, was originally created to support candidates who would defend Proposition 2 ½ in the State Legislature. It now endorses candidates who support taxpayers on a variety of issues, and uses the CLT Legislative rating to identify pro-taxpayer legislators.
Francis J. Faulkner, executive director of the PAC, said the group endorsed DiNuccio based on his strong support for tax limitation.: “We need to put people like Al DiNuccio in the State Legislature to continue the fight for the income tax rollback and to block any attempt to impose new taxes. Al has also taken the taxpayer protection pledge. This pledge asks candidates to ‘oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.’ A candidate who signs the pledge is sending a message to legislative leaders that he is serious about not raising taxes and will focus instead on better management of state revenues.”
In contrast his opponent, Rep. Campbell, received a 40% on CLT’s most recent taxpayer rating.

Feelin' lucky?

Here’s a chance to play your favorite Vegas games and help a good cause. The second annual Casino Night at Methuen Village at Riverwalk Park is set for Oct. 1 at 6 pm. Take a gamble, enter to win fabulous prizes and help to raise money for the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center. Methuen Village is a senior community offering assisted living and state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s care. It’s located at 4 Gleason St. For more information, call (978) 685-2220 or visit www.MethuenVillage.com.

Ted's TV debut!

Ted's Stateline Mobil, on Route 28, will finally make its TV debut on TLC's "Lottery Changed My Life." The show, featuring Ted's owners Ted and Tony Amico, is set to air Sunday, Aug. 29 at 10 pm. Tune in to find out what makes Ted's the No. 1 Lottery agent in Massachusetts -- and see if you can spot any local gamblers in the background as they buy up scratch tickets, Keno numbers and racing forms in hopes of landing the big prize!

Celebrities & YOU!

Have you recently met a music diva, sports star, movie mogul, reality-show heartthrob, amazing author or otherwise well-known face? MethuenLife is starting a new feature called "Celebrities & YOU!" where we will run photos of Methuen folks and the celebs they've met this summer. This is a fun way for our readers to show off just who they've been "rubbing elbows with" lately! If you've got such a photo (taken in June, July or August), then send it — and a brief description of when and where the pic was taken — to Melissa@MethuenLife.com. Check out our August issue to see who from Methuen has been hangin' out with "American Idol" winner Kris Allen, comedian/author Kathy Griffin and Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick!

FIREWORKS ARE BACK!

Fireworks will be returning to Methuen's sky in celebration of the Fourth of July! MethuenLife has learned that Nicholson Stadium is the place to be Friday, July 2. Beetlejuice will perform Fab 4 favorites from 7 to 9:15 pm, with the synchronized fireworks show starting at 9:15 pm. The rain date is July 5, according to information provided by City Hall. The city canceled last year's fireworks celebration due to economic woes.

Take me out to the ballgame!

If you love baseball but can't afford the sky-high prices of Fenway Park, then check out this deal: The Methuen Rec Department is selling tickets to the Friday, July 9 Lowell Spinners game for just $8 per person! "Methuen Night" at LeLacheur Park is sure to be a ball! Game time is 7 pm. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis so don't wait! Call (978) 983-8590 to reserve your spot.

Cleaning up Methuen

Due to inclement weather, Methuen's Citywide Clean-up has been rescheduled to May 15. If you are interested in joining a group or starting one at a particular spot in the city, contact Jill Stakelin at (978) 983-8578. Gloves & plastic bags will be provided, and there's a post-clean-up cookout for participants.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?

Yesterday (March 17, 2010) at 11:48 am, the Methuen Co-Operative Bank, 243 Broadway, was robbed. The male robber is described as in his 20s, 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-11, Caucasian, heavy-set with a reddish-blond beard and moustache. He was wearing a white baseball cap with no markings, dark blue or black coat with a burgundy-colored shirt underneath, blue jeans and white sneakers.
The robber handed a note to a teller, stating that he had a gun, and fled the bank on foot with an unspecified amount of cash. A police officer, who was working a road detail a few hundred feet away from the bank, responded immediately. A search was conducted by Methuen Police K-9 Officer Christine Nicolosi, K-9 German Shepard Rikoh and other Methuen officers. As the search for the alleged armed robber started to approach the area of the Tenney School on Pleasant Street, the school administration conducted a lock-down there as a precaution. If anyone has any information as to who the robber might be, please call Detective Michael Blanchette at (978) 983-8802.

Councilor Phil Lahey eyes state rep job

Methuen Central District Councilor Phil Lahey has told MethuenLife he intends to pull papers on Monday, March 8 to run for state rep. Now in his fifth year as city councilor, Lahey is eyeing the post held by Linda Dean Campbell. Lahey would also be up against Al DiNuccio who unsuccessfully challenged Mayor Bill Manzi last fall (see post below).
"I'm going to go out and get signatures and see what kind of response I get," said Lahey, 61. "It's hard running against Linda Dean Campbell because I like her. I think she's a little too nice, too timid and too Democratic. I think she falls in line with politicians who put the needs of the state before the city of Methuen."
Lahey is retired supervisor at the Methuen DPW. He worked there 31 years. He is in the process of gathering advice from councilors Pat Uliano and Larry Giordano and former state rep candidate Mike Hennessy.
Self described as "the most unpolitically correct person I've ever met" and not one to be intimidated, Lahey said that if elected his biggest fights would be for funding for public safety and education.
He differentiates himself from DiNuccio: "He's going to say a lot of things that he'll do taht he can't. He'll shoot his mouth off, but it's unrealistic. I'll go into Boston and be very outspoken. If there's money going somewhere that it shouldn't, I'll scream about it."

DiNuccio to run for State Rep

Al DiNuccio, who challenged William Manzi for the mayor's seat last fall, has taken out papers to run against State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell.
Political newcomer DiNuccio fell short of becoming Methuen's mayor by just over 400 votes.
"The whole campaign for mayor inspired me and my campaign staff to run for this seat," said DiNuccio. "We did a lot of good and brought a lot of things to the forefront."
He noted that it was his idea to have Methuen students register each year, in an attempt to eliminate children from other communities illegally attending Methuen schools.
DiNuccio said School Committee member Ken Willette has since adopted that initiative.
Running as a Republican, DiNuccio said there are many reasons for his run.
"We're not happy that we're getting 60 percent funding for the high school, instead of 90 percent...and people saying that's all we can get it. I'm not buying it. Voting (at the State House) is not enough. You need to argue."
Both DiNuccio and State Rep. Campbell have withdrawn election papers. They have until the end of April to submit 150 endorsement signatures. The election is November, and there will be no primary unless another Republican or Democrat withdraws papers.

Mono-skier finishes 6th

Methuen native Erik Corbett experienced equipment malfunctions during the Jan. 31 X Games in Aspen, Colo., and finished sixth. Corbett (February MethuenLife) is a mono-skier who took up the sport after losing the use of his legs following a 2000 car crash. He competed 10 years to the day of his accident. He tells MethuenLife: "Last year I didn't break any equipment but did get 7 stitches and a black eye and ended up 5th. This year I didn't go to the hospital, but broke the outrigger and a ski in practice and ended up 6th -- a fair trade-off, I guess."
Hey, Erik, there's always next year!

Share your snowmen!

This long-lasting cold streak is good for something: It has given you extra time to put together a snowman, snap a photo and submit it to MethuenLife's annual Snowman Gallery! We've already got some great submissions but, hey, we're greedy and WE WANT MORE! So get outside and get creative. Send your photos, and a brief write-up about your snowman, to Melissa@MethuenLife.com and watch for your photo to appear in our February issue!