Joleen Ham, 85

Sep 20, 2018 by

Active in Union Congregational Church, loved singing Published in the September 20, 2018 edition NORTH READING — Joleen (Glidden) Ham, 85, of North Reading, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. Joleen was born in Portland, Maine on April 29, 1933 to Edwin S. and J. Elizabeth “Betty” (Winton) Glidden. She graduated from Deering High School in Portland, Maine, in 1951 and from Wheelock College in Boston in 1955 with a degree in early childhood education. She was the first in her family to graduate from college and remained very active in Wheelock’s alumni activities for her class. She was a former director of the Hilltop Nursery School in North Reading. Joleen was a long-time member of the Union Congregational Church in North Reading and...

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Jeannette M. Chandler, 88

Sep 20, 2018 by

Enjoyed reading, cooking and time at Lake Winnipesaukee Published in the September 20, 2018 edition NORTH READING — Jeannette M. (Hewitt) Chandler, 88, of North Reading, formerly of Saugus and Mt. Clemens, Mich., passed away on Thursday, September 13, 2018. Born in Chelsea on July 27, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Beatrice (Southerd) Hewitt. She was raised in Chelsea and was a graduate of Saugus High School. She was a loving wife of 68 years to her high school sweetheart, Edward Chandler. They were married on Christmas Eve 1950, a true love story. She was always known for her smile, always very positive and was a beautiful lady inside and out; she was loved by everyone she met. She had the nickname of “Red” given by her husband for...

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Paul D. Buonomo, 65

Sep 20, 2018 by

Enjoyed dancing, traveling, bike riding, Special Olympics and more Published in the September 20, 2018 edition NORTH READING — Paul D. Buonomo, 65, of North Reading died Monday, September 10, 2018 at his residence. Paul was born in Boston on April 30, 1953 and was the son of Joseph A. and Doris O. (Sterner) Buonomo. In his own words Paul recently wrote: “My life began on April 30, 1953 with many health problems. Despite a difficult beginning, I was able to live a life of accomplishments with the help of my mom, Doris, my dad, Joe, my brother Steve and many family and friends. I graduated from the Lexington Special Education Program and attended workshops in Arlington and Danvers. I enjoyed dancing, traveling, bike riding, miniature golf, the beach in Ocean Park, Maine, and vacations...

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Town’s compassion shines through following gas explosions...

Sep 20, 2018 by

Published in the September 20, 2018 edition By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — The magnitude of last Thursday’s natural gas explosions resulting in about 80 structural fires in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence continues to resonate. Tragically, an 18-year-old young man died several hours after the brick chimney of a house on Chickering Road in Lawrence that had exploded landed on top of the SUV parked in the driveway of that home at the moment of impact. According to news reports, Leonel Rondel of Lawrence had just gotten his driver’s license and was sitting in the vehicle at his friend’s house to see what it would feel like prior to a celebratory home-cooked dinner. The friend sitting with him in that car was injured. His friend’s mom was cooking dinner when the explosion occurred....

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Selectmen find unified voice in Nat’l Grid resolution...

Sep 20, 2018 by

Published in the September 20, 2018 edition  By MAUREEN DOHERTY NORTH READING — For the fourth time this summer, the Board of Selectmen debated, at length, the predicament shared by this town and every community in the state that obtains its natural gas from National Grid since the company locked out 1,250 of its skilled unionized steelworkers June 25. On Monday night, however, the five members came to a unanimous agreement on a lengthy resolution offered by board Chairman Mike Prisco with three amendments offered by Selectwoman Kate Manupelli. The document is to be sent with the town seal not only to National Grid officials, but to every state official, the state’s entire congressional delegation, and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s not an endorsement for a moratorium because all five board members agree that National...

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Fall fire hydrant flushing begins Monday...

Sep 20, 2018 by

Published in the September 20, 2018 edition NORTH READING — The North Reading Water Department, as part of the maintenance of the water distribution system, will begin the annual fire hydrant flushing program on Monday, September 24 and this program will continue until late in October. Hydrant flushing is used to remove any fine iron or manganese sediment from the water mains in the streets. Iron and manganese are naturally occurring minerals found in the soils near the Town’s water supply wells. As precipitation passes down through these solid, iron and manganese dissolve into the water. While the Water Department treats the well water specifically to remove iron and manganese, trace amounts of these minerals remain in the water leaving our water treatment plants. This remaining dissolved iron and manganese combine with oxygen in the water to form fine particles that settle...

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