Thursday, December 28, 2000 Older Editions

2000: A year to remember

-- compiled by Neil Fater and Rebecca Piro

January

o Ruben Alberto Arias faced charges stemming from a long New Year's Eve standoff on Route 125. After he shot his ex-wife's boyfriend and kidnapped his ex-wife, Arias was stopped on Route 125, leading police to evacuate residents around 4:45 a.m.

o Continuing a neighborhood feud, members of the Ballardvale Historic District filed a police complaint against another member for actions during a meeting.

The board members' actions caused Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski to declare "If I don't see an improvement in behavior, we'll have a time out."

The neighborhood problem between appointed town officials later included a hammer-throwing incident. "If you're at war with your neighbors, it's misery," said Police Chief Brian Pattullo.

February

o Shortly after Andover High students apologized in court for burning a swastika into the grass at Andover High, one student's lawyer declared that his client wanted to play basketball for the school again.

Asking "what's changed?" Principal Bruce MacDonald did not allow him to play.

March

o Phillips Academy mourned the loss by suicide of its former class president, who had resigned in February after facing disciplinary action (see page 21).

o In a pair of elections decided by less than 20 votes, Brian Major and Ted Teichert became selectmen, and Francis O'Connor became a Housing Authority member.

April

o Town Meeting voters shell out $31.9 million for two new schools, plus another $600,000 for the sidewalks to get there. They'll have to do the same thing again for the schools at a Special Election in May to override Proposition 2 1/2.

May

oHometown hero Jay Leno gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at the location where he was picked up for loitering as a fledgling actor.

o Andover High grad Frank Morey is selected to join folk notables Tom Rush and Janis Ian at a Club 47 concert at the Collins Center.

June

o Senate President Tom Birmingham and businessman Steve Grossman visit Andover as Democratic gubernatorial candidates looking for early support in the next election.

o Public schools aren't the only ones dealing with a growing population. The town settles a lawsuit with Montessori School, allowing the school to build one modular classroom and keep it on-site for three years.

July

o Plastic surgeon James Kartell of Andover is convicted of manslaughter and given five to eight years in jail after he shot and killed Janos Vajda, lover of Kartell's wife Suzan Kamm. A juror tells the Townsman a compromise was made to convict Kartell of manslaughter, and that the majority of the jury wanted to find him guilty of first-degree murder. He calls the sentence "an insult to my intelligence."

August

o For the first time in decades, the town auctions off the house of a resident, for owing 18 years of taxes. Mary Smythe owed approximately $70,000 when her home was sold with her still living inside of it.

o Ivan Smith, 13-year-old son of town accountant Rod Smith, dies at Salisbury Beach after a sand hole that he was playing in collapsed.

o Peter Anderson becomes the new principal at Andover High School and links student parking privileges with tardiness. Neighbors blame the new parking system for the student cars that swarm their streets during school hours.

September

o The town announces that it will use eminent domain if it must to gain access to residents' land for the construction of the Rogers Brook and South Main Street sewer extension.

o The first permanently-affordable home in town is constructed by Andover Community Trust. Following the lead, Selectman Brian Major suggests the town see if it can donate any land to the cause. No land is donated.

October

o The Raytheon strike ends when Local 1505 union members accept a four-year contract after five weeks of demanding job security, better pensions and improved health benefits.

o Andover native Jenny Powers competes for the Miss America crown in Atlantic City, N.J., winning the talent competition, but failing to make the finals.

November

o Groundbreaking ceremonies are held first for the two new schools off High Plain Road, and one week later for the public safety center on Main Street. The safety-center project quickly falls behind schedule.

o Seniors hire professional fundraiser Butcher, Nolan & Briggs to help them reach their $4 million goal to renovate Phillips Academy's Will Hall.

o Voters cast their presidential ballots and then sit back as candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore continue the battle for president in the courts. Andover residents may have felt as dissatisfied with the choices. In the primary they had voted for Bill Bradley and John McCain.

December

o The Board of Health discovers a dangerously high level of E. coli in the Rogers Brook once again.

o The town considers purchasing the Reichhold Chemical property off Lowell Junction Road for ballfields.

o Moody's Investors Service awards Andover with the Aaa bond rating, sending Andover into the company of communities like Lexington, Concord and Brookline.