Andover Patch Reader Comments of the Week

Parent Concerned with 'Hit List' Student Returning to West Middle School

Former Andover Teacher: It is time to reevaluate the lack of guidance counselors in the middle schools. I cannot believe that such an important service was cut for students at their most emotionally vulnerable age.

Concerned Mother: I was told the child who wrote the list, was NOT bullied. Did he fit in? Did he have a lot of friends or was he a loner? This is not the appropriate place to comment. I know that if my child came up with a hit list of kids to kill, I would get them help asap and say he or she is sick. Sick of not fitting in, sick of being alone, whatever context you can live with it.....an adult, or a child, who wants to kill is sick, spiritually, mentally, physically, whatever context you choose as politically appropriate. Say it how you want to but he/she needs help. So okay, I will agree that I disagree with your comments.

VIDEO: Elm Square at Lunch x 32

Larry Wangerin: I picked up on one pedestrian daring to cross Elm Sqare - creating a venue for two of my pet peeves. Why do dark color cars run without headlights as on the by-pass or under less than ideal driving conditions? Why do runners and walkers insist on wearing dark clothing when in the roadways? This morning I turned left into Wildwood coming from town - no problem, no oncoming traffic. However, there was a walker (dark clothing) with dog in the breakdown lane to my right. After turning, an appalling thought came - what if I had to stop with a vehicle following? What would they have done, stopped behind or pulled to the right to get around? Too often we are oblivious of our surroundings.

TELL US: What Town Project Is Most Important Right Now?

John Corliss: To push forward, I would say the I93 interchange. The sooner we can get that moving the better - it will improve quality of life and property values. In terms of spending, I would say the town yard because it should be a net revenue generator, improve the efficiency of the DPW and improve the downtown. Next, the Youth Center - we made the commitment and the quicker we follow through the less expensive it will be.

Christopher R. Cook: Bancroft Elementary School Considering the vote just got approved this is going to be built regardless. Once we get these contracts locked in, it will be good to go and no question about it being completed. Youth Center This has been a boondoggle from the beginning. The more the town waits, the more expensive its going to be. They really shot themselves in the foot by not proposing this with a combined Senior center to be able to justify the spending for 2 facilities. Ballardvale Fire Station This is by far the "lowest" cost for the best realizable benefit project I have ever seen and how this has hit so many roadblocks is disgusting. One of these days a house may go up in flames in the southeast part of town and its current location and services of the fire station is going to cause a fatality or terrible property damage. The original cost estimate of 4 million dollars is going to continually go up due to abutters complaining and now it seems we need to acquire private land to drive up the costs. Andover has 3 primary ambulances and 1 back up, but only 2 places for them to operate out of, that doesnt make sense. We have more than 1 ladder, but no space for the second primary ladder. Build the thing already. Town Yard To many people fighting over this. I-93 Interchange Project 10 years away from this cause of enviro and funding problems. Sound Barriers Along I-93 Already paid for by the state...still a joke of a project.