AROUND THE CITY
City government
In the historic Searles Building at 41 Pleasant St. is Methuen City Hall while some city administrators are housed in the Quinn Municipal Building, 90 Hampshire St. Mayor William M. Manzi, III (978-983-8505), is located in the Searles building as are the city assessor (978-983-8530), city clerk (978-983-8595), Department of Public Works (978-983-8545)), tax collector (978-983-8520) and zoning (978-983-8560).The Quinn Municipal Building is home to public health (978-983-8655), inspection services (978-983-8625) and the Police Department (978-983-8698, methuenpolice.com).
Both halls are open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. ci.methuen.ma.us
To register a dog, register to vote, etc.: The city clerk's office (978-983-8595) is located in room 112 of the Searles Building. The clerk's office is where you may register to vote, license your dog and get birth or death certificates. Also obtain alcohol, common victualler, and other licenses issued by the Licensing Board there. City Clerk Christine Touma-Conway; Assistant City Clerk Anne Drouin.
Paying taxes: The rate is $9.28 per $1,000 valuation for residential and $16.87 per $1,000 for businesses. New rate is set in the fall.
Who is in charge
The city of Methuen is run by a mayor and an elected nine-member council. Elections are held every two years. Three councilors are elected from the community at-large, and two from each of the East, West and Central districts. City Council meets every first and third Monday of each month in the Searles Building. City Council, 978-983-8510.
The seven-member School Committee is elected by the community at-large, except for the mayor, who also serves as committee chairman. School Committee meets every second and fourth Monday during the school year in the Searles Building.
Library: The Nevins Memorial Library, 305 Broadway (Route 28), 978-686-4080, is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday during the summer. Krista McLeod is the director. nevinslibrary.org
Recycling: The town has a five-day trash collection schedule. It also runs a curbside recycling program and collects leaf and lawn clippings seasonally. The transfer/recyling center on Huntington Avenue, off Howe Street, collects yard waste, oil-based paint, used motor oil, scrap metal, TV and computer monitors, tires etc. Department of Public Works, 978-983-8545.
Water and sewer: Most of the town is on public water and sewer.
Green spaces
Burnham Road Playground and skate park.
Forest Lake: 978-983-8590. Take Hampshire Road to Ridgewood Lane. Swimming, fishing and some boating. Purchase season stickers for swimming for $30 at Forest Lake.
Gill Avenue Playground.
Greycourt State Park, driveway entrance next to Searles building on Pleasant Street; 26 landscaped acres on the former Tenney estate.
Hillsie Pond, Milk Street; Searles Pond, Jackson Street.
Merrimack River Trail: To get there, park along Tobey Avenue and cross Merrimack Street (Route 110).
Neil Playstead on Lawrence Street.
Nevins Bird Sanctuary, behind police station, 90 Hampshire St.
Riverside Park, Riverside Drive.
Riverwalk Park, Osgood Street.
Schruender Park: Take Jason Avenue to Riverview Boulevard to the park, along the Merrimack River.
Town Forest, off Hampshire Road, near Forest Lake.
Veteran's Park off Milk Street.
Transportation: MVRTA's service area includes Andover, Amesbury, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport and North Andover. The MVRTA (978-469-6878) also provides service to the Lowell Transit Center for connections with the Lowell Regional Transit Authority. mvrta.com
Finding day care
Pleasant Valley School houses a city-run, before-and-after-school day-care program for children in kindergarten through grade six and offers transportation during the school year. Call for summer program information, 978-681-1348.
Hospital: Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center, 70 East St., 978-687-0156.
In emergencies
Call 911.
Police Department, Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon, 978-983-8698 (business). The department encourages residents to get involved to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood by reducing crime and motor vehicle accidents through Methuen crime watch programs.
Fire Department, Fire Chief Cliff Gallant, 978-983-8940 (business).
Health: Principal Clerk Maria Pastor. The Department of Public Health runs a free blood pressure clinic on Thursdays; immunization clinics held monthly. Information, 978-983-8655.
Recreation Department: Director William Pare, 978-983-8590.
Play ball: The city's many youth sports organizations, run by private groups, are listed on the city's Web site. ci.methuen.ma.us
For senior citizens: The town's Senior Center, 77 Lowell St., hosts social events, health seminars, trips and classes. the Executive Director Corinne LaCharite, 978-983-8825.
Local history: The Methuen Historical Commission's collection of artifacts, photographs and documents is housed in the Masonic Lodge, 275 Broadway. The research center, reached through the Charles Street entrance, is open by appointment only. Contact Glenn Gaudreau, chairman, 978-807-3377.
Doing business
The Methuen Board of Trade promotes commerce and spirit and runs the annual Christmas Parade and the Person of the Year presentation. Chris DeCesare is president, 978-686-8889. methuenboardoftrade.org
To report a pothole
Department of Public Works, 978-983-8545.
Highway Department, Lindberg Avenue, 978-983-8865.
Other DPW offices: town-run Elmwood Cemetery, 978-983-8881; dump permits and recycling issues, 978-983-8545.
Housing
More than 800 apartments for the elderly, disabled and low-income families are managed by the Housing Authority, 24 Mystic St., 978-682-8607.
SCHOOLS
Public: Offices are in the Central School, 10 Ditson Place. Dr. Jeanne C. Whitten, superintendent, 978-681-1317.
Methuen School Department offers preschool classes through high school as well as adult education programs.
Comprehensive Grammar, 100 Howe St., Principal Brandi Kwong, 978-681-1330.
Marsh Grammar, 309 Pelham St., Principal Timothy Lannan, 978-681-9475.
Donald P. Timony Grammar, 45 Pleasant View St., Principal Mary Jean Fawcett, 978-681-9482.
Tenney Grammar, 75 Pleasant St., Principal James Giuca, 978-681-1320
Methuen High: 1 Ranger Road, Principal Arthur Nicholson, 978-681-1357.
Private:
St. Monica School, 212 Lawrence St., Mrs. Beth Ingeneri, principal, 978-686-1801.
Presentation of Mary Academy, 209 Lawrence St., Principal Rose Maria Redman, 978-682-9391.
CHURCHES
Assemblies of God: Riverside Assembly of God, 15 Lowell Blvd., 978-688-8777, Rev. Richard Lafferty, pastor. Sunday service, 10:30 a.m.
Baptist:
First Baptist, 30 Park St., 978-685-1844. Sunday service, 10 a.m. Rev. Sharon Holt, minister.
Community: Marsh Corner, 317 Pelham St., 978-682-0323. Sunday services at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Rev. Daniel Bowman, assistant pastor.
Catholic:
St. Lucy, 254 Merrimack St., 978-686-3311. Rev. Thomas Keyes, pastor. Masses: Saturday, 4 and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
St. Monica, 212 Lawrence St., 978-683-1193. Rev. John McLaughlin, Jr., pastor. Masses: Saturday, 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. (except July and August).
Our Lady of Good Counsel, 22 Plymouth St., Methuen. Rev. William F. Waters. Mass is celebrated Sunday at 10 a.m. at 128 Ames St. (St. Augustine in Lawrence); Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 8 and 11:30 a.m. at 22 Plymouth St. (St. Theresa in Methuen). Fr. William F. Waters, pastor. Parish office, 978-686-3984.
Congregational: First Church Congregational, 26 Pleasant St., 978-687-1240. Senior pastor Rev. Linda Kreil. Sunday service, 10 a.m.
Episcopal: St. Andrew's Episcopal, 90 Broadway, 978-689-0463. Sunday services, 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Jehovah's Witness, 122 Jackson St., 978-687-6019. Kingdom Hall is currently being razed and replaced with a new building nearly twice the size.
Latter Day Saints: Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, 39 Hill St., 978-794-9391. Sunday service, 9 a.m.
Methodist: New Hope, 10 Phillips St., 978-682-7648. Rev. Jeremiah Peters, Sr. Sunday service, 10 a.m.
Nondenominational: Fellowship Bible Church, 1 Fellowship Way, (off Hampshire Road), 978-688-7184. Rev. Dan Trepanier, senior pastor. Sunday School for all ages at 9:15a.m.; Sunday services at 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m.
