gas

Reading Police to Charge Man following Theft of Utility Truck

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rpd_patch

Reading Police Department
David Clark, Deputy Chief
15 Union St.
Reading, MA 01867

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Reading Police to Charge Man following Theft of Utility Truck

Vehicle, Suspect Located in Allston

READING — Deputy Chief David Clark reports that the Reading Police Department will charge a local man after a National Grid Massachusetts Gas truck was reported stolen Wednesday afternoon.

At around 4:30 p.m., Reading Police responded to a location on Pearl Street to take a report of a stolen vehicle. 

Reading Police put word of the theft out to surrounding communities and to Boston and State Police. Less than one hour later, Boston Police  located the vehicle and the suspect in the Allston neighborhood. The suspect was arrested and is currently in Boston Police custody. He will likely be arraigned on other charges in Boston on Thursday, and the Reading charges will be added at a later date. 

Reading Police will charge the suspect, a 32-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM READING with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Use of a Motor Vehicle Without Authority.

The suspect is being evaluated at a Boston hospital and will also undergo a mental health evaluation.

Deputy Clark praised the inter-agency cooperation that quickly delivered results in this case.

“I am genuinely pleased that police departments, communicating and working together, were able to locate this stolen vehicle within an hour and ensure that there was no danger to the public,” Deputy Clark said. “I wish to express my gratitude to the officers and detectives in Reading and Boston who worked diligently in this investigation.” 

A criminal complaint is still pending, and due to that, Reading Police are not at liberty to release the suspect’s name at this time.

This incident remains under investigation by Reading Police Detectives.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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UPDATE #89 (3:55 p.m.) Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617-993-0003

 Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

ANDOVER — The Town of Andover continuously seeks to provide residents and business owners with key updates regarding the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.

Restoration Update

Columbia Gas announced Wednesday that the restoration work is substantially complete, meaning that nearly all residences and businesses have heat, hot water and working gas appliances.

To read Columbia Gas’ full announcement on the completion of phase one of the recovery, click here.

A total of 35 Andover homes remain without gas service at this time, down from 48 on Wednesday, with approximately 111 total residential customers remaining without gas in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence. Of the Andover homes without service, all are completing the self-mitigation process.

Columbia Gas releases a daily briefing with updates on the progress of the restoration effort. Click here to read the briefing for Dec. 14.

Property Replacement and Claims

Hot water heaters, stoves and dryers will be replaced and boilers and furnaces will be safely repaired or replaced with those being repaired eventually being replaced beginning in the spring.

Columbia Gas has received nearly 5,000 claims from Andover residents and business owners and has paid out over $22.4 million to Andover gas customers so far.

If any resident or business owner in the affected area experiences frozen pipes, they are urged to call the Columbia Gas emergency hotline at 800-525-8222.

Free Parking Downtown

The Town of Andover will not collect parking fees at municipal parking lots through Dec. 30. The Town encourages downtown visitors to park in the municipal parking lots. This includes Lot 1 (between Andover Village Square and Caffé Nero), Lot 2 (behind Old Town Hall) and Lot 3 (Park Street Village).

Appliance Disposal

The disposal of condemned or replaced appliances is part of the recovery and restoration process. Your appliances will be removed and picked up by Columbia Gas or its contractors. Residents and business owners should not endure any cost for disposing of appliances.

Information for Landlords and Tenants

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has released information for landlords and tenants affected by the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency, which can be viewed in full here.

Alternative Housing 

Andover residents still have the option to seek free alternative housing while their gas service remains offline. Housing options include apartments, hotels and temporary trailers, and are completely paid for by Columbia Gas.

As of Friday, 12 Andover families remain lodged in alternate housing arrangements, including apartments and hotels. That number is down from 15 on Wednesday. As customers’ service is restored, Columbia Gas is demobilizing trailer parks and other alternate housing arrangements.

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UPDATE #84 (3:30 p.m.) Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Dec. 3, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617-993-0003

 Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

ANDOVER — The Town of Andover continuously seeks to provide residents and business owners with key updates regarding the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.

Restoration Timeline and Claims

The “House Ready” process is expected to be completed between now and Dec. 16.

A total of 94 percent of Andover residents and 95 percent of town business customers who lost gas service have had their service restored as of Sunday.

A total of 99 Andover residents remain without gas service at this time, with 465 total residential customers remaining without gas in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

Columbia Gas releases a daily briefing with updates on the progress of the restoration effort. Click here to read the briefing for Dec. 3.

Hot water heaters, stoves and dryers will be replaced and boilers and furnaces will be safely repaired or replaced with those being repaired eventually being replaced beginning in the spring.

Columbia Gas has received nearly 5,000 claims from Andover residents and business owners and has paid out $22.1 million to Andover gas customers as of Sunday.

If any resident or business owner in the affected area experiences frozen pipes, they are urged to call the Columbia Gas emergency hotline at 800-525-8222.

Free Parking Downtown

The Town of Andover will not collect parking fees at municipal parking lots through Dec. 30. The Town encourages downtown visitors to park in the municipal parking lots. This includes Lot 1 (between Andover Village Square and Caffé Nero), Lot 2 (behind Old Town Hall) and Lot 3 (Park Street Village).

Save the Date: Holiday Happenings Dec. 7

Andover will celebrate its annual Holiday Happenings event on Friday, Dec. 7 from 4-8 p.m. The event will feature a variety of activities, including photos with Santa, carnival and train rides, shopping, dining, fireworks and more.

The event will be held across a variety of locations throughout downtown, including Old Town Hall, Memorial Hall Library, Andover Historical Society, Center at Punchard and the park at Chesnut and Bartlet Street.

Festivities will take place throughout Main Street and the Park at Town Hall. The Park will host food vendors, a carousel ride, entertainment and the tree lighting. This year, additional activities will take place on Main Street including photos with Santa at Old Town Hall, carnival rides, live music coordinated by the Free Christian Church, Roaming Railroad train rides, a holiday stilt walker, along with shopping and dining at many downtown shops and restaurants.

Massachusetts State Senate to Hold Hearings on Gas Disaster

The Massachusetts State Senate has scheduled two oversight hearings of its own next month. The first hearing will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4 in Boston, while the second will be held in the Merrimack Valley on Dec. 17.

Appliance Disposal

The disposal of condemned or replaced appliances is part of the recovery and restoration process. Your appliances will be removed and picked up by Columbia Gas or its contractors. Residents and business owners should not endure any cost for disposing of appliances.

Information for Landlords and Tenants

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has released information for landlords and tenants affected by the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency, which can be viewed in full here.

Alternative Housing 

Andover residents still have the option to seek free alternative housing while their gas service remains offline. Housing options include apartments, hotels and temporary trailers, and are completely paid for by Columbia Gas.

As of Sunday, 91 Andover residents (down from more than 500 last week) were being lodged in alternate housing arrangements, including apartments and hotels.

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UPDATE #79 (5:30 p.m.) Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617-993-0003

 Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

ANDOVER — The Town of Andover continuously seeks to provide residents and business owners with key updates regarding the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.

Andover Firefighters Santa Parade Sunday

The 2018 Andover Firefighters Santa Parade, sponsored by the Andover Firefighters Relief Association and the Andover Business Community is set for TOMORROW, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2018 at 1 p.m. in Downtown Andover. All are welcome!

Restoration Timeline and Claims

The “House Ready” process is expected to be completed between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, and a Rapid Re-light process has been implemented that will result in gas service being restored ahead of Dec. 2.

As of Saturday afternoon, Columbia Gas reports that 91 percent of business and 85 percent of residential gas customers in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence have had their gas service restored. A total of 84 percent of Andover residents and 91 percent of business customers who lost gas service have had their service restored.

Four businesses in Andover remain without gas service as of Saturday.

Columbia Gas releases a daily briefing with updates on the progress of the restoration effort. Click here to read the briefing for Nov. 24.

Hot water heaters, stoves and dryers will be replaced and boilers and furnaces will be safely repaired or replaced with those being repaired eventually being replaced beginning in the spring.

Columbia Gas has received nearly 5,000 claims from Andover residents and business owners and has paid out $21.5 million to Andover gas customers as of Saturday.

If any resident or business owner in the affected area experiences frozen pipes, they are urged to call the Columbia Gas emergency hotline at 800-525-8222.

Free Parking Downtown

The Town of Andover will not collect parking fees at municipal parking lots through Dec. 30. The Town encourages downtown visitors to park in the municipal parking lots. This includes Lot 1 (between Andover Village Square and Caffé Nero), Lot 2 (behind Old Town Hall) and Lot 3 (Park Street Village).

Save the Date: Holiday Happenings Dec. 7

Andover will celebrate its annual Holiday Happenings event on Friday, Dec. 7 from 4-8 p.m. The event will feature a variety of activities, including photos with Santa, carnival and train rides, shopping, dining, fireworks and more.

The event will be held across a variety of locations throughout downtown, including Old Town Hall, Memorial Hall Library, Andover Historical Society, Center at Punchard and the park at Chesnut and Bartlet Street.

Festivities will take place throughout Main Street and the Park at Town Hall. The Park will host food vendors, a carousel ride, entertainment and the tree lighting. This year, additional activities will take place on Main Street including photos with Santa at Old Town Hall, carnival rides, live music coordinated by the Free Christian Church, Roaming Railroad train rides, a holiday stilt walker, along with shopping and dining at many downtown shops and restaurants.

U.S. and Massachusetts Senates to Hold Hearings on Gas Disaster

On Monday, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, led by Sen. Edward J. Markey, will be holding a field hearing in Lawrence to demand answers for the affected communities and hold those responsible to account.

Markey has invited members of the Merrimack Valley community to share how they’ve been impacted by the gas emergency. To submit stories to the congressional record ahead of the hearing, click here.

The Massachusetts Senate has scheduled two oversight hearings of its own next month. The first hearing will be held on Dec. 4 in Boston, while the second will be held in the Merrimack Valley on Dec. 17.

Appliance Disposal

The disposal of condemned or replaced appliances is part of the recovery and restoration process. Your appliances will be removed and picked up by Columbia Gas or its contractors. Residents and business owners should not endure any cost for disposing of appliances.

Information for Landlords and Tenants

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has released information for landlords and tenants affected by the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency, which can be viewed in full here.

Self Mitigation Information

Columbia Gas has provided information on how residents can expedite the gas disaster mitigation process on their own.

For those who decide to go about repairing or replacing their own appliances, there are several steps that the utility has provided for residents interested in doing so.

To read the Columbia Gas mailer containing extensive information that was sent to customers, click here.

Alternative Housing 

Andover residents still have the option to seek free alternative housing while their gas service remains offline. Housing options include apartments, hotels and temporary trailers, and are completely paid for by Columbia Gas.

As of Saturday, 557 Andover residents (Up from 541 earlier in the week) were being lodged in alternate housing arrangements, including apartments, hotels and RVs.

Impacted Columbia Gas customers who choose to be placed in alternative housing while their homes are without gas should call Columbia Gas’ Claims line: 800-590-5571.

Transportation arrangements will be provided for residents staying in hotels and apartments who do not have their own means of transportation.

A congregate shelter has been established for those in need. It is capable of hosting up to 1,000 people and will have hot meals available. The shelter is located at 46 Stafford St., Lawrence.

The congregate shelter has been established as a warming center with showers, and can accommodate residents for short-term overnight stays.

“Back to Business”

Columbia Gas has developed an integrated process to quickly restore business customers. The “Back-to-Business” initiative will assign a project manager to each business owner who will be responsible for addressing the businesses’ unique needs in order to make the business ready to receive natural gas. The project managers will proactively reach out to business owners to introduce themselves and will begin visiting businesses in the coming days.

Back to Business Centers

Under the direction of each project manager will be a fully integrated team including claims adjusters, plumbers, laborers and electricians to quickly restore business customers.

The “Back-to-Business” initiative’s integrated teams will work out of three business centers, located in each of the affected communities.  These centers will serve as the operation center for construction operations managers, claims representatives and linguists, and will work to build customized plans for each business based on their assessed needs.  While business owners will be hearing from their project manager proactively, these centers are open to the public should business owners choose to visit them during the claims and recovery process.

The locations of the “Back-to-Business” Centers are:

  • 439 South Union St., Lawrence: Construction Operations Manager Derrick Seitz
  • 45 Main St., Andover: Construction Operations Manager Jeff McCaples
  • 115 South Main St., North Andover: Construction Operations Manager Charlie Romano

The centers are open from Tuesday to Friday from noon-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To view businesses in Andover that are located in the affected and are currently open for business visit: www.andoverma.gov/andoverbiz 

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