Overall Winner
Amber Cullinan (Tewksbury), Age 9, 1.12 Largemouth Bass

2-6
1st Trevor Rabideau (NR) Age 6, .89 Catfish
2nd Rowan Cann (Stoneham), Age 6, .80 Catfish
3rd Andrew Destefano (NR) Age 4, .68 Catfish

7-10
1st Mike Woods (NR), Age 9, 1.02 Largemouth Bass
2nd Anthony Peluso (NR), Age 10, .99 Catfish
3rd Mike Sheridan (NR), Age 9, .98 Largemouth Bass

11-14
1st Jacklyn Roche (Wakefield) Age 12, 1.06 Catfish
2nd Jacob Steeves (NR), Age 11, .93 Largemouth Bass
3rd(t) Kyle Falle (NR) Age 12, .92 Largemouth Bass
3rd(t) Nicholas Fuller (Lowell), Age 12, Catfish

Watering by hand with hoses is OK, but the use of sprinkler systems and irrigation systems is now under mandatory ban in North Reading due to the water crisis.

Our supply from Andover has been cut due to their own water crisis, so simply purchasing more water is not an option.

Our water Supt. Mark Clark thanks everyone for their cooperation.

Water levels in Martin’s Pond have not been this low (74.1 feet above sea level) for many years. Pond levels are usually about a foot higher, even in summer. Our “normal levels” are about 74.8-75.2 year round.

The pond water is high in nutrients, good for watering plants instead of using tap.

Stay cool,

Janet

We need the cooperation of all North Reading residents now to avoid more drastic measures being taken to curtail water usage.

An important message detailing the situation may be viewed at:
http://www.northreadingma.gov/Pages/NReadingMA_Water/WaterConservationNotice.pdf

If you’re looking, you can see a lot of amazing birds and animals around the pond. What have you seen?

Disaster Assistance Update

I. Individual Assistance

As of the close of business on April 28, 2010, 27,316 people have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance. The breakdown by county is:

Bristol 5444

Essex 2598

Middlesex 7071

Norfolk 5149

Plymouth 4285

Suffolk 1396

Worcester 1333

77% of those applying for assistance under the Individuals and Households Program (cash grants) have been deemed eligible for assistance. FEMA has approved assistance under this program totaling $40,882,001 and it already has disbursed $40,381,547.

The total amount of assistance approved under the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program is $1,185,003. (Note: the Commonwealth must reimburse FEMA for 25% of the ONA assistance). This total is a subset of the Individuals and Households Program.

The Small Business Administration has issued 23814 applications for low interest home loans, and 2866 applications for low interest business loans. To date, 1364 completed loan applications have been received by the SBA, and 362 loans have been approved totaling $7,116,500.

FEMA inspectors have conducted 24,893 home/business inspections, and have scheduled/are scheduling another 813 inspections. The average turnaround time between application and inspection is 2.13 days.

Disaster Recovery Centers continue daily operations in Lakeville, Middleton (closing on 4/30), Quincy, Clinton, Fall River, Hyde Park (Boston), N. Attleboro, and Concord (opening on 5/3). So far, 2474 people have visited the DRC centers.

II. Public Assistance

FEMA has amended the President’s Major Disaster Declaration for Massachusetts to include Public Assistance for municipalities, state agencies and certain non-profit organizations. Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA will reimburse 75% of (i) eligible emergency protective measures (local, regional and state emergency response costs), and (ii) eligible costs to repair storm damaged public infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, bridges, culverts, dams and buildings.

Each impacted municipality has been asked to attend an applicant briefing at which FEMA and MEMA personnel will provide instructions and guidance on the process for applying to FEMA for reimbursement under the Public Assistance program. These applicant briefings are being held throughout the impacted counties:

May 6 9:00 AM Tewksbury Senior Center, Tewksbury

May 6 1:00 PM Newton American Legion Post 440, Newton

May 7 9:30 AM Topsfield Fairground, Coolidge Hall, Topsfield

May 10 9:30 AM Four Points Sheraton, Norwood

May 10 1:00 PM Holiday Inn, Taunton

May 11 9:30 AM Plymouth Public Library, Plymouth

May 12 9:00 AM Worcester Polytech Institute, Worcester

May 12 1:00 PM Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg

Additionally, state agencies have been asked to attend an applicant briefing on May 18th at MEMA Headquarters in Framingham.