What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
Tue, 05/31/2005 - 12:14 — StacyT
Ok, so I know I might be getting old, but what is with Methuen lately??? The rapes and assaults on the school busses??? And that's JUST the middle schoolers! Good grief!
Then we have our Mayor swindling money. Hello...you're the mayor of a small town, not God. Get a grip of yourself woman and hand over the cash you stole!!!
It seems like every news story in the Tribune is Methuen related nowadays...and it isn't good stuff!
I am getting a little worried and considering packing up and fleeing West! LOL.
I certianly don't want my daughter riding schoolbusses!!
Am I just getting older? Is it just me? Anyone???
Stacy T
Tue, 05/31/2005 - 15:21 — StacyT
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
Well, I agree that we are older and see things differently, but I also feel that kids these days (and parents) are also different. Parents, most just trying to provide for their kids and give them a good home in a good town, end up working two jobs. No parent is home and when they are they are too tired to do anything - let alone PARENT. It is also true, I feel, that kids today SEE a lot more than we saw. I know we had Guns N Roses and Metallica and such, but let's face it - that can't hold a candle to the (c)rap that is popular now (in terms of violence). I am not anti-rap (well ok, I think it does suck), nor am I in the boat that blames media exposure and music on ALL the wrong doings of society. However, there ARE things that have changed since our time and, like it or not, they are having an effect on our society.
So THERE! LOL, JK!
Tue, 05/31/2005 - 18:16 — GeorgeH
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
OK, Miguel and I lived like 5 doors down from each other. I was not in the same circle of friends as him. ( he was smarter than that) I heard the old neighborhood (Larchwood/Kenwood) is worse than ever but it was pretty bad back in the day. I have been around many drug deals and many sex/alcohol parties. Methuen was bad where I lived when you hung out with those type. I did and thankfully I got away from all that.
We can run to nicer areas of the country (like I did) or we can choose to stay and fight. If we stay it will not be easy if we run it will catch up with us eventually. Maybe not with us but with our kids. I think "bad behavior" is a fungus, it grows. Some day we will all have to fight it.
I read the tribune online quite a bit. I also read my local newspaper a lot. The differences of the subjects are astounding. I only lock the doors to my house if I plan on being gone for more than 12 hours or so. I leave the keys to my truck and van in my the ignition in my driveway over night. These are the things I heard about when my parents were growing up in Methuen. It was nice at one time. Just like it is nice here. And maybe some day it will get bad here. I plan to stay and fight here if I have too.
What I am saying is yes things are bad and they always were bad but it is growing. As much as I like sex and watching it on tv....it's not for kids. It's not for sex offenders. There is too much but as long as we buy the products that use sex as a marketing scheme they will get worse.
my 2 cents (representing "the kid who grew up on the wrong side of the trax")
? :?: Did I use "representing" properly there? LMAO
Wed, 06/01/2005 - 08:38 — JVCahoon
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
My mom still lives on Larchwood.
She has been around gunshots several times.
I have been shot at (mistakenly) once.
My brother's car windows were shot out twice.
Yeah, cant say I miss it.
I love Colrain, MA. I live in the woods and if I am shot at it is not because of hate, it's because I have grown antlers and look like a buck.
Wed, 06/01/2005 - 10:57 — katevt
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I know my old house on Oakland Ave was shot at in a drive by not long after we left.
Wed, 06/01/2005 - 12:05 — StacyT
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
Goons steal and lie about finding buried treasure in Methuen yard. (National coverage)
Mayor admits to taking 200,000 of the 600,000 paid to town by Brooks Pharamcy for her own charitable purposes(i.e. the Festival of Trees).
Girl is sexually assaulted by several young (under 18, some under 16) boys on Methuen school bus.
Girl is raped (two days after assault incident) by exboyfriend while others watch and "block" on Methuen school bus.
Littlefield asks for stricter enforcmement of out-of-towners attending Methuen schools - an issue that has been grossly overlooked in the past (paraphrasing).
This is all in the past month! We have been front page news nearly everday! Now, some of these things are typical politics, but others are just disgraceful! The fact that we have only TWO schoolbusses with cameras on them in the entire fleet (the rest have "dummy cameras") is outrageous. Especially when we have the money to fix the issue. Well, that is assuming Pollard doesn't have any more trees she'd like to decorate with it.
I know that this might sound fogey, but I think that when you have kids in the town it makes you feel a bit different and see the things that are happening in a more serious light. This is the town that I want my children to grow up in. i have stock in what happens here. i guess that is why i care a little more. I also still LIVE here. Most of you that have replied, if not all, don't live here anymore! Maybe that's why i am a bit more of a freak about this than you all! LOL. Now to just get Pollard and her lemmings out of office and perhaps we can work on some changes? (Can you tell I am fed up with her? LOL)
Take care!
Stacy T
Wed, 06/01/2005 - 12:21 — katevt
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
Stacy,
Is there a way for you to get involved with the town to help make some of the changes your talking about? I know Tim said he ran for school committee, and that would obviously put you in a better position to make positive changes. Being that you still live in the community and have a vested interest in it (and want to raise your children there) I'm sure there are ways you can get involved to make it a better place. Even if it's working on the campaign of a candidate running against Pollard! :)
Just some advice if you were looking for it. If not, venting is fine too. :mrgreen:
Wed, 06/01/2005 - 12:33 — StacyT
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
LOL. Thanks Kate. Actually, i am really NOT into politics. Can't stand em. Tim is the political guru and we actually differ on most every thought!
As for trying to make a change...I really think that it is up to the parent of the children who are raping these girls and beating the farm chickens after hours and stealing other people's property, shooting at houses on Oakland Ave, etc etc. I am completely against the whole "It takes a village" school of thought. I think that gives the absentee parents a way out. If we all raise our children with respect for others property etc. then you won't NEED the village.
You know what... I am 7 weeks pregnant and hormonal as all hell. I am getting the "gonna be responsible for another life" jitters and just venting what was on my mind and in the news. I will shut up now and let it rest! Methuen isn't the hell hole that it has been portrayed as in the news for the past month, so I will just be glad for that. It actually is a very nice town with bad areas..like most towns. I just got a bit freaked out when all these news stories started coming to light. The girls on the busses really got to me because I HAVE a daughter and another kid on the way. Guess i should just hold my breath and hope for the best in 4 years when she starts school and has to ride the bus. Agggggghhhhhh! LOL.
Thanks for lettting me vent!
Stacy
Wed, 06/01/2005 - 12:47 — katevt
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I was kind of wondering if hormones were kicking in...LOL :laugh1: But I know better than to piss off a pregnant woman!
I understand your frustration. It's hard when you're responsible for the well being of another person and you just want the world to be a good place for them to grow up in. In the end, you raise them the best you can with the most love you can and hope that that's enough.
Many Blessings (and fewer hormonal rages) to the mommy to be. :)
Fri, 06/03/2005 - 09:29 — StacyT
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
LMAO!!! I would SO be there also. Let my pregnant, hormonal anger serve itself well!
A day after I posted the original spew, the front page is hit - yet again- with more Methuen news. Apparently some "bored" teens who thought others appreciated grafitti as a form of art just as much as they did decided to "tag" cars, buildings, fences etc all around Methuen. In a follow up article one of the teens actually had the gall to say
"Since I had noticed that the owner of the establishment (Methuen House of Pizza, if I rememeber correctly - ST) hadn't removed the grafitti yet I thought maybe he felt the same way as I did. I was actually gonna ask him if he wanted me to do some more work for him."
Now, I am paraphrasing here but I swear to you it was just as beligerant and ignorant as it sounds.
Anyhow, thanks for supporting my point Wade. You said what I wanted to say - only more to the point. I am gettting concerned that Methuen (in all its attempts to remain a "town" ) is slowly fading into its surrounding cities and the line between them is becoming ever more blurred.
Stacy T
Mon, 06/13/2005 - 11:04 — dragonfly
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I agree with StacyT, what the hell is happening here?
I took my daughter to Holy Family for stitches Friday night, and in WALKS
a kid who had been SHOT IN THE CHEST!!! My daughter is 10 and after hearing about the assaults and rapes on the busses, now she sees a gaping hole in some kids chest!!! I am horrified by what I m seeing going on here, and scared for my kids, but is anyplace in this world any better?? Short of moving to the top of a mountain, or the middle of nowhere. It saddens me to hear that most children by the age of 10 have seen 10,000 murders on television and in the movies. I have made sure that, even though my kids watch tv, they don't see ANYTHING with violence involved. I thought and was told it would be impossible to raise a child today without exposure to this kind of thing, but it has been surprisingly easy. My son is referred to by adults as "Gandi" because of his peaceful nature!! He has never, in his 6 years, held any sort of toy weapon, and does not miss it at all!! I think our society of violence has taken over Methuen, and the useless punishments for infractions are spurring it on.
That mountaintop is looking better everyday!!!
Mon, 06/13/2005 - 17:35 — GeorgeH
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I don't live on a mountain top but what you are hoping for is out there and I live in one of those areas. I am not out in the boonies. I said it in past posts and I will say it again.
I live in a town that I eave my doors unlocked at night to my house and leave the keys in the ignition in my truck. I live in a town of the same size and population of Methuen. There are those bad apples but these bad apples are considered good apples in Methuen, LOL.
I love my town. I still love Methuen but am glad I am not raising my kids there. The biggest difference I see is that this is a very highly religious area and we don't have a town like Lawrence for miles and miles. Prob 45 miles to be exact. But the religion is a big part. Not because these people found God but because most people who have found God are trying to follow in Jesus' steps and be a good Christian and a good human being so these people are teaching their kids the same.
Don't get me wrong I'm not a Holy Roller. I don't go to church. I am in the minority by far of the people in my area when it comes to religion. My point is my kids are great. They are kids but they are naive when it comes to certain subjects on the news. (which is the way it should be)
As far as guns go. I teach my children that there is a time and place for guns. My children do not have any toy guns to speak of. My 9 year old does have a BB gun that I keep in my closet that my wife couldn't reach if she wanted to. But the reason I bought this is because studies show that children who are killed by guns accidentally. I'm talking CHILDREN, not teenagers. The ones who are killed accidentally are killed because of curiosity and not knowing proper gun safety. I believe that if my kids see a real gun at a friends house (again another popular thing around here. NRA that is) they not only do not have the need/curiosity to see what it's like. They know what to do to get it away and make sure the person they are with knows not to touch it.
I am sooo neutral on the gun issue. But fighting and sex on tv is a bigger issue with me. My boys were not allowed to watch Power Rangers or similar shows till just recently. My girls would rather watch something girly anyway. But I let my boys watch that stuff because I know they are old enough to understand what is fake fighting and what isn't.
There I come to my key...I KNOW MY KIDS! Anyone who doesn't know their kids, their kids friends, and their kids whereabouts 100% of the day is asking for trouble.
Sorry this was a long post.
Sat, 07/23/2005 - 09:40 — Kate
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I agree with Kate I wasn't sorry when I left and besides visiting my family Ii won't return.
Tue, 08/23/2005 - 20:20 — lizmia
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
my husband grew up in NH and has a very negative view of Methuen as well :( . I have to say it has to be safer than Orlando though!
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
But when we are gone, it will still burn on...
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
Well, I just packed up and moved. Job transferred me out to HQ in Illinois. Can't say I was sorry to leave.
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I would be sorry to leave though! I love Methuen and have ALWAYS wanted to remain here with my children. I have always been a staunch supporter of the town and its school system. Hell, we are considering going nearly into hock just to be able to stay in the highly overpriced town! LOL.
I do love it. My questions is just "Have I gotten older and these things, thus, seem more offensive/rampant/etc to me? OR is Methuen really going down hill and should I jump ship now while I can? LOL.
Stacy T
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I don't live in Methuen anymore, but I don't think it's gotten worse in any significant way, I just think that we are more sensitive to seeing these things, and we are more likely to hear about it in the news and care. I knwo I wasn't listening to world or local news when I was in HS, that doesn't mean others weren't.
Also, while I was in school, there was a lot of stuff going down that I was completely unaware of just by virtue of not being in the same circle of people that took part in it. I never saw it, but that doesn't mean it wasn't happening.
After I had gone to NU, I spent some time with some other folks from MHS and they mentioned some things that I had no idea were happening in school during the years I attended. I was pretty shocked. This was mostly due to me being naive at the time, but thinking back, it makes sense.
Middle school through high school is a turbulent time for most people and if they are going to get access and become interested in something, this is the time most people come in contact with different options when it comes to lifestyles.
Having said that, I do think that pop culture does glorify sex and violence. This isn't new. Sex and violence sell music, video games, magazines, newspapers, and pretty much anything. It's been that way since before recorded history, I think.
I prefer to point fingers at solutions rather than at the mainstream media. Really, the only way to empower people to make good choices is through education about all choices, good and bad. I'm talking education for parents and kids alike.
I don't really know of another way to stand up against the things that are being pushed at young people today other than to educate the parents (first), then the young people.
So in my opinion, the answer to your question, StacyT, is that yes, it is because we have gotten older and we see things differently than when we were in MHS. I think this is a good thing, though, if I was still doing and thinking the same way I did and thought when I was in high schoool, it would say little about any progress I'd have made since.
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
I don't know if I can speak on this, seeing as I haven't lived there for over five years, but the media likes to make things out to be worse than they are. We are living in a culture of fear, and a lot of our media coverage plays upon that, no matter where you live.
Methuen is a lot bigger than it used to be, and I'm sure areas (like where I used to live on Oakland Avenue) have gone much further downhill in recent years. But I don't think it's any different from any other suburban city. I didn't worry about my Mother living there, or my sisters living there with their children before they moved out west.
Personally, I don't ever plan to return there. I always hated it.
Just my 2 cents.
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
[hip hop] y u gots 2 b a hatah? don't be hatin'[/hip hop]
Re: What the hell is happening to Methuen!!!!!????
[hip hop] y u gots 2 b a hatah? don't be hatin'[/hip hop]
:lol: Sorry, just how I've always felt.
Hate the game, not the playa.