PHOTOS: Trees For Troops 2012

Families of soldiers got a Christmas gift in North Andover.

On Saturday, Smolak Farms was packed with military families picking out Christmas trees in the third annual Trees For Troops event. Trees For Troops is a program organized by BAE Systems and the USO to provide local soldiers and their families with Christmas trees and more. Often when a soldier is deployed or has recently returned, his or her family struggles to make ends meet. In the troubled economy of the past few years, that reality has been exacerbated. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them preserving our freedoms," BEA Systems spokesperson Lu Goncalves-Getty said. So BAE Systems and the USO, with help from Smolak Farms, makes the holiday season a little brighter with Trees For Troops. The trees are donated to the families, and …

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IMAGE GALLERY: Bruins Summer Reading Program Stops in North Andover

Seven Bruins Development Camp players read to and played with kids at Stevens Memorial Library on Sunday.

"When You Read, You Score," is the name of the Bruins Summer Reading Program. Seven soon-to-be Bruins players hung at Stevens Memorial Library as part of the program on Sunday. 

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Bruins to Read at Library Sunday

Five Bruins rookies will visit North Andover to read to children.

The five rookie members of the Boston Bruins coming to the Stevens Memorial Library Sunday afternoon won’t be bringing their prized Stanley Cup, but they will be armed with Marty Sederman’s storybook “Casey and Derek On the Ice” to read to their youngest fans. Stevens Library Director Mary Rose Quinn said she couldn’t believe her luck when North Andover’s library was chosen earlier this week as the last minute location for the Bruins annual summer library appearance. The Bruins will be at the local library on Main St. from 3 to 5 p.m. “The Bruins sponsor their own reading program called 'When you Read, You Score,' and as a part of that program their first year players make one public library appearance every summer,” said an elated Quinn…

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All You Need to Know About Saturday's Bruins Parade

Thousands will flock to Boston to honor the hockey heroes.

The Boston Bruins are getting a hero's welcome home this weekend. After their historic Game 7 victory in Vancouver that won them the Stanley Cup Wednesday, the Bruins will be honored with a parade in Boston Saturday. North Andover fans were filled with euphoria after the big win, and many will venture down to Boston to see the parade. If you're heading down to the parade, be sure to send us some photos. The City of Boston has released the parade route details. Parking is expected to be tough, and city officials have said that restrictions near the parade route will be heavily enforced. All traffic along the parade route will be banned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is recommended that you leave your car at home and take the train into Boston, …

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VIDEO: Stanley Cup Glory

Residents react to Bruins championship win.

For the Bruins, the stars really were aligned... in 2004 the Red Sox captured the World Series Trophy on the night of a lunar eclipse, last night the Bruins won their cup on the night of another lunar eclipse. Residents of North Andover were overjoyed and proud of the Bruins' win over the favored Vancouver Canucks.  An exhausted fan base, they've had to endure three seven game series to get to this point, can finally rest and enjoy the next few days.

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Patch Picks

Five Places to Watch the Bruins Game

Feel like going out to watch Game 7? We've got you covered.

The Boston Bruins will go for the Stanley Cup for the first time in decades, and this will be the first time the Bruins have played for it to Game 7. Thinking about going out to watch the game? Why not stay local? Here are five places in North Andover you can watch the Bruins game tonight. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments. 1. Rolf’s Restaurant, 39 Main St. This North Andover institution is a place to go to not only watch the game, but catch up with old friends. A relaxed pub atmosphere will accompany your bar food while you cheer on the Bruins, and tonight Rolf's is offering 25-cent wings during the game. 2. Joe Fish Seafood Restaurant, 1120 Osgood St. Maybe greasy bar food isn't your thing and you want some seafood with …

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The O-Zone

Merrimack Coach Honored, Players Sign with NHL Affiliates

Mark Dennehy was named All-New England Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season; Merrimack seniors Chris Barton and Joe Cucci sign contracts.

Merrimack College hockey coach Mark Dennehy led the Warriors to 25 wins this season, a record for the school’s Division 1 history. Yesterday Dennehy was announced All-New England Coach of the Year. It was the second consecutive season Dennehy was awarded the honor. Dennehy lead the Warriors to other historic feats this season such as advancing to the team’s first ever Hockey East Final. With a convincing 4-1 victory against UNH at TD Garden, the Warriors advanced into uncharted waters. In the Hockey East Final, however, Merrimack fell 5-3 at the hands of the Boston College Eagles. Dennehy led Merrimack to its first NCAA Tournament in 23 years. In a stunning comeback, Notre Dame took down the Warriors 4-3 in a first round overtime thriller…

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Jay Oza

10:25 am on Thursday, March 31, 2011

Dennehy received another honor today; he was named College Hockey News' Co-Coach of the Year.   more ›