Memorial Hall Library Hosts Drag Queen Missy Steak By Copy Editor: Julie Mahoney
Drag Queen Missy Steak taught teens how to apply makeup at a program hosted by Memorial Hall Library on Monday, October 23, 2023.
Trying to get more teens involved, Anna Tschetter and Renata Sancken, the Teen Services and Reference Librarians, brought in Missy Steak a Drag Queen from Boston. Missy taught the seven teens, ranging from 6th grade to seniors in high school, how to apply makeup like a true drag queen.
Memorial Hall Library has been trying to make not only the collection of books more diverse, but also the programs hosted at the library. “We wanted to do something fun and make everyone feel welcome,” Tschitter said. “To send a signal to the queer teens in Andover that they are welcome here and we appreciate them and that this is a good place to find themselves.”
Since COVID, fewer teens have been spending afternoons at the library due to the district changing school times, and Tschitter and Sancken have been trying new ways to get more people interested.
Tschitter said how they used to “have big, huge crowds every Friday and now we have less of that.” While there are many goals at the library, Sancken said that it is their goal “to be a safe space for everyone. We want to learn new things and explore new interests.” Tschitter and Sancken are aware of how busy teens can be but they love it when kids “just come in and check out books.”
In the past, the library has held other Pride events but this is the first drag-related event and likely not to be the last. “Drag is an artform,” Sancken said. Missy added how amazing it is to work in a new environment: “I remember not having a place [like this] when I was younger. I can’t even imagine what change that could have made if I did.” What’s most important to Missy is “the individual impact.”
There has been talk about a drag queen story hour in the children’s room and there is much excitement about continuing to show kids what drag is. “We do a lot of programs and we want to put on programs for everyone,” Tschetter said, “but maybe not every program is for everyone but we want to present a wide variety of things.”
Missy thinks right now more than ever it is important to show the beauty and fun drag can be. “We are seeing a lot of pushback across the country right now. And that shows exactly why this is important right now. I do not expect everyone to understand what I do or for every event to be packed to the brim with people”
Missy said. “But people come and have a good time and that’s important. And I think that’s something to be celebrated. And again if it makes people angry then it shows that there is a power to it.”
Furthermore, a message from the librarians, there is no longer a need to call the library to ask about volunteer hours, simply visit mhl.org/volunteers.
AEA Educators on Strike! Students, Teachers, and Parents Weigh In
By Julie Mahoney COPY EDITOR
November 12, 2023
The Andover Education Association (AEA) rallied outside schools and at Andover Commons on Friday, November 10, after voting to strike Thursday night.
For the first time in 30 years, the AEA strikes gathered a crowd of red at the Town Commons.
With schools closed due to the Union’s strike, many students came out to show their support for educators. In the crowd of nearly 1000, there were also parents and other educators from neighboring districts like Haverhill, Woburn, and North Andover.
Parent Lauren Kinney hopes that the school committee will come to see “the value that our teachers provide and agree that their requests are not unreasonable.” AHS Senior Michaela Buckley said that educators “do so much for us and the least we can do is have them paid a liveable wage.” 2023 Alumnus John Macy agreed with Buckley and stood with the AEA saying
“They did a great job educating me and I want to get them a fair contract.”
Arlington teacher and Methuen resident, Jenna Maderios, said it was important to her “to come out and show teacher solidarity.” Strikes like this have been successful in other Massachusetts towns and while “it’s unfortunate that it has to get to this, it is what Andover educators deserve,” Maderios said.
With the AEA’s decision to strike, the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) at the Department of Labor Relations ordered the Union to cease and desist after they broke the law (M.G.L. c. 150E, s. 9A). The CERB also ordered a state mediator for the negotiations held on November 10.
Oscar Gillette, a 2023 alumnus of AHS, created Respect Our Teachers, “a group of students and alumni who support the union” said Gilette. The group is taking two approaches, electoral (where they will gather signatures, and if they get 200 signatures from registered Andover adults a town meeting will be triggered) and civil disobedience (where students will refuse to attend school without a fair contract for their educators).
The School Committee’s proposal on Friday included enhanced paid parental leave (including 11 weeks of paid leave for any parent) and an increase in sick days for Instructional Assistants which now have a total of 15 sick days.
While the Committee is dedicated to “negotiating in good faith” as said in their statement on November 11, the AEA has made it clear that enough is enough even though they have yet to respond.
For more information on negotiations visit aps1.net
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