Way to Go, Wedge

Whoever utters the old saying "the grass is always greener on the other side" has obviously not met North Andover DPW Foreman Kenneth Wedge.

Wedge's most notable contribution to North Andover has been maintaining the town's many fields, come rain or shine or snow. Those immaculate fields the Knights and youth sports teams play on? That amazing painted mural on the North Andover Middle School field during National Night Out? All Ken Wedge.

And after more than 35 years of service to North Andover, Wedge is retiring. As the Board of Selectmen honored Wedge for his decades of service Monday night, others stepped to the podium to give praise and not Wedge's contributions to the town.

"Through what I do throughout the day, we see Ken early in the morning and late in the evening and even on his lunch breaks," North Andover Police Lt. Charles Gray said, speaking on behalf of the Booster Club. "And that's what the public needs to know that he did. On his own, he went above and beyond. And I'm not just talking about National Night Out, I'm talking about every field in town."

Gray presented Wedge with a plaque that will be mounted at the soon-to-be-constructed McEvoy Field.

"As a parent with kids in sports, I would go to these events and I would go these events and I would hear the other parents say, 'Wow, these fields look great. They really did a good job with it,'" Gray said. "But there was no 'they.' It was Ken Wedge."

It's unclear how many times the Scarlet Knights have played football on a field manicured by Wedge, but North Andover High School Football Coach John Rafferty made it a point to emphasize that they couldn't have played as many games without him.

"I've been in the community for 13 years, 13 great years, and one of the first persons I was told I should be very friendly with is a guy by the name of Kenny Wedge, better known as 'Wedgy,'" Rafferty said.

That advice would, of course, prove accurate. When it snowed, Wedge would work tirelessly to clear the fields so games could still be played, Rafferty said, presenting Wedge with a Scarlet Knights football jersey with the number "35" on it to represent Wedge's years on the job.

Perhaps the most poignant comment came when Selectman Chair Rosemary Smedile, Wedge's niece, who gave a plaque and certificate of appreciation to her uncle Monday night.

"Nana and Papa would be very proud," a teary-eyed Smedile said.

And true to form, the humble Ken Wedge declined to speak at the podium. His gracious smile said plenty.