By Melissa Fili
MethuenLife Writer

From Methuen’s spectacular 1909 Music Hall and its 18,000-grave animal cemetery, to our varied ethnic cuisine and oh-so-chatty residents — all had a chance to shine in the Boston television spotlight.
On July 31, FOX25’s morning news crew broadcast live for four hours from Methuen Memorial Music Hall’s lush Broadway property as part of its “Zip Trip” series. The jazzed-up crowd ranged from kids in Little League uniforms and political sign-holders to local businesspeople and curious TV-news viewers — all hoping to get their 15 minutes of fame. One adult couple, a blond woman and a burly gentleman, managed to secure a spot right behind news anchors Kim Carrigan and Gene Lavanchy for a good portion of the morning, applauding, waving and smiling their way through the show. AJ Burnett gave weather updates with local kids by his side, and wise-guy commentator VB Goudie posed with a giant made-in-Methuen Boston cream doughnut and other yummy specialties.
Editor/producer Colleen “Coco” Goudie tells MethuenLife she suggested Methuen as a Zip Trip destination last winter, when a FOX team was deciding the locations.
“I saw a story on Methuen in North Shore Magazine, and I thought it sounded like a really interesting place,” she explained. After visiting the city, researching its history and current offerings, and scouting out a location site, the Methuen Zip Trip was on!
MMMH President Ed Sampson was thrilled that FOX chose to broadcast from the Music Hall — despite less than 10 days’ notice.
“We are so pleased that they wanted to do the broadcast here,” he said. “As a nonprofit, we could never afford this type of publicity. This is quite a coup.”
It’s perfect timing, too, as the hall is in the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Sampson and Greg L’Heureux, who is in charge of the hall’s grounds, arrived on site at 3 am. Sampson says a FOX crew of seven arrived soon after.
“It took them an hour and a half to set up all this and they’re ready to go,” he explained, gesturing toward several large FOX 25 trucks, two large cameras, a production area located beneath a tent and reels of wires for audio and video running all across the grass.
Seven-year-old Kylie Marsh was on-site at 5 am. She slept over her Nana and Papa’s house in order to secure her front-row spot.
“She watches FOX news in the morning when she gets ready for school,” explained Mary Marsh, Kylie’s grandmother. “She knows everyone on the show.”
Harrison Chase, 8, enjoyed watching the fanfare surrounding the TV shoot, but wasn’t exactly star-struck.
“I’m waiting to get VB’s autograph,” he explained, showing MethuenLife the other three John Hancocks he’d secured from the news crew. “My dad is friends with Doug (Meehan, FOX traffic reporter). I’ve been on TV before.”
A massive line of people stretched across the Music Hall’s property, awaiting free Zip Trip T-shirts. Folks from a screen-printing business also used air guns to blast shirts toward the excited crowd.
Earlier in the week, FOX was in Methuen shooting short features that were played during the live broadcast. Featured were Dick’s TV, where Dick Dube talked about the impact the Aug. 1 state tax hike would have on his New Hampshire border business; Hillside Acre Animal Cemetery where a 92-year-old parrot named Polly rests in peace; and the Music Hall where organist Douglas Major, a Trustee at the hall, performed a powerful piece by Bach on the Great Organ. There were also spots on Mann Orchards, The Loop and Forest Lake.
Locals featured during the live broadcast included, but were not limited to, Mayor Bill Manzi, Methuen Arlington Neighborhood Inc. founder Linda Soucy, Fire Chief Steve Buote and several Methuen firefighters, Webster-Greene Antiques, George’s Bakery, Heav’nly Donuts, Little Sprouts, Bada Bing, Rosario 1859 House, Sal’s Pizza, Vintage Rose and Thwaite’s Market.
Jack Galvin, owner of the Guitar Garage, spoke with host Lavanchy about his Methuen Square business before two of his guitar students — Riley Brown and Barrett Hodgson — got the crowd rockin’ with some classic Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne.