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  • It’s OK to ask for help: A look at local Community Behavioral Health Centers

    It’s OK to ask for help: A look at local Community Behavioral Health Centers

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    Whether you’re a student juggling too many deadlines and competing commitments on campus or a police officer struggling with a seemingly no-win situation on the job — or some other level of crisis — there are dedicated places and people you can lean on in your own backyard.

    Throughout the region, behavioral health services operate around the clock as a vital area of support for those in need of help. Many are partnered with community crisis stabilization programs that accept insurance and provide a bed, individual and group therapy, and a life-changing serving of hope to anyone placing an order.

    These services have expanded greatly with the state’s launch of a “Community Behavioral Health Center” system in early 2023. The system, which can be found at tinyurl.com/3s59jpsp, is rapidly expanding with increased awareness and demand.

    “The main reason the state did this redesign from the former service programs to CBHC’s was because, well… the two main reasons were that there was an increase in boarding times, and hospital systems and hospital ERs were flooded with folks walking in for services who may not necessarily need to access the intensity of the emergency room,” said Josh Eigen, CBHC director at Eliot Community Behavioral Health, at 75 Sylvan St. in Danvers and 95 Pleasant St. in Lynn. “And folks were just waiting for placement, so CBHCs were created as an option for folks to get all of their care in the community.”

    People from all walks of life are now walking into such facilities and getting rapid access to care, and coming out well on their way toward a new lease on life.

    “One of the things the pandemic did which was good was that it did bring up conversations,” said Kristen Godin, market president for Northeast Health Services, at 199 Rosewood Drive in Danvers. “We weren’t able to use telehealth before. There was a very select number of players that would allow for telehealth, and that opened the door.

    “That, in and of itself, is a huge access point. Folks who are extremely busy — they work, bring their kids to soccer, are on the PTA, all the things they had to do in their offices — are things they weren’t able to do.”

    Reaching everyone, especially the young

    Walk into a CBHC and you enter a community of hope. Some have message boards for clients to leave notes for those entering. Others have comfy recliners for clients to relax in their lobbies as a hum of human activity comes and goes.

    “As a mental health agency, we’re providers of hope,” Godin said. “We have a hope board, so anybody can write on that board about what they’re experience has been to another person walking by who might have just started their first appointment, or is trying to decide… do I want medication? Do I want TMS services?

    “There was a young woman recently who wrote on our board, ‘I’ve been struggling with mental health for years, tried medication, been in therapy, nothing worked. I tried Spravato, and I have my life back,’” Godin continued. “For me, beyond anything else, that’s what we do this for. That’s why we’re opening 10 clinics, 10 more after that, and expanding further.”

    With CBHCs launching last January, data is now starting to show trends of their impact, Eigen explained.

    “Some of the data is showing that folks are able to access care more immediately,” he said. “It’s opening up other options for folks other than needing to go on waitlists or in the emergency room. … The data we’ve seen so far is showing people are progressing in the treatment we’re offering. We’ve been able to continue for over a year now with not having waitlists, so it’s definitely heading in the right direction.”

    But there’s still work to do to reach some subsets of the population. That includes youth and young adults heading to college, where many factors could collide and cause a drastic drop in mental health that shocks those back home — especially if it isn’t addressed before it’s too late.

    “There has to be an opportunity that mental health is brought up on every college campus, every high school, every elementary school,” Godin said. “At college campuses, the other thing we talk about is substance abuse. If we’re talking about college, there has to be an opportunity if there’s a moment on a Saturday at 4 a.m., where they’re like, ‘who do I call?’”

    Godin recalled going to college and seeing conversations around substance abuse, but not much more.

    “There was never a discussion on counseling, therapy, asking for help,” she said. “There needs to be more of that, posted in all of the guidance counselor’s offices.”

    Vicarious trauma, on the job or at home

    Then there are the others impacted by mental health as part of day-to-day life, more specifically work.

    Say you’re a police officer who witnessed a person dying by suicide, a firefighter helping a badly burned victim out of an engulfed building, or a doctor losing a patient. Vicarious trauma represents the harmful moments experienced by people as part of their daily lives — especially careers.

    It’s also something that affects those answering the phone at crisis centers. But vicarious trauma also goes deeper and can be further experienced by anyone at home, no matter their line of work or level of mental health awareness, according to Godin.

    “No one ever remembers that we’re humans,” she said. “Vicarious trauma is a real thing, and it can happen to the person answering a phone, can happen to me listening to a story, anyone watching a show or listening to the news. One of the things we try to do here at Northeast Health Services is our culture of self-care.

    “All our clinicians are licensed. I’m licensed as a clinician, and my supervisor as a chief operating officer is licensed as a clinician,” Godin continued. “If there’s a debrief that needs to happen that’s critical to make sure folks are okay, self-care regimens, boundaries… we have an EAP program for folks. If they need that, they can call it and get eight appointments right away.”

    Over at Eliot, “our staff have access to regular supervision and support,” Eigen said. “They have regular supervision with supervisors and managers, myself. Some of our teams also have group support where they’re meeting with other clinical directors to talk about tough calls or tough assessments, tough clients that they’re working with.

    “There’s so much trauma that the people we serve have been through,” he continued. “So it’s important and definitely a priority where we provide that kind of support.”

    For more information on CBHCs or to find one nearest you, visit tinyurl.com/3s59jpsp.

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    By Dustin Luca | Staff Writer

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  • Healey officials push affordable housing plan

    Healey officials push affordable housing plan

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    BOSTON — Healey administration officials urged lawmakers to approve the governor’s affordable housing plan, arguing the $4.1 billion borrowing bill would spur the construction of thousands of homes and generate tens of billions of dollars in economic activity.

    The Affordable Homes Act plan, filed by Gov. Maura Healey in October, includes a range of tax breaks, changes to state laws and borrowing to help spur construction of new housing.

    Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said passage of the bill is an “economic imperative” for Massachusetts as it struggles to build more homes to fill a critical shortage of market-rate and affordable housing.

    “The bottom line is we can’t wait,” Driscoll, Salem’s former mayor, told members of the Legislature’s Committee on Bonding, Capitol Expenditures and State Assets during a hearing Tuesday on the bond bill. “We have to act with urgency and scale. Our residents, our communities and our employers are depending on it.”

    Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said the plan, if approved by the Legislature, would have a “catalytic impact” on the construction of housing in the Bay State while making it more competitive and attractive to new families and businesses.

    “We need a Herculean response to our housing crisis,” he told the panel. “Housing builds a stronger economy, housing generates good jobs and housing strengthens competitiveness.”

    A key plank of Healey’s affordable housing plan would create tax credits to spur the development of homes over the next five years for those with low and moderate incomes. It also calls for expanding the state’s community investment tax credit, which provides funding to community development corporations.

    The plan would allow communities to add a transfer fee up to 2% to property tax bills. If a community votes to accept the tax, it would exempt the first $1 million on a home sale.

    Healey’s plan also calls for giving single-family homeowners the right to build so-called “accessory dwelling units” of less than 900 square feet on their lots.

    Economic impact

    Affordable housing advocates called on lawmakers to approve Healey’s plan, arguing that the state needs to take aggressive steps to boost the amount of housing in the state.

    “It’s really not an exaggeration to say that we’re facing the greatest housing crisis in the commonwealth’s history,” said Clark Ziegler, executive director of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, a quasi-public agency that works with banks to finance affordable housing projects.

    “We’re consistently ranked as the most expensive place in the U.S. to live, our chronic housing shortage goes back decades and when the final data is tallied, it looks like last year we’ll see a roughly 30% reduction in new housing starts over 2022,” Ziegler told the panel. “It’s a really serious problem.”

    A report released by the Healey administration said passage of Healey’s plan, when combined with two recently reauthorized programs from the tax cut package, could create $24.8 billion in total economic impact over five years.

    The study, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, estimated the act could generate 29,700 jobs in the development, construction, finance and associated industries.

    Economic activity from the Affordable Homes Act would also allow the state to recoup $750 million in tax revenue over five years, the report’s authors said.

    But the transfer tax plan has prompted pushback from the real estate industry, which says the so-called transfer tax would compound the problem as housing prices and mortgage rates continue to rise, pricing people out of the market.

    Healey and legislative leaders are trying to spur more home building amid the shrinking inventory that is edging first-time buyers out of the market. The prolonged housing crunch is affecting the state’s economic growth, making it much harder to attract new families and companies, they say.

    A $1 billion tax relief package signed by Healey in October included reauthorization of a low-income tax credit program and housing development incentive program, also aimed at spurring housing production.

    Healey has filed a bond bill for capital projects, which needs approval from the Legislature, that includes $1.6 billion to repair and modernize state-run public housing units.

    The state faces a pressing shortage of affordable housing, with more than 184,000 people on the waiting list for state public housing units.

    Housing prices

    Amid the shortages, housing costs are continuing to increase to new records in the state as home sales remain largely flat.

    The latest monthly report from The Warren Group found the median price for a home in the state increased by 10% to $548,250 in February over the same month last year, setting a new monthly record. Meanwhile, the number of closed sales on single-family homes remained largely unchanged from the same month last year, according the report.

    During the hearing Tuesday, several lawmakers raised concerns that Healey’s plan does not go big enough on financial investments to ensure there is enough housing to meet demand.

    “One of my fears is that we are creating generations that perhaps will never have an opportunity for home ownership,” state Sen. Pavel Payano, D-Lawrence, a member of the bonding committee, said in remarks. “I know we are doing some investments here, but I wonder if that is enough.”

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • North Shore towns weigh MBTA zoning law

    North Shore towns weigh MBTA zoning law

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    Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield and several other North Shore communities have until Dec. 31 to adopt zoning that complies with the MBTA Communities Law requiring multifamily zoning districts of at least 50-acres in size with at least 15 units per acre.

    After the law was first passed in 2021, communities have spent the last few years formulating action plans, identifying potential districts for rezoning, collecting and considering public input and hiring consultants. They’ve also been creating MBTA task forces made up of local municipal leaders, resident volunteers, architects, and other stakeholders.

    All the communities that submitted an action plan to the state and had it approved — including Topsfield, Wenham, Ipswich and Hamilton — are technically in compliance with the MBTA Communities Law, as they have demonstrated an effort to rezone districts that follow the bylaw. However, they still have to vote to approve the newly zoned districts at Town Meeting this year, the majority of which will take place in the fall.

    As such, many North Shore communities have made an effort to involve affected residents in the decision-making process and hold public meetings to explain what the bylaw requires, how the community will handle the effect on services and infrastructure, and listen to and act on residents’ concerns.

    “We’re trying to maximize our public outreach on this for the community. The typical reaction to this is hesitancy and some opposition, because it’s not well understood,” Wenham Planning Board Vice Chair Dan Pasquarello said. “What we tried to make clear in our (previous info session) was that this is a zoning exercise, it’s not necessarily a building exercise. and I think that’s really important for people to understand.”

    In Danvers, Special Town Meeting in February approved a measure to amend zoning bylaws to come into compliance with the housing law. This didn’t come without opposition.

    “I’m aware of emails circulating saying that (this bylaw) should be opposed because it will ruin our town. This article is not going to ruin Danvers Square or result in any taller or bigger buildings than what has been envisioned in existing zoning,” said Danvers Select Board Chair David Mills at the time. “It will simply adjust the minimum density of our downtown to ensure that we are in compliance with a new state law. Non-compliance will cost us money.”

    Also that month in Milton, proposed zoning for that town was rejected at Town Meeting, leading to Milton losing out on grant funding, and prompting a lawsuit from Attorney General Andrea Campbell who has stated that compliance is mandatory.

    “The housing affordability crisis affects all of us: Families who face impossible choices between food on the table or a roof over their heads, young people who want to live here but are driven away by the cost, and a growing workforce we cannot house,” said Campbell in a press release on the lawsuit. “The MBTA Communities Law was enacted to address our region-wide need for housing, and compliance with it is mandatory.”

    To achieve compliance in Wenham, the town needs to adopt zoning to allow 365 units, with 73 of them within a half-mile of the train station. Wenham and Hamilton, which share a train station, are classified as “commuter rail communities” with more strict zoning guidelines, presenting a unique challenge to the towns.

    “We have to be within the half-mile radius (of the Hamilton/Wenham Station),” Margaret Hoffman, Wenham’s planning coordinator said. “So one of the unique challenges that Wenham and Hamilton face is that we have to share this station and we essentially only have a small half-circle radius to zone within.”

    Hamilton, which has to zone for 731 units, plans to utilize “form based zoning” to ensure that any potential developments follow specific building form and architectural design standards.

    “The bigger lift is going to be when developers actually look at the property to see what’s attainable and workable, and how much infrastructure they’re going to have to create to make it viable,” Patrick Reffett, Hamilton’s director of planning & inspectional services, said. “I think there’s a great deal of angst about the notion of this level of growth. and I totally get it — it’s scary if you don’t understand that the onus is really on the developers.”

    Cities and towns without a commuter rail station that are classified as “adjacent communities” or “adjacent small towns” have a lesser obligation to zone for multifamily and mixed-used development, but still required to allow developments within this zone “by-right” without the need for a special permit.

    In Topsfield, which is an adjacent small town and must zone for 118 multifamily units, Planning Board members have worked with consultant Ezra Glenn to identify areas in town where multifamily zoning would allow the town to comply with the bylaw.

    The town also plan to diversify its housing stock and make use of underutilized properties, a goal the town had previously set in its master plan.

    One option Topsfield is looking at is the 15.8 acres at the intersection of Central Street and Route 1, an area with easy accessibility to the highway and the rail trail.

    “We want to be clear amidst all this talk about how nothing is actually required to be built, that this isn’t to be taken as having no purpose. (The Planning Board) did not design the zone in a way in which nothing would be built,” Topsfield Selectboard Chair Marshall Hook said during a recent public info session.

    “I think there are towns that have tried to do that, but that was not the intent here,” he said. “I think we all see this as an opportunity and hope that things actually do get built.”

    Ipswich, which has a train station, is required to zone for 971 multifamily units. It has put significant effort into identifying potential districts for rezoning and collecting feedback from residents on their preferred location.

    The town is attempting to aggregate the feedback received in task force meetings open to the public, and from surveys about traffic, infrastructure, and design concerns that will lead up to a Special Town Meeting in the fall where a plan will be proposed.

    “(In the last survey) there’s 10 or so guiding principles that residents identified,” Director of Planning and Development Brendan Conboy said. “The top ones would be emphasizing green construction, encouraging mixed use downtown, elevating the quality of the design, and directing growth to infrastructure.

    “A little further down the line on preferences, but still relevant, was the affordability, consistency with previous plans, and encouraging diversity in town,” he said.

    Ipswich is scheduled to hold a task-force meeting on April 3 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, and another on April 25 at the same place and time, with a broader community meeting in May. In Hamilton, Town Meeting will be asked on April 6 to approve funds to hire a consultant. Wenham plans to hold an info session about the work done thus far in May.

    Further information about the housing law can be found at mass.gov/info-details/section-3a-guidelines.

    Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202

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    By Michael McHugh | Staff Writer

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  • Lucchino passes away; presided over beating ‘The Curse’

    Lucchino passes away; presided over beating ‘The Curse’

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    The man who helped architect the Boston Red Sox run of four World Series championships over a 14-year run from 2004 through 2018, has passed away.

    Larry Lucchino, the former president and Chief Executive Officer of the storied franchise, has died at age 78 “peacefully” this morning.

    He had served with the Red Sox from 2002-2015, helping the franchise overcome “The Curse of the Bambino,” an 86-year drought, by winning three titles in 2004, 2007 and 2013.

    He left the team in 2015 and joined a group that bought the Red Sox AAA affiliate in Pawtucket, R.I., later moving it to Worcester in 2021.

    He became the new majority owner of the WooSox last December.

    Over his time with the Red Sox he was noted for his philanthropy, serving as chairman of the team’s top charity, the Jimmy Fund. He was also a big player and organizer for the New England Special Olympics.

    Lucchino’s resume in baseball, though, started well before his successful run in Boston. He was also president of the Baltimore Orioles for five years, from 1988-1993, and then president and CEO of the San Diego Padres from 1995-2001.

    He came to Boston in 2002 with the new ownership group, led by John Henry. He later brought along Theo Epstein as an assistant and then after that first season in Boston elevated him to General Manager at age 28.

    Lucchino was known for having initiated the trend of building baseball-only facilities with an old-fashioned charm and smaller seating capacities.

    He was part of building two baseball stadiums in Baltimore and San Diego – Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Petco Park.

    Other MLB teams followed Lucchino’s lead and tried to replicate what his franchises built in Baltimore and San Diego.

    But in Boston, Lucchino was part of history. Not only helping refurbish Fenway Park, acquiring land around the park and adding to the seat capacity, but he was a key component on bringing a winner to Boston.

    You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.

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    By Bill Burt | bburt@eagletribune.com

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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    In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    GLOUCESTER

    Sunday, March 24

    6:23 p.m.: Fireworks were reported on Macomber Road.

    4:13 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported at Market Basket on Gloucester Crossing Road.

    3:30 p.m.: A resident came into the police station lobby to report identity theft. The resident explained someone used his Social Security number to create an account under his name. The account showed a balance of $1.01. Police said the resident contacted the company to report the fraudulent activity and the company canceled the account. The residentreported a separate incident in October 2023 in which someone tried to initiate a purchase using his credit card and the transaction was denied, and that reported that recently, his email was logged in from Vietnam, but his account has since been secured.

    Noon: A person reported the theft of approximately $100 in cash and a check that had been placed in the car’s visor after she went to Addison Gilbert Hospital on Washington Street and parked at the nearby Seacoast Nursing Home. She parked at 10 a.m. and noticed the money was missing around 10:50 a.m. on March 21. The bank put an immediate stop on the check to keep it from being cashed.

    11:32 a.m.: Police were called to help the Fire Department make entry into a residence on Sayward Street due to a person who fell and was home alone. The person refused medical treatment.

    10:27 a.m.: A caller from a vacant lot on Main Street reported someone was spitting on him. The indiviuals were separated and police cleared the scene.

    10:17 a.m.: A caller from Granite Street reported a carbon monoxide detector had activated. The caller was advised to step outside and the Fire Department was dispatched.

    8:15 a.m.: A resident reported someone tried to get into her shed. Police saw the shed door had a piece broken off and the door handle was found on the ground nearby. Police said it did not appear anyone got into the shed because the door was frozen shut due to the rain and falling temperatures overnight.

    Saturday, March 23

    Crashes with property damage only: at 11:36 a.m. on Blackburn Circle with a person reportedly taken to the hospital; at 9:03 p.m. on Grant Circle, Washington Street and Ashland Place.

    Disturbances were reported on Poplar Street at 12:38 p.m. and Sayward Street at 2:26 p.m.

    11:11 a.m.: Smoke alarms were reported sounding at 264 Main St. Gloucester Fire Department was dispatched.

    11 a.m.: Police on Friday, March 22, learned a man had two fully extraditable warrants issued in Texas against him and that he might be living in Gloucester at his parents’ house. The offenses included making terroristic threats against a police officer/judge and multiple warrants out of Collin County, Texas. On Saturday, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the warrant service was active and fully extraditable. Police requested a warrant against the man on a charge of being a fugitive from justice. The 36-year-old was arrested at a residence on Essex Avenue on a straight arrest warrant Monday, March 25, by a detective, a deputy from the U.S. Marshals Service and a trooper from the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section. The man was placed into custody without incident and taken to the Rockport Police Department for booking. He was later taken to court.

    ROCKPORT

    Sunday, March 31

    Traffic stops were conducted on Broadway at 6:33 and 6:56 p.m. Both drivers were given verbal warnings.

    9:58 a.m.: After an alarm was reported, the Fire Department was dispatched to a Beach Street address.

    9:52 a.m.: A police wellness check made at a Main Street address.

    7:58 a.m.: After a report was received at High Street address, a verbal warning was issued.

    Saturday March 30

    6:42 p.m.: A noise complaint was made at a Sandy Bay Terrace address.

    Medical alarms were activated on Curtis Street at 12:03 p.m. and High Street Court at 6:06 p.m. Both later proved to be false.

    5:38 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Granite Street address.

    2:08 p.m.: A report was made about road conditions on Main Street.

    1:26 p.m.: A motor vehicle crash was reported on Blue Gate Lane.

    12:09 p.m.: After a well-being check at a South Street address, an ambulance transport was conducted.

    12:04 p.m.: A report was made about a neighbor dispute on Granite Street.

    12:04 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Thatcher Road, a verbal warning was issued.

    9:19 a.m.: After an alarm was reported, the Fire Department was dispatched to a Beach Street address.

    8:08 a.m.: A medical emergency ambulance transport was conducted at a Main Street address.

    Friday, March 29

    Medical emergencies: Ambulance transport to a hospital was made from South Street at 1:56 a.m. and Sandy bay Terrace at 3:38 a.m. while services were provided at a Rowe Avenue address at 7:22 p.m.

    2:13 p.m.: A motor vehicle crash was reported on Railroad Avenue.

    7:14 a.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Thatcher Road, a verbal warning was issued.

    ESSEX

    Sunday, March 31

    Citizens were assisted on John Wise Avenue at 11:04 a.m. and 8:31 p.m., and Main Street at 11:04 a.m.

    8:11 p.m.: Suspicious activity was reported at a Water Street address.

    Disturbances were reported on Choate Street at 7:08 p.m. and Western Avenue at 7:46 p.m.

    Ambulance transport was refused by an individual who fell at a Western Avenue address at 11:02 a.m. and a patient who suffered a diabetic episode at a Main Street address at 4:52 p.m.

    4:23 p.m.: A motor vehicle crash on Lebaron Road was reported.

    10:27 a.m.: A report was made after a police investigation was conducted at a John Wise Avenue address.

    Saturday, March 30

    7:07 p.m.: A report was made after a motor vehicle complaint at a Martin Street address.

    9:04 a.m.: A welfare check was conducted at a Main Street address.

    8:54 a.m.: Assistance was provided during a community policing call at a Shepard Memorial Drive address.

    7:57 a.m.: After a report of a fall at a Southern Avenue address, a patient refused a medical ambulance transport.

    MANCHESTER

    Sunday March 31

    Traffic stops were conducted at the intersection of the northbound lanes of Route 128 and School Street at 12:41 a.m. and 1:12 a.m., when written warnings were issued, and on the northbound lanes of Route 128 at 6:09 p.m. when a verbal warning was given.

    12:13 a.m.: Suspicious activity at White Beach was reported.

    Friday, March 29

    2:54 p.m.: Community policing was provided at a Lincoln Street address.

    Traffic stops were made on at the intersection of Route 128 and School Street at 1:59 a.m., when no action was taken, and on the northbound lanes of Route 128 at 2:40 p.m., when a verbal warning was issued.

    Citizens were assisted on Central Street at 9:28 a.m. and 2:15 a.m.

    1:59 a.m.: After a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Route 128 and School Street, no action was taken.

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  • City halfway there when it comes to school budget request

    City halfway there when it comes to school budget request

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    Even with the city planning to kick in $3 million of a proposed $6.1 million increase to keep Gloucester schools level funded in the new school year, Superintendent Ben Lummis cited possible cuts to balance the fiscal 2025 budget.

    He outlined a proposed $55.85 million level-services budget for the School Committee on Wednesday night. That is a 12.3% increase, or $6.1 million, more than this year’s spending, given a jump in costs for out-of-district special education and transportation, health care and contractual salary increases, among other things.

    Lummis said the city plans to meet the schools halfway.

    In doing so, the schools would have to cut $3.1 million worth of services, costs and staffing to balance its budget.

    “At this point, the city has let us know they can fund $3 million of the $6.1 million the schools require for a level-funded budget,” Lummis said.

    “But to be clear,” said School Committee Vice Chair Bill Melvin, “that’s not … It’s a reduction in services.”

    Lummis said coming to a balanced budget — not the level-services one — would depend on several factors, including:

    A $1.3 million supplemental appropriation prior to the end of the fiscal year in June to make pay prepaid tuition and special education costs. This would require a City Council vote.

    Another $200,000 for one-time costs for information technology and buses this fiscal year.

    A proposed $1.5 million annual increase in the schools’ operating budget from the city.

    Another $3.1 million in reductions in costs and staffing.

    “It is very unlikely that we’re going to be able to staff levels that we’ve had for recent years because of the increase in operating expenses, and also just to wage pressures as well,” Lummis said.

    What might the reductions look like?

    The administration wants to protect Tier 1 (core) instruction and curriculum and support vulnerable learners.

    In the elementary schools, the priority would be to protect social emotional learning and mental health. At the middle school this would mean maintaining the house structure, and at the high school, the priority would be preparation for post-secondary success, Lummis said.

    However, salaries and benefits make up 86% of the Gloucester schools’ operating costs, so reducing the operating budget means reducing staffing.

    A $500,000 cut in the operating budget equals about seven full-time equivalent positions, Lummis said.

    Reduction options

    Lummis referred to two different levels of cuts. The first would mean reductions of $1 million to $1.75 million.

    At the elementary level, this would include Tier II intervention and support, special education staff based on students’ Individualized Education Plan services, a move of some services to grants, and instructional support and curriculum initiatives.

    At the grade six through 12, the administration would look to trim Tier II intervention support, pause the planned medical assisting exploratory launch as a new career and vocational program at Gloucester High until September 2025, reduce special education staff based on IEP services, move related services onto grants, reduce staff in one or more academic areas which Lummis said would increase class size; and reduce increases in student support services for mental health and social emotional learning.

    At the district office, Lummis would trim IT infrastructure and delay upgrades, seek one-time funding for a one-to-one Chromebook initiative, and reduce administration and transportation costs.

    Lummis said the reductions would still mean smaller class sizes in the elementary schools and a range of class sizes at the middle and high schools. This level of reductions would allow for diverse academic offerings and a broad range of programming at Gloucester High, improvements at O’Maley Innovation Middle School and high-qualify art, music, and performing arts programs.

    However, those areas would be in jeopardy with reductions of $2 million to $3 million.

    The schools’ operating budget is not benefiting fully from the state funding increases that have come since fiscal 2023 as a result of the state Student Opportunity Act, Lummis said.

    For instance, in fiscal 2023, state Chapter 70 education aid to the city increased by $2.77 million and by $1.67 million last year, with the governor proposing $318,000 on top of that for this coming school year.

    Lummis said the state has determined the cost of educating students has increased $2.3 million for the upcoming school year, and that the local contribution should increase by $1.9 million, plus another $318,000 for Chapter 70 aid.

    Cumulative state aid for education increases since fiscal 2022 has totaled nearly $12 million.

    However, during that time, the city has increased the schools’ operating budget by a total of $1.85 million above the typical baseline increase to the schools each year which is typically $1.25 million, he said.

    Increased funding applied to the schools outside the operating budget since fiscal 2022 includes $2 million for DPW school facilities, $3.3 million for borrowing for school capital projects, and $4.2 million for one-time projects such as the Annisquam River flood barrier, demolition of East Gloucester Elementary School, grease traps, Gloucester High lockers, and American Rescue Plan Act funding for new playgrounds.

    Finding dollars

    There are opportunities to increase school funding, including the city funding the operating budget with the $2.3 million increase determined by the state, Lummis said.

    The city could put American Rescue Plan Act funding it received toward special education tuition, transportation and wage stabilization, which Lummis said are all eligible to be funded this way. The city could also reduce the facilities budget for such things as flooring projects and allocate those dollars to the schools, he said.

    Mayor Greg Verga, a member of the School Committee, said the city administration would continue to work with the school administration “to see what kind of rabbits we can pull out of our hats.”

    Verga said he shared with Lummis a spreadsheet showing the city spends $22.1 million outside the schools’ operating budget on the schools, an increase of $6 million from 2022 to 2024.

    “The kicker” is the city’s increase this year in new growth under Proposition 2 1/2 is 2.6% or $3.5 million. With a $130 million budget, total school spending represents about $72 million, he said.

    With another $1 million going toward the city’s pension liability, and the proposed increase to the schools of $1.5 million, Verga said he has $1 million in new growth funding to spread around to the rest of the city’s budget.

    One solution may be to lobby state lawmakers to pass the governor’s Municipal Empowerment Act to provide more opportunities for local option tax increases, he said.

    The School Committee’s Budget and Finance Subcommittee plans to take up the fiscal 2025 school budget April 8.

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    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • SENIOR LOOKOUT: Tips for reducing risk of a taking spill

    SENIOR LOOKOUT: Tips for reducing risk of a taking spill

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    The fear of falling as we age is a very real concern. Most of us can tell a story of a friend or loved one who fell and experienced a life-changing injury. The National Institute on Aging reports that more than one in three people age 65 years or older falls each year. For an older person, a fall can be the start of serious problems, such as injury, a hospital stay, or even disability.

    Concern about falling can lead an older person to avoid activities such as walking, shopping, or taking part in social activities — even if they haven’t fallen previously. The irony is that the likelihood of falling increases if a person doesn’t stay active. If they allow fear to keep them inactive at home, they are more likely to fall.

    There are several factors that help explain why older people are at higher risk for falling. Poor eyesight can make it difficult to see a step, a throw rug, or a toy on the floor. Certain medical conditions or medications can cause dizziness.

    A person can lower their chances of falling. Some falls don’t “just happen.” Here are a few tips to help you avoid falls:

    — Stay physically active. Talk to your doctor about what you can do safely to stay active.

    — Have your eyes and hearing tested. When you get new eyeglasses or contact lenses, take time to get used to them.

    — Find out about the side effects of medicines you take. If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

    — Get enough sleep.

    — Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

    — Stand up slowly.

    — Use a cane or walker if you need help feeling steady when you walk. Again, you should speak with your doctor to learn which might be best for you.

    — Be very careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces.

    — Wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes, or lace-up shoes with non-skid soles that fully support your feet.

    — Don’t walk on stairs or floors in socks or in shoes or slippers with smooth soles.

    — Be careful about long dresses, slacks, or pajamas that could trip you.

    There are many ways you can make your home safer. Just a few include:

    — Keep cords away from areas where you walk.

    — Remove loose carpets and rugs or tack down the carpets and only use rugs with non-skid backing.

    — Add lights in dimly lit areas and at the top and bottom of stairs.

    —Use nightlights in bedrooms, halls, and bathrooms.

    — Clean up clutter – especially near staircases.

    — Put handrails on both sides of any steps or stairs in or outside of your home.

    — Add grab bars near the toilet and bathtub, and no-slip decals or a rubber mat in the tub or shower.

    If you are concerned about falling, you can register for an emergency response system. If you fall or need emergency help, you push a button on a special necklace or bracelet to alert 911. There is a fee for this service and it is not always covered by insurance. You can call SeniorCare’s Information & Referral Department at 978-281-1750 for a list of services available in our area.

    Always tell your doctor if you have fallen since your last checkup, even if you weren’t hurt. A fall can alert your doctor to a new medical problem or problems with your medications or eyesight that can be corrected. Your doctor may suggest physical therapy, a walking aid, or other steps to help prevent future falls.

    SeniorCare offers the free evidence-based workshop “A Matter of Balance” several times each year. The next session is scheduled for Wednesdays from April 24 to June 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Ipswich YMCA,110 County Road in Ipswich. A Matter of Balance educates and supports aging adults around falling and the fear of falling. Topics such as viewing falls as controllable, setting realistic goals for increasing physical activity and modifying our environments help participants create a personal plan to lessen the risk of falling.

    There is no charge to attend A Matter of Balance, but advance registration is required. For information about or to register for A Matter of Balance, please contact Abby Considine at SeniorCare at 978-281-1750.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

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    Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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  • Parenting: Adorable Easter gifts every child will love

    Parenting: Adorable Easter gifts every child will love

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    As Easter approaches, ensure your little one’s basket is filled with delightful gifts from Crate & Kids. The curated collection features everything from baskets to plush toys, creating a memorable day filled with fun activities for all age groups.

     

    Explore some of their favorite seasonal items, including pieces from the new Leanne Ford collaboration. 

     

    Their white woven basket is filled with adorable rabbit details that’ll have little ones hopping right over. The playful design includes sweet face accents, perky ears, and a cute pom pom tail, and with a natural water hyacinth woven over a metal frame, it’s beautiful, durable, and gender-neutral.

     

    Their striped Easter bunny garland is an adorable way to bring some seasonal whimsy into your home. Its cute hopping bunnies come in a mix of playful cotton pinstripes and dangle from a string of hand-felted wool eggs in sweet pastel hues. Drape it over a shelf, hang it on a wall, or display it above a doorway for a festive finishing touch in any room of the home.

     

    Their Cuddle+Kind Henry Bunny Yarn Doll will become a child’s go-to cuddle friend. Clad in adorable baby-blue shortalls, this floppy-eared and fluffy-tailed rabbit doll is entirely hand-knit using premium 100% cotton yarn and it’s filled with a hypoallergenic polyfill. From his pink nose to his crocheted carrots, Henry is meticulously crafted by talented artisans in Peru and Nepal who share a strong cultural heritage around knitting.

     

    The Ever Simple White Wood Floating Cube Shelves are the perfect way to display your child’s Easter treasures. The best part is, you can use it all year long.

     

    – JC

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  • BevCam to open studio in downtown Beverly

    BevCam to open studio in downtown Beverly

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    BEVERLY — The city’s local cable television station is heading to downtown Beverly.

    BevCam is scheduled to open a new media center next month at 261 Cabot St., the storefront formerly occupied by A New Leaf. The space will be called BevCam Downtown and will have two studios, including a podcast studio in the front window.

    “We’re very excited about this,” said Paul Earl, president of BevCam’s board of directors. “I think it’s a great move.”

    BevCam, which stands for Beverly Community Access Media, will keep its studio in Beverly High School. But officials are hoping the visibility of a downtown location will increase awareness of the organization.

    BevCam, which began in 2006, is known mostly for its coverage of local government meetings and high school sports. Earl said the organization does that very well, but acknowledged that the demographic of its viewers is “very old.”

    The station’s social media accounts have seen an uptick in recent months under new staff hired by Executive Director Rob Chapman. The opening of a studio on Cabot Street should expose BevCam to Montserrat College of Art students and other young people who visit the downtown’s coffee shops and shops. The studio will be open later hours in the evenings and on weekends, Earl said.

    “Once we get down there and we’re open for business it could help us a lot,” he said.

    In addition to a main studio and the podcast studio, the new location will have a common area that can hold up to 50 people for events and meetings; two edit suites; and an office for Chapman.

    BevCam launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for the new space. As of Friday, it had raised $5,355 toward its goal of $10,000. The fundraiser is scheduled to run through April 5.

    Chapman, who became BevCam’s executive director in 2022, said local access stations in other communities have opened locations in or near their downtowns. Salem, Danvers and Gloucester all have downtown-area studios.

    “There is sort of a move in the industry to be more accessible,” he said.

    Noting that organizations like BevCam are known as “PEG” channels, for public, education and government, Chapman said BevCam has traditionally done well on the government and education portions.

    “It’s building up that ‘P’, getting the public involved,” he said.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • Jesus never leaves us

    Jesus never leaves us

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    My Sisters and Brothers in Christ: 

    We make ready for Holy Week, a time to walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on the Way of the Cross. It is a time for our most sincere reflection of who we are as a people of God and how we are living our sacramental Covenant through, with, and in Him. It is a time to consider whether our thoughts, words and deeds are truly of God so that we, individually and as a people gathered, are a light for the nations. 

    Do our words open the eyes of our children to God? Do we enfold those who have heartbreak and brokenness with God’s tender mercy and prayer? Do we lead those whose joy has abandoned their own breath and bring them back to smile again, to be filled with God’s light? Do we live 24/7/365 through His victory of justice? 

    Jesus never leaves us. He remains with us through the Eucharist to guide us always as the Way of the Cross is not a moment in time but a time of life. He died for us that we might have everlasting life and by that, He calls us to be His dwelling place that there would be no difference between heaven and earth. By becoming flesh, He calls our humanity to divinity. How close are we to living as a Eucharist?

    On Monday, March 25, I will be joined by the priests serving in the Diocese of Orlando and you, the community of faith, for the celebration of the Chrism Mass. The Chrism Mass, celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe at 11 a.m., is an invitation for the Church to acknowledge the essential of our daily living, Jesus the Eucharist. It is a beautiful presentation of the oils of anointing which are used throughout the liturgical year to bring forth the Sacraments of Initiation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. We announce the Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick, and Oil of Holy Chrism to God and ask Him to bless them that we might continue to imbue His dwelling place with the splendor of holiness by all the people. Each prayer of blessing includes an explanation of the power and effect of each oil. The newly blessed oils are apportioned and distributed to each Catholic church in the Diocese of Orlando and are brought forth during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday), intimating our oneness with one another through, with and in God.

    During the Chrism Mass, I invite all the priest concelebrants to reaffirm their ministry by renewing the promises made at Ordination. We were anointed with the oil of Holy Chrism, the oil of gladness, the Holy Spirit, to serve God’s people as priests of His Son. Together we pray to God, the author of the Sacraments and bestower of life, that we bring to completion the growth of His Church until she reaches the measure of fullness He proclaims through all ages. We pray that Christ visit his priests in their prayer, in their Bishop, in their brother priests and in their people. We ask that He upset our routine, disrupt our lives and disquiet us and lead us to employ all our talents and abilities to ensure that our people may have life and life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10).  

    During the Chrism Mass, we celebrate our jubilarians, Redemptorist Father Aldrin Nunes on his 25th anniversary, Father William Zamborsky, on his 50th anniversary, Msgr. William Ennis on his 60th anniversary, and Msgr. David Page on his 65th anniversary. We thank the Holy Cross Fathers Joseph Long and Laurence Olzsewski for their service in our diocese as they celebrate 65 and 60 years respectively, and extern priests Father Hilario Rivera-Gonzalez and Father Joseph Maniangat celebrating 50 and 60 years respectively. 

    May we be set as a covenant of the people asking the Lord to bless us now and forever. Amen. 

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  • Open Door reopens its doors for meals as need for food rises

    Open Door reopens its doors for meals as need for food rises

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    With the COVID-19 pandemic receding and a project to create a new Food and Nutrition Center complete, The Open Door food pantry on Emerson Avenue restarted in-person dining for its Community Meals program in early February after a nearly four-year hiatus.

    Bringing back Community Meals to its dining area “was the last leg of the journey for us,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said.

    Recent in-person Community Meals have featured baked haddock, rice and zucchini, and Greek-style chicken souvlaki, lima beans, eggplant and tomato.

    Even as the numbers for in-person dining are still ramping up, the nonprofit food resource center said it saw a 30% increase in requests for food assistance across its service area from 2022 to 2023.

    This territory covers Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Ipswich, Rowley, Topsfield, Boxford, Hamilton and Wenham with mobile sites in Danvers and Lynn.

    The Open Door operates a food pantry in Gloucester on Emerson Avenue and the Ipswich Community Food Pantry at the Ipswich Housing Authority’s Southern Heights housing development.

    Last year, the food pantry served one in six Gloucester residents.

    Rising prices, rising need

    “We did see a 30% increase in requests for food assistance,” LaFontaine said. “So people who may have only been coming once a month came twice a month or three times a month as the need rose, as the cost of food especially rose, people found it harder and harder to keep a roof over their head, lights on, and food on the table. It was just a juggling act.”

    While it’s not true for everyone who uses the food pantry, the spike in the cost of living was a contributing factor to the household instability Open Door staff have seen.

    “The good news is that it’s a story of hope as people recover … people are getting back to work, and people are starting to climb out of the hole that the increase in cost created,” LaFontaine said.

    Last year, The Open Door provided 1.98 million pounds of food which equates to 1.65 million meals to 9,836 individuals in 4,952 households, according to its most recent fact sheet.

    It saw 77,400 visits and its kitchen prepared 91,700 Community Meals, including Meals To-Go, Senior Soup and Salad at the Rose Baker Senior Center in Gloucester, and other community meal programs, including 6,500 meals delivered by volunteers.

    In addition, The Open Door served 15,300 summer meals to children last summer.

    Its Mobile Market served 3,289 people 187,000 pounds of food in 2023.

    And 28% of food distributed last year consisted of fresh produce. The Ipswich Community Food Pantry served 562 individuals 149,000 pounds of food, while the Gloucester pantry served 5,371 people 1.3 million pounds of food.

    Ways to dine

    On hand Thursday in the Open Door kitchen in Gloucester were Dan Trimble of Salem, the food services manager, and executive chef Thomas Riordan, who previously owned Ripple on the Water in Essex.

    Prep cook Kenn Taber of Gloucester and others were busy preparing a savory dish of ramen noodles with stock that included seaweed, dried mushrooms, pork and chicken that had been simmered overnight in a large tilt skillet in the facility’s brand new commercial kitchen.

    The Open Door offers many ways for its clients to dine, either in-person, to-go, or having their meals delivered, LaFontaine said. That’s in addition to being able to order groceries online and being able to pick them up.

    “All of those choices mirror how we get our food in a socially acceptable way,” she said. The in-person Community Meals give people one more way to connect.

    One of the greatest stories of the pandemic was the way people stepped up to help “and that hasn’t stopped.” The way the food pantry operates may have changed, but that has not lessened the need for volunteers. The fulfillment center has 170 volunteer slots each week that need to be filled to pick and pack groceries, LaFontaine said.

    “And, bringing back community meals is so important because people are hungry not just in their bodies, but also in their spirits and the companionship they find around the table really makes the difference for so many people,” she said.

    Free in-person dining at The Open Door, 28 Emerson Ave., is available Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with extra meals available to-go for the weekend. Free Meals To-Go are available Monday through Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m., and from Thursday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the food pantry. To learn more, go to foodpantry.org.

    Ethan Forman may be contacted at 978-675-2714, or at eforman@gloucestertimes.com.

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    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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    In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    ROCKPORT

    Monday, March 18

    1:22 p.m.: The Fire Department was dispatched to a Pigeon Hill Street address to conduct an investigation after a report of smoke.

    When it was determined the smoke was emanating from the Lanesville section of Gloucester, the Gloucester Fire Department was notified about the situation, said Rockport Fire Chief Mark Wonson.

    Medical alarms were reported at addresses on Arens Road at 8:45 a.m. and Mt. Pleasant Street at 1:21 p.m. Both later proved to be false.

    12:31 p.m.: A medical emergency ambulance transport was conducted from a Gap Head Road address.

    MANCHESTER

    Monday, March 18

    5:58 p.m.: Suspicious activity was reported at a Harold Street address.

    5:28 p.m.: A report was made about an alleged fraud/scam at a Raymond Street address.

    Lost and found property was reported on Central Street at 10 a.m. and 5:24 p.m.

    Traffic stops were conducted at the intersection of Pine Street and Greenbrier Road at 11:34 a.m. and on Pine Street at 11:56 a.m. Both drivers were issued a written warning.

    9:03 a.m.: A police investigation was conducted at a Lincoln Street address.

    8:53 a.m.: An animal complaint was made at a Rockwood Heights Road address.

    GLOUCESTER

    Sunday, March 10

    9:54 p.m.: A crash with property damage only in the vicinity of 51 Main St. resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old Gloucester woman on charges of driving under the influence of liquor and using an electronic device while driving, first offense. The crash report said the driver of a 2022 Jeep called police to say she had struck a parked Toyota on Main Street while texting on her cell phone. Police arrived and were flagged down by the driver. The resident failed several field sobriety tests and a portable breath test showed she had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.08%, the report said. She was arrested and police had the vehicle towed. Her license was seized and she was issued a notice that her license was suspended. The driver was described as cooperative during the incident.

    2:47 p.m.: Police took a report of prescription medication stolen from a Main Street residence.

    1:37 p.m.: A caller reported two young girls vandalizing property in in Clark Cemetery on Centennial Avenue. The girls were picked up by their parents.

    12:34 p.m.: A vehicle theft was reported on Taylor Street, along with at least three car breaks. While the officer was responding to the initial address, he was stopped by neighbors saying their cars had been broken into overnight, rummaged through, but nothing was missing from them. One woman told police when she came out in the morning to her vehicle in her driveway, she noticed her glove box had been rummaged through and she found items on the seat floor and floor mat, though nothing appeared missing. Another neighbor said his vehicle had been broken into and rummaged through overnight. The resident of Staten Street said when he came out in the morning, he noticed his passenger side door was cracked open, the glove box had been gone through and the visors were down. Nothing appeared missing and the car break was not caught on surveillance camera. Both said their vehicles had been unlocked overnight. Another woman on Taylor Street said she had parkedin her driveway around 8 p.m. and locked her car. She noted that there was a spare key fob in the center console, but its key was dead. Around 8 a.m., her brother contacted her thinking she was out because her vehicle was not in her driveway, the report said. When she came out to check, her vehicle was gone. Yet another neighbor told police his vehicle had been broken into and his glove box rummaged through. He told police his vehicle had been unlocked and nothing was missing. The stolen vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center database and police put out a broadcast to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

    11:56 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported on Fuller Street.

    11:31 a.m.: Police responded to a report of an assault at the Cape Ann YMCA on Gloucester Crossing Road. A caller reported being assaulted during a pickup game and punches were thrown. The case was under investigation and an officer was to review surveillance video at a later date.

    10:16 a.m.: A city ordinance violation was reported on Thatcher Road. A caller reported a refrigerator had been left for the trash in front of the home with the door still attached — the violation .

    8:50 a.m.: A caller to 911 told police he was trying to dock his boat at Gloucester Marine Railways but there appeared to be two people there engaged in drug activity inside a black sedan on the lot. Police were dispatched but were unable to locate the vehicle in question.

    8:40 a.m.: A Mason Street resident reported damage to his front windshield and hood. Police found the windshield had been broken and multiple construction bricks were located on the ground around the vehicle. The resident said he did not have any suspects in mind. After further inspection, it appeared the neighbor’s chimney was damaged and missing several bricks. The night had been extremely windy and it appeared the chimney could have been damaged by the wind, the report said. Police spoke with the neighbor, who was understanding and spoke with the resident with the damaged vehicle and police said the pair would work to come up with a resolution.

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  • Keeping the ‘old’ in old school

    Keeping the ‘old’ in old school

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    BEVERLY — The lockers are staying. So are the chalkboards. Not to mention the windows and wood floors and the entire auditorium.

    The former Briscoe School is nearing the completion of a dramatic makeover into affordable housing and artists studios. But a recent tour of the building revealed there will still be plenty of “old school” left in the old school when it opens in the fall as Beverly Village for Living & the Arts.

    “We are really delighted with how the vision is turning into reality,” said Andrew DeFranza, executive director of Harborlight Homes, the Beverly-based affordable housing nonprofit that with Beacon Communities bought the building from the city in 2019. “It’s coming out better than I expected it would.”

    The Briscoe building was built in 1923 as the city’s high school. It went on to serve generations of Beverly students as a junior high school and middle school until it closed in 2018 when the city opened a new middle school.

    In its new life as Beverly Village, the building will have 85 apartments for low-income people 55 and older, and six live/work studios for artists. About 550 people have applied for the units. A lottery to determine who gets them is scheduled for April 4.

    On a tour of the building, Jake Briere, assistant superintendent for general contractor Keith Construction, pointed out how workers are retaining as many historic elements as possible.

    The most obvious feature from its school days are the student lockers that line the hallways. The orange and green lockers, which are original to the building and are built into the walls, will remain as a decorative element. They will also remain closed; they have been sealed shut.

    Inside the classrooms-turned-apartments, the old chalkboards remain on the walls, many in their original slate form. The windows — 564 of them — are staying, as are the wood floors. The auditorium will stay basically as is, with a plan to use it as a community theater. The stairways will retain their existing tiled walls and handrails.

    On the ground floor, the level of the former gym has been raised 16 feet to make it easier for residents to access. The space will be used for amenities including a fitness room, yoga studio, wellness center and community room with a kitchenette. The old locker rooms are being converted into the artist studios.

    Jay Leahy, a volunteer for Historic Beverly who was on the tour, said he was pleased to see the efforts to retain as much as the historical character as possible.

    “When you walk into that building you’ll know it’s a historic building,” Leahy said. “It will have modern amenities for the residents, but it still has the flavor of its original design and construction.”

    DeFranza credited city officials, including Mayor Mike Cahill, for their determination to retain much of the historic character of the building.

    The building is important to generations of Beverly residents who attended the school or know someone who did, and because it is so centrally located at the intersection of Colon Street and Sohier Road, DeFranza said.

    “If you were going to preserve a building in the city, can you imagine one that was more important than this one in terms of its impact on generations of families?,” he said. “It was a time and a place and a century worth of legacy.

    “These kind of chances are rare. They don’t make buildings like this anymore.”

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • State housing secretary visits renovated Beverly apartments

    State housing secretary visits renovated Beverly apartments

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    BEVERLY — As the state’s top housing official, Ed Augustus says all types of housing are needed to solve the state’s shortage. On a trip to Beverly on Friday, he visited a place where two wildly different types are playing out on the same street.

    Augustus got a tour of the Beverly Housing Authority’s newly renovated apartment complex on Balch Street for low-income seniors and for people with disabilities. Down the street, Cummings Center is planning to construct a condominium building where the going rate for a two-bedroom condo is expected to be more than $600,000.

    The contrast could hardly be bigger. But Augustus said the availability of even high-priced condos can free up houses for young families and create movement in a housing market that has virtually ground to a halt.

    “I think every new unit of housing that comes online in Massachusetts is a help,” he said.

    Augustus, who was appointed by Gov. Maura Healey last June as the state’s secretary of housing and livable communities, came to Beverly as part of a plan to tour all 240 housing authorities in the state (Beverly was his 28th). Local officials took him to Balch Street, where a nearly $4.9 million renovation of the 25-unit, three-building complex is nearing completion.

    “I was impressed,” Augustus said after his tour. “It’s great to see units that were tired be refreshed. Everybody should be able to live in a safe, healthy and dignified place. This project in Beverly is going to make sure the 25 seniors who live in these units get this kind of housing.”

    Beverly Housing Authority Executive Director Debra Roy described the project as “kitchen and bath and window and door renovations.” It also includes new fire alarms, sprinklers and heat baseboards. The complex was built in 1959.

    The Balch Street apartments have been closed since November 2022, when the project began. Roy said residents moved to other Beverly Housing Authority units during the renovations and can return to Balch Street if they want to. She’s hoping that residents can start moving back in the second week of April.

    “I’m thrilled,” Roy said. “It was a long project. We’re glad to see that it’s wrapping up and we can get folks home. It’s beautiful now.”

    The Healey administration put a lot of focus on affordable housing in its proposed Affordable Homes Act, including a $1.6 billion investment in public housing over the next five years. The state’s existing stock of 43,000 public housing units is at risk due to a backlog of $4 billion in deferred maintenance, according to a fact sheet provided by his office, Augustus said.

    “Imagine where we’d be not having the 43,000 state-owned units,” he said. “These are our most vulnerable people.”

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • New indoor pickleball facility under construction in Middleton

    New indoor pickleball facility under construction in Middleton

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    MIDDLETON — Lace up and grab your paddles — the pickleball craze is making its way to Middleton with the construction of a new indoor pickleball facility on Route 114.

    The new 15,000-square-foot venue at 329 N. Main St., run by the New England Pickleball Club, will have six dedicated, fully-fenced-in pickleball courts, set to be fully completed by the end of this year.

    For three consecutive years, pickleball has held the record for the fastest-growing sport in America, having grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023, and an overall 223.5% since 2020, according to data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

    New courts, either dedicated specifically for pickleball or simply consisting of make-shift lines drawn over tennis or basketball courts, continue to pop up at local schools, sports complexes, retirement communities, public parks, and other recreation areas.

    Websites like Pickleheads, Masspickleballguide.com, and PlayTime Scheduler were created to ease the process of finding these courts as well as similarly-skilled players to play with. However, even with these resources, reserving a court, finding a group that is fun and fair to play with, and playing competitively can be challenging.

    There are more players looking for a game than the inventory of courts will allow. and it can be difficult to coordinate with other individuals of similar skill level. That’s part of the problem that Dave Velardo, owner of New England Pickleball Club, is looking to solve with this new location in Middleton.

    The facility will include a full pro shop selling pickleball equipment, a front desk area, viewing areas, showers, show-court seating and viewing, and fully fenced-in professional pickleball court surfaces. While there are a few indoor pickleball facilities that have popped up in recent years, such as PKL in Boston or the Newburyport Brewing Co. Pickleball Club, this location will be solely dedicated to the love of pickleball.

    “My focus is just on giving the best pickleball experience possible,” said Velardo. “My main focus isn’t on building all these crazy amenities like restaurants, but on actual club events, skill ratings, and players.”

    The development is being built from the ground up at a vacant lot on North Main Street near Rockaway Road. While the courts will be open to non-members and paying members of the club, members will be able to reserve courts 10 days ahead of time compared to the non-members who can only book ahead three days — time that can make a big difference when indoor courts become extra busy in the winter.

    Mostly taking the blueprint from New England Pickleball Club’s first location in Rye, New Hampshire, a large emphasis of the club will be placed on skill-based recreational play, comfortably evaluating and onboarding new players into the game, and maintaining “etiquette” during play. The goal is to ensure that players of any level of competitiveness, familiarity with the game, and skill can find a group to rally with, whether they are looking for social open play or competitive group play.

    “Even if it’s non-competitive, you have to have the right skill rating, and part of the reason is because of etiquette. The best example is if you’re really trying to compete in pickleball, you’re totally going to be targeting weaker players. But in recreational play, which is what most people find likable, it’s bad etiquette to be targeting the weaker players, because then the really good players aren’t gonna want to play with you if you just never hit the ball to them. So we make a point to really separate the two and educate players,” said Velardo.

    During most events, coordinators will be present to assist in setting up match-ups and help maintain a healthy environment, including etiquette. Additionally, staff have an in-depth rating system for determining a player’s competitive levels anywhere from extreme beginner to national pro level.

    The club looks at the player’s available competitive data from league or outside tournaments and constantly reviews their results, whether they are a member or non-member, to ensure that they are being consistently matched with similarly skilled players.

    For updates and further information on the facility visit https://middleton.newenglandpickleball.com/.

    Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202

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    By Michael McHugh | Staff Writer

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  • 2 shot, killed in Haverhill

    2 shot, killed in Haverhill

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    HAVERHILL — A man and a woman were found fatally shot inside a Broadway home on Sunday evening, according to an announcement by Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and Haverhill Police Chief Robert Pistone.

    They said Haverhill police received a call about 5:43 p.m. to check on the well-being of someone at the home.

    Officers found a man and a woman who died of apparent gunshot wounds. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of family members.

    There is no known risk to the public.

    The incident is under investigation by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit and detectives from the Haverhill Police Department.

    At 9 p.m., police were seen entering and leaving a three-story apartment building at 195 Broadway where a van marked Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was seen pulling out of the driveway.

    Emily Long, 25, who told The Eagle Tribune that she grew up at 5 Smith St. – across Broadway from where the shootings occurred, said she was visiting her family for the weekend. The first sign of trouble was when she was loading items into her car and multiple police vehicles converged at 195 Broadway with their emergency lights flashing, Long said.

    “A group of people were running down the street screaming and crying so I knew something really had happened,” she said. “And then you see police taping off the street.”

    Long said there was never any trouble at that home and it is a very quiet neighborhood.

    “I never hear of any yelling or arguing and I didn’t hear any gunshots,” she said. “It’s really heartbreaking.”

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    By Mike LaBella | mlabella@eagletribune.com

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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    In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    GLOUCESTER

    Friday, Feb. 23

    9:11 p.m.: A Poplar Street resident reported a male called her with specific personal information, demanded money be sent via Cash App and threatened to show up and ambush the house. The caller believed it may be a friend playing a prank but was unsure. The caller was advised to lock her doors and call 911 if anyone shows up and to call back with any further information.

    8:57 p.m.: Police planned to file a complaint against a 23-year-old Gloucester resident with two counts of assault and battery and threatening to commit a crime and breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony. This after dispatch reported an assault involving a man making threats of having a knife running away. Police spoke to a resident who said a man broke into the apartment. Another man said the person came in through the screen door and began to punch him. The attacker reportedly hit a woman sitting next to him on the couch. The person who was attacked said the man stated he was going to stab him. The victim was able to use his foot to create distance before the man fled. Those in the apartment said they did not need medical attention. The attacker was said to be wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, a blue mask, black pants and black shoes. Police searched for the man, who was known to those who were attacked, but were unable to find him.

    4:18 p.m.: A Prospect Street resident told police he had returned to his apartment after 10 days away and saw blankets on his bed that did not belong to him, a package of Gambler cigarette filter tubes and bag labeled “APP Sampler” containing miscellaneous electronics that can be checked out of the library, the report said. The resident said his doors were locked when he left and when he returned. He said a Dell Laptop, a 10-inch Samsung tablet and a can of powdered Gatorade were stolen. Neighbors described two men who were seen in the building who might have broken into the apartment. Police planned to view surveillance footage to see if someone had entered the apartment during the resident’s absence. Police were not able to speak with the two men because they were believed to be homeless. A copy of the report was forwarded to detectives for follow up.

    3:02 p.m.: A disturbance was reported on Burhan Street.

    1:42 p.m.: Debris in the roadway was reported on Staten and Perkins streets.

    11:11 a.m.: Police took a report of a larceny at Sheedy Park on Pleasant Street.

    10:46 a.m.: Peace was restored after a report of stolen property on Pearl Street. A resident of the housing complex said that on Feb. 22 she was supposed to have a package with a knife set costing $89.99 and a blanket costing $49 delivered via FedEx, which told her the package had been delivered to the foyer. Police told her to contact the company from which she ordered the goods and submit a claim through FedEx.

    10:05 a.m.: Officers responded to a report of an assault at the Subway restaurant on Railroad Avenue.

    8 a.m.: Police responded to a parking complaint at City Hall on Dale Avenue.

    3:32 a.m.: Police could not locate suspicious activity reported on Pleasant Street.

    ROCKPORT

    Friday, March 1

    3:48 a.m.: Mini beat conducted on Main Street.

    Building and area checks conducted throughout town throughout the morning.

    Thursday, Feb. 29

    Traffic stops were made on Mount Pleasant Street at 6:18 a.m., Granite Street at 9:58 a.m.. and Thatcher Road at 6:48 and 11:09 a.m. and 7:48 p.m.. Officers issued three written warnings and two verbal warnings.

    5:52 p.m.: A person on Alpine Court was spoken to about a report received by police.

    Medical emergencies: Individuals were taken to a hospital by ambulance from Jerden’s Lane at 11:41 a.m., Parker Street at 12:57 p.m., and Pigeon Hill Street at 5:33 p.m.

    Assistance was given to other agencies by police on Main Street at 3:12 and 4:25 p.m.

    Wellness checks: Calls were made by police to residents all over town at 9:47 a.m. and an officer visited Granite Street at 2:04 p.m.

    Mini beats: Officers walked Main Street at 3:11 and 3:49 a.m.; Broadway at 7:02 a.m.; South Street and Jerden’s Lane at 7:11 a.m.; Curtis Street at 9:50 a.m.; Jerden’s Lane at 7:11, 8:51 and 11:14 a.m.; and Railroad Avenue and Main Street at 11:30 a.m.

    Public Works notified of bad road conditions all over town at 12:08 and 2:36 a.m.

    Wednesday, Feb.28

    Mini beats were conducted on Main Street at 6:33 a.m., Jerden’s Lane at 7:10 and 8:41 a.m., Broadway at 6:21 p.m., Main Street and Railroad Avenue at 6:58 and 9:10 p.m., and Railroad Avenue at 11:10 p.m.

    Traffic stops were conducted on School Street at 6:25 a.m., Thatcher Road at 6:56 a.m., T Wharf at 6:01 p.m., Broadway at 7:11 p.m., and Thatcher Road at South Street at 9:33 p.m. Officers issued verbal warnings to the five drivers.

    7:03 p.m.: A person was taken to a hospital by ambulance from King Street.

    Assistance was given to individuals on Greystone Lane at 8:10 a.m. and Main Street at 3:09 p.m.

    1:51 p.m.: A party on Sandy Bay Terrace was spoken to about noise after a complaint was lodged.

    10:24 a.m.: Police wellness check calls were to made to residents all over town.

    9:34 a.m.: A driver was given a verbal warning for operating a vehicle erratically on Main Street.

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  • Grow tasty, nutritious greens indoors

    Grow tasty, nutritious greens indoors

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    Boost the flavor and nutritional value of winter meals by growing a container of greens indoors.

    Green leafy vegetables are healthy sources of carbohydrates, typically rich in fiber and nutrients, while also being low in fat and calories. Many of these vegetables can help reduce the risk of stroke, anemia, high blood pressure, certain cancers and diabetes. They also help improve the health of your gut, heart, bone and skin while boosting your body’s immunity.

    To create your own indoor garden of greens, all you need are seeds, a container, potting mix and a sunny window or artificial lights. Select a container or planter with drainage holes or reduce maintenance with the help of self-watering containers. Their water reservoirs reduce watering frequency.

    Fill the container with a quality potting mix that is well-drained and retains moisture. Plant seeds as recommended on the seed packet. You can grow each type of green in its own container or mix them up for an attractive display in larger planters.

    Water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil moist while waiting for the seeds to sprout. Reduce the need for frequent watering by covering newly planted containers with a plastic sheet or dome. Once sprouts appear, remove the plastic and begin watering thoroughly when the top inch of soil begins to dry.

    Boost productivity and increase planting space with the help of artificial lights. You will find a variety of setups for any space in your home. Counter and tabletop light stands can be conveniently located in the kitchen or dining room. Stand-alone light shelves provide more growing space within a small footprint. Furniture-grade light stands make them easy to use in any room in the house.

    Grow greens you and your family like to use in your favorite recipes and salads. Green or red leaf lettuce is easy to grow indoors and its mild flavor is most appealing to children and picky eaters.

    Spinach is another popular and easy-to-grow leafy green used fresh in salads and smoothies or added to soups and sauces. It contains many vitamins and nutrients, including iron, folic acid and calcium.

    Kale is considered a superfood. This nutrient-dense vegetable is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. If the flavor is a bit too intense for you, try the baby leaf types or braise for a milder flavor.

    Add a bit of peppery flavor to salads, soups, pastas and other dishes with arugula. Add a spicier flavor with mustard greens. Sauté mustard greens or add them to your favorite Southern, Asian, Indian or savory dish.

    Include color and flavor in your winter meals with beet greens. The leafy part of this vegetable is often overlooked but is the most nutritious part of the plant. Use these the same way you would spinach or kale.

    Make it more fun by getting others involved. Hand family members and guests a plate and kitchen shears so they can harvest and help prepare the meal.

    Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook” and “Small Space Gardening.” 

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    By Melinda Myers | Star Tribune

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  • Design Recipes: Space-saving tips

    Design Recipes: Space-saving tips

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    With space at a premium, many people are looking to maximize their home environment as much as possible. Whether it’s to accommodate a home office or in-home classroom space for children or just create extra space to relax and unwind maximizing one’s home foot print is more important than ever.

    The reality is, there are certain shapes that lend themselves better than others as far as saving space. Knowing how to make a space feel bigger as opposed to closed in and stuffed can also hinge on selecting pieces of the right shape and material. When looking to maximize space, here are some tips to help get you started.

    — Select glass as opposed to wood for surfaces. Glass and transparency automatically add a sense of airiness to a space.

    — Round shapes as opposed to those that are rectangular or square help to preserve space and make a room feel more spacious.

    — A single piece of furniture to “ground” a space can help to prevent a room that may feel cluttered or cramped.

    — Light colors as opposed to dark colors or dark tones will help to make as space feel more open, spacious and fresh.

    — In a children’s room, single nightstands or desks can serve as a space saving technique.

    — Mirrors can help to make ceilings feel taller and higher.

    — Artwork hung vertically can help to add height to a space.

    — Raising the location of where drapery is hung above a window can help add a sense of volume to a space.

    — Using furniture of a smaller scale can help to preserve space.

    — Experimenting with a unique shape can potentially help to preserve space in a room.

    Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley.

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    By Cathy Hobbs | Tribune News Service

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  • City councilor calls library cost estimate ‘almost dishonest’

    City councilor calls library cost estimate ‘almost dishonest’

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    BEVERLY — A city councilor accused Mayor Mike Cahill’s administration of being “almost dishonest” about the cost of a proposed library project that has ballooned to $18 million.

    In a public hearing at City Hall on Monday night, Ward 1 Councilor Todd Rotondo criticized city officials for telling city councilors two years ago that the project would cost $3.75 million. Cahill is now asking the council to approve the project at a cost of $18 million.

    “It wasn’t with malicious intent but it really was almost dishonest,” Rotondo said of the original $3.75 million estimate. “We weren’t presented a whole picture of the project originally.”

    The comment prompted a heated exchange with Mike Collins, the city’s director of public services and engineering.

    “I’m curious, were you insinuating that we were lying to you?” Collins asked Rotondo. “That’s the way I heard it.”

    “I don’t think I said that,” Rotondo responded. “What I said was, well, OK yes, I would say that then.”

    Rotondo said everyone he’s spoken with about the project assumed that the $3.75 million was a high price, but was the full scope of the project.

    “So it almost is a little distrustful, yes,” he said to Collins. “So I’m sorry if that’s the way you feel, but yes it’s not a full truth.”

    “It’s not how I feel, it’s how you feel, so I just wanted to clarify that,” Collins said.

    The City Council did not take a vote on the project Monday night, instead continuing the public hearing until its next meeting on March 18.

    The project calls for installing a new geothermal heating and cooling system at the Beverly Public Library on Essex Street as well as other improvements to the building. City officials say the HVAC system is failing and the building lacks humidity control, an important feature in the storage of historic records.

    The City Council approved an initial $2 million for the project in June 2022 based on an estimated cost of $3.75 million. But when the project came back before the council in January, councilors were told the cost was now $18 million.

    Rotondo asked Collins why the original estimate did not include such costs as accessibility upgrades and other “soft costs.” Collins said that estimate was “just a relative cost comparison of different options” and “wasn’t a fully developed project.”

    “What we were asking for was money to pursue developing the selected option out to its fullest extent so that we could then come back to the council with a fully developed project and request funding,” Collins said.

    Members of the project team hired by the city spent nearly two hours presenting details of the project. Bryant Ayles, the city’s finance director, said the city can afford to borrow money for the library as well as for two other upcoming renovation projects, to City Hall and the McPherson Youth Center.

    The library project is in line to receive about $7.8 million in grants, incentives and credits under various energy programs, significantly reducing the cost for the city, officials said. They said the proposed geothermal system, which involves installing a “geothermal well field” under the library parking lot, will reduce the city’s greenhouse gas footprint.

    “It will give us the best overall project and the lowest total operating costs and the lowest cost of ownership over the life of the project,” Collins said. “I still stand by that.”

    If the City Council approves the project, construction would start in August and the library would be closed for six to eight months during construction, according to the project team’s presentation.

    Beatrice Heinze, a Conant Street resident who spoke as part of the public hearing, said she thinks geothermal systems are “wonderful.” But she questioned the cost of the project, noting that as a taxpayer she is also paying for the credits and incentives that the city would receive.

    “I take $18 million out of this pocket to Beverly. Then I take $8 million out of this pocket to the feds to give back to Beverly. Then I pay a big added-on to my National Grid bill to give a carbon credit back to Beverly,” Heinze said.

    Ward 5 Councilor Kathleen Feldman said she believes the geothermal system “still makes the most sense long-term for our city.” “But the sticker shock was a lot for all of us to handle,” she said.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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