Tag: local_news

AMESBURY — In lieu of a traditional Halloween Parade, Cashman Elementary students showed off their smarts Thursday during a STEM Festival that took over the school to end the day.

“I think it was a good idea cause that way we don’t have to do school work and it’s Halloween, so we deserve a day off,” fifth-grader Elias Corjay said.

The festival went from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., with dozens of parents coming to proudly watch their kids display their STEM knowledge.

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics – which has been a part of school curricula for years and seen a recent spike in popularity.

While third- and fourth-grade students displayed their projects inside the school, fifth-graders marched over to nearby Woodsom Field where they launched plastic pumpkins from homemade catapults made from popsicle sticks, plastic spoons, rubber bands and tape.

“Basically what we did was we created a triangle with some popsicle sticks and used elastics to attach them together. Then, we attached another popsicle stick to one side of the triangle, so it kind of looks like a triangular popsicle,” fifth-grader Gwen Monell said.

Using their creations, the groups fired mini plastic pumpkins, each getting three turns to see how far they could go. Kids excitedly rushed after each shot, screaming about how their group would definitely be the winners.

Before firing their first shot, Monell’s group-mate Annika Lennon explained that they needed to be extra careful with their catapult.

“We broke it before, so then we had to replace the spoon,” Lennon said.

The group managed to shoot their pumpkin 24 feet and 5 inches on their first shot.

Natalie Girouard, a parent of a Cashman fifth-grader, said she was not sure what to expect at first but quickly warmed up to the new event after seeing how excited the groups were to compete with each other.

“They’re having fun, so that’s all that matters,” Girouard said.

She said she was proud to see her daughter work so hard.

“I was not involved at all. It’s been all her,” Girouard said.

Another person proud of the work exhibited by students was Principal Amy Mitchell.

“The collaboration among the students when they’re creating their catapults today has been incredible. All the STEM activities that are happening inside and outside this afternoon have been beyond belief,” Mitchell said.

The festival was organized after school district officials announced on Monday it was canceling the school’s annual Halloween parade – a decision that left many parents upset.

Students did not seem to miss the parade as fifth-grader Savannah Wilson said the STEM Festival was a blast.

“It was cool working with my group. I really hope we win,” Wilson said.

Her group-mate, Rowan Decoste shared what he viewed as the key to making their mini pumpkin go the furthest.

“Try to make it go straight without it breaking,” Decoste said.

Ultimately it was not Monell or Wilson’s groups that won, with the furthest shot on the day going 50 feet and 4 inches. The winning group ended the day firing a real pumpkin from a larger, roughly 3-foot catapult as their classmates cheered them on.

Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.

ESSEX — Librarians at the THOP Burnham Library found a way to combine the spooky and the scientific for a Halloween event on Wednesday afternoon.

Professor Bugman, aka Bryan Man, was in the house, and brought with him real bones and skeletons from endemic Massachusetts animals.

He also brought some very large bugs for the children to hold and pet.

“When you help, hope will follow.”

This was the message the nonprofit The Open Door emphasized at Thursday’s Autumn Breakfast held in a packed ballroom attended by about 300 people at the Beauport Hotel on Commercial Street.

The annual event serves as a kickoff to the organization’s Holiday Meal Basket program while also honoring volunteers and community partners.

“Food is a foundation for good nutrition and security, pillars that can dramatically change your life. As we approach the holidays, it’s a wonderful time to help set the table for local people who need a little extra help,” President and CEO Julie Lafontaine said. “Your support goes beyond a single meal or grocery order, it provides hope.”

“My journey with The Open Door began many years ago,” said Tracy Davis, chair of The Open Door Board of Directors. “Each of my three boys has had their own profound service experiences at The Open Door, and these moments have given our family a sense of belonging to our greater community and hope, reminding us that even in challenging times, we can make a meaningful difference.”

“Whatever brought you to The Open Door — whether you give your time, talents, or financial support — one thing is clear: “When you help, hope will follow,” Davis said.

The Open Door Holiday Meal Basket program gives people the ingredients they need to prepare a holiday meal at home, from scratch, at no cost. They are available for both Thanksgiving and the December holidays and can be ordered at FOODPANTRY.org.

This year’s honorees at the Autumn Breakfast were:

Helen Muise Community Service Award: Claudette Chmura of Gloucester, Don Marcoux of Gloucester, and Nancy Scanzani of Ipswich.

Charlotte Pope Service Award: Sue King of Rockport.

Unsung Hero Award: Bob Gillis of Gloucester.

Outstanding Community Partner Award: Beauport Financial Services.

This year’s guest speaker was David Olson, The Open Door grants manager and former editor of The Gloucester Daily Times, who shared his experience with food insecurity growing up.

Olson’s parents lost their jobs in the 1970s, and eventually his mother earned a degree (while working two jobs on top of raising children) and became an accountant and office manager. His father found temporary work and later ran a successful butcher shop. Olson said his parents made a point to donate food and help others once they were on their feet again.

“Not everyone has the advantages we had. Not everyone has access to a safety net. But they should,” Olson said. “We are seeing record levels of food insecurity across the country, across the state and in our corner of Essex County. The Open Door is serving more people now than it did at the height of COVID.”

NEWBURY — The driver of a box truck escaped injury after crashing into parked cars Wednesday morning near the Newbury boat ramp. 

Local firefighters were called about 5:15 a.m. to 284 High Road, according to Fire Chief Chief David Evans.

“It came in as a vehicle accident, so the guys from Morgan Avenue, the overnight crew were the first ones on because they were the only duty crew on. Then, three of us responded from the Byfield station with an engine, the ambulance and the spill trailer,” Evans said, referring to the Morgan Avenue fire station. 

He explained that a box delivery truck driver had gone off the road and hit a couple of parked cars, puncturing its passenger side diesel tank.

“The guys that were on scene first were able to stem the tide. They were able to stop the worst of it. They were able to put down some speedy dry and dam it up a little bit,” Evans said.

The department received aid from Rowley firefighters and Newburyport Towing. Evans said due to the amount of diesel spilling from the truck, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation were notified.

“We notified the building inspector as well. He came out because when the box truck hit one of the vehicles, it came to land against the post of the front porch of the house at 284 High Road. I don’t believe there was any structural damage with the exception of the post,” Evans said.

No injuries were reported, with the driver being the only one involved.

“He signed a refusal,” Evans said.

Students heading to the Ralph B. O’Maley Innovation Middle School are greeted with a school of fish swimming on the building’s stark brick façade in an ocean-themed art installation that some of the kids helped to inspire.

The school of steel silver fish was installed Sept. 19 as part of a multi-year project thanks to local artist and sculptor Tim Mears, art teacher Brett Dunton, and the ocean-life imagination of middle-school students with an assist from Gloucester High engineering students.

A ribbon cutting for the school-of-fish art installation is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. at the school, 32 Cherry St., and it is open to the public.

The artwork was supported by a $15,000 grant from the Gloucester Education Foundation in 2023, including $8,000 from the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation and $7,000 from community donations, according to a statement from the Gloucester Education Foundation.

The artwork is meant to help reflect the innovative programs that go on inside the walls of school, which houses about 630 students in grades 6-8. Some of the programs include an annual musical in which more than 80 students take part, a cutting-edge Science Center, and a successful band program, which are supported by the Gloucester Education Foundation.

However, for some, the school’s stark brick exterior did not reflect what was going on inside. A catalyst for the project was a desire to communicate from the building’s exterior what a special place the school is inside to students, families, and the community, the foundation said.

In 2023, Dunton approached the Gloucester Education Foundation with the idea of pairing O’Maley students with Mears to create a site-specific sculpture near the school’s entrance.

“GEF loves projects that bring the rich artistic traditions of Cape Ann to our schools, and those that give students real-world problems to tackle,” Gloucester Education Foundation Executive Director Emily Siegel said in a prepared statement. “This proposal from O’Maley did both.”

At the start of the past academic year, students sketched out possible designs for the installation in both Dunton’s and fellow art teacher Nicole Zadykowicz’s classes. Ocean life, with fish, sharks, boats and anchors, emerged as a theme, the foundation said.

Students crafted papier-maché models of fish that Mears crafted into a permanent steel sculpture. Engineering students at Gloucester High contributed to the effort by creating a 3-D printed model of the school’s façade and little metal fish to help think about scale and placement.

“Not only was it great to see the kids engage in the design process last year, but to see the looks of excitement on their faces when they saw Tim’s fish on the building for the first time was amazing,” O’Maley Principal Mike Titus said in a prepared statement.

“They were so proud to have been part of the process, to see the project come to fruition, and to have a gorgeous new sculpture to see every day.”

“Working with the students to bring their ideas to life was a rewarding experience that truly engaged them in the project,” said Mears, who is from Rockport and recently moved to Richmond, Maine.

Some O’Maley students who worked on the design last year were pleasantly surprised to see the sculpture installed last month.

“It’s cool to see the fish put up there. I didn’t think it would really happen!” O’Maley student Jacob McLain said.

The school of fish may not be alone on the school’s exterior walls for long. The Bruce J. Anderson Foundation and GEF are funding a second phase of the project this school year.

Those interested in donating to the art installation project may visit to www.thinkthebest.org/donate. Simply write “O’Maley Fish” under the Special Instructions on GEF’s donation page to make sure the money goes to this particular project.

Staff writer Gail McCarthy contributed to this report.

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

PEABODY — Dancing. Cute farm animals. An Elvis impersonator. Brooksby Farm was full of good times during the city’s annual Senior Day Wednesday.

The free event was first started by Mayor Ted Bettencourt 10 years ago. It’s continued to grow since, and has become a beloved city tradition, he said.

“I really wanted to celebrate our seniors, to thank our seniors and to be able to have it here as something special,” Bettencourt said at the farm Wednesday. “It’s beautiful weather, it’s a wonderful atmosphere, and I’m just very happy with it.”

In between dancing and hay rides, Bettencourt and other city officials served lunches of hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, fresh cider and a caramel ice cream sundae to about 500 seniors.

There was a resource fair with local organizations seniors could visit, including booths from the Peabody Municipal Light Plant and the city’s Council on Aging. The Peabody Health Department also administered flu shots for free.

Attendees could tour the historic homes located at Brooksby Farm and shop in the Brooksby farm stand.

Elvis Presley impersonator Mike Slater performed hits by the King of Rock and other stars like Frank Sinatra and Neil Diamond. Some attendees danced to the tunes, but many sat under the event’s large white tent and caught up with old and new friends.

Brooksby Village residents Dinny Jensen and Fran Lanouette first met at the bar of the senior living complex this year. Wednesday was a chance for them to visit the farm together, along with a bus full of their neighbors.

They had bags filled up with goodies from the resource fair, including pamphlets, Halloween decorations, tissue packages and neon green shirts meant to keep them safe while walking at night. Their favorite part of the day was watching the farm’s llamas and goats roll around in the grass.

“I’ve been here a few times before, but it’s always fun just to walk around,” Jensen said. “We live in this very urban environment and it’s nice to see the apple trees, cornfields and the sunflowers.”

Bringing seniors to the city’s most beautiful amenity is part of the goal each Senior Day, said Carolyn Wynn, the executive director of Peabody’s senior center.

“It’s a fun day, but it’s also a day seniors get a lot of information that might help them in the future,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without all of the help from our wonderful volunteers.”

Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com.

Page 4 of The Daily News featured an opinion piece by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer on this day in 1905 on “The possibilities of general suffrage.” With four states having given women the right to vote, he predicted there would soon be a female leader “like Queen Victoria to give new glory to the United States.”

— Museum of Old Newbury

BEVERLY — The 13th annual Beverly Harbor Fest will be held Sunday, Sept. 8, from 1-5 p.m. at Lynch Park.

Harbor Fest is a family celebration on the waterfront hosted by Beverly Harbor Management Authority.

It includes games on the lawn, food trucks, live music in the shell, door prizes, and a beer garden at the Carriage House. Admission is free.

For more information go to www.bevrec.com/classesevents/harborfest-2024.