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Tag: Sociology

  • Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life

    Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life

    Third spaces are public, informal gathering spots — like cafes, parks, or community centers — where people can relax, socialize, and build connections outside of home and work. In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions, these spaces play a vital role in fostering community and countering loneliness.

    “Third spaces” refer to social environments that are separate from the two primary places where people spend most of their time: home (the first space) and work (the second space). These third spaces are informal, public gathering spots where people can socialize, relax, and build a sense of community.

    Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first introduced the concept in his book The Great Good Place. He argued that third spaces are crucial for fostering social cohesion, civic engagement, and a sense of belonging. They serve as “neutral grounds” where people can engage in casual conversations and form social connections that they might not in other settings. Places like main streets, libraries, cafes, pubs, and community centers are essential to a functional society and can provide avenues for grassroots activism, community involvement, charity and volunteer work, and social support.

    One of the most important features of “third spaces” is that they involve interacting with people outside of our typical social circle of family, friends, and coworkers. They introduce the possibility of new connections and new relationships. Other important qualities include easy accessibility, low cost, and an inviting atmosphere that encourages mingling and conversation.

    As modern life has shifted more towards digital interaction, the role of physical third spaces has become a topic of renewed interest among psychologists and social scientists, especially in discussions about loneliness and community fragmentation. People are spending less time in third spaces than ever before; and with remote work becoming more common, many people don’t have much of a life outside of home anymore.

    This general tendency has led to an increase in atomization, where individuals feel less and less connected to their local communities and society at large. This has far reaching consequences on health and well-being, as well as social trust, cooperation, and group cohesion.

    Third spaces play an integral role when it comes to happiness and well-being on both an individual and social level. Let’s mention a few common examples and then explore more on what makes these spaces so important to a healthy social life.

    Common examples of third spaces include:

    • Main streets and public squares
    • Cafes and coffee shops
    • Public libraries
    • Parks, nature preserves, beaches
    • Bars or pubs
    • Community centers
    • Bookstores
    • Churches and religious organizations
    • Local food markets
    • Music venues or dance clubs
    • Local sports leagues (bowling, basketball, baseball, etc.)
    • Shopping malls
    • Co-working spaces

    Can you think of any other examples? What are some neutral places where various people can go to meet new people?

    Ray Oldenburg argues that the increase of suburbanization and a “car-centric” society has decreased the use of third spaces and is one major cause behind our more atomized and individualistic world. Many adults living in suburbs have a long commute and a busy work schedule, so they rarely have time to spend outside of home or work. They live and sleep in their suburban homes, but they aren’t involved in their local communities in any meaningful way.

    Modern living creates a fundamental disconnect between home, work, and community, which can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness. Third spaces can be a social glue that ties these different aspects of our lives together into a meaningful whole.

    As someone who grew up in Levittown, New York – one of the first mass-produced suburbs – I can relate to the feelings of atomization and not having many third spaces to hang out with friends during my childhood. The most frequent spots were typically shopping malls, bowling alleys, or parking lots, but there weren’t many other “public square”-type places where everyone could go on a weekend night. This made it difficult to build social connections or a sense of community outside of school.

    In Robert Putnam’s classic book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community, he documents the downfall of community feeling and social cohesion since the 1960s. Key factors behind this decline include changes in mobility and sprawl, family structure and time schedules, as well as technology and mass media. The rise of home entertainment including TVs, internet, and video games has made people less motivated to go to physical third spaces for leisure, socializing, or relaxation.

    There are many factors that have led to the decline in community and the use of third spaces. It’s tempting to want to blame only one thing, but the problems we face in today’s world are complicated and multifaceted. There’s no quick or easy fix for improving the use of third spaces, but we can be more aware of the role they play in our daily lives.

    Are Buses and Trains Third Spaces?

    Public transportation such as buses and trains share some qualities with “third spaces,” such as being neutral ground that anyone in the community can access, a shared experience of commuting together, and the possibility of social connection with locals and strangers. However, these places are typically not seen as “third spaces” because their primary function is transportation and not social connection. The average person on commutes tends to withdraw and mind their own business, so these spaces aren’t very conducive to new conversation or forming new friendships (although it’s definitely possible).

    Building Social Capital and Weak Ties

    When you frequent any third space (such as a cafe, bar, church, or library), you naturally start to see familiar faces and build light social connections there.

    This is what sociologists refer to as social capital, which is just an economic-centric term for relationships that we value, trust, and provide social support.

    Third spaces help form casual relationships (or “weak ties”) that can lead to huge benefits. One common example is learning about a new job opportunity or a possible romantic interest through an acquaintance or friend of a friend.

    Social capital can manifest itself in many small and hidden ways too.

    When I lived in Brooklyn, I would go to the same bodega every morning for my coffee and breakfast sandwich. There were a couple times I was in a rush and forgot my wallet, but since the store owner knew me well and recognized me, he trusted me enough to let me pay next time. That may seem like a trivial thing, but it’s something that can only be accomplished with a minimal level of trust or social capital. If I were a completely random stranger I wouldn’t get that benefit.

    Through third spaces, you begin to run into the same people, build a sense of familiarity and comfort, and start connecting with them on a level beyond random stranger, even just the act of seeing a familiar face and saying “Hi” can give a nice boost to your day (learn the power of “10 second” relationships).

    Find a Healthy Dose of Third Spaces

    No matter how introverted or extraverted you are, everyone needs a healthy dose of social interaction. Third spaces provide opportunities to meet new people, connect with a broader community, and expand our social circle. Often just finding one third space where you feel comfortable and connect with like-minded people can make a big difference in the quality of your social life. Find a third space that works best for you and make it a part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine.


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    Steven Handel

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  • Peter Van Ness writes a new life chapter

    Peter Van Ness writes a new life chapter

    Former Gloucester resident Peter Van Ness’s debut novel, a tech thriller called “The Faithful” has arrived, and it is very ambitious indeed.

    Van Ness, who now lives in Florida, says he has always been fascinated by the intersection of science and spirituality/religion. Add to that the confluence of 21st century technology, and you are inside the mind of John Welles, a brilliant and ambitious MIT graduate who is not just the central character but absolutely central to the novel, as much of the book takes place in his mind.

    We first meet John when, as a precocious and curious child, he questions the very existence of reality. Little John recalls in a first-person introductory narrative that he observes the world as a place he can only think to call “pretend.” He can escape it by entering a secret portal in the hallway into infinity where he can time travel at will.

    As the son of a prominent Presbyterian minister, Van Ness himself developed an early interest in spirituality and religion, and their link to the metaphysical. Likewise, as a natural math whiz, science was second nature to him. His mind, he says, was ready made for the 21st century, and his tech resume began in high school when he programed computers connected to the ARPANET, the first operational computer network that became the foundation of the modern internet. Later, he’d go on to co-found a software company “that made his investors rich.”

    Anyone who knows Van Ness from his entrepreneurial 25 years in Gloucester, knows he marches to his own drum. He skipped college, and became a student of world religions, with a special inclination toward Buddhism.

    All of this — science, technology, religion, spirituality, mysticism, not to mention Van Ness’s passion for music — comes home to roost in “The Faithful,” as John’s tech brilliance gets him and his equally brilliant girlfriend Emily swept up in a struggle between two opposing secret religious sects, the Faithful versus the Disciples.

    Van Ness describes “The Faithful” sect as representing those wanting “to protect people from all the dangers of the world. They are absolutely sure they are right and committed to their mission, whatever it takes.” The Disciples, on the other hand, “are endlessly curious, seek adventure … constantly question whether they are doing the right thing, and are always adjusting their plans to adapt to current conditions.”

    When John and Emily stumble upon evidence of an undiscovered energy field that is, to make a long story short, the key to life itself, they become targets of an ensuing Dan Brownish conspiracy reminiscent of a high tech “The Da Vinci Code,” plunging the reader “into the minds and psyches of the couple as they each embark on a personal journey of self-discovery.”

    Ten years in the writing, “The Faithful” evolved with today’s rapidly changing technology and came to include new advances in artificial intelligence. Suffice to say, this is not a tale for tech luddites. But is you are a 21st century digital citizen, then fasten your seatbelts, you’re in for a ride.

    Tech aside, at its heart, “The Faithful” remains deeply humanitarian, even romantic. John, like Van Ness himself, loves music, and music weaves its magic throughout “The Faithful.” John hears it in everything, including the glug, glug, glug of fine wine decanting. Then there is “the maestro” — a beloved conductor revered by his musical students, one of whom is John. Van Ness creates in the relationship between the maestro and his students what sounded to this reader as a metaphor for the relationship between the all-seeing God orchestrating life itself.

    Van Ness, who, with his wife Vicky, was well known in Gloucester as a mover and shaker in downtown community creative and cultural initiatives. From the summer block parties to Discover Gloucester, they were on the launching pads. But they were best known as promoters of local live music. As founders of Gimme Music and Beverly’s “intimate listening room” 9 Wallis, they were — until the COVID-19 pandemic hit — major players on the North Shore’s live music scene.

    One door closes, another opens. In his new home in Florida, Van Ness says he loves swimming daily in the ocean. and as anyone who knows him will not be surprised to hear, in between riding the waves, he’s already writing a sequel. Stay tuned.

    Joann Mackenzie may be contacted at 978-675-2707 or jmackenzie@northofboston.com.

    By Joann Mackenzie | Staff Writer

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  • Cahill touts financial strength in State of City address

    Cahill touts financial strength in State of City address

    BEVERLY — Mayor Mike Cahill used his annual State of the City address this week to highlight accomplishments and to reiterate that the city is in a strong financial position.






    Mike Cahill




    In a 30-minute speech at City Hall, Cahill said the city has built up reserves of over $30 million over the last decade — money that can be used to keep the city running smoothly in the event of an economic downturn.

    “Our reserves are meant to get us through a recession when revenues fall precipitously and to do so without wholesale layoffs and drastic deep cuts to critical services,” Cahill said.

    “These reserves are not meant to be used to outspend still strong and growing revenues during good economic times,” he added. “They are meant to help us keep delivering the services people need and rely on right through the worst economic times and through economic recovery from those bad times.”

    In his speech in front of the City Council on Monday night, Cahill ran down the accomplishments of each city department, calling it “a great year in Beverly.”

    Highlights mentioned by Cahill included:

    – The hiring of the first woman as city engineer, Lisa Chandler

    – Progress on upcoming traffic projects like a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Brimbal Avenue and Dunham Road, a traffic signal at the intersection of Corning, Essex and Spring streets, and the Bridge Street reconstruction project

    – Daily visits to the Senior Center are up 63%

    – Over 150,000 people visited the library

    – Two new parks on Simon Street will be completed this summer

    – New tennis courts will be built at Centerville and Cove playgrounds

    – A major renovation of Holcroft Park will begin this summer

    – The city’s senior tax workoff program has grown from 50 to over 90 seniors

    – The city will launch its first Beverly Youth Council for young people to learn more about local government and advocate for youth issues

    – The Fire Department has ordered a new pumper truck, which will replace Engine 1 in Central Fire Station when it arrives

    – Five new civilian dispatchers have been hired for the combined civilian, emergency medical services, police and fire dispatch system, with the goal to be “fully civilian” by fall, freeing up uniformed police officers to serve out in the community

    – The city’s veterans department prevented the eviction of three veterans from their houses

    – The city received 73 of the 80 grants it applied for over the last fiscal year, bringing in over $5 million in revenue

    – The mayor’s office launched an iPad translation program for visitors to City Hall whose primary language is not English

    – Four applications have been submitted under the city’s new accessory dwelling unit ordinance

    – The Salem Skipper rideshare program expanded into Beverly starting May 1

    – The city’s community garden has moved from Cole Street to Moraine Farm, and garden plots are still available for this season

    – The city’s electricity aggregation program started on May 1, providing residents and businesses with lower electricity costs while increasing the amount of clean renewable energy

    – Coastal resiliency projects at Lynch Park and Obear Park are in the design and permitting phase

    – Beverly Airport had its most flights since 2003 and is planning to rebuild its main runway

    Cahill closed by thanking the city’s department heads and staff for their work.

    “Thanks in significant part to their contributions, the state of our city remains strong,” he said to the City Council. “With their partnership and with yours, I know the state of our city will improve and become ever stronger well into the future.”

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

    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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

    GLOUCESTER

    Sunday, May 5

    10:02 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported on Washington and Mansfield streets.

    5:16 p.m.: Police took a report of child abuse.

    4:23 p.m.: Trash dumping was reported on Eastern Point Boulevard. A pile of cutup posts and lumber dumped in a pile off to the side of a back driveway was discovered in a homeowner’s backyard. The homeowner gave a description of a man he had confronted on his property. The man told the homeowner he was “just checking the place out,” the report said. The homeowner said the man appeared to be acting suspiciously and he believed he was casing the home. The man then walked down the driveway and left. The homeowner did not see if he got into a vehicle. A neighbor did not see anything. Police planned to check with Eastern Point security to review footage to identify the man and a possible vehicle.

    3:15 p.m.: Police planned to file a criminal complaint against a 61-year-old New Hampshire woman on a charge of assault and battery on a police officer at the Rockport Police Department where people are held in custody with the Gloucester Police Department presently under renovations. 

    1:03 p.m.: Police provided mutual aid to Manchester police on Summer Street.

    5:59 a.m.: A hypodermic needle was retrieved from Commercial Street and dispose of safely.

    Saturday, May 4

    7:32 p.m.: Police assisted the Fire Department with a medical emergency.

    Crashes with property damage only reported on Grant Circle on Washington Street at 11:02 a.m., Washington and Addison streets at 3:03 p.m., Washington and Poplar streets at 4:02 p.m., Market Basket on Gloucester Crossing Road at 4:44 p.m., Elm Street at 5:53 p.m., andon Walker Street at 7:16 p.m. 

    Fire Department was assisted with calls from Walker Street at 2:05 p.m. and from McPherson Park on Prospect Street at 6:25 p.m.

    5:03 p.m.: Loitering was reported at Walgreens on Main Street.

    2:34 p.m.: Police responded to a disturbance on Essex Avenue.

    9:12 a.m.: A crash with injuries was reported at 54 Eastern Ave. Police planned to file a criminal complaint against a 53-year-old Gloucester man on charges of driving with a suspended license, negligent operation and a marked lanes violation. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

    9:07 a.m.: Debris was reported on Addison Street.

    7:11 a.m.: No action was required for a report of credit card fraud from Heights at Cape Ann.

    1:11 a.m.: As a result of a report of a suspicious motor vehicle at the Man at the Wheel statue on Stacy Boulevard and Western Avenue, police arrested a 61-year-old resident of Bow, New Hampshire, on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, disorderly conduct and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Police arrived to find the vehicle parked on the boulevard in the center of the Fisherman’s Memorial, between the Man at the Wheel statue and the cenotaphs — the granite blocks and bronze plaques —and the railing. Police found the driver with her eyes closed, swaying her head side to side, and mumbling to herself. When ordered to put the car in park and shut it off, the woman at first refused, but eventually did so, th police  report said. The woman said she was on her way to New Hampshire from Logan Airport in Boston and decided to come to Gloucester “to speak with the ocean,” the report said. The woman became agitated as an officer asked her questions. She reportedly jumped out of her vehicle in an angry manner, telling police she could park somewhere else and there was no reason for them to be there. An officer informed the woman he had never seen a person park a vehicle in this manner in the 32 years he has lived in Gloucester. Police then asked her to submit to field sobriety tests, and after jumping up on the granite blocks and showing signs of impairment during two of the tests, police arrested her on a charge of disorderly conduct. The officer concluded the woman was driving under the influence of drugs, the report said. Police requested the vehicle be towed and saw fresh damage on both its sides. Police did not locate illegal drugs in the vehicle, but found the driver’s prescription for lorazepam. Police filed an immediate threat for her right to drive in Massachusetts.

    Friday, May 3

    9:14 p.m.: Police planned to file a criminal complaint with a charge of trespassing against a 49-year-old Gloucester resident of no known address. Police were dispatched for a report of a man sitting on the railroad tracks off Dory Road and refusing to move so that the inbound train could pass. While police were heading there, dispatch informed responding officers that witnesses said the man was walking toward the Cleveland Street crossing but was still on the tracks. Police walked the tracks about a half mile approaching the train but were unable to locate anyone on the tracks. The train engineer and conductor described the man as tall, balding with curly hair on the sides and wearing a red sweatshirt. This description matched that of a man police had escorted off the tracks in the same location the day before. Police eventually caught up with the man. Police reminded him of their prior conversation regarding trespassing on the tracks. He told police he has nothing to do and his family has always walked the tracks. He was not trying to harm himself, he was just bored, he told police, who told the man the tracks are posted as “No Trespassing,” and that they would be charging him for trespassing.

    Crashes with property damage only reported at the Blackburn Rotary at 2:13 p.m., and on Pirates Lane at 5:38 p.m.

    1:51 p.m.: Trash dumping was reported on Elm Street. A caller reported trash that has been put out a week in advance.

    10:40 a.m.: A 54-year-old Gloucester resident was arrested on an active warrant for a restraining order violation. The man was taken into custody after a motor-vehicle stop of a white Ford truck on Poplar Street and Bertoni Road. The man was taken to Peabody District Court.

    10:04 a.m.: A disabled vehicle was reported on Hesperus and Western avenues.

    7:42 a.m.: A report of annoying phone calls was under investigation. The log refers to charges being sought.

    ROCKPORT

    Monday, May 6

    Noon: The Fire Department was dispatched to a Drumlin Road address.

    Sunday, May 5

    2:48 p.m.: A medical emergency ambulance transport was conducted from a Main Street address.

    8:13 a.m.: The Fire Department was dispatched to a Granite Street address.

    Saturday, May 4

    Medical emergencies: Individuals were taken to the hospital by ambulance from the intersection of Beach and Main Streets at 10:36 a.m., the intersection of Thatcher Road and Tregony Bow at 11:19 a.m., the intersection of Thatcher Road and Highview Road at 11:34 a.m., and a Main Street address at 2:03 p.m.

    ESSEX

    Monday, May 6

    7:36 p.m.: A police investigation was conducted at a Pond Street address.

    7:27 p.m.: An ambulance transport was conducted from the intersection of Apple Street and Western Avenue.

    5:01 p.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash on John Wise Avenue.

    1:17 p.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash on Main Street.

    Sunday, May 5

    5:38 p.m.: After a report of an injury, a medical ambulance transport was refused at a Western Avenue address.

    9:56 a.m.: A medical ambulance transport was conducted from a Sagamore Circle address.

    Saturday, May 4

    7:29 a.m.: A request was made about a public utility on Martin Street.

    MANCHESTER

    Monday, May 6

    11:07 p.m.: Suspicious activity was reported on Ancient County Way at 9:59 p.m., at the intersection of Pine and Pleasant Streets at10:20 p.m., and at the Pine Street Fields at 11:07 p.m.

    4:53 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Pine Street and Parsons Lane, a written warning was issued.

    4:34 p.m.: A complaint was made about an animal on Allen Avenue.

    2:46 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Central Street address.

    1:53 p.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash on Jersey Lane.

    1:48 p.m.: A community policing event was attended to at a Lincoln Street address.

    1:27 p.m.: A report of a structure fire was confirmed at a Boardman Avenue address. “It was just contained to an oven,” said Lt. Robert Cavender. “It was out before we even got there. It was just a small oven fire contained to the oven.”

    1:17 p.m.: Acomplaint about noise at the intersection of Sea and Summer Streets was lodged.

    8:27 a.m.: A transport was conducted at a Central Street address.

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  • Parenting 101: Creativity vs screentime – Who do you think wins with kids and parents?

    Parenting 101: Creativity vs screentime – Who do you think wins with kids and parents?

    A new survey commissioned by Elmer’s found that the average U.S parent has to come up with four new ideas and activities daily to keep their children entertained. And while most parents believe their children have active imaginations, the average kid gets bored in just 33 minutes.

    The survey findings show the immediate benefits that creative activities have on parents and kids – with 71% feeling happier when crafting and having less screen time. Other key findings from Elmer’s include:

    Parents shared that, outside of the classroom, their kids are more likely to watch TV (80%) than to play with toys (67%).

    Many also said their kids like to play with siblings and friends after class (62%) or play with playsets (35%).

    93% of parents said it’s important their children are involved in productive forms of play that encourage mental and emotional development

    81% found their kids are always looking for something to do after school or daycare

    64% of parents said their children like to draw and color after school, alongside doing arts and crafts (46%) or sensory play (36%).

    – JC

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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

    GLOUCESTER

    Tuesday, April 23

    9:08 p.m.: Suspicious activity was reported on Gloucester Crossing Road.

    8:15 p.m.: Debris in the roadway was reported on the extension of Route 128.

    7:29 p.m.: The Fire Department was assisted with a report from Flatrocks/Seaside Cemetery on Langsford Street.

    2:09 p.m.: Police at the station took a report of fraud.

    11:27 a.m.: No action was required for a report of a disturbance at Harbor Village on Main Street.

    11:21 a.m.: Police were unable to serve a warrant on Blackburn Drive.

    ROCKPORT

    Tuesday, April 30

    7:03 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Wildon Heights, a verbal warning was issued.

    Medical emergencies: Ambulance transport to a hospital was conducted from Curtis Street at 10:39 p.m., South Street at 11:20 a.m. and Kitefield Road at 4:29 p.m.

    10:01 a.m.:  A police wellness check was conducted at a Main Street address.

    Monday April 29

    11:22 p.m.: A person was assisted at a South Street address.

    Medical emergencies: Individuals were taken to a hospital by ambulance from Granite Street at 1:06 p.m., and Sandy Bay Terrace at 10:23 p.m.

    Traffic stops were made on Bearskin Neck at 6:46 a.m., Broadway at 5:42 p.m., and Mt. Pleasant Street at 5:48 p.m. The first drivers received a verbal warning, while the latter was issued a written warning.

    MANCHESTER

    Tuesday, April 30

    10:27 p.m.: Suspicious activity was reported at a Central Street address.

    6:07 p.m.: The erratic operation of a motor vehicle on Pine Street was reported.

    5:35 p.m.: An individual was assisted on Central Street.

    5:15 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on the southbound side of Route 128, a written warning was issued.

    12:09 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a School Street address

    9:05 a.m.: A motor vehicle crash was reported on Summer Street.

    7:05 a.m.: Community policing was conducted in the school zone.

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  • Daisy reports for duty, makes splash in Manchester-by-Sea

    Daisy reports for duty, makes splash in Manchester-by-Sea

    MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Daisy, the newest hire at the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department, has already made her mark.

    The 5-month-old female, yellow Labrador retriever reported for duty April 17. She’s partnered with Officer Andrea Locke, the department’s school resource officer.

    Daisy will live with Locke, her husband, her two children and the family dog, Rudy.

    “She is adapting,” Locke said. “We’re just working on basic commands so far. She barks but she’s right at home. She’s very calm and loves people.”

    Daisy’s job will be to provide general support for Manchester Essex Regional School District students, faculty and staff, and for the town’s senior citizens.

    She’ll also serve as a “department ambassador” in the downtown area, including Masconomo Park, especially during community events.

    “While a comfort dog can create positive interactions within a community, it also can greatly assist with our public safety work,” Police Chief Todd Fitzgerald said. “A dog can be a calming influence when we meet with a child victim or witness, provide a sense of comfort during a mental health intervention, and reduce the stress felt by residents during a critical incident.”

    Fitzgerald described Daisy as having a “great temperament.”

    “That’s what they’re bred for,” he said. “It’s not only for the schools, but for the elderly, too. So far, it has worked out well.”

    Training for Daisy will take place for two weeks, starting the second week of July at Professional Canine Services in Middleboro. After that, she will have follow up visits to confirm the commands and skills she has learned, Lt. Mark McCoy said.

    “It just makes the relationship better between the police and the public,” he said of Daisy’s presence.

    But sightings of Daisy out and about in Manchester-by-the-Sea may take some time. Locke and other Manchester Police officers want to ease her into public appearances — especially at the Manchester Essex Regional School District schools.

    “We want to be low key,” Locke said. “We don’t want her to be overwhelmed. She takes it all in. She does bark.”

    Manchester Essex Regional High School first-year students Cate Vendt and Scarlett Lee proposed the idea for a comfort dog at the high school to Locke. Then the two met later with Fitzgerald and McCoy to formally pitch their idea. That meeting was followed by a presentation to the Select Board, which approved the idea April 16.

    The Manchester Essex Regional School Committee is slated to consider the plan for the comfort dog during its May 21 meeting.

    The cost to buy and train Daisy will total about $6,200, Fitzgerald said, and eventually there will be a swearing-in ceremony for the dog.

    McCoy is working with Hooper Fund officials to secure financial support for the initial costs of purchasing Daisy and for training. Additional financial support for the dog was provided by a gift from the Manchester Essex Regional High School Class of 2024, the Manchester Masons Lodge, the Manchester Rotary Club and resident Ralph Bates. Contributions of dog food and supplies were made by the Essex County Co-Op and Crosby’s Market.

    The comfort dog program will be financed, in part, by the Police Department’s account with North Shore Health Outreach for mental health programming and its K-9 allocation.

    Although Daisy is the Police Department’s first comfort dog, she is its second canine. The town’s first and only K-9, Kato, a German shepherd, joined the force in 2014 and retired in 2018 when his human partner went to work for another police agency.

    Kato and his partner located missing people, discovered illegal narcotics, tracked criminals together, worked as part of the Cape Ann Regional Response Team, and appeared on the NBC television show “American Ninja Warrior.” K-9 Kato is enjoying his golden years as ambassador for the nonprofit K9 PTSD Center of Seekonk, a therapeutic center for dogs who have worked in law enforcement and the military.

    Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.

    By Stephen Hagan | Staff Writer

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  • New Moon Coffeehouse hosts folk duo

    New Moon Coffeehouse hosts folk duo

    HAVERHILL — The award winning duo of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will perform at the New Moon Coffeehouse on May 18 at 7:30 p.m.

    The coffeehouse at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 15 Ashland St. Admission is $25 at the door, and $15 for ages 21 and under.

    Tickets are available at the door starting about6:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets may be reserved prior to the show by visiting newmooncoffeehouse.org.

    Atwater and Elwood present delightful programs of traditional American and Celtic folk songs and percussive dance, blending harmonies and playing an array of instruments, including guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, and other surprises, including a thrilling interpretation of freestyle Appalachian clog dancing.

    Married since 1989, the due performs widely in the United States and abroad. Their 14 recordings receive international airplay and streaming.

    The nonprofit New Moon Coffeehouse is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting and enjoying the creative talents of acoustic performers.

    It strives to bring you the best performers in a relaxing, friendly, smoke- and alcohol-free environment, where you can enjoy a great show, fair trade coffee, and desserts.

    The entrance is on Ashland Street, at the back of the UU church. Two parking lots are available behind the church, on both sides of Ashland Street. Street parking is also available.

    Garden Club plant sale

    HAVERHILL — The Haverhill Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 8 a.m. to sell out May 18 on the Bradford Common.

    The sale will feature a variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, and vegetable plants. Patrons can have their garden tools sharpened for a nominal fee.

    The event will also feature a wheelbarrow raffle of gardening supplies and free on-site soil testing. Patrons interested in having their soil tested can visit online at tinyurl.com/37tnjppn.

    Proceeds from the plant sale fund civic garden projects around the city, guest lecturers at the public library, and three education scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the agricultural sciences.

    The club also invites members of the public to donate any extra plants from their yards and gardens. To request digging assistance or to arrange for a pick up of your donated plants, contact club member Dustin MacIver at tel:978-810-0337 or email DustinMacIver@gmail.com.

    YMCA Legacy Gala planned

    HAVERHILL — The Haverhill and Plaistow Community YMCAs will hold their 2024 Legacy Gala at 5 p.m. May 11 at the Bradford Country Club.

    Proceeds support the fight against food insecurity, summer camp and educational programming for families in need of financial assistance.

    Tickets are $150 each and include a surf and turf dinner, a signature cocktail, a raffle, auction, and more. The online auction goes live April 26. A link will be posted April 24 on the Y’s Facebook pages and on its website.

    For tickets or sponsorship information, visit online at one.bidpal.net/2024legacygala/welcome. To donate to the online auction, contact Tracey Fuller at fullert@northshoreymca.org.

    By Mike LaBella | mlabella@eagletribune.com

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  • Newly promoted to be pinned in ceremony

    Newly promoted to be pinned in ceremony

    On Thursday, police Chief Ed Conley and fire Chief Eric Smith will host a badge ceremony to swear in new and recently promoted police officers and firefighters.

    The public is invited to the ceremony on April 25 at 5 p.m. in Kyrouz Auditorium at City Hall, 9 Dale Ave.

    Being promoted are:

    Gloucester Police: Sgt. Robert Morrissey to lieutenant and Officer Michael Cimoszko to sergeant.

    Gloucester Fire: Firefighter James Hannon V to lieutenant and will swear in new Firefighter Andrew Hugel.

    Mayor Greg Verga will lead the ceremony and provide opening remarks. Conley and Smith will present their members.

    — Times Staff

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

    GLOUCESTER Wednesday, April 17

    7:05 p.m.: A 911 caller reported smoke coming from his 2016 Ford F150 pickup at Gloucester Crossing Road. No flames were showing. Police provided the driver with a courtesy ride and the vehicle was towed for safety reasons.

    5:51 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported on Beacon Street.

    4:42 p.m.: After a reported stop sign violation at 370 Main St., police planned to file a complaint against a Gloucester resident with a charge of driving without a license. A licensed driver was able to drive the car from the scene.

    11:32 a.m.: A crash on Dory Road was under investigation.

    11:12 a.m.: Peace was restored after a reported crash in the vicinity of 382 Main St., Domino’s Pizza.

    12:32 a.m.: A suspicious person was reported at the Jodrey State Fish Pier on Parker Street.

    Tuesday, April 16

    11:43 p.m.: Police responded to two possible car breaks. On Cherry Hill Road, police came across a parked 2003 Nissan Altima, when a sergeant relayed information about a 2017 Volkswagen Passat on Macomber Road. Both cars’ driver’s side and rear doors were found open, and both appeared to have been ransacked. It was not known if anything was missing. Police attempted to reach the owners of the cars.

    10:43 p.m.: Police could not locate a reported disturbance on Mt. Pleasant Avenue.

    6:55 p.m.: The Fire Department was assisted with a call from Summer Street. A caller reported an alarm sounding from a neighbor’s home for roughly an hour with concerns for the neighbor’s well-being. Police were unsure if the home was occupied or not.

    4:59 p.m.: A three-car crash with injuries was reported on Blackburn Circle. The Rockport driver of a 2015 GMC told police he or she blacked out while driving on Route 128 south towards the rotary, the crash report said. The GMC reportedly sideswiped a 2014 Volkswagen before it traveled onto the median and crashed into a yield sign. The GMC then continued through the median and onto the traffic circle where it rear-ended a 2016 Volvo, spinning this vehicle 180 degrees. The GMC then came to rest in the center of the traffic circle. All three drivers were taken to area hospitals and all three vehicles were towed from the scene.

    Crashes with property damage only were reported on Washington and Poplar streets at 1:59 p.m., St. Anthony’s Lane at 2:11 p.m., and at the Cruiseport Gloucester on Rowe Square at 3:23 p.m.

    1:45 p.m.: Vandalism was reported on Centennial Avenue.

    1:04 p.m.: An abandoned vehicle was reported on Mansfield Street.

    11:31 a.m.: Police had a vehicle reported disabled on Route 128 northbound towed.

    2:33 a.m.: No action was required for a report of a disabled vehicle on the Route 128 extension.

    Monday, April 15

    10:14 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported at the traffic lights on Eastern Avenue and the Route 128 extension.

    Fire Department assisted on Prospect Street at 12:33 p.m., and at a possible gas leak on Magnolia Avenue at 10:06 p.m.

    Vehicles repossessed at 8:51 p.m. on Patriots Circle and 8:54 p.m. on Whittemore Street.

    7:50 p.m.: A report of fraud on High Popples Road was under investigation.

    Disturbances were reported on Main Street at 12:01 and 1:26 p.m. and on Prospect and Pleasant streets at 7:44 p.m., to which police responded.

    6:52 p.m.: Harassment was reported on Oakes Avenue.

    1:16 p.m.: An abandoned vehicle was reported on Derby Street.

    11:55 a.m.: A hypodermic needle was retrieved from Pearl Street and disposed of safely.

    9:30 a.m.: A disabled vehicle was reported at Exit 53 on Route 128 northbound.

    12:06 a.m.: Police planned to file a complaint against a 54-year-old Gloucester resident on a charge of violating a harassment prevention order after responding to a report on Washington Street. A resident explained he was having ongoing issues with his neighbor knocking on his door, and he reportedly did so again that night. Given the order was active and required the neighbor to stay at least 20 yards away, police filed the complaint.

    Sunday, April 14

    10:09 p.m.: Peace was restored after a report that several cars were parked on Magnolia and Western Avenue.

    Crashes with property damage only were reported on on Route 128 southbound at 10:30 a.m., Poplar Park at 11:56 a.m., and Mansfield Street at 9:56 p.m.

    3:45 p.m.: After an off-duty officer called in a disabled vehicle on Route 128 southbound prior to the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge, police planned to file a complaint against a 54-year-old Gloucester resident on a charge of driving without a license. The driver, who was alone in the car, told police she was on her way to Lynn when the hood came loose and struck the windshield, cracking it. She then provided police with an expired registration and a Massachusetts ID card. Dispatch informed the officer the car’s registration was active and the driver had an active learner’s permit. The driver told police she did not have the active registration or permit on hand. Police explained to her she needed to keep her permit with her while driving, and that to drive with a learner’s permit she needed to be accompanied by a licensed driver older than 21 with at least a year of driving experience in the passenger seat. She also needed to have the registration in her possession. Police had the vehicle towed and gave the driver a ride home.

    3:25 p.m.: Police were called to assist with the Blynman Bridge on Western Avenue.

    2:55 p.m.: A motor vehicle stop at the Speedway on Main Street resulted in charges being filed, according to the log. The gray 2007 Chevrolet Colorado pickup was listed in the log as being unregistered. Police had it towed.

    2:54 p.m.: Peace was restored after a report of a disturbance on Leslie O. Johnson Road.

    2:15 p.m.: Police were called to assist with gas leak at a Rocky Neck Avenue restaurant. The caller reported everyone was out of the restaurant and the Fire Department was notified.

    1:12 p.m.: Police assisted the Fire Department with a call from Poplar Park after a medical alarm got no response from a patient. A cruiser was sent to assist firefighters and a patient was transported to Addison Gilbert Hospital.

    1:03 p.m.: Police responded to a disturbance on Main Street.

    12:11 p.m.: Debris in the roadway was reported between the lights and Blackburn Circle on Route 128 southbound.

    10:09 a.m.: A disturbance was reported at Walgreens on Main Street.

    ROCKPORT Monday, April 22

    Fire Department dispatched to Pigeon Hill Court at 2:52 and 11:16 p.m., after a report and request, respectively were received.

    10:56 p.m.: A motor vehicle crash on Old Garden Road was reported.

    7:08 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Main Street, a verbal warning was issued.

    5:46 p.m.: A report was made about an animal at a Gaffield Avenue address.

    2:46 p.m.: A wellbeing check was conducted at the intersection of Main Street and Dodds Lane.

    10:06 a.m.: Police wellness check calls were made to residents around town.

    9:03 a.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Granite Street address.

    7:58 a.m.: An individual was assisted on Main Street.

    ESSEX Monday, April 22

    Individuals were assisted on John Wise Avenue ay 11:35 a.m. and 5:22 p.m.

    4:18 p.m.: A complaint was made about an animal at a Lakeshore Drive address.

    1:53 p.m.: After a report of an unknown medical problem, an ambulance was dispatched to a John Wise Avenue address.

    Police investigations were conducted on Southern Avenue at 1:21 a.m. and Honeysuckle Road at 11:06 a.m..

    12:57 a.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash at a Western Avenue address.

    MANCHESTER Monday, April 22

    Complaints about animals on Beach Street at 10:41 a.m., near Black Beach and Kettle Cove at 10:54 a.m., on White Beach at 10:54 a.m., Raymond Street at 10:55 a.m., and Lincoln Street at 6:06 p.m. were lodged.

    Traffic stops were conducted at the intersection of Beach Street and Tappan Street at 9:47 a.m., on Pine Street at 11:19 and 11:37 a.m. when written warnings were issued, and Pleasant Street at 6:04 p.m. The first and last drivers were given verbal warnings.

    2:50 p.m.: A community policing call was conducted at a Lincoln Street address.

    2:35 p.m.: Suspicious activity at a Beach Street address was reported.

    4:06 a.m.: Suspicious activity was reported at a Forest Street address.

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  • Schools face loss of 41 positions due to $3.1M budget gap

    Schools face loss of 41 positions due to $3.1M budget gap

    The inability of the city of Gloucester and its schools to fully close a $6.1 million shortfall between the cost of a level-service budget and increased funding provided by the city may mean the loss of 41 positions across the school district.

    Driven by skyrocketing out-of-district special education tuition and transportation costs, inflation, and the ending of federal COVID-19 relief funding, the schools administration says what costs $49.74 million to provide to Gloucester students this school year will cost $55.85 million next school year.

    The change represents an increase of nearly 12.3%, or $6.1 million, in the fiscal 2025 school operating budget.

    Superintendent Ben Lummis told the School Committee the city has indicated it can fund $3 million of the proposed $6.1 million increase.

    The city plans to do so through a combination of a $1.5 million supplemental appropriation and some one-time funding for the current fiscal year, which is money that can be used to offset prepaid tuition and special education costs for next year, and a $1.5 million increase in the schools’ operating budget for fiscal 2025 that begins July 1.

    However, the funding shift would still leave a $3.1 million gap to maintain level services.

    Facing a $2 million to $3 million shortfall, Lummis told the School Committee the effects could include:

    A loss of the house structure at O’Maley Innovation Middle School.

    Increased class sizes at O’Maley and Gloucester High coupled with reductions to areas of performing and visual arts, business, technology and physical education.

    Elementary art, music and physical education specialists and some social emotional learning supports.

    “So again, we don’t know if we are here yet,” Lummis said. “Yeah, well, we are here right now, OK, whether we end up here, we don’t know, we are still working on it.

    “It doesn’t mean all these areas are affected. We have to look at all of those and see where we can make changes.”

    He said the effect on social emotional learning programs will not mean all of those supports will go away “but some will.”

    With 83% of the schools’ operating costs tied up in personnel expenses, Lummis said cost reductions are found through staff cuts.

    For the first time, he outlined those cuts by school building, the number of positions and reduction in salary costs:

    Preschool, four positions, $225,000.

    Beeman, four positions, $200,000.

    East Veterans, five positions, $275,000.

    Plum Cove, three positions, $125,000.

    West Parish, four positions, $200,000.

    O’Maley, nine positions, $550,000.

    Gloucester High, eight positions, $550,000.

    District, four positions, $275,000.

    This adds up to cost savings of $2.3 million. Lummis said the reductions are made up of a broad range of positions, not just teachers. Some positions can be moved to grants and positions of staff who leave or retire will not be filled.

    More savings would come through savings from benefits of laid-off employees, moving services and supports to grants, and reductions in instructional supplies and materials.

    The process to finalize notifying staff was scheduled to wrap up last week.

    This week, the administration will meet with Gloucester Teachers Association leaders as dictated by contracts to go over expected cuts of teachers with professional status. Principals and supervisors would then inform staff and provide information on the process and next steps for each individual.

    The week of April 29, the administration would have to determine if further cuts would be necessary based on talks with the city administration. The schools have until May 7 to inform any additional teachers with professional teacher status whose positions are planned for elimination.

    Waiting to inform staff may keep everyone on edge, with the vast majority of the schools’ staff not at risk of losing their jobs, Lummis said.

    “So we are trying to balance speed with the best information we have, our obligation in terms of our contracts and at the same time treating folks with compassion as well,” he said.

    During the School Committee meeting, Lummis presented a slide showing areas of reductions including Tier 2 interventions, which support students in small groups, at all levels.

    At the preK-5 level, the reductions would affect social emotional learning and mental health supports; at the middle school, it would mean the loss of the house structure; and at Gloucester High the loss of preparation and support for post-secondary success.

    School Committee member Melissa Teixeira Prince asked what was meant by the inability to maintain the house structure, asking if this just meant larger class sizes. She said the loss of the house structure at the middle school was “scary.”

    “Parents don’t want to hear that,” she said.

    “It’s in jeopardy,” Lummis said. He said the house structure, while it adds to a sense of belonging with the same students sharing the same teachers, it constrains flexibility in terms of staffing.

    Breaking apart the house structure allows flexibility in terms of fully loading all the classes. He said while the house structure is crucial, it’s something the administration has to look at given the level of cuts.

    “It doesn’t mean at this point it’s definitely going to go away,” Lummis said.

    He also outlined cuts to programs at a $1 million to $2 million level that would not be as deep. This list included delaying the medical assisting exploratory launch as part of the high school’s Career/Vocational Technical Education program until September 2025, along with specialists and electives, reduced staff in one or more core academic areas in the middle and high schools, along with delays in IT infrastructure improvements, among other things.

    Prince said she was sensing the schools were facing at least $2 million in reductions.

    “I don’t want any of this conversation to sugarcoat, like, there’s going to be a happy ending here because I don’t believe there is going to be a happy ending,” she said. “There are going to be cuts. There are going to be cuts that are going to hurt and this is a place we haven’t been in many years.”

    Financial resources from the city “don’t appear to be there to make us whole at this day and time,” Prince said

    A School Committee vote on a public hearing for the budget is scheduled for Wednesday, with a public hearing on the budget scheduled for May 8. The School Committee would then vote May 22 to submit the school budget to the mayor and City Council. Lummis said those dates could change.

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

    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • SENIOR LOOKOUT: Need a reason to volunteer? Here are a few

    SENIOR LOOKOUT: Need a reason to volunteer? Here are a few

    April is National Volunteer Month and next week (April 21-27) is a highlight of the month as National Volunteer Week. This began as a celebration to honor the contribution women made on the home front during World War II.

    After the war, interest resurged in the late 1960s and early 1970s and April became National Volunteer Month as part of President George H.W. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light campaign in 1991. National Volunteer Month is a time for organizations to honor volunteers and recognize the irreplaceable impact volunteers make on our communities.

    In 2023, more than 375 volunteers from SeniorCare’s RSVP Volunteers of the North Shore contributed 39,614 hours of volunteer service, sharing their time, skills, and talents, while spreading kindness and compassion throughout the community.

    Volunteers are driven, for their own reasons, to help and support their neighbors, their communities and the world. Why do people volunteer? What is the motivation?

    Here are a few of the many reasons people volunteer:

    Personal passions. You may have grown up in poverty, your sister may have had breast cancer, your grandmother may have been on hospice. Your heart has been touched, and you want to give back.

    Learn a new skill. Perhaps you are in college and are building your resume, mid-life looking for a new career, or retired and curious. Regardless as to why, volunteering is a great way to learn something new.

    Cultural diversity. You want to learn about other cultures so you volunteer abroad teaching English to Japanese students, or you go to another country and work in a refugee camp. This not only helps the people you will be serving, but you get the opportunity to expand your understanding of other cultures.

    Setting a good example. You work all week, take care of two teenage kids, but you find time to serve a meal to those less fortunate than you once a month. You certainly are helping others, but you are also modeling good behavior for your kids.

    Meeting like-minded, motivated, positive people. Connecting over shared interests in a cause while helping others is an excellent way to meet new friends. When you volunteer, your circle of friends can broaden quickly.

    New opportunities. There are volunteer opportunities that could lead you to experiences you might not otherwise have. Volunteering to usher for a theater will allow you to see a production you might otherwise not be able to see. Volunteer at a zoo and you might get the opportunity to develop a friendship with a giraffe.

    A need to focus on the positive. In today’s world of never-ending, instant — and often disheartening — news, volunteering presents a proactive way of doing something to make the world a better place. Even the smallest gestures make a difference.

    Empowerment. Maybe someone offered you a helping hand when you were down and out. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to pay that favor forward. Often times, a word of encouragement and a little assistance to those in need can help them get back on their feet.

    Volunteering is quite easy. There is a nonprofit organization for just about every interest or cause out there. Finding the right organization to volunteer for is just an internet search away, or SeniorCare’s RSVP Volunteers of the North Shore can help you find the best fit for volunteering. You can call RSVP at 978-281-1750 or visit www.thevolunteerlink.org.

    A big thank you to all volunteers! You make the world a better place.

    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.

    Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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  • Former harbormaster says he was ‘wrongfully terminated

    Former harbormaster says he was ‘wrongfully terminated

    Former Harbormaster Thomas “T.J.” Ciarametaro says he was “wrongfully terminated” in the wake of revelations by Mayor Greg Verga of “wrongdoing” by the harbormaster’s office regarding forged signatures on standard contracts for two grant programs from the state Division of Marine Fisheries totaling $24,000.

    “Regretfully, I have to report that I was wrongfully terminated from my position as Gloucester Harbormaster after seven years of superb service,” said Ciarametaro, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, in a prepared statement. “I have been unjustly dismissed following baseless accusations of misconduct, which have since been proven to be false.”

    “The events leading to my termination began when I discovered discrepancies in city funds and equipment within the department,” said Ciarametaro, who credited the Waterways Board and harbormaster staff for accomplishments in the office, including digitizing operations, earning recognition from Marinas.com for creating a more welcoming port and collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers on a project to dredge the Annisquam River.

    Ciarametaro wrote he was fired by the city after catching one of his employees stealing cash from a locked drawer on camera, and turning him over to police under the city’s Whistleblower Protection Policy. He said he was broadsided by “retaliatory accusations” from this “disgruntled employee who had engaged in theft.” The allegations against him were quickly disproven, Ciarametaro said.

    Ciarametaro did not name the employee but his statement came on the same day Gloucester District Court confirmed a criminal complaint had been issued by the Police Department against former Shellfish Warden Peter Seminara, charging him with larceny from a building after being caught on camera in February stealing $71 in cash from a locked drawer in the harbormaster’s office at 19 Harbor Loop, according to a police report and Ciarametaro’s report to Human Resources Director Holly Dougwillo.

    On advice of police after a pattern of items and cash going missing from the office, Ciarametaro installed the cameras.

    “I can’t respond to anything regarding my case as I have retained legal (counsel) beyond the representation afforded me by my union representatives,” Seminara said in an email.

    No date has been scheduled for Seminara’s arraignment as the court clerk’s office said the case may be transferred to a different venue. This may be because the former shellfish warden and former harbormaster have appeared before the court in their official duties which have a law enforcement component. Seminara’s employment with the city ended last month.

    Ciarametaro in his statement urged the administration to reconsider its decision and reinstate him.

    “A claim surfaced regarding the forgery of a signature on a Department of Marine Fisheries Grant application that had already been approved by the Commonwealth,” he said. “I was not involved in such matter and denied any involvement in any such matter. Nonetheless, the mayor suspended me, unpaid, from my position.”

    The city’s deputy harbormaster admitted to the forgery during a meeting at City Hall, Ciarametaro said. Even though the deputy harbormaster made clear Ciarametaro had no knowledge or involvement in the forgery, the mayor immediately fired him, the former harbormaster said.

    In the statement, Ciarametaro does not name the deputy harbormaster, Chad Johnson, who has previously said he had been put on leave and said he had taken part in the forgery.

    “There is no question he made a mistake,” Ciarametaro said.

    The deputy harbormaster did not receive any of the money or seek to benefit personally from the grant, nor did anyone inside or outside the department, and the money went to the city’s sewage pump-out boat capabilities, Ciarametaro said of a $11,000 Clean Vessel Act grant.

    “Nonetheless, I had no idea that the forgery had occurred and therefore had no ability to prevent it, let alone recognize it,” he said.

    The harbormaster’s statement criticizes the Verga administration for the handling of his case, saying his one regret was “placing my full support behind the current mayor and his administrative staff, believing promises of transparency and accountability that have not come to fruition. I truly believed Mayor Verga would help Gloucester turn the page from the vacuum of accountability and transparency that infected the prior administration.”

    In response to Ciarametaro’s statement, the mayor’s director of communications and constituent services, Pam Tobey, wrote in an email “We cannot comment on personnel matters.”

    She said interim Harbormaster John McCarthy is preparing for the summer boating season with the harbormaster office’s staff.

    “The mayor feels confident in former police Chief and City Councilor John McCarthy’s ability to step in as interim harbormaster for the city of Gloucester,” Tobey said. “John’s extensive experience as a city department head, background in public safety, and knowledge of maritime operations is the perfect combination to keep the ship moving forward.”

    Verga had previously written to the City Council saying the city has been working closely with the state Division of Marine Fisheries to maintain the city’s good standing, and that he had “taken action and held the responsible parties within the Harbormaster’s Office accountable.”

    Verga has also called for a management audit of the Harbormaster’s Office.

    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • Their View: Bring respect into tough political year

    Their View: Bring respect into tough political year

    With a rematch brewing between President Joe Biden and ex-President Donald Trump, the build-up to Nov. 5 is shaping up to be among the most divisive elections ever. The us-versus-them rhetoric on both sides is disturbing.

    For employers and their workers, welcome to a minefield. The divisions evident in the electorate inevitably will show up in workplaces across the country.

    At Walgreens’ corporate annual meeting earlier this year, a shareholder proposal anticipating potential trouble ahead called for special protections for politically conservative employees. The company, based in suburban Chicago, urged voting against it, saying its existing protections are sufficient, and the proposal went down with just 8.2 million votes in favor, and almost 600 million cast against it.

    Walgreens is among many companies dealing with today’s partisan political divisions, and, despite the lopsided shareholder vote supporting the status quo, this year is unlikely to be business as usual. From the top down, it’s best for people to be cautious about flaunting their political convictions, be they center, right or left.

    That gets harder when companies are dragged into political controversies, as Walgreens is with its decision, along with rival pharmacy chain CVS, to sell abortion pills in Illinois and other states where it’s legal to do so.

    As much as companies would like to sidestep political controversies, today’s fevered discourse can make it impossible. High-profile examples such as Disney’s recently settled legal dispute with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida hint at many less-visible controversies at companies nationwide.

    The Environmental, Social and Governance programs common to Walgreens, CVS, Disney and many other leading companies have become targets of far-right attacks.

    On the left, activists have threatened to boycott companies they perceive as caving in to pressure from the right, as when California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined a chorus of Walgreens critics upset last year when the company said it would not sell abortion pills in states where the medications are prohibited by law.

    For employees working under conditions that feel fraught, we humbly suggest restraint. Be circumspect about sharing political viewpoints at work. Tread lightly. Be respectful.

    We recognize this advice runs counter to a trendy philosophy of workplace behavior. For a decade now, employees at many companies have been encouraged to “bring their whole selves to work.” Especially for younger workers, the ability to express their authentic selves has become an important factor in job satisfaction.

    Still, every worker should be aware that being personally outspoken can come with risks.

    Private employers have a lot of leeway in employment decisions. And unlike gender, race or other demographic characteristics, a particular political viewpoint is not a protected class under federal law — though political affiliation can’t be used as a pretext for illegal employment discrimination.

    Some states and cities have more specific protections, as do many public employees and other union workers.

    California is notable for a state law protecting workers who express their political beliefs and engage in lawful political activities, and Illinois provides some spotty support.

    But good luck enforcing those protections: If an office meeting veers into politics, would Illinois then intervene? That’s a nonstarter, in our view. For good reason, the law continues to favor the rights of private employers to make their own decisions about hiring, firing, promoting and disciplining their workers.

    In its response to the shareholder proposal asking it to make special provisions for its conservative employees, Walgreens repeated its long-standing commitment to respecting diversity of expression and refusing to tolerate harassment or discrimination.

    We agree with the company that no special provision was needed to expand on those and other state-of-the-art policies that it has publicly championed.

    At the same time, each of Walgreens’ roughly 330,000 employees needs to use good judgment to do their jobs without prompting any mini-insurrections — and that goes for the rest of us too. This upcoming election will be tough, no matter how it turns out. Let’s meet it with some self-discipline and our best instincts.

    This piece originated with the Editorial Board of the Chicago Tribune.

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  • Lawmakers seek FEMA funds, longer work permits for migrants

    Lawmakers seek FEMA funds, longer work permits for migrants

    BOSTON — Members of the state’s congressional delegation are calling on the Biden administration to provide more funding to cover migrant costs and extend the time frame for federal work permits amid delays in processing extensions.

    In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren call on the agency to “immediately” distribute Federal Emergency Management Agency funding through its Shelter and Services Program to Massachusetts and other states that “are in desperate need of federal support” amid a surge of migrants.

    “Now is a critical moment to provide federal relief to Massachusetts as the Commonwealth continues its steadfast efforts to care for new arrivals and existing residents alike, as well as ensure the state’s long-term financial stability,” they wrote. “Given the far-reaching extent of this need, we also ask you to provide ample funding to locations such as Massachusetts, which are experiencing particularly notable increases in new arrivals.”

    Congress earmarked $650 million in a recently approved federal supplemental spending bill for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide grant money to municipal governments and nonprofit groups to assist the homeless and newly arrived migrants.

    The lawmakers called on the Biden administration to begin distributing the FEMA funding “expeditiously and equitably” to Massachusetts and other states wrestling with increased migrant costs. They noted that the state expects to spend nearly $1 billion over the next year to provide housing, food and other necessities to migrants.

    “Over the past two years, families have been arriving in Massachusetts at a dramatic rate, which spiked in the second half of 2023,” they wrote. “The last round of SSP funds allocated to Massachusetts was in August 2023 and was based, in part, on a formula that did not fully capture the exponential growth of new arrivals in Massachusetts.”

    Last year, FEMA awarded more than $3.1 million to Massachusetts nonprofit organizations to provide shelter, food and other services for the homeless through the program. That included $408,915 for Essex County and $640,137 for Middlesex County groups.

    Meanwhile, Warren is leading a group of Democratic lawmakers in calling on the Biden administration to take “immediate action” to extend federal work permits for migrants.

    In a letter to Biden and senior administration officials, the lawmakers urge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to lengthen the automatic extension period for Employment Authorization Documents from 180 to 540 days. They also call on the federal agency to enact the proposed rules without a sunset date, or for at least three years.

    The lawmakers, who included other members of the state’s delegation, said the move is essential to prevent the loss of employment authorization for hundreds of thousands of migrants amid paperwork processing delays by the federal government.

    “Many lose their jobs, income, and access to driver’s licenses because of bureaucratic delays outside of their control,” the lawmakers wrote. “This severely limits their ability to pay rent, buy food, and support themselves and their families.”

    “If they continue to work without authorization, they can also become removable from the United States, and their employers can be subject to civil penalties,” they added.

    Massachusetts is dealing with a historic influx of thousands of migrants over the past year amid a surge of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border.

    Gov. Maura Healey, a first-term Democrat who declared a state of emergency last year amid a surge of asylum seekers, has also pushed the Biden administration for more federal funding and expedited work authorization.

    Under Massachusetts’ right-to-shelter law, the state is required to provide emergency housing to people regardless of their immigration status. Healey and Democratic legislative leaders has resisted calls from Republicans and others to scale back or temporarily lift the requirements amid claims that it is drawing more asylum seekers to the state.

    The state is spending about $75 million a month – or roughly $10,000 per family – to provide housing and other needs for 7,500 migrant and other homeless families in emergency shelters.

    House and Senate leaders are negotiating a supplemental spending bill that would provide hundreds of millions of dollars to cover migrants costs and set limits on the length of stay in state-run shelters, which now averages about 18 months.

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

    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • 2024 World Happiness Rankings: USA Falls Out of Top 20, Youngest Hit Hardest

    2024 World Happiness Rankings: USA Falls Out of Top 20, Youngest Hit Hardest

    What are the top 20 happiest countries in the world? How do mental health and well-being trends look in the United States and Canada? The 2024 World Happiness Report is in!

    The World Happiness Report is a research initiative to compare happiness levels between different countries.

    The project first launched in 2012, surveying more than 350,000 people in 95 countries asking them to rate their happiness on a 10-point scale.

    Each year they release a new report and the 2024 full report was just published a few weeks ago. There are some interesting findings in it that are worth highlighting.

    First let’s look at the happiness rankings by country.

    Top 20 Happiest Countries

    Here are the top 20 happiest countries in 2024 according to the report.

    The scores are on a scale of 1-10. Each participant was asked to think of a ladder, with the best possible life for them being a “10” and the worst possible life being a “0.” They were then asked to rate their current lives. The final rankings are the average score for each country.

    (By the way, this simple test for measuring subjective well-being is known as the “Cantril Ladder,” it’s a common tool used in public polling especially the Gallup World Poll.)

    The results:

      1. Finland (7.741)
      2. Denmark (7.538)
      3. Iceland (7.525)
      4. Sweden (7.344)
      5. Israel (7.341)
      6. Netherlands (7.319)
      7. Norway (7.302)
      8. Luxembourg (7.122)
      9. Switzerland (7.060)
      10. Australia (7.057)
      11. New Zealand (7.029)
      12. Costa Rica (6.955)
      13. Kuwait (6.951)
      14. Austria (6.905)
      15. Canada (6.900)
      16. Belgium (6.894)
      17. Ireland (6.838)
      18. Czechia (6.822)
      19. Lithuania (6.818)
      20. United Kingdom (6.749)

    The top 10 countries have remained stable over the years. As of March 2024, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world seven times in a row.

    There was more movement in the top 20 rankings. Most notably, this is the first year that the United States dropped out of the top 20 (from rank 15 to 23 – an 8 place drop).

    More alarming are the age gaps in happiness reports. In both the U.S. and Canada, those above the age of 60 report significantly higher rates of happiness than those below 30.

    Above age 60, the U.S. ranks 10 overall on the world happiness rankings. Below age 30, the U.S. falls to rank 62, just beating out Peru, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

    Could this be a sign of a continuing downward trend in places like the U.S. and Canada?

    Potential Factors Behind Life Evaluation

    How to measure happiness is always a controversial topic.

    To this day, psychologists and social scientists don’t really have a reliable way to determine happiness besides simply asking someone, “How happy are you?”

    However, the World Happiness Report attempts to take the above findings and break them down into six main factors that contribute to overall life evaluation on a societal level.

    These factors don’t influence the final rankings, they are just a way to make sense of the results:

    • GDP per capita – A general measure of a country’s overall wealth.
    • Life expectancy – A general measure of a country’s overall health.
    • Generosity – The level of a country’s trust and kindness through charity and volunteering.
    • Social support – The level of a country’s social cohesion and community.
    • Freedom – The level of a country’s freedom to live life as a person sees fit.
    • Corruption – A general measure of government competence and political accountability.

    Each factor helps explain the differences in overall happiness between countries, with some countries performing better in certain areas over others.

    One benefit of this model is that it looks beyond GDP (or “Gross Domestic Product”) which has long been the overall benchmark for comparing countries in the social sciences. The U.S. has the highest GDP in the world and frequently ranks in the top 10 per capita, but the happiness rankings show there is more to the picture.

    Conclusion

    The World Happiness Report is a good guideline for comparing happiness and well-being between different countries. How does your country rank? It will be interesting to see how these rankings change over the next few years, do you have any predictions?


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    Steven Handel

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  • Healey officials push affordable housing plan

    Healey officials push affordable housing plan

    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

    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • North Shore towns weigh MBTA zoning law

    North Shore towns weigh MBTA zoning law

    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

    By Michael McHugh | Staff Writer

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  • Jesus never leaves us

    Jesus never leaves us






    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

    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.

    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • Keeping the ‘old’ in old school

    Keeping the ‘old’ in old school

    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.

    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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