Salisbury Christian Concert Series
Salisbury Christian Concert Series Wed. August 19 & Wed. Aug. 26, 6:30 - 9:00 PM FREE concerts at Salisbury Beach Waterfront Stage! Come early, browse through the shops. Take in the views, enjoy a great Christian Concert sponsored in part by ChristianMediaProductions.org, Tom Saab Real Estate. In event of rain the concert will be held indoors at Surfside cafe or Blue Ocean Music Hall.
New Rowley Fire Chief
ROWLEY – With the appointment of 44-year-old Daniel Veinot as the town’s Fire Chief last week and the appointment in January of 39-year-old Michael Balsley as Police Chief, Rowley has its public safety leadership in place for years to come. “That was one of the reasons we chose Daniel,” said Selectman Robert Snow, who was on the committee that vetted Veinot. Selectman Cliff Pierce said, “This feels like a new day in Rowley. We finally got our two public safety chiefs in place.” Veinot, whose first day as chief is...
Thom Gould Served the Newburyport Maritime Museum Well
NEWBURYPORT − The U.S. flag at the Custom House Maritime Museum flew at half-staff last week to honor Thom Gould, a great friend of the museum, a former director and past chair of the board. Born in December 1944, he passed away on Aug. 10. A vice chair of the museum board last year, Gould is remembered for his lively sense of humor, spirited conversations and love of good music and food. A lifelong baseball fan from playing Little League as a boy to being an ardent fan of the Red Sox, he modeled the T in his...
State Orders Response from Town on Records Non-Disclosure (Georgetown)
by Lonnie Brennan GEORGETOWN – Manza Arthur, supervisor of records for the commonwealth's Secretary of State Public Records Division last week issued a third demand to Georgetown Town Clerk Kerri Ann McManus in her capacity as Records Access Officer to respond to a records request from Selectman Michael Donahue. One of McManus's many roles includes serving as the conduit between the various town departments and any records requests. Unfortunately, that often leads the record officer between the proverbial rock...
Newburyport Maudslay Park Arts Center
by Alan Aulson "My dad started this," Nick Costello, the director of the Maudslay Arts Center responded when I asked him about Maudslay Park and the musical and performance events held there. Nick is the director of the Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport which for more than 30 years has provided concerts, performances, recreation, corporate events and more for residents visitors from near and far. The 488-acre Maudlsay Park in Newburyport has 4-5 acres carved out for the Arts Center. Nick's dad was a state rep.,...
Newbury’s Ava Valianti’s New Single, New Local Dates!
NEWBURY −Following a breakthrough year that included being named First Runner-Up in American Songwriter’s Road Ready Talent Contest, the release of her acclaimed sophomore EP Sophomore Slump, and continued momentum as one of New England’s fastest-rising young singer-songwriters, 17-year-old indie pop artist Ava Valianti returns with her powerful new single, “alterations,” available everywhere on August 14. Known for turning deeply personal experiences into songs that resonate far beyond herself, Ava tackles one...
Commemorative Stamp for U.S. Coast Guard Academy Milestone
The U.S. Postal Service will release a new commemorative stamp celebrating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The first-day-of-issue unveiling ceremony for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Forever stamp is free and open to the public. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at 10 a.m., Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival Custom House Pier at Waterfront Park, 1 Waterfront Park St., New London, CT 06320. Attendees are encouraged to register at: https://www.usps.com/uscoastguardstamp. The stamp art features...
Ipswich Boys 7th Grade Travel Team Wins South Division Championship
Coach John Healy presented the Ipswich Boy's 7th Grade Travel Team blinged-out championship rings following the team's August 10th victory over Danvers in the final game of the Rec. Hoops Summer Basketball Monday Nights League.
BOXFORD HOUSE OF PIZZA
by Kay Lee Ogden This week’s Business Spotlight shines on Boxford House of Pizza, located at 256 Georgetown Road in Boxford, Mass., located at the Meeting Place Plaza — a wonderful local restaurant that has been serving the area for approximately 30 years. The business was purchased on December 1, 2019, by Nevi and Marsela Shukulli, who have worked extremely hard and dedicated their energy to building a terrific family restaurant. They proudly serve Boxford, Georgetown, Topsfield, and many other surrounding...
New River Run Bank Senior V.P
HAVERHILL − River Run Bancorp, MHC is pleased to announce the hiring of Holly Rutko to Senior Vice President, Senior Risk Manager. Holly brings 20 years of banking industry experience to River Run, having previously served as Vice President, Compliance Manager. “Holly’s depth of knowledge in BSA, CRA, and compliance — combined with her two decades of hands-on experience — make her exceptionally well-suited for this leadership role,” said Meaghan Lally-McGurl, Executive Vice President, Chief Enterprise Risk...
Georgetown Explores Pickleball Courts with Online Survey
GEORGETOWN – Selectman Mike Donahue, who also chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission, is conducting a public survey to gauge residents’ interest in using a $1 million donation from Jim Bussing Sr. to build a four-court, indoor pickleball facility. The proposal is to build the facility at the East Main Street Recreational Area (also known as the East Main Street Fields) at 184 Church Street, which is owned and operated by the town’s Parks & Recreation Commission and by the town’s Conservation Commission to...
FaceBook Responses to Pickleball Proposal
Facebook posts and the survey results may differ, but the announcment of a survey by Selectman Mike Donahue, who also chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission brought strong responses, some are included below: Mary-Liz Murray wrote: “Would love to see that donation go to a true community center that can be used by people with interests of all kinds. Could include pickleball and other sports as well as music, theater, visual art making and others. Many existing clubs and organizations serving multiple...
Church Gets Facelift, Shiny New Coat
Yes, drivers are not imagining things as they travel through West Boxford Village and say to themselves 'wow, something changed.' The Second Congregtional Church of Boxford got a new paint job and it looks stellar.
Rowley Honors Purple Heart Recipients
ROWLEY – Chester Bishop was a gunner’s mate on swift boat river patrols in southern Vietnam in December 1968 when he was wounded the first time. The Army, short of soldiers, patched him up and returned him to his boat, where six months later he was injured again by an exploding Claymore mine. Steve Bohn, a graduate of Salem High School, returned to his barracks after a long day on guard duty in Afghanistan in 2008 with the 101st Airborne when a suicide bomber exploded a loaded dump truck near him. He woke up in...
Amesbury Deploys High-Tech Against Potholes ($31,500 to survey potholes)
AMESBURY – The pothole you hit that jolts your jaw and bounces your eyes out their sockets has a new enemy. The city of Amesbury has brought in high-tech resources for the first time to map cracks, holes and other decaying spots in the city’s 74 miles of streets. That map, which is being processed now, will be a written evaluation of the condition of each street, including setting priorities for fixing them. “Streets and sidewalks are a common ground for residents and business owners,” Mayor Kassandra Gove said....
God Is Not Through with Newburyport’s Malcolm Carnwath
NEWBURYPORT – Malcolm Carnwath was a Realtor and a respected historic preservationist with deep roots in his beloved Newburyport and Portsmouth. But Carnwath probably prefers to be thought of more as a Jazz pianist. As a long-time member of this city’s historical commission, he researched historic homes that brought numerous under-appreciated houses to life, which helped find new owners and allowed existing owners to appreciate better the homes they lived in. These days, Carnwath’s eyes light up when his music is...
Aulson Offers Cleanup/Plowing of Community Gardens
GEORGETOWN − In an e-mail to the town, Alan Aulson (Great Rock Farm, Goats-to-Go, ...) has offered to help restore the Community Gardens on Andover Street to their prior splendor. With the majority of the garden plots abandoned and overgrown, extensive cleanup is needed. Aulson will present his thoughts on restoration at the upcoming August 20th ConCom meeting. He seeks to protect gardens that are active and in stellar shape (shout-out to David Abbott for example), while restoring the remaining field area to...
Georgetown Town Administrator Attacks Critics in a Blog
GEORGETOWN – Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco has created a blog on the platform SubStack. He used one of his first posts to attack his critics, which includes this newspaper that printed letters from former Conservation Commission staff members. In last week’s edition, three former staff members questioned his actions, including firing one with little or no cause, shouting at them and making them uncomfortable enough in what they described as a “toxic environment” to leave the town’s employment. Calling The...
Newbury Fire Department Responds to Multiple Service Calls Within an Hour
NEWBURY − Chief David Evans reports that the Newbury Fire Department responded to two service calls within an hour on Saturday. On Saturday, Aug. 8, at approximately 10:58 a.m., the Newbury Fire Department responded to the scene of a bicycle crash at the corner of Coleman Road and Elm Street. Upon arrival, crews found a bicyclist, who was participating in a bike race passing through town, had struck the guard rail and was tossed from their bike and into the woods. Due to the nature of the bicyclist’s injuries,...
North Shore’s Token Continues Rise as Hip-Hop Star
by Julianne DeSantis At just 27 years old, North Shore local celebrity Token (Ben Goldberg) has become one of Massachusetts' most recognizable names in hip-hop. From Marblehead and Salem, the rapper first gained national attention through his viral freestyle performances and rapid-fire lyricism before building a dedicated worldwide fan base, since 12 years old. Now, as he prepares for the release of his fourth studio album, Token continues to prove that his career is only gaining momentum. Known not only for his...
Georgetown Affordable Housing Trust
by Kay Lee Ogden The Georgetown Affordable Housing Trust was established in 2009 for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Town. Kathy Sacks, a former selectman, was one of the founders to establish the town committee for this program. The Trust has recently completed renovations on a three-bedroom house located at 79 Andover Street and is selling this house to a family that meet certain income and asset thresholds through a lottery process. Interested parties should contact the Trust for an...
Georgetown Cancer Concerns
GEORGETOWN – Vacation on the part of a town employee apparently scuttled the discussion of cancer concerns from last week's SelectBoard's meeting. Residents had jammed the recent Board of Health meeting, concerned with high incidents of cancer in certain neighborhoods of this town They were told the numbers are such that the state will be looking into the matter, and their concerns will be investigated. The matter was requested to be placed on the SelectBoard's agenda by Selectman Mike Donahue but the agenda item...
Newburyport’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to Benefit from Shaw’s Re-usable Bag Program
NEWBURYPORT − The St. Basil’s Meal Ministry of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has offered a weekly free Monday meal for many decades. The program has been selected as a nonprofit partner in the Shaw's GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag Program for August 2026. This means the St. Basil’s Meal Ministry will receive $1 for every $3.00 GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag sold throughout the month of August 2026 at the Shaw's at 45 Storey Avenue in Newburyport. The meal is offered every Monday from...
GROVELAND Statement of Robert E. Valentine Retiring Fire Chief
GROVELAND – “In November of 2024, during a visit to my doctor for a seasonal respiratory infection, my doctor found inconsistencies with my chest X-ray, and I was referred to a pulmonologist. At the follow-up appointment, which included scans and blood testing, I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a chronic, incurable progressive lung disease. After serving for nearly 50 years as a firefighter, my body was starting to show the telltale signs of my career. “I informed the Town of Groveland of my...
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: ROWLEY’S Magic Dogland
This series of local businesses to encourage customers to shop local, and make people aware of the services, and talents, that we have surrounding us! Please shop local! by Kay Lee Ogden This week's business spotlight: Magic Dogland of Rowley, Mass, run by owner Kim Lewis and her daughter Desiree Lewis. Kim has a passion for the love of dogs, and to make them happy. Four years ago, Kim envisioned owning her own business and decided that she wanted a dog care center for dog sitting – a loving and caring space for...
A New Use for West Newbury’s Middle Street Bridge Granite
WEST NEWBURY – Pickleball courts seem to be springing up at any vacant spots as this sport solidifies its popularity with North Shore residents. But none of them have a granite wall reclaimed from the historic Middle Street Bridge, which connected Newburyport and West Newbury over the Upper Artichoke Reservoir since the 19th Century. The granite repurposed as a wall outside the new courts “is probably more valuable than the courts themselves,” Town Manager Angus Jennings said. The two new courts, at Action Cove...
Newburyport Public Library August Events
Monday, August 10th at 7 PM: "Act Worthy of Yourselves" with author Salina B. Baker (VIRTUAL). Author Salina B. Baker will be discussing her book, "Act Worthy of Yourselves: A Novel of Dr. Joseph Warren and an American Rebellion". This historical biographical novel brings Bostonian Dr. Joseph Warren to life in vivid, intimate detail. Virtual registration required. Tuesday, August 11th at 5:30 PM: Charcuterie Basics (IN PERSON). This hands-on workshop will teach the components of charcuterie, how to choose...
Newburyport Chamber Music Festival 25th Anniversary
The Newburyport Chamber Music Festival (NCMF) proudly announces its 2026 Summer Festival, marking 25 years of bringing world-class classical music to the North Shore. This milestone season features a repertoire balancing canonical masterpieces by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich with the contemporary creative brilliance of new works by Composer-in-Residence Jon Deak. The milestone season features a distinguished roster of guest artists, including the Grammy Award-winning Miró String Quartet, legendary...
‘Forced-Out’ ConCom Staff Cry Out for Change in Town Leadership
GEORGETOWN – For much of the last five years, there has been almost continuous turmoil in the staffing of one of this town’s most critical regulatory body – the Conservation Commission. The commission, known as the ConCom, protects the town’s natural resources, including endangered species; regulates wetlands ‒ ponds, lakes, rivers ‒ and manages open space. This volunteer board oversees environmental health through permitting, planning, and land stewardship. Orlando Pacheco has been the Georgetown Town...
Timothy Southall
Timothy Southall, 89, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Tim was born on October 12, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his childhood growing up in several communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership, and they were married in 1959, sharing 67 years of love, faith, and devotion. Tim attended Gordon College before he and Barbara settled in Rowley, where they built...
North Shore Musical Theater Opens Doors for Future Stars
REGIONAL − Olivia Riley caught the acting bug at Amesbury Middle School, when she performed in The Little Mermaid, the school musical. She sings in its choir and plays the trumpet in the school band. This summer she got an extraordinary opportunity to be a cast member in the North Shore Music Theater’s production of JOSEPH AND THE TECHNOCOLOR DREAMCOAT. The sixth grader is one of 24 young people from the North Shore who make up the choir and are on stage at the award-winning theater for about one-third of the...
New Plum Island Gateway
PLUM ISLAND – Residents and visitors to Plum Island next spring will have a new gateway to the beaches when Cobalt Development finishes building two-story condominiums at 2 Plum Island Blvd., designed for year-round living. The two luxury condos, built on the site of the old Plum Island Grille, will be 2,040 square feet with three bedrooms and two and a half baths each. To take advantage of some of the best island’s best views, each condo will have two covered porches overlooking the Great Salt Marsh. One deck is...
Kayakers Cautioned: Weed Entanglement Conditions!
GEORGETOWN − Kayakers and paddleboard users are again cautioned to stay clear of the extensive weeds that are growing in Pentucket Pond. Last summer, Katelyn Barusso alerted the town that a kayaker had become entangled in the overgrowth and a near life-threatening incident occurred. "My husband and I were sitting on our deck when I noticed that a kayaker suddenly was not on his kayak any more. I went to get binoculars to take a closer look when he started screaming for help," she related in an e-mail to...
Parks and Recreation and Highway Department Work Together to Deliver Interim Swimming and Fishing Docks at American Legion Park
GEORGETOWN — Georgetown Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Mike Donahue announced this week that an interim solution is now in place at American Legion Park on Pentucket Pond, restoring usable public docks for both swimming and fishing. Parks and Recreation Commission successfully worked with Peter Durkee and the Georgetown Highway Department in combining sections of the existing older docks with the newly purchased smaller docks to create separate, functional areas for swimmers and anglers. The interim...
Feds May Help River Sewage Problem
REGIONAL – After years of banging on crumbling sewer pipes to get Washington’s attention about the sewage in the Merrimack River, the disaster this month of dumping millions of gallons a day of raw sewage into the river just before the 250th anniversary of Independence Day seems to have been what was needed. The disaster occurred when Haverhill hired a contractor to replace two collapsed portions of a 42-inch concrete line with two 24-inch mains. An accident released 8 million gallons of raw sewage into the...
Ucoming Maudslay Arts Center Concerts
Ucoming Maudslay Arts Center Concerts “Summer is just a brief season here in New England,” MAC Director Nicholas C. Costello said, “so come out and enjoy wonderful music at affordable prices in a spectacular natural setting.” Saturday evening at 7 p.m. come hear the Ken Clark Organ Trio (KCOT), which has been performing around New England and the eastern U.S. for the past 32 years. “Organist Ken Clark, guitarist Mike Mele, and drummer Steve Chaggaris lean on the beat, they build dynamic climaxes sprinkle in jazz...
Groveland News: Valley Screw Part 2
by Mike Dempsey GROVELAND NEWS Last year we featured a story about the former Valley Manufacturing Products facility at 64 Washington Street known locally as Valley Screw. The facility stopped production in the 1990’s and eventually was abandoned. The company still owns the site and building. The site and surrounding properties were the subject of a Superfund cleanup by the Environmental Protection Agency. As we reported, the owners of the company allowed hazardous waste and organic chemicals to be regularly...
ROWLEY: Timothy Southall, FORMER TEACHER, BASEBALL ORGANIZER – WAKE THURS – F.S. Roberts Funeral Home
Timothy Southall, 89, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Tim was born on October 12, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his childhood growing up in several communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership, and they were married in 1959, sharing 67 years of love, faith, and devotion. Tim attended Gordon College before he and Barbara settled in Rowley, where they built...
James Lloyd Johnston
James Lloyd Johnston, 82, died peacefully at his home in Newbury, Massachusetts, on July 20, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 21, 1943, Jim was the beloved son of James Aloysius Johnston and Rita (Latreille) Johnston. He later became a proud citizen of the United States, where he spent the latter chapters of his remarkable life. Jim graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1969 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Throughout a career spanning more than five...
Salisbury Christian Concert Series
Salisbury Christian Concert Series Wed. August 19 & Wed. Aug. 26, 6:30 - 9:00 PM FREE concerts at Salisbury Beach Waterfront Stage! Come early, browse through the shops. Take in the views, enjoy a great Christian Concert sponsored in part by ChristianMediaProductions.org, Tom Saab Real Estate. In event of rain the concert will be held indoors at Surfside cafe or Blue Ocean Music Hall.
New Rowley Fire Chief
ROWLEY – With the appointment of 44-year-old Daniel Veinot as the town’s Fire Chief last week and the appointment in January of 39-year-old Michael Balsley as Police Chief, Rowley has its public safety leadership in place for years to come. “That was one of the reasons we chose Daniel,” said Selectman Robert Snow, who was on the committee that vetted Veinot. Selectman Cliff Pierce said, “This feels like a new day in Rowley. We finally got our two public safety chiefs in place.” Veinot, whose first day as chief is...
Thom Gould Served the Newburyport Maritime Museum Well
NEWBURYPORT − The U.S. flag at the Custom House Maritime Museum flew at half-staff last week to honor Thom Gould, a great friend of the museum, a former director and past chair of the board. Born in December 1944, he passed away on Aug. 10. A vice chair of the museum board last year, Gould is remembered for his lively sense of humor, spirited conversations and love of good music and food. A lifelong baseball fan from playing Little League as a boy to being an ardent fan of the Red Sox, he modeled the T in his...
State Orders Response from Town on Records Non-Disclosure (Georgetown)
by Lonnie Brennan GEORGETOWN – Manza Arthur, supervisor of records for the commonwealth's Secretary of State Public Records Division last week issued a third demand to Georgetown Town Clerk Kerri Ann McManus in her capacity as Records Access Officer to respond to a records request from Selectman Michael Donahue. One of McManus's many roles includes serving as the conduit between the various town departments and any records requests. Unfortunately, that often leads the record officer between the proverbial rock...
Newburyport Maudslay Park Arts Center
by Alan Aulson "My dad started this," Nick Costello, the director of the Maudslay Arts Center responded when I asked him about Maudslay Park and the musical and performance events held there. Nick is the director of the Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport which for more than 30 years has provided concerts, performances, recreation, corporate events and more for residents visitors from near and far. The 488-acre Maudlsay Park in Newburyport has 4-5 acres carved out for the Arts Center. Nick's dad was a state rep.,...
Newbury’s Ava Valianti’s New Single, New Local Dates!
NEWBURY −Following a breakthrough year that included being named First Runner-Up in American Songwriter’s Road Ready Talent Contest, the release of her acclaimed sophomore EP Sophomore Slump, and continued momentum as one of New England’s fastest-rising young singer-songwriters, 17-year-old indie pop artist Ava Valianti returns with her powerful new single, “alterations,” available everywhere on August 14. Known for turning deeply personal experiences into songs that resonate far beyond herself, Ava tackles one...
Commemorative Stamp for U.S. Coast Guard Academy Milestone
The U.S. Postal Service will release a new commemorative stamp celebrating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The first-day-of-issue unveiling ceremony for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Forever stamp is free and open to the public. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at 10 a.m., Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival Custom House Pier at Waterfront Park, 1 Waterfront Park St., New London, CT 06320. Attendees are encouraged to register at: https://www.usps.com/uscoastguardstamp. The stamp art features...
Ipswich Boys 7th Grade Travel Team Wins South Division Championship
Coach John Healy presented the Ipswich Boy's 7th Grade Travel Team blinged-out championship rings following the team's August 10th victory over Danvers in the final game of the Rec. Hoops Summer Basketball Monday Nights League.
BOXFORD HOUSE OF PIZZA
by Kay Lee Ogden This week’s Business Spotlight shines on Boxford House of Pizza, located at 256 Georgetown Road in Boxford, Mass., located at the Meeting Place Plaza — a wonderful local restaurant that has been serving the area for approximately 30 years. The business was purchased on December 1, 2019, by Nevi and Marsela Shukulli, who have worked extremely hard and dedicated their energy to building a terrific family restaurant. They proudly serve Boxford, Georgetown, Topsfield, and many other surrounding...
New River Run Bank Senior V.P
HAVERHILL − River Run Bancorp, MHC is pleased to announce the hiring of Holly Rutko to Senior Vice President, Senior Risk Manager. Holly brings 20 years of banking industry experience to River Run, having previously served as Vice President, Compliance Manager. “Holly’s depth of knowledge in BSA, CRA, and compliance — combined with her two decades of hands-on experience — make her exceptionally well-suited for this leadership role,” said Meaghan Lally-McGurl, Executive Vice President, Chief Enterprise Risk...
Georgetown Explores Pickleball Courts with Online Survey
GEORGETOWN – Selectman Mike Donahue, who also chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission, is conducting a public survey to gauge residents’ interest in using a $1 million donation from Jim Bussing Sr. to build a four-court, indoor pickleball facility. The proposal is to build the facility at the East Main Street Recreational Area (also known as the East Main Street Fields) at 184 Church Street, which is owned and operated by the town’s Parks & Recreation Commission and by the town’s Conservation Commission to...
FaceBook Responses to Pickleball Proposal
Facebook posts and the survey results may differ, but the announcment of a survey by Selectman Mike Donahue, who also chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission brought strong responses, some are included below: Mary-Liz Murray wrote: “Would love to see that donation go to a true community center that can be used by people with interests of all kinds. Could include pickleball and other sports as well as music, theater, visual art making and others. Many existing clubs and organizations serving multiple...
Church Gets Facelift, Shiny New Coat
Yes, drivers are not imagining things as they travel through West Boxford Village and say to themselves 'wow, something changed.' The Second Congregtional Church of Boxford got a new paint job and it looks stellar.
Rowley Honors Purple Heart Recipients
ROWLEY – Chester Bishop was a gunner’s mate on swift boat river patrols in southern Vietnam in December 1968 when he was wounded the first time. The Army, short of soldiers, patched him up and returned him to his boat, where six months later he was injured again by an exploding Claymore mine. Steve Bohn, a graduate of Salem High School, returned to his barracks after a long day on guard duty in Afghanistan in 2008 with the 101st Airborne when a suicide bomber exploded a loaded dump truck near him. He woke up in...
Amesbury Deploys High-Tech Against Potholes ($31,500 to survey potholes)
AMESBURY – The pothole you hit that jolts your jaw and bounces your eyes out their sockets has a new enemy. The city of Amesbury has brought in high-tech resources for the first time to map cracks, holes and other decaying spots in the city’s 74 miles of streets. That map, which is being processed now, will be a written evaluation of the condition of each street, including setting priorities for fixing them. “Streets and sidewalks are a common ground for residents and business owners,” Mayor Kassandra Gove said....
God Is Not Through with Newburyport’s Malcolm Carnwath
NEWBURYPORT – Malcolm Carnwath was a Realtor and a respected historic preservationist with deep roots in his beloved Newburyport and Portsmouth. But Carnwath probably prefers to be thought of more as a Jazz pianist. As a long-time member of this city’s historical commission, he researched historic homes that brought numerous under-appreciated houses to life, which helped find new owners and allowed existing owners to appreciate better the homes they lived in. These days, Carnwath’s eyes light up when his music is...
Aulson Offers Cleanup/Plowing of Community Gardens
GEORGETOWN − In an e-mail to the town, Alan Aulson (Great Rock Farm, Goats-to-Go, ...) has offered to help restore the Community Gardens on Andover Street to their prior splendor. With the majority of the garden plots abandoned and overgrown, extensive cleanup is needed. Aulson will present his thoughts on restoration at the upcoming August 20th ConCom meeting. He seeks to protect gardens that are active and in stellar shape (shout-out to David Abbott for example), while restoring the remaining field area to...
Georgetown Town Administrator Attacks Critics in a Blog
GEORGETOWN – Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco has created a blog on the platform SubStack. He used one of his first posts to attack his critics, which includes this newspaper that printed letters from former Conservation Commission staff members. In last week’s edition, three former staff members questioned his actions, including firing one with little or no cause, shouting at them and making them uncomfortable enough in what they described as a “toxic environment” to leave the town’s employment. Calling The...
Newbury Fire Department Responds to Multiple Service Calls Within an Hour
NEWBURY − Chief David Evans reports that the Newbury Fire Department responded to two service calls within an hour on Saturday. On Saturday, Aug. 8, at approximately 10:58 a.m., the Newbury Fire Department responded to the scene of a bicycle crash at the corner of Coleman Road and Elm Street. Upon arrival, crews found a bicyclist, who was participating in a bike race passing through town, had struck the guard rail and was tossed from their bike and into the woods. Due to the nature of the bicyclist’s injuries,...
North Shore’s Token Continues Rise as Hip-Hop Star
by Julianne DeSantis At just 27 years old, North Shore local celebrity Token (Ben Goldberg) has become one of Massachusetts' most recognizable names in hip-hop. From Marblehead and Salem, the rapper first gained national attention through his viral freestyle performances and rapid-fire lyricism before building a dedicated worldwide fan base, since 12 years old. Now, as he prepares for the release of his fourth studio album, Token continues to prove that his career is only gaining momentum. Known not only for his...