TTC_02_10_21_Vol.17-No.16
TTC_02_10_21_Vol.17-No.16
TTC_02_10_21_Vol.17-No.16
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The Town Common
LARGEST DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE NORTH SHORE OF MA & COASTAL NH
www.thetowncommon.com
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR 17 YEARS
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Vol. 17, No. 16
FREE
Go to the Back of the Line
By Stewart Lytle, Reporter
NEWBURYPORT — Frank Cousins
wrote in his yearbook that he thought
Newburyport High School was "a lot
of fun." He ran track, which was popular
among students after Jesse Owens
won gold four times in the 1936 Berlin
Games. He liked playing with rabbits.
Cousins, the youngest of eight children
raised by a single mother after his father
died, was looking forward to graduating
in the class of 1941. In those days as now,
"graduates walk in a procession into the
stadium in their cap and gowns next to
another classmate in alphabetical order
by last name," wrote Charlie Cullen, a
member of the 1968 class at Newburyport
High.
But not Cousins.
Frank Cousins, Jr. in front of the high school he and his father graduated from.
Stewart Lytle / The Town Common
As the 1941 ceremony approached,
first-year principal Rupert Nock agreed,
at her request, that a female graduate did
not have to walk next to Cousins, the
only African American in the class.
"When it was time for the graduates
to line up, my father was told he could
not line up with graduates whose
names began with the letter C,” Cousins'
son and namesake, Frank Cousins,
Jr., said in a sermon last month in
honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. last month. “Instead,
he had to walk alone.”
Eighty years later during an interview
last week, Cousins remembered his father
telling him that a friend, Norman Wells,
who walked at the rear of the procession
because of his last name, said, "Frank,
come walk with me."
Nock, who later was named superintendent
and honored by naming the middle
school for him, "did not do the right
thing," the younger Cousins said.
Cousins “kept his composure
through the commencement ceremony,”
his son said. But being relegated
to the rear of the procession because of
his skin color "was a defining moment
in my father's life."
For his family, the largest black family
in Newburyport, the incident was "very
troubling," the younger Cousin said.
The elder Cousins could have become
bitter and filled with hate, his son said.
Instead, he used the graduation incident
as "a teaching moment" for his family
and for others. He devoted his life to
helping others, his son said.
At the invitation of Rev. Rebecca Bryan,
the younger Cousins, who has spent
his life in public service, told the story of
his father’s 1941 graduation incident in a
guest sermon at the First Religious Society
Unitarian Universalist Church.
Cousins, who served on the Newburyport
City Council, in the state House of
Representatives and as the Essex County
Sheriff for 21 years before becoming
president of the Greater Newburyport
Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
used the sermon to warn that black and
brown men are in danger of becoming
“extinct” because of mass incarceration,
drugs, poor schools, few jobs and little
Cousins, page 3
Stewart Lytle / The Town Common
Antoinette Whitney showing off her chocolates at Oveida.
Time for
Chocolate
By Stewart Lytle, Reporter
REGIONAL – Guys, Red Alert: it’s Valentine’s
Day Sunday.
It comes every year around the time of the
Superbowl. When the New England Patriots are
playing in the big game, your significant other
may forgive you for forgetting her day. But since
it was only a former Patriots’ quarterback this
year, you probably have to remember the flowers,
chocolates, a card and/or jewelry.
If you don’t know what kind of chocolate your
significant other likes, you’re not alone. But if
you don’t do something about it, said Antoinette
Whitney at Oveida’s in downtown Amesbury
said last week, “We tell them, boy, you’re in big
trouble. Then, we save them.”
Antoinette, who has been making chocolate
delights for 10 years, says she can help. So can
Jayne Murray at the New England Chocolate
Co. in Salisbury, and Jane Ciccone at Onesto,
whose cookies and crackers can be found on-line
or, if you have waited until the end of the week,
at Whole Foods, where you can pick up a card
and flowers at the same time.
“Truffles,” said Antoinette when asked what
was the sure-fire treat that your significant other
will love you for. She points to the glass case at
the front of the store as she recommends the caramel,
the mocha cinnamon or the chevre, a goat
cheese truffle.
The advantage to Oveida’s truffles, she said,
“You can treat her without breaking the bank.”
Out of “notebooks and notebooks of ideas,”
Antoinette has come up for this Valentine’s Day
a chocolate truffle with strawberries and basil.
Chocolate, page 2
Page 2 www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
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Antoinette Whitney
Stewart LytLe / the town Common
Time for Chocolate
Chocolate, from page 1
New and very popular last year
was a raspberry with cheese truffle,
encased in chocolate. The shop,
known for its coffees, is bursting
at the seams with Valentine’s
Day goodies that include lovebird
boxes and heart boxes, filled with
chocolates, and heart lollipops and
cute frogs.
Up Rte. 1 in Salisbury Jayne
Murray at the New England Chocolate
Co. said she can’t make turtles
and chocolate-covered strawberries
fast enough. “Everything I
make goes out the door,” she said,
as she sent this reporter packing.
“I’m too busy to talk,” she said.
If your significant other is following
a New Year’s resolution to
eat healthy for 2021, Jane Ciccone
at Onesto (Italian for honest) has
what you need. Her handcrafted
cookies and crackers are baked
gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO.
Can you see the smile on her
face as you open a box of rosemary
crackers, slice a bit of brie and pour
her a glass of her favorite chardonnay
or maybe a sauvignon blanc?
If she prefers red wine, bring home
a box of Jane’s sea salt crackers and
pair them with one of Antoinette’s
or Jayne’s chocolates. Wash it all
down with a glass of cabernet.
For dessert try Onesto’s chocolate
chip cookies. The double
chocolate cookies and cinnamon
and sugar cookies are already sold
out. There’s always next year.
Jane blogged out her favorite
recipe for Valentine’s Day this
year. For those who like to show
off their culinary skills for their
significant other, cook up some
chocolate and caramel crackers.
The recipe calls for one box of
her Sea Salt crackers, four tablespoons
of regular or vegan butter,
a quarter cup of packed brown
sugar, pinch of kosher salt, quarter
teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
and a half cup of dark, milk
or vegan chocolate chips. You can
also add chopped nuts, dried fruit,
coconut flakes or chopped candies.
When finished, break up the
crackers and put them in a small
mason jar, she writes. “This makes
a lovely gift!”
Jane wrote that she can’t make
these crackers often in my house.
“When I do, a fight breaks out between
my two kids. They hover in
the kitchen waiting for the crackers
to set in the fridge. Then they
monitor how much the other one
eats, making sure they are each
given their fair share.”
She concludes, “I guess I should
consider this a compliment and ignore
the yelling, accusatory stares
and finger pointing!”
Happy Valentine’s Day from
The Town Common.
February 10, 2021 www.TheTownCommon.com
Page 3
Go to the Back of the Line
Cousins, from page 1
hope. He urged strong leadership
to improve the lives of these young
men.
Cullen, the retired chairman of
Provident Bank, heard Cousins'
sermon along with about 120 other
parishioners. In a public letter,
Cullen praised Cousins’ sermon
and wrote that Cousins’ told “incredible
stories of injustice toward
his family that were shocking to
hear."
The incident may be addressed
at a public forum before the city’s
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Alliance, where it may become “a
teaching moment” for the community.
After the 1941 graduation,
World War II was being fought by
mostly segregated armed forces.
Cousins, encouraged by his older
brothers, volunteered for the Merchant
Marine where he earned
the Atlantic War Zone Metal,
Merchant Marine Emblem, Honorable
Service Button and the
Victory Metal. He received a Presidential
Testimonial Letter.
Following the war, he fulfilled
his goal, as stated in the yearbook,
of “getting a good job.” He joined
the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
where he spent a career repairing
ships and fighting discrimination.
During the Civil Rights era, he
asked the naval yard commander if
the employees could celebrate Dr.
King’s birthday on Jan. 15, 1975.
He proposed lowering the flags to
Frank Cousins from the 1941 yearbook
Stewart LytLe / the town Common
half-staff and playing the Black
National Anthem, Lift Ev’ry Voice
and Sing.
"That showed vision by my father,"
the younger Cousins said.
Capt. W. B. McDonough, the
shipyard commander, declined
Cousins' request, writing, "I am in
empathy with your desire to honor
and respect his memory," but "I
am not empowered to enact either
of your requests."
He wrote to Cousins that only
the President can order the flag
flown at half-staff, and only Congress
can designate holidays. Familiar
with the Black National
Anthem, he wrote, "It cannot be
substituted for the Star Spangle
Banner due to the single nation
status of the United States of
America."
The commander agreed to allow
"those who feel inclined to
observe one minute of silence in
commemoration of Dr. King's
birthday." He told Cousins the
Black National Anthem could
be played at the beginning of
lunch. "However, I do not have
a copy."
It took New Hampshire 15
more years, making it the last
state, to begin celebrating King's
birthday as a holiday. In 2000,
then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen signed
the King birthday holiday into
law 17 years after it was approved
by the federal government. That
ended a bitter political fight in the
granite state.
Cousins also worked to eliminate
discrimination and bias at the
Elks and Moose fraternal clubs in
Maine and Massachusetts, his son
said.
Being outspoken made him
fearful of losing his job. It cost
him a liquor license. But he never
wavered.
The graduation incident had an
impact on other members of the
1941 class, which the younger
Cousins said was filled with “really
good people.”
Classmate Gertrude "Trudy"
Woodard wrote to Cousins in
2003, shortly before his death,
that the discrimination against
him at graduation had propelled
her to devote her life to fighting
against racial inequality and
teaching her children about injustice.
Raised on Rings Island, Woodard
married a University of North
Carolina professor named Taylor.
She raised several children, all folk
music singers-songwriters. They
included Livingston and James
Taylor, plus Kate, Alex and Hugh
Taylor.
His procession mate, Norman
Wells, went to work for the telephone
company where he was an
advocate against discrimination,
Cousins Jr. said.
Cousins Jr., who graduated from
Nock Middle School and, like his
father, Newburyport High School,
went to the Newburyport Public
Library recently looking for a copy
of the 1941 high school yearbook.
It was the only one missing from
the library's yearbook collection,
he said. A friend loaned him a
copy.
Ruby Cousins, Frank Jr.’s mother,
was born in Alabama. She met
the elder Cousins in New York
City during the war. After marrying,
they came to Newburyport
to raise eight children in a house
on Water Street. "The South End
is a great place to grow up," the
younger Cousins said.
In 1968, Alabama Gov. George
Wallace campaigned in Newburyport
for President. Ruby Cousins
took her two children, including
young Frank, downtown to hear
Wallace, although she disagreed
strongly with his political beliefs.
Cousins remembers her mother
doing most of the talking with
Wallace. She asked him if he wanted
to be remembered as being a
segregationist.
"Wallace left town, not saying
much to my mother," the younger
Cousins said.
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Page 4 www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
By J. Peter St. Clair, DMD
Patients see things differently
than dentists. Often, what is important
to dentists is not important
to patients, and vice versa.
This seems like the obvious, but
dentists often have a blind spot
when it comes to seeing things
from a patient's viewpoint.
We often have a similar blind
spot in our ability to communicate
with patients. When asked to
rate their ability to communicate
with patients, 60% of physicians
rated themselves in the top 10%.
Dentists would probably have
similar results.
Brighter smiles ...
Communication is key to any relationship.
Why then do healthcare
professionals, dentists specifically,
often have poor communication
skills with their patients? There is no
one answer to this question, but we
(dentists) all struggle with communicating
with patients at some level…..and
COVID doesn’t make it
any easier by always needing to have
a mask on during conversations.
Dentists often get a bad rap - in
the media, interpersonally, and even
in the movies. We (dentists) are
often starting at a disadvantage in
the relationship with our patients.
Some patients, who may really need
and want care, have preconceived
notions, such as fear without basis,
an unpleasant past experience, or
the idea that they just can’t afford it.
It is more difficult to build a trusting
relationship in these situations. Of
course, there are many patients who
love their dental office, but there
The Patient Perspective -Part 1
are still even many of those patients
who dentists have trouble communicating
with.
I think the biggest problem we
(dentists) have in many of these
communication issues is time.
Dentistry is a business, and an expensive
business to run efficiently.
When time is money, dental
income to support the business
comes from work being done in
the chair. This creates yet another
blind spot for the dentist.
Dentists may be great tooth fixers
but in general are poor communicators.
Anyone can drill on a tooth
but not everyone has meaningful
communication skills. When was
the last time a dentist sat down
with you for an extended conversation
to discuss your personal situation,
the importance and relevance
to getting good dental care, and
its significance to systemic health?
When was the last time a dentist
helped you work through your particular
barrier (fear, money, time,
lack of concern, trust) to getting
a healthier mouth? I know I have
room for improvement.
Meaningful communication
skills come more easily to some
than others. For most of us, it
seems it is always a work in progress.
I’m sure you can think of
numerous past experiences of
poor communication and realize
later how the situation could have
been better handled. I can think
of many. Our way of communicating
is often engrained in us. If
we wish to improve our communication
skills, we (dentists and
everyone) must first become aware
or more mindful of these interactions.
Only then can we work on
improving this skill. That takes
time, and time is again a factor.
Dentists need to recognize, fully
understand and be able to manage
the different barriers that prevent
patients from getting the care they
deserve. Every patient has their
own issues, their own concerns,
their own personality and their
own true or false notions about
dentists and dentistry.
Relationships take time to develop.
Talk with your dentist
about anything that is holding
you back from improving your
dental health. These conversations
build trust. Trust is the key factor
in the dentist-patient relationship.
….to be continued
Dr. St. Clair maintains a private
dental practice in Rowley and Newburyport
dedicated to health-centered
family dentistry. If there are certain
topics you would like to see written
about or questions you have please
email them to him at jpstclair@
stclairdmd.com. You can view all
previously written columns at www.
jpeterstclairdentistry.com/blog.
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February 10, 2021
www.TheTownCommon.com Page 5
Community News
Winter Selfguided
Opportunities at
Bradley Palmer
and Harold
Parker State
Forest
February Vacation/Winter
Events at Harold Parker
All programs are free and open
to the public. Bring water, wear
sunscreen, dress in layers, and
wear good footwear. An adult
must accompany children. For
more information visit: https://
www.mass.gov/locations/harold-parker-state-forest
February Vacation self-guided
opportunities are online. Lots of
activities for visitors featuring 9
new Trip-Tip Self-Guided Family
Adventures, Fun In Nature
Activity Series and all new updated
Suggested Hikes for over
70 DCR facilities statewide.
Visit online: DCR Programs
and Events | Mass.gov
Or visit: https://www.mass.
gov/info-details/dcr-programsand-events
Lovers Only on
YouTube:
A Collaboration
of Boston Reads,
the Firehouse
Center for the
Arts, and The
Actors Studio of
Newburyport
In an ongoing collaboration
with Firehouse Center for the
Arts and The Actors Studio of
Newburyport, Boston Reads
founders Richard McElvain
and M. Lynda Robinson are
featured in a presentation to be
aired via YouTube, just in time
for Valentine’s Day. The performance,
titled Lovers Only, includes
classic love scenes from
Romeo & Juliet, Private Lives,
The Lion in Winter, and Cyrano
de Bergerac, along with a scene
from Jacks & Queens, written by
Ms. Robinson.
McElvain and Robinson – acclaimed
actors, directors, playwrights,
and directors in the
Boston theater scene and beyond
– founded Boston Reads
to promote “readers theater,“ an
art form that celebrates the essential
interaction between the
actor and the text of a play. It is
done script in hand, with very
little use of sets, costumes, or
props.
The February performance
was taped in the Firehouse Center’s
Arakelian Theater, under
SAG/AFTRA Covid Protocols.
The production will be
streamed on YouTube beginning
at 12 a.m. on Thursday,
February 11, through 11:59
p.m. on Sunday, February 14.
Registration is required. The
performances are offered free of
charge, but donations to support
the Actors Studio and the
Firehouse Center for the Arts
are welcome.
Several Newburyport businesses
are “sharing the love”
for the Lovers Only event. With
proof of registration for the
event, which will be issued by
the Firehouse, attendees may
enjoy incentives that include
a free appetizer with the purchase
of a meal at Brown Sugar
by the Sea (brownsugarbythesea.com),
a free Whoopie Pie
with any purchase at Chococoa
Baking Company (chococoabaking.com),
a 15 percent
discount off a total purchase at
Jabberwocky Bookshop (jabberwockybookshop.com),
and
a 10 percent discount on takeout
or in-restaurant dining at
Sea Level (sealevelnewburyport.
com). All incentives must be redeemed
during business hours
from February 15 through 28.
Special thanks to Beach Plum
Flower Shop (beachplumtoo.
com) for providing a floral arrangement
that graced the stage
during the filming of the performance.
To register and receive a link
to the YouTube streamed event,
visit the Firehouse Center for
the Arts website, www.firehouse.org.
St. John’s Prep
Hosted World-
Renowned
Violinist/
Humanitarian
Danvers — St. John’s Prep
welcomed esteemed violinist
and social justice advocate
Vijay Gupta last week as part
of its Brother Robert Sullivan,
C.F.X. Lecture Series, presented
by the school’s Center
for Mission and Research. In
keeping with the Prep’s commitment
to cultivate globally
minded engagement and vision
among young people, Gupta
spent the day immersed in
the school community, participating
in hour-long classroom
sessions on music education
and social advocacy, hosting
a fireside chat with students,
delivering an evening keynote
address and giving a performance.
All events were virtual.
The 2018 MacArthur Foundation
Fellow, Gupta joins an impressive
group of accomplished
professionals and dignitaries to
appear as part of St. John’s lecture
series, including former
U.S. Ambassador to the United
Nations Samantha Power and
former U.S. Olympic Team
wrestler Joe Heskett. Other recent
guest lecturers on campus
have included Vice Admiral
Richard Brown ’81, commander
of all U.S. Naval Surface Forces,
ALS advocate Nancy Frates and
former Houston Texans head
coach Bill O’Brien ’88, now
the defensive coordinator at the
University of Alabama.
Gupta played his way into the
Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra
at age 19 and is perhaps
best known for founding the
nonprofit Street Symphony, a
grassroots community of over 70
world-class musicians that performs
monthly programs at Skid
Row shelters, county jails and for
severely disenfranchised communities
in Los Angeles County.
The 34-year-old New York native
graduated from college with
a pre-med biology degree at 17,
then from Yale with a master’s in
music at 19. As a child, he completed
the Suzuki method music
curriculum in two years, gained
entry to the Juilliard School at
six, performed solos on three
continents at 11 and appeared
on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
“Anything worth doing sometimes
makes you want to throw
the whole (endeavor) out the
window,” Gupta told students.
“I still have moments when I
want to quit the violin. But
that’s the discomfort that leads
to growth. We live in an instant-gratification
society, so
how do we discipline ourselves?
To wean ourselves off that dopamine
addiction of instant
gratification, we really need to
lean in to that discomfort. Do
it in small, compassionate ways,
but keep doing it.”
Established to help students
meet global challenges and better
understand their place in
the world through a wider lens,
the Brother Sullivan Lecture
Series is designed to underscore
how an ethics-based education
can shape decision-making in
modern society by bringing
the world to St. John’s, and St.
John’s to the world.
“In one of his classroom sessions,
Vijay talked about the power
of music and how it connects
different parts of the brain that
don't normally talk to each other,”
said Nora Maginn-Fame, director
of innovation studies at the Prep’s
Center for Mission and Research.
“I found this to be such a beautiful
metaphor for the work that
Street Symphony does—music
as a connection for people who
don't normally come together: acclaimed
concert musicians and the
Community Announcements,
page 6
PRIVATE NORTH SHORE ESTATE
ONLINE AUCTION
Beautiful Antiques, Fine Art, Oriental Carpets
Sunday, February 21st at 12 noon
A virtual on-site estate sale auction with over 300 items
View our detailed fully illustrated catalog
mcinnisauctions.com
PLEASE READ TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
Curb Side Pick-Up – UPS SHIPPING –
Local Delivery Available
MA Lic#770
978-388-0400 – mcinnisauctions@yahoo.com
Page 6 www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
Community News
Community Announcements,
from page 5
incarcerated. He talked about how
both groups deeply benefit from
this relationship. At the Center,
we’re trying to make connections
across people, disciplines and contexts
by exploring the richness at
play when diverse perspectives are
brought together and valued.”
Future speakers in the lecture
series, scheduled to resume later
this year, include Father Greg
Boyle, founder of the world’s largest
gang-intervention and rehabilitation
program and author of the
“Tattoos on the Heart: The Power
of Boundless Compassion,” as
well as groundbreaking environmentalist
and Gandhi Peace Prize
winner Bill McKibben.
Newburyport
Public Library
resumes limited
indoor services
Limited indoor services
have resumed at the Newburyport
Public Library with
important health and safety
guidelines in place. Walk-in
browsing of 1st & 2nd floor
available, and computer/
printing/research by appointment
only Monday-Thursday
9:30 am-6:30 pm, Friday
9:30am-4:30 pm, Saturdays
9:30 am-1:00 pm. Virtual
services and programming
continue. Patio pick up continues
for requested items
Monday-Thursday 9:30 am-
6:30 pm, Fridays-Saturdays
9:30 am-4:30 pm. Limited
tax forms are available at the
patio pick up window while
supplies last.
For a successful experience,
patrons are strongly encouraged
to call ahead for information
about library services,
guidelines, and hours prior to
visiting: 978 465-4428 x242.
Information also available by
visiting www.newburyportpl.
org/ ‘Phased Reopening: Services
& Appointments’ page.
Give blood in
honor of Black
History Month in
February
Celebrate the legacies of Drs.
Charles Drew, Jerome Holland
by giving blood
MEDFORD — In honor of
Black History Month this February,
the American Red Cross
encourages eligible donors, and
especially those who have recovered
from COVID-19, to
give blood to honor the legacies
of African Americans like Dr.
Charles Drew and Dr. Jerome
Holland. Their passion for helping
improve the lives of patients
in need of lifesaving blood
products is carried on through
dedicated blood donors, blood
drive sponsors, volunteers and
Red Cross employees.
Drew, an African American
surgeon, was the medical director
of the first Red Cross blood
bank in 1941. Drew’s research
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about the storage and shipment
of blood plasma proved that
blood could be stored for transfusions.
Many of the processes
he developed are still in use today.
As the first African American
chair of the Red Cross Board of
Governors, Holland was passionate
about blood research.
His commitment to providing
the safest possible blood products
for patients in need helped
inform many safeguards the
Red Cross has in place today
to not only protect patients but
also blood donors.
Donors have the ability to
create a legacy of their own
simply by rolling up a sleeve
to give blood, platelets or plasma
to help patients in need.
COVID-19 survivors are especially
needed to address a
convalescent plasma shortage.
These individuals may have
antibodies in their plasma that
could help patients currently
battling the virus.
Blood donation appointments
can be made by visiting
and downloading the Red Cross
Blood Donor App at: RedCross-
Blood.org, or by calling 1-800-
RED CROSS (1-800-733-
2767) or enabling the Blood
Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo
device. As a thank-you for helping
ensure a stable blood supply,
those who come to give this
February will receive a $5 Amazon.com
Gift Card via email,
courtesy of Amazon. (Restrictions
apply. Additional information
and details are available
by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/
Together
In addition to Amazon’s financial
gift, Amazon has opened
their corporate and operations
building to host blood drives
nationwide. In 2020, Amazon
hosted 65 blood drives, collecting
nearly 2,000 donations to
help save thousands of lives.
Important COVID-19
information for donors
The Red Cross is testing
blood, platelet and plasma donations
for COVID-19 antibodies.
The test may indicate
if the donor’s immune system
has produced antibodies to
this coronavirus, regardless of
whether an individual developed
COVID-19 symptoms.
Red Cross antibody tests will be
helpful to identify individuals
who have COVID-19 antibodies
and may now help current
coronavirus patients in need of
convalescent plasma transfusions.
Convalescent plasma is a
type of blood donation collected
from COVID-19 survivors
that have antibodies that may
help patients who are actively
fighting the virus. Plasma from
whole blood donations that
test positive for COVID-19
antibodies may be used to help
COVID-19 patients.
COVID-19 antibody test
results will be available within
one to two weeks in the Red
Cross Blood Donor App or donor
portal at RedCrossBlood.
org. A positive antibody test
result does not confirm infection
or immunity. The Red
Cross is not testing donors to
diagnose illness, referred to as
a diagnostic test. To protect the
health and safety of Red Cross
staff and donors, it is important
that individuals who do not feel
well or believe they may be ill
with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive
and donation center follows
the highest standards of safety
and infection control, and additional
precautions – including
temperature checks, social
distancing and face coverings
for donors and staff – have been
implemented to help protect
the health of all those in attendance.
Donors are asked to
schedule an appointment prior
to arriving at the drive and are
required to wear a face covering
or mask while at the drive,
in alignment with Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
public guidance.
About blood donation
All blood types are needed
to ensure a reliable supply for
patients. A blood donor card
or driver’s license or two other
forms of identification are required
at check-in. Individuals
who are 17 years of age in
Community Announcements,
page 7
February 10, 2021
www.TheTownCommon.com Page 7
Community News
Community Announcements,
from page 6
most states (16 with parental
consent where allowed by state
law), weigh at least 110 pounds
and are in generally good health
may be eligible to donate blood.
High school students and other
donors 18 years of age and
younger also have to meet certain
height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can
save time at their next donation
by using RapidPass® to complete
their pre-donation reading
and health history questionnaire
online, on the day of their
donation, before arriving at the
blood drive. To get started, follow
the instructions by visiting
RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass
or use the Blood Donor App.
Upcoming ocal blood donation
opportunities
Andover
2/18/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,
La Quinta Inns & Suites Boston
-Andover, 131 River Rd
2/25/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.,
DoubleTree, 123 Old River Rd
Danvers
2/16/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.,
Danversport, 161 Elliott Street
2/16/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/17/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/18/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/19/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/20/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/21/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/24/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/26/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.,
Amity Mosaic Lodge, 30 High
Street
2/27/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
2/28/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2
p.m., Danvers Blood Donation
Center, 99 Rosewood Drive
Georgetown
2/25/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, 9 Jewett Street
Gloucester
2/19/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,
Magnolia Library & Community
Center, 1 Lexington Ave
Middleton
2/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saint
Agnes Parish, 22 Boston Street
North Andover
2/20/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.,
Grace Point Community
Church, 25 Orchard Hill Rd
Peabody
2/17/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.,
Knights of Columbus, 96 Main
Street
West Newbury
2/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,
Town of West Newbury, 381
Main Street
Town of Rowley
important
election updates
Annual Town Meeting date
has been set for Monday, May
3, 2021
The Annual Town Election is
set for Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Nomination papers for the
are available at the Town Clerk’s
Office and will be available until
noon on Friday March 19th
Completed Nomination papers
must be returned to the
Town Clerk’s office by 5PM on
Tuesday March 23rd.
A minimum of thirty-three
(33) Signatures of registered
voters must be certified for
nomination.
Ballot will include:
One 3 year seat on the Board
of Selectmen
One 3 year term as Moderator
One 3 year term as Town
Clerk
One 3 year term as Highway
Surveyor
One 3 year on the Board of
Assessors
One 5 year term on the Planning
Board
One 5 year term on the Housing
Authority
One 3 year term on the Light
commission
One 3 year on the Water
Commission
One 3 year term on the Cemetery
Commission
One 3 year term on the Shellfish
Commission
One 3 year term as Constable
Three 3 years terms on the
Board of Library Trustees
One 3 year term on Triton
Regional SchoolCommittee·
The Treasurer/collector becomes
an appointed position as
of the May 2021 Election·
Town Clerk Susan Hazen has
announced that she will be retiring
as of the May election
and therefore, will not be seeking
re-election.
Due to ever changing COVID
restrictions, it is recommended
that interested candidates confirm
appointments to obtain
nomination papers with the
Clerk’s office
2021 Town of Rowley Census
should be in the mail any day now
2021 Dog license applications
are included
New this year: Dog licenses
can now be renewed online at
townofrowley.net
Hoping you, your family and
staff are all well – Stay safe,
Susan Hazen, Town Clerk,
Rowley
Postal Employees
Pause to
Celebrate
President’s Day
Normal delivery schedule to resume
on Tuesday
Massachusetts — Postal employees
across the commonwealth
will pause on Monday,
February 15, to celebrate President’s
Day. Retail offices will be
closed and there will be no collection
or street delivery of mail
except for guaranteed overnight
parcels.
Full retail and delivery operations
will resume on Tuesday,
February 16.
Is COVID
Changing Your
College Plan?
How Students
Can Rethink
Their Dream Job
The COVID-19 pandemic
has exacerbated the uncertainty
and worry college students
annually feel about focusing
on the right career and finding
their dream job. The job market
for young people is down, many
schools have switched to remote
learning, and many school resources
aren’t available.
As a result, some students
are concerned that their majors
won’t lead to a job in their field,
and they’re wondering whether
they should change majors
or their definition of a dream
job. But on the bright side, a
changing world gives college
students the opportunity to fully
explore exciting new options,
their potential, and end up on a
path better than they previously
planned, says Vince Thompson,
founder and CEO of the marketing
agency MELT and author
of Building Brand You: How To
Use Your College Experience To
Find And Win Your First Job.
“Sometimes the path we
planned takes a turn, but rather
than leading to a dead end, it
opens a whole new world to us,”
Thompson says. “While this is
a challenging time, it is also an
exciting time if young people
approach it the right way.
“The best opportunities can
come out of times rife with
great change, disruption, and
uncertainty. Take the time to
consider all options that interest
you. With a will, there’s always
a way to get there.”
Thompson offers college students
these steps to take when
rethinking their dream job:
• Switch your major. “Students
who want to change their career
path should look at the curriculum
of those majors they have
interest in and decide whether
it has what they’re looking for,”
Thompson says. “Meet with an
academic advisor before making
any changes, and if necessary,
reach out to the financial aid office
to see how a change in major
Community Announcements,
page 8
When you have to smile with your eyes...
Special on
TempsSure eye treatments
to erase fine lines!
$160 until the end of
January
(regularly $200).
Call to book your
appointment now!
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• 978-356-9491 • 34 Market Street Ipswich
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Page 8 www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
Community News
Community Announcements,
from page 7
could affect your aid.”
• Launch a startup – while in
college. A global crisis has made
some college students and recent
grads realize that perhaps the best
path to job stability and career
fulfillment is starting their own
business. “Sometimes the best
fit with your passion is starting
your own business, even if it’s
on a shoestring and part-time,”
Thompson says. “You could
take entrepreneurship classes to
augment your business, gaining
classroom education and making
connections at the same time.”
• Do your homework. “It may
be one of the toughest job markets
in decades, but you can find
opportunities faster than ever
before because of the internet,”
Thompson says. “If you’re thinking
of changing career paths,
Google everything you can on
that career. Then go after it like
someone has assigned you to
write a thesis on this new career.
And it’s also a big help to look up
people in that field on LinkedIn.”
• Stay motivated, show flexibility.
Your dream job might
be out of reach right now, but
Thompson says it’s vital to shift
from the disappointment and
discouragement you feel to focus
on the opportunities available
for working – especially
remote working. “Building a
new narrative,” Thompson says,
“and producing a brand story
about how you turned this time
of great challenge into a great
opportunity will speak volumes
to future employers.”
• Develop new skills. “Developing
a diverse skill set can expand
your appeal to a larger number
of employers,” Thompson says.
“Nowadays, you’ve got lots of opportunities
to learn online at your
own pace, either taking individual
courses or enrolling in certificate
programs for different trades.”
“The most important thing to remember
is that your career is your
own,” Thompson says. “It will be
a big part of your life, and ideally,
it will embody your passion, your
best skills, and define your professional
success. The path you take
isn’t as important as it is to keep
moving down the road toward
your preferred destination.”
AARP
Massachusetts
Monthly Fraud
Watch For
February
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Did you know that someone’s
identity gets stolen every
two seconds? The AARP Fraud
Watch Network provides you
with tips and resources to help
you spot and avoid identity
theft and fraud so you can protect
yourself and your family.
Our watchdog alerts will keep
you up to date on con artists’
latest tricks. It’s free of charge
for everyone: AARP members,
non-members, and people of all
ages. Be a fraud fighter. If you
can spot a scam, you can stop
a scam. Report scams to local
law enforcement. Contact the
AARP Fraud Watch Network at
www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
for more information on
fraud prevention.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network
is:
An Educator: Get real-time
alerts about the latest scams,
tips on how to spot them, and
the inside scoop on how con
artists think so you can outsmart
them before they strike.
A Watchdog: Our nationwide
scam tracking map gives you
access to a network of people
who've spotted scams and the
opportunity to pass along your
own experiences, so together we
can beat con artists at their own
game.
A Resource: Get connected
to a real live person trained in
Notice is hereby given by Newburyport Towing Service, Inc. 27 S. Hunt Road, Amesbury,
MA, pursuant to the provisions of Mass G.L c. 255, Section 39A, that they will auction the
following vehicles February 10, 2021 on the website http://sta.ibidsmart.com. The auction will
end at 1:00 pm and buyer registration is required. Those that do not sell at auction will be sold
on or after February 10, 2021 by private or public sale to satisfy their garage keepers liens for
towing, storage, and notices of sale:
1. 2000 Toyota Camry VIN JT2BG22K2Y0468086
2. 2003 Acura TL VIN 19UUA56673A011634
3. 2011 Chevrolet Impala VIN 2G1WG5EK9B1177353
4. 1998 Toyota Camry VIN 4T1BG22K7WU197230
5. 2004 Nissan Sentra VIN 3N1CB51D24L870107
6. 2010 Ford Escape VIN 1FMCU0D72AKB66143
Vehicles are being stored at Newburyport Towing Service and may be viewed by appointment only.
Signed,
Walter L. Lowell
President
1/27, 2/3, 2/10
how to avoid fraud and advise
you if you or a loved one has
been scammed by calling our
fraud hotline or attending a forum
in your community.
Free for Everyone: Anyone,
of any age, can access our resources
at no cost.
SCAM ALERT #1: ID
THEFT AWARENESS WEEK
The first week of February is
Identity Theft Awareness Week.
It’s a good time to think about
a sobering reality: your personal
information has been stolen.
Many entities have our personal
information – credit card
and bank account numbers,
Social Security numbers, and
health-related information –
and data breaches have exposed
it. So, what can we do to protect
ourselves after the fact?
Here are three steps to protecting
yourself against identity
fraud. 1) Place a security freeze
on your credit accounts with the
three big agencies so no one can
open a new credit line in your
name; 2) Establish online access
to your financial accounts
and monitor regularly (you can
typically set up text alerts for
activity on these accounts); 3)
Use unique passwords for every
online account; consider
purchasing a password manager
that creates complex passwords
and stores them securely.
SCAM ALERT #2:
ROMANCE/IMPOSTER
SCAMS
February means Valentine’s
Day, but romance scammers
abound every month of the year.
It’s important to understand that
a “romance” scam isn’t about romance
at all. It’s about people
looking for social connections
online – whether a dating site, an
online game, or a neighborhood
listserv. Criminal imposters are
more than happy to provide that
connection – at great cost.
How can you tell if your new
online connection is fake and
what can you do if it is? First, be
wary of a new relationship with
someone who suddenly bestows
on you overwhelming affection;
this is what criminals call
‘grooming.’ Second, check their
photos using your web browser;
both Google and Bing offer image
search. You may find your
Romeo’s picture is actually one
of a Marine sergeant’s or from a
magazine ad. Most importantly,
don’t engage with any financial
transaction – this is the biggest
red flag and the one that can
cost you thousands of dollars
and great emotional pain.
SCAM ALERT #3:
MONEY MULES
We know that criminal scammers
steal billions of dollars
every year. But how do they
avoid law enforcement tracing
all that money? Enter the money
mule. A money mule transfers
illegally acquired money or
packages. The unfortunate reality
is that many money mules
have no idea they are involved
in criminal activity.
Using money mules helps
criminals launder money stolen
through scams and fraud or
other crimes like human and
drug trafficking. They add layers
of distance between criminals
and their victims, making
it hard for law enforcement to
follow the money.
The Department of Justice
has seen an increase in victims
becoming involved in money
laundering schemes without
knowing they were committing
a crime. These money mules
respond to fake job ads or social
media posts promising easy
money for little effort. They
think they’re making a fast buck
legally but don’t know they are
helping international criminals
launder billions.
If anyone tries to get you to
move money in any way – by
opening accounts, sending you
checks to disperse with a money
app, by purchasing gift cards
and sharing the information off
the back, or sending and receiving
cash – walk away.
SCAM ALERT #4:
UNEMPLOYMENT SCAMS
AND TAX TIME
It’s tax filing season, which
means sorting through forms
and paperwork. This year, preparing
to file may take an unexpected
twist for people who
suddenly discover they have a
Community Announcements,
page 9
February 10, 2021
www.TheTownCommon.com Page 9
Community News
ROWLEY PLANNING BOARD
LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
Community Announcements,
from page 8
Form 1099-G listing the unemployment
benefits they received
– only they never applied for or
received the benefit.
The number of fraudulent unemployment
claims have spiked
as states have rushed to send out
legitimate unemployment benefits
since the pandemic took
hold. One estimate puts losses
at $36 billion.
If you find that someone claimed
unemployment benefits in your
name, inform your employer and
contact your state unemployment
agency immediately. Then, visit
www.identitytheft.gov and follow
the guidance specific to your situation.
And make a plan to monitor
your credit report moving forward
for free by visiting: www.annualcreditreport.com
Be a fraud fighter. If you can
spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
Report scams to local law enforcement.
For help from AARP,
call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the
AARP Fraud Watch Network at
www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
John McInnis
Auctioneers &
Appraisers
PRIVATE NORTH SHORE
ESTATE ONLINE AUCTION
Beautiful Antiques, Fine Art,
Oriental Carpets
Sunday, February 21st at 12
Noon. A virtual on-site estate
sale auction with over 300 items
mcinnisauctions.com
PLEASE READ TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF SALE.
Curb Side Pick-Up.
UPS SHIPPING
Local Delivery Available
MA Lic#770.
978-388-0400
mcinnisauctions@yahoo.com
The New England
Aquarium
welcomes back
visitors
BOSTON – The New England
Aquarium welcomes back
visitors on Friday, February 5,
following updated guidance
from the City of Boston.
The Aquarium closed its doors
to the public on December 16
to help the city’s efforts to control
the spread of COVID-19.
Animal care staff have remained
on-site to provide dedicated
care to the 20,000 animals at
Central Wharf. Now that the
city has allowed businesses and
organizations in Phase 3 Step
1 to resume operations, the
Aquarium is gearing up to once
again offer an educational and
contactless visitor experience.
“We have missed seeing visitors
come through our doors
each day,” said Vikki N. Spruill,
President and CEO. “We are
looking forward to providing
people of all ages with a safe and
fun environment this winter to
learn about the wonders of the
ocean.”
The Simons Theatre is open
on Saturday and Sundays only,
with the exception of Massachusetts
School Vacation Week
February 15-19. Certain aspects
of the Aquarium experience are
limited for hygiene and social
distancing reasons. The Shark
and Ray Touch tank remains
view-only, while the Edge of the
Sea Touch Tank and Science of
Sharks exhibits are closed. The
Aquarium After Dark series will
continue with extended Friday
night hours, sponsored by People’s
United Bank. Upcoming
theme nights will include Winter
Waters on February 5 and
Love at the Aquarium on February
12.
Health and safety measures
will be in place in accordance
with public health guidelines
from the City of Boston and the
Commonwealth. Those measures
include:
• Strictly enforced mask wearing
for those over age 5.
• Timed ticketing with ticket
sale limits to stay below 20%
building capacity.
• One-way guest flow with
signage and floor markings to
reinforce physical distancing.
• Enhanced cleaning efforts
throughout the facility, with a
focus on high-traffic areas.
Ipswich Police
Warn Residents
about Scams
Involving Tax
Returns
IPSWICH — With tax season
now underway, Chief Paul
Nikas and the Ipswich Police
Department would like to advise
the community to be careful
with personal and financial
information when filing, in
order to avoid falling victim to
common scams.
“Scammers often look at tax
season as an opportunity to
steal information and money
from people through various
means,” Chief Nikas said. “We
want to make sure that our residents
understand how to avoid
and report these scams during
the next few months.”
One common scam involves
residents trying to file their taxes
electronically, only to learn
they had been submitted by
another entity. Residents are
encouraged to complete and file
taxes as soon as possible to give
potential scammers less time
and opportunity to submit a
refund using their information.
Other scams that have been
known to occur, especially during
tax season, include scammers
calling residents claiming to be
from the IRS or another government
body.
The scammer informs victims
that they did not pay, or incorrectly
filed their taxes and now
owe money to the IRS, which
must be paid promptly through
a pre-loaded debit card or wire
transfer. If victims refuse to cooperate,
they are then threatened
with arrest, deportation
or suspension of a business or
driver’s license. Scammers also
sometimes claim to represent
the victim's local police department.
Local police do not
enforce federal tax laws in any
capacity.
To avoid becoming a victim
of an IRS scam, residents are
Community Announcements,
page 10
Pursuant to G.L., c. 40A, §11, and G.L. c. 41, § 81T, notice is
hereby given that there will be a public meeting of the Rowley
Planning Board on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at 7:00 P.M.
where public hearings for amendments to the Rowley Protective
Zoning Bylaw (“the Zoning Bylaw”), and to the Rowley Zoning
Map will considered.
Consistent with the Governor’s orders suspending certain
provisions of the Open Meeting Law and banning gatherings of
more than 10 people, this meeting will be conducted by remote
participation to the greatest extent possible. The public may not
physically attend this meeting, but every effort will be made to
allow the public to view the meeting in real time and, in connection
with any public hearings, to participate. Persons who wish
to do so are invited to watch the meeting on Rowley Community
Media TV or to participate in the meeting from their computer,
tablet or smartphone by using the link:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/375695597
You can also dial in using your phone: U.S. : +1 (312) 757-
3121
Access Code: 375-695-597
Therefore, pursuant to M.G.L., Ch. 40A, §5, the Rowley Planning
Board will be holding the following public hearings:
7:00 pm – Public hearing for Zoning Map/Bylaw Amendment:
Amend the Zoning District Map of the Town of Rowley (“the
Map”), to designate a land area on the west side of Newburyport
Turnpike (Route 1) consisting of parcels identified as 226
Newburyport Turnpike (Map 13, Lot 10); 236 Newburyport
Turnpike (Map 13, Lot 11); 240 Newburyport Turnpike (Map
13, Lot 12-1); 244 Newburyport Turnpike (Map 13, Lot 12-2);
264 Newburyport Turnpike (Map 13, Lot 13); Eastern portion
of 467 Haverhill Street (Map 13, Lot 14); 274 Newburyport
Turnpike (Map 13, Lot 14-A); 282 Newburyport Turnpike (Map
13, Lot 14-B); 272 Newburyport Turnpike (Map 13, Lot 14-F)
as being a “Retail Village Overlay District (RVOD) pursuant to
Section 4.15 of the Rowley Protective Zoning Bylaw.
Also to modify various parts of Section 4.15 (Retail Village
Overlay District) of the Rowley Protective Zoning Bylaw, which
currently pertains only to the original RVOD area located on
Route 133 (Haverhill Street), so as to incorporate the new
RVOD area proposed on Route 1 (Newburyport Turnpike), and
to modify text in the current bylaw pertaining to requirements
and waivers for affordable housing.
7:15 pm - Public hearing for Zoning Bylaw Amendment –
Consider request by Thomas Summit of 118 Central Street to
amend the zoning bylaw (Sections 4.4 and 4.13) to permit outdoor
cultivation of marijuana on properties located in the Outlying
(OD) Zoning district consisting of 4 acres or more.
All written materials, including maps, text, or supplemental documents
pertaining to the aforementioned public hearings for the
zoning map and bylaw amendments may be inspected either by: (1)
Visiting the Rowley Planning Board website at http://www.townofrowley.net/planning-board;
(2) Contacting the Planning Board
by email at kirk.baker@townofrowley.org, or, (3) by making an appointment
to inspect them at the Rowley Planning Board Office,
Town Hall Annex, 39 Central Street, during designated office hours.
Chris Thornton,
Planning Board Chairman
2/10, 2/17
Page 10
www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
Community News
Community Announcements,
from page 9
encouraged to remember the
following:
• If you owe back taxes, the
IRS will contact you by mail,
and not by phone, email or social
media.
• The IRS never requests personal
or financial information
by email, text or social media.
(The IRS says it has no way to
text people.)
• The IRS does not leave pre
recorded or urgent voicemails.
• The IRS will not ask for
payment using a prepaid debit
card, gift cards, a money order
or wire transfer.
• The IRS will not ask for a
credit card number over the
phone.
In the latest scam, an "IRS
agent" states that a small fee is
required to qualify for a government
stimulus check. No
government agency, including
the IRS, requires anyone to pay
anything to receive a stimulus
payment.
If you receive a call from an
IRS scammer, hang up. Do not
engage with these callers.
If you get a call from someone
claiming to be with the
IRS asking for a payment, or if
you think you may owe money,
hang up and call the IRS directly
at 800-829-1040.
If you get a scam call and do
not owe taxes, fill out the “IRS
Impersonation scam” form online
at treasury.gov, or call the
Treasury Inspector General for
Tax Administration at 800-
366-4484.
The IRS also advises residents
to forward scam emails to
phishing@irs.gov, and to not
open attachments or click on
links in those emails.
If you are ever unsure about
a potential scam, contact the
Ipswich Police Department at
978-356-4343.
The Merrimack
River Eagle
Festival
Presented by Mass Audubon's
Joppa Flats Education Center
& Parker River National Wildlife
Refuge
February 9–14, 2021Virtual
& In-Person
When winter returns to the
lower Merrimack Valley, so do
Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls
and other exciting winter wildlife.
Every year we host a grand
event marking their return.
Join online and in-person for
programs in the Newburyport
and Amesbury area to celebrate
our very special winter
residents. The 2021 Merrimack
River Eagle Festival events will
be held Tuesday, February 9 –
Caring, Compassionate, Dignified
Service when you need it most.
14 Independent St., Rowley, MA
www.fsrobertsandson.com
office@fsrobertsandson.com
978-948-7763
We Offer:
• Personalized and Traditional Funerals
• Cremations • Graveside Services
• Memorial Services
• Advance Planning Options
Jeffrey E. Megna, CFSP
Owner, Licensed Funeral Director (Type 3)
Sunday, February 14.
While the banks of the Merrimack
River will not be lined
with crowds of eagle spotters this
season, we rejoice in recognizing
the wonders of the natural world
as our local habitats welcome
winter's animal visitors.
Our virtual and special
in-person activities are designed
to keep all participants safe
during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In-person programs will be limited
to a maximum of 10 people,
and all participants must wear
face masks and practice physical
distancing during the program.
Online pre-registration will be
required for all Eagle Festival
events—both in-person and
virtual—to help manage capacity
limits and minimize contact.
Northeast
Arc Receives
Signature
Grant From
Doug Flutie,
Jr. Foundation
For Autism For
$10,000
Danvers – Northeast Arc is
pleased to announce it has received
a $10,000 grant from
the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation
for Autism. These funds will
provide critical direct financial
support to families with autism.
This grant will benefit Northeast
Arc’s Autism Support Center
(ASC). Since 1991, the
Center has been empowering
families who have a member
with autism or a related disorder
by providing current, accurate,
and unbiased information
about autism, services, referrals,
resources, and research trends.
Throughout its 30 years, the
ASC has kept families across
Northeastern Massachusetts
supported and informed.
Through this critical funding,
the Center will provide financial
support to families caring
for a loved one with autism.
“This funding is important
because it will provide the Autism
Support Center with much
needed flexibility to help families
in need,” says Gloria Ricardi
Castillo, Director, Family
Support Centers at Northeast
Arc. “We will have the opportunity
to help people immediately
when they need it.”
Among those helped by this
grant, and other Autism Support
Center programs, is Sandra
Salvati of Peabody. Sandra has
a 12-year-old son with autism,
and financial support from
Northeast Arc enabled her to
receive assistance while she battled
cancer.
“I got very sick and was in and
out of the hospital. The Flutie
Foundation and ASC grant
allowed my advocate to assist
with my son’s care because I was
not able to,” said Salvati. Flutie
Foundation funding also helped
provide support for her son’s
education. “I never would have
been able to receive the proper
services if it wasn't for The Flutie
Foundation. I'm so grateful
for all the help and support I've
received from the Northeast Arc
and Flutie Foundation. No one
really understands a child with
disabilities unless you have one
and you can see what they deal
with each and every day.”
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation
for Autism, based in Framingham,
Mass., awards grants
annually through a competitive
application and review process.
The signature grants that the
Flutie Foundation distributed
this year support traditionally
under-served, under-funded,
culturally diverse communities
reflected in the Foundation's areas
of interest; providing a path
for educational and vocational
skills, supporting recreational
and active lifestyles, and ensuring
people with autism are safe,
supported and informed.
“The Flutie Foundation Signature
Grants help our partner
agencies address a variety of
significant needs in the autism
community, especially in light
of coronavirus repercussions,”
says Nick Savarese, Executive
Director of The Doug Flutie
Jr. Foundation for Autism.
“Programs like the Northeast
Arc are helping people on the
autism spectrum live life to the
fullest and we are proud to support
their efforts.”
The Autism Support Center
will be reviewing funding applications
throughout February.
If you would like to apply to
receive funding email asc@nearc.org
or call 978-777-9135.
Newburyport
Bank Donates
$1,000 to Annual
Exchange Club of
Haverhill Event
Newburyport – Newburyport
Bank has donated $1,000 to the
Exchange Club of Haverhill’s 19
th Annual Rick Barry St. Patrick’s
Day Celebration Event, to
be held on Wednesday, March
17, 2021. The celebration will
be a virtual event and include
live music, raffle drawings and
awards.Founded in 1946, the
Exchange Club of Haverhill is
a group of business and professional
leaders who have joined
together to serve the community.
Exchange, organized in 1911, is
a nationwide organization with a
96-year tradition of community
service.“Even in a virtual format,
this is going to be a great event,”
said Lloyd L. Hamm, President
& CEO of the Bank. “Not only
is the Rick Barry St. Patrick’s
Day Celebration a good cause,
but due to the challenges of the
pandemic, it’s also a well-needed
good time for all who choose to
participate. We’ll be there with
our support.”
February is for
Felines: Best
Friends Animal
Society Offers
Tips to Keep
Your Pet Healthy
During National
Cat Health
Month
They are the purr that heals,
Community Announcements,
page 11
February 10, 2021
www.TheTownCommon.com Page 11
Community News
Community Announcements,
from page 10
the curtain ninja that entertains,
the in-house Zen master.
They are the cats we invite into
our homes and in February the
spotlight is on their well-being
during National Cat Health
Month.
Pet cats are varied and complex
creatures, whether they are
devoted couch surfers, or indoor/outdoor
cats that love to
go on adventures with you in
the backyard, walking on a harness
and leash or cruising in a
stroller. And they rely on us to
keep them healthy.
Dr. Erin Katribe, medical director
for national animal welfare
organization Best Friends
Animal Society, urges people to
look at every aspect of their life
with you.
The Essentials
“Perhaps the most important
thing you can do to keep your
cat healthy is to ensure that
you’re providing the basic essentials
in the best way possible.
These essentials are food, water,
litterbox, and exercise. Cats’ ancestors
didn’t eat or stay hydrated
the same way that our house
cats do; the dry kibble that is
most convenient for owners to
feed is very different from their
natural diets. If you are able to
feed your pet canned food it is
a much closer approximation to
their ancestral diets than is dry,”
Katribe said.
More attention is being paid
to the obesity problem in pet
cats, she said. “It can lead to
diseases like diabetes (feline diabetes
is very similar to Type 2
diabetes in people), so keeping
your cat at a healthy weight by
monitoring and adjusting their
food quantity is key to keeping
them healthy. Obesity can
also lead to arthritis and joint
pain. Your veterinarian can help
you determine what a healthy
weight is for your pet and can
guide you through modifying
their diet and amount of food
in order to achieve that healthy
weight.”
Which brings us to how important
exercise is for cats. “It’s
not just dogs that need exercise
– cats need it, too,” Katribe
said. “While you can harness
and leash train cats and many
felines enjoy this, most pet cats
prefer a more private form of
exercise. Providing toys and engaging
them in play with laser
pointers or string toys for exercise
are great ways to keep them
active. This is not only is mentally
stimulating but can also
help prevent obesity that can
lead to other diseases.”
Nobody really wants to talk
about litter boxes but for pet
cats, this is an important topic.
Litter Boxes should be placed
in convenient places for the cat
rather than tucked away in a
distant part of the house, in order
to avoid behavioral misuse
If a cat starts urinating outside
the box, it might be due to a
number of causes. Dirty boxes
or boxes placed too far out of
the way can contribute, or it
may be due to a much deeper
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
problem, like urinary infections
or kidney disease. See a vet right
away if you notice litter box
habit changes.
Veterinary Care
One way to keep your cat
healthy is to schedule regular
wellness visits with your veterinarian,
Katribe said. These visits
not only include vaccines to
prevent disease (important even
for indoor cats), but also include
a thorough physical exam
and additional testing that can
be key in catching illness early.
“Cats are masters at hiding
illness, what likely evolved as a
survival tool in their ancestors;
what this means for the cat parent,
though, is that when Fluffy
starts to actually show signs of
sickness, her situation may be
much more serious than you
think, and something has been
going on for a while. If you do
notice even small changes in
your cat’s health or behavior,
it’s better for both of you to see
a vet sooner rather than later.
Addressing problems early will
mean a much greater chance of
successful treatment and will
likely mean less stress on her
and less financial expense, too.”
Notice is hereby given by McGarvey Towing of 1481 Broadway Saugus, MA, pursuant to the
provisions of Mass G.L c. 255, Section 39A, that they will sell the following abandoned vehicle
on or after February 18, 2021 beginning at 10:00 am by private or public sale to satisfy their
garage keeper’s lien for towing, storage, and notices of sale. Vehicle is being stored at McGarvey
Towing:
1. 2017 Nissan Sentra VIN 3N1AB7AP9HY398932
Signed,
Stephen McGarvey
Owner, McGarvey Towing
2/3, 2/10, 2/17
Helping Cats Get Back
Home
One of the most stressful
events that can happen in a
pet parent’s life is losing their
pet companion – for cats, this
might mean an indoor-only
cat slipping out the door, or an
outdoor cat not returning home
according to the normal routine.
For cats that end up in our
nation’s animal shelters, only
about 5% of them make it back
to their owners.
“One way that we can increase
the number of cats returned to
their families is by using identification,”
Katribe said.
Collars and tags are a low-tech
way to achieve this, and anyone
can read the tag and help the
pet get back home. But she cautioned
that cats may lose their
collars, “So an even better solution,
in addition to a cat-specific
collar, is a microchip.
Microchips are small pieces of
technology, about the size of a
large grain of rice, that are implanted
under the skin. When
the pet is scanned with a microchip
scanner, the scanner will
display a number unique to that
chip and that pet. If registered
online (don’t forget this important
step!), that number will link
the pet back to your contact information.
Shelters and animal
control agencies generally scan
pets when they enter the shelter,
so this can lead to pets getting
back to their homes much
more rapidly, and with a greater
chance of success.”
The Importance of Spay/
Neuter
Spaying or neutering cats not
only helps them live healthier
lives, but it also helps save the
lives of cats across the country.
“For the individual cat, sterilization
can reduce or completely
eliminate the chance of
certain cancers, and it reduces
unwanted or dangerous behaviors
like urine marking, fighting,
or roaming. And the sad
truth is cats are twice as likely
as dogs to lose their lives in our
nation’s shelters, simply because
there aren’t enough homes for
all of them. Spaying and neutering
pet cats prevents more
kittens from being born and so
allows for more of the cats that
do end up in shelters the chance
at life,” Katribe said.
She added that progressive
life saving strategies like community
cat programs have been
implemented in many shelters
nationally as an alternative to
cats needlessly losing their lives.
Community Announcements,
page 12
TOWN OF ROWLEY COMMUNITY
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the Rowley Community Preservation
Committee will hold an online virtual public hearing regarding
requests for funding in accordance with the requirement of the
Community Act, M.G.L. Chapter 44B Section 5 (b) (1). The
purpose of online virtual public hearing is to discuss with the
community, the needs, possibilities and resources of the Town
regarding the use of the Town’s Community Preservation Fund.
The Committee seeks community input in the areas of open
space, recreation, affordable housing and historical preservation.
The Virtual Online Public Hearing will be held on February
18th at 1:30pm
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/655465981
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123
Access Code: 655-465-981
Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 655 465 981
Or dial directly: 655465981@67.217.95.2 or
67.217.95.2##655465981
2/10, 2/17
Page 12 www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
Community News
Community Announcements,
from page 11
Best Friends Animal Society is
a leading animal welfare organization
working to end the killing
of dogs and cats in America’s
shelters by 2025. Founded in
1984, Best Friends is a pioneer
in the no-kill movement and has
helped reduce the number of animals
killed in shelters from an
estimated 17 million per year to
around 625,000. Best Friends
runs lifesaving programs all
across the country, as well as the
nation’s largest no-kill animal
sanctuary. Working collaboratively
with a network of more
than 3,200 animal welfare and
shelter partners, and community
members nationwide, Best
Friends is working to Save Them
All®. For more information, visit
bestfriends.org.
Newburyport
Bank Donates
$1,000 to Whittier
Regional
Vocational
Technical High
School
Newburyport, MA – Newburyport
Bank has donated
$1,000 to Whittier Regional Vocational
Technical High School.
The funds will be used to provide
financial aid to worthy students.
Whittier Regional Vocational
Technical High School, also
known as “Whittier Tech,” was
founded in Haverhill, MA in
1972. It serves the northern section
of Essex County, offering a
unique mix of core studies along
with vocational-technical courses.“While
technology has become
understandably important
in school curriculum over the last
few decades, today there is a resurgence
of interest in vocational
technical training,” said Lloyd L.
Hamm, President & CEO of the
Bank. “Whittier Tech provides
training for the foundational jobs
essential for a healthy community.
We're proud to contribute to
that effort.”
Cape Ann
Museum Offers
Outdoor Walking
Tours
GLOUCESTER – During the
month of February, the Cape
Ann Museum will offer three
outdoor walking tours in downtown
Gloucester. During a time
of continued concerns around
the spread of COVID-19, the
1½-hour tours offer participants
a safe and engaging way
to learn about the rich history of
Cape Ann. Each tour is led by
a knowledgeable Museum docent
who will guide participants
along a route through the city
focusing on the chosen topic.
Cape Ann’s storied light, its natural
beauty, and its rich cultural
history had a significant impact
on the many American artists who
worked or lived on Cape Ann. On
the Hopper and Lane tours, participants
will visit places and observe
the same views of the harbor,
beaches, homes and churches that
each artist translated into remarkable
works of art. The “Evolution
of Spiritual Communities” tour
covers sites related to the religious
and spiritual life of European settlers
on Cape Ann over its 400-
year history.
Tours are held rain or shine. All
participants must wear face masks,
and dogs are not allowed on the
walks. Cost is $10 for CAM members
and $20 for non-members,
and it includes Museum admission.
Advance online registration
is required. Space is limited.
For more information about
the Museum, its programs,
exhibits, and collections, visit
www.capeannmuseum.org.
Portsmouth NH
COVID vaccine
update
As of Sun Feb 7, everyone
receiving Dose 1 will be given
a vaccination card with an appointment
already scheduled
for Dose 2. You can reschedule
that appointment, if you need
to. There are still some people
who had to choose Dose 2 appointment
dates well beyond
the recommended 21 or 28
days for the follow-up vaccine.
The state is hand-rescheduling
all of those so that everyone receives
Dose 2 within a week of
the desirable window.
CANCELLING APPOINT-
MENTS AND RESCHEDUL-
ING – Those who received their
first vaccine can now go to the
CDC VAMS site or the NH
vaccine site and cancel their previously
scheduled appointment
and reschedule an earlier date
at the same time. The technical
problem with the VAMS site has
been corrected and the 2-1-1
wait times are back to normal.
COVID-19 VACCINE AD-
MINISTRATION IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE – As of February
8, NH had received 257,700
doses of vaccine and had vaccinated
166,603.
AGE 65+ VACCINATION
APPOINTMENT WEBSITE
OPEN — Scheduling an appointment
online by visiting
https://www.vaccines.nh.gov is
the fastest, most efficient way to
do so and is highly encouraged.
The website is designed to handle
100,000+ people at the same time.
For those unable to schedule
an appointment online, the
211 Hotline remains available,
7 days a week, 6 am to 10 pm.
That call center is staffed by
300+ people, but the wait times
can be 45 minutes or more.
Those 65+ who do not have
Internet access and need assistance
can call Brinn Sullivan
[603-610-4433] at the Portsmouth
Senior Activity Center.
She can walk through the registration
over the phone, to get
you signed up. You must have
an email address for receiving
the appointment confirmation.
Note that the City is not setting
up vaccination appointments.
Brinn is simply available to
help seniors over the telephone
to register on the State website.
Brinn is also assisting seniors
who need assistance with transportation
to the local vaccination
sites.
February 10, 2021
www.TheTownCommon.com Page 13
Reviewing an Offer(s)
By John McCarthy, Rowley Realty
Many of you may have seen
what took place in Rowley over
the past weekend. If not, a new
listing came on the market and
the amount of people looking
and interested was amazing. I
had people calling me during
the first open house asking if
someone was giving a house
away! The listing generated
multiple offers and Rowley Realty’s
buyer was the winner! My
buyer was at first reluctant to
put in an offer but when we discussed
how we needed to frame
it and what the seller would be
looking for we were able to give
them the terms they wanted.
When looking at an offer, it’s
not always about the money or
at least not entirely about the
money. Hopefully your REAL-
TOR® will discuss what to do
in a multiple offer situation
and ways to make your offer
most attractive.
Which offer is best for us?
The obvious answer is the
buyer offering the most money
and that may be the case
but not every offer is all about
the money. Your REALTOR®
should be a big help here. They
will have met your buyers and
understand what their motivation
is and look at the pros
and cons of every offer, because
believe it or not it’s not always
about price.
Your first buyer, who gave
you an offer way over the asking
price might not be the best
one. They may have a home to
sell first or insist you close before
your new home is ready.
You should know as much as
you can about evaluating offers,
including the main factors
that go into choosing the best
one for you.
What Else?
1. The earnest money deposit
or escrow: One important
consideration when weighing
an offer is the size of the
earnest money deposit. This
is typically referred to as escrow
money. This money is the
amount the buyer is putting
up when they sign the offer
and then when they sign the
Purchase and Sale document.
It is signed to show the person
is serious (i.e., “earnest”) about
buying your home. This money,
which is typically held by
the listing agent’s office, can go
toward the buyer’s down payment
at closing.
The standard amount locally
is $1,000 with the initial offer
to purchase, and an additional
5% (minus the $1,000 already
given) of the purchase price
at the signing of the Purchase
and Sale agreement. If a buyer
wants to back out after their
contingencies (home inspection,
financing, etc.) the seller
typically keeps this money.
Anything less than 5% is less
than ideal.
2. The closing date. Typically,
from accepting an offer
to the actual closing date takes
40-60 days. A buyer who offers
less money, but is willing to accept
your closing date may be
more attractive to you. Moving
once isn’t always fun, moving
twice to accept a higher offer
may not be worth it.
3. The contingencies. Most
offers have contingencies, issues
that must be satisfied
for the home to transfer. The
buyer is entitled to walk away
from the deal with their earnest
money if the contingency isn’t
met to their satisfaction. Fewer
contingencies=Better offer.
Here are the most common
contingencies:
• Home inspection: This
gives the buyer the right to
have the home professionally
inspected, typically within 10
days of the Offer to Purchase
being signed. Buyers may ask
you to have repairs done or try
to negotiate the price down to
account for these repairs. You
have the decision on what you
are willing to do or not do.
• Appraisal: For a lender to
approve a home buyer’s loan,
the home must appraise at or
above the agreed upon sale
price. The lender wants to independently
verify that the
home is worth at least enough
money to cover the price of the
mortgage. The lender will usually
not send out an appraiser
until after the Purchase and
Sale is signed, therefore this is
one of the last contingencies,
right before the next one.
• Financing: Also called a
mortgage contingency, this
contingency protects the buyer
in case their lender doesn’t
approve their mortgage. Although
the buyer provided you
with a preapproval letter from
the lender, this is the full approval.
Not only are the buyer’s
finances checked and double
checked, but the lender will
make sure that clear title has
come back on the home and
the appraisal is satisfactory. If
the buyer does not get financing
or any of these issues come
up, they can withdraw and receive
all their earnest money
back usually with a letter from
their lender.
• Sale of current home: A
buyer may need to make the
purchase of your home contingent
on the sale of their current
home. Depending on what you
have for other offers you may
decide to work with this buyer.
By working with them I
mean you give them a certain
amount of time to get their
home under agreement as you
don’t want to miss out on other
buyers. This contingency is rarer
in the sellers’ market we are
in, however, with homes selling
quickly, some sellers are willing
to work with buyers who have
to sell their home first.
4. The down payment. Depending
on the type of mortgage,
the buyer must make a
down payment on the house
and the size of that down payment
can affect the strength of
the offer. HOWEVER, your
primary concern as a seller is,
of course, for the transaction
to close, and for that to happen
the mortgage, regardless of the
amount of the down payment
has to be approved.
There are a number of mortgage
products such as FHA and
VA loans, that allow for very low
and sometimes no down payments.
Your REALTOR® should
be able to contact the buyer’s
mortgage agent and talk with
that person about the credit worthiness
and likeliness they will
deliver an approved mortgage.
5. The all-cash offer. A cash
offer is ideal. The buyer doesn’t
have an appraisal contingency
or a financing contingency.
Having a deal with fewer contingencies
means there are fewer
ways for the deal to fall through.
Cash offers are easier and come
with less risk. In this increasingly
crazy market where prices are
going through the roof, if your
offer is cash the seller doesn’t
have to concern themselves with
whether or not the appraisal will
come in at or above the agreed
upon price.
Make a Counteroffer?
Assuming you don’t want to
accept the offer reviewed, to
you can certainly make a counteroffer.
Your REALTOR® can
provide guidance about when
and why a counteroffer will be
the right thing for you. One
thing to keep in mind, you can’t
make counteroffers to multiple
buyers (what if all buyers accept
your counteroffer).
Receiving an offer is never
a bad thing, regardless of the
offer amount or contingencies
attached. A buyer may not
agree with your value, but they
are definitely showing interest
by writing up an offer. Talk
with your REALTOR® to get
an understanding of your prospective
buyer’s motivations
and what the recommended
next steps should be. Good
luck, and hopefully you will
have multiple offers to choose
from!
If you have any questions about
this article, real estate in general or
are looking to buy or sell a home
please contact me, John McCarthy at
Rowley Realty, 165 Main St., Rowley,
MA 01969, Phone: 978 948-
2758, Cell 978 835-2573 or via
email at john@rowleyrealestate.com
Page 14 www.TheTownCommon.com
February 10, 2021
you've checked them out — especially where money
matters might be involved.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) A pesky problem should be dealt
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A business
venture might need more of your attention
with immediately so you can put your
time than you and are effort able to into provide. something Consider more asking a
important. trusted friend or Someone family member from to your help you past work
could through have this time significant crunch. news for you.
SCORPIO (October 23 23 to to November 21) A
ARIES (March (March 21 to 21 April to April 19) Doing 19) You something
might nice be for a others bit is shaken typical of by the a generous friend’s Ar-
more on how bothersome to handle your than time you’d so that expected. you can deal
21) more-positive A workplace aspect situation helps you becomes get a clearer a lot focus
ian. request. But be But prepared before some the Lamb jealous leaps types who to Be with careful several responsibilities not to be pulled that are into just now all that showing
up on Look your schedule. for support among others
might conclusions, try to question insist one on of your a full more explanation.
kindness. You still might say no, but at least who SAGITTARIUS also want to (November avoid trouble. 22 to December
recent acts anger.
of
you’ll TAURUS know (April what 20 to you’re May 20) saying You're no eager to. to 21) SAGITTARIUS A very close friend (you (November know who that 22 is!) to has
take TAURUS on new responsibilities. (April 20 But to before May you 20) do, advice that could help you work through a confusing
situation. So put your pride aside and ask for it.
December 21) Cheer up, lonely lovers,
you Seeing might red want over to check those out exactly nasty what remarks would
be required of you so that you don't face any "surprises"
later.
you’d been deleted from Cupid’s data-
wherever you are. Just when you thought
by someone with an ax to grind? Of You'll be glad you did.
course you are. So get out there and CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19)
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It might be best base, the chubby cherub proves that’s
give your supporters the facts they A workplace situation could turn a bit tense. The
to put off an important decision until a fluctuating just best way not to so. handle Congratulations.
need to get the truth out.
it is to confront it and deal with
situation becomes more stable. Recently received it CAPRICORN openly. Doing so can (December help reveal the 22 underlying to January
reasons 19) for the A problem. casual relationship could
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A
news could help resolve a long-standing family
matter. changing situation should get you to
take AQUARIUS a more serious (January turn. 20 to Are February you ready 18) A
reassess CANCER your (June vacation 21 to July plans 22) If you and still make have for colleague's it? Your remarks stars appear say you to be are. especially Paired cutting. Sea
a any problem adjustments getting that information as soon as gap possible. closed, you Goats But don't also waste will your find time a or renewed your energy richness trying to
might And consider don’t asking fret — a higher the authority change to most resolve in deal their with relationships.
the situation. You have more important
the likely matter, will leaving turn you out free for to the move better. on to another things to do.
project. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Don’t AQUARIUS (January 20 to February
PISCES (February 19 March 20) Support for
put LEO off (July dealing 23 to with August any 22) negative A family feelings
to that be dealt might with at be the left start of over the week. from Once a ideas seems to be a dream come true.
matter 18) Meeting a collaborator with new
your work comes as a surprise from someone you
needs
thought was critical or, at least, indifferent. Your
it's recent resolved, confrontation. the Big Cat can The devote sooner more all attention
resolved, to that new the opportunity sooner you that can seems move to hold for-
so legal i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed
is But for both your sakes, be sure all your
spouse or partner has big plans for the weekend.
BORN THIS WEEK: Your spiritual strength
much ward potential. with fewer complications. before you start working together.
often acts as an inspiration to help others make decisions
PISCES about their (February lives. 19 to March 21)
VIRGO LEO (July (August 23 23 to August September 22) Pay Leos attention
to those niggling doubts. They could be
and Leonas might feel the urge to A romantic overture flatters the usually
unflappable Fish. But since it’s
warning you not to make any major decisions until (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
redecorate their dens, and that can turn
into a good opportunity to strengthen a sincere from-the-heart gesture, go
family ties by putting the whole pride ahead and enjoy it. A minor health
to work to make it happen.
problem responds well to treatment.
Tarot Card for Week of February 10, 2021
VIRGO (August 23 to September BORN THIS WEEK: You have the
22) Look for the most efficient way to warm heart of a Taurean and the sensitivity
of a Gemini. You would make
get
The
a job
Devil,
done
the
quickly
fifteenth
and
card
well.
of
Taking
Arcana, more time depicts than the you pagan need idol to make Baphomet it a perched wonderful leader. So go ahead: Run
the Major
look on more a black challenging throne, wielding is a short-sighted
move Chained you to might his throne regret are later a naked on. man and © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
a scepter of fire. for office.
woman who have begun the process of turning
into demons - they both sport horns, and their
tails symbolize attachments to wealth (grapes)
and passion (fire). Despite the dark imagery, this
card is not necessarily a fearful card! It does not
portend evil or actual demons. Rather, it invites
us to examine what we are “chained” to - what
unhealthy attachments have we formed.
This week, examine your habits carefully and
think objectively about any undesirable things
that you are clinging to. Are you struggling with
Readings by Amelia
an addiction to substances, food, or unhappy
relationships? Do you place value on material To book a private Tarot or
things and money above your connections with Mediumship reading,
those around you? Such a struggle does not make please visit:
you a bad person! But it is time to take the actions www.readingsbyamelia.com
necessary to unchain yourself.
or call 978-595-2468
PUZZLE
ANSWERS
February 10, 2021
Pratt
Hobby Shop
COINS AND ITEMS WANTED
U.S. Coins, silver, gold,
foreign world money.
Old pocket watches,
wrist watches and costume jewelry
Wheat pennies, Pre-1958
FREE APPRAISAL
Call 978-352-2234
WANTED TO BUY
Gold Scrap, Gold Coins,
Sterling Silver
U.S. Silver Coins pre-1965
.999 Silver Bars
U.S. Silver Dollars
Wartime Nickels 1942-1945
U.S. Clad Half Dollars 1965-1969
HOBBY SUPPLIES
Remote Controlled Vehicles
ESTES Rockets & Supplies,
Plastic & Wood Models / Supplies
Autos, Trucks, Planes, Ships,
X-Acto Sets, Paints & Much More
20 E Main St, Georgetown, MA
Hours:
Monday-Friday 10:30-6
Saturday 10:30-5
Sunday 12-5
Phone: 978-352-2234
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AMERICAN
SERVICES
HOME
IMPROVEMENT CARPENTRY
- Repairs & Additions. Interior/
Exterior Painting. Fully Insured.
30 years experience. Free
Estimates. Excellent Referrals.
978-465-2283
Gary’s Just Stuff MECHANICAL
ITEMS BOUGHT / SOLD &
Repaired! Generators, Outboards,
Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers,
Tune ups, etc., pick-up and delivery
available, Call Gary at (978)
376-4214
Weekly Community Newspaper
PAINTING
INTERIOR,
EXTERIOR, smoke and water damage
ceilings stain killed, repaired, or
replaced, carpentry interior-exterior
repairs, windows repaired and
replaced, gutters cleaned, repaired or
replaced, clean outs and clean ups of
all kinds. General masonry, all brick
www.TheTownCommon.com Page 15
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work, chimney work, walkways, etc.
(cell) 978-376-4214, (home) 978-
374-6187
FOR SALE
Household goods, beds, chairs,
tables, dressers, desks, lamps, baskets,
mirrors, trunks, porcelain,
bookcases, dish ware, decorative
wall shelving, medical equipment:
walkers, wheelchairs, ramp. Call
Tim at 978-312-6729 for details.
FOR SALE:
S 1D Hill horned mack saddle, bridle,
halter, etc. Custom made, $400 or BO.
978-465-2283, roadking-103@comcast.net
FREE PET FOR
ADOPTION
Free to good home, 2 Yorkie puppies
re-homing, akc reg, contact
me via email for more details on
billdd0001@gmail.com.
978-465-5831
ADDRESS TOWN TYPE BED BATHS DOM LIST SALE
5 Harriman Rd Merrimac, MA Detached 4 1 17 $389,900 $420,000
2 Tuckers Ln Amesbury, MA Detached 3 2 20 $449,000 $449,000
21 N Martin Rd Amesbury, MA Detached 3 2 11 $450,000 $465,000
9 Lafayette St Amesbury, MA Detached 3 3 27 $479,000 $499,999
1 Brush Hill Rd Merrimac, MA Detached 3 2 20 $514,900 $555,000
29 Bradford St Rowley, MA Detached 4 2 36 $549,900 $530,000
34 Main St Newbury, MA : Byfield Detached 3 3 40 $568,000 $568,000
26 Island Park Rd Ipswich, MA Detached 2 1 10 $649,000 $711,000
50 Longfellow Dr Newburyport, MA Detached 3 3 78 $650,000 $668,000
26 Turkey Shore Rd Ipswich, MA Detached 4 2 7 $689,000 $710,000
9 Linden Street Ipswich, MA Detached 3 3 16 $699,000 $770,000
2 Abraham's Way U:Lot 8 Ipswich, MA Detached 3 3 0 $749,900 $752,950.5
100 Wethersfield St Rowley, MA Equestrian 3 3 240 $749,900 $707,000
6 Abrahams Way U:6 Ipswich, MA : Linebrook Detached 4 3 21 $789,900 $822,850
78 Old Point Rd Newbury, MA : Plum Island Detached 3 3 1 $825,000 $825,000
16 Corporal Patten Way Salisbury, MA Attached 3 4 71 $874,000 $865,000
20 Morin Rd Newburyport, MA Detached 3 4 26 $950,000 $942,500
14 Stone Row Ln Georgetown, MA Detached 4 4 77 $1,349,999 $1,320,000
209-B Ipswich Rd Boxford, MA : East Boxford Detached 7 6 383 $1,395,000 $1,300,000
101 Townsend Farm Rd Boxford, MA : East Boxford Detached 5 4 63 $1,495,000 $1,365,000
Circle A Category
• For Sale
• Wanted
• Services
• Free
• Child Care Needed/Avail.
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• Boat
• Help Wanted
• Animals
• Rental
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